2009 Ford Edge Sport AWD

Sport package gives Ford’s crossover more style plus enhanced performance

By Nina Russin

2009 Ford Edge Sport

This year, Ford adds a Sport grade to its five-passenger Edge: the all-wheel drive crossover vehicle appeals to urbanites needing interior versatility and four-season performance. Ground effects and a standard rear spoiler give the Edge Sport a unique exterior, while available 22-inch wheels with Pirelli Scorpion tires add a huge footprint.

A sport-tuned suspension works with the all-wheel drive to enhance handling on twisting, two-lane roads. Inside, standard Ford Sync and ambient lighting appeal to tech-savvy buyers, with a downloadable hard drive and standard 911 assist.

Standard convenience features include Ford’s keypad keyless entry system, climate control, built-in compass, air conditioning, four 12-volt outlets, and a six-way power driver’s seat.

Test drive in Northern California

A four-day trip to Los Altos was the ideal opportunity to test the Edge Sport. Day trips to Palo Alto, San Francisco and Half Moon Bay offered up a combination of highways, surface streets, and challenging mountain roads. 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 »

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 »

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 »

2009 Toyota Venza

Four-cylinder crossover combines exceptional fuel economy with a versatile interior

By Nina Russin

2009 Toyota Venza

The Venza fills the gap between Toyota’s mid-sized Camry sedan and the Highlander sport-utility vehicle. Toyota calls the Venza a five-door sedan because it rides on the Camry platform. But it’s really more of a crossover vehicle in terms of its appearance and function.

Last fall, I had the chance to drive the six-cylinder Venza in southern Pennsylvania during a media preview. Recently, I drove the four-cylinder version on a weekend trip between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

While the four-cylinder Venza lacks the power and towing capability of the V-6, its fuel economy is significantly better. The Venza is a fairly heavy car: curb weight on the front-wheel drive model is 3760 pounds: 3945 pounds for the four-cylinder all-wheel drive model.

I wanted to determine whether the smaller engine would have the power to keep up with high-speed traffic, and have adequate torque to perform emergency maneuvers. The speed limit between Phoenix and Tucson is 75: the average speed of traffic on the 10 freeway is about 80 miles-per-hour.

The other big difference between the current test drive and my experience last fall was the climate. The weather in Pennsylvania during the media preview was a pleasant 70 degrees. As I write this story, the temperature outside is 114 degrees: hot enough to melt running shoes in the trunk of a car, and make the average 12-volt battery come unglued. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Nissan Sentra 2.0 S

Nissan infuses its compact sedan with youthful styling and sporty performance

By Nina Russin

2009 Nissan Sentra

Whenever I get in a Nissan, I’m reminded of the company’s talent for infusing its cars with elan. Nissan maintains its competitive edge with distinctive designs, and cargo systems that appeal to buyers with active lifestyles.

The most obvious example is the Xterra gear rack: if I had a nickel for every triathlete who’s purchased the SUV because of its wet suit cage, I’d probably be rich. The roof rack on the Frontier pickup is another good example.

The Sentra compact sedan is a value-packed offering with styling and versatility rarely found in its segment. Designers used similar jewel-type headlamps and taillamps to the larger Altima, to serve as  focal points for the sporty exterior. The 140-horsepower, four-cylinder engine has surprisingly powerful performance, especially on the low end.

The interior is spacious, attractive and versatile, with a rear pass-through that extends the cargo floor for long items such as skis, snowboards or golf bags. An available cargo organizer adds utility to the trunk, as well as a hidden storage space. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Scion xD

Scion’s baby box is a super value

By Nina Russin

2009 Scion xD

Last year, Scion replaced the subcompact xA with the xD, a car that looks very much like a scaled-down xB. After driving the 2008 model, I was struck by the night-and-day difference between the xD and the car it replaced. While the xA aspired towards buyers with active lifestyles, the xD embraced them.

Not only does the xD have a more refined powertrain; its versatile, thoughtful interior is ideal for carrying large cargo. The xD incorporates all of the hot button features for millennial buyers, including iPod connectivity, available satellite radio and navigation.

At the same time, the Scion brand carries forth Toyota’s reputation for quality and dependability. The factory warranty includes free scheduled maintenance for the 5000 and 10,000 mile intervals.

Since the xD is a light car, it can run well on a relatively small engine and maintain good fuel economy. The four-speed automatic model tested averages 28 miles-per-gallon according to EPA estimates: my fuel economy for the test drive was slightly higher.

Base price is $15,450, making the Scion xD an ALV super value. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Infiniti G37x Coupe AWD

Infiniti upgrades the G with a seven-speed automatic and available all-wheel drive

By Nina Russin

2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe

Last year, Infiniti introduced a new G sport coupe, with a more powerful engine and enhanced steering technology. The 2009 G37 comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission that replaces last year’s six-speed box. The new transmission yields better fuel economy, and has downshift rev matching for enhanced performance. Available all-wheel drive improves the coupe’s performance on wet roads.

This week, I drove the 2009 all-wheel drive model in and around Phoenix, Arizona. While I wasn’t able to evaluate the G37’s wet weather performance, I tested Infiniti’s active steer and electronic torque distribution systems on some two-lane roads outside of town.

As with its predecessor, the G is a front mid-ship platform, optimizing its front-to-rear weight balance. The coupe sits lower and has a wider track than the model it replaced, for better high-speed handling and improved steering response. Standard 18-inch alloy wheels give the G a generous footprint. All models come with four-wheel vented disc brakes and standard four-channel antilock braking. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Volkswagen CC Sport

Sport sedan with coupe styling

By Nina Russin

2009 Volkswagen CC

The Volkswagen CC is a car that turns heads: a sedan disguised as a coupe. A sporty interior provides seating for four. A small pass-through between the rear seats makes it possible to load skis, snowboards, or other long cargo inside.

Despite its luxurious appearance, the CC is an ALV best value: the Sport grade tested starts at $27,100. Standard equipment includes steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth interface, power heated front seats, automatic climate control, and remote keyless entry.

The best part of the CC lies under the hood: a turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, rated at 200 horsepower. Direct injection gives the engine exceptional throttle response. Zero-to-sixty acceleration with a six-speed automatic transmission is 7.4 seconds.

Buyers who want more power and four-season capability can upgrade to a 280-horsepower V6 engine with available all-wheel drive. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Toyota Corolla XRS

Sport-tuned compact sedan

By Nina Russin

2009 Toyota Corolla XRS

No car in Toyota’s line-up exemplifies its core values better than the Corolla. After forty years, the Corolla has become a fixture on American highways: the iconic compact sedan.

While Toyota has maintained its customer base through value-focused marketing, it has also widened the Corolla’s footprint by adding the Matrix five-door model, and XRS sport grade. The XRS, available on both the sedan and hatchback, appeals to driving enthusiasts with a more powerful engine, special trim and sport-tuned suspension.

Last year, Toyota introduced the tenth-generation Corolla, with a new 1.8-liter and reconfigured 2.4-liter engine. The XRS comes standard with the larger engine and choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.

Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are an upgrade from 15 and 16-inch rims on other grades. The XRS also comes with standard four-wheel disc brakes, giving it better all-weather stopping power than the rear drums on the S, LE and XLE models. Read the rest of this entry »