Which is your favourite sedan of 2011

In 2010, we saw a flurry of hatchbacks rush into the Indian market and this year, it’s all about sedans. From Toyota Etios to Nissan Sunny that was previewed recently, five sedans in the C Segment are competing neck-to-neck.



When Toyota Etios is completely made for India and priced aggressively starting from Rs 4.96 lakh, you can’t expect the real character of a Toyota car from it. Hyundai Verna, on the other hand, has been there for a while now as one of the most admired cars in the segment. Now, it’s gone under the knife and come out with a dynamic and futuristic design. With prices starting from Rs 6.99 lakh, Verna is a champion in terms of killer looks and the Hyundai reliability.



Ford, too, is on a complete makeover mode to come out with a desi image in India. The immense success of the Figo hatchback last year was a boon for the company, yet the poor resale value and high maintenance of the sedans forced Ford to phase out the Ikon and introduce the global Fiesta in India. With prices starting from Rs 8.23 lakhs, the Fiesta sports a kinetic design and intuitive, aesthetic interiors.



Just like the Micra plunged into the overcrowded B segment last year, a swarming C segment welcomes the Nissan Sunny, too. In the first look, the Sunny resembles a downsized Teana and that’s great. Although Nissan claims the Sunny is not a Micra sedan, there are many cues on the dashboard to object that claim. The company is confident on the back of Micra’s success, however, they need to price it strategically to win the competition.



Renault is making a new beginning in India as well. The Logan failed to lure customers and got the complete ‘taxi image’ instantly. Logan has given the company a good learning about the Indian market and customers and the resultant product is the Fluence. Priced at Rs12.99 lakh, the Fluence offers a combination of style, practicality and engineering. However, will it be able to compete with the likes of Chevy Cruze, Honda Civic and Toyota Altis? Let’s wait and watch.

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Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV Review

About 20 years ago, before my TireKicking days, I worked at KTVK in Phoenix with a reporter named Jay DeDapper. Jay seemed even in those pre-cyber days to have his own Bluetooth and Twitter connections in his brain. He'd know about the best new restaurant in any major city 30 seconds before it opened. He'd have read the latest book about...well, anything...cover to cover while the Barnes & Noble staff was unpacking the boxes.

Needless to say, I listened.

So when I found out that Jay refused to rent anything on out-of-town assignments but Nissan Maxima SEs from 1989 until he went to WABC, New York in 1992 (a refusal that was so vehement that on one occasion the Hertz crew at LAX surrendered and gave him one with a bashed-in trunk because it was the only one they had), I figured I should see what was so great about it. Having had the previous generation '88 as a rental, I couldn't imagine.

Well, Jay (no surprise) was right. Hertz now had two finicky reporters from Phoenix to deal with.

Nissan called the Maxima "The Four Door Sports Car" or "4DSC" in those days. And they were very nearly right. For the times, nothing came close, unless you wanted to up the ante to maybe a 5-series BMW. And our expense accounts, even in those free-spending days for TV news, had limits.

Nissan wandered away from that very successful formula after 1994. It's been 15 years of Maximas that really were just big Nissans: "The Four Door Car" could have been the ad campaign, if Nissan had put any promotional clout behind them (they really didn't).

2009 brought a new Maxima (the top of the line is now the SV instead of the SE), and the return of the "Four Door Sports Car" label. And while size, weight and complexity (find a car that hasn't added all three in the past decade and a half), it's very close to the old one in spirit.

A 24-valve V6 makes 290 horsepower, but with a Continuously Variable Transmission, manages to get 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway. It rolls on 18 inch alloy wheels. Moonroof, fog lights, leather, power everything and a nine-speaker audio system are all standard.

Base price: $31,990. The tester I drove for a week added only a cold package (heated front seats, steering wheel and outside mirrors), Bluetooth, floor mats and a rear spoiler...resulting in a bottom line with destination charges of $33,900. A real bargain for what you get.

Is it as good as the '89-'94? Not in terms of sheer driving pleasure. But it's a great base to work from. If Nissan's engineers are allowed to evolve and refine it, this one could be even better.

