2010 Volkswagen CC Sport

The CC is Volkswagen’s new four-door coupe that was introduced in 2009 and Volkswagen describes as combining sports car dynamics and dimensions with sedan comfort. It features a long hood, strong shoulder line, rear-swept roofline and short trunk lid, the athletic but elegant look is accentuated by large wheels and tires, deep front air dam and bold grille. And yes, it has pretty much the same profile as the Mercedes CLS.

As far as the styling goes, there’s no question that the CC is a very sleek looking sedan and I got comments a plenty about my Shadow Blue Metallic test car confirming that. The car looks great from any angle with styling reminding me in its own way of the “sleek smooth and sassy” slogan of the ’57 Chevy. The sloping roofline finishes of in a short deck with just a trace of a spoiler. The front end is elegant with sculpted headlamps that sweep smoothly back into the front fenders giving the car a very elegant look.

Inside is no less stellar with the instrument panel smooth and uncluttered with a no-nonsense yet sophisticated cockpit. The center stack houses the information center and the ergonomics are well thought out and relatively easy to use. The seats are sporty yet stylish and offer good support up front and the rear seating area is decent with the caveat that tall rear seat passengers will feel the squeeze from the sloping roofline, but all in all it’s very nice inside.

Driving the CC is what I’d describe as a pleasant experience; nothing very scintillating about it but nothing unpleasant. That may be a different story with the VR6 Sport or 4Motion iteration but the rather lackluster performance of the 2.0 turbocharged test car was rather boring. That said I’m not sure the 10 to 12 thousand dollar price differential is something I’d be willing to pay because of the competition that comes in to play in the mid-thirty to forty thousand dollar range. When you start pulling the BMW 3 Series, the Lexus IS and Infiniti G into the mix you have some pretty strong proven competition and it’s unfortunate that Volkswagen didn’t put some of the vaunted German engineering into the CC to give it just a bit more of a performance edge.

All in all by bringing sleek luxurious styling to bear, I think Volkswagen is on the right track with the CC however in many ways it reminds me of the somewhat infamous VW Phaeton. A well built decent performing comfortable vehicle but seemingly trying to morph into a luxury car that it just doesn’t have the heritage necessary to convince anyone to buy other than a brand loyal buyer.

I could be wrong and if the Volkswagen CC Sport is snazzy enough and is the size vehicle you’re looking for in a price range that works for you, I’d certainly recommend driving one. You may just find it’s exactly what you’re looking for.

2011 Kia Sorento

Back and better than ever

After taking a brief hiatus, The Sorrento is back and the time off did it some good.

The Sorento is Kia’s midsize SUV and it’s virtually all-new for 2011 after taking the 2010 model year off. The new Sorento comes with a unibody platform that offers more interior space, with room for up to seven occupants, while delivering a much improved ride. The new exterior design incorporates some familiar design cues like the grille and wraparound headlights that you’ll see on the Forte. It’s also lighter which translates into more agility and better fuel economy as well.

While there was plenty of space in the front seats on the previous Sorrento, the back was particularly cramped for just about anyone over 10 years old. On top of that they were uncomfortable and not very supportive. That’s hardly the case on the 2011 iteration as Kia has taken care of those issues. The new Sorrento offers seats that are literally luxurious compared to the previous model, offering good support and a much more comfortable ride. In the back, seats offer more room for passengers and behind the second row you’ll find plenty of space for luggage or other cargo. Though the third-row seat is a nice option, in truth it really only works with kids or very small adults.

The new Sorrento now offers and efficient 2.4 liter 172 horsepower, 166 lb-ft of torque 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. For those that want a bit more punch, step up to the 3.5 liter V6 that pumps out 273 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque paired with the same 6-speed automatic tranny. All-wheel-drive is available on all but the base Sorrento.

 

The V6 is certainly powerful and quick but the 4-cylinder offers plenty of performance for pretty much all but the most demanding performance driver. That’s because the new Sorrento has shed some 400 pounds which of course affects performance, fuel economy and handling, which is much more agile than the predecessor. The mpg numbers for the 2.4-liter are 21/29 with the V6 numbers coming in at 19/26 in 2WD with just about a 1mpg loss in the AWD drive train.  

