Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2013 i MotorTrend

Chrysler and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration faced off in June. Under pressure from an automotive safety group, NHTSA sent a letter to Chrysler asking it to recall 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokees and Jeep Liberties. Typically, these requests are quickly complied with, and often a carmaker will issue a recall even before NHTSA requests one. So recalling the Jeeps should have been an issue of form more than anything else. Fix it, move on. But this time, Chrysler said no. A voluntary recall requires a volunteer. The alleged problem stemmed from the fuel tank and its location on 1993-’04 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-’07 Jeep Liberties. The tank was mounted behind the rear axle, and the safety group said at least 51 people died when vehicles were struck…

The new Porsche 911 GT3 in quotes from Andreas Preuninger, Porsche’s general manager of GT Cars: “Add lightness is not applicable anymore. Purism and performance are no longer exclusive.” “At Porsche, we like manual shifting, but we also like being the fastest.” Such is the ethos of the new GT3. It’s about using all available technology to make this street-legal, track-ready 911 the fastest it can possibly be around a corner and around a racetrack. Purists can scream all they like about the sole-option PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox, but it shifts faster and more precisely than any human ever will, and that makes it faster on a racetrack. The highway gear is gone and the programming is refined, the effect being the GT3 upshifts so fast, you can’t feel it,…

ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH PRICE $304,960 DRIVELINE Front-engine, 5.9L/565-hp/457-lb-ft, V-12, 6A, RWD SUSPENSION, F;R: Control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multi-link, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar BRAKES, F;R 15.7-in vented, drilled ceramic disc; 14.2-in vented, drilled ceramic disc, ABS CURB WEIGHT 3926 lb (51/49%) TIRES, F;R 255/35R20 97Y; 305/30R20 103Y Pirelli P Zero AUDI R8 V10 PLUS PRICE $188,995 DRIVELINE Mid-engine, 5.2L/550-hp/398-lb-ft, V-10, 7-sp twin-cl auto, AWD SUSPENSION, F;R: Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar BRAKES, F;R 14.9-in vented, drilled, ceramic disc; 14.0-in vented, drilled, ceramic disc, ABS CURB WEIGHT 3686 lb (42/58%) TIRES, F;R 235/35R19 91Y; 295/30R19 100Y Pirelli P Zero BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED PRICE $253,095 DRIVELINE Front-engine, 6.0L/616-hp/590-lb-ft twin-turbo W-12, 8A, AWD SUSPENSION, F;R: Control arms, air springs, adj…

Unfortunately for the M6, there’s no mechanical issue to blame for its standing. Save some significant brake fade on the track, the M6 functioned exactly as it was designed. Assuming, of course, BMW intended to design a car that is too heavy, too complicated, and unable to put the power down. Before we go any further, it must be said that the M6 has some very redeeming qualities. Every judge remarked about how much he enjoyed the big, broad power-band and raucous noise from the (officially, but likely underrated) 560-hp engine. Praise was likewise heaped on the transmission. “The twin-clutch is the best part of this car,” Lago wrote. Shifts were imperceptibly quick and smooth with no interruption of power. “I really enjoyed the drivetrain,” Randy said. “The transmission is…

As you know, we’re big fans of wagons here at Motor Trend. Not only can modern wagons perform just as well as their sedan counterparts, they can do it while hauling as much as or more than many SUVs. You think that extra roof on the back of this E63 was a handicap? Check the stats: This 577-hp E63 Wagon is quicker to 60 mph and through the quarter mile than a C6 Corvette Z06, doing the former in just 3.4 seconds and finishing the latter in 11.7. It mopped the floor with our old favorite, the CTS-V Wagon, in every category but braking, and did it while weighing 4700 pounds. Handicapable is more like it. “This is probably the best station wagon ever made,” said Jurnecka. “I like it…

As with the Vanquish and GT Speed, we saw the F-Type exceed expectations where the Cayman failed to meet them. This time, though, the overachiever was also the spoiler, and the judges’ reactions couldn’t be more different. Burgess: “It performed beyond all my expectations. Jaguars are usually straight-line fast but too heavy in the corners. But this Jag is different. It buckles down in the corners, and that engine can push it out of anything.” Lago: “The words ‘capable, solid, and tight’ come to mind. It’s kind of like a powerlifting Miata, with way more muscle than the Cayman/Boxster.” Jurnecka: “What a fun little car! It’s not as serious as a Boxster/Cayman S, and I like that.” Kong: “The pleasant surprise of the group. The F-Type is a lively plaything…

