2011 Toyota Venza Review

The 2011 Toyota Venza. It's like the return of the Camry wagon, but better.

Mysteries abound in the automotive world, and one I've not been able to figure out the past couple of years is why the Toyota Venza isn't an off-the-charts success.

Introduced at the time when the SUV game shifted from trucks to crossovers, the Venza was positioned right in the sweet spot of that group. You can get it with a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine. It's got clean looks, lots of space....what's not to like?

The 2011 Toyota Venza comes with 20-inch alloy wheels standard.

If you expected that I'd have the answer to that question after our most recent week in a Venza, well...I hate to disappoint you, but I don't. This thing screams "winner" to me.

The test vehicle from the Toyota fleet was a front-wheel drive six-cylinder (you can get both the four and the six in either front-wheel or all-wheel drive) and started with a base price of $28,300. The six in question is a 3.5 liter DOHC 24-valve V6 that makes 268 horsepower. It's coupled fo a six-speed automatic transmission, and as a result, gets more than respectable mileage for something in its size class (EPA estimate: 19 city/26 highway).

20-inch alloy wheels are part of the deal, as are electric power steering, four-wheel disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension, stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes with Smart Stop technology, tire pressure monitoring, projector-beam headlamps with integrated fog lights, variable intermittent windshield wipers, dual-zone climate control with air filter, an AM/FM/XM/CD/mp3 6-speaker audio system with USB, Bluetooth and an auxilary jack, a 3.5 inch multi-information display, 8-way power adjustable driver's seat, tilt/telescope steering wheel, auto-dimming rear view mirror, power windows, remote keyless entry and cruise control.

Now let me stop for a second and point something out, because this is the umpteenth car in a row that TireKicker's tested that had a standard equipment list that looks like a car loaded with options from just five years ago. And consider the price again: $28,300. With all that. And 19city/26 highway.  Can you explain to me why Toyota isn't selling at least as many of these as they do RAV4s (the last one of which we tested cost 2 grand more with not much more in the way of amenities and considerably less space)? If so, click the comments button.

The 2011 Toyota Venza interior. Tons of Lexus influence.

Of course, there are options available and the Toyota press fleet folks found $9,179 worth to put on our test vehicle:

• A rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a 9-inch display and two wireless headphones for $1,680.


• Premium Package #2 (leather-trimmed seating surfaces, 4-way power adjustable passenger seat with power lumbar support, multi-stage heated front seats, satin mahogany wood-grain style interior trim, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob with satin mahogany wood-grain style inlay, High Intensity Discarhge headlamps with automatic high beams, Smart Key with pushbutton start and remote illuminated entry, power liftgate, chrome-accented door handles, backup camera, anti-theft alarm system, color-keyed power heated outside mirrors with folding feature and windshield wiper de-icer) for $4,345.


• Voice-activated touch-screen DVD navigation system with an audio system upgrade including JBL amplifiers and 13 speakers, a four-disc CD changer and CD-text display function for $2,580.


• The  tow prep package, with an engine oil cooler, larger radiator fan and heavy-duty alternator for $220.


• Floormats and cargo mat for $269.


• "Courtesy Deliver Veh/TMS/NFS" (huh?) for $85.

That and $760 for delivery add up to $38,239.

Bet you're waiting for me to say "buy the base car", huh?

Well, yes....and no. Absolutely buy the base car. It's loaded and a steal at a price that even with destination charges gives you almost a thousand dollars in change back from your $30,000 bill.

But if you want the luxury and have the money, load it up the way Toyota did ours and you've got a discount Lexus RX350. Which is yet one more market for the Venza, and one more way in which I can't understand why you don't see one at every stoplight every day of the week.

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2011 Lexus CT 200h Premium Review

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The 2012 Lexus CT 200h.

Extending your brand is a tricky thing...especially if you're well-defined. Take Lexus, for example. The name says upscale, well-built, smooth, quiet and refined.

Lexus has broadened beyond that successfully with their IS 350, a performance machine, and it's done it not all that successfully with the HS 250h.

The latter fell short because it's clearly a re-badged Toyota hybrid (one not sold in the States), slathered in so much Lexus luxo that it starts at $37,000 and can be optioned (as ours was) to within a few bucks of $50,000.

Well, this time around, Lexus has done about all it can do if it really wants to sell small hybrids...it's come up with another one, but this time kept the price in line.

The Lexus CT 200h hybrid. Is the world ready for a Lexus hatchback?

How'd they do that? Well, they started with a smaller Toyota. The CT 200h is 14.7 inches shorter than the HS 250h, with a 3.9 inch shorter wheelbase, and it's 8/10ths of an inch narrower. Headroom and front shoulder room, however, are better in the smaller car (sold in the UK in non-hybrid form as the Toyota Avensis).

The gasoline engine is smaller, too...1.8 liters and 134 horsepower as opposed to 2.4 liters and 187 horsepower. And that results in better EPA figures...43 city/40 highway compared to 35 city/34 highway.

