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.

2011 Kia Sportage EX AWD

Lots of bang for the buck

By Rod Zervakos

Slowly but surely Kia Motors is steadily climbing its way up the automotive food chain. This is evident by their latest offering, the Kia Sportage EX, a striking little crossover vehicle that starts at $24,795 and with the NavSystem and Premium Package the test car still came in under $30k. If you would have put the name Kia and any price close to thirty thousand dollars in the same sentence 5 years ago you would have been laughed at or locked up. Not these days though. The Korean manufacturer has gone to great lengths to ensure they are delivering visually impactful vehicles that also offer class leading build quality and functionality.

My tester, a 2011 EX AWD was loaded to the gills with all of the bells and whistles you would expect to see in a vehicle costing 2-3 times this amount, yet it stickered at $29,990. Leather, dual zone climate control, 6 speaker system with CD, MP3, SIRIUS Satellite, USB port, Bluetooth, Navigation, back up camera, heated AND cooled seats, panoramic sun roof are just some of the goodies packed in the test car. From behind the wheel you never have any doubt that you were piloting a worthy vehicle. Fit and finish are on par with some top tier vehicles and the interior design is clever and attractive. Ergonomically speaking everything was within reach and all of the controls are easily understood and intuitive.

As always, there are some issues that I feel need addressing. It seems as though one of the core aspects of vehicles purchased by people in tax brackets I only wish I were in, is the amount of power the vehicles they buy produce. This is an area that the Sportage falls desperately short in. For a "small" crossover vehicle the Sportage is a porky little puppy and the anemic 2.7 liter in-line four is constantly struggling to keep pace with fellow travelers. Now, seeing as how this buggy, generally speaking, is not destined for that upper tax bracket buyer, I suppose its not that big of a deal but It certainly dampened my driving experience a little.  

While were on the subject of dampened driving experiences, I was a bit put off by the steering feel of the little 'UTE. Initially I thought it was a nice change of pace driving something with such a high steering effort but then I quickly realized there was a disconnect between driver input and vehicle reaction, something that took a bit of getting used to.

    

Anyway, at the end of the day I think most buyers from soccer moms to suburb daddies will be hard pressed to find a better family hauler, optioned out like this one, for less money. As competitors you have your RAV4's and Nissan Rogues but in my opinion those just can't compete when it comes to styling and execution, two things that are vitally important when moving up that automotive food chain.

Lexus CT200h

Much more than a refined Prius

Cathy and I along with some other press folks were invited to New Orleans to preview the all-new Lexus CT200h luxury hybrid and as one would expect, there was a lot of buzz about the car, not the least of which were comparisons to the ubiquitous Prius. Let me say this right now, it’s not, nor was it ever intended to be, an upgraded Prius with a Lexus badge; kudos to Lexus. This is a very nifty little car that stands on its own and will, as all vehicles do, either make it or not on its own merit. What I’m interested in finding out is if the American buyer is ready for a Eurostyled hatchback engineered to appeal to American drivers.

What I like about the car starts with the styling which incorporated a bit of Lexus signature L’Finesse styling. It’s edgy without being garish and in truth a good compromise between form and function when it comes to aerodynamics. It has a pretty aggressive stance and is surprisingly comfortable for me although my partner felt the seating a little tight…hmmm, oh well, let’s move on.

Inside the CT200h offers a driver focused interior with supportive and well bolstered seats that come standard in faux leather polyurethane based NuLuxe material which is softer and greener than leather although you can opt for the real deal if you so desire. The dashboard is divided into divergent zones, the upper highlighted by an eight-inch LCD display screen and the lower section that handles the audio system and other ergonomic controls.

 

Lexus touted this car as a drivers car despite the fact that it’s a hybrid, and while it certainly won’t set any speed records in the quarter mile, or rip your head off from a standing start, the car performs admirably. For those of you that have followed my reviews over the years know, performance is very important to me and I think Lexus pretty much hit the mark with the CT200h regarding form, function and a touch with an added touch of driving enjoyment.

The CT200h offers a non-hybrid driving experience for a couple of reasons; one, because the suspension is tighter without being harsh and it allows the CT to easily soak up any imperfections in the road without losing its poise. And two, you can choose one of four driving modes, EV, ECO, NORMAL and SPORT and the latter is what appeals to me because you actually have quite a bit more pop. When you rotate the dial to Sport Mode, the power indicator on the left side of the gauge package turns into a tach and the throttle is remapped for quicker response. The electric power steering is recalibrated for less assist but unfortunately doesn’t offer any more feedback to the driver but still, it is a hybrid.

