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.

2014 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Turbo AWD Touring Crossover

On April 6, 2014August 27, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, SubaruLeave a comment

The Beatles 1967 hit, “Getting Better” was one of the last songs created from scratch by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and was included on the album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Its production on March 23^rd, 1967, had been delayed two days when Lennon mistakenly ingested LSD instead of an intended upper – something he typically did to get the recording work completed. Provenance of the song goes back to 1964 when session drummer Jimmy Nicol subbed for an ailing Ringo Starr on tour and when asked about his extreme case of nerves would reply that he was “getting better’. He made that response so often that it became a joke phrase amongst members of the biggest band in the world.

The song’s lyrics include the line “I have to admit it’s getting better”, and relative to the Subaru Forester, I do. In the spring of 2011, I tested the then-current Forester, so therefore had a point of reference for analyzing this 2014 model. And I’ll have to admit, well, that this new Venetian Red Pearl Forester was impressive. Greeley Subaru, a division of Weld County Garage, loaned me such a car to test recently. It had an M.S.R.P. of $34,949.00, somewhat north of thirty thousand dollars just like the Subaru that I drove three years ago. This 2014 Forester had a base of $32,995.00 with mirror and protection packages for $1,129.00 and freight charges of $825.00. Standard on the Touring Forester was dual zone climate control, GPS navigation (6.1” screen), satellite radio, Harman/kardon 440 watt stereo, Bluetooth technology, 10-way power driver bucket, heated front seats, power windows/locks/mirrors/tailgate, power moon roof, tilt/telescope, and black leather upholstery.

Subaru sedans and SUV’s all have “boxer”, horizontally opposed engines, and this one was a four cylinder, 2.0 liter turbocharged model with 250 horsepower and 258 lb. ft. of torque. The all-wheel drive power train obtained its motion through a Lineartronic CVT transmission – another superb one with manual eight-speed operation like other Subarus have. X-Mode is included on the XT, enhancing engine, transmission, and traction control functions. Fuel economy ratings for the Subaru are 23 and 28, with a combined rating of 25. Zero to sixty acceleration of this vehicle is reportedly 7 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph. Handling and guidance of the Forester was an improvement over the 2011 model.

Styling of the 2014 Forester was slightly updated and aerodynamics are improved as is cargo space inside the five passenger vehicle. Wheels are 18” ten-spoke alloys fitted with Bridgestone 225/55R18 Dueler H/L 400 all season radials. Weight comes in at 3,651 lbs., length is 180.9”, width is 70.7”, height is 68.4”, and ground clearance is 8.7”.

I enjoyed testing the new 2014 Forester and feel the company has managed to improve a top seller (123,592 in 2013). Regarding the 2011/2012 model, it’s a good thing that Subaru didn’t “Let it Be”.

2014 Lexus GX460 4WD Luxury SUV

On March 26, 2014November 18, 2014 By stuwright47In *SPORT UTILITIES, LexusLeave a comment

An elegant 2014 Lexus GX-460 Luxury edition was dropped off at my house last week, and I quickly jumped in to take it to the airport coffee shop. Lexus is the luxury division of Toyota, and has been producing the GX series of SUV’s since 2002. This one was painted Knight’s Armor Pearl, a medium gray metallic. Inside, it featured Ecru leather deluxe upholstery with comfortable buckets and seating for seven. The guys at the coffee shop were eager to come outside and inspect the Lexus, and it did not disappoint.

This GX is a big SUV, weighing 5,179 lbs. and extending out to 189.2 inches in overall length. It’s 73.8” tall and 74.2” in width. I mentioned the seven passenger capability, which requires a small double leather seat that folds down into the floor in the far back. When these seats are up, there is a modest amount of luggage space, but when collapsed along with the middle row of seating, you can obtain 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The back door swings out towards the curb and a swinging rear glass is incorporated into it. All packaged up and out on the road, this vehicle rides great, and wind noise, guidance, and handling are all commensurate with a Lexus of this caliber.

My GX test car had a base M.S.R.P. of $60,715.00. The stereo system added $1,145.00 and the freight added $910.00, bringing total list price to $62,770.00. Stereo equipment was Mark Levinson (including navigation system) with 7.1 Dolby surround sound and 17 speakers. The GX had the blind spot monitor that I’ve grown so fond of, allowing Ruth and I to get on the Interstate at Loveland and cruise to Flatiron Crossing with a safe attitude at lane-change time.

The 4.6 liter V-8 provided 301 horsepower (329 lb. ft. of torque) and was mated to a six speed automatic transmission with sport shift mode. Acceleration is on target, with a zero to sixty timing that is reportedly a respectable 7.8 seconds. Fuel economy ratings are 15/20 city-highway (17 combined), and I observed a little over 18 for the week spent with the GX. It has full-time four-wheel drive with crawl control for four wheeling. This car is a body-on-frame SUV with 8.1” of ground clearance, so can do more than just drive through snow.

