Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2014 i MotorTrend

The most amusing thing about the new Mustang is evident when you pop its hood. Here’s the longest-running name in the musclecar business, looking all mean and modern and ready for the 21st century. And what do you see in its engine bay? Space. That space produces a consistent response from people who’ve just said, “Hey, is that the new Mustang?” Their next comment: “A four-banger?” Perhaps the EcoBoost’s greatest downfall is that it demands explanation every time you pop the hood. If you’re buying one, here’s a cheat sheet: lower weight, better fuel economy, and 320 lb-ft of torque. Weight? Our automatic-equipped EcoBoost Premium weighed 146 pounds less than the manual GT we tested, and 96 pounds of that came off the nose. Unfortunately, Mustang weight has crept up…

We’re not sure what to make of the new Mustang’s looks. While I’m happy it’s not slavishly retro, I think the new metal represents a swing and a miss. The headlights are wrong. Mustangs have always—save for Vanilla Ice’s Fox-body—had big, round eyes. This one doesn’t. The three of us also observed more people checking out the Camaro, and in particular the Challenger, than the all-new Mustang. It’s somehow sort of anonymous. Weird, right? Also, there’s way too much front overhang. But that’s what happens when your wheelbase is 5 inches shorter than the Camaro’s, even though the cars are only 2 inches apart in length. Rory sums up why the brand-new Mustang didn’t win this way: “I’m angry because Ford didn’t benchmark the Boss for the new Mustang the…

For Blue Oval fans, 2016 looms large. That year marks the 50th anniversary of Ford’s greatest racing victory, the first of four consecutive wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To commemorate and celebrate this glorious anniversary, several sources tell Motor Trend that Ford is bringing back the GT for 2016, though that might not be its name. Not just for the street, either. Looks like the company that Hank built is packing its bags and heading across the pond to France. Whispers in and around Dearborn indicate that Ford has a skunkworks team working on a mid-engine supercar that will not only show up on dealer lots, but also will return Ford to the top of the endurance car podium. What engine will power such a machine? Every…

It would be easy to whine about how Audi’s TT, a bastion of eye-catching Bauhaus design at its 1998 introduction, has gone mainstream and become somewhat less interesting. While it’s true that the TT is no longer a bold proposition—in terms of design or otherwise—it continues to be a solid, handsome 2+2 coupe for those who want a sporty car, but not a sports car. That’s not to say the TT isn’t a capable performer. Quite the contrary: The new 2016 TT is roughly 100 pounds lighter, 25 percent stiffer, and significantly more powerful than the current model. Most of the TT’s exterior panels are crafted from aluminum and the entire body-in-white (the basic shell of the car) is said to weigh just 608 pounds. When the 2016 version arrives…

We Don’t Like Trucklike ride and handling, useless third row. The X5 finds itself in a tough position. BMW’s original SUV is stuck between segments, struggling to define itself and trying to be all things to all people. It’s a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. On the one hand, it’s too large for the sport wagon it’s trying to be. Many editors found it too heavy for the six-cylinder gasoline engine to handle appropriately, and the ride quality and driving experience are too much like a truck-based SUV rather than the car-based “Sport Activity Vehicle” it claims to be. This is especially evident in the V-8-powered truck, which is a riot in a straight line but nowhere near as competent in the corners as its competitors. On the other…

We Don’t Like Warmed-over styling, lack of cutting-edge safety features. In a field this large and stacked with brand-new, segment-busting SUVs, including four all-new direct competitors, the opening jabs came hard and fast. “The Expedition just looks so dopey. No real advancement in design—arguably a regression,” said Seabaugh. “Next to GM’s new full-size SUVs the Expedition looks like a relic from another age,” said MacKenzie. Compared to GM’s all-new Tahoe/Suburban and Yukon/Denali quadruplets, Ford’s 2015 Expedition seems barely warmed-over. Bits of the exterior and interior are new, but nothing advances the ball down the field. Chunky surfaces and agrarian ergonomics constantly recall the Expedition’s F-150 roots. But Ford’s big ol’ dog surprised with a few new tricks, namely an eager EcoBoost V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission that many preferred over…

