2014 Tesla Model S

On September 1, 2014December 25, 2014 By stuwright47In *HYBRIDS/ELECTRICS, TeslaLeave a comment

Computer and internet whiz Elon Musk joined Tesla Motors in 2004, a year after Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded the company. He is generally considered a co-founder of Tesla, as he is of PayPal, Space-X, and Zip2. The South African-born Musk is an American citizen and holds the position of CEO and Chief Product Architect at Tesla, based in Palo Alto, California. Tesla designs and manufactures premium electric vehicles.

I was recently in San Francisco and made arrangements to go by Tesla’s nearby headquarters to pick up a 2014 Model S for testing. Communications specialist Alexis Georgeson was there to meet me and turn over the keys to the solid black four-door sedan with black leather seating. I was pleased to discover the “P85+” badging on the trunk of my test car, emblematic of Tesla’s biggest battery installation and a high performance drive inverter. The 85 kWh battery/motor combination puts 416 horsepower to the rear wheels at between 5,000 and 8,600 rpm. Peak torque on this automobile is 443 lb. ft. at any rpm between zero and 5,100.

Range of the performance Tesla Model S is estimated by the manufacturer to be 300 miles at 55 mph. EPA 5-cycle certified testing results are 265 miles, and such testing is at higher speeds and with operating electric accessories. I drove 214 miles, but stopped at a Tesla Supercharger to top off the battery midway through the test. I wanted to experience the stop at their facility, where a 30 minute charge brought my battery up to 262 miles of range. The procedure was simple, located in Fremont, and a suitable lounge was on hand for motorists, some of which were monitoring charging progress on their smartphones. The company provides the battery charging at no cost to Tesla performance S owners at the facilities, which number 85 in North America and 14 in Europe. Of course, the Tesla can be charged pretty much at any location with 110 or 240 volt AC power, including at home.

I familiarized myself with the test car before heading north on U.S. Highway 101 toward the Inn at the Opera in San Francisco, where Ruth and I were staying. The prodigious power of the Tesla is confidence-inspiring on the freeway, assuring the driver that he can jump into the next lane, merge, or pass with instantaneous response. The car is all-electric, and has no gas tank or gas engine, with a battery that is under the passenger compartment, about 5’ by 8’, and shaped like a graham cracker. Tesla batteries, in two incidents, have been pierced by road debris, causing fires without fatalities. The company has recently added shielding under the Model S to prevent further incidents and is retrofitting owned Teslas upon request at service intervals. The NHTSA looked into the fires, and recently closed its investigation without pushing for a recall.

On the second day with the Tesla Model S, my wife and I drove to Alice’s Restaurant on Skyline Boulevard in Woodside, California. At Alice’s, “you can get anything you want”, according to Arlo Guthrie, and I chose French toast. As I understand it, residents of Woodside can get almost anything they want, with median family income of nearly $200,000.00. So it was no surprise that the locals in the diner were accustomed to cars such as the Tesla Model S making an appearance at Alice’s.

The drive to Woodside is through tall redwoods on a serpentine two-lane road where the Tesla flexed its muscles with a remarkably low center of gravity, Michelin staggered Pilot Sport PS2, Z-rated tires, front double-wishbone/rear multi-link suspension and near 50/50 weight distribution. I had never driven a car with 35-aspect tires, and I was surprised at the acceptable ride of the Tesla – the handling was not a surprise.

Inside the cabin of the Model S resides a 17” touchscreen navigation/stereo system, panoramic moon roof, supple leather buckets, and a console tray perfect for the wife’s purse. The navigation display is replicated on the dash just ahead of the driver, and I liked that for getting through California traffic. Some options are absent on the Tesla such as blind spot monitor and adaptive radar cruise control. The rear camera, however, can be turned on at any time, not just while in reverse.