Styling of the GX-460 has been changed since the second generation model was introduced in 2009, and personally I think they kept the styling pretty much in line with the prior series, with perhaps a little more aggressive attitude. My GX had the roof rails, nice steps on the side, ample chrome, and 18”, six-spoke Liquid Graphite alloy wheels. The tires were Bridgestone Dueler H/T 840’s, P265/60R18 in size, with mud and snow capabilities.

Sleek, unibody “crossover” SUVs are currently the rage, and the GX460 is somewhat of a throwback. But if the shopper wants to luxuriate with off-road and towing capabilities, the GX-460 Lexus provides an excellent option to consider.

2014 Fiat 500L Easy 4-Door Sedan

On February 15, 2014February 21, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, FiatLeave a comment

I drove the Fiat to Denver today, and enjoyed the view from the driver’s seat. The car has three windshields, essentially, and up top is a mammoth double power moon roof with shade. The glass opening is nearly as big as the roof, and the front half powers open. I liked the Beats 6-speaker stereo/XM radio, the heated black cloth seats, the dual glove boxes, the crisp 6.5″ navigation/backup camera screen, and the console-mounted emergency brake. I didn’t particularly care for the switch-blade key ignition, the inverted tach/speedometer with uninspiring information display between them, or the somewhat non-supportive buckets up front. The tilt/telescope column, floor shift, 23.1 cubic feet of trunk space, and folding back seat were all on target. INTERIOR GRADE – 85.

Styling of the 500L is unconventional, and gives the car a funky personality. It’s hard to not like it, and hard to not notice everyone staring at the car while you tool around. The “Easy” model that I tested had thirteen-spoke aluminum wheels and Continental ContiPro Contact 205/55R16 radial mud/snow tires. I wasn’t that excited about the wheels or the grill styling. The white paint on the mirrors that matched the roof color was great, and the tailgate look and glass top were satisfying. STYLING GRADE – 90.

Base price of the 500L is $20,195.00, and options/freight bring the total M.S.R.P. to $25,545.00. Those options are a popular equipment group, Premier package, automatic transmission, the moonroof, heated seats, and the two-toned bronze and white paint. All of the luxury items are on hand such as navigation, rearview camera, tilt/telescope, power windows/locks/mirrors, and the hands-free phone setup. The power door locks are not located on the doors, but on the dashboard. VALUE PROPOSITION GRADE – 88.

Initial impressions of driving the Fiat are better than the week-long impressions. The turbo engine (1.4 liter, 160 horsepower) has some lag to it, and guidance down the road could be more pleasing to this writer. The aforementioned visibility is great, the transmission is pleasing (the manual mode is excellent), and interior noise is minimal for a little car. Ride and handling are above average, as well. Listening to that Beats stereo while on the road makes the trip seem shorter. DRIVING GRADE – 86.

Fiat creates interest, and buyers, for the 500L by offering a “personality”, as I see it. It is a fun car, is fine for travelling in, and the back seat and trunk are surprisingly functional. FIAT 500L GRADE – 88.25 (B+).

2013 Toyota Camry V-6 XLE FWD Sedan

On January 11, 2014January 11, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, ToyotaLeave a comment

The Toyota Camry XLE that I drove around last week was painted silver – Classic Silver metallic. I enjoy the names that this company gives its paint colors, including this one as well as names such as Super white and Attitude black. The Toyota Camry is America’s number one selling car, having been so for eleven straight years. They sell over 300,000 units per year in this country, year after year, and have topped 400,000 sales on several occasions. Such a year was 2012, when 404,886 Camrys were purchased in the United States.

For the 2012 model year, the Toyota Camry was totally redesigned, inside and out, and my 2013 was a carryover of the successful styling and architecture of the 2012. I was happy with the styling of the 2006/2011 Camry, but the last two models have featured a sleeker, chiseled body style, and the fuel efficiency has been enhanced, as well. The test XLE had the 3.5 liter, (268 hp/248 lb.ft.) V-6 and was rated at 21 city/31 highway mpg with a 17 gallon fuel tank. My observation was 23 mpg during my time with the Camry. Attached to the V-6 was a six-speed automatic and the front-wheel drive automobile had electric power steering to improve fuel mileage. It rode on 17”, silver, ten spoke alloy wheels fitted with P215/55R17 Bridgestone Turanza radials. The mid-size Camry is 189.2” long and seats five, weighing 3,420 pounds. Height/width of the car is 57.9” and 71.7”, the wheelbase is 109”. The trunk contains 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

The interior of the XLE features leather-trimmed heated sport buckets up front and matching two-toned (black/gray) fold-down 60/40 rear bench with armrest and cup holders. Toyota’s EnTune system and Bluetooth connectivity are present, as well as moon roof and hard-disk drive navigation/backup camera with a 7” touch-screen. The JBL Green Edge stereo has ten speakers in eight locations, and the Toyota cruise control is behind the steering wheel at 4 o’clock. The Camry has excellent acceleration and handling, and guidance and ride are acceptable.