We Don’t Like The looks and the decade-old packaging. The Navigator, like the Lincoln brand, is a frustrating mix of good and bad. Let’s start with good. Why isn’t this engine in more Ford, I mean Lincoln, products? The 380-hp, 460 lb-ft, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 is a modern marvel. You simply don’t need a V-8 in 2015. The Navigator’s engine is the proof/pudding. Says Seabaugh, “I actually prefer the EcoBoost V-6 to the 6.2 V-8 in the Escalade. It’s powerful, refined, and torquey.” We also collectively loved the transmission calibration, which, unlike in the GM triplets, felt performance-oriented, something we think luxury buyers will appreciate. And now the bad. Says MacKenzie, “No amount of lipstick, no matter how deftly applied, can disguise the age of the Navigator’s architecture. The body…

As sport/utility buying trends continue to shift toward smaller vehicles, the Suburban at times feels like Billy the Kid in a town full of Stormtroopers. In fact, the Suburban is the longest-running continually manufactured model name in the U.S., having been in production since 1933. The simple truth is, there just aren’t that many vehicles like the Suburban left. If you need space for hauling up to nine people—yes, nine with the available front and second-row bench seats—in relative comfort, there simply aren’t many other options. For 2015 the Suburban gets a makeover that includes sleek new styling (several judges called it the best-looking vehicle in our group), a stylish and high-quality interior, and improvements to the chassis and powertrain. Just one engine/transmission pairing is available: the new EcoTec…

Entering a fast-growing, ultra-competitive segment such as the small luxury-crossover set isn’t easy—it’s akin to merging into the fast lane from a dead stop. But that’s exactly what the “Lincoln Motor Company” is aiming to do with the all-new Ford Escape-based MKC. And lucky for MKC, the LiMoCo fit it with the new 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 found in the Mustang. Armed with the 2.3’s 285 horses and 305 lb-ft, the all-wheel-drive MKC sprinted from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, through the quarter in 15.0 at 91.1 mph, and around the skidpad at 0.84 g. As Seabaugh noted, “This 2.3 motor is potent as hell.” Just imagine if it were paired with an eight-speed auto, à la the BMW X4. Per Lieberman: “The 2.3-liter with a great transmission could be a…

Were this a competition to determine which crossover would make the best factory rally car, the Porsche Macan would’ve likely walked away with the win. “I’d like to have one of these in the 959 Rothmans rally livery—complete with knobby tires,” exclaimed Loh after a stint in the Macan S around our off-road loop. It was even more impressive on the tarmac. “I shouldn’t like this. I don’t want to like this. But I like this. A lot,” said Lago. “It’s too tall, the engine’s too far forward of the front axle, but, man, this is good to drive.” “Such poise, sure-footedness and locked-down body motion control in Sport +,” Markus said of the base Macan S. The Macan’s performance figures were impressive, with the 340-hp S hitting 60…

“Hey Infiniti, we’re saving a space for the Eau Rouge in the MT Garage… Cousins Q50 and Godzilla await.”@CClonts Service life / 7 mo/9356 mi Avg CO2 / 1.01 lb/mi Energy cons / 175 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $44,455 As tested / $53,020 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/29/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 19.3 MPG I’m enjoying the Q50S’s luxury touches and performance, but the car’s Eco mode is silly. It’s hardly fun being frugal. My plan was to drive an entire week, or gas tank, in Eco, one of five drive modes on the Q50S. Not gonna happen. My patience eroded quickly. Eco mode aggressively retards throttle response to encourage economical driving. Additionally, a small green…