It was inevitable. Sooner or later, there was going to be a repeat Best Driver’s Car winner, and with three former champions all competing head to head, the odds were good this would be the year. Of course, you shouldn’t be surprised. Technically, the 911 was already a repeat winner, with the 911 GT3 having won our inaugural Best Handling Car competition, the precursor to Best Driver’s Car. (This Carrera’s 1:39.19 lap time was nearly half a second quicker around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca than that 2007 GT3’s.) Then there’s the fact that the 911 Carrera S won unanimously last year. This year, the 911 Carrera 4S faced stiffer competition, and both the SLS and R8 stole a few first place votes, but not a single judge ranked the 911…

“I wasn’t sure about driving an orange truck for a year. Then I saw it in person—this Copperhead Pearl color is awesome!” @TruckTrendAH EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 15/21/17 MPG BASE PRICE $44,920 PRICE AS TESTED $52,320 When Motor Trend awarded the Ram 1500 the 2013 Truck of the Year calipers, we knew we would make the most of its stay among our long-term fleet. After all, this truck appealed to the TOTY judges because of its balance between a comfortable ride and truck capability, impressive features that improve fuel economy, and a modern, cool cabin with amenities that would appeal to people on the job site and when having fun on the weekend. But while a lot of Ram features wowed us at Truck of the Year, we wanted…

“Recently, while providing photo support at SUOTY, the JX held its own on (and off!) the dirt-road course alongside the 13 contenders.” Service life / 11 mo/26,216 mi Avg CO2 / 1.04 lb/mi Energy cons / 181 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $464.43 (3-oil change, inspection; 2-tire rotation; 1-cabin-air filter, engine-air filter) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON:18/23/20 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 18.6 MPG It’s been a couple months since my last update on the JX35. I’ve already taken it in for its next maintenance interval: an oil change, oil filter change, and tire rotation. The front driver’s side wheel was making noises at freeway speeds, but the folks at the Infiniti dealership found nothing wrong with the wheel or suspension parts. After making…

“Listening to music off my iPhone shouldn’t be such an exercise in frustration.”@Emiliana505 Service life / 6 mo/7,935 mi Avg CO2 / 0.84 lb/mi Energy cons / 145 kW-hr/100mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $53.55 (oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 22/34/26 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 23.2 MPG I’m not thrilled with the Optima’s entertainment system setup when it comes to listening to my own music. There’s an iPod USB input, but I keep all my music on my iPhone. When I plug in my iPhone, I get a “Media Connection Failed!” prompt. That’s because the iPhone won’t connect unless I buy a specific Kia cable for $30. I can listen to my iPhone music via Bluetooth, but that’s assuming I’m at…

“Blue covered all the right bases. And for that, it’ll be a top CUV recommendation of mine for years to come. Mazda: Bring on the diesel!”@nate_martinez Service Life 14 mo/28,831 mi Base Price $27,840 Options Grand Touring Tech Package ($1325: navigation, HID headlights, keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror); rear bumper guard ($100) Price as Tested $29,265 Avg Co2 0.73 lb/mi Problem Areas None Maintenance Cost $456.21 (4-oil change, inspections; 3-tire rotations; 1-cabin-air filter) Normal-Wear Cost $861 (tires) 3-Year Residual Value* $14,187 Recalls None *Automotive Lease Guide EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 15/21/17 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 26.4 MPG Over the course of a year, there has been no other vehicle parked in our garage that I’ve complimented as much as my CX-5, nicknamed Blue. The variety of positive remarks…

“I absolutely want to develop a successor model to the 1 Series M Coupe.” The Elmiraj, a two-door “grand” coupe named after California’s El Mirage dry lake bed, follows the footsteps of big, bold, and beautiful Cadillac concepts such as the Ciel and 2003’s Sixteen. Let’s just hope that this time its name isn’t foreshadowing anything. Cadillac says the new Elmiraj was built to honor the past and look toward the future of Cadillac design. The Elmiraj’s name and proportions are tributes to great Cadillacs of yesteryear: Elmiraj evokes the storied Eldorado nameplate, while its generous proportions and “grand coupe” body style are a nod to the 1967 Eldorado. As for the future, Cadillac says the Elmiraj is its way of “projecting design forward” instead of “teasing future models,” though…

