2011 Nissan Leaf SL

Electric car seats up to five passengers

By Nina Russin

2011 Nissan Leaf

Thanks to the advent of lithium-ion batteries, Nissan’s electric car has 100-mile range between charges: enough to function for the average commuter. The lightweight, compact battery pack located beneath the floor of the car doesn’t add a significant amount of weight to the vehicle; nor does it impinge on passenger space.

A level one 120-volt port set comes with the car, enabling the owner to recharge his Leaf by plugging into a conventional household outlet. Buyers will probably opt to install a 220-volt level two port at home, which cuts recharging time from 20 to eight hours. Nissan estimates the cost of installing the level two port at about $2000.

The SL is the more upscale of two trim levels, beginning with the SV priced at $32,780. MSRP for the SL is $33,720, not including an $850 destination charge. All models come with keyless ignition, an AM/FM/CD audio system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, navigation, a rearview camera, USB port, power windows, and Carwings. The free iPhone and Droid app enables Leaf owners to turn on the air conditioning, start and monitor charging from a smart phone.

A quick charge port on the test car interfaces with a 440-volt commercial quick charge port ($700). The level three port recharges the battery in 30 minutes. Floor mats and a cargo mat add $170 to the MSRP, bringing the price as tested to $35,440. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Dodge Caravan Mainstreet

Minivan is a best value for active families

By Nina Russin

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan

In this challenging economic environment, families trying to maximize their  budgets should re-familiarize themselves with minivans. Few other vehicles with a seven-passenger capacity can match their value-pricing or fuel economy. The Dodge Caravan Mainstreet which I drove this past week is a case in point.

Base price for the Mainstreet with fold-in-floor seating is $25,995, not including the $835 destination charge. The Mainstreet is not a base-level vehicle: convenience features include tri-zone climate control, remote keyless entry, a six-speaker MP3 compatible audio system, 12-volt power points front and rear, and power windows, mirrors and door locks. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI SE

All-new midsized sedan includes a clean diesel variant

By Nina Russin

2012 Volkswagen Passat

The 2012 Passat is the first car to roll out from Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tennessee assembly plant. Both the car and the brand new facility which produces it are part of an aggressive strategy to build US sales. Only North American models are produced in Chattanooga. Volkswagen expects sales from the United States, Canada and Mexico will match the plant’s capacity for 150,000 units per year. This would match current sales volume for the Jetta.

As the automaker’s midsized offering, the new sedan gives Volkswagen the opportunity to conquest buyers from competitors such as the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata and Chevrolet Malibu with three engine offerings, including a fuel-thrifty turbo-diesel.

Styling for North American models varies slightly from those sold in Europe. For example, there is an extra piece of glass between the rear window and rear pillar.

The 2012 model is longer than the outgoing car by four-inches, which translates to more rear legroom. Designers gave the new sedan an aggressive front end with large wrap-around headlamps, connected to equally stylish tail lamps by a distinct “tornado line.” Volkswagen wants to appeal to younger, highly educated buyers with a muscular exterior which reflects the high-tech powertrains underneath.

The three available engines include the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder block as the one in the new Jetta, a two-liter turbo diesel engine, and a narrow-angle V-6. Transmissions include a six-speed manual gearbox on the base 2.5-liter model or optional six-speed automatic; and a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic on the 2.0-liter Passat TDI. The V-6 comes exclusively with the automatic transmission. 

Engineers narrowed the number of build options on the 2012 cars to fifteen: a significant reduction from 128 build combinations on the 2008 model. There are three trim offerings on the 2.5-liter sedan, four on the turbo-diesel and three on the V-6. Pricing ranges from $19,995 for the 2.5L S to $32,950 for the 3.6L SEL. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

First drive

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

The Optima Hybrid sedan is the third and final chapter in the marketing strategy for the Kia’s flagship model. The Korean automaker unveiled its hybrid prototype at last year’s LA Auto Show; a move that came as no surprise to journalists familiar with the company’s business model.

Kia has closely emulated Toyota since coming stateside seventeen years ago. Not only do high fuel economy cars fit well with the company’s value-pricing strategy; alternative fuel models give Kia panache among more affluent customers who believe that “green is good.”

Priced from $26,500, the Optima Hybrid uses a lithium-polymer battery pack produced by LG Chem to power the electric motor. The 30 kilowatt electric motor and a four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine give the gasoline/electric powertrain 206 horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of torque. Peak torque is available as low as 1400 rpm.

There are two grades: the base model with standard 16-inch wheels and low rolling resistance tires, and a Technology package which includes 17-inch rims. The Technology package adds $5000 to the hybrid’s base price. All models carry a $750 delivery charge.

The Optima Hybrid carries 10 year/100,000 mile warranty for all components, including the battery. The replacement interval for the battery pack is 10 years or 150,000 miles: significantly longer than some competitive products.

Standard comfort and convenience options on the upscale Technology grade include dual-zone climate controls, satellite radio, Bluetooth interface, push button start, a power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar control and a rearview backup camera. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport SLS

Styling and suspension upgrades add sizzle to Suzuki’s mid-sized sedan

By Nina Russin

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

The Kizashi sedan is Suzuki’s lynchpin in a strategy to expand its repertoire beyond the small cars the company is best known for, and open the door for higher sales volumes in North America. Last September the automaker added a sport package, including an aero kit, special 18-inch wheels, tires and suspension.

