Jeep Upgrades Patriot and Wrangler for 2011

Sport-utility vehicles get refreshed styling; more upscale interiors

2011 Jeep Patriot

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has created momentum in the showroom, boosting sales by 65 percent in September compared to last year. Product planners hope refreshed Patriot and Wrangler models will make the buzz about Jeep even stronger.

A new Patriot model called the Latitude offers enhanced content over the base grade, giving customers for the compact sport-utility vehicle more bang for the buck. Pricing for the front-wheel Latitude begins under $16,000.

Designers revised the Patriot’s front and rear fascias to give the truck a more substantial look, added standard 17-inch alloy wheels for the Latitude, and redesigned the seven-slot grille. Fog lamps are now inboard to do a better job of lighting. A fatter rear fascia conceals the muffler which is now painted black. Upscale Patriot grades get chrome exhaust tips.

Inside the Patriot features soft-touch door panels, a four-spoke steering wheel with redundant audio and Bluetooth controls and new cloth interior.

The four-wheel drive Patriot with an off-road package meets Jeep’s trail-rated standards. All trail-rated Jeeps must be able to negotiate the challenging Rubicon Trail outside Lake Tahoe, California.

Engineers re-tuned the Patriot’s suspension for reduced noise, vibration and harshness. Buyers can choose between two four-cylinder engines and a five-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission. Jeep builds the Patriot at its Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lexus RX 350 AWD

Mid-sized crossover raises the bar for performance

By Nina Russin

2010 Lexus RX 350

Sometimes it’s not a single feature that elevates a car above its competitors as much as small refinements. Finesse separates a great ownership experience from a mediocre one. I thought about this as I sat behind the wheel of the third-generation Lexus RX 350 in gridlocked Friday afternoon traffic.

I had jumped into the car following a three-hour flight from Phoenix to Indianapolis. After escaping rush-hour traffic on the loop freeway around the city, I still had a hundred miles to get to my destination: Cincinnati.

Behind the wheel of the Lexus, I felt safe, comfortable and connected. Safe, thanks to the standard vehicle dynamics management system that integrates antilock braking, traction and stability control in a manner that’s invisible to the driver.

Comfortable because the power driver’s seat includes an adjustable lumbar control that keeps the muscles in my back from tightening up. Satellite radio provides hundreds of channels of commercial-free programming, meeting all of my musical needs.

Most important, I also felt connected via the available navigation system with real-time traffic updates. The driver operates the system using a mouse device on the center console that is completely intuitive to anybody familiar with computers. Standard Safety Connect provides automatic collision notification to area police and emergency medical personnel.

Together, these attributes send the 2010 RX 350 to the head of the pack. The midsized crossover vehicle that started the trend twelve years ago remains the one to beat. Rather than reinventing the wheel, engineers refined their winning formula with a more powerful engine, more fuel-efficient transmission, and more responsive all-wheel drive system. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Buick Lacrosse CXS

Featured-packed luxury sedan from Buick appeals to a new generation

by Jim Woodman

Buick LaCrosse CXS

On a recent visit to Miami, I had the opportunity to drive the 2010 Buick Lacrosse CXS and came away duly impressed. Most telling was when I picked up one of my sisters at the airport and, after a few minutes of idle chit chat, she commented on how luxurious the car was. “What kind of car is this?” It’s a Buick Lacrosse, I explained.

“This is a Buick?” she replied. “I had no idea they made cars this nice inside.”

It got me thinking either Buick has done a lousy job at marketing or old biases die very hard.

Before you think this is all about me blowing smoke up the Lacrosse’s tail pipe, I’m by no means suggesting this car is a runaway segment leader. I’m simply trying to make the point that GM, and Buick specifically, has made tremendous strides in appealing to a hipper, younger and a more tech savvy audience whose idea of roughing it is going without a café latte while camping in their air-conditioned RV.

Okay, enough rambling about Buick’s terrible brand perception and on to the whole point of this article.

While certainly borrowing a lot of ideas from Cadillac, the body style is uniquely Buick. The roofline slopes back toward the trunk and looks a little bit like a Lexus GS sedan. While I really like the look, the only slight negative is that it leaves smaller rear windows and more of a blind spot if you’re doing a quick head check. Though if you adjust your mirrors correctly, blind spots aren’t an issue. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Acura MDX Advance

All-wheel drive gives Acura’s luxury SUV four-season performance

By Nina Russin

2010 Acura MDX

Acura’s sport-utility vehicle for active families has come of age. The original Acura MDX rolled out in 2001, combining luxury performance and four-season capability. A 3.2-liter V-6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission produced 240 horsepower, rivaling some competitive V-8 products. Three rows of seating held up to seven passengers.

While the MDX filled the needs of a growing market, the product lacked refinement. The seats weren’t particularly comfortable, and the cargo area was difficult to configure. All of that has changed with the current model. In addition, engineers refined the powertrain with a more powerful, fuel efficient V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Acura’s super-handling all-wheel drive system distributes power between the front and rear axles as well as between right and left wheels. By controlling yaw, the all-wheel drive system reduces understeer to improve the car’s cornering capability, especially on wet and snowy roads.

Designers refreshed the MDX exterior for 2010, and added an advance package that includes 19-inch wheels and tires, and an active damping system that instantaneously adjusts the suspension for the road conditions. Read the rest of this entry »

ALV 2011

Expanded program adds driving instruction, tire safety demonstrations

By Nina Russin

Photo by Larry Edsall

At the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year ride-and-drive program this year, athletes found themselves not only behind the wheel, but in the classroom and on the test track as part of an enhanced ALV event. ALV is the only car-of-the-year program that puts athletes behind the wheel, driving and voting on vehicles that best meet their lifestyles. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring

Two-seat roadster makes sport of the daily commute

By Nina Russin

2010 Mazda MX-5

Webster’s dictionary defines a sports car as “a small, high-powered automobile with long, low lines, usually seating two persons.” The dictionary is wrong. A car’s design and the size of its engine don’t necessarily qualify it as a sports car.