“There is no other SUV in the world with the same combination of serene ride and sublime body control as this Range Rover.”@Angus_MacK Service life / 10 mo/17,162 mi Avg CO2 / 1.18 lb/mi Energy cons / 205 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $290.36 (oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $83,850 As tested / $89,850 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 17/23/19 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 16.7 MPG The laws of physics are immutable. The Range Rover is a 5170-pound SUV with a relatively high center of gravity and—on my base-spec model—relatively modest 235/65 Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires on 19-inch rims. So you feel the mass through the turns, and the tires let go early when you start to push. Default handling is…

“Twelve months and three cars later, the IS line appeals to my brain but not my heart.”@MT_Evans What do people expect when they buy a Lexus? For a long time, the answer was a luxury car on par with the Germans, but without the repair bill. As of late, you can add to that a dose of sportiness. I discovered when living with the complete IS lineup for the past 12 months that Lexus delivers on both. The complete lineup? Yes, indeed. Lexus suggested that, rather than loan us one car for 12 months, it would instead loan us one of each IS model for four months at a time so we could experience the full lineup. We agreed, and I took delivery first of a silver IS 250.…

Lamborghini is used to attention. The Asterion concept, though, will be grabbing more attention than any recent Lamborghini. Yes, it has a 602-hp, 5.2L V-10 producing 413 lb-ft of torque, but that’s just the beginning. Between the V-10 and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is an electric motor that serves as power booster, starter, and generator. Instead of a driveshaft for the front axle ahead of the engine, as in a traditional Lamborghini, there’s a lithium-ion battery pack. That doesn’t mean the front wheels are unpowered, however. Up front are two electric motors that each drive a wheel. Together, Lamborghini says the electric bits produce 295 hp. In total, the Italians say the Asterion produces 897 hp and will hit 62 mph from a stop in 3.0 seconds on its way…

Five years ago, Mercedes was on the verge of ordering the shutdown of its Smart microcar unit. The little Fortwo two-seater had been in production and accruing huge losses since 1998. But apart from the costs of a shutdown there was another factor in Smart’s favor: a feeling among senior management, all the way up to chairman Dieter Zetsche, that this tiny urban car was an idea whose time would come. Mercedes just needed a partner to help finance the development of the next-generation car, and to get some scale economies. “If we got no partner, it’s likely there would have been no new Smart,” Zetsche told MT in July. Fortunately, Daimler was talking to the Renault-Nissan alliance, and in 2010 announced cooperation on a number of projects, including a…

It is in fact like déjà vu all over again. This comparison test goes back decades—literally. The world first saw the Ford Mustang in 1964. Chevrolet followed up Ford’s ponycar lead with the Camaro in 1966, and Mopar mashed up A - and B-bodies to create the Dodge Challenger in 1969. The Mustang never went anywhere, but both the Camaro and the Challenger exited the bullring at some point, only to come roaring back in recent times. Defining what exactly makes a ponycar is tricky, but you can boil it down to a few key attributes. One is they’re blatantly American. Another is long-hood, short-deck styling suggesting a corral full of horsepower. Each of the cars in this test kicks out well over 400 hp. The last bit is that…

Our trio’s speed traces through Streets of Willow’s very first turn are basically a performance synopsis of each car. The Challenger’s immense power deposits the big red Dodge into the corner’s entry at a substantially higher speed than the others, but driver Randy Pobst then has to drastically rein it all in to transit the turn’s heart. The closely matched Mustang and Camaro approach it more slowly but go deeper, with the Ford checking its speed first though decelerating far less drastically than the Dodge. And while both the Challenger and Mustang are feathering their throttles, the Camaro briefly accelerates farther, needing only a modest lift before they all brake together. There, in a nutshell, are these three cars: one with tremendous power, another, amazing grip, and the third, somewhere…

We Don't Like The ride, CUE. MacKenzie says the Escalade is “the most controversial vehicle Cadillac makes.” His reasoning is that while the rest of Caddy’s lineup shares nothing you can see or touch with the rest of GM’s lineup, the ’Slade is quite obviously a Tahoe/Yukon all dressed up for the ball. Why would Caddy violate its own best practices? Profits, and massive amounts of them. The Escalade is the most profitable vehicle the General makes, full stop. But is it any good? Well, according to Loh, “It looks amazing. Love the giant shield up front and floor-to-ceiling taillights.” All of the new big ’uns from GM are handsome. Figuring out which one is best-looking really depends on the angle. I think the Chevy’s best from the side and…