I’m very impressed with the direction Kia is going with styling and quality throughout the line up albeit at a cost. Although the base Sorrento still starts under $20,000 if you’re not careful you can add a lot of goodies that can run the price into the mid $30,000 range in a hurry. The new Sorrento is in some pretty hefty competition with the likes of the Chevy Equinox, Nissan’s Murano just to name a couple. Kia’s edge is the 100,000 mile warranty so it will be interesting to see how the Sorrento does. My guess is it’ll do just fine. So if you’re looking for an SUV that's roomy, efficient with enough punch to get the job done, and a great warranty to boot, you need to check out the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento. It may be just what you’re looking for. 

2011 Grand Cherokee Laredo 4X2

I recently took a trip to Texas and was provided a 2011 Grand Cherokee to drive and I have to say, I was very surprised, and pleased by both the new styling sophistication and the interior refinement. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee was redesigned for 2011and some luxury and amenities were added and the ride was softened a bit but all without sacrificing any of Jeep’s legendary off-road capabilities.

The Grand Cherokee comes in four trim levels, Laredo E, Laredo X, Limited and Overland, the Grand Cherokee is powered by either a 290-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 or a 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The V6 is rated at 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway in 4WD trim while the Hemi is rated at 13/19 mpg with 4WD. My tester was the Laredo 4X2 with the 290 horsepower 3.6 liter V6 mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission and it’s mpg numbers are 16/23.

The first thing I noticed about the new Cherokee is the sleek styling. The beltline appears higher which makes the greenhouse effect smaller and gives the Laredo a very nifty profile. I love the look of the front end, more of the sophistication and refinement I mentioned, again without losing the classic Jeep look. Once inside I was impressed with the comfort and convenience of the base Laredo. Standard features include power seats and windows, cruise control, remote starting, SIRUS Satellite and wrapped steering wheel. Because I was visiting Texas, the only “goodie” I really missed was a Nav system to help navigate us through the rather confusing Dallas freeway and toll system. But other than that, the test car was very comfortable and fun to drive.

The Grand Cherokee offers a great balance of off-road capabilities and everyday street driving of which I did a lot of traveling from Dallas to San Antonio and back over a weekend. Of course the 4X2 is designed more for the street but non-the-less, I sensed the “Jeep effect” while driving both around town and on the highway. What I mean by that is the Laredo was very comfortable to drive but wasn’t so “soft” that I lost the sensation of being in a Jeep, which of course is one of the reasons people buy Jeep, the feeling of confidence and control behind the wheel.

It’s been quite a while since I’d been in a Jeep and I was looking forward to driving the Grand Cherokee but I must admit that knowing I was going to be doing a lot of driving, I wasn’t looking forward the fuel economy I expected from the Grand Cherokee. I love pleasant surprises so I was very happy when I was able to average almost 20mpg combined during the week I had the Laredo. And in an effort to maintain full disclosure, I must admit to driving a vehicle to get where I’m going, which doesn’t contribute in any way towards maximizing fuel economy.

The long and the short of it boils down to the fact that Jeep has come a long way and is no doubt one of the stronger pony’s in Chrysler stable. Its heritage is long and storied and it just keeps gets better with time. Now for those that would like a Jeep but don’t necessarily want the rough and tumble Trail Rated iteration, the Laredo 4X2 offers a great alternative. I really enjoyed my week in the Grand Cherokee and I’m guessing if you’re looking for something a bit different than the typical SUV, Crossover or Wagon, the Grand Cherokee Laredo 4X2 may be just what you’re looking for so make sure and put it on your list of ones to check out.

2010 Dodge Charger SRT8

The new SRT8 Dodge Charger is certainly in a class by itself in the sense that it is a true performance sedan that’s a throw back to the heyday of muscle cars. The 6.1 liter HEMI engine was worked over by Dodge's in-house Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division to generate 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of pavement pounding torque but, and it’s a big but, the SRT8 weighs in at a whopping 4160 lbs and that unfortunately negates a lot of the zip off the line and more importantly, the fuel economy, or lack thereof is reflected with a rating at 13 miles per gallon on the city cycle and 19 on the highway.

That’s the bad news. The good news is the Charger is a good looking sedan that I for sure would have liked to have had back in the day I had kids at the house and needed 4 doors. It has a somewhat belligerent look from the front view and over all I like the styling. The test car came with 20-inch alloy wheels and performance tires, a sport suspension, dual chrome exhaust pipes, plus aerodynamic body kit with hood scoop and rear spoiler. Badges denoting Charger, SRT8 and Hemi are sprinkled about to show the world just what this performance machine is all about and give the SRT8 iteration a pretty nifty look. The Charger also comes equipped with brake assist, an Electronic Stability Program, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and fog lights.

