“Respect” 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE 4WD

On February 24, 2013August 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, Mitsubishi1 Comment

Aretha Franklin knocked it out of the park with her hit song that was recorded 46 years ago this past week in New York City. Otis Redding wrote “Respect” from the perspective of a desperate man, but Aretha turned the ballad into that of a strong, confident woman that knows that she provides what her man wants. She modified the lyrics somewhat with the addition of the R-E-S-P-E-C-T spelling, as well as the “sock it to me” refrain by backup singers near the end of the song. It is number five on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and it earned Franklin two Grammy awards in 1968.

Mitsubishi Motors is attempting to earn a little respect in the U. S. automobile market with cars such as the one I tested last week, a Rally Red Outlander Sport SE four-wheel drive compact crossover. The Tokyo-based manufacturer has existed since 1917 and is the sixteenth largest in the world. It has weaved in and out of ownership arrangements with several suitors such as Daimler, Volvo, Chrysler and several Chinese firms. But U.S. sales peaked about ten years ago, and Mitsubishi is relying on acceptance of vehicles such as the Outlander Sport to maintain a foothold in this country.

I actually liked the car pretty well, and was not too shocked to step into it after just concluding a test of a $64,000 luxury crossover. Its M.S.R.P. was $28,570, including freight ($825), a premium package ($2,050), and a navigation system ($2,000). Positives included the styling, nimble handling, and comfortable black cloth bucket seats. The premium items were a panoramic glass roof with LED mood lighting, roof rails, backup camera, and Rockford-Fosgate 9-speaker stereo with a ten inch subwoofer located in the rear. Of course it had power locks/windows/mirrors, heated seats, satellite radio, tilt/telescope, cruise, and auto climate control. It had seating for five and 21.7 cubic feet of cargo room behind the back seat. A proximity key arrangement, pushbutton start, and console-mounted emergency brake were items that pleased me, as usual.

Powering the Outlander is a 4 cylinder, 2.0 liter, 148 horsepower DOHC engine rated at 24 mpg-city and 29 mpg-highway (15.8 gallon tank). Behind it is a continuously variable gearless transmission that has paddle shifters on the steering column for sport motoring. The car is not overly powerful, but the paddles saved the day. Four-wheel drive is selected on the fly with a console-mounted button.

I mentioned the styling, which was enhanced with 18” bright alloy, eight-spoke wheels, a bold grill arrangement, a spoiler, and deep-tint rear windows. At the rear was a chrome exhaust finisher and dual fog lights were attractively arranged on the front of the car.

Mitsubishi has managed to put together a vehicle worthy of respect with their Outlander Sport SE. The car didn’t “sock it to me” in any way, but I did like it, would own one, and had a pleasurable week driving it around.

2013 Lexus RX450h Luxury Hybrid AWD Crossover

On February 18, 2013August 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, LexusLeave a comment

Lexus has been in a position to offer the most popular luxury SUV since its introduction in 1998. My latest test car was such a vehicle, the RX450h hybrid model available since 2009. It came in Stargazer Black metallic paint and featured saddle tan leather seating for five.

This was a loaded RX, with an M.S.R.P. of $64,339, including freight. A multitude of options present included rain-sensing wipers, heated/air conditioned front buckets ($825), triple screen entertainment system ($4,920), heads-up display ($1,200), luxury package ($6,125), Mark Levinson 15-speaker 7.1 surround sound stereo ($995), intuitive parking assist ($500), and radar cruise control. The two expensive options also included voice command navigation system, backup camera, blind spot monitor, moon roof, heated steering wheel and 19” fifteen-spoke alloy wheels. The front buckets were sumptuous and supportive at the same time, and the three rear occupants that I had on board did no complaining. The LCD screens in front of each were capable of playing different entertainment, and heating/air conditioning ductwork to keep them comfortable was in abundance.

