Extended drive: 2012 Toyota Prius V Five

Versatile hybrid for active families

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Prius V Five

The fact that Toyota is expanding its hybrid offerings from a single model to a family of vehicles is therefore no surprise. The new Prius family includes a plug-in version which can run on pure electric power for short distances and a compact hatchback aimed towards urbanites living in areas where parking space is at a premium.

Of the new models, the Prius V is the largest, and the best suited for active families. Readers who expect the Prius V to be a new version of the minivan are mistaken: it isn’t that large, nor does it have three rows of seating. The extra interior space adds room in the second row, which can comfortably seat three passengers, and the cargo area. While the original Prius can only hold one bicycle, the Prius V can hold two and the people riding them.

As with the current Prius, the Prius V comes in four grades, beginning with the Two priced from $26,400. The upscale Prius V Five starts at $29,990. In both cases pricing does not include a $760 delivery charge.

Standard comfort and convenience features on the test car include keyless entry and start, navigation, rear backup camera, Bluetooth interface, heated front seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, automatic climate control and split/folding second-row seats.

A premium package on the test car adds a two-pane panoramic moonroof, upgraded audio system, real-time weather and traffic updates, safety connect with automatic emergency assistance, stolen vehicle locator, and roadside assistance as well as Entune: Toyota’s proprietary infotainment system ($5580). Carpeted floor mats cost $225 and wheel locks add $67, bringing the price as tested to $36,622. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

Mid-sized sedan gets a green connection

By Nina Russin

Kia Optima Hybrid

It was exactly one year ago that Kia unveiled its first gasoline/electric hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show. I’m thinking back to the model reveal as I drive the Optima Hybrid sedan across the Sonoran desert between Phoenix and Los Angeles for the 2011 show.

While other automakers struggle to tread water after the industry-wide implosion of 2008, Kia seems to be on a roll. Looking at the interior of the Optima Hybrid, it’s easy to understand why. Value has been core to Kia’s mission since arriving stateside in 1994 and remains so today. MSRP on the Optima Hybrid is $26,500, not including the $750 delivery charge.

For the price of a mid-level sedan, Kia offers its premium grade, with Bluetooth interface, a rearview camera display and dual-zone climate control. Kia’s UVO infotainment system, developed in conjunction with Microsoft, is also standard.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine, which works in concert with an electric motor. Kia partnered with LG Chem of South Korea to develop a lithium polymer battery, which is lighter and more compact than nickel metal-hydride units.

A technology package on the test car adds navigation with Sirius traffic updates, an Infinity premium audio system, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, high-intensity discharge headlamps, leather seating, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with Homelink and a compass ($5000). Price as tested is $32,250. Read the rest of this entry »

Chevrolet Volt Roll-Out Expands to Arizona

Extended range electric car now available in Phoenix dealerships

2012 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet is extending availability of the new Volt to include dealerships in Arizona, beginning with Phoenix. About 2500 of the brand’s 3000 US dealerships are signed up to participate in the Volt program. Cars are currently rolling into Phoenix stores. Tucson and other parts of the state will follow.

The Volt combines an electric engine and gasoline motor, but in a different manner than hybrids currently on the market. The sedan will operate in pure electric mode at all speeds for up to 35 miles. When the charge from the lithium-ion battery pack gets low, the vehicle automatically switches over to gasoline power, extending the vehicle’s range by another 344 miles according to the manufacturer.

Recharging time for the battery ranges from four hours utilizes 220-volt current to 10 hours if the vehicle is plugged into a 115 volt outlet. The cost of a recharge is about $1.50 regardless of the type of current used. The battery pack carries an eight-year/100,000 mile warranty.

Chevrolet rates the car’s net horsepower at 149, with 273 foot-pounds of peak torque. Because electric motors develop peak torque at very low engine speeds, the sedan has excellent low-end acceleration: zero-to-sixty takes less than nine seconds.

MSRP starts at $41,000. Buyers are eligible for a $7500 tax credit, and may be eligible for state tax incentives as well. Standard features include keyless ignition with push button start, a remote vehicle starter, Sirius XM radio, OnStar and eight airbags. Options include leather seating, a Bose audio upgrade, a rearview camera with park assist and two aluminum wheel options. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Lexus CT 200h Premium

Compact hybrid sedan is eco-friendly

By Nina Russin

2011 Lexus CT 200h

Like the HS, there is a focus on sustainability which extends beyond the car’s fuel-thrifty powertrain. Eighty percent of the vehicle is recyclable. Recycle marks on the front, rear and tailgate trim make it easier to dismantle and recycle the car. A new interior fabric called NuLuxe resembles leather, but is actually made from recyclable materials.

Power comes from a four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine which operates in concert with two electric motors: an 80 horsepower drive motor and a second motor which triggers the engine starter and functions as a generator to recharge the battery pack. Together the gasoline engine and electric motors yield 134 horsepower. The CT 200h accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in 9.8 seconds.