UPDATE: Everything above still applies, except the base price...now up to $33,530. And the most recent tester sent our way was much more highly optioned...a rear spoiler ($370), floor and trunk mats ($180) and the Premium Package ($3,230), which adds a dual panel moonroof with power sunshades, HID Xenon headlights, premium leather-appointed seats, a climate-controlled driver's seat, heated front seats, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, which is also heated and wrapped in leather, paddle shifters, an automatic entry/exit system, driver's side memory for seat, mirrors and steering wheel, an auto-dimming driver's side outside mirror, heated outside mirrors with reverse tilt-down, rear bucket seats, eucalyptus wood-tone trim, a 7-inch color monitor and rear camera, AUX, USB and iPod jacks and a 2.0 GB Music Box with 800 MB of storage.

Bottom line (after $750 destination charge): $38,060.  If it were my money, I'd probably go with the more lightly optioned one from before and, even with the base price increase, come in at or under $35K. But the loaded one is so well equipped and so nice to live with, that I wouldn't talk you out of going for it. This sedan, this well done, with this much equipment at under $40,000 is one heckuva deal.

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Volkswagen CC Sport Review

I wonder if Volkswagen appreciates the irony of the new CC.

Six years ago, the company introduced the Phaeton, a big luxury sedan with a price tag starting around $65,000 and running all the way up to $95,000 (a hundred grand with tax) for a 12-cylinder model.

It was a monumental flop, yanked summarily from the U.S. market after only a couple of seasons (it is still sold in Europe and is on the verge of a third facelift for 2011 that has die-hard fans hoping for a return to America)

Part of the problem was that for all that money, it looked like a Passat, only bigger. And from a block away, with no perspective to judge size, it looked like a Passat, period.

So now, VW creates a truly desirable car...and it really is a Passat...but with a sleek roofline and some other styling tricks.

And...here's the good part...it carries a price tag lower than the Passat...base price for the Sport model I drove is $27,100...$1,200 below the least-expensive Passat.

The current-generation Passat is a bit of an awkward child...not Teutonically purposeful as the ones before, but without actually achieving elegance or desirability. Attempts to soften the Passat have resulted in it coming off as lukewarm.

But the CC turns up the heat by appealing to the emotions with fluid, sensuous lines.



And the best part is that, through artful use of colors, details and materials, Volkswagen makes the CC's interior feel special, too...giving you the impression that you're driving something a rung or two above the Passat.

The CC gets these impressions so right that driving the base model (the Sport), with only two options (a six-speed automatic transmission and Sirius Satellite radio), feels like the lap of luxury...and keeps the price tag, including destination charges, under $30,000.

You can go hog-wild with the VR6 4Motion and break $40,000 without a sweat....but why, when the Sport is so good?

EPA estimate (with automatic): 19 city/29 highway. Manual transmission 21 city/31 highway.

UPDATE: Just ended a week in another CC Sport. Everything above applies...apart from a base price increase to $27,760. Still, this one bottom-lined at $29,660...with the only option being a six-speed automatic.

And about that...the gas mileage estimate improves to 22 city/31 highway. In my even mix of city streets and freeways, I got 24 for the week...and the range estimate when I took delivery of 450 miles seems plausible. I handed it back this morning with just under half a tank of gas remaining.

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Subaru Legacy 2.5 i and 3.6R Limited Review

Subaru has made its place in the automotive world the past 35 years or so by being the Japanese SAAB. Quirky, yet loveable...attracting a small but devoted following.

Attempting to go mainstream is part of what very nearly killed SAAB, so there's precedent for concern every time Subaru gets a bit more normal.

Except that Subaru's managed it quite well...first with the Outback, then the Forester, and now with the Legacy.

The Legacy is stepping up in size and refinement, becoming for the first time a logical and direct alternative to Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

And to show just how good the basic product is, Subaru sent us a no-frills Legacy 2.5i. Not a single option (but with 17-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD, an auxilary audio jack, XM/Sirius capability, a multifunction trip computer, an outside temperature gauge, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power windows, door locks and mirrors, a remote keyless entry system, and map and courtesy lights all standard, it's a complete package without any options).

Even though the Legacy is bigger now, it's lighter than the competition...handles better...and don't forget...it's a Subaru, so all-wheel drive is part of the deal.
And the power from the 2.5 liter engine (170 horsepower), teamed with a smooth 6-speed manual, is more than adequate.

That six-speed is a help for the fuel economy...the EPA says 19 city, 27 highway.