Ruth and I drove the RX north (Ault and Wellington) and south (Broomfield) and enjoyed the cruise control, which keeps the driver from running up upon another motorist, and the blind spot monitor, to prevent movement into an occupied lane. The stereo equipment is as advertised, and the navigation screen has options that are selected with the console-mounted mouse and mousepad.

Regarding the styling, it is what has made the RX so popular since its inception, in my opinion. It is Lexus’ top selling hybrid (the 450h), and in fact was the model that kicked off their entire hybrid line, including sedans. Hybrids, as you know, have at their heart a gasoline engine along with dual electric motor-generators. I have driven hybrids with 134 and 200 horsepower, and now have driven a machine with 295 (combined) horsepower – this RX. It’s a 3.5 liter V-6 with 24 variable-timed valves and is rated 30 mpg in the city. Coupled to it is a continuously variable gearless transmission with sport mode. I felt that acceleration was acceptable for a hybrid and I actually like the CV transmissions.

I started to discuss styling, and will continue by saying the car was an attractive upgrade to my driveway all week, plus fun to park and crawl out of. Lexus dresses up the side with the big chrome strip and “hybrid” lettering, and the wheels looked great. They were wrapped with Dunlop P235/55R19 Grand Trek Touring A/S all season radials. Of course the RX has LED lighting out front that glows at all times, bringing attention to the vehicle while out on the road. The “spindle” grill is upgraded for 2013, following the Lexus family theme. The 450 has a wheelbase of 107.9”, an overall length of 187.8”, is 74.2” wide, and weighs 4,652 lbs.

The RX450h seemed somewhat big to me (it has a big battery and fancy all-wheel drive train), but not ponderous. I can recognize why two of my friends in town recently purchased this Lexus model, and wouldn’t object to being an owner myself.

“Beetlemania” 2013 Volkswagen Convertible

On February 7, 2013September 30, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, Volkswagen1 Comment

I’m mixing metaphors on this date, February 7^th, because 49 years ago today the Beatles (band) appeared on the Ed Sullivan show to perform their smash, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. The single had sold 1.5 million copies in under three weeks, and Americans were hungry for something enjoyable, just eleven weeks removed from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Beatles were wildly popular in the UK prior to the Sullivan show, and they toured the U.S. at various dates over the next two years, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado on August 26^th, 1964. That was the only Beatles U.S. concert that failed to sell out, and the group was through with live concerts by 1966.

I’m not writing about the Beatles at this time, however, but about the Beetle Volkswagen convertible that was introduced late in the fall. The company has had quite a smash on its hands, as well, having manufactured over 21 million Beetles since 1938. Volkswagen was originally founded at that time by the German Labor Front, a Nazi trade union. The venture included production of an inexpensive car for the common person utilizing state-sponsored financing (“five marks a week you must put aside, if in your own car you want to ride”). Previously, Germans could typically only afford a motorcycle, but with the advent of a new Wolfsburg factory, hundreds of thousands could afford the new Beetle, which had been designed by Ferdinand Porsche.

The 2013 convertible I got to test was equipped with a five cylinder, 2.5 liter, 170 horsepower engine and six speed automatic with Tiptronic feature. It came in Platinum gray metallic with Titan black V-tech leatherette buckets for four inside. The rear seat is kind of a bench seat, kind of a pair of buckets. Five people should not enter the car, but four were in there on several occasions this week, and had fun. The VW had pushbutton start, proximity keyless entry, tilt/telescope, electric windows and locks, navigation system, cruise, and a Fender branded upgraded stereo with satellite radio. Front seats were manually adjustable, but seemed to get out of the way OK for entering rear passengers. The car has front-wheel drive, and a smallish trunk. The convertible top electronically races up and down and there exists a cover for it folded up in the trunk (unless installed, which I did with some exertion). Even with the top up, it’s fun to roll down all four windows and cruise like you’re driving a two door hardtop.

The styling of this new, third generation Beetle is the best yet, with more ample taillights and 18” aluminum/chrome wheels. Tires are 235/45R18 Hankook Optimo all-season radials. All on board enjoyed the VW ride, and road noise is acceptable considering the rag top. Fuel economy ratings are 22-city and 29-highway, with a 19 gallon gas tank that holds regular.