Total M.S.R.P. for the XLE was $34,135.00, and that included the $1,620.00 navigation package, $500.00 for a blind spot monitor, $515.00 for Safety Connect arrangement, as well $225.00 for carpet/trunk mat set. The base price was $30,465.00, and freight charge was $810.00. That total is actually a couple of thousand dollars less than what Toyota charged for such a model two years earlier, making the new 2013 Camry a pretty good deal.

2014 Buick Enclave Premium Group AWD

On December 22, 2013August 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, BuickLeave a comment

Buick, a company incorporated 100 years ago, has produced the Enclave full-size SUV for seven years, with the first offering introduced as a 2008 model. General Motors employs what is called the “Lambda” platform for its Buick Enclave line, a vehicle architecture featuring easy-access three row seating, 3.6 liter V-6 power, and choice of front- or all-wheel drive traction.

Last week I conducted a test of the 2014 Buick Enclave Premium Group SUV, courtesy of Weld County Garage in Greeley. The vehicle was painted White Diamond Tricoat metallic and the interior was Cocoa leather with seating for seven. A facelift was incorporated into the 2013 Enclave, and carried over to my loaner, that included a new chrome waterfall grill, LED lighting front and rear, updated dashboard with IntelliLink display, and an industry-first front center airbag.

During my days with the Enclave, I had a great time driving the car. Ruth (my wife) and I both noticed that there is a commanding feel with the firm ride, quiet interior experience, and visibility. Acceleration, reportedly 8 seconds from zero to 60 mph, is provided by the 3.6 liter, 24-valve V-6 with 288 horsepower and 270 lb. ft. of torque. It’s coupled with a 6-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission with console shifter. EPA fuel economy ratings are 16 mpg-city and 22 mpg-highway, with a 22-gallon tank to provide a measure of cruising range. The all-wheel drive system can, in slick conditions, send up to 50% of its torque to either front wheel or up to 85% to either rear wheel.

Inside, the Enclave is pretty cavernous, with 115.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats, 68.9 cubic feet behind the second row, 23.3 cubic feet behind the third row, and ample seating for seven adults when all seats are upright. Substantial equipment was on hand, including a dual power moon roof, blue mood lighting, a rear-seat entertainment system with drop-down 8”screen and 5.1 surround sound, navigation/backup camera, and Bose stereo. The front buckets were powered, heated, and cooled, and the steering column had power tilt/telescope articulation.

Styling for the Enclave, updated for 2013, has a softer, more elegant look with the new grill taking on more of a Buick family appearance. The C-pillars have been blacked out to tie in with the deep tint windows, Buick tri-shield emblems have been added there, and the wheels are ultra-bright, 9-spoke, 20” alloys with P255/55R20 all-season radials.

M.S.R.P. of my Buick tester was $54,850.00, and that included $2,240.00 for the rear entertainment, $1,400.00 for the moon roof, $995.00 for the paint, $575.00 for trailering equipment, $400.00 for the alloy wheels, and freight. Buick sells over 50,000 Enclaves every year, including during the first eleven months of 2013, and after driving the vehicle, it is evident to this reviewer why the car is so popular.

“A Hybrid for Nice People” 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring Sedan

On December 10, 2013July 21, 2015 By stuwright47In *HYBRIDS/ELECTRICS, Honda1 Comment

Honda Motor Company started exporting motorcycles to America, from Japan, in the early 1960’s with a clever slogan, “You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda”. I became an early customer when I purchased a new 1964 Honda while in high school in Grant, Nebraska. All three Wright brothers eventually bought Hondas, and of course mine was the smallest, the Honda 50, a little machine I rolled into my junior speech class to talk about in front of my classmates.

It was later, in the 1970’s, that Honda started exporting automobiles to the U.S., and in 1999 they sent the first commercially-produced hybrid sedan, the Insight, to our shores. Its introduction preceded Toyota’s Prius by seven months, but it had two fewer doors and carried three fewer passengers than the Prius. Such limitations have since been eliminated, but nonetheless the Prius has outsold the Honda hybrids for the last thirteen years.