No gas mileage ratings (no gas) are published for the Tesla Model S, but to drive 25,000 miles, the Tesla will require $778.00 worth of electricity (.11 per kilowatt/hour). So at $3.80 per gallon, a gas-powered vehicle would have to get 122 mpg to go that far for that much money. A Tesla owner could sneak in a few Supercharger refills and lower the cost-per-mile even further. Cost of the car, on the other hand, is high, with a base price of $89,900.00. My test car was loaded with options – seven passenger seating, alcantara headliner, 21” alloy wheels, tech package, high fidelity sound system, et al, and thus the total M.S.R.P. was $127,020.00. Federal and in some cases state tax credits can help mitigate the investment in a Tesla.

By the end of 2014, Tesla will be introducing an SUV called the Model X. It will share a lot of the Model S technology, but offer all-wheel drive with electric motors both front and rear. Falcon doors that swing up and above the vehicle will be a feature of the Model X. Another Tesla, the model E, will be a smaller sedan reportedly available in 2016 and is to be priced under $50,000.00.

I came back from California thoroughly impressed with the Tesla Model S, had a good time driving it, and thought the people at the company were very accommodating to this journalist. It’s hard to bet against this company as they try to bring electric vehicles into the American automotive mainstream.

2014 Subaru Crosstrek XV AWD Hybrid

On August 24, 2014August 24, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, SubaruLeave a comment

Last week my wife and I drove a Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid to Vail, picking up our daughters in Denver on the way through. In the past I have tested several Subarus, none with as stunning a paint job as the Touring edition that was brought to the house prior to the trip. The color was called Plasma Green Pearl metallic, and I became pretty fond of it during the week that I tested the car.

Subaru unveiled the XV Crosstrek Hybrid at last year’s New York Auto Show, and the car was rolled out from behind screen prints of trees to quite a bit of fanfare in front of the automotive press. It is Subaru’s first foray into the green car world, mating Subaru’s outdoor reputation with a reduced carbon footprint. All the world can see that the Subaru is a hybrid with the distinctive badging on each front door.

The Subaru Crosstrek XV Hybrid has 8.7” of ground clearance, the same dimension as the Crosstrek 2.0i, the company’s non-hybrid offering. The wheelbase of the XV Hybrid is 103.7”, overall length is 175.2”, and the car weighs 3,484 lbs. Symmetrical all-wheel drive is included in this model, which carries a base price of $29,295.00. My test car had no additional equipment with it, so with freight of $825.00, total M.S.R.P. was $30,120.00.

The Subaru I tested was the Touring model, which is top-of-the-line. With this model, the owner gets leather upholstery, power moon roof, GPS navigation setup with 6.1” screen, XM radio, rear-vision camera, and keyless proximity access with pushbutton starter. Also included is a 6-speaker stereo, heated buckets, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt/telescope, and a 60/40 fold-down rear seat. Cargo capacity behind the second row of seats is 21.5 cubic feet – that number increases to 50.2 with the back seats folded flat. I thought the black Subaru interior was tasteful, and it is evident that the company added sound-deadening materials to the Hybrid – it was quiet and had a solid feel.

The styling of Subaru’s Crosstrek XV Hybrid is eye-catching, and matches that of the non-hybrid car. Chrome-trimmed door handles are attached and the 17” five-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels are aerodynamic and fitted with 225/55R17 Yokohama Geolandar G91 all-season, low-rolling-resistance tires.

Power for the Subaru is supplied by a “boxer” horizontally-opposed four cylinder, 2.0 liter gas engine with a 13.4 horsepower electric motor integrated into the drive train. Total system power is 160 horsepower (6,000 rpm) with 163 lb. ft. of torque (2,000 rpm). Transmission is a Lineartronic continuously variable unit with manual-mode paddle shifters. Some shuddering occurs at a standstill when the gas engine is starting, as needed. This is typical, and an EV mode (all-electric) is available up to 25 mph, resulting in zero emissions and zero fuel consumption. Economy ratings are 33-highway, 29-city, and 31-combined. The city rating is the one that stands out for the hybrid, at about 20% improvement over the conventional 2.0i Crosstrek. Zero to 60 mph acceleration is reportedly in the 8 second range. In the mountains, the Subaru did an excellent job through the use of the 6-speed manual mode setup in the transmission and the paddle shifters.