M.S.R.P. for the Volkswagen is $28,495, and that includes freight, technology package, and the Fender stereo. Friends that visited with me in the presence of the convertible during the week seemed to always express surprise at how little such a car listed for, and that is in the car’s favor. It garnered my respect, and it was fun to test.

“A Whiter Shade of Pale” 2013 Cadillac ATS AWD

On February 2, 2013August 8, 2013 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, CadillacLeave a comment

It may not be a good characterization of the Cadillac ATS test car’s color, but the paint on it was extremely white, and attractive. It was a Diamond Tricoat (a three-layer painting process) upgraded color that added $995 to the Cadillac’s window sticker.

The song, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” rocketed to No. 1 in the U.K. in 1967, and without fanfare it reached No. 5 in America, as well. It was the debut number of the British rock band Procol Harum and is now in the Grammy Hall of Fame. The original manager of the group, Guy Stevens, named the group after a friend’s cat (really?). One of the song’s co-writers, Keith Reid, overheard someone at a party tell a woman “You’ve turned a whiter shade of pale”, and he couldn’t get the phrase out of his mind. Procol Harum is one of the most misspelled group names in existence, and in fact I could barely get it registered on this keyboard.

ATS, on the other hand, is easy to spell, but I cannot determine its meaning. Being Super Bowl weekend as of this writing, all I can come up with is “against the spread”. In Cadillac parlance, the ATS is the new compact luxury sedan introduced in August of last year. GM developed the car in their Warren, Michigan technical center and they assemble it down the road in Lansing. It is Cadillac’s smallest offering.

I picked up my test ATS at Ghent Motors early last week, and immediately was attracted to the Morello Red and Jet Black leather interior with carbon fiber trim. This car had the “Performance Collection” of assets – aluminum pedals, bolstered buckets, paddle transmission shifters, high intensity swivel headlamps, and Bose surround sound stereo. Also present were moon roof ($1,050), machined-finish 18” alloy wheels ($800), cold weather package ($600), and a navigation package with backup camera ($795). Those items, added to the aforementioned paint, brought the total M.S.R.P. with freight to $50,830.

The Cadillac ATS is pretty sporty, featuring magnetic ride control, which reacts to road conditions ten times faster than the blink of an eye. It is a technology borrowed from Corvette and by Ferrari. I drove a V6 powered ATS with 3.6 liters and 321 horsepower. Behind it was a six-speed automatic transmission and 3.27 axle ratio (all-wheel drive). Zero to 60 elapsed time is reportedly 5.4 seconds and top speed is 152 mph. Economy? City-19 mpg, and highway-26 mpg.

The ATS features athletic, chiseled styling with the LED running lights glowing out front as well as chrome, dual exhaust finishers emanating a distinctive note in the rear. The alloy wheels are surrounded by 225/40R18 Michelin Primacy all-season run-flat radials. And light stripes are present on the chrome door handles as are puddle lights under the outside mirrors.

With its ATS, Cadillac has targeted BMW’s 3 Series and its nearly 100,000 annual sales figure. I’m sure they are hopeful that the ATS will blast off like Procol Harums’ hit song did in June of 1967. The car certainly won’t “Pale” in comparison to the Bimmer – it may even end up being considered the “Cadillac” of compact luxury sedans.

2013 Lexus ES300h FWD Sedan

On January 28, 2013July 16, 2013 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, Lexus1 Comment

On Tuesday I received a new Lexus to test; the ES series hybrid available since early 2012. It came in “Deep Sea Mica”, blue metallic paint and it was quite attractive. I’ve tested six prior Lexus cars and SUV’s, and this ES350 looks like it may end up being my favorite. Inside it was black perforated “Semi-Aniline” (a dying process) leather throughout, courtesy of the Ultra Luxury package included on the ES. This added $2,435 to the base price of the Lexus and included power memory heated/air conditioned front buckets, ambient lighting, bamboo trim, power tilt/telescope steering column, rear sunshades, and driver’s seat power cushion extender.

