2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Value-priced compact sedan

By Larry Edsall

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

It wasn’t that long ago that Chevrolet was known as the producer of terrific pickup trucks and capable sport utility vehicles. But of cars that people might be eager to drive? Well, except for the Corvette, not so much.

That all changed with the introduction of the remarkable new Chevrolet Malibu and the stunning new Chevrolet Camaro. Now it continues with the launch of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.

The Cruze is Chevrolet’s new compact sedan. With the Cruze, Chevrolet challenges on the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra with a product that could easily have been labeled Malibu Junior.

At least that’s our first impression after spending several hours and a couple hundred miles in a couple of Cruzes. First, we drove the just-above-base LT version equipped with the sporty-looking but very reasonably priced RS appearance package. Then, we tried the top-of-the-line LTZ edition with full leather interior.

Also available is the base LS, which despite its $16,995 price tag comes with 10 – that’s right, 10 airbags and a six-month subscription to General Motors’ OnStar system with Turn-by-Turn navigation — and the Cruze Eco, which promises to return 40 miles per gallon when cruising on the freeway. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Turbo-diesel gives Volkswagen’s compact sedan power and fuel economy

By Nina Russin

2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Volkswagen’s newest compact sedan offers budget-conscious buyers a choice of two gasoline engines or two eco-friendly options. At the end of 2010, a turbocharged clean diesel Jetta arrives in US dealerships. A hybrid rolls out for the 2012 model year. The high-performance Jetta GLI arrives the first quarter of next year.

A value-priced base model starts under $16,000. The automaker hopes to conquest customers who couldn’t afford the more expensive outgoing car. Volkswagen simplifies the buying process by reducing build combinations from 148 to 14.

Powered by a two-liter 115-horsepower engine and five-speed manual transmission, the Jetta S comes standard with electronic stability control and complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles.

The volume-leading SE adds a more powerful 2.5-liter engine rated at 170-horsepower. The SE comes with 16-inch wheels as opposed to the 15-inch rims on the base model, upscale upholstery, cruise control, and a 60/40 split rear seat with a pass-through.

A fully-loaded SEL costs just under $25,000. Standard convenience features include keyless entry and start, 17-inch alloy wheels, driver’s seat lumbar adjustment, Bluetooth and iPod interface, a sunroof and navigation system.

A sport-package on SEL lowers the chassis ride height for better high-speed performance, adds sport seats, pedals and door sills.

The upscale model comes with four-wheel disc brakes as opposed to rear drums on the other two grades. Since drum brakes can fade and perform poorly in wet weather, I’d recommend the investment for those who can afford the premium. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Hyundai Sonata SE

Full-sized sedan offers luxury features with value pricing

By Nina Russin

2011 Hyundai Sonata

It’s no surprise that Hyundai continues to post strong sales, despite the tough economy. No company works harder at keeping its customers happy.

This year, Hyundai rolls out the sixth-generation Sonata sedan. An all-new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission offer exceptional fuel economy: 35 miles-per-gallon on the highway. Direct injection reduces parasitic fuel loss by delivering gasoline into the engine cylinders rather than through the valves. Despite a high compression ratio, the engine runs on 87-octane fuel.

Later this year, Hyundai will roll out a turbocharged, high performance model and a Sonata hybrid.

Standard safety features include antilock braking, electronic stability control, six airbags and daytime running lamps.

Monospec pricing for the Sonata simplifies the buying process. A sub-$25,000 MSRP buys a fully-equipped car, including power seats, air conditioning, satellite radio, Bluetooth and iPod interface, keyless start, and a tilt-and-telescopic steering column with redundant controls. Unless the buyer wants leather upholstery or navigation, he doesn’t have to worry about the cost of add-ons.

The 2011 Sonata comes in three grades: GLS, SE and Limited. Of these, the SE (tested) appeals to driving enthusiasts with a sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels. MSRP is $22,595, not including a $720 delivery charge.

Standard safety features include antilock braking, electronic stability control, active front headrests and daytime running lamps. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

New engine technology raises the bar for luxury sedans

By Nina Russin

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

Rarely is a new car engine a game changer, simply because current technology is so good. Despite that, the Ford EcoBoost engine, available in the all-wheel drive version of the Lincoln MKS, goes to the head of the class. The engine is so powerful, smooth and fuel efficient that it raises the bar for every car in the segment.

Twin turbochargers give the EcoBoost V-6 engine power and performance comparable to a V-8. Thanks to its low compression ratio, the EcoBoost can run on regular gas, though premium is recommended for optimum performance.

According to EPA statistics, the engine averages 25 miles-per-gallon on the highway: a mile-per-gallon better than the Duratec V-6 on the front-wheel drive MKS. Not only does the EcoBoost produce 82 more horsepower and 80 more foot-pounds of torque than the Duratec, it compensates for parasitic fuel economy loss from the all-wheel drive.

Engineers have configured the turbochargers to be virtually invisible to the driver, with no turbo-lag. The six-speed automatic transmission is equally seamless: paddle shifters on the steering wheel allow the driver to change gears manually for more aggressive performance.

Because of the turbochargers, the engine develops peak torque as low as 1500 rpm: just off idle. As a result, the MKS can soar up hills and entrance ramps into high-speed traffic. Its power and nimble handling make the MKS feel like a much lighter and smaller car than its 4300-pound curb weight would suggest.

Since the EcoBoost engine is smaller than the Duratec V-6, it’s lighter and more compact, making it easier to package under the hood, and reducing overall curb weight. Since all-wheel drive adds weight to the MKS chassis, weight savings under the hood are important.

Base price on the EcoBoost MKS is $47,760, not including an $825 destination charge. Adaptive park assist on the test car can automatically parallel park the car ($535). Adaptive cruise control automatically maintains a preset distance from the car in front, enabling the driver to use cruise control in urban traffic ($1310).

