2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Special Vehicle Team transforms Ford’s full-sized pickup into the ultimate off-road machine

By Nina Russin

Ford F-150 Raptor

If the definition of an active lifestyle vehicle includes getting jiggy on two wheels and eating mouthfuls of dirt, the Ford SVT Raptor may be the ultimate ALV. The automaker drew from its trophy truck experience to make a vehicle that can go off-road racing out of the box.

The difference between the Raptor and the race-prepared trucks it’s based on is that the Raptor is street legal. The test car, equipped with a luxury package, is actually pretty comfy for the daily commute.

While high-tech features such as Ford’s sync voice-activated controls proliferate through the interior, the off-road technology is pretty old fashioned. I don’t say this to be disparaging. Anybody who’s followed a Baja race knows that checkpoints can be few and far between. The drivers that win have tied-and-true technology that works, and after miles of pre-running, know how to make the best of it.

The Raptor chassis is significantly wider than the stock F-150 to accommodate large wheels and a wider suspension. Fox racing shocks become stiffer as they travel into compression to avoid bottoming out. High-profile tires serve the same purpose.

The suspension is soft, so it can glide over obstacles without beating up the driver.

Base price on the F-150 4X4 is $38,020, not including a $975 delivery charge. Options on the test car, including the Raptor package, custom paint, luxury interior, rear back-up camera, Sony navigation radio and a trailer brake controller bring the price as tested to $49,395. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lexus GX 460 Premium

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

By Nina Russin

2010 Lexus GX 460

The Lexus GX fills the middle ground between the full-sized LX 570 and smaller RX. Like the LX, the GX is a body-on-frame truck, with full-time four-wheel drive and towing capability up to 6500 pounds.

The current model rolled out last Fall, replacing the original GX 470. The 4.6-liter V-8 engine on the new car is more compact than the 4.7-liter engine it replaces, though it out-performs it. The smaller engine saves a little weight, helping to extend fuel economy by thirteen percent.

Three rows of seating hold up to seven passengers. The second-row seats move fore and aft up to four inches to increase legroom. The seats fold flat 60/40, easing access and egress to the third row, or extending the cargo floor.

Despite its off-road and towing capability, the GX is first and foremost a premium vehicle. The $65,754 MSRP on the test car positions it on the brink of the high-luxury segment. Features such as heated and ventilated leather seats, adaptive air suspension, three-zone climate control and a Mark Levinson audio system appeal to buyers who want to take the comforts of home with them.

Last Fall, I drove the 2010 GX 460 at a media program in the San Diego area. This week, I got the chance to test drive the premium grade on a road trip through Indiana and southern Ohio.

Base price on the test car is $56,765, not including an $875 delivery charge. The Mark Levinson audio upgrade is a seventeen-speaker, 7.1 surround-sound system with navigation, Lexus Enform telematics, satellite radio and real-time traffic and weather updates ($3930).

Lexus’ pre-collision system automatically primes the brakes and tightens seatbelts if sensors determine an accident is imminent. The same option includes dynamic radar cruise control, which maintains a preset distance from the car in front. Crawl control, in the same option package, modulates the throttle and brake on extreme off-road trails to maintain five preset speeds ($1,720).

A dual-screen rear entertainment system can play two movies at the same time or one widescreen feature ($2400). The final option, a cargo net, costs $64. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Full-sized sport-utility vehicle is king of off-road trails

By Nina Russin

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

The Grand Cherokee is Jeep’s biggest and most lavish sport-utility vehicle. For 2011, the automaker is introducing an all-new model with more comfort and convenience features, plus the off-road capability the brand is famous for.

The new Grand Cherokee is slightly longer and wider than the outgoing model. Designers pushed the rear axle back five inches to increase legroom in the second row.

An all-new flex-fuel V-6 engine comes standard on all three grades, with a five-speed automatic transmission. Buyers needing more than the standard engine’s 5000 pound towing capability can upgrade to a hemi V-8 that tows 7400 pounds. The hemi incorporates Chrysler’s multiple displacement technology which deactivates cylinders when engine loads are low to save fuel.

Jeep is introducing several new technologies to improve the Grand Cherokee’s performance on and off-road. A new air suspension system can raise the vehicle up for extreme off-road trails to create 10.7 inches of ground clearance.

The same system automatically lowers the Jeep from its normal setting to an aero position on the highway, to improve performance and fuel economy. The driver can lower the vehicle even further in park, to ease access and egress.

New front and rear independent suspensions contribute to a 146 percent improvement in torsional rigidity for better steering response. A Selec-Terrain system on the center console lets the driver choose from one of five conditions, to provide optimal engine and suspension tuning, with the appropriate safety technology.

Jeep is using the same trim designations as the outgoing model. The four-wheel drive Laredo starts at $32,995, while the upscale Overland  4X4 is priced from $42,995. 2011 models begin rolling into dealerships the end of July. 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 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 »

2010 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4X4

Full-sized pickup truck for active families

By Nina Russin

2010 Toyota Tundra CrewMax

Not all horses are created equal. Neither is all horsepower.