Additionally, the car had blind spot monitor ($500), lane departure alert ($965), navigation package ($2,625), power trunk lid ($400), parking assist ($500), rain-sensing wipers ($155), and heated leather and wood steering wheel ($450). Thus the base price and freight pushed the total M.S.R.P. to $47,944, about $10,000 less than the Lexus GS that I drove the first week of 2013. And this latest car has hybrid technology, although it’s a bit smaller than the GS.

Speaking of hybrid technology, the ES has an Atkinson-cycle, 2.5 liter, four cylinder gasoline engine at its heart, and two electric motor/generators to chip in power. An Englishman named Atkinson obtained an American patent on the Atkinson-cycle engine over 120 years ago, but the design wasn’t favored until recently because its efficient fuel consumption aspect was more than offset by its lack of torque. Well, electric motors provide instant torque, so in the hybrid automobile the Atkinson engine goes with an electric motor like peanut butter with jelly. And in the ES300h, the total package provides 200 horsepower and runs that through a continuously-variable automatic transmission. Reportedly, top speed is 112 mph and zero to sixty acceleration takes 8.1 seconds.

Size-wise, this ES is a luxo-Camry with 111” wheelbase and a 16-foot overall length. It’s heavier than such a Toyota, though, at 3,700 lbs. with its big battery. That battery restricts the trunk to 12.1 cubic feet, and on this ES the lid powers up and down. No restriction is evident in the back seat, however, with seating for three and a big armrest in the middle. Riding anywhere in the ES300h is a pleasure, and I felt the ride was among the best (of cars I have tested) while going along the Jackrabbit Trail here in Weld County on a ride to Johnstown. That road is pretty pock-marked and need of repair, but provided little in the way of discomfort inside this car. Outside the car, styling is suitable for me with the exception of the painted door handles. The new (to Lexus) front-end styling is fine and so is the rear with the exhaust tips concealed, hybrid-style.

EPA ratings for the ES300h are 40-city and 39-highway – electric power allows drivers to save fuel in the city. My average, driving around Greeley all week, was 34.8 mpg. It’s hard to say how much driving is necessary to make a hybrid Lexus pay off; there are other factors involved in the calculations. I noticed at Lexus.com that the base prices are $2,750 apart, so with resale value and pride of ownership, this hybrid Lexus looks like a pretty good bet to me.

2013 Fiat 500 Turbo Sport Hatchback

On December 24, 2012December 19, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, FiatLeave a comment

When my brothers and I were growing up (there were four Wright brothers), we had a suite of little plastic cars of all makes to play with. They were quite small, perhaps 1.5 inches long, and had the names imprinted on the roof, just above the back window. We referred to one of the cars as the FLAT, because the name was quite small, and perhaps even mistakenly embossed. Little boys in rural Nebraska would never have heard of a Fiat, to be sure, and it was years later when I, and perhaps they, became aware of the venerable Italian brand of cars.

The little model car was a 500, nicknamed Topolino (Italian for little mouse), and was produced from 1936 until 1955. The Fiat 500, in fact, has been produced and sold in America for most of the last 77 years, and this last week I received one for testing. It was provided by Chrysler Corporation, the company that Fiat and the U.S. government saved from bankruptcy in 2009.

In this column I have in the past mentioned that I once owned a Fiat, a 1968 850 roadster. At that time the brand had a reputation for unreliability, but as I understand it, the Fiat line of cars hold together pretty well today. Long term testing of the 500, available since 2007, has produced good results for the car. My 850 was for the purpose of running up and down the Space Coast of Florida when I was assigned to the Apollo program.