Overall, driving the very appealing XV Crosstrek Hybrid was fine, with good guidance and ride (plus that quiet interior), and handling was suitable. If I were more of an outdoorsman, perhaps I would be shopping for such a car at trade time.

2014 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid Crossover

On August 21, 2014August 21, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, Volkswagen2 Comments

Volkswagen’s Touareg, named after a nomadic people that inhabit the Saharan interior of North Africa, has been manufactured by the company since 2002. It is a mid-size luxury crossover made in a plant in Bratislava, Slovakia that is owned by the Volkswagen Group. That Group owns Audi and Porsche, and the Q7 and Cayenne models marketing by those firms are SUV’s based on the Touareg platform.

The Touareg, now in its second generation offering, comes handsomely equipped with power lift gate, big panoramic moon roof, navigation with 8” display, Vienna leather seating for five, heated front and rear seats, and keyless access/pushbutton start. Thus, the base price is $64,745.00 and coupled with freight, the total M.S.R.P. is $65,655.00.

The above listing of equipment is just part of the package, and the Touareg comes off as a very swanky mode of transportation. Passengers in the Touareg with Ruth and I gasped at the big, glass moon roof that of course powers open from the windshield to the middle of passenger compartment. Leather is present on the seats as well as the gear shift and heated steering wheel. My test car had black Anthracite trim inside.

Outside, the Touareg was painted Tungsten silver metallic with chrome trim on the lower four doors featuring a “Hybrid” designation. In a departure from many hybrids, the Volkswagen was equipped with large, dual, chrome exhaust finishers in the rear. A possible reason for that is the power plant, above and beyond for a hybrid. System power is 380 horsepower and the torque is a muscular 428 lb. ft. It is all lined up with an eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic capability, and acceleration is reportedly is zero to sixty in 5.9 seconds. The gas engine in the Volkswagen is a supercharged 3.0 liter V-6 and the drive system is 4Motion all-wheel drive.

Fuel economy ratings for the Touareg are modest, with the highway rating at 24 mpg and the city rating at 20 mpg. I observed 20.9 mpg for the week that I drove the Touareg. What Volkswagen is selling here is a performance hybrid; it would take a high mileage application to pay for the upcharge in this vehicle.

Styling is a hallmark of this SUV, and the silver paint was striking. The 19”, five-spoke alloy wheels were surrounded with Michelin Latitude Tour HP’s in size 265/50R19. On the rear was a trailer hitch and towing capacity was nearly four tons.

Back inside, the Touareg features an all-around camera system to allow the driver to effectively see the vehicle from above, parking lot stripes and all. The rear camera is present, as well, and it stays on until the car is moving forward at about three miles per hour. The navigation seemed above average and driving the Volkswagen was fine. Ride, interior noise, handling, and guidance on pavement were good.

The Hybrid Touareg is an elegant vehicle and I enjoyed my week driving it.

2014 Lexus IS350C Convertible

On August 17, 2014August 29, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, LexusLeave a comment

Lexus, Toyota’s luxury car division that has been around for 25 years, sells cars in 70 countries and is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. The name of the company’s product was selected from a list that included Verone, Calibre, and Alexis, among others. Lexus was decided on, and is a combination of the words “luxury” and “elegance.

The test car I recently has in my possession certainly was elegant, and luxurious, as well. It was the two-door convertible IS350C F Sport with metal retractable hardtop and it was painted Matador red mica with a black leather interior. The vehicle weighs 3,872 lb. and its 182.5” length sits on a 107.5” wheelbase, putting its size on par with a 3-Series BMW.

American manufacturer Ford introduced the world’s first hardtop convertible in 1957, and today I believe there are over 40 such offerings on the market. It (the Ford) was a smash when I was a teenager, and the size and configuration of it resulted in a redesigned trunk that would be stuffed with hardware when the top was down.