We Don’t Like Sluggish powertrain, poor third-row package. GMC is proof that marketing works. GM’s truck brand once built real trucks, but GMCs today are basically re-badged Chevy pickups and SUVs. Yet the powerful “Professional Grade” advertising tagline has probably convinced more than a few GMC owners they’ve purchased a superior product. As with the new Tahoe, the 2015 Yukon makes a great first impression. The move away from clamshell doors allowed Ed Welburn’s design team to craft a clean, rectilinear profile dominated by a strong shoulder line running from front fender to taillight. This new Yukon looks suitably modern and reassuringly imposing. Inside, the new interior exudes a contemporary, upscale ambiance, with nicely sculpted forms and well-chosen materials. Fake wood is still there, but it’s used with commendable restraint.…

We Don’t Like Uninspired, by-the-numbers SUV design. The Highlander was the first vehicle cut during SUOTY deliberations. That might come as a surprise if you read our August 2014 three-row crossover SUV Big Test, where it placed second primarily because of its competency and low 5-year cost of ownership estimates. What happened? Well, to win the calipers, a vehicle must do more than be competent. It must innovate. The Highlander’s only lauded feature—a large and nifty storage area in the center console for electronics—was overshadowed by a number of ergonomic challenges. Things such as a slow-opening automatic liftgate or the distance the driver has to reach to adjust the stereo’s tuning knob might seem minor in isolation, but when taken together they make you wonder whether they’re the result of…

This year marks the second in a row that a Jeep has finished the runner-up on our SUOTY ballots—for 2014, it was the Grand Cherokee; for 2015, the GC’s little brother, the Cherokee. While medaling silver in back-to-back SUOTY competitions is surely bittersweet for Jeep, it’s also a sign that Chrysler-Fiat’s SUV brand is on the right track. To nip at the heels of our winner, the Cherokee indeed proved an accomplished SUV. Our judges were most impressed with the Trailhawk’s rugged, brawny design, not to mention its legitimate Trail Rated abilities and cushy Raptor-like dynamics. Per Jurnecka, “Styling is fantastic in Trailhawk guise. Made it up the off-road hill like there was no hill—a champ in the dirt.” In terms of ride, the front-drive 2.4 Limited was deemed the…

“The GLA is proof the best way to get Americans to buy a hatchback is to jack it up and call it an SUV.” That sentence from MacKenzie perfectly sums up the Mercedes-Benz GLA. It’s little more than an A-Class hatchback with more ground clearance and some pseudo body cladding, and yet it all works, with the GLA making a very strong case for itself at Sport/Utility of the Year. With its big rear wing, bright red paint, and giggle-inducing exhaust note, it was hard for some of us not to fall in love with the GLA45 AMG. “As good as anything I’ve ever driven down Palmer Road,” said Lieberman, “and I’ve driven an SLS Black Series, a Corvette ZR1, and an SRT Viper down Palmer.” “Holy crap, this…

The casual observer might not realize that there’s anything new with the 2015 Subaru Outback. New yet subtle bodywork hides the fact that its new platform means it’s bigger in every dimension. The few design warts of last year’s car, such as the needlessly angry headlights, have been calmed. The Outback looks normal, inoffensive. “Nothing about the car stands out, but sometimes it’s best not to shout. Just do,” said MacKenzie. A fresh interior design, coupled with increased passenger and cargo volume, gives the Outback a more upscale appearance. “The wood in here is more believable than the stuff in the King Ranch,” said Markus of the 3.6R model. A new infotainment system with clear graphics and easy-to-use controls makes a dramatic improvement over last year’s version, though it’s still…