Inside is where I really think Dodge has dropped the ball. It pretty much looks like every other interior in the line up and I would have liked to see a little more retro look to it. I will admit that comfort and convenience items are well represented, with leather seats, a six-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system, cruise control, air conditioning, plus full power amenities for windows, door locks and front seats. Other features include a back-seat SIRIUS satellite video system, 20-gigabyte MyGIG infotainment system, plus illuminated cupholders and map pockets.

As far as driving the Charger goes, I liked it and enjoyed my week in it quite a bit. There’s a pretty decent rumble from the exhaust and handling, while not exactly lively, was solid. The Charger is well balanced and corners okay but you definitely feel the weight of the car as you wend your way through twisties, it’s much better suited for straight line racing or driving and to that end, it’s a great road car.

The SRT8 bases at $38,180 and with the SRT Option Group II for $1890, and group III adding the Media Center with Nav and SIRIUS for $995 and $950 sunroof, $695 HID headlamps and $1480 for the Rear Seat Video System along with a few other odds and ends, the price on the test car came to $46,860. Not inexpensive but you do get a pretty fair amount of bang for your buck.

Bottom line, if you need 4 doors but don’t want a staid sedan, and in fact want a performance car, check out the Dodge Charger. Like I said, it isn’t perfect but if you have a need for speed but have to have a family sedan, it’s a pretty good trade off.

2010 Mercedes Benz GLK350

I have to admit that when I first saw the GLK sitting in my driveway I wasn’t particularly overwhelmed by it. It seemed a bit spartan in design, small and just not very exciting. That said, once I got inside the GLK350 I was actually amazed at just how nice a vehicle it is.

The GLK is all-new for the 2010 model year with two trim levels, the GLK350 and the GLK350 4MATIC, the latter utilizing Mercedes' proven full-time all-wheel drive system which is what our test car was. The only engine available is the 3.5 liter 268 horsepower V6 engine mated to an advanced 7-speed automatic. As expected from Mercedes, the GLK is well equipped with the latest safety equipment as well as an array of luxury features and as one would expect, the interior is pure Mercedes Benz.

The use of available space inside is well thought out with plenty of room for cargo and room for three passengers in the back seat. Folding down the seats provide an unbroken flat surface for easy loading and unloading of cargo. Power comes from a 3.5-liter 268-horsepower V6 engine mated to an advanced seven-speed automatic transmission. Towing capacity is rated at 3,500 lbs and the GLK350 is estimated to achieve 23 mpg on the highway.

The GLK has a very affordable base price at $34,600, but adding the Premium Package for $3150, and the Multimedia Package, which includes navigation, pushed the price of the tester to $42,925. That may seem like a lot of money for a small crossover, but it does have the world famous Mercedes Benz emblem in the grille.

With very adequate power out of the engine and a suppleness I didn’t expect, the GLK is actually quite fun to drive, handling corners more like a sporty crossover than an SUV. That and the revered V6 engine made the GLK a pleasure to drive. It is smooth and strong off the line and has plenty of punch to pass slower vehicles. I found it interesting that my wife really liked the GLK350, and this is a woman that drives a small roadster and isn’t into big vehicles at all but when we were hauling our grandkids around, she was very impressed with the room and comfort of the SUV.

There seems to be no shortage of small to midsized SUV’s making the competition very stiff in this class of vehicle. I think the name and history of Mercedes Benz gives it just a bit of an edge but the truth is the GLK350 can make it on its own merit. It’s neat, roomy, efficient and almost fun to drive. So if you’ve been thinking about making a change or replacing your SUV, the Mercedes Benz GLK350 should definitely be on your shopping list.

2010 F-150 4X4 SVT Raptor

I’d heard a lot about the new Raptor and was pretty jazzed about getting one for a week. I do have to admit that when I saw it in my driveway, my first instinct was to think that I was a bit old to be cruising around in a bright orange lifted pickup with extreme graphics all over it. Once inside the truck and on the road, it was easy to forget about all things extraneous and just enjoy the ride.

The $38,995 Raptor is based on the 4X4 F-150 Super Cab with a 5.5-foot bed which means that there are several components that are shared with the base F-150. My tester came with the optional 400-hp 6.2-liter V8 that pumps out 400 lb-ft of torque and adds $3000 to the price. Power gets to the ground via a six-speed automatic transmission. An electronic locking rear differential is standard as is 4.10:1 gearing. Other options included $1950 for the luxury package, $1075 for the aforementioned graphics package and $2430 for the Nav/radio package and with a few other goodies, the total on the test truck came to a hefty $48,420.

