2010 Lexus IS 250C

Convertible hard top is the third member of the IS family

By Nina Russin

2010 Lexus IS C

Lexus introduced the original IS series for young driving enthusiasts moving up from Toyota. The current models appeal to a wider audience, with more upscale styling and a choice of two direct injection V-6 engines.

Last year, Lexus diversified the IS family by adding the high-performance IS F and the IS C: a two-door convertible hard top with seating for four passengers. The open-air IS is Lexus’ second convertible, following on the heels of the high-luxury SC430.

A sub $40,000 base price makes the IS C considerably more affordable. Both the 2.5 and 3.5-liter V-6 engines provide spirited performance. The larger V-6 rated at 306 horsepower delivers sub-six second zero-to-sixty acceleration. The 2.5-liter engine averages 29 miles-per-gallon on the highway, while propelling the IS C from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in under 8 seconds.

The IS 350C comes with a six-speed automatic transmission: formula-style shift paddles on the steering wheel  give the driver additional control on challenging roads. The IS 250C is available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or the six-speed automatic transmission.

An all-aluminum hard top deploys at the touch of a button. The air conditioning system automatically adjusts temperature and air flow out of the vents when the top is down to keep passengers comfortable. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Acura ZDX Tech

Five-passenger crossover vehicle with four-season performance

By Nina Russin

2010 Acura ZDX

Crossovers have replaced sport-utility vehicles as the go-to cars for young, active buyers: the more androgynous the styling, the better. The new Acura ZDX is a perfect example: a five-passenger crossover vehicle with visual affinity to a sports coupe.

While the ZDX may look like a dressed up version of the Honda Crosstour, it is a completely different car. The Crosstour is based on the front-wheel drive Honda Accord, while the ZDX is based on the Acura MDX: a dedicated all-wheel drive design. Power comes from a 300-horsepower V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission with manual gear selection.

Acura’s super-handling all-wheel drive can transfer engine power side-to-side as well as between axles to enhance traction in challenging conditions. Stabilizer bars on both axles keep the chassis flat in the corners. Aluminum wheels minimize unsprung weight for more nimble handling.

Rather than confusing buyers with an abundance of option packages, Acura offers three trim levels: each fully equipped with comfort and convenience features. A tech package adds navigation, a rearview camera, keyless ignition, sport seats, an audio upgrade and dual-zone climate control to the base model.  The advance package adds adaptive cruise control, active suspension damping, a blind spot monitoring system, upgraded leather upholstery, and collision mitigated braking.

All models come with standard nineteen-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlamps, a high-flow dual exhaust system, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio controls and Bluetooth interface, satellite radio, USB and AUX port connectivity.

The test car is the mid-grade model with the tech package, priced at $49,995 not including the $810 delivery charge. Standard safety features include front, side and side curtain airbags, stability control, daytime running lamps, active front head restraints, and a body structure designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Honda Crosstour EX-L

Accord with a twist

By Nina Russin

2010 Honda Crosstour

Contrary to its conservative image, Honda is a risk taker. The first-generation Insight, Element, Ridgeline and FCX Clarity are all examples of what I mean. In each case, Honda reached outside the box to create a new type of vehicle, with a very specific buyer in mind.

Think about how many box-shaped crossovers rolled out on the heels of the Element. The Insight and FCX Clarity are alternative fuel vehicles whose cutting edge technology can live in the real world. The Ridgeline is the first pickup truck with a trunk.

The Honda Crosstour is a similar endeavor: a crossover vehicle based on the Accord that doesn’t look or act like anything else on the road. Designed for buyers with active lifestyles, the Crosstour comes with cylinder deactivation for enhanced fuel economy, available four-wheel drive, and a versatile cargo area with under-floor storage.

A removable cargo tray fits into the under-floor storage bay. Made of easy-to-clean plastic, it’s ideal for carrying dirty trail shoes or wet suits.

The Crosstour’s aerodynamic profile contributes to overall fuel economy, minimizes wind turbulence around the cabin, and enhances down-force for better high-speed performance.