“The Denali is definitely the boss-man’s Sierra, so I’m making plenty of use of it as a rolling office.”@MT_Markus Service life / 8 mo/13,902 mi Avg CO2 / 1.24 lb/mi Energy cons / 216 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (change oil, tire rotation, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $51,355 As tested / $54,585 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 16/22/18 (GAS) 12/16/13 (E85) MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 15.6 MPG Have you priced Detroit-NYC airfare? It’s crazy high. So when four of us needed a late June Broadway fix, we piled in the Sierra and drove the 10 hours each way, spending $308 in gas, another $20-$30 in tolls, and $120 for parking. The airfare savings easily covered our down-front seats for “A Gentleman’s…

“Time to hit the road for a #RogueTrip in the MT Garage Nissan Rogue #Sorry #BadPuns.”@C_Seabaugh Service life / 6 mo/12,706 mi Avg CO2 / 0.82 lb/mi Energy cons / 142 kW-hrs/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $30,280 As tested / $32,580 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 25/32/28 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 23.8 MPG In my mind, there’s no better way to get to know the quirks and characteristics of a new car than packing the family up and hitting the road. So I packed up my new Nissan with the girl and our pups, and headed out to get to know the Rogue. We had two suitcases, two dog beds, a dog crate, big bags of dog food,…

“If I’m consistently drifting out of lanes while driving, I might need to stop driving—NOT get a lane departure warning system.”@MT_Royer Service Life / 13 mo/24,052 mi Base Price / $26,620 Options / SE Touring Package ($6100: adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, navigation, leather, powered liftgate) Price As Tested / $32,720 Avg Econ/CO2 / 24.0 mpg / 0.81 lb/mi Energy Cons / 140 kW-hrs/100 mi Problem Areas / None Maintenance Cost / $371.15 (3-change oil, inspection; 1-cabin air filter) Normal-Wear Cost / $0 3-Year Residual Value* / $15,706 Recalls /None *Automotive Lease Guide EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 24/29/26 AVERAGE FUEL ECON 24.0 MPG This Mitsubishi was not nearly as polarizing as our former long-term 2012 Outlander Sport, but the 2014 Outlander had to deal with much of the sentiment…

Nissan product planners are under pressure to make the GT-R, out since 2007, more desirable. Why? Because Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who took a lead role in green-lighting the GT-R, now says he has no interest in cars that don’t sell in volume and make money. Makes sense. You see, the GT-R is only selling an average of 110 cars in the U.S. and 60 units in Japan each month. To fix that, they're pulling out all the stops. Translated: The next-generation road-going GT-will get a hybrid powertrain. To keep costs down, Nissan will carry over several strategic components from the R35 GT-R to the new R36 model. The twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-6, transaxle layout, and AWD powertrain will remain. The electric motor will be just aft of the engine. Our…

Straight-talking Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen has only been at the company a few months, but he’s already making his mark. Many of his plans, though, you might recognize from his short time at the top of Infiniti. One of his first moves is literal: He’s moving Cadillac’s headquarters from Detroit to New York City. “We are very proud of our Detroit roots and heritage, and the majority of the Cadillac workforce will remain in Michigan,” he said. “But there is no city in the world where the inhabitants are more immersed in a premium lifestyle than in New York.” As of this writing, only the management and marketing teams are slated to move. The rest of the company will stay in Michigan. As his former employer did in moving…

1. STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: Motor Trend has been testing cars since 1949 and as Frank Markus noted in his Technologue column (bit.ly/MTTesting) of Motor Trend, “…a big weakness of ours: measuring fuel economy.” With Emission Analytics expertise, Motor Trend has invested where no other automotive media evaluation has gone. 2. BE COMFORTABLE. Before and after each city/highway test, Sam Boyle conducts a calibration that zeroes out the gas analyzer with nitrogen (pictured here) The test includes multiple drive sessions as well as installing and removing the equipment for as many as 25 tests per week. To stay comfortable yet meet their job demands, the Dickies Regular Straight Fit 5-Pocket Jean (bit.ly/Dickies5Pocket) provide casual, Built To Work comfor 3. SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. To determine economy, the special calibrated Chevron test fuel remains…