We had a lot of fun and we look forward to our week in the CT200h when it hits the press fleet in Phoenix. There’s a lot to this car so if you’ve been thinking about a hybrid and want more styling élan and a bit of driving pizzazz to tolerate your daily commute, the CT200h may be just what you’re looking for.

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport SLS

By: Two for the Road USA

For a long time now the Suzuki brand has been about utilitarian vehicles. Vehicles that met needs and didn’t cost a lot; and while sporting some interesting names like Grand Vitara and Equator, they were basically pretty vanilla. Enter the Kizashi, and yes I know you thought “gesundheit’ I must have had ten people say it to me, but not withstanding the rather peculiar name, the Suzuki Kizashi is one nifty little pocket rocket. As I understand it, Kizashi translated means “something great is coming” and while I’m not quite ready to hang the “great” label on the Kizashi, it is in fact much better than just good.

The Suzuki Kizashi starts pricing starts at under $20,000 for the base model and $24,699 for the Sport SLS version we tested, which stickered at $25,304. With extras that included destination charges, Premium Floor Mats, Premium Metallic paint and XM Satellite Radio. Some niceties that come standard on the Kizashi include Smartpass keyless Entry and pushbutton start Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control ABS and eight airbags to name a few. Some of the Sports SLS Package adds include; Leather Appointed Interior, Power Sunroof, heated/power front seats, Rear Parking Sensors and Auto Headlamps and Rear View Mirror. The Sports Package includes Sport Aero Body Kit, Light Weight Sport Wheels, Sport Tuned Suspension and the Sport Design Steering Wheel. Which I believe epitomizes the phrase “a lot of bang for your buck.”

The Kizashi athletic styling looks good from all angles and inside you’ll find a pretty nice looking and functional interior. The level of refinement inside Kizashi's cabin surprised me as our test car was equipped with sharp black leather, dual-zone climate control, and 10-way power-adjustable heated front seats; it even had iPod and USB audio controls. The 10-speaker, 425 watt Rockford Fosgate sound system and integrated Bluetooth with audio streaming could be controlled from the steering wheel.

After driving the Kizashi Sport SLS I quickly realized that Suzuki certainly took the car to a higher level than the base model. It has a firmer ride and feels very secure on twisties or zipping through a cloverleaf on or off a freeway ramp. With 185 Horsepower it won’t rip you head of by any stretch of the imagination but mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, the Kizashi Sport is a whole lot of fun to drive. As with almost all cars that add the Sports moniker to a car, the stiffer suspension does transmit more road imperfections back to the driver but not to the extent it’s troubling although I have to admit, it could wear on you after a while on longer treks.

Bottom line, I think all the players in this segment need to pay close attention to Suzuki’s Kizashi. It offers a lot for a little and actually has a bit of a personality. So if you’ve been thinking about something different,  while the name alone may intrigue you, I can assure you, Kizashi is a whole lot more than just a name; it is indeed something good.

The Kizashi come with EPA ratings from 20-31 mpg and 36 month 36,000 base warranty and an 84 month 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

2010 Caliber Rush

By Two for the Road USA

The Caliber is a Dodge compact vehicle that features interesting styling and flexibility that makes defining whether it’s a CUV or SUV difficult, although I’m not sure there’s one finite definition that will settle the debate. The 2010 Caliber receives a spiffed up interior that features a new instrument panel and padded door panels driver along with front passenger active head restraints. A Sport Appearance Package for Caliber SXT includes 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, performance suspension and performance steering.

I will confess now that I have not been nor do I see myself becoming a big Caliber fan. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a mid-size Magnum because it looks as though design was struggling for that look but got to the rear end and wasn’t quite sure how to finish it so they just gave it a kind of droopy chopped off look. I think it suffers from the same lack of styling identity that the wannabe Charger looking Avenger does.

I’m not saying the Caliber doesn’t have its place, it does offer a pretty fair amount of room and comfort for the money. Base priced at under $20,000 the Caliber comes with a sufficient amount of standard features that include a Media Center with HDD radio and a 30 Gig Hard Drive and Uconnect Blue Tooth. Unfortunately Electronic Stability Control, Brake Assist and Supplemental Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags are optional.

