2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

Stylish mid-sized sedan goes green

By Nina Russin

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

This year, Ford and Mercury add hybrid options to their popular mid-sized sedans. The Fusion and Milan share the same powertrain: a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with a 106-horsepower electric motor and continuously-variable automatic transmission. A nickel-metal hydride battery pack is mounted between the trunk and back seats.

The difference between the two sedans is styling: the Milan appeals to a more upscale audience with a dressed-up exterior and interior. The premier grade (tested) rides on 17-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, two-tone leather trim, a leather wrapped steering wheel and metallic finishes on the instrument panel have a similar feel to contemporary home furniture.

Eco displays on the instrument panels are slightly different. The Fusion records fuel economy on a bar graph to the right of the speedometer. The Milan uses a leaf display: the number of leaves reflects the driver‘s efficiency.

Several months back, I spent a week in the Fusion Hybrid; this week I had a chance to test drive the Milan. My Fusion test drive had left me with extremely favorable impressions: I averaged over forty miles per gallon on a mixture of highways and city streets.

While I drove the Fusion in relatively mild weather, I was testing the Milan during the hottest part of the Phoenix summer. Average temperatures during my test drive were 108-110 degrees. I was curious to see how the extreme temperatures would affect my fuel economy and the car’s overall performance. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Toyota Highlander 4X2

New four-cylinder engine adds a fuel-efficient alternative to the V-6

By Nina Russin

2009 Toyota Highlander

Toyota introduced the original Highlander in 2001: the mid-sized crossover was the yin to the 4Runner’s yang. Whereas the 4Runner appealed to customers wanting serious off-road performance, the Highlander reached out to families needing a versatile cargo area, but with better fuel economy and a softer ride.

The Highlander quickly became the biggest success story in Toyota history. Over the past nine years, Toyota has broadened the lineup to include hybrid and sport models. This year, Toyota adds a new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine as the standard block for the base two-wheel drive grade, offering a fuel-efficient alternative to the more powerful V-6.

While it doesn’t have the off-road performance of the Toyota 4Runner, the Highlander is an excellent choice for active families, with seating for up to seven passengers, a high level of standard safety, and versatile interior.

The 2.7-liter engine averages 27 miles-per-gallon on the highway, reducing cost of ownership. An available towing prep package increases towing capacity on the base grade to 3500 pounds, meeting our ALV minimum standards. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Mazda3 4-Door Sport

Mazda raises the bar with its second-generation compact sedan

By Nina Russin

2010 Mazda3 4-Door Sport

Lots of companies make compact sedans: few make really good ones. Car enthusiasts on a budget who need the practicality of a four-door car need look no further than the Mazda3. What distinguishes Mazda’s entry-level sedan from its competitors is performance akin to more expensive European models.

What differentiates the 2010 Mazda3 from the outgoing model is a more refined, ergonomic interior, with better styling. A new instrument panel has much-improved fit and finish. The center console is higher, making the shift lever easier to reach. Key controls are within easy reach of the driver: many on the steering wheel or the top of the instrument panel to minimize distraction.

The front seats have longer seat bottoms for better thigh support. Seatbacks are redesigned for better lower lumbar and shoulder support. The leather wrapped steering wheel is small, in keeping with the car’s performance focus.

Second-generation Sport models feature a new, more powerful engine, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Weld bonding, a technique first used in the new Mazda6, gives the Mazda3 better torsional rigidity, and reduces the weight of the body by 24 pounds.

Though most buyers with active lifestyles will find the five-door model more practical, the sedan is remarkably versatile. A standard pass-through extends the cargo floor, making it easy to carry snowboards, skis and other large gear. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Jaguar XK Convertible

All-new models have enhanced power and performance technology

By Nina Russin

2010 Jaguar XK Convertible

The XK is the archetypal Jaguar, melding styling reminiscent of the XK120 and E-Type, with modern performance. As I slip into the driver’s seat and stare across its expansive hood, I am stupidly happy.

This year, all-new XK models come with a choice of naturally aspirated or supercharged V8 engines: more powerful and fuel efficient than the ones they replace. All cars come with a ZF six-speed automatic transmission that the driver controls using shift paddles on the steering wheel, or a rotary knob similar to that on the Jaguar ZF, mounted on the center console.

Keyless start is standard. Upon entering the car, a start button on the center console pulses red in a heartbeat rhythm. Depressing it raises the adjacent shift knob: the shift knob retracts flush with the surface when the ignition is off. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Porsche Cayenne GTS Tiptronic

Sport-utility vehicle with sports car performance

By Nina Russin

Ever since Porsche announced that it was introducing a sport-utility vehicle, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with the Cayenne. My feelings have nothing to do with the Cayenne’s performance: Porsche doesn’t build anything that I don’t enjoy driving.

But I can’t reconcile the Cayenne’s two box architecture with Porsche’s sports car heritage. To me, it muddies the waters.

Having said that, the Cayenne is as much an expression of Porsche’s “it” factor as a SUV can be. It’s light on its feet, sinuous and fast. The Tiptronic transmission offers performance close to a manual gearbox, without the inconvenience of a clutch pedal.