And the price?

Well, the price had me reminding myself to think Subaru for my next family sedan: $19,995.

Remember the deal about no options? That's right...apart from $695 delivery charge, $19,995 is the base and the bottom line. There's a Camry a few hundred bucks cheaper, but not as satisfying, and the least-expensive Accord is $21,055. That's compelling math for a car that no longer has to be explained. The Legacy has arrived.

Japanese TV viewers got this commerical, with Robert DeNiro at the wheel of the new Legacy:



UPDATE: I chose to repeat the above review because the base Subaru Legacy is just so darn good.  But recently, I had a week in the top-of-the-line 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited.  And it, too was a revelation...just for different reasons.

Regular TireKicker readers know that I believe you can too easily goop up a good car with add-ons and lose the basic flavor. But Subaru swings for the bleachers with the 3.6R Limited and hits a home run.

First of all, the engine....the 170 horses of the base car jumps to 256 in all three flavors of the R (R, R Premium and R Limited)...which puts the performance of the Legacy into another league entirely. The six-speed manual gets swapped for a five-speed automatic, but the extra power, the lack of a clutch and one fewer gear end up extracting the smallest penalty...18 city, 25 highway (as opposed to 19/27 for the base model).

And then, the creature comforts: Dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 440-watt Harmon Kardon 9-speaker audio system, leather-trimmed seats (including a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat and a 4-way power adjustable one for the front passenger)....all standard. In fact, the only option on our car was a power moonroof ($995)...running the base price of $28,295 to an as-tested (with $725 delivery charge) $30,015.

There are absolute bargains. The 2.5i is that. There's no other way to describe that much car for under $20,000.

And then there are bargains based on the comparison of content and price. And that's where, for a shade more than 8 grand more, the 3.6 R Limited earns its bargain status. Subaru has built a car that can run with a significantly pricier pack..and, as with the 2.5i, if it were my money...it would be an immediate contender.

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Fiat By Chrysler, Chrysler By Fiat

The five-year plan is coming into clearer focus and it looks....confusing.

Fiat's going to build a mid-size sedan in Italy. It will be sold mainly in America, replacing the Sebring. They'll also build a new compact Chrysler for the USA over there.

Meantime, Chrysler might build not one, but two SUVs for Alfa Romeo on American soil.

Automotive News (free registration required) has the game plan.

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Audi A4 Review

When you make a nearly perfect car, you take a big risk with any revisions.

That's the position Audi was in when it updated the A4 this year.

By and large, they did okay.

                            

Styling changes are so subtle that you almost have to park an '09 and a '10 next to each other to see them.

One place where I think they missed it was the new taillamp design. I can't put my finger on it, but it reminds me of a car from years back...and it's not a good memory.

Beyond that, though, the look is still classic Audi A4, with a hint more muscle. 

Under the hood, the 2.0 model I tested has 211 horsepower....not blistering, but more than adequate, mated to a six-speed Tiptronic transmission.

                           

One worry I have is with the new A4's interior. For more than a decade, Audi's not only had the best interiors in the business, but each new generation upped the ante. This time around, it was still very, very good...but the sense of advancement was gone. In fact, a couple of surfaces...especially around the audio system drives (CD and dual SD cards) felt a bit cheap...a lower-grade plastic. I hope I'm wrong or that Audi will correct it.

The base price remains reasonable for a premium compact sedan: $33,550...but options run up the tab fast.  Our tester had Deep Sea Blue Pearl Effect paint ($475), $3500 for the Premium Plus package (Xenon plus headlights, LED daytime runninglamps and taillamps, 17" 10-spoke alloy wheels and all-season tires, a Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, three-zone climate control, heated front seats, Homelink garage door opener, exterior chrome window trim, Audi Music Interface (which replaces the auxilary input) , driver information system with trip computer and a rain/light sensor.

But there's more. Throw in $2500 for the navigation package with camera (we wouldn't...cell phones have GPS), $400 for dark walnut wood inlays and $130 for exhaust tips. Factor in $825 for destination charges and you're at $41,830.

Not cheap. But (apart from that worrisome interior plastic), not a cheap car. Still one of my favorites.

EPA estimates: 21 city/27 highway.