The Lexus, a much smaller car, actually has a little luggage space when in convertible mode, and plenty of room for four passengers. By a little luggage space, I mean 2.4 cubic feet, a number that is 10.8 cubic feet with the top up. I never attempted to carry luggage in the Lexus with the top down, but ostensibly it could perhaps hold a carry-on bag.

Buyers of this car are not interested in luggage, but in stylish motoring and superb performance from the F Sport IS350C. F Sport denotes a package of performance items including optimized steering, sport-tuned suspension, and special 18” alloy wheels. Also included with an F Sport are aluminum sport pedals, special grill, silver metallic interior trim, and “F” fender badging. The F Sport Lexus has heated and ventilated front seats, as well.

My test car was equipped with a high-intensity headlight/LED package ($875.00), navigation package ($3,520.00), headlamp washers ($100.00), and intuitive parking assist ($500.00). Along with the F Sport upgrade ($2,550.00), freight ($910.00), and a base price of $46,990.00, total M.S.R.P. came to $55,445.00. The navigation package included premium 12-speaker 270-watt audio, satellite radio, backup camera, and 7” high-resolution multimedia display screen.

Power for this rear-wheel drive two-door was supplied by a 3.5 liter V-6 with 306 horsepower (6,400 rpm) and 277 lb. ft. of torque (4,800 rpm). Fuel economy ratings are 19-city, 27-highway, and 22 mpg, combined. The fuel tank holds 17.2 gallons. A six-speed automatic transmission is employed in the power train and zero to sixty mph acceleration is reportedly 5.8 seconds. Double wishbone front and multilink rear suspension is a combination that makes the Lexus a blast to drive, regardless of where the roof is. Driving a convertible is genuine fun on a balmy August day in Greeley, and a retractable hardtop that goes up or down in 21 seconds is a convenience.

I mentioned the wheels, which were ten-spoke dark graphite alloys fitted with 225/40R18 all-season radials. Front-lip spoilers were installed on the Lexus, as well as dual chrome exhausts and light-striped outside mirrors. I like red cars, and the IS350C styling presented a beautiful visage, in my mind.

Ride of the convertible was acceptable despite the 40-aspect tires, handling was was way above average, and guidance was great. Wind noise was at a low level for a convertible of any sort, and visibility was suitable, certainly in three directions from the driver’s seat.

I had fun with the Lexus convertible, and would recommend it to the niche buyer looking for such a car.

2014 Nissan Rogue SL AWD Crossover

On August 3, 2014August 23, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, NissanLeave a comment

This past week my wife and I traveled to Illinois to visit an elderly relative, see the Cubs/Rockies games at Wrigley Field and test drive a 2014 Nissan Rogue SL all-wheel drive Crossover. Ruth and I picked up the car at O’Hare and immediately set out for Freeport, Illinois, 100 miles west of Chicago. Wonderful weather was on hand and responsible for taking some of the grief out of Illinois road construction, particularly on Interstate 90. Through the windshield I would estimate that I viewed one million orange signs on the vacation.

The Rogue is a popular Nissan offering, and the company has sold nearly 750,000 units since the introduction of the model in 2007. A year ago I wrote a review of the 2013, first generation Rogue, and at that time their sales were up 13% for the year. Now I have tested a 2014 Rogue, much redesigned, and as I understand it, sales are up again this year to the tune of 14%. That percentage also applies to the change in fuel efficiency of this new Rogue, and nicely, it is an increase in such, through the employment of a reduced drag coefficient, among other things.

My test Rogue was an SL model, which is the top offering of Nissan, with leather interior and sunroof. It was painted Midnight Jade (green) metallic and the interior was almond leather. M.S.R.P. of the Rogue was $32,395.00, including the base price of $29,420.00, freight of $860.00, and a couple of options. Those included carpeted floor mats ($125.00), and an SL Premium package ($1,990.00). The SL Premium package included the following: power panoramic moon roof, LED headlights with auto levelizers, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and moving object detection. Also included on this SL was 7” touch-screen display, navigation, satellite radio, around-view monitor for parking, power lift gate, and mud and snow tires all around. They were Dunlop Grand Trek P225/60R18s, and they provided a quiet highway driving environment.

