2011 Toyota Avalon Limited

Fourth-generation full-sized sedan is the best yet

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota Avalon

The Avalon is Toyota’s largest passenger sedan, built alongside the Camry and Venza in Georgetown, Kentucky. After sixteen years in production, the Avalon has come into its own, with styling and performance that sets it apart from the mid-size Camry.

When the Newport Beach-based Calty design team took over Avalon’s styling in 1995, what emerged was a more youthful and unique exterior, with performance and handling to match. Toyota builds on this formula for the all-new 2011 model. The fourth-generation Avalon is one of the most refined full-sized passenger sedans on the market.

The Avalon is so well executed, it’s virtually indistinguishable from high-luxury models. The 3.5-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission are perfectly matched, combining excellent power with surprisingly good fuel economy.

Considering the amount of content, the chassis is surprisingly light: curb weight for the Limited model is 3616 pounds. Containing its mass enabled engineers to deliver a positive power-to-weight ratio, with 29 mile-per-gallon fuel economy on the highway.

The Limited is the more upscale of two available grades: pricing starts at $35,485, not including the $750 delivery charge. A navigation and premium audio system on the test car adds satellite radio with real-time traffic updates, MP3 and iPod interface, Bluetooth connectivity and a rearview camera ($1450). Floor mats cost $199, bringing the price as tested to $37,884. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Jaguar XKR Convertible

Classic sports car evolves with new technology

By Nina Russin

2011 Jaguar XKR Convertible

In my next life, I plan to be an obscenely rich rock star, and drive a Jaguar XKR. The only thing keeping me from buying one now is the convertible’s hundred-thousand dollar price tag.

Is the XKR well suited for active lifestyles? No particularly. Do I care? Not a whit. The fact that the XKR is both exquisitely beautiful and scarily fast is good enough for me.

Jaguar’s two-plus-two, available as both a coupe and convertible, is the latest in a long line of classic sports cars, dating back to the XK120, C, D and E-types. The current versions rolled out in 2009 as 2010 models, with new, more powerful engines and revised styling. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

New engine technology raises the bar for luxury sedans

By Nina Russin

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

Rarely is a new car engine a game changer, simply because current technology is so good. Despite that, the Ford EcoBoost engine, available in the all-wheel drive version of the Lincoln MKS, goes to the head of the class. The engine is so powerful, smooth and fuel efficient that it raises the bar for every car in the segment.

Twin turbochargers give the EcoBoost V-6 engine power and performance comparable to a V-8. Thanks to its low compression ratio, the EcoBoost can run on regular gas, though premium is recommended for optimum performance.

According to EPA statistics, the engine averages 25 miles-per-gallon on the highway: a mile-per-gallon better than the Duratec V-6 on the front-wheel drive MKS. Not only does the EcoBoost produce 82 more horsepower and 80 more foot-pounds of torque than the Duratec, it compensates for parasitic fuel economy loss from the all-wheel drive.

Engineers have configured the turbochargers to be virtually invisible to the driver, with no turbo-lag. The six-speed automatic transmission is equally seamless: paddle shifters on the steering wheel allow the driver to change gears manually for more aggressive performance.

Because of the turbochargers, the engine develops peak torque as low as 1500 rpm: just off idle. As a result, the MKS can soar up hills and entrance ramps into high-speed traffic. Its power and nimble handling make the MKS feel like a much lighter and smaller car than its 4300-pound curb weight would suggest.

Since the EcoBoost engine is smaller than the Duratec V-6, it’s lighter and more compact, making it easier to package under the hood, and reducing overall curb weight. Since all-wheel drive adds weight to the MKS chassis, weight savings under the hood are important.

Base price on the EcoBoost MKS is $47,760, not including an $825 destination charge. Adaptive park assist on the test car can automatically parallel park the car ($535). Adaptive cruise control automatically maintains a preset distance from the car in front, enabling the driver to use cruise control in urban traffic ($1310).

Navigation is part of a convenience package that also adds an audio upgrade, rearview camera and dual-panel moon roof ($3500). Sirius travel link provides real-time traffic and weather updates. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey

Sport sedan for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

Infiniti G37 Sedan

The G37S melds the stylish exterior of the G coupe with four-door practicality. Its performance and handling is pure sports car.