As a result of all that, the base price for the CT 200h Premium is $30,900 and it comes with an impressive list of standard features: Moonroof, heated seats, NuLuxe trim interior, three-spoke leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, a 10-way multi-adjustable power driver's seat with 2-way power lumbar support, SmartAccess with pushbutton start, electroluminescent Optitron gauges, automatic dual-zone climate control, a tilt/telescoping steering column, 4-mode drive mode select, driver information center with trip computer, a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/SiriusXM audio system with USB and miniplug inputs, Bluetooth, power windows and door locks, personalized settings, a tonneau cover and carpeted floor mats.

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h hybrid interior. Lots of gadgetry, but does the quality say "Lexus"?

The tester came with a few options, too: A Premium Audio Package (taking us up to 10-speakers, 6 CD changer instead of a single-play, plus an auto-dimming electrochromic rearview mirror with compass and a Lexus Homeline universal transciever) for $1,125...LED headlamps with auto-leveling and headlamp washers for $1,215, the leather package (perforated leather seats with driver seat memory, rain-sensing intermittent wipers with mist cycle and auto-dimming outer mirrors with memory) for $1,330...a cargo net for $75, and illuminated door sills for $299.

That makes the bottom line with delivery fee $35,819...which is still less than the base price of the HS 250h we drove.

But three things hover over the CT 200h.

One...it's slow. Just a hair shy of 10 seconds 0-60. Those four driving modes we mentioned? They're EV (purely electric for short distances at slow speeds...you'll never use it on the street for more than a few feet) , Eco, Normal and Sport. And that almost 10 second 0-60 time? That's Sport.

Two...do not adjust your monitor. That exterior color is real. It's called Daybreak Yellow Mica. And it's scarier in person than it is in pictures. It also makes the CT 200h look like a cheap little car. Which, when you're a Lexus salesman trying to get someone to part with between 30 and 36 large and one in that color is sitting on the showroom floor, has to make the job a bit harder.

And three...the question of whether Lexus should be in this segment at all. Wouldn't a real Lexus, something a bit further from the Prius, be a better move? Maybe a hybrid version of the IS250?

Then again, maybe not. The CT 200h was the third-best selling hybrid in the U.S. in July, 2011...and in the top 10 for the calendar year to date. If you see what we don't, click the "comments' button and let us know.

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2011 Buick Regal CXL Review

The 2011 Buick Regal. A whole new look for GM's longtime old-guy division.

Turning points are usually things that become obvious well after the fact...noted by historians looking at the big picture. It's rare when we can see one in real time and realize it.

I could be wrong here, but I think we're looking at one right now.

It's been many years since Buick built a car enthusiasts could get (pardon the pun) revved up about. It was a Regal, too, come to think of it.

Well, 1987 was 1987 and 2011 is 2011 and Buick wisely resisted the urge to join the retro-mobile bandwagon and instead built a sedan for our times.

Slick European lines highlight the rear view of the 2011 Buick Regal.

Buick's aiming for an interesting spot in the sedan spectrum...sportier than Lexus, cushier than BMW (the American alternative to Infiniti, perhaps?), and the Regal hits that very small bulls-eye. Simply put, it drives better than any Buick of the last 25 years, perhaps than any Buick ever...and better than many contemporary sedans out there.

That's a big enough accomplishment for Buick, but here's the kicker...it does it with a four-cylinder engine under the hood. In fact, that's the only way you can get a Regal right now...your choice is turbo or non-turbo...and that's what we got...the stock engine. 182 horsepower. Doesn't sound like much considering what else is on the market, but it moves the Regal with authority, and mated to a six-speed automatic, it delivers pretty good mileage, too. 19 city isn't awesome, but 30 highway is a strong selling point these days.

$26,245 is the price of entry, bringing with it Stabilitrak, a full complement of airbags and curtains, battery rundown protection,  a six-month subscription to OnStar Directions & Connections with automatic crash response and turn-by-turn navigation, tire pressure monitoring, brake assist and ABS, 18-inch alloy wheels, power heated outside mirrors, halogen headlamps and fog lamps, leather seats (heated up front and 8-way power adjustable for the driver), remote keyless entry, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, power door locks, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, controls for audio and cruise on the steering wheel, a seven-speaker AM/FM/CD/SiriusXM audio system with USB port and Bluetooth, and two power outlets.

The 2011 Buick Regal interior will remind you of anything but Buicks past.

In our book, that's loaded. Especially for a tick over $26K. But Buick added one....just one...option package. It's called RL6, the Comfort and Convenience Package. It gives the front passenger the same 8-way adjustable seat the driver gets, along with 4-way lumbar, adds a 120-volt power outlet, Ultrasonic rear parking assist, a power sunroof, rear seat mounted airbags, GPS navigation and ups the audio system to a premium unit with 9 speakers instead of 7. 

It costs $4,785.

I think the Regal's one helluva car without it at $26,245. But I can't really object to anything in the option package either (other than satnav....say it with me now: "My phone does that."), and at $31,780 with destination charges, it's still one helluva car, and fairly priced for what you get. It's just not the jaw-dropping value it represents at almost five grand less.