The 500T that I tested had the 135 horsepower (150 lb. ft. of torque), turbocharged, 1.4 liter four cylinder engine and five speed manual transmission. It was painted Rame (copper) metallic and the interior was Nero (black) cloth. I’m pretty sure these are Italian words. Base price of the turbo model was $19,500, and options included the Beats audio package ($1,500), comfort/convenience group ($650), and $700 for destination charges. Total M.S.R.P., therefore, was $22,350. Beats Audio is the stereo company started by Dr. Dre, and in the car it featured 6 speakers, including a trunk mounted subwoofer. Satellite radio, Bluetooth phone, USB connection, cruise, tilt, power windows (2), power remote locks, and leather wrapped steering wheel/shift knob were all on hand in the 500T.

According to the Fiat brochure, “Zippy happens” with the turbocharged 500, and I will attest to that. It also rides well on the Interstate, despite the 90.6” wheelbase. Weight of the 500T is 2,333 lbs., and the fuel tank holds 10.5 gallons – EPA mileage ratings are 28/34 city-highway. Overall, driving the Fiat 500T is a lot of fun.

Styling is a hallmark of the Fiat, and the Sport has some extra fascia trim as well as a chrome exhaust finisher, chrome door handles, spoiler, and polished 16” alloy wheels. The car is fitted with 195/45R-16 radials.

I like this Fiat more than the one I owned 42 years ago – in fact at that point in time I would have been surprised to hear of the future existence of such a nice Fiat.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD Turbo

On December 7, 2012August 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, HyundaiLeave a comment

Hyundai is a giant South Korean automobile manufacturer based in Seoul and it is the fourth largest such firm in the world. The company owns almost half of KIA Motor Company, as well, and has been in business for 45 years. In North America, Hyundai has designs on becoming the number three automaker in 2013.

This last week I had the pleasure of testing a new, 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T, courtesy of Crossroads Hyundai in Loveland. Sales Manager Ryan Sackschewsky lined me up with a dealer plate and the keys and we were off! The Santa Fe is a midsize crossover that has been around since 2001, and was on the forefront of the crossover boom that started at that time. Styling of the 3^rd generation Santa Fe is a hallmark of this latest model, introduced in September. Chrome abounds on the car, including a big grill, door handles, and dual exhaust finishers, and it was painted Moonstone silver metallic. The Santa Fe rides on attractive, 19”, ten-spoke Hyper Silver alloy wheels.

Speaking of abundance, inside the Santa Fe were both the Technology package and Premium Equipment package along with a panoramic sunroof. The packages allow the occupants to enjoy dual-zone climate control, rearview camera, 8” touch screen navigation, satellite radio, proximity keyless entry, premium 12 speaker Infinity 550-watt surround sound, heated seats (everywhere) and heated steering wheel. Of course the car is equipped with power locks/windows, tilt/telescope, USB/Ipod connections, and Bluetooth capability. This is an extremely luxurious vehicle, and lists for less than $36,000.

A nice feature also found inside the Santa Fe is a mammoth rear cargo area with 35.4 cubic feet. That expands to 71.5 with the 3-piece split rear seat folded down. That’s right; the rear, sliding bench seat is a 40/20/40 so that two skiers can ride along with their equipment in the middle.

Power for the Santa Fe is supplied by a turbocharged 2.0 liter, 200 horsepower, 4 cylinder engine with 264 horsepower, coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The EPA mileage ratings are 19/city and 24/highway, and acceleration is reportedly zero to sixty in 9.1 seconds. The ride of the Hyundai is compliant and the handling is SUV-superb.

Interestingly, the Santa Fe Sport features both Hillstart Assist Control and Downhill Brake Control, items I would have loved to have on my rental car the last time I visited San Francisco. Such amenities are indicative of the value associated with this Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T, a car I would be willing to recommend to a prospective car shopper.

2013 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD

On October 15, 2012August 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, ChevroletLeave a comment

This past week I was presented a new Chevy Equinox crossover to test. It was painted Tungsten metallic (dark bronze) with a light titanium and black leather interior. The combination resulted in a lot of compliments during the week, although personally I’m a fan of red, white or black vehicles.