For those who have always dreamed of driving a race car, the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse may be the next best thing. It debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show, and the Italian supercar maker has revealed details on the new Gallardo variant based on the Gallardo Super Trofeo race car. The race car-inspired Gallardo Squadra Corse is very similar to the Super Trofeo race car that competes in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo one-make series. Both share the same 562-hp V-10, with a paddle-shifted six-speed gearbox transferring that power to the ground through all four wheels. Lamborghini says the Squadra Corse can accelerate 0-62 mph in an estimated 3.4 seconds and reach 124 mph in just 10.2 seconds. Lamborghini claims it weighs 155 pounds less than…

An executive with DRB-HICOM, parent company of Group Lotus, announced that Lotus’ finances have finally been straightened out and the company is moving forward with a new 3-year plan. Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil, managing director of DRB-HICOM, told Malaysian media that the year-and-a-half-long cleanup of Lotus’ books has finally been completed, allowing the British automaker to focus on future product. Former CEO Dany Bahar’s 5-year plan is dead. Instead of six all-new cars, Lotus will instead work in the near-term on variants of its existing lineup. The first was the Exige S Roadster, an open-top variant of the Exige, which itself was the closed-top variant of the Elise. Speaking of which, Lotus plans to launch new variants of the Elise, Exige, and the stand-alone Evora. Unlike in the past,…

While Chevrolet and Dodge shifted from one compact nameplate to another, Toyota produced Corollas by the millions. Toyota’s formula is simple, and flashy exterior styling and class-leading dynamics are nowhere on its list of priorities. Instead, ultra-sexy traits such as quality, durability, and reliability (QDR) take precedence. But does the 2014 Toyota Corolla have something to offer compact buyers who dare to seek more than just QDR? In the CVT-equipped compact, not much happens below about 3000 rpm, when you slam your foot down on the accelerator pedal. Though the LE Eco model has more power and less torque, I couldn’t tell the difference in power between the 132-hp LE and S and the 140-hp LE Eco. As I made my way to highway speeds, I could hear the CVT…

Giro Blok $70-$130 • Where To Buy: www.giro.com Classic style meets modern tech. Thanks to Expansion View Technology and Carl Zeiss lenses with anti-fog coating, wearers get a crisp view of the powder ahead. Outdoor Technology Tuis $150 • Where To Buy: www.outdoortechnology.com All your headphone bases are covered with the Tuis. There’s Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, call functionality, 30-foot wireless range, 16-hour single charge use, clear hi-fi sound, and a 3.5mm input in case you’re on a plane or using a non-Bluetooth device. They’re also foldable. Samsung Galaxy Camera $450-$550 • Where To Buy: www.samsung.com Snap amazingly sharp and vivid 16.3-megapixel shots, edit them, then share them online anywhere, any time, all in seconds. Intrigued? Then this is your camera. Red BullEditions $3 • Where To Buy: editions. redbull.com Need…

You have two questions: Why didn’t we test the Viper T/A, and why is the Laguna Seca lap record-holder in last place? The first is easy to answer. We asked SRT for the Viper T/A, and they decided to send us the base SRT Viper with the Track Package instead. Why? We haven’t gotten a straight answer from the SRT people, so we can’t say. The second question can be answered mostly with one word: quality. This Viper had a number of mechanical issues that sank it in voting. Key among these was a serious brake problem. During figure-eight testing, one of the motors that moves the adjustable pedals broke off under braking and jammed the brake pedal to the floor. Thankfully, the figure-eight course is a controlled environment, but…

Yes, that’s right. We’ve put the Bentley ahead of the BMW in a driver’s car contest. Despite all the comments about the BMW’s weight, and the fact the Bentley weighs just shy of 1000 pounds more, the big Bentley was simply more engaging. “The Bentley is bizarre, because it sort of works,” wrote Lago. “Feels like I’m going 20-30 mph faster than I have any right to through corners. Strangely easy to point around and guide up the hill at terrific speed.” This was a common refrain. Said Loh: “The W-12 means muscle in abundance, but it’s also surefooted, even graceful, with a lot of character—like Emmitt Smith on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’” The Bentley charmed us in no small part by performing far better than anyone expected. Pushed through…