Horsepower is a measurement of an engine’s ability to do work. Originally one horsepower equaled the strength of a single horse: 33,000 ft.-lbs. of work per minute.

Horsepower can make a vehicle very fast, or capable of towing heavy loads, depending on its application. Full-sized pickup trucks are the Clydesdales of the car world. Large displacement engines such as the 4.6-liter V-8 in the Toyota Tundra combine horsepower with low-end torque, giving these vehicles exceptional hauling capability. The 5550-pound Tundra tows up to 10,100 pounds: twice its curb weight.

What distinguishes the Tundra from many of its competitors is performance: strong acceleration and surprising agility on challenging roads. One could say that the Tundra combines the strength of a Clydesdale horse with the grace of an Arabian.

The CrewMax model holds up to five adults. Its versatile, well-equipped interior makes it equally adept as a work truck and active lifestyle vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Ram 3500 Laramie Crew Cab

Heavy-duty pickup truck goes the distance

By Nina Russin

2010 Ram 3500

I’ll admit it: the thought of driving a truck that’s fourteen feet long and weighs three and a half tons makes me a little nervous. The Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickup is not a truck for everyone. But buyers needing its off-road and towing capabilities will be surprised at how easy and fun the new Ram is to drive.

The test truck is the Laramie crew cab: an upscale grade with seating for up to five passengers. Base price is $49,945, not including a $950 delivery charge. Options on the test truck include leather trim ($500), special paint ($225), automatic transmission ($1575), a power sunroof ($850), upgraded audio and navigation system with satellite radio ($800), a rearview camera ($200), and a back seat entertainment system ($1695).

Power comes from a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission. In addition to having an abundance of low-end torque, the engine gets pretty good gas mileage, thanks to its exhaust-driven blower. I averaged 17.3 miles-per-gallon on my 150-mile drive, which included a significant elevation gain. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Nissan Armada

Full-sized sport-utility vehicle is ready for adventure

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan Armada

The Armada is Nissan’s largest sport-utility vehicle, with seating for seven passengers. As its name suggests, the Armada has the durability to traverse extreme off-road terrain, sharing the same truck platform as the full-sized Nissan Titan.

A two-speed transfer case gives the Armada low gears for maneuverability on uneven trails. Towing capacity for the four-wheel drive version is 9000 pounds.

This year, Nissan dresses up the Armada with two new up-level grades: the Titanium and Platinum editions. I recently had the opportunity to drive the Platinum 4, priced from $52,190. Standard comfort and convenience features include keyless ignition, leather seating, navigation, a rearview camera, heated seats and steering wheel, a DVD entertainment system and a 9.3 gigabyte music box hard drive. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Lexus GX 460

Second-generation model gets standard third-row seating

By Nina Russin

2010 Lexus GX 460

The GX is the mama bear of the Lexus sport-utility family, positioned between the compact RX and full-sized LX. Structurally, it’s closer to the LX: a body-on-frame truck designed to go off-road and tow heavy loads. While the unibody RX is engineered for optimum on-road performance, the GX has a two-speed transfer case for extreme off-road terrain.

The first-generation GX, that rolled out in 2002, gave active families a less expensive alternative to the high-luxury LX, with better fuel economy. The second-generation model that arrives in dealerships in January features a new V8 engine, similar to the base engine in the current Tundra pickup. A six-speed automatic transmission replaces a five-speed gearbox on the original model, for better fuel economy and launch characteristics.

EPA statistics for the new model show a two gallon-per-mile fuel economy improvement over the GX 470. On my 35 mile test drive, including surface streets, highway and dirt roads, the average gas mileage was 17.8 mpg: almost a gallon better than the EPA estimate.

Lexus’ kinetic dynamic suspension system gives the GX a surprisingly smooth ride. The system can electronically decouple the front and rear sway bars to maximize wheel travel on off-road trails. On paved roads, the technology prevents the chatter common to body-on-frame trucks with live rear axles. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Infiniti QX56 4WD

Full-sized luxury SUV with off-road capability

By Nina Russin

Infiniti QX56

The QX56 is the big kahuna of sport-utility vehicles. Stepping inside the expansive passenger cabin, I am humbled by its scale.

Just how big is it? The QX56 measures seventeen and a quarter feet end-to-end. The wheelbase is 123 inches. Curb weight is just over three tons. The QX56 can tow up to 9000 pounds: over twice our ALV minimum towing standard.

Power comes from a 320-horsepower V8 engine and five-speed automatic transmission. The QX accelerates surprisingly well for a vehicle of its size. The down side is poor fuel economy. On the test drive I averaged 13.7 miles-per-gallon: slightly lower than the EPA estimate. Read the rest of this entry »