Chevrolet was founded 100 years ago last fall and globally they sold nearly five million vehicles in 2011. The Equinox was brought out as a 2005 model and is classified as a mid-sized crossover. The 2013 model is considered a second generation Equinox, and features a new “high-feature LFX” 3.6 liter V-6 with 301 horsepower and 272 lb. ft. of torque. It replaces the old 3 liter V-6 without sacrificing fuel mileage and is rated at 16/23, city and highway. Zero to sixty acceleration with the new Equinox is reportedly 7.2 seconds in this all-wheel drive model. I liked the engine and its pep, and found the transmission (six speed automatic) to be OK.

The Equinox is a five-passenger vehicle with fold down rear seat (not quite flat), providing 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space in such a position. It also slides 8” fore and aft; great for kids. Put it up, and you cut the cargo space in half. It’s still adequate, though, and the power up and down tailgate is a luxury feature. So are the two-tone front leather buckets, which I think would keep the driver comfortable on a long trip. With the center stack slanted so far forward, I found the driver needed to lean forward to tweak the radio or navigation controls.

The Equinox carried an M.S.R.P. of $36,385, and that included $1,500 for V-6, $1,000 for the chrome-clad aluminum 18” wheels, $795 for the nav/MyLink system, and $825 for freight. The LTZ came standard with a luggage rack, fog lights, power seats-mirrors-windows-locks, tilt/telescope, rear camera and premium Pioneer stereo. Also on board were radar cruise control, lane departure warning system, Bluetooth, XM satellite radio, and a USB connector.

Wheelbase of the Equinox is 112.5”, width is 6’, height is 66.3”, weight is 3,889 lbs., and overall length is 15.5 feet. Ground clearance on this not-really-made-for-4-wheeling crossover is 6.9”.

Ruth and I took off up the Interstate to find some breakfast in the Chevy, and the guidance and ride were excellent. Road noise was not remarkable
and the hydraulic steering seemed to make the car light on its feet. Visibility is nothing special, but not an annoyance. Styling is a hallmark of most Chevrolets, and the Equinox is no exception. An improvement was the result of the 2009 re-design, and it and its sister, the GMC Terrain, make up a stylish tandem in this category. It allows General Motors to charge a little extra for this series of vehicles.

Sales of Chevrolet’s Equinox has always been brisk, approaching 200,000 units in 2011. After spending several miles and a week with the car, I can understand the public’s acceptance of the Chevy, and could see myself driving one on a daily basis.

2012 Infiniti EX35 Crossover

On September 10, 2012August 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, InfinitiLeave a comment

Infiniti’s extensive lineup of 13 models provides a vehicle for pretty much anyone’s taste, and in the middle of the group lies the EX35 compact crossover. Infiniti, the luxury division of Nissan Motor Company, has been selling automobiles in America since 1989, when they introduced the Q45 and M30 sedans to our shores. At present they make four crossover series vehicles, and the EX35 is the smallest among them. The others are the FX, JX, and the QX, the biggest of them all. The QX is the model I so enjoyed early in June.

The 2012 EX35 AWD was painted “Garnet” red metallic with wheat-colored interior leather trim. The model was the “Journey”, Infiniti’s finest in this lineup. Upgrades included heated power front buckets, electric power tilt/telescope steering column, Bluetooth hands-free phone arrangement, maple interior accents, sliding power moonroof, push button ignition, XM satellite radio integrated into a Bose 11-speaker stereo/CD system, USB and Ipod connections, 7” color info display, hard drive navigation system with lane guidance and an attractive chrome analog clock front and center on the dashboard.

All these interior amenities made the Infiniti a treat to travel in, but on top of that there existed a small coat hanger on the back of the driver’s seat for a jacket as well as a 60/40, 3-passenger back seat with power up and down capability. Switches were in place inside the tailgate to operate them in case a bicycle or bag of golf clubs occupied your hands when loading. Oh, and I mustn’t forget, the cup-holder was a dual level affair to accommodate either a “tall” or a “venti” Starbucks, no sweat. Just press a switch and the little divider moves out of the way. I’m going on and on about the interior, but I must admit I enjoyed it.