How the mighty have fallen. The GT-R has been a serious Best Driver’s Car contender for years and nearly walked away with the title more than once. Not this time around. This time, it failed to live up to expectations in a big way. Just take a look at the lap time. This, the Track Edition, was at 1:36.63 the second-slowest GT-R around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca of the four we’ve tested here. Both last year’s Black Edition and the prior year’s standard GT-R were quicker. Next, listen to what Randy had to say about it: “I was surprised at the amount of understeer. This car is understeering a lot here at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, for whatever reason, and that actually slowed the car down—middle of the corner, and…

As with the Cayman, we see here another former champion that couldn’t quite recapture the throne. Where the Cayman in this year’s competition has become cold and calculating, the R8 just went back to being awesome. In any other crowd, this car is a winner, but in this group, it has to settle for a podium finish. Three issues dogged the R8 and held it down. The first, mirroring its mid-engine Porsche cousin, was a persistent plea for more torque. As much as judges loved running well into the R8’s 8700-rpm redline, they longed for more than just 398 lb-ft on the hill climb. The complaint showed up in most judges’ notes, often with the explanation that the chassis can clearly handle it. Case in point, Loh noted, “Chassis is…

As Cadillac continues to build its autobahn arsenal with the larger, leaner CTS, the highly anticipated Vsport model deploys twin-turbo V-6 performance in the war against the Mercedes-Benz E550 and BMW 550i twin-turbo V-8s while we wait for a new AMG/M-fighting CTS-V. The Vsport also wears a simple V on its rump, but is stripped of the Big V’s flag graphics (and air intakes, flares, and so forth). Nobody will mind if you confuse the two, which are currently separated by $5830. Watching and listening to a Vsport hustle away from a dead stop certainly won’t reduce the confusion. But wait, doesn’t Caddy risk bringing a V-6 knife to a twin-turbo-V-8 RPG fight? Maybe not. This state-of-the-art, direct-injected twin-turbo trumps Mercedes on power, 420 to 402, though torque lags slightly…

“The GLI dispensed with the twisty mountain roads with ease and soaked up the deep potholes and bumps”@mt_dubdub Service life / 9 mo/19,862 mi Avg CO2 / 0.80 lb/mi Energy cons / 138 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (oil change, rotate tires, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 24/32/27 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 24.4 MPG I was all too happy to take the reins of our long-term 2013 VW Jetta GLI from Ron Kiino. Having owned a couple Vee-Dubs and having just returned our long-term 2012 Honda Civic Si, I looked forward to the super Jetta’s slightly more refined version of the sporty-sedan recipe. And that is exactly what I got. The GLI is sharp-looking, well-appointed, sporty, comfortable, and overall, a…

“Clark Griswold would’ve hated the 2013 Audi Allroad: no ersatz tree defacing the bodywork, no E-Z-Steal hubcaps, no Rally Fun Pack.”@ArthurStAntoine Service life / 5 mo/5099 mi Avg CO2 / 0.85 lb/mi Energy cons / 147 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (oil change, tire rotation, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/27/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 22.9 MPG Our Allroad with Prestige package includes a boffo Bang & Olufsen audio system with 14 speakers, 505 watts, a built-in hard drive, and SD card inputs for your digital music. Alas, much of its sonic goodness is wasted. I giddily loaded up a memory card with lossless audio files (using both FLAC and ALAC codecs), only to discover that the head unit won’t…

“I have taken it to the mall more than any paths, but this is still a real SUV… Really!”@MT_Shaffer Service life / 5 mo/13,350 mi Avg CO2 / 0.97 lb/mi Energy cons / 169 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $38.96 (oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON:19/25/21 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 20.0 MPG “Is it just my hearing, or is this SUV really quiet?” Well, Pop-Pop, a little of both. After I spent a weekend chauffeuring my grandparents around during their visit from Washington, D.C., the quality of my new long-termer met with their approval. The leather upholstery in our Platinum edition isn’t the best in the industry, but it’s used well in the places you actually notice, such as the…