Power for the Rogue comes from a four-cylinder, 170 horsepower engine with 175 lb. ft. of torque. The all-wheel drive vehicle has an Xtronic CVT (continuously variable) transmission with a sport mode switch and hill start assist. Acceleration is adequate, but fuel economy is above average for this class of vehicle – 32 mpg highway, 25 mpg city, 28 mpg combined. This is, after all, a 3,532 lb. crossover. I observed 25.1 mpg with the Rogue in a combination of highway and city driving for a three-day weekend. The fuel tank holds 14.5 gallons.

The interior of the Nissan is tasteful, with soft surfaces in abundance and a stylish dash and console. The front buckets are power, pushbutton start is on hand as well as tilt/telescope, folding 60/40 second row seating, backup camera and Bose 9-speaker stereo. Luggage space behind all the seating is 39.2 cubic ft. Ride is good, not sporty, and guidance, visibility and handling are similar in nature.

Styling for 2014 of the Nissan Rogue is an improvement over last year’s offering, and LED daytime running lights adorn the new, bolder front end. The new car is an inch longer, 1.5 inches wider, and an inch taller than the 2013 Rogue. Dressy chrome door handles, deep tint rear windows, and ten-spoke alloy wheels all serve to enhance the look, and devotees of the 2013 Rogue can buy what is called the Rogue Select, a carryover SUV. In front of the Ulysses S. Grant home in Galena, Illinois, a lot of tourists were checking out the Rogue SL.

Inside, the Rogue probably holds the right number of people, whereas a seven passenger Rogue is a bit much. I have to admit I like the Rogue. Its evident to me why it is a top seller (#2 in Nissan’s lineup).

2014 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Review

On July 2, 2014July 4, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, SubaruLeave a comment

The 2014 Subaru Impreza Sport 2.0i Sport Premium is the topic of this week’s review. I recently got to test out a Deep Sea blue pearl 5-door hatchback model with ivory cloth buckets and a “boxer” four cylinder power plant. It was supplied by Greeley Subaru. The punch-counterpunch action of the boxer pistons in the Subaru cancel each other out and provide a smooth delivery of power. Also, the low profile, horizontally opposed engine results in a lower center of gravity in the vehicle, aiding the handling and cornering characteristics. Porsche and Subaru are pretty much it when it comes to boxer automobile engines, and the design is found in some BMW and Honda motorcycles. It is a design patented by Germany’s Karl Benz in 1896.

The little Impreza was pretty good looking and some of the things I liked included all the windows to look out of (five down each side of the car), the attractive striped cloth upholstery, the solid feel, and the functional hatchback arrangement. Horsepower is 148 @ 6,200 rpm with resultant torque of 145 lb. ft. Fuel economy ratings are 27/city and 36/highway, 30 miles per gallon combined. The transmission is a continuously variable (CVT) Lineartronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters on this model, and of course the car sports a “symmetrical all-wheel drive” configuration. This Subaru is the most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive car in America. Wheelbase is 104.1” and length/width/height is 173.8”, 68.5”, and 59.5”. Weight of this automatic transmission model comes in at 2,998 lbs.

I mentioned the striped ivory buckets earlier, but did not mention the heated feature. Inside, the Sport also has 60/40 flat folding rear seat, cruise control, Bluetooth hands-free setup, steering wheel audio controls, tilt/telescope, center console with lots of storage and an emergency brake handle, hands-free phone connectivity, 6-speaker stereo, keyless entry, and antitheft security system. The materials in the Subaru are nice, the ride is suitable, and noise is at a minimum. These Subarus are designed for brainy people that live in a cold climate. Like residents of Colorado.

