2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design and XC70 with Polestar

Motorsports affiliate gives Volvo’s crossover vehicles a performance boost

By Nina Russin

Volvo XC60

Volvo’s active lifestyle focus and commitment to humanistic design are two reasons I feel a special connection to the automaker. My husband and I have owned three Volvos, including a C30 currently parked in our garage.

Before its demise, Saab had the reputation of attracting niche performance enthusiasts, whereas Volvo was the volume leader, focusing on safety in lieu of sportiness.

Volvo sought to shed its sedate image, beginning in 1995 with a series of R cars. The R cars looked like standard issue Volvos, but they were a lot faster. One encounter with the 850 T-5R was all most drivers needed to rethink their misconceptions about Volvo performance.

Unfortunately, the R cars remained a well-kept secret, despite their availability in the United States until 2007. If Volvo hoped to conquest performance enthusiasts from German and Japanese automakers, it was going to have to get more aggressive.

So it did. Beginning in 2009, Volvo began working with its motorsports partner, Polestar, on factory performance packages for its production models. Those products launched in North America last year. Today, owners of C70, XC70, XC60 and C30 models can add power with Polestar performance tuning.

Polestar recalibrates the car’s on-board computer for quicker throttle response and more turbo boost. The re-flash also modifies spark timing and fuel delivery, so the vehicle maintains its original fuel economy and remains emissions legal.

Buyers who want to push the performance envelope a step further can purchase R-Design models, which add unique styling, wheels, suspension tuning and brake components. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Nissan Pathfinder SLV 4X4

Silver anniversary edition celebrates 25 years of adventure

By Nina Russin

2011 Nissan Pathfinder

This year, a silver edition commemorates the Pathfinder’s twenty-fifth anniversary. Standard equipment includes a four-liter, 266 horsepower V-6 engine, five speed automatic transmission and a tow hitch with 6000 pound capability. The available four-wheel drive system includes a two-speed transfer case which provides a low gear range for uneven off-road trails.

Base price for the 4X4 model is $37,490, excluding the $800 delivery charge. The model comes loaded with comfort and convenience features, sparing the buyer the confusion of wading through option packages. These include keyless entry and start, power heated driver’s and front passenger seats, a premium audio system with satellite radio, Bluetooth interface, tri-zone climate controls, and power adjustable pedals. The only option on the test car is a $195 floor mat and cargo net package. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Lexus GX 460 Premium

Luxury seven-passenger sport-utility vehicle with off-road capability

By Nina Russin

Lexus GX 460

Engineers bucked the trend of going bigger with each successive generation, making the new engine slightly smaller but more efficient than the one it replaces. The new 4.6-liter V-8 produces up to 329 foot-pounds of torque beginning at 3500 rpm.

 A six-speed automatic transmission has large overdrive gears to maximize fuel economy on long road trips.

The test car is the premium model, priced from $57,140, not including an $875 destination charge. Standard features include adaptive front lighting, tri-zone climate control, semi-aniline leather upholstery, the air suspension with automatic load leveling and power folding outside mirrors.

A safety option package adds dynamic cruise control with pre-collision assist, lane departure alert and crawl control ($2670). A premium audio package upgrades the standard system to a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound package. It also adds navigation with real-time weather and traffic updates and satellite radio ($3930). A cargo net in back costs $64, bringing the price as tested to $64,679. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4

A second look at Jeep’s new full-sized SUV

By Nina Russin

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Grand Cherokee is the flagship of the Jeep brand: a full-sized sport utility vehicle which is equally at ease on urban highways and off-road trails. Jeep unveiled an all-new version last summer for the 2011 model year, with V-6 or V-8 engines, and three available four-wheel drive systems.

I first drove the new Grand Cherokee at a media event in northern California. Our drive route included some challenging canyon roads as well as off-road trails at a park in Hollister.

This week, I revisited the new Grand Cherokee on more familiar roads, commuting in urban traffic and carrying cargo. With fuel prices once again on the rise, I was also interested to see how the Pentastar V-6 engine would perform in terms of fuel economy.

The test car is the Limited: one of four available trim levels. Base price is $39,215, not including a $780 destination charge. All grades come with a choice of the V-6 or V-8 engines, and two or four-wheel drive. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Land Rover LR4

All-terrain vehicle for active lifestyles

By Nina Russin

2011 Land Rover LR4

The Land Rover LR4 and its predecessor, the LR3, have struck a chord among buyers with active lifestyles. I believe that the LR4’s appeal lies in its versatility. Not only does it combine excellent driving dynamics on paved roads with the capability to tackle extreme off-road trails; the LR4 also seats up to seven passengers, and has the most versatile cargo area of any Range Rover product.

Power comes from a 375-horsepower V-8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The driver can engage manual gear selection for more aggressive performance on challenging roads.

Land Rover’s terrain response system takes the guesswork out of off-road driving, by automatically matching the shift points, suspension settings and braking to specific types of terrain such as sand, mud and ruts, snow and rock crawl.