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VIDEO: Audi Explains A7 Four-Door Hatchback As A "New Class" Of Car

Well, we'll give it this...it's a heck of a lot prettier than the upcoming BMW 3-series four-door fastback.

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Lexus LS600h Hybrid Review

The truth, although a lot of people don't know it, is that hybrids aren't really about saving money. Yes, gas mileage is usually better than a conventionally-powered version of the same vehicle, but on gas price alone, you'd have to drive that hybrid for about nine years in most cases to make up the price difference in gas savings.

No, hybrids are about saving the environment and making statements.

The Lexus LS600h Hybrid certainly aces that last part.

                     

Making statements is about getting noticed....and the big Lexus does that for you. The re-design of a couple of seasons ago turned the LS from the anonymous luxury car into a head-turner. It's not the shape...there's still a lot of "large Toyota Camry" in there...rather, it's in details that just scream "money". And the LS600h turns them up several notches.

Really, it has to. You see, you can buy the "base" LS,  the LS460, for $65,380.

The LS600h starts at $108,800.

Nope. Not a typo. $108,800...$42,620 more than the LS460.

Find the right dealer on a good day and you might be able to take two LS460s home for the price of one LS600h.

Now, you get the long-wheelbase, which would cost you five grand extra on a gas-powered LS....and the hybrid engine here packs 438 horsepower, compared to a mere 380 in the LS460.

That means 0-60 in 5.5 seconds....but wait! The lighter LS460 gets there in 5.4.

And here's the kicker: Buy the gas-powered model...and you'll get better gas mileage. At least on the highway. An LS460 is EPA rated at 16 city/24 highway. The LS600h is 20 city/22 highway. 

With that small a mileage difference and that big a cost difference, you won't live long enough to recover the extra money spent on gas savings.

                     

So why buy one? Because it's the ultimate Lexus LS. If that's what you're after....this is where you get it all, the finest materials, most-cutting edge options, extra engine power  (quiet about that 1/10th of a second slower to 60 part, okay?) and green status to boot (as long as no one thinks about it too carefully).

And that means you'll probably pop for the few available options as well. What's an extra $5280 for the rear power seat package and $2850 for the Lexus Pre-Collison System and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control?

Put that together with $875 for a delivery fee and you have, equipped like our tester, a grand total of:

$117,805. 

Plus tax and license, of course.

Greenpeace members with a Platinum card, your ride is ready.

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8 Vehicles You Probably Didn't Know You Could Still Buy New

 

Looking for a real bargain? Here are 8 cars dealers can't wait to get off their lots...because they aren't even being made anymore. One of them hasn't been in production since Fall 2007, but you can still find it, likely at a big discount.

From Automobile.

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Mazda 6 Touring Plus Review

Unconditional recommendations are hard to come by these days...especially about cars. But here's one:

If you're looking for a family sedan, you have to...absolutely have to...test drive the Mazda 6.

For years, people's defaults have been Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Both fine choices. But like the Subaru Legacy, the Mazda 6 seems to get left off the shopping list, and sales are a fraction of the Toyota or Honda.

They're missing out. Mazdas are much more involving...driver's cars...and as a bonus, they're usually a little bit less expensive besides.

Example: The Touring Plus model I tested for a week recently. 170 horsepower 4 cylinder engine that feels like a lot more since the 6 is light (for its class) and responsive. 17 inch wheels, moonroof, power drivers
seat, a 6-disc AM/FM/CD/mp3 system with 6 speakers and a bunch more...all standard for a base price of $23,750.

And the tester had only two options....California and New York emissions ($100) and satellite radio ($430). Total with delivery charges: $25,030. That's strong value for a very, very good car.

It's getting hard to pick a winner in this segment. There's something to recommend in Accord, Camry, Legacy, Altima, Fusion/Milan and Malibu. The 6 has earned a place in that pack.

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Hyundai Halts Sales of 2011 Sonata Over Door Lock Issues

Automotive News (you can register for free) reports that Hyundai is suspending sales of the just-introduced 2011 Sonata because front door lock modules can stick.

5,000 of the vehicles, which arrived in showrooms 2 weeks ago, are in the U.S. and so far, only about 1,300 in buyers' hands.

Parts will reach dealers beginning tomorrow and Hyundai says the sales halt will end as soon as repairs to models in stock are made.