My wife and I took a ride to Loveland in the 2.0i, and I think the people on U.S. 34 were enjoying the view of our car. It has kind of a dark gray set of 17”, ten-spoke alloy wheels fitted with 205/50 R17 Yokohama Avid S34 all-season radials and the Deep Sea blue pearl paint is a great color. Big six-star blue emblems are fitted on the front and the rear, and some husky looking roof rails are installed on top.

Total M.S.R.P. of the Impreza was $22,734.00, including a base price of $20,795.00, freight ($795.00), all weather floor mats ($72.00), cargo tray ($72.00), and the automatic transmission ($1,000.00). I think it is pretty reasonable price and this five-door Subaru represents a prudent purchase.

2014 Chevrolet Volt

On June 22, 2014October 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, ChevroletLeave a comment

This past week I had the pleasure of testing out a new 2014 Chevy Volt four-door sedan. The Volt came in White Diamond Tricoat – a pearlescent white paint job, which is a very popular color for this model vehicle. The Volt is a version of the Chevrolet Cruze, but dressier with fancier mirrors, extra trim, and a substantial tail fin on the rear. And of the course the ground-breaking hybrid drive train.

The Volt I had possession of had a base price of $34,185.00, with premium interior trim ($1,395), rear camera/park assist ($575), navigation system ($895.00), frontal vision camera ($595.00), Bose premium speakers ($495), and the upgraded paint ($995). With freight and a cargo net, that brought the M.S.R.P. to $39,945.00. Such a price screams “pride” on the part of General Motors , but reportedly a federal tax credit of $7,500, along with a Colorado state tax credit of $6,000, serves to knock off a third of that sticker price.

Now that we have the purchase price back down to earth, let’s talk about driving the car. I took off for Denver to visit relatives last week, and the trip down there was 52 miles each way. Leaving town with a charged battery and full fuel tank, the computer said I obtained 46.5 miles per gallon, but my calculations came out better. The car ran on electricity alone for about 38 miles, and then imperceptibly moved to gasoline engine power. Actually, it was gas power generating electricity to power the front wheels. It was impressive. Coming back to Greeley, I bucked a wind and didn’t do as well on gas, 45.2 miles per gallon.

That premium trim package on the car included black and white leather seating (seats four), leather trimmed steering wheel, and heated buckets up front. I didn’t suffer discomfort driving the Volt; the ride is sumptuous. The car weighs about 3,800 lbs. with its big battery, and that gives it a luxury ride. Handling is great, as well. All the electronics were on board – backup camera, nav, Bluetooth, 30g audio storage, DVD rom, pushbutton/remote start, and Sirius XM radio. The dual 7” screens on the dash are dazzling, and the sound system is superb. To charge up the car, you use an extension cord that is about 20 ft. long and plug it into a 120v outlet for ten hours.

The gas engine is a 1.4 liter, 83 horsepower four, and the Voltec electric motor provides 149 horsepower and 173 lb. ft. of motoring torque. The alloy wheels are 17”, and are shod with 215/55R17 Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires. The warranty for the lithium-ion, 16 kWh, rechargeable battery is 100,000 miles or eight years.

My first car was a 1957 Chevy four-door BelAir, and I thought it was terrific in all respects. Back then I couldn’t have imagined a vehicle such as the Volt (or me at the wheel.) I must admit I would have thought it was a pretty neat deal.

2014 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD SUV

On May 29, 2014 By stuwright47In *SPORT UTILITIES, ToyotaLeave a comment

For 2014, Toyota’s Highlander has been updated for the first time since 2008, and is now in its third generation iteration. It is a car-based mid-sized SUV with seven-passenger, three row seating. Sales of the Highlander (127,572 in 2013) places its revenue right in the middle of the Toyota SUV lineup.

This past week I was able to test a Highlander, a Limited top-of-the-line unit that carried an M.S.R.P. of $44,675.00, including freight. The Limited’s base price of $43,590.00 had as an option a set of carpeted floor and cargo mats ($225.00). It was what was called the Platinum Package edition, and that meant inclusion of a technology package, a panoramic moonroof, heated steering wheel, and heated perforated leather second-row captain’s chairs. The extra technology equipment included radar adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, automatic high beam headlamps, and pre-collision warning.