Buyers can choose between a standard and premium grade. Pricing for the premium grade (tested) begins at $30,900 excluding an $875 delivery fee. Options on the test car include a premium audio upgrade  which also adds an electro-chromic rearview mirror ($1125), LED headlamps ($1215), leather seating ($1330), a cargo net ($75) and illuminated door sills ($299), bringing the price as tested to $35,819. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Infiniti M35h

Hybrid sedan for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

2012 Infiniti M35h

Although hybrid vehicles are by no means a new idea, engineers continue to develop new performance matrices using the combined attributes of gas engines and electric motors. Unlike the first generation of hybrid sedans, fuel economy improvements in newer models sometimes take a back seat to power. This isn’t to say that the hybrid cars don’t outperform their gasoline-powered counterparts in terms of gas mileage; rather that they may well out-accelerate those cars as well.

Infiniti’s new M35h sedan is a case in point. Because electric motors develop maximum torque at extremely low speeds, the gasoline-electric M produces neck-snapping acceleration off the line, worthy of a top fuel car. The fact that it also averages 32 miles-per-gallon on the highway as compared to the gasoline-powered M’s 26 is an added bonus.

The closest hybrid technology to the M35h is probably Porsche’s, as seen in the Cayenne Hybrid. In both cases, the vehicle can operate at extremely high speeds on pure electric power. In the case of the M35h, top speed in electric mode is 62 miles-per-hour, with a range of 1.2 miles before the gas engine cuts in.

Base price on the M35h is $53,700, not including an $895 destination charge. The test car comes with a premium package which adds semi aniline leather seats, a Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system, wood accents, a suede headliner and power rear sunshade ($3800). A technology package includes Infiniti’s hard drive navigation system with XM real time traffic and weather updates, climate controlled front seats and a heated steering wheel ($3350). A trunk mat and first aid kit cost $200, while an 18-inch wheel package adds $650. Illuminated kick plates priced at $360 bring the total cost as tested to $62,955. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Toyota Prius v

Versatile hybrid wagon seats five passengers

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Prius v

The 2012 Prius v arrives in dealerships this fall: eleven years after the first model debuted in the United States. The “v” stands for “versatility.” The first member of the extended Prius family is a five-passenger car with a larger cargo area to meet the needs of active families.

While Prius v fuel economy is slightly lower than for the lift-back, EPA estimated 42 miles-per-gallon should appeal to buyers wanting minimize their carbon footprint.The Prius v comes in three grades: Two, Three and Five. Toyota has yet to announce pricing, but says that MSRPs will start between $25,000 and $30,000.

The powertrain is essentially the same as for the lift-back: a 98 horsepower four-cylinder engine which works in concert with two electric motors to develop 134 net horsepower. Dimensionally, the Prius v is six inches longer, three inches taller and an inch wider than the lift-back, translating to better headroom for both rows of passengers and a 34.3 cubic foot cargo bay with the rear seats in place.

The coefficient of drag is slightly poorer than the smaller car: .29 as opposed to .25. That and some additional weight account for the decrease in fuel economy. Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

Toyota Prius vs. Nissan Leaf

Choosing the right green option

By Edward Pacheco
 

2011 Nissan Leaf

The Toyota Prius and the Nissan Leaf have proven to be two environmentally-friendly cars. That said, the propulsion systems for the models are quite different.

The Prius has a gasoline engine and electric motors. Power for the motors comes from a nickel metal hydride battery as well as regenerative braking. The Leaf, on the other hand, is a fully-electric vehicle which the owner recharges by plugging into an electrical outlet. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Tiptronic

Full parallel hybrid system delivers powerful performance

By Nina Russin

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Last year Porsche introduced a gasoline-electric hybrid version of its Cayenne sport-utility vehicle. The parallel hybrid system can run in fully electric or gasoline modes independently, as well as a combination of the two. The electric motor boosts power from the V-6 supercharged gasoline engine to mimic the performance of a V-8 with better gas mileage: about 24 miles-per-gallon on the highway according to the EPA.

For the German automaker to have developed a hybrid simply to reduce the car’s carbon footprint would have been out of character for the brand. Porsches are always first and foremost about performance. Engineers who developed the Cayenne’s hybrid system made sure that the new SUV was no exception, delivering a driving system which is both unique and distinctively Porsche.

Peak torque of 428 foot-pounds is available at 1000 rpm. As a result, the new Cayenne accelerates off the line with the alacrity of a quiet rocket ship. Once up to speed, on-board computer controls utilize large overdrive gears on the eight-speed automatic transmission to maximize gas mileage. It’s hard to make the car rev over 2000 rpm, except when accelerating.

Engineers also added a rather magical feature which they call “sailing.” When the Cayenne is travelling at steady speeds up to 97 miles-per-hour, the gasoline engine can cut out completely. An electronic clutch couples and decouples the electric motor and gasoline engine. The entire process is so seamless as to be imperceptible to the driver.

Base price on the Cayenne S Hybrid with Tiptronic is $67,700, not including a $975 delivery charge. Options on the test car include leather trim and a silver metallic exterior, 14-way power seats with memory, air suspension with an adjustable height feature, extended range fuel tank, heated front seats, navigation, park assist, a trailer hitch and bi-xenon adaptive headlamps, bringing the price as tested to $84,590. 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 »