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Volkswagen Golf Review

35 years ago, Volkswagen revolutionized the concept of the small car with the original Golf (sold here for many years as the Rabbit). The basic shape and proportions are still recognizable, but the changes have been evolutionary, and it's easy to write off each generation as not having changed that much from the one before.

Big mistake.

It's impossible to overstate the refinements the 2010 Golf brings to the game....the leap forward it represents from last year's model, and how much better it is than virtually everything in its size and price class.

                       

The first impression of change comes when you sit behind the wheel. VW has upped its game for the Golf's interior. Even in basic black rather than the contrasting tones shown above, it's a nicer place to do business...switchgear now more elegant, yet still purposeful and feeling built to last.

The 2.5 liter, 5-cylinder, 170 horsepower engine more than gets the job done, and returns an EPA estimated 23 miles per gallon city, 30 highway.

Our tester's base price was $17,490 and it had only three options (none of which I'd order): A 6-speed automatic transmission ($1,100), a power sunroof ($1,000) and a Cold Weather Package consisting of heated seats and washer nozzles ($225).  Bottom line, with $750 destination charge, is $20,565. But passing on those options and taking it straight would get the price down to $18,240.

Yes, you can get less expensive compact sedans from the U.S., Japan and especially Korea. But drive the Golf first and I'm betting you'll be justifying the additional outlay.

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Mazda 3 Sport Review

If we're all headed for compact cars (um...Mr. President, a follow-up question?), then this is the way to go.

Early and/or thorough TireKicker readers will remember I gave the last-gen Mazda 3 a glowing review in one of the first TireKicker posts. Every word still applies, but the 2010 Mazda 3 is a game-changer.

I get the same feeling from the new 3 that I got when I got behind the wheel of my 1984 Honda Civic...and I wasn't alone then. Jean Lindamood of Car and Driver (now Jean Jennings of Automobile) ended her review thusly:

"Damn, she's a fine one. Our orders are in."

It inspired me to take a test drive that led to a 14-year ownership of said Civic.

Well, I sat right down in the driver's seat of the new Mazda 3 4-door Sport and felt the same way. While Honda's gone too techno for its own good, the 2010 Mazda 3 keeps it simple and direct...everything is where it should be, falls easily to hand, performs its function and never...never...distracts the driver from...well, driving.

And yes, there's driving to be done in the 3. It almost feels like the Mazda engineers passed on the Corolla, Civic and Sentra and rustled up an old BMW 2002 tii to benchmark for handling and sheer fun to drive.

The incredibly low price of $18,740 gets you a 2.5 liter DOHC 16-valve four, a six-speed manual, dynamic stability control, traction control and and independent front and rear suspension.

17-inch alloy wheels come standard with the sport, as do supportive and comfortable cloth seats, an AM/FM/CD/WMA/MP3 audio system, bluetooth, air, power locks and windows and a bunch more.

The tester had Sirius Satellite Radio and the Moonroof/Bose package...which ups the audio ante to a 242 watt Bose Centerpoint 10-speaker audio system and an in-dash 6-CD changer...and a moonroof.

Total price, including destination charges; $21,235.

EPA estimates: 21 city/29 highway.

I would absolutely buy one if I were in the market. If you are, you owe yourself at least a test drive.

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Ford Taurus Review

If there's a feeling I hate as much as any other, it's being too late. Getting to the party after all the fun's been had.

When I was a kid, a big Ford, optioned properly, was a cool grownup's car (think red Galaxie 500 XL hardtop or convertible with knock-offs and a big V8...or better yet, just look at the picture above).

By the time I got my license (a mere decade later), big Fords were grandma's cars. In fact, the only person I knew who owned one was my friend Sara's grandma.



And from there, they devolved into service animals. If you've hailed a cab or been pulled over by the police in the last 25 years, odds are it was a big Ford Crown Victoria.

So what, you ask? Well, the Crown Vic is on its way out. Available only as a fleet vehicle now, it'll be unavailable, period in a year or less. And it's here that paths of opportunity cross.

Ford's been trying to rehabilitate the Taurus nameplate since Alan Mullaly took over a few years ago and ordered the well-built, competent but bland Five Hundred rebadged as a Taurus. Here's the chance. Make the Taurus a little bigger and a lot better, and there's a vehicle worthy of being considered Ford's flagship.