Limited model items on my test car included power liftgate with glass hatch, 19” five-spoke alloy wheels, anodized roof rails, three zone climate control, JBL/Entune navigation with 8” screen, perforated black leather seats, pushbutton starter, proximity keyless entry, tilt/telescope, heated and air conditioned front bucket seats, backup camera, and nice Optitron instrumentation.

Styling, with the 2014 revision, was great. So was the opulent-looking gray paint, “Limited” badging, and polished Chromtec finish on the wheels. The tires mounted on the alloys were 245/55R19 Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 mud and snow radials.

Power for the Highlander is supplied by a 3.5 liter V-6 with 270 horsepower and 248 lb. ft. of torque. The transmission is a six-speed automatic with snow mode and full-time four-wheel drive. A unitized body is employed and four-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes are, as well. EPA fuel economy ratings are 18-city and 24-highway, with a combined rating of 20. For the week that I drove the Toyota, my observation was of 23.5 mpg. Weight is 4,508 lbs., towing capacity is 6,000 lbs. and the fuel tank holds 19.2 gallons. Overall length is 191.1”, 3” longer than a 2013, and cargo volume behind the third-row seat is 13.8 cubic feet, another improvement over the 2013 Highlander.

I enjoyed the styling, interior comfort, visibility, road noise (or lack of), and guidance of the Highlander. The ride was satisfactory, and I feel that this year’s Highlander makes a nice family hauler and/or travel vehicle.

2014 Acura ILX FWD Sedan

On May 19, 2014December 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, AcuraLeave a comment

The Acura ILX is the entry-level luxury car sold by the upscale division of Honda Motor Company. It is based on Honda’s Civic, with luxury appointments to bring it up to the Acura standard. It is the first luxury compact sedan sold by Acura in America since 2001 – that was the Integra.

A month ago I travelled to San Francisco to test an ILX, with plans to both attend some Giant-Rockie games and also to drive it to Salinas, California. Ruth, my wife, accompanied me there and our stay was at the Inn at the Opera on Fulton Street near Haight-Ashbury. I mention that district because as a child of the 60’s, I served in Viet Nam, had a stay-at-home Mom, fell in love with cars, enjoyed reading John Steinbeck’s books, and watched scenes from Haight-Ashbury on television. The hotel was also relatively close to Golden Gate Park, the Civic Center, AT&T Park, and Fisherman’s Wharf. San Francisco is quite compact.

As a little boy, I read those books written by Steinbeck, the Nobel- and Pulitzer- prize winner from Salinas, and I often fantasized about that area of California. So Ruth and I drove there, about 100 miles away, in the ILX. In Salinas is the National Steinbeck Center, the only museum in America dedicated to one author. Between it, lunch, and driving the Acura down U.S. 101, it was a very pleasurable day.

The test Acura was the 5-speed automatic with technology package, priced at $31,600.00 (base). Freight, added to the M.S.R.P., brought the total to $32,495.00. The 5-speed automatic had sequential sport-shift setup with paddle shifters on the steering column, and the engine was a 4-cylinder, 2.0 liter, 150 horsepower unit with EPA ratings of 35 mpg on the highway, 24 in the city, and a combined rating of 28 mpg. Premium gasoline is required in the ILX, and the tank holds 13.2 gallons. My observation of the gas mileage for the ILX was 27 mpg.

Handling, guidance, and ride of the ILX were all suitable for the five-passenger sedan. The road noise on our highway cruising was about average for a sedan of this size and caliber. Acceleration to 60 mph reportedly occurs in ten seconds and top speed is 113 mph. The fifteen foot car sits on a wheelbase of 105.1” and weighs 3,000 lb.