The Sport SLS grade includes some upscale interior features as well, such as leather upholstery, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and a power sunroof.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 185 horsepower and a six-speed manual gearbox.

Base price is $24,699, including the delivery fee. The test car is equipped with satellite radio, special paint and premium floor mats, bringing the MSRP to $25,304. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Optima EX

Mid-sized sedan with a full dose of attitude

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Optima

Since mid-sized sedans comprise the majority of passenger car sales, the segment has an allure manufacturers can’t resist. But it’s also a shark pool, populated with well-established models and the buyers who are loyal to them. Of the numerous entries into the segment, few enjoy long-term popularity.

The Kia Optima is one of the rare success stories. When Kia rolled out the newest model last September, the automaker faced an additional hurdle. Sister company Hyundai had introduced the newest Sonata, a sedan the Optima shares underpinnings with, several months earlier.
 
The game changer for the 2011 Optima was styling. Designers at Kia’s new Southern California design studio had imbued the car with an irresistibly youthful demeanor.

But if styling was the Optima’s only asset, the sedan’s fame would be short lived. Underneath its sexy skin is a substantial product which delivers on the automaker’s core values:  a safe, solid car which delivers a lot of content for the money. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Sportage SX FWD

Retuned compact crossover shares Optima’s turbocharged engine

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Sportage SX

This year, Kia expands its roster of SX, high-performance offerings, to include the compact Sportage crossover and  Forte. The new models join the Sorento and Optima SX models, which rolled out in 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 respectively.

The Sportage SX shares the two-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine with the Optima SX sedan, while the Forte SX features a 2.4-liternaturally aspirated engine, along with special wheels and sport-tuned suspension.

While performance tuning is a relatively new venture for Kia, the automaker maintains its tradition of value pricing, equipping all SX models with premium features such as alloy wheels, upscale interiors, keyless start and heated seats. Pricing for the Sportage SX starts at $25,795: far below the price ceiling for our ALV best-value category.

Options on the front-wheel drive test car include a navigation system and audio upgrade ($1500), and a premium leather package which adds heated front seats, ventilated driver’s seat, panoramic sunroof, backup warning system, cargo cover and heated outside mirrors ($3000). A $695 destination charge brings the price as tested to $30,990. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE

Mitsubishi adds a five-passenger version of its popular crossover

By Nina Russin

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

 Three years later the automaker rolled out a new version with a larger, more powerful engine and aggressive styling. Mitsubishi diversified the line-up with a sporty Ralliart version and an upscale GT.

This year, the automaker adds the Outlander Sport: a smaller five-passenger car with available all-wheel drive. Power comes from a two-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 148 horsepower and a choice of five-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission. The Outlander Sport comes in two grades: base ES or upscale SE.

This week I drove the all-wheel drive SE grade on a 300-mile road trip between Phoenix and Sedona, Arizona. I wanted to see how well the four-cylinder engine would handle the 3000-foot elevation increase on the route up north. Windy weather on the trip down the hill was a challenge for the all-wheel drive and steering systems, since the Outlander is a high-profile car.

Base price for the test car is $22,995, not including the $780 delivery charge. A panoramic sunroof, roof rails and an audio upgrade which includes satellite radio add $1800, bringing the price as tested to $25,575. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ

Turbocharging makes it magic

By Nina Russin

2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ

Imagine that the great and mighty Oz had given Dorothy and her travelling companions a car to fulfill their collective wishes. If that car was a Chevrolet Cruze LTZ sedan, the gang would have left happy, saving the wizard the embarrassment of being discovered behind his magic curtain.

The Lion would get his courage from the Cruze’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with exceptional low-end torque. The Tin Man’s heart would warm to the sedan’s environmental friendliness, with 38 mile-per gallon highway fuel economy.

The Scarecrow would feel smarter, thanks to value pricing and standard safety features which include front, side, side curtain and front knee airbags, stability and traction control, and four-channel antilock braking. A programmable information system would enable him to diagnose any mechanical problems along the way.

Standard OnStar with turn-by-turn directions would help Dorothy find her way home to Kansas.

In case you are wondering why I’ve re-spun Frank Baum’s classic children’s tale, it’s to point out the resemblance between the journey through Oz and an average week on the roads for a family of four. The challenges to keep on track can seem overwhelming. Families with active lifestyles who need the compact proportions and enhanced fuel economy of a passenger sedan will find a lot to like in the new Chevrolet Cruze. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS

Impressive model lineup and fuel economy to boot

By Jim Woodman

2011 Chevrolet Cruze LS

For this reason I like to pay close attention to the new fuel-efficient compact vehicles making headway in the market. The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is one such option. It replaces the Cobalt, which never came close to meeting GM’s expectations and is one of myriad reasons the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009.

I recently had the opportunity to drive the Cruze for a few days and, while not large enough to meet my family’s needs, I came away with a newfound appreciation for Chevrolet and its formidable competitor to Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus. Read the rest of this entry »