Fully cognizant of what happened to the last guy who said this out loud: Mission Acccomplished.

The 2010 Taurus is a surprise and a delight. Big, roomy, powerful, carefully assembled of higher quality materials than the Blue Oval has been known for in quite some time. Yes, Virginia, this is a Ford interior:



The tester I drove for a week was the top-of-the line SEL model (base price $27,170)...with a 3.5 liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. Loaded with the rapid spec package that includes SYNC, reverse sensors, ambient lighting and 19 inch wheels as well as a separate leather package, the sticker stopped at $31,890.

The EPA says 18 city/28 highway.

The only downer I could find is the agressively angled headrests...which hit me exactly at a point where I had to tilt my head down slightly in order to drive. If I were shorter or taller (I'm six feet even), it probably wouldn't be a problem, but still.

The Taurus is a triumph for Ford...the first truly relevant family sedan that company's made since the first Taurus in 1986...and the first desirable big grownup's car since...well, probably the '63.

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Lincoln MKZ Review

Refinement.

Sometimes that's all a car needs.

Three years ago, the Lincoln MKZ (briefly named "Zephyr") was a gussied-up Ford Fusion...not bad...but certainly not worth an extra ten grand above the Ford. For starters, it looked like a Fusion with a Lincoln grille slapped on. The interior had some Lincoln trim bits, but nothing truly unique.

Well, for 2010, Lincoln gets the message, and its customers get the goods. The MKZ looks, feels, drives and rides completely differently from the Fusion.

A 3.5 liter V6 is standard, as is a 6-speed automatic transmission. The MKZ rides on 17 inch wheels...with 18s optional (as on our tester).



As you can see, the interior is much more luxurious...and the designers have gone a long way toward hiding the common bits the MKZ and the Fusion share.

The test MKZ had a base price of $34,115. Options: The Ultimate Package (THX II sound system, power moonroof, Technology Package and Navigation Package) for $5,595, White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat Paint ($495) and the Sport Appearance Package (18" wheels, floor mats, interior aluminium trim, leather steering wheel and dual-zone A/C for $795).

Total price: $41,850 (including $850 destination and delivery charge).

And the experience was like driving a 3/4 scale MKS...not a bad thing at all.

Another plus: The EPA mileage estimates are 18 city/27 highway.

I'm not a big fan of re-badges (as someone who lived through the Lincoln Versailles, can you blame me?), but platform sharing is here to stay. It's nice to know there's a right way to do it and people who know how.

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Infiniti M35 Review

Picture Paul Newman and Robert Redford in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Fast-forward to the pursuit scene, where they're looking over their shoulders at the posse on their tail and wondering aloud:



That's the mental image I get every time Infiniti ups the ante with one of its sport sedans. Infiniti's the posse. BMW is Butch and/or Sundance.

For a car company that looked like odd man out 20 years ago as Lexus conquered luxury and Acura virtually invented near-luxury, these guys have put together one impressive mission statement:

Aim for the blue-and white propeller.

As with the G37 and its target, the 3-series, the M35 isn't quite a match for the 5-series...but the gap closes each time around. And if you're not obsessing about BMW the way Infiniti does, you may find this one wins your car-buying dollar (okay, 47,950 of them before options) on its own.

303 horsepower, 262 pounds per foot of torque. A 5-speed automatic with Drive Sport mode. 18-inch alloys. Dual exhausts with quad chrome finishers.

And while it's fairly dripping in tech (two different packages as options...the Technology Package and the Advanced Technology Package...were on this car, adding surround sound, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, intelligent cruise control, navigation with XM NavTraffic, voice recognition, rear view camera and a 9.3 gig hard drive for your music), it's nowhere near as obtrusive and overwhelming as the same pieces were in the FX 35 crossover. Perhaps its because the M35 has such a strong presence as a car before all the tech gets laid on.

Even with the as-tested sticker reading $54,915 and the EPA estimates far from stellar at 16 city/22 highway, I'd have a hard time talking myself out of recommending this to drivers looking for a strong, capable midsize sport sedan.

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Volkswagen Jetta TDI Review

A lifetime of exposure to noisy, smelly city buses and 18-wheelers (not to mention passenger cars of the 70s and 80s) has given diesel a bad reputation.