In the early days of open-wheel racing, race cars had two seats: one for the driver, and a second for the riding mechanic. The G37S strikes me as a race car with seating for three riding mechanics.

Power comes from a 3.7-liter V-6 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission. The driver can shift manually using the shift lever or formula-style paddles on the steering wheel.

Large vented disc brakes stop the car on a dime, while standard 17-inch alloy wheels provide a wide, stable footprint at speed. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Nissan 370Z Touring

Affordable sports car with iconic styling

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan 370Z

There’s a synesthetic relationship between the Nissan 370Z I’m driving and Sonny Rollins, playing on the radio. While a person can learn to appreciate jazz as an art form, loving the music is intuitive.

The 370Z is, in a similar sense, its own animal. Nissan enthusiasts love the Z for its timeless design and contemporary performance. Despite its exotic appearance, the Z remains one of the most affordable and versatile sports cars on the market. Relocating the rear strut on the current model has made the cargo area even larger and more practical for buyers with active lifestyles.

Beyond this, there’s an aura about the Z: an internal logic that makes the coupe different than any other sports car. Both its design and performance are distinctly Nissan, with one foot planted on the road and the other on the track. Features such as the rev-matching manual transmission and formula-style shift paddles make the Z as much of a driver’s car as competitors that are significantly more expensive.

Nissan unveiled the current model for 2009: 2010 models are essentially identical, with a couple of new convenience features and a new exterior color. All grades now get heated mirrors and a micro-filter to reduce allergens inside the cabin. Nissan revised the available navigation package and added black cherry to the list of exterior finishes.

The 370Z coupe comes in two grades: the base enthusiast and upscale touring models. The touring version has a MSRP of $36,130, not including a $720 destination charge. Floor mats and illuminated kick plates on the test car add another $315, bringing the price as tested to $37,165. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Buick Regal

Mid-sized sport sedan rolls out on three continents

By Nina Russin

2011 Buick Regal

General Motors’ restructuring transformed Buick from a premium to a core brand. Product planners are reconfiguring the model line-up to appeal to a broader audience.

The former Buick Regal was an American design for American drivers. The 2011 model, based on the Opel Insignia, was developed in Germany for buyers in North America, Europe and China.

Both available engines are fuel-efficient four-cylinder blocks. Base models come with a naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter engine rated at 182 horsepower. The upscale 2-liter turbocharged engine develops 220 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque, for enhanced low-end acceleration.

For the first time in decades, Buick is offering a six-speed manual gearbox on turbo-equipped cars. An interactive drive control system lets the driver adjust the suspension settings for a firmer or softer ride.

By giving the new Regal a distinctly European character, Buick hopes to appeal to younger driving enthusiasts, who will cross shop Asian and European luxury models such as the Acura TL and Volvo S60.

Buick’s ace-in-the-hole is value pricing. Both the base and turbocharged grades start at under $30,000, including destination and delivery.

All cars come with a high level of standard safety features: four-channel antilock braking, stability and traction control, six standard airbags and OnStar, which automatically notifies the police and medical personnel if the airbags deploy. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Porsche Boxster

PDK transmission gives Porsche’s roadster extra boost

By Nina Russin

2009 Porsche Boxster

The Porsche Boxster parked in our driveway conjures up images of James Dean as photographed by Sanford Roth, at the wheel of his Porsche 550 Spyder: the one he called the “Little Bastard.” The famous actor undoubtedly knew of the car’s reputation in Europe, where it had just come off winning performances at LeMans.

The name, Boxster, refers to Porsche’s horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine: its configuration resembles a boxer. The original Boxster, released in the late 1990s,was the first Porsche since the Spyder designed specifically as a roadster. It was also Porsche’s most affordable sports car: the Boxster drew legions of fans who couldn’t afford the pricier 911, into the showroom.

Porsche introduced the second-generation Boxster in 2008 for the ’09 model year. The new car remains true to its original mission: powered by a 255-horsepower flat six-cylinder engine. The engine’s midship placement gives the pint-sized roadster a surprising amount of cargo space: with storage areas to the front and rear of the passenger compartment. Read the rest of this entry »

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 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 »