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2011 Lexus GS 350 Review

The face is familiar, you say? No surprise there. The Lexus GS has been around quite a while...with even its more thorough re-designs being careful to maintain an immediately identifiable look.



The GS is Lexus' mid-size sedan...larger than the ES, smaller than the LS...and it's rear-wheel drive.

The one we sampled for a week courtesy of Bell Lexus in Phoenix was the V6-powered GS 350 as opposed to the V8 GS 460. Having driven the 460 (a fine car), I'd pick the 350. Plenty of power, better handling with less engine weight on the nose, and only a 4/10ths of a second difference in zero to 60 time (5.8 seconds versus 5.4 for the V8). And there's about a $9,000 price break when you choose the RWD 350 over the RWD 460. That price spread jumps to more than $10,000 between the all-wheel drive 350 and 460.

The interior has gotten a bit of a refresh, as well..with a newer nav/entertainment screen in the dash and the final step into the new milennium...the 2011 GS is the first one not to have a cassette deck below the CD player.

Optioned sensibly, you can get a very luxurious, very comfortable, quick and good handling sedan for just a shade over $50,000 (starting price is $46,900).  That's well below what any comparable competitor will cost.  And very few, if any, can touch the GS 350's 19 city/26 highway miles per gallon.

No, it's not cutting-edge styling. But if Lexus can maintain freshenings and updates, this could be a classic...and it's well worth your time for a test drive.

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2011 Lexus LS Hybrid Cars review and specification with prices

2011 Lexus LS Hybrid Cars review and specification with prices
mercedes specification and review: http://masti-jokes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-mercedes-binz-car-features-and.html

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2011 Lexus CT 200h Car Prices and specification with wallpapers

2011 Lexus CT 200h Car Prices and specification with wallpapers

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2011 Lexus Is250 Black Wheels Car Technical Specifications and wallpapers

2011 Lexus Is250 Black Wheels Car Technical Specifications and wallpapers
2011 Upcoming ford Cars wallpapers: http://masti-jokes.blogspot.com/2011/04/2011-ford-ka-sport-2009-cars.html

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2008 Lexus Ls 600h L previews

2008 Lexus Ls 600h L previews
Upcoming 2012 chrysler Car news: http://masti-jokes.blogspot.com/search/label/chrysler

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2011 Lexus Gs 2012 Photos Styling Review

2011 Lexus Gs 2012 Photos Styling Review
Ford Car newshttp://masti-jokes.blogspot.com/search/label/Ford

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2011 Lexus IS350 AWD Review

Respect.

That's probably the word that best describes most people's admiration of Lexus. They build high-quality luxury and near-luxury automobiles at a price below...often significantly below...that of the competition from Germany.

Desire isn't heard as often, largely because Lexus' "relentless pursuit of perfection" has sanded off a lot of the rough edges that enthusiasts find interesting and exciting.

But for every rule, there's an exception, and for Lexus, it's the IS350.

This is Lexus' drivers' car. And it comes in a variety of flavors. Our most recent run was in the all-wheel drive version.

The IS's agressive styling (certainly by Lexus standards) hints that this is something special. And the 3.5 liter DOHC 24-valve V6 more than delivers on that, with 306 horsepower and 277 pounds per foot of torque. That power gets to the four driving wheels through a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence...meaning it adapts to your driving style and the conditions you're driving in.

That all wheel drive is full-time AWD, by the way. So you're getting a consistent delivery of power to all four wheels. The IS350 is already a good-handling machine. All-wheel drive just makes it better...and an excellent companion in bad weather.

Well equipped? Well, yeah...and then some. The standard equipment list is a long one, including 17-inch alloy wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips, steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and Brake Assist Smart Stop technology, a full complement of airbags, Bi-Xenon high-intensity headlamps with LED daytime running lights, automatic collision notification, emergency assist, roadside assistance, tire pressure monitor, a first aid kit and a tool kit.

And then there are the creature comforts that come at no cost with the base price of $41,030....leather trim, a moonroof, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a Lexus Premium Audio System with 13 speakers, in-dash 6 CD changer, Bluetooth, XM and a USB connection.

The Lexus folks pushed the envelope of our tester a bit further with the Luxury Plus Value Edition Package (heated and ventilated front seats, wood interior trim, perforated semi-aniline leather seats, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, driver memory seat, illuminated scuff plate, power rear sunshade and rain-sensing wipers)...$2,795 worth of options ordered separately for $1,320. And they added a navigation system with Lexus Enform, XM NavTraffic, NavWeather, Sports & Stocks for $2,465.

$64 for a cargo net and $73 for a cargo mat plus $875 destination charges runs the bottom line up to $45,827...not bad for a car that easily runs with sedans that crack the $50K ceiling. And this one gets an EPA estimated 18 city/25 highway miles per gallon.

It's a wonderfully balanced sedan...hitting the sweet spot where performance and luxury meet. And it's well worth a test drive.

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