Time to shake that once and for all. And a great way to do that is with a drive in a Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

TDI is Volkswagen's clean diesel engine...a terrific marriage of ultra-low sulfur fuel and a technology that burns fuel so efficiently, there's very little waste.

Kneel down by the tailpipe of a running TDI and there's no diesel odor whatsoever.

The 140 horsepower made by the 2-liter four-cylinder engine isn't a world-beater, but diesels are all about torque...and the TDI makes 236 pounds per foot of it...it's a cliche, but it really does pull like a locomotive.



Inside, the Jetta TDI is all business, no frills...but not cheap or austere. Everything is logically placed, falls easily to hand, and moves with a solid, high-quality feel.

The big payoff here is mileage. The EPA says 29 city, 40 highway...and we managed 42 and a half in a week of 50/50 urban freeways and surface streets, which makes it as good as our real-world experience with both the new Honda Insight and the Mercury Milan Hybrid.

Where the Jetta TDI pulls ahead is in the value equation. $22,830 base price (our tester had a six-speed automatic for $1,100 and a sunroof for $1,000...which, after destination charges, put the bottom line at $25,640.) and diesel longevity...250,000 miles is equivalent to 100,000 miles or less in a gasoline engine. 400,000 miles or more is not uncommon.

It doesn't scream "hey, look at me, I'm saving the planet!" the way Toyota Priuses (Prii?) and Insights do...it just gets the job done...and there's a very good chance it will be doing that job a lot longer. The Jetta TDI earns its place not only on TireKicker's Top Ten Fuel Savers, but also on TireKicker's Top 20 Cars.

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Kia Forte Review

Imagine you're Toyota or Honda...secure in the knowledge that you build high-quality small cars, that even if you slip a bit, it will take a long time before the perception diminishes after 30 years of performance.

About three years ago, though, you see a tiny dot in your rearview mirror. Long way back...don't worry.

But the dot gets closer and bigger faster than you could imagine. Now it's on your bumper. If you're Toyota, recent recalls, controversies and suspension of production and sales could erase the narrowing lead.

The dot is the 2010 Kia Forte. Base price 2 grand lower than Corolla and Civic. Base horsepower higher. EPA mileage estimates a virtual draw.

But what puts Kia into tailgating territory is a quantum leap in exterior styling and interior quality. Kias have always been not quite there when it comes to the details. In the Forte, they're there. There's not a hint of cheapness or corners cut.

Victory? A new champ? Well, the Forte is certainly deserving of notice, but in terms of winning the hearts and minds of compact buyers, there's that perception issue we mentioned. It will take Kia a while to convince millions of compact car buyers that they have something to offer beyond price...and that "resale value" and "Kia" are not mutually exclusive terms.

Once that happens, though, watch out.

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Toyota Avalon Review

It's been a long time since Toyota included an Avalon in the press fleet. Not that I (or many other automotive journalists, most likely) noticed or missed it.

The Avalon has been out there for so long that even with updates and upgrades, it's settled into its own image...that of the Japanese Buick. Toyota made its money and reputation off Baby Boomers, but the Avalon has always seemed like the one they built for our parents.

Well, it's a good thing one finally made it into the press fleet, because if that ever was true, it's not now. Or it's become so good that it's overcome the generational thing. I'm not sure. But the Avalon is a nice ride...larger and roomier than the Camry, but not feeling overstuffed.

You can get the base model for $27,945, but the press car was a Limited...bumping the starting sticker up to $35,285. As you can imagine, that pretty much makes every desirable option standard (6-speed automatic, 18 inch alloy wheels, moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, a 360-watt JBL Synthesis audio system, memory seats and a whole lot more).

The only options on this one were a nav system ($2,000...and you know we'd never do that with our own money...not with TomToms and Garmins for a tenth of the price and most new cell phones coming with GPS apps), 8-way power front seats with adjustable heat settings ($300...maybe if we lived in a cold climate), and floor and trunk mats for $399.

Add the delivery charge and the bottom line is $38,534. Even blowing off the nav and heated seats, you're still over 36. My guess is the smart way would be to take the base model at just under 28 and be really picky with the options. At 32, maybe even 33, this would be tempting.

Five-star crash ratings, four-star rollover and EPA estimated 19 city/28 highway.

Want to see more? Here's the official video Toyota produced for the Avalon in '09:

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