“The engine’s laggy-turbo response only magnifies the rough start/stop system. Yet you get 25 mpg in the bargain. Is it worth it?”@MT_Reynolds Service Life / 16 mo/34,516 miles Base Price / $47,795 Options / M Sport Pkg ($4800: staggered size 18-in wheels/tires, multi-contour seats, M steering wheel); Premium Pkg ($2250: pwr trunk, f&r park dist warning, Dakota leather upholstry); Tech Pkg ($1850: rear camera, navigation); Driver Asst Pkg ($1350: auto high beams, lane depart, blind spot detect); Comfort Access Keyless Entry ($1000); Prem Sound Sys ($950: 16-speaker satellite radio); Split fold-down rear seat ($475) Price as tested / $60,470 Avg CO2 / 0.78 lb/mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 Normal-wear cost / $1558 (replacement tires) 3-year residual value* / $22,930 Recalls / None *Automotive Lease Guide…

AMG, the wholly owned Mercedes-Benz in-house performance shop, has announced a plan to develop and build “bespoke V-8 powertrains” for future Aston Martin models. The big question is, what will these V-8s look like? It’s not likely Aston Martin’s 5-year-old, 4.7-liter V-8, itself an update of an older 4.3-liter V-8, will survive. The question is, will AMG build new engines from the ground up, or modify one of its existing engines? A hint may come from Pagani, which uses a specially built AMG 6.0-liter twin-turbo V-12 based on the engine from the SL65 AMG Black Series. Current AMG V-8 engines include the naturally aspirated 5.5-liter, good for 415 hp; the twin-turbo 5.5-liter, good for up to 577 hp; and the 6.2-liter, good for up to 622 hp. Last we heard,…

Following the filing of a class-action lawsuit by disgruntled hybrid owners, Ford has announced a voluntary software upgrade designed to improve real-world fuel economy and has restated the C-Max Hybrid’s fuel economy numbers. The Fusion and C-Max Hybrids were rated at 47/47/47 mpg city/highway/combined, while the MKZ is rated at 45/45/45. Ford has retested the C-Max independently of the other two and lowered its official fuel economy ratings to 45/40/43. Previously, it had been rated using an EPA formula that derived its numbers from the similar Fusion. The software upgrade will make changes throughout the vehicle’s systems to improve efficiency. The maximum all-electric speed will be raised from 62 mph to 85 mph, while the programming for the active grille shutters (which reduce drag) will be revised to improve performance…

Bentley has officially confirmed development of an SUV model that will be built in Crewe and go on sale in 2016. The announcement ends years of “will they or won’t they” speculation. More than 1000 jobs will be created, the automaker says, and at least £800 million (about $1.2 billion U.S.) invested in the Crewe headquarters. The Bentley EXP 9 F concept is shown. “Bentley fans all around the world are looking forward to the brand’s first SUV. Together we will make this new Bentley another true Bentley—powerful, exclusive, and successful,” said Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen Group CEO. That, of course, is the question: Will Bentley fans accept the new SUV? Based on the upcoming Audi Q7, the Bentley could use the Continental GT’s 500-hp, twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 with an eight-speed…

Wraith. The name conjures images of something moving swiftly along damp and misty Mayfair roads at four in the morning; a half-seen apparition momentarily visible in the yellow glare of the streetlights before disappearing into the darkness with a hiss of rubber on wet tarmac. It’s the perfect name for the sportiest Rolls-Royce in history. In simple terms, the Wraith is the coupe version of the Ghost, the so-called “small” Rolls-Royce built using some basic architectural hardware shared with the F01/F02 BMW 7 Series. Compared with the standard-wheelbase Ghost, the wheelbase is 7.2 inches shorter, and overall length has been trimmed 4.2 inches. The dash-to-axle ratio is the same as the Ghost sedan, but the front overhang is longer. Overall height is 1.7 inches lower. Under the hood is the…

Let’s get one thing out of the way: We wanted the C7 Corvette Stingray to be here. We begged Chevrolet, but a last-minute delay in the start of production meant there was no car available in time for our test, and rescheduling 11 other cars and one of the world’s most famous racetracks just wasn’t possible. The Corvette will be invited again next year. Right, then. Let’s get down to business. After years of trying, we’ve finally fulfilled editor-at-large Angus MacKenzie’s dream of getting 12 of the best-driving cars on sale in the U.S. together in one test. They come from all backgrounds, from the affordable Ford Focus ST to the stately Bentley Continental GT Speed to the absolutely wild SRT Viper. But how do we compare such diverse competitors?…