Base price for the EX-L (tested) is $36,220: a bit higher than what one might expect for a five-door hatchback. The upscale grade comes fully loaded with comfort and convenience features, including navigation, Bluetooth interface, heated seats, satellite radio, dual-zone climate control, and a 360-watt audio system. Buyers who don’t want leather trim might prefer the base EX, which has similar features, but is not available with navigation, four-wheel drive or the backup camera. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Mazda CX-9

Seven-passenger crossover vehicle gets refreshed styling

By Nina Russin

2010 Mazda CX-9

Let’s face it: in the real world, everyone has to carry stuff. Rich people can afford to own a family car for everyday use, and a sports car to use on the weekend. But in the current economy, most of us are happy to own one car in good working order.

Since a new car is typically the second biggest purchase an individual makes in his or her lifetime, it’s nice if that car makes its owner happy. That’s where the Mazda CX-9 comes in.

Mazda’s seven-passenger crossover vehicle is a stylish and fun to drive. With pricing starting under $30,000 for the base model, it’s also affordable.

This year, designers refreshed the CX-9 exterior with a new grille and front lamps, and new trim in back. The interior gets new chrome accents, different fabric, and a more versatile center console.

Power comes from a 3.7-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The Mazda CX-9 comes in three grades: sport, touring and grand touring. Buyers in four-season climates can add all-wheel drive, giving the CX-9 better traction as compared to the front-wheel drive model. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara Limited

Value-packed compact sport-utility vehicle

By Nina Russin

2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Despite being one of the older models in its vehicle line-up, the Grand Vitara remains one of Suzuki’s best products. The compact sport-utility with true off-road capability embodies the automaker’s core values: fun, adventure and affordability.

While Suzuki’s footprint in the US car market is relatively small, the company has accrued legions of fans for its motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and marine products. Suzuki customers take their playtime seriously; the Grand Vitara was designed to meet their automotive needs.

It also fits their budgets. The limited grade is the most upscale of four available trim levels. Yet base price for the four-wheel drive model is just under $27,000.

Standard comfort and convenience features include navigation with real-time traffic, news and weather updates, heated leather seats, automatic air conditioning, a MP3 compatible audio system, cruise control and a tilt steering wheel. The Grand Vitara’s high content level saves buyers the hassle of wading through myriad option packages at the dealership.

There is no destination charge, further simplifying the buying progress. Suzuki’s seven year/100,000 mile warranty is a bargain as well, and is fully transferable. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Audi S4 Sedan

Supercharged V-6 engine takes A4 performance to the next level

By Nina Russin

2010 Audi S4

The Audi S4 is the high-performance sibling to the A4 sport sedan, with a more powerful engine, special wheels and styling for the true driving enthusiast. A supercharged V-6 engine in lieu of the A4’s two-liter block produces 333 horsepower and 325 foot-pounds of torque. Not only does supercharging enhance throttle response; the blower reduces power loss at high altitudes.

Buyers can choose between a standard six-speed manual gearbox and a new seven-speed automatic transmission. Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system is standard, transferring engine power to the wheels with the best traction.

A unique front grille, quad exhaust pipes, special badging and 18-inch aluminum wheels dress up the sedan’s exterior. Inside, the S4 comes with leather sport seats, a black headliner, brushed aluminum trim and more unique badging.

Base price is $45,900, not including an $825 destination charge. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Full-sized sport-utility vehicle tuned for performance

By Nina Russin

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

The Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the fastest vehicle in the Jeep lineup: a different kind of animal than what the brand is known for. Chrysler’s street racing engineers utilized four-wheel drive to enhance power as opposed to off-road handling, delivering a zero-to-sixty time under five seconds.

Special ground effects limit the SRT8 model to paved roads. I had difficulty backing out of my driveway without hitting the front fascia, designed to enhance airflow, on the apron. Twenty-inch forged aluminum wheels come with run-flat tires can run up to fifty miles with no air pressure on the highway. The tires eliminate weight from a spare, but are completely impractical off-road.

Having said that, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 fits most of the other squares active buyers need to fill. It can hold up to five passengers, has a large enough cargo area to hold a bicycle, and tows up to 3500 pounds, meeting our minimum ALV standards.