Power for the EX is a V-6 providing 297 horsepower and 253 lb. ft. of torque. The 3.5 liter engine is coupled to a seven-speed automatic with manual shift mode. Zero to 60 acceleration is reportedly 7.1 seconds, and the fuel mileage ratings are 17 city and 24 highway. I observed 22.2 mpg during my time with the Journey. The Intelligent all-wheel drive system would be great in the winter, so I wasn’t able to enjoy its benefits, but did enjoy the silky-smooth transmission.

Of all the Infiniti crossovers, the EX35 is not my favorite, styling-wise. But since I am pretty crazy about the looks of the FX and QX, that isn’t much of a knock. On top of the EX was an attractive aluminum roof rail/luggage rack, and the vehicle was fitted with 19”, ten spoke alloy wheels surrounded by 245/45R19 Bridgestone Turanzas. Out back were chrome dual exhaust finishers. Wheelbase is 110”, making the overall length 15”.

The M.S.R.P of the Infiniti was $45,095.00, and that included the Journey base price, freight, $2,200.00 for the Touring Package, and $2,700.00 for the Premium Package. Those latter two items provided the nice interior items I described, plus the Xenon headlights, the Around View monitor (like eye in the sky for parking), voice recognition, and the Zagat Survey restaurant guide.

The Infiniti Journey EX35 is not inexpensive, but it provides a plush, pretty, personal AWD vehicle and an excellent driving experience for its proud owner.

2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD

On August 27, 2012July 16, 2013 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, VolvoLeave a comment

This white little Swedish number was waiting for Ruth and I at DIA upon our return from Chicago last week. In Latin, the word Volvo means “I roll”, so we rolled up to Greeley, and I was forced to familiarize myself with the controls in the dark (late arrival). This was my third Volvo to test, and I must say I have liked them all. Volvo was founded in Gothenberg, Sweden, in 1927, and is currently owned by Geely Automobile of China (since 2010). My S60 came in “Ice White”, which was no big deal, but the leather seats were “Beechwood” and black leather, and very attractive.

This S60 T5 is the Volvo that comes with an in-line five-cylinder, 2.5 liter alloy engine sitting crosswise under the hood. With the turbocharger, it puts out 250 horsepower and 266 lb. ft. of torque. It’s coupled with the electronically-controlled AWD system from Haldex and a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission with sport mode. Acceleration of the T5 is reportedly zero to sixty in 6.6 seconds, and fuel economy ratings are 20/city and 29/highway. I observed 23 mpg during my time with the Volvo. The AWD system only sends a trickle of power to the rear wheels when cruising, enhancing fuel economy. But for snow or sporty driving, more power is sent to the rear. The ride and drivability are satisfying for this five-passenger car, as you might expect from Volvo.

The AWD system adds $2,000 to the M.S.R.P. of the S60, and I cannot see why someone would buy the car without the option. Other options on this car were the premier package ($2,200), climate package ($700), trunk spoiler ($375), and 17” Njord alloy ten-spoke wheels ($250). The premier equipment included moon roof, key-in-your-pocket ignition, leather seats, and a power passenger seat to go with the power driver’s seat. The base price, freight, and these options brought total list price to $38,170. This Volvo comes standard with Sensus, incorporated into the dashboard’s 7” display as an intuitive computer command system. No navigation or rear camera was present on this Volvo, but it had satellite radio, CD, Bluetooth, and a USB setup. Of course it had power windows, locks, tilt/telescope, and heated front buckets. Additionally, the car had City Safety, a system of frontal collision avoidance utilizing a laser sensor. I did not participate in this program.

The styling of Volvo’s S60 is certainly acceptable, and has been reconfigured as of last year. It’s an upgrade from the old S60, and my test car garnered a lot of looks around town and in parking lots. The little spoiler on the trunk was attractive, as were the dual exhausts back there.

If I were in the market for a luxury European weather-fighter with classy looks, this Volvo would be on my shopping list, equipped pretty much the same as my test car.