My test car came with the standard 2.4-liter Inline 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission that comes standard in SE and SXT with the 2.0-liter engine. It’s the first Caliber with a manual transmission that I’ve driven and frankly it’s a double edged sword. I like the peppier performance but really I don’t like the manual for a daily commuter. It just didn’t fit with the car for some reason.

Driving the Caliber is an exercise in passivity as there is absolutely nothing remotely scintillating about the car. Before all you Caliber aficionado’s out there, of which there seem to be plenty judging by the number I see on the highways, eviscerate me, I’ve never kept secret that I’m all about both form and function and alas the Caliber is pretty much a utilitarian vehicle; however, to that end it works well.

It drives and handles just fine, it has room to haul the kids and soccer gear around easily and its pretty decent on the highway although I’m not sure I’d like to drive it on a trip that took over 2 hours, but that’s me. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve seen a lot of Calibers on the road and there are actually Caliber car clubs so clearly Chrysler has reached some people’s hot buttons.

Bottom line, if you want something that certainly stands out from the norm, has room for 5 with a good amount of cargo area, at a cost that won’t break the bank, check out the Dodge Caliber. Our test car came with the $780.00 Optional Equipment Package that includes EBS, Brake Assist and the supplemental Front-Seat-Mounted Side Airbags. It also came with the $795.00 Leather Interior Group, the Driver Convenience Group for $300.00, with Tire Pressure Monitoring Display, Electronic Vehicle Information Center and the Universal Garage Door Opener and finally the Power Express Sunroof for $845.00; all that brought the price of the tester up to $23,445. The Caliber comes with an EPA rating is 23/29/25 and Chryslers 3/36 base warranty and a 5 year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

2010 Nissan 370Z Touring

Bill Zervakos and Cathy Droz

Two for the Road USA

The Nissan 370Z’s heritage dates all the way back into the ‘30’s although in truth the Z-car stems from a long line of two seat roadsters dating back to the 1960’s Datsun Fairlady roadster. That car evolved into the Datsun 2000 and in 1970 the wildly popular 240Z was born as a coupe. The Z-car morphed through several iterations that kept the same basic style all the way through into the 1980’s until the 300ZX was introduced in 1990. The 300ZX iteration didn’t remain extraordinarily popular and the last one rolled of the line in 1996. However, after a 7 year hiatus the 350Z debuted in 2003 with the Roadster joining the lineup in 2004.

For 2010 370Z Coupe maintains most of the design cues that were updated in 2009 while the 2010 Roadster receives some styling updates. The 370Z shares several mechanicals from the Infiniti G Coupe including the potent 332 horsepower CVTCS, or Continuously Variable Timing Control System V6, and some interior accoutrements. Some improvements include an enhanced navigation system, heated mirrors, and an in-cabin microfilter.

Our test car was come-and-get-me red so it was a stunner, and yes, I managed to stay out of trouble. The lines -of the new Z-car are very sleek and muscular with hefty haunches that add to the aggressive stance. Once inside you know you’re in a sports car as the seats are deep and pretty comfortable. Touring models look even more high-class thanks to their leather upholstery and upgraded faux suede door inserts. The ergonomics are easy to figure out, but I have to admit that the seat controls being squished between my right thigh and the console leaves a little to be desired.

Driving the 370Z is definitely a thrill. The ride while taut is not overly harsh and if one thinks it is, the someone is probably looking at the wrong type of vehicle. The 332 horsepower engine though a bit noisy in a raucous sort of way, is responsive and responsive to the right foot. The car handles well and when zipping into turns and downshifting with the paddle shifter; the rev-matching downshifts make the car even easier to handle in tight corners. If you have to stop in a hurry, no worries with the available 4-piston front calipers haul the Z-car to a swift and secure stop in just over 100 feet from 60 miles per hour.

Bottom line, at a base price on the Coupe in the low $30,000 dollar range and the Touring starting at just over $36,000, the 370Z is still one of the best sports coupes for the money out there. It’s sexy looking relatively comfortable even for big boys. It performs very well, numbers range from 5.1 to 5.5 0-60 and does so while getting an EPA rating of 19/26 with a combined average of 21 mpg with the automatic transmission. If you haven’t driven a Nissan Z-car lately, maybe you should check out the 2010 370Z. I think you’ll like it as much as I did.