2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Four new open-air models feature V-6 and V-8 options

By Nina Russin

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

When Chevrolet re-launched the nameplate in 2009 after a seven-year hiatus, there was a collective sigh of relief among bow tie enthusiasts. While a few maintained grudges against the automaker for discontinuing the Camaro after the F-body ran its course, excitement about the sport coupe’s return was palpable.

The annual SEMA show, a colossal aftermarket exhibition which takes place in Las Vegas each November, was a veritable bow tie nation. Even fans of the Camaro’s arch rival, the Mustang were secretly pleased. After all, rivalries require both teams to show up for the game. Mustang aficionados were less pleased when Camaro took command of its competitive segment in 2010: the first time it beat out the pony car since 1985.

This year, the automaker rolls out a convertible version, available with either the 312-horsepower V-6 or 426-horsepower V-8. The high-performance SS and 2SS models come with a six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, or optional six-speed automatic. The LT/2LT V-6 is only available with an automatic transmission.

In keeping with the Camaro’s value-performance heritage, the base V-6 starts at $30,000, including the $850 destination charge. The upscale 2SS with the V-8 engine, leather trim, 20-inch wheels and a premium audio system costs $40,500. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Ford Edge Limited FWD

Five-passenger crossover offers new safety and infotainment features

By Nina Russin

2011 Ford Edge

The Ford Edge is the on-road counterpart to the off-road Explorer. With seating for up to five passengers, the Edge is a good option for active families needing a versatile cargo bay.

This year, the automaker updates the Edge and Edge Sport to include My Ford Touch: a computer-based interface which gives drivers easier access to vehicle information and infotainment functions.

Although the Edge lacks the Explorer’s terrain management system, available all-wheel drive enhances the crossover’s performance in rain and snow. Buyers can choose between a turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine and 3.5-liter V-6. The Edge Sport comes with a 3.7-liter engine which produces 20 more horsepower than the 3.5-liter block.

The 285-horsepower V-6 in the test car is mated to a six–speed automatic transmission with manual gear selection. There are three grades: a base front-wheel drive model, SEL and upscale Limited (tested).

Engineers equipped the SEL and Limited grades with standard 18-inch wheels as opposed to 17-inch rims on outgoing models. The Sport comes with 20-inch wheels.

Base price for the front-wheel drive Limited is $34,220, not including a $775 destination charge. Blind spot monitoring adds $395, while navigation costs $795, bringing the price as tested to $36,185. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Nissan Altima 2.5 S

Midsized sedan combines value and sporty performance

By Nina Russin

2011 Nissan Altima

One of the good things to come out of the economic down-tic is a renewed interest in the midsized sedan. Buyers stepping out of larger sport-utility vehicles and crossovers are finding a lot to love in a fuel-efficient car which holds up to five passengers.

While sedans don’t have the tall cargo bays necessary for carrying bicycles, those with a rear pass-through are easily capable of holding skis, snowboards and camping equipment, making them a good choice for certain athletes.

The value-driven Nissan Altima fills all of these squares, with a choice of two engines and three grades, ranging from the base model to the premium SR. The test car is the volume-leading S with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission.

MSRP is $22,060 not including the $750 destination charge. An audio upgrade and two convenience packages add appealing features such as satellite radio, iPod and Bluetooth interface, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, alloy wheels, an eight-way power driver’s seat, power sunroof and dual-zone climate controls, bringing the price as tested to $26,660. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Optima Turbo

High-performance model juices up Kia’s midsized sedan

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Optima Turbo

Following the introduction of its newest Optima sedan, Kia boosts the fun factor with two turbocharged grades. Optima Ex and SX Turbos give shoppers in one of the industry’s largest segments a high-performance alternative to vanilla competitors.

Pricing starts at  $24,495 for the EX Turbo and $25,995 for the upscale SX. MSRP does not include a $695 delivery charge.

The EX Turbo costs about $2000 more than the naturally-aspirated version of the same grade. In addition to the more powerful engine, buyers get larger front disc brakes, a unique grille and interior trim.

The SX adds 18-inch wheels, unique bumpers and side sills, high-intensity discharge headlamps, LED taillamps, and a black interior trim package unique to the model. Premium option packages let buyers dress up the exterior with more aggressive wheels and tires, and a dual-panel sunroof. A technology package adds navigation with real-time traffic updates and a rearview camera.

Kia expects cars to start arriving in dealerships at the end of January. The turbocharged cars join the base Optima LX and volume-leading EX models. Pricing for the LX begins under $19,000 for the manual transmission version. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Sportage EX FWD

Compact crossover is ideal for active urbanites

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Sportage

While the newest Kia Sportage is vastly different than the 1996 model, its mission is similar. City dwellers will be attracted to the car’s compact proportions, spacious interior and available all-wheel drive.

Unlike the original body-on-frame truck, the 2011 Sportage is a unibody construction, intended primarily for on-road use. The car’s proportions have grown with each iteration, making the new Sportage considerably larger than the first-generation vehicle.

The Soul, introduced two years ago, is Kia’s sub-compact offering geared towards first-time buyers. The Sportage fills the middle ground between the Soul and larger Sorento, offering many of the same comfort and safety features as its mid-sized sibling.

There are two available four-cylinder engines: a 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated block available at roll-out, and a two-liter turbocharged engine in the sporty SX which arrives later.

The test car is the upscale EX grade priced from $23,295. The Sportage shares its six-speed automatic transmission with the Sorento.

A navigation package adds an audio upgrade with Sirius traffic updates and rearview camera display($1500).