If life consisted of nothing but straight lines, the Challenger Scatpack would be your winner. The car nerd world is still catching its collective breath from Dodge dropping the 707-horsepower Hellcat bomb. But by focusing all our attention on that animal, we missed the fact that the Dodge Boys are selling a car with 485 naturally aspirated ponies for less than $40K. I hope you appreciate how amazing that last sentence is. I’m not quite 40 years old, but I well remember when the Lamborghini Countach 5000S made—are you sitting down?—449 hp, and that seemed like the most powerful car the world would ever see. This here Dodge smacks it. The problem with the Scatpack, like all Challengers, is its heft and girth. The car is massive. Says associate editor…

Iron Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a plan ’til they get punched in the mouth.” That’s no doubt how the good men and women at Ford are feeling right now, especially because, as tested, the winning car costs about $4500 less than the optioned-up Triple Yellow Mustang. Out of these three ponycars, the Camaro SS 1LE is better on both a canyon road and a racetrack. Sometimes these things are that easy. (See track map, page 54.) Perfect? No. The usual Camaro complaints were heard loud and clear over lunch—cheap interior built from materials (seemingly) sourced from Happy Meal toys, and you can’t see out of it. Rory felt the shifter is too notchy and high-effort. Yeah, the interior’s not made from the best stuff on Earth, but at…

Heavy metal. One of the great music genres, sure, but it’s also a challenge to overcome when dealing with cars built mostly from steel. Because steel vehicles, like bricks, are heavy. Aluminum and composites such as carbon fiber are the future. Just ask Ford. But for now most cars are still built from steel—the new Lexus RC F, for example. I’m leading with this materials mini-lesson for a reason. We weighed the RC F and it clocks in at a lardy 4040 pounds. For some comparison, the similarly sized and totally targeted BMW M4 weighs 3604 pounds, a 436-pound difference. Before you mount an angry letter-writing campaign aimed (for once) not at us but at Lexus, know that the AWD Audi RS 5 weighs just 13 pounds less than the…

We Don’t Like Rough ride, compromised utility and practicality, big price tag. “Why am I here?” is perhaps the oldest and most universal philosophical question. For what reason do I exist? While humans have no choice but to continue existing without an answer to this question, that’s not normally the case in business. A product that can’t rationalize its existence generally doesn’t fare well in the market. Lucky for BMW, “because I want it” is all the reason a product needs to be successful, which incidentally is the only reason anyone will buy an X4. MacKenzie explains: “The tortured logic behind the X4 probably goes something like this: If you think a 3 Series wagon is too carlike, an X3 too much like a boring SUV, a 3 Series Gran…

We Don't Like Cramped third row, lethargic transmission. Essentially a shorter-wheelbase Suburban, the Chevy Tahoe earned comparable praise but a bit more criticism than its bigger sibling. With similarly improved styling inside and out to the ’Burban, the Tahoe found love from judges as one of the most handsome vehicles in its segment. Also like the Suburban’s, the Tahoe’s interior impressed. “Trim for trim, interior in this Tahoe is a whole generation or two nicer than the Expedition,” said Loh. “Feels more luxurious and expensive, even if it isn’t.” Unfortunately, the Tahoe also shared with its sibling a key letdown: a lethargic gearbox. The outdated six-speed auto seems unable or unwilling to optimize the 5.3-liter EcoTec V-8’s 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Again, we’re expecting GM’s new eight-speed…

