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 »

2009 Lexus LX 570

Full-sized sport-utility vehicle with enhanced off-road and safety features

By Nina Russin

2009 Lexus LX 570

The LX is Lexus’ full-sized sport-utility vehicle, with seating for up to eight passengers, and 8500 pound towing capacity. The current model, introduced last year, improves on the original LX 470 with a larger, more powerful V8 engine, enhanced off-road and safety technology.

Powerful 5.7-liter engine

The 383-horsepower V8 engine is 42 percent more powerful than the 4.7-liter V8 on the outgoing model: 403 foot-pounds of torque makes the LX extremely capable in off-road situations, and gives the SUV surprisingly good low-end acceleration.

Making six thousand pounds of sheet metal accelerate from zero-to-sixty in 7.4 seconds is a feat worthy of respect. The trade-off is lackluster fuel economy: about 14 miles-per-gallon on average.

Fortunately, the six-speed automatic transmission gives the car reasonable gas mileage on the highway: about 18 mpg. The LX can cruise along flat roads at 75 miles-per-hour and rarely rev above 2000 rpm.

Fans of Lexus passenger cars will appreciate similar performance from the LX, notable for its compliant suspension, and quiet interior. Despite its two box architecture, there is no noticeable wind noise around the windshield or side mirrors. Mud and snow tires on standard 20-inch wheels produce very little road noise. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Ford F-150 Supercrew

Ford’s newest light-duty pickup truck features enhanced cargo, towing and safety technology

By Nina Russin

2009 Ford F-150

The F-150 Supercrew has more affinity to sport-utility vehicles than traditional pickup trucks, despite the open cargo bed. This isn’t to say that Ford’s best-selling pickup lacks toughness or durability. It’s fully off-road capable, and has a 11,000 pound towing capacity.

Crew cabs, especially upscale models, are all about the passengers. The F-150 Lariat has many of the same comfort and convenience features as luxury SUVs: navigation, satellite radio, downloadable hard drive, 5.1 surround sound audio, heated and cooled leather seats, and a power moon roof. The only thing missing is a rear-seat DVD unit for the kids.

The new crew cab is six inches longer than the previous model, offering second-row passengers more legroom. The rear seats flip up and out of the way to create a large cargo space behind the front seats.

The white metal flake exterior is almost too sweet to get dirty: ditto for the twenty-inch aluminum wheels. A three-bar chrome grille, similar to the design on the F-Series super duty trucks, is macho enough for the rodeo king.

Easier to load

Designers added some important features that ease cargo box access. An available box sidestep on 6.5 and 8-foot Styleside boxes stows under the cargo box when not in use. The eleven-inch step deploys with the push of a button, and holds up to 500 pounds.

Ford has added the available rear tailgate step introduced on its super duty series to the F-150 lineup. The step, which is integrated into the tailgate, can support up to 300 pounds.

An optional bed extender legnthens the Supercrew’s relatively short cargo bed. The bed extender adds a couple feet of storage space by securing cargo with the tailgate down. It can also act as a divider, to keep smaller items from shifting around.

A cargo management system available with the 6.5-foot cargo bed adds side rails and cleats for securing items. Side mounted tool bins hold up to sixty pounds and are waterproof. A lockable toolbox available on regular and Supercabs provides lockable, weather and dustproof storage, mounted to the front of the cargo box.

Easier to drive

Ford added a couple of key features that enhance visibility around the truck and make it easier to tow large trailers. A rearview camera on the test truck displays a wide angle view to the rear on the navigation screen, when the driver shifts into reverse. It’s a feature I strongly recommend to parents with small children. Considering the F-150’s large footprint, the rearview camera also makes parking much easier.

An integrated trailer brake controller lets the driver to operate the trailer’s electronic brakes using a control module on the instrument panel. Trailer sway control works in conjunction with the truck’s traction and roll stability control systems to determine if the trailer is swaying. The system can apply the truck brakes or reduce engine power to bring the trailer under control.

A tow-haul mode modifies transmission shift points to boost power on uphill grades. The system downshifts on downhill grades to add engine braking, and can apply the truck’s brakes as necessary. Read the rest of this entry »