Best of all, the hot rod Grand Cherokee is a hoot to drive. While Jeep enthusiasts will immediately see differences in appearance between the stock Grand Cherokee and its SRT cousin, most drivers cannot. There’s nothing more fun than pulling up next to a pony car at a stoplight, and blowing it away off the line. I found the stunt so entertaining that I had to repeat it half a dozen times during my test drive.

Base price on the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is $43,325, not including a $780 destination charge. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Acura TL SH-AWD

Luxury sedan has the heart of a sports car

By Nina Russin

2010 Acura TL SH-AWD

It took me about thirty seconds behind the wheel of the Acura TL to conclude that its development team had hit their target spot on. With its sleek styling and precision handling, the TL is a sexy, hot performer. New this year is an available six-speed manual gearbox, giving driving enthusiasts better opportunity to enjoy the TL’s wide array of talents.

All-wheel drive enhances four-season performance by automatically delivering engine power to the wheels with the best traction. It also enhances the sedan’s steering feedback on challenging roads.

The new manual gearbox is lighter than the standard five-speed automatic. A short-throw shifter makes it easy for the driver to snap between gears. While the close-ratio box is engineered for high-performance driving, the gears have plenty of range to function well in stop-and-go traffic.

A self-adjusting clutch reduces fatigue during commutes. Cars equipped with the manual gearbox come with a hill-start assist feature, which automatically applies the brakes on hills to keep the sedan from rolling backwards.

The SH-AWD grade comes with a 3.7-liter V6: the larger of two available engines. The bigger engine adds 25 horsepower and 19 foot-pounds of torque compared to the 3.5-liter engine. The manual transmission improves the bigger block’s fuel economy, making it comparable to the smaller engine with the five-speed automatic transmission. 

Standard nineteen-inch wheels give the TL a wide, stable footprint at speed. The test car comes with Z-rated summer performance tires. Buyers in four-season climates should expect to purchase a set of winter tires for the snow season. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Jeep Liberty Sport 4X4

Mid-sized sport utility vehicle with full off-road capability

By Nina Russin

2010 Jeep Liberty

Off-road driving is the heart and soul of Jeep, going back to the brand’s World War II Willys roots. Today most models in the Jeep line-up still carry the automaker’s trail rating, which certifies capability to traverse extreme off-road terrain and ford deep water.

The Liberty is Jeep’s mid-sized sport-utility vehicle, positioned between the compact Wrangler and full-sized Grand Cherokee. Its longer wheelbase makes it slightly less maneuverable on trails than the Wrangler; none-the-less, the Liberty is fully off-road capable.

The Liberty’s larger passenger and cargo areas suits families with children better than the Wrangler. At the same time, the Liberty is small and light enough to offer decent fuel economy: about 17 miles-per-gallon on average.

The Liberty can easily hold a couple of road bikes with the second-row seats folded flat. An optional towing prep package gives the SUV 5000 pounds of towing capacity: well in excess of our minimum ALV standards.

The current model is the second generation, which rolled out two years ago. This year, engineers enhanced the Liberty’s gas mileage with a fuel shut-off feature that cuts fuel during deceleration. The concept is similar to that used on the Dodge Durango hybrid, which cuts out fuel delivery to certain cylinders when power needs are low. An “eco” lamp in the gauge cluster helps the driver adjust his style to maximize fuel economy. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Cadillac CTS-V

Potent sport sedan

By Nina Russin

2010 Cadillac CTS-V

Driving the CTS-V can make the sun shine brighter and the road irresistibly beckoning. It’s that good. The tuner version of Cadillac’s sport sedan is basically a race car with back seats. With 556 horses under the hood, the Cadillac CTS-V is the Corvette Z06 of the sedan world.

To attribute the CTS-V’s other worldly performance solely to its engine would be doing the car a disservice. Features such as magnetic ride control transmit power to the ground in a highly refined fashion.

Having said that, the Cadillac CTS-V is not a car for everyone. In addition to its high-luxury  price tag, the chassis is engineered for speed rather than versatility.

It’s not particularly suited for snow. Buyers who plan to drive the car in the winter should expect to invest in a spare set of rims and snow tires. The standard performance tires are too hard in cold weather to provide adequate traction.

Ground effects enhance high-speed handling, but make it virtually impossible to take the sedan off pavement without damaging components. Read the rest of this entry »