The interior was leather-equipped, came in black, and featured the navigation (8” display), cruise control, backup camera, power locks/mirrors/doors, seven-speaker premium stereo with satellite radio, pushbutton start, and proximity keyless entry. Ruth and I found the front buckets to be supportive and attractive and back seat legroom for our daughter was adequate. We were able to just get by, luggage-wise, with the 12.3 cubic foot trunk.

Acura manages to make the ILX look more expensive and attractive than its sister, the Honda Civic, and the five-spoke, 17” alloy wheels added to the allure. Shoppers in this category would do themselves a favor by taking a long look at the ILX from Acura.

2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited Review

On April 6, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, SubaruLeave a comment

This last week I received a Subaru to test, a 2014 Outback with the four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT). It was the 2.5i “Limited” model in Satin White Pearl with Warm Ivory white leather interior. This car is made by Fuji Heavy Industries, a Japanese firm, with final assembly taking place in Lafayette, Indiana. It is sold by Greeley Subaru, a division of Weld County Garage. The Limited is the top-line Outback, out of four models offered in both four-, and six-cylinder configurations. This one had an option package that included power moon roof, 440-watt, 9-speaker harman/kardon stereo with XM satellite radio, Bluetooth phone, backup camera (4.3” display), and Ipod/USB connections. This $2,041.00 package, plus $244.00 for “puddle lights”, and $438.00 for remote starter, brought the total M.S.R.P. to $32,770.00, including freight. I really enjoyed the puddle lights that shine beneath each of the four doors on the vehicle, after dark.

The Outback is a derivative of the Subaru Legacy wagon, introduced in 1994. It was originally called the “Legacy Outback”, and the Legacy name was dropped in 2003. Subaru in the 1990’s did not want to spend the money for a new design for its “crossover SUV” to be produced, so simply modified an existing offering. They added side body cladding, raised the ground clearance, and added a rugged-looking rack on the top. In 2009, the second generation Outback was introduced, and sales since then have been brisk – over 118,000 in 2013. Crossover SUV’s are quite popular nowadays, and a large part it is the result of the Subaru Outback.

Power for the Outback is supplied by a 2.5 liter, “boxer” four-cylinder, DOHC, all-aluminum engine with 173 horsepower and 174 lb. ft. of torque. The boxer designation refers to its horizontally-opposed configuration, like a Corvair or Porsche. Think of a boxer, throwing punches. The weight of the engine, although modest, is kept at a lower center-of-gravity with this design. Ground clearance, however, is a category-best 8.7 inches. The transmission is a Lineartronic continuously variable automatic with Hill Holder feature and six-speed manual mode – paddle shifters are behind the steering wheel. Symmetrical all-wheel drive, is, of course, standard equipment. Fuel economy is rated at 24-city and 30-highway for the car, and the fuel tank holds 18.5 gallons of regular gasoline. Acceleration from zero to sixty is reportedly 8.8 seconds. Wheelbase/length/weight are 107.9”, 189”, and 3,538 lbs., respectively, and the turning circle is 36.8’.

The front leather buckets in the Outback are nice, and the three-passenger rear seat is split and reclines somewhat. Cargo space is 34 cubic feet with the back seats up and 71 cubic feet with the back seats dropped down. The center passenger in the rear has a shoulder belt, adding to the Outback safety reputation. Both of the front seats are power-adjustable, and the driver ergonomics are fine.

I don’t think the Outback styling is its calling card, but I happen to like it, and Colorado residents do, as well. Subaru is the third-best selling automobile in the state, with about a 10% market share.

The six-spoke 17” alloy wheels on the Limited are attractive, and they are surrounded by 225/60R17 Continental ProContact Gx all-season radials. The metallic white paint was offset with the dark cladding and bumpers, and the black roof rack gave the car an off-road look. I did not go off-road, but took some bumpy dirt roads with satisfactory results. I like the hefty, solid feel of the car both in town and out on the highway.

A few days with the Subaru Outback, and this reviewer can see the reason that these Outbacks are so popular, particularly in our home state. Crossover shoppers would be well-advised to consider one at purchase time.

Stu's Reviews

Author: stuwright47