Navigation is part of a convenience package that also adds an audio upgrade, rearview camera and dual-panel moon roof ($3500). Sirius travel link provides real-time traffic and weather updates. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Sportage

Compact crossover vehicle comes full circle

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Sportage

The Sportage is the most enduring nameplate in the Kia line-up. The 1996 model followed on the heels of the Sephia: Kia’s first car for the North American market.

While Sephia came first, the Sportage was in many ways more significant. It was one of the earliest compact utility vehicles, preceding both the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV. As with the Sephia, the Sportage was also a value story. Buyers formerly limited to used cars could buy a brand new Kia for about the same money.

Though the original Sportage fell short on build quality when compared to more expensive competitors, the company prevailed. A generation of drivers came to love the Korean automaker for its value pricing strategy, as well as its commitment to continuous improvement.

The second-generation Sportage that rolled out in 2004 was a solid, attractive car with excellent build quality and much-enhanced performance. While the new car was unibody as compared to the body-on-frame original model, it maintained a similar mission: offering moderate off-road capability in a compact and versatile package.

An all-new Kia Sportage rolls out this summer for the 2011 model year. Kia has changed the model designation from sport-utility vehicle to crossover, reflecting a stronger focus on passenger car performance, with less concern for off-road capability.

The new model is slightly longer, wider and lower than the former car, giving it better aerodynamics and improved handling at speed. The cargo area is slightly larger according to EPA estimates.

An available all-wheel drive system gives the new Sportage all-season capability. The all-wheel drive system can deliver up to fifty percent of engine power to the rear wheels, as road conditions demand. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR

Midsized sedan gets refreshed styling for 2010

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan Altima Sedan

The Nissan Altima is a bread-and-butter sedan that’s remarkably un-bread-and-butterish. Designers pulled elements from the 370Z lexicon to give the Altima enduring style that makes sense in the Nissan family.

For 2010, the Altima gets a redesigned front end: a slight hood bulge and more aggressive grille give the exterior a more youthful appearance. Nissan’s updated navigation system comes with a 9.3 gigabyte hard drive for downloading music. XM traffic and weather updates minimize delays on crowded freeways.

Buyers can chose from two engines: a fuel-efficient four cylinder with 32 mile-per-gallon highway fuel economy, or a more powerful V-6 that gives driving enthusiasts something to look forward to on the weekend.

A speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering system provides positive on-center response at speed, while producing enough assist for parallel parking in tight spaces. Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel antilock braking stop the car on a dime, even on rain or snow-covered roads.

Base price on the 3.5 SR is $24,520, not including a $720 destination charge. A premium package on the test car adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bluetooth interface, satellite radio, a USB port, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a four-inch display in the dash, and air conditioning vents behind the center console ($2380).

A sport package dresses up the exterior with a rear spoiler, replaces the standard halogen headlamps with brighter bi-xenon beams, and adds dual-zone temperature controls ($2370). The technology package which includes the hard-drive navigation system costs $1780. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey

Sport sedan for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

Infiniti G37 Sedan

The G37S melds the stylish exterior of the G coupe with four-door practicality. Its performance and handling is pure sports car.

In the early days of open-wheel racing, race cars had two seats: one for the driver, and a second for the riding mechanic. The G37S strikes me as a race car with seating for three riding mechanics.

Power comes from a 3.7-liter V-6 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission. The driver can shift manually using the shift lever or formula-style paddles on the steering wheel.

Large vented disc brakes stop the car on a dime, while standard 17-inch alloy wheels provide a wide, stable footprint at speed. Read the rest of this entry »

Pedestrian Detection Debuts in Volvo S60

New sedan automatically brakes for pedestrians

2011 Volvo S60

The 2011 Volvo S60 rolls out this fall, with a ground-breaking safety system that will make the streets safer for pedestrians. Pedestrian detection is the newest component of Volvo’s city safety technology. City safety, which debuted in the XC60, automatically applies the brakes if the driver fails to see a vehicle stopped ahead.

Pedestrian detection takes city safety one step further by applying the brakes if a pedestrian moves in front of the car. The system uses a radar sensor in the car’s grille and a camera in front of the rearview mirror to monitor for pedestrians.

The radar device detects objects within a sixty degree range: about five degrees to either side of the headlamps. If the on-board camera identifies the object in front of the car as a pedestrian and the driver fails to slow down, the vehicle automatically applies full braking.

At this point, the detection system cannot recognize bicyclists or small animals. Volvo engineers are currently working on expanding system capabilities to protect these groups as well.

Pedestrian detection can bring cars travelling under twenty miles-per-hour to a complete halt, and slow vehicles moving at higher rates of speed by as much as 22 miles-per-hour.

Volvo’s research indicates that eleven percent of all traffic fatalities in the US are pedestrians. Pedestrian detection has the ability to prevent or greatly mitigate pedestrian injuries caused by inattentive drivers.

2010 Honda Element EX 4WD

Dog-friendly accessories makes travel safer for man’s best friend

By Nina Russin

Dog-Friendly Honda Element

The Element is Honda’s toolbox on wheels for active lifestyles. Last fall, product planners added a “dog-friendly” edition for the upscale EX grade. The idea is to make travel more comfortable for dogs, with a rear kennel that keeps animals safe in the event of a collision.

A fan in back keeps the animals cool, while a ramp that stows under the kennel eases access and egress for older dogs who suffer from hip dysplasia. Washable covers on the rear seats and rubber floor mats make it easy to hose down the interior. It’s a great feature for buyers who load mountain bikes into the car, or runners who carry a little dirt from the trailhead with them. Read the rest of this entry »