We Don’t Like The Suburban gives you the same functionality for less money. The 2015 GMC Yukon XL is exactly what it says on the tin: the Yukon writ Extra Large. A 14-inch stretch in the wheelbase and 20.4-inch increase in overall length address the fundamental flaw of the regular Yukon: cramped third-row seating. The rear floor is still raised to accommodate the live rear axle, but the wheelbase stretch means GM engineers have been able to sculpt footwells aft of the second row, allowing adults to sit comfortably. As with the regular Yukon, the XL starts with the base 2WD SLE and stretches to the fully loaded 4WD Denali, a trim level that accounts for more than 60 percent of all Yukon sales. Consumers clearly see it as the…

We Don’t Like Gluey steering, rough ride, tight rear seat. Probably the purest, most polarizing vehicle in this year’s competition, the Volvo XC60 left no judge waffling in praise or criticism. “The exterior design is interesting and expressive—sporty in the current Volvo idiom. The interior design is outstanding, with original combinations of forms, materials, and finishes. It looks light, contemporary, and elegant, like a furniture exhibit you’d see in a modern art museum,” said MacKenzie. Lieberman concurred. “Talk about moving needles—look at this interior! Simply, utterly gorgeous. Yes, please! All automakers should take a long, hard look at what Volvo’s done here.” But it’s not perfect. As with many designer goods, function often takes a backseat to form, though rarely so literally. “The only problem with the interior is the…

The big NX news is of course the turbocharged engine, a Lexus first that will be showing up in other Lexus products (the IS and the RC) soon. Says Kiino, “Nice new turbo engine. Very little lag, smooth, feels gutsy.” He and others also praised the tuning of the six-speed automatic transmission, though we wonder why they didn’t bother with more gears, as the heavily targeted Audi Q5 has eight and the Range Rover Evoque has nine. Lexus says that more ratios add weight and cost. Sure, but there must be some reason (higher MPGs) that the main players in the segment ship with more gears. Also, Lexus pioneered the eight-speed automatic transmission with the IS F, and that was sporty. The six-speed decision reeks of cost cutting. The…

Based on its name, you’d be forgiven for expecting the Nissan Rogue to rival the Cherokee Trailhawk in excitement or off-road prowess. Though “exciting” isn’t a word we’d use to describe driving the Rogue, the Nissan cute-ute does offer quite a lot to get excited about. Nissan kills it when it comes to packaging. Starting in the trunk, Nissan offers its Divide-N-Hide cargo system on the Rogue (not available with the third row). It includes two useful reconfigurable shelves that allow the Rogue’s cargo area to expand and contract as needed, with 18 different configurations. “Very cool cargo area—best aspect of the car,” said Markus. Evans agreed with his assessment: “Multi-level reconfigurable cargo floor is pretty clever; very solid little SUV.” There are 45/10/45 split-folding rear seats with a…

“Soon, the Accord Hybrid and I will figure out exactly how much more gas my colleagues are wasting, err…using for educational purposes.” EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 50/45/47 MPG BASE PRICE $35,695 PRICE AS TESTED $35,695 Everybody (e.g., NASCAR) is always on the lookout for the Car of Tomorrow. This enlightened car (with a tube-frame chassis and driver safety cell in NASCAR) is supposed to further “tomorrow’s” technology and (hopefully) coolness into all that follow it. Unless you immersed yourself in alternative propulsion well before the “70 mpg” Honda Insight or General Motors’ Impact concept, I’d totally understand if you think the new Honda Accord Hybrid was some futurist’s fanciful doing. But don’t, because apart from the blue tinge on the front grille and head - and taillights, it’s a pretty…

“The Cherokee’s first foray into the mountains was a success, even in the midst of a heat wave.”@RoryJurnecka Service life / 3 mo/6157 mi Avg CO2 / 0.92 lb/mi Energy cons / 160 kW-hrs/100mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $0 Base price / $30,490 As tested / $37,265 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 18/25/20 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 19.5 MPG A few weekends ago I decided to treat the Trailhawk to its first off-road excursion and headed toward Orange County’s Silverado Canyon Road. The trail started off easy enough as it climbs back into the hills, with mostly loose dirt and small rocks and no real obstacles. But the going got tougher, and I was in low gear, crawling along over larger rocks and…