You’ll definitely see bigger tires on some trucks but on the Raptor 315/70R17 BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tires are big enough to improve off-road ground clearance but not so big as to interfere with suspension deflection which is 11.2 inches up front and 13.4 inches in the rear. The suspension is the key to the Raptor's capability. The F-150's track is widened by 7-inches and there are new upper and lower control arms. The lower control arms are chamfered like a skidplate, so rocks can slide underneath without hanging the truck up. The front half-shafts are longer, and sturdier than standard issue. 

Though the Raptor's 4WD system is similar the base F-150, the SVT team incorporated advanced electronics to increase the Raptors capabilities. The stability control system has a sport mode that shuts off the traction control, and a full off road mode, that turns off all stability control functions and switches the ABS to an off-road setting. In full off-road mode, the electronic locking rear differential will remain locked at higher speeds. The Raptor has a hill descent control system that can match the speed you choose with the throttle, from just under 2 mph up to around 18 mph.

All the incredible technical stuff aside, it always comes down to driving a vehicle and I have to say, driving the Raptor was a lot of fun. It has plenty of punch, especially with the 6.2 liter V8, and it is very agile for in town driving. What most surprised me is just how comfortable the truck is. On city streets it’s pretty smooth, it is a truck after all, and an off-road monster to be sure but the suspension technology allows the Raptor to soak up road imperfections with ease without unsettling the driver or passengers.

 

I didn’t have an opportunity to take the Raptor off road, and even if I had, I don’t have the experience to get anywhere close to it’s capabilities so suffice it to say, if you’re into off-roading in a serious way but want to have a vehicle for everyday use, Ford’s Raptor can certainly fill the bill. I enjoyed it a lot and I’m sure you will too. 

2010 RAM 3500 LARAMIE MEGA CAB

I have to say, when I first saw the Dodge 3500 Mega Cab taking up most of my drive way, the first word that popped into my head was leviathan. There are big trucks and then there’s the Dodge 3500 Mega Cab. At nearly 20 feet long and weighing over three and a half tons it is in fact one big truck. Driving this behemoth around town is interesting to say the least but parking, well that was adventure to say the least.

The 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 is all-new for 2010 and is available in three trim levels: ST, SLT and Laramie which is what the tester was. The Ram Heavy Duty features a new suspension with what Dodge calls hydra mounts that contribute to an improved ride. When equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, the Ram Heavy Duty offers the only standard exhaust brake in the segment.

Once inside the Laramie trim sheathed us in an almost luxurious interior. Options included leather seating surfaces, dual-mode automatic climate control, adjustable pedals, navigation, Bluetooth, trailer brake controls and heated and cooled seats. Soft-touch leather and higher grade plastic was used and attractive double-stitching was used on the dash and center console contributing to a feel of luxury. Passenger room is abundant in the front seat with a center console that can act as an office with room to stow a lap top and manage files if you work in the field. If you have to haul people around, there’s a pretty fair amount of room for rear seat passengers in the mega cab.

Nice as it is on the inside, this truck is all about working and powered by 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel, there isn’t too much this truck can’t do. While 350 horsepower doesn’t seem like a lot, just focus on the 650 lb-feet of mountain moving torque this engine puts out and you know the Dodge 3500 is all about the job. Properly equipped this truck can pull up to 17,000 lbs with a payload rating over 5,000 lbs. Mega is the right adjective for this truck.

As far as driving the truck goes, emergency stopping is about the only time you really sense the size and weight of the truck. On the highway it’s hard to beat. It’s big and comfortable and has plenty of oomph to pass when necessary and cruises down the highway on a pretty compliant suspension with very little of the bouncing around one might expect from a heavy duty truck.

All this luxury and muscle doesn’t come inexpensively though. The tester based at $50.645 the added goodies priced out at a lofty $56,355. Make no mistake, you get a serious amount of bang for your buck including a 5 year 100,000 mile limited power train warranty as well as a 5 year 100,000 mile limited warranty on the Cummins diesel engine components and of course the base 3 year 36,000 mile warranty.

There are a lot of choices in the big truck market but after driving the Dodge 3500 Mega Cab for a week, I know this truck can just about do it all. So if you’re looking for something that will provide a serious amount of muscle and want it in a nifty package this truck will definitely fill the bill. It’s the Budweiser Clydesdale of pickups.