A premium package includes heated front seats, keyless start, a two-panel panoramic sunroof, rear sonar, heated side mirrors and a cargo cover ($2500). The $895 destination charge brings the price as tested to $27,990, putting the Sportage in our best-value category. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Sorento EX FWD

Midsized crossover for active families

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Sorento

The original Sorento was part of Kia’s expansion beyond the compact car segment. The mid-sized sport-utility vehicle offered buyers similar features to the Sportage in a larger, more cargo-friendly package.

Prior to the Sorento roll-out in 2002, a Sportage clinched the Class 3 championship at the Baja 1000, proving it was capable of swimming with the sharks. The mid-sized Sorento was just what the doctor ordered for Kia’s growing dealer network, offering value, content and safety features competitors found hard to match.

The all-new Sorento rolls out this year, giving active families a cargo-friendly car with better fuel economy, ride and handling than the original. While size remains the same, the platform is completely reinvented: a unibody cross-utility vehicle with performance similar to a passenger car.

The Sorento is the first car being built at Kia’s manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia. The plant officially opened in February of this year. Its proximity to Hyundai’s Montgomery, Alabama assembly plant enables the companies to share components, since the Sorento is built on the same platform as the Santa Fe. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited

Premium midsize sedan

By Nina Russin

2011 Subaru Legacy

Despite being one of the most enduring models in Subaru’s line-up, the new Legacy sedan seems somewhat un-Subaru-like. On the surface, the midsize sedan has no affinity with Subaru’s sport-utility wagons, the Forester and Outback, nor does it share the extreme sport image of the Impreza WRX: a favorite among World Rally Cup fans.

The Legacy is not suitable for off-road trails due to its scant ground clearance, nor is it particularly practical for hauling large cargo. It doesn’t have a gnarly wing like the WRX STI, or a giant hood scoop.

Twenty years after the first models rolled off the assembly line, the Legacy remains true to its original mission. It is Subaru’s offering in the most competitive passenger car segment, going head-to-head against the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

The Legacy is an important draw into the showroom. It keeps Subaru in the automotive mainstream, allowing the automaker to produce the specialized vehicles geared towards active lifestyles.

And while the Legacy might not be the ideal car for hauling a bicycle, the sedan has more in common with its active-lifestyle siblings than meets the eye.

It begins with the horizontally-opposed 3.6-liter engine, which replaces the three-liter six-cylinder on pre-2010 models. The horizontally-opposed engine is not only inherently balanced: it is also ideal for all-wheel drive applications. Engineers were able to give the larger-displacement engine identical dimensions to the block it replaced by shortening the connecting rods.

Subaru’s commitment to safety extends to the Legacy as well, with standard dynamic stability control, antilock braking, front, side and side curtain airbags, hill start assist and tire pressure monitoring. The Legacy shares Subaru’s ring shaped reinforcement structure with other models. A new engine cradle enhances safety in frontal collisions.

And like its siblings, the Legacy is a driver’s car. The all-wheel drive system sends more power to the rear axle under normal conditions to mimic competitive sport sedans. A quick ratio steering system gives the sedan nimble handling on challenging roads.

Formula-style shift paddles on the steering wheel allow the driver to manually select gears, for more aggressive performance. And standard 17-inch wheels with low-profile tires give the Legacy a large footprint for maximum traction. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Optima

Stylish midsized sedan for value-conscious buyers

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Optima

The original Optima was part of a product initiative, moving Kia beyond the compact segment into the automotive mainstream.  The second Optima expanded on this formula by adding safety and convenience features, while maintaining Kia’s value-pricing strategy.

Since the 2006 model rolled out, Kia has made major investments in the US market, including new a corporate headquarters and design center in Orange County, California. Having a design team on American soil gave the automaker a strategic advantage in developing the third-generation model.

Although the new Optima is built in Korea, styling took place in Kia‘s California and Frankfurt, Germany studios. The new studios created a better pipeline between the manufacturer and its target market, and streamlined the vetting process between concept and production.

As a result, the 2011 Optima that rolls into dealerships this November is Kia‘s most appealing sedan to date. Value-conscious buyers will find features such as a two-panel panoramic moonroof unusual for a model with pricing that starts under $20,000.

Kia’s new UVO infotainment system developed jointly with Microsoft rivals systems in high-luxury cars. Available heated and cooled front seats, navigation with real-time traffic updates, satellite and HD radio make the Optima seem like a much more expensive car than it actually is.

Engineers were as conscientious about safety as comfort, with standard front, side and side curtain airbags, active front headrests, four-channel antilock braking, traction and electronic stability control. Hill start assist applies the brakes when the vehicle accelerates on a steep grade, to prevent the car from rolling backwards. 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 »

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Midsize sedan gets a retuned suspension and appearance enhancements

By Nina Russin

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Last year, Suzuki rolled out the Kizashi: its first foray into the midsize sedan segment. While the Kizashi is a large car compared to the compact SX4, the sedan‘s agile platform reflects its creators’ years of experience producing motorcycles. For 2011, Suzuki adds a Sport variant, consisting of lighter wheels, a lowered chassis with retuned suspension, body and  interior enhancements.

The Sport grade begins under $23,000 for the GTS model with a six-speed manual transmission. The upscale SLS with the manual gearbox starts under $25,000. Both models come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 185 horsepower.

Buyers can upgrade to a continuously variable automatic transmission for $1100 more, and add all-wheel drive for enhanced four-season performance ($1350). The all-wheel drive system automatically transfers up to fifty percent of engine power to the rear wheels as driving conditions dictate. Read the rest of this entry »