Base price is $47,650, not including the $850 destination fee. Black lacquer paint on the test car adds $350, while a climate comfort package, including heated seats, steering wheel and washer jets, adds $1500. The optional third row of seating costs $1,150. California emissions controls cost $100,bringing the price as tested to $51,600. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Range Rover Sport HSE

Luxury sport-utility vehicle has no limits

By Nina Russin

2011 Range Rover Sport HSE

The Range Rover Sport’s handsome exterior can be misleading. Its honeycomb grille and 19-inch alloy wheels might appear better suited to Beverly Hills than the hills of Hollister. I see a lot of squeaky-clean Range Rovers running about: the exteriors suspiciously free of rock chips or blemishes.

That’s a shame. While I’m not suggesting that the Range Rover has less-than-exceptional road manners, owners who fail to venture off the beaten path are missing a tremendous treat. What other car could wade through the Atchafalaya swamp without rattling a teacup?

The Range Rover Sport is the performance version of the HSE, with a choice of naturally-aspirated or supercharged V-8 engines, a six-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive. The test car comes with the 375-horsepower V-8, which accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in 7.2 seconds.

Base price is $59,645, not including an $850 delivery charge. Options on the test car include a premium audio upgrade ($1650), luxury interior package ($4700), and vision assist package that includes a surround camera and adaptive front headlamps ($1200), bringing the price as tested to $68,495. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 GMC Acadia AWD Denali

GMC adds a new premium grade for its family-friendly crossover vehicle

By Nina Russin

2011 GMC Acadia Denali

Towing capacity is 5200 pounds compared to 8200 for the four-wheel drive Yukon, but a three mile-per-gallon gain in fuel economy significantly reduces ownership costs.

For 2011, GMC introduces an upscale Denali grade, with fresh exterior styling and premium interior. A chrome honeycomb grille dresses up the front of the car, while twenty-inch wheels enhance performance and add drama to the profile.

Base price is $45,220 for the all-wheel drive model, not including a $775 destination charge. Standard comfort and convenience feature include remote keyless entry, remote start, heated and cooled front seats, OnStar automatic crash notification and navigation service, a dual-panel sunroof, second-row captain’s chairs, a rearview camera and Bose surround-sound audio system.

A touch screen navigation system adds XM traffic and weather updates ($1890). The rear-seat DVD entertainment system costs $1445, while metallic white exterior paint adds $795 to the base price, bringing the MSRP to $50,125. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4X4

Fifth-generation sport-utility vehicle seats up to seven passengers

By Nina Russin

2010 Toyota 4Runner SR5

Sixteen years ago, Toyota introduced a sport-utility vehicle designed to take active families through mud, sleet and snow. The 4Runner is a more affordable alternative to the upscale Toyota Land Cruiser with comparable off-road capability.

The fifth-generation model is slightly larger in each dimension than the outgoing version. A new V-6 engine has more horsepower than the former six-cylinder or optional V-8. Buyers concerned about gas mileage can opt for a 157-horsepower four-cylinder engine that averages 23 miles-per-gallon on the highway for the rear-wheel drive version.

Since the mid-sized Highlander appeals to buyers wanting the passenger car ride of a crossover vehicle, the 4Runner has remained true to its roots. The newest version rides on the same platform as the FJ Cruiser. Unlike the FJ, the 4Runner is available with three rows of seating.

Engineers added features formerly limited to the Land Cruiser, enhancing the 4Runner’s off-road capability. For example, the Trail grade is available with kinetic dynamic suspension, which automatically decouples the stabilizer bars to maximize wheel travel. Toyota’s crawl control, standard on the Trail model, matches vehicle speed to the terrain, so the driver doesn’t have to modulate the throttle and brakes.

The SR5 is the volume leader among three available grades, with pricing for the four-wheel drive model starting at $30,915. A two-speed transfer case on the test truck gives the 4Runner the extreme low gears necessary for off-road trails.

An audio upgrade adds XM satellite radio and a USB port with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth interface and redundant steering wheel controls ($585). A backup camera in the rearview mirror projects a wide-angle view to the back of the vehicle ($525). Leather trim and the third-row seats with third-row side curtain airbags cost $3570.

A convenience package adds the moonroof, sunshade and two 120-volt power outlets ($1050). Carpeted floor mats cost $204. These options plus the $800 delivery fee bring the price of the test truck to $37,649. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Acura MDX Advance

All-wheel drive gives Acura’s luxury SUV four-season performance

By Nina Russin

2010 Acura MDX

Acura’s sport-utility vehicle for active families has come of age. The original Acura MDX rolled out in 2001, combining luxury performance and four-season capability. A 3.2-liter V-6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission produced 240 horsepower, rivaling some competitive V-8 products. Three rows of seating held up to seven passengers.

While the MDX filled the needs of a growing market, the product lacked refinement. The seats weren’t particularly comfortable, and the cargo area was difficult to configure. All of that has changed with the current model. In addition, engineers refined the powertrain with a more powerful, fuel efficient V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Acura’s super-handling all-wheel drive system distributes power between the front and rear axles as well as between right and left wheels. By controlling yaw, the all-wheel drive system reduces understeer to improve the car’s cornering capability, especially on wet and snowy roads.

Designers refreshed the MDX exterior for 2010, and added an advance package that includes 19-inch wheels and tires, and an active damping system that instantaneously adjusts the suspension for the road conditions. Read the rest of this entry »

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 »