For 2014 Honda has re-introduced its Accord Hybrid, which features a 50 mpg EPA city fuel economy rating. That mileage is a breakthrough, of sorts, for Honda, and the drive train features substantial technology with its 2.0 liter Atkinson-cycle gas engine and two electric motors (drive and generation). Total system horsepower is 196, and three driving modes are available in the hybrid Accord – all-electric, combined gasoline-electric, and gas-powered overdrive. The latter is a Honda exclusive, allowing the automobile to lock the gas engine to the drive wheels with a clutch, not a transmission, above 50 mph. The 55 hp electric drive motor is, in that situation, available for bursts of acceleration. And from a standstill, the Accord Hybrid goes from zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, regardless of altitude. Speaking of which, the drive train in this car has a “B” braking mode that is great for descending steep mountain grades safely while charging the 1.3 kW lithium-ion battery.

Recently, a 2014 Honda Hybrid Touring edition was loaned to me out of the press fleet, and I drove it for a week. The Accord Hybrid comes in a standard, EX-L, and Touring edition, which is the top model and the one I tested. For $35,695.00, including freight, the Touring edition has a leather interior, navigation system with backup camera, adaptive radar cruise control, lane departure warning, moon roof, and dual heated power bucket seats. An item I particularly enjoyed was Lanewatch, a camera integrated into the right outside mirror that gives the driver a view of the lane (in the 8” screen) to the right and behind the Honda. This operates any time the right hand turn signal is activated.

The driving experience when behind the wheel of the Accord Hybrid is excellent, with a somewhat quieter environment than the conventional Accord and similar guidance, handling, and ride; all good. Visibility is top-notch (see above), and real-world economy for this reviewer came in at 37.5 mpg, 25% less that the EPA estimate. Sub-zero weather during my week with the car was a factor.

The mid-sized Honda sedan rolls on 17” aerodynamic alloy wheels with Michelin P225/50R17 Michelin GreenX energy saving radials. All Accords were re-styled for 2013, an improvement, and this hybrid had distinctive blue-accented grill and lighting, front and rear, plus a body-colored decklid spoiler.

In high school I fantasized about someday driving an automobile with the quality and innovation of my little Honda 50. Someday arrived a week ago when I tested the very capable, American made Honda Accord Hybrid.

2014 Buick Verano 1SL FWD Sedan

On November 11, 2013 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, BuickLeave a comment

Americans in big numbers are getting into Buick sedans; in fact big Americans are getting into Buick sedans. I recently reviewed the company’s LaCrosse offering, noting that Shaquille O’Neal drives one in television commercials and is a spokesman. Another Buick spokesman is Denver Bronco Peyton Manning, seen on television at the wheel of a Buick Verano. This past week I conducted a test on the Verano such as Manning drives, a 2014 model courtesy of Ryan Green at Weld County Garage in Greeley.

The Verano is a variant of the European Opel Astra, and is marketed in America by Buick alongside the Cruze by Chevrolet, sharing the same architecture and drive train. The engine is a 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder, DOHC, Ecotec with 180 horsepower. Torque is 171 lb. ft., and fuel economy ratings are 21 city/32 highway, burning regular and E85 gasoline blend (15.6 gallon tank). Behind the power plant rests a six-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control. Wheelbase,
length, and weight of the Verano is 105.7”, 183.9”, and 3,300 lbs.,
respectively. It is a front-wheel drive,
four-door, five passenger automobile.

M.S.R.P. of the little White Diamond Tricoat Verano, officially designated a compact, was $30,515.00, including $925.00 for freight. The car included the 1SL, or leather (choccachino), package, and was pretty loaded with all the expected amenities including a navigation system for $795.00, Buick Intellilink system, Bose 9-speaker stereo with satellite radio and CD player, moon roof for $900.00, and backup camera. That camera, along with four windows on each side of the sedan, affords the driver excellent visibility. The deluxe paint job, which was stunning, added $995.00 to the car’s sticker price. I had several passengers join me in rides during the week, and everyone was comfortable – even the manual right hand bucket seat was well tolerated. The trunk provided 14.3 cubic feet of luggage capacity.

Driving the Verano was a snap; it felt light on its feet with the power electric steering, and front independent MacPherson strut suspension coupled with a z-link rear setup. Ten-spoke silver alloy, 18” spoke wheels wore Continental P235/45R18 ContiPro Contact sporty radials, and highway ride and guidance were suitable. The acceleration, reportedly zero to 60 in 8.5 seconds, was fine, as well. Buick has put a lot of effort into making this car quiet, successfully. The car is stylish, as is the custom with the Buick lineup.

Eighteen months ago I reviewed the Chevrolet Cruze, and in looking back at my observations about that car, I would have to say my preference is for the Verano that I drove last week.