I mean no offense here to Noah Webster. But to be honest, Webster lived in the mid-1800s, when there were very few automobiles: none of which could be construed as sports cars.

Very simply, a sports car makes a sport of driving. While the Mazda MX-5 may not be the most expensive or most powerful sports car on the market, it is as pure an embodiment of the breed as anything on the road today. For over twenty years, Mazda has celebrated the pure joy of getting behind the wheel with a two-seat roadster that offers exceptional handling for an affordable price.

Last year, designers introduced a new-generation MX-5 Miata with fresh styling and enhanced performance. Power comes from a two-liter four-cylinder engine, mated to a five or six-speed manual transmission. A composite intake manifold is tuned to produce sound akin to classic British roadsters: the original inspiration for the car.

Base price for the Grand Touring model is $28,400, not including the $750 delivery charge. A premium package on the test car adds keyless entry and start, Bluetooth interface, xenon headlamps, electronic stability control and satellite radio ($1650). A limited-slip differential costs $500, bringing the price as tested to $31,300. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec

Value meets style and performance

By Nina Russin

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Hyundai’s success with the midsize Genesis sedan inspired product planners to introduce two-door version. The R-Spec model takes the stylish coupe and adds a dose of performance, with a turbocharged two-liter engine, six-speed manual gearbox, special suspension, wheels and tires.

Turbocharging gives the four-cylinder engine exceptional low-end power. The engine develops peak torque, 223 foot-pounds, at 2000 rpm. As a result, the coupe prances off the line past other vehicles, and can soar into high-speed traffic. Zero-to-sixty acceleration is under six seconds.

A short-throw shift lever allows the driver to transition quickly between gears. Two large overdrive gears maximize fuel economy on the highway.

A strut tower brace contributes to overall chassis rigidity for enhanced steering feedback. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels with low-profile summer performance tires give the R-Spec Genesis a wide, stable footprint. Brembo four-piston brakes can handle the demands of a race track and stop the car on a dime.

Despite its high-performance accouterments, the Genesis coupe is also a great value: under $25,000 including delivery charges. Hyundai’s industry-leading warranty contains maintenance and repair costs, making the R-Spec coupe a realistic possibility for car enthusiasts on a budget. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Nissan Frontier 4X4 Pro4X

Midsize pickup truck is big on off-road fun

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier is a right-sized truck that’s maneuverable in dense traffic, yet big enough for serious cargo. A 261-horsepower V-6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission produce plenty of torque for acceleration and towing.

A quiet timing chain is more durable than a belt, saving buyers an expensive repair at about 60,000 miles. The four-wheel drive Frontier tows up to 6100 pounds.

A two-speed transfer case on the four-wheel drive model gives the Frontier true off-road capability. Transferring between two and four-wheel drive is easy, thanks to a rotary control on the instrument panel.

The crew cab truck seats up to five passengers. Despite its tough-looking exterior, the Frontier is available with a host of comfort and convenience features, including an MP3-compatible audio system, Bluetooth interface, heated front seats and a power moonroof.

An optional tailgate extender adds extra length to the cargo bed when necessary. Bed rails and adjustable tie-down cleats secure large cargo. An optional roof rack with crossbars can be fitted with a variety of overhead carriers. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Suzuki Kizashi SE AWD

Suzuki packs a punch with value and performance

By Nina Russin

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

The Kizashi is Suzuki’s newest flagship: a midsize sedan that the automaker hopes will extend its global reach. Because midsize sedans outsell all other passenger cars, the segment holds allure for companies trying to build volume. But entering it means swimming in shark-infested waters: full of heavy hitters such as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Acura TSX.

While Suzuki can’t match the panache of some European luxury brands, it does offer a significant value to customers who seek style and performance on a budget. A base price of $22,749 for the all-wheel drive test car includes such upscale features as keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate controls, three-position driver’s seat memory, and an iPod compatible audio system.

All models come with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 185 horsepower, and the choice of either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The front-wheel drive manual model accelerates from zero-to-sixty in 7.4 seconds.

This week, I had the opportunity to drive the SE: one of four available grades. The continuously-variable automatic transmission has a manual gear select mode, allowing the driver to make the most of the engine’s available power.

Because the Kizashi comes with a large roster of comfort and convenience features, floor mats and premium paint are the only options on the test car. Suzuki includes the delivery charge in the base price: MSRP is $23,004. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Toyota Venza Five-Door Sedan

All-wheel drive adds four-season performance for active lifestyles

By Nina Russin

2010 Toyota Venza

The five-passenger Toyota Venza combines elements from the Camry and Highlander in a versatile, compact platform.

Available four and six-cylinder engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission, and a choice of front or all-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive four-cylinder Venza is the fuel economy king, averaging 29 miles-per-gallon on the highway.

The all-wheel drive V-6 averages 25 miles-per-gallon on the highway, but offers significantly more horsepower and torque. It can tow up to 3500 pounds when equipped with the tow-prep option, meeting our ALV minimum standards.

This week I spent time in the all-wheel drive V-6 Venza on an extended road trip through the Midwest. The drive route included highway, rural roads and city streets.

During the week-long trip, I drove through several large downpours on hilly terrain, putting the all-wheel drive‘s electronic torque distribution to the test. The route included every type of road surface imaginable, thanks to an abundance of construction, and the upper Midwest’s infamous potholes.

Base price on the test car is $29,550, not including a $750 destination charge. A rear seat DVD system, audio upgrade, convenience and security packages bring the price as tested to $34,759. Read the rest of this entry »