After reading about the Viper, this might feel like déjà vu. The other American car, the only other manual transmission, and a car on which Motor Trend has heaped praise in the past is sitting at the back of the pack. Again, it’s a braking problem. More specifically, a lack of braking. While the Focus ST performed fine in road driving, it was done in by the incredibly demanding nature of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The track demands big power and bigger brakes, and it’s claimed more than a few brakes since we began doing this. Randy reported that the brakes were going out after a lap and a half, and by the time he parked the Focus after three laps, the brakes were completely gone. Not just boiled, but…

If the Bentley was best characterized by exceeding expectations, the Vanquish was the opposite. Put simply, the beautiful body and intoxicating engine note write checks the rest of the car can’t cash. To be fair to the Vanquish, it was one of the most-debated cars in this competition. Some judges, your author included, found the steering numb and artificially heavy. Others found it direct and responsive. Some said the ride was stiff and jittery; others called it composed and well-damped. Ranking it ahead of the Bentley involved quite a bit of disagreement. There were things we absolutely agreed on, though. For one, the transmission is well behind the times. The six-speed automatic is slow to shift and even slower to respond to inputs when left to its own devices. Using…

It’s a well-worn gripe in automotive circles: The Cayman needs more power. It’s a fine day when you can say “only” 325 horsepower isn’t enough, but that’s where the world has taken us. Being the second-least powerful car here isn’t what really sank this former Best Driver’s Car champ, though it did come up. What really did the Cayman in was, as the Germans would put it, a lack of emotionalism. In updating the Cayman for 2014, Porsche seems to have lost a bit of its personality. Said Lieberman: “Needs a bit more character. There’s almost something clinical, perhaps sterile, in the way it drives. It’s not engaging enough; it’s not flawed enough. It’s too well-thought-out. I’d like a sharper edge.” Jurnecka agreed. “I can’t help but feel let down…

According to my notes on the SLS, at full tilt, it “sounds like the engine is trying to leap through the dash and strangle you.” Lieberman said it sounded like “two chainsaws fighting each other.” Jurnecka said it was “the best exhaust note this side of a DTM car.” Randy simply said it “makes me want to drive the car harder and harder and harder.” Any of those descriptions is also an acceptable summary of the SLS. In much the same way the F-Type edged out the Cayman, the SLS slipped ahead of the R8 by the slimmest of margins, and it likewise owes its success to its intensely visceral driving experience. Many likened its hard-charging, hair-on-fire performance to the Viper’s (which was slower across the board), but with an…

“I wonder if it would be weird to paint my living room the same orange as this leather? Love it!” Service life / 12 mo/17,977 mi Avg CO2 / 0.88 lb/mi Energy cons / 153 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $0 (oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/29/23 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 22.2 MPG Aside from the intermittent and oxymoronic “Smart Key Not Found” warning message, nothing has gone wrong with the Volvo S60 T5 AWD. That’s not totally surprising in 2013, where 100,000 miles is the halfway point of most new cars’ lives. Still, to have absolutely nothing go amiss in 12 months is a testament to Volvo’s engineering and build quality. Initially, at least. There is something, however. I…

“The Sport’s 0-60 sprint of 7.5 seconds is a tenth quicker than the time we got for a 225-hp ’98 Lexus GS300.”@RonKiino Service life / 5 mo/10,016 mi Avg CO2 / 0.66 lb/mi Energy cons / 115 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / None Maintenance cost / $86.38 (oil change, tire rotation, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 26/35/29 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 29.2 MPG A few months in with the Accord Sport, I’ve already compiled a healthy list of pros: I’m getting an impressive 29.2 mpg, besting the EPA combined rating of 29 mpg. I can usually go some 500 miles on a tank—with a lot of stop-and-go L.A. traffic and not a ton of highway cruising. The ride is comfortable and composed, with just enough…

“The BRZ rides pretty firmly around town, but it’s worth it for the way the car handles.”@roryjurnecka Service life / 12 mo/21,120 mi Avg CO2 / 0.72 lb/mi Energy cons / 126 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems / Underhood noise Maintenance cost / $0 (3-oil change, inspection) Normal-wear cost / $0 EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: 20/23/25 MPG AVERAGE FUEL ECON 26.8 MPG As a budget sports car, the BRZ can be a little uncompromising sometimes. Daily commuting on L.A.’s uneven freeways and potholed roads requires a willingness to be jostled over most surface imperfections. The price paid for little body roll and that glued-to-the-asphalt feel on SoCal’s best back roads is a pretty firm ride around town. Living with the car week to week and month to month, I’ve gotten…