Wednesday, December 29, 2010

2011 Nissan Juke SL FWD CVT

When I first saw the Juke sitting in my driveway the first thing I thought was how someone my age would look driving a Toon car. There really is no other way to describe it. Like the Pekinese it’s so ugly it’s almost cute. But what I quickly found out was that despite the looks, the Juke is pretty much the real deal.

I’m guessing the styling will be a love it or hate it proposition and I’m guessing the Millennial’s will pretty much love it but then again, my wife actually thought it was cute so we shall see. Inside is where I was most impressed. Despite being a manual adjust driver’s seat, I was able to find a driving position that worked well for me and the seat itself was surprisingly comfortable.

A pleasant surprise for me was the performance from the turbocharged 188 horsepower 1.6 liter Direct Injection 4-cylinder engine that’s mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission. It is one quick little car that surprised most everyone that rode with me. EPA numbers are 27/32 and while I didn’t check the mileage I’m thinking that if one drives moderately those numbers are pretty realistic.

A double surprise to me was how loaded out the test car was one, and two; virtually all the goodies were standard. I’m talking NavSystem with backup camera, leather appointed seats, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power moon-roof, Bluetooth phone system with steering wheel controls, cruise control, keyless entry and push button start, a sound system with an 8” Rockford Fosgate Subwoofer & Amp with mp3 and iPod connections just to name a few standard features.

It’s an interesting philosophy from Nissan to have all this as standard equipment on what I would consider an economy car so how much does it cost? The Juke FWD CVT bases at $23,050 and with extras of $95 for Stainless Steel Exhaust, $170 for floor mats, $390 for a roof spoiler and $750 destination charges the total on the tester came in at $24,455. There is also an AWD trim that bases at $24,550. The entry level Juke starts at $18.950. Base warranty is 36/36 with a 60 month 60,000 mile powertrain warranty.

All in all I kinda got a kick out of my week in the Juke. There isn’t a lot of room for adults in the rear but hauling the grandkids around was no problem and front seat room is more than adequate. The Juke actually offers a bit of a fun quotient as it is after all, a little car that zips around corners relatively well and rides surprisingly taut without being harsh. I’m not sure I’d like to take it on a long trip but for scooting around town it’s not a bad ride. So, if you can get past the looks and the name, the Nissan Juke may work well for you if you’re looking for a grocery getter and kid hauler. Check it out, you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

2011 GMC Acadia AWD Denali

Because of the growing focus on addressing the need for more fuel efficient vehicles I always find it interesting when I see a full size SUV sitting in my driveway as my tester for the week. While people I know realize it isn’t my vehicle I’m aware of the “what a moron” looks from people that are driving econoboxes or hybrids of some kind but the truth is, there are a significant number of families that need a full size SUV.

For those folks, the 2011 GMC Acadia is a great fit and if you can afford it, the AWD Denali is the way to go. You can seat up to 8 passengers in comfort with a decent amount of storage space behind the third row seats, all while getting 23 mpg on the highway with the surprisingly potent 288 horsepower 3.6L SIDI V6 engine mated to a smooth shifting 6-speed automatic transmission.

Some standard features on the Denali include leather seating surfaces, heated and cooled front seats, power seats, tri-zone climate controls, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, Bose audio system, ultrasonic rear parking assist, rearview camera, heads-up display and my favorite, remote start capabilities. Extras on my tester included the touch screen NavSystem with Nav Traffic and the entertainment system. All this doesn’t come inexpensively though, the base price on the AWD Denali is $45,220.00 and with the extras and destination the total came to $50,125.00.

It goes without saying that the Denali is a great looking vehicle highlighted by the standard 20” inch wheel and tire combo to the honeycomb chrome grille. Inside the Denali is a study in luxury and comfort. The seating areas are plush and the ergonomics are well thought out. The 5-gauge instrument cluster includes a driver information center as well as an outside temperature indicator and a compass. Interior lighting features theater dimming, cargo compartment, reading lights for front seats, second-row reading lamps integrated into dome light, door-and tailgate-activated switches, and illuminated entry and exit feature. The entertainment system, includes a rear seat DVD player with 2 headrest-mounted 7-inch diagonal LCD monitors, dual built-in DVD players, 2 wireless headphones and wireless remote

Clearly the strength of the Acadia Denali is traveling because to have this much room and comfort on the highway and get 23 or 24 miles to the gallon is a big issue. The big SUV handles like a dream, especially with the Denali’s ride and handling suspension. There’s very little body movement in turns with great feedback to the driver. The 288 horsepower engine moves the over 3 ton truck with ease and I never felt a lack of power when needed to enter freeways or passing at highway speeds.

It may not be politically correct but if you need a full sized SUV to haul the family around or to make trips from time to time, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything with more luxury and performance than the 2011 GMC Acadia AWD Denali.