Exterior styling incorporates cues from Porsche’s sports cars such as the teardrop headlamps and broad wheel arches.  Dual exhausts with oval chrome tips remind those in back that the Cayenne is all business. The Cayenne’s coefficient of drag is 0.36: pretty slippery for a high-profile vehicle.

Inside, the driver is treated to Alcantara leather seats with adjustable lumbar, padded steering wheel, and floor-mounted leather shift lever. The ignition switch is to the left of the steering wheel, as it is in Porsche sports cars. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Cadillac SRX

Second-generation crossover offers better fuel economy and all-wheel drive

By Nina Russin

2010 Cadillac SRX

This year, Cadillac replaces the original SRX with an all-new model, designed to compete in the same segment as the Lexus RX, Audi A5 and BMW X5. Whereas the first SRX was a relatively minor player, Cadillac hopes the new model will reach the heart of the mid-sized crossover market.

The 2010 models come with a choice of two engines: a 3-liter V6 available launch, and a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 that rolls out this fall. There are four grades ranging from the base model to the upscale premium. Luxury, performance and premium models are available with all-wheel drive.

The all-wheel drive system can transfer up to 100 percent of engine torque to the rear axle, and up to 85 percent of torque from wheel to wheel. Standard safety features include front, side and side curtain airbags, antilock brakes, stability control with rollover mitigation and trailer stability control. The car structure meets European standards for pedestrian protection.

Pricing ranges from $34,155 on the base model to $48,365 for the all-wheel drive premium. MSRPs will be slightly higher for cars equipped with the 2.8-liter turbocharged engine that arrives late in the year.

To simplify the buying process, there are few stand-alone options. They include premium paint, a rear-seat entertainment system, a trailer hitch and towing package that increases towing capacity to 3500 pounds. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Kia Soul

Auto writer Bill Baker takes you through the introduction of the 2010 Kia Soul in Miami, Fla.

2009 Lexus LX 570

Full-sized sport-utility vehicle with enhanced off-road and safety features

By Nina Russin

2009 Lexus LX 570

The LX is Lexus’ full-sized sport-utility vehicle, with seating for up to eight passengers, and 8500 pound towing capacity. The current model, introduced last year, improves on the original LX 470 with a larger, more powerful V8 engine, enhanced off-road and safety technology.

Powerful 5.7-liter engine

The 383-horsepower V8 engine is 42 percent more powerful than the 4.7-liter V8 on the outgoing model: 403 foot-pounds of torque makes the LX extremely capable in off-road situations, and gives the SUV surprisingly good low-end acceleration.

Making six thousand pounds of sheet metal accelerate from zero-to-sixty in 7.4 seconds is a feat worthy of respect. The trade-off is lackluster fuel economy: about 14 miles-per-gallon on average.

Fortunately, the six-speed automatic transmission gives the car reasonable gas mileage on the highway: about 18 mpg. The LX can cruise along flat roads at 75 miles-per-hour and rarely rev above 2000 rpm.

Fans of Lexus passenger cars will appreciate similar performance from the LX, notable for its compliant suspension, and quiet interior. Despite its two box architecture, there is no noticeable wind noise around the windshield or side mirrors. Mud and snow tires on standard 20-inch wheels produce very little road noise. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Ford Transit Connect

Fuel-efficient commercial vehicle is ideal for active lifestyles

By Larry Edsall

2010 Ford Transit Connect

At first glance, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect is the DSPALV, which is short for Dead-Solid Perfect Active Lifestyle Vehicle.

Consider a vehicle that gets 22 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway, earns ULEV (ultra-low emission vehicle certification) and has a cruising range of more than 350 miles.

Or that it swallows 135.3 cubic feet (or up to 1600 pounds) of cargo on a floor that stretches six feet front to back, and shelters that cargo and its occupants beneath a roof that provides 59.1 inches of clearance from floor to the ceiling. That’s right, if you’re four-foot-nine or shorter, you can stand up in this vehicle.

By the way, that load floor is a mere two feet above the pavement, so there’s very little lifting involved in stowing that bicycle, camping gear, sporting goods, home improvement hardware or plants for the yard and garden. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Buick LaCrosse

Designers take a global approach to Buick’s newest sedan

By Nina Russin

2010 Buick LaCrosse

The new General Motors brings with it four core brands: Chevrolet and GMC, both volume leaders, and the more upscale Buick and Cadillac. GM execs know that Buick’s turnaround hinges on bringing younger buyers into the showroom. The Enclave crossover vehicle was the first Buick designed for drivers with active lifestyles.

The 2010 LaCrosse sedan appeals to a similar market. It is the first American car built on GM’s global midsize architecture: the same platform used for the Opel Insignia. Buick is targeting two markets: the United States and China. Designers made the LaCrosse four inches longer than the Opel, translating to more room in the back seats and trunk.

The LaCrosse engineering team, based in Europe, included members from North America and Asia. A team in Shanghia designed the car’s interior, while a group out of Detroit penned the exterior. Although the LaCrosse is a huge departure from Buicks that came before it, the team kept the brand’s design heritage in mind, incorporating portholes, the waterfall grille, and sweep spears in the beltlines from classic models. Read the rest of this entry »