First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
After decades of low expectations for affordable compact sedans, the market for plain, stripped-down products is simply withering away. Shoppers might be happy with a small car, but with a new generation and more tech-savvy comes less of a willingness to skimp on everything else.
And for some of the best evidence of this market change, there's no better place to look than to Detroit and Dearborn, where GM and Ford, this year and next, are readying a new generation of small cars. And these world-designed, U.S.-built mainstream 'C-segment' offerings—the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and the 2012 Ford Focus—are no longer going to be followers. They're both looking like they'll suddenly be some of the best offerings on the market.
While the verdict is still out on the Focus, we've just returned from our first official drive in the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, and we can say that Toyota had better watch out. If GM can get shoppers into Chevy dealerships for a test drive, by golly it's going to leave them positively gobsmacked.
The exterior is perhaps the weakest part of the Cruze presentation. There's nothing awkward or hideous about it; it's just plain and comes across as conservative from most angles. Some might like it as the design makes no pretense; there's no overwrought combination of creases and curves; just nice, soft surfaces, an arched roofline, a traditional three-box sedan profile, and a front and rear appearance that's clearly derived from the larger Malibu.
Positive influences inside
Inside, the exterior makes more sense (it affords lots of room), and we really liked how the beltline wasn't ridiculously high; it leaves enough of a greenhouse to enable a good view all around—and not instill a sense of claustrophobia to shorter occupants. The design of the interior has a little more of a wraparound cockpit feel than you'd expect from a basic sedan and, if you squint just a little bit, bears something in common—particularly in the design of the center stack—with the Cadillac CTS and SRX. Looking a bit closer, you might see similarities both to current and former Saab models and to the new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, particularly in the way the audio controls are laid out. The steering wheel, too, has a thick feel and nice tactile audio controls.
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2011 Nissan Rogue: Refreshed Appearance, Higher MPG
A sharpened exterior, interior upgrades, and improved fuel economy are just a few of the improvements Nissan has announced for a modestly revamped 2011 version of its Rogue compact crossover.
The 2011 Nissan Rogue will be shown to the public for the first time at the 23rd Annual International Z Car Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and while it's clearly just a minor, mid-cycle refresh it should be distinguishable from any 2010s that remain on the lot.
All Rogue models for 2011 get a significantly different exterior, with new front fascia and grille plus chrome door molding and accents, along with new front and rear spoilers, among other new chrome details. Returning for 2011 will be the stylish Rogue S Krom Edition, which gets special 18-inch wheels, a center-exit sport-tuned exhaust, a unique grille and bumper with fog lamps, and other styling tweaks.
The Rogue remains powered only by a 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and Xtronic CVT automatic, and includes four-wheel disc brakes in all models. Nissan has eked one more mile per gallon out of both the front-wheel-drive Rogue (highway) and AWD Rogue (city), to yield 22/28 mpg with FWD or 22/26 with AWD.
The 2011 Rogue is now offered in S and SV trims, as opposed to S and SL last year—aligning it more closely with the trims that have been used on Nissan's sportier models, like the Maxima—and its options list has been reconfigured. The new SV model includes many of the features of last year's SL at what sounds like a lower price point. Standard highlights include a power driver's seat with lumbar support; Bluetooth hands-free; and Intelligent Key entry. A nav system, xenon headlamps, rearview monitor, and XM satellite radio remain on the options list.
In our full review of the 2010 Nissan Rogue, we laud its smooth ride, impressive interior, maneuverability, and appearance, but find issue with its outward visibility, narrow backseat, and lack of driving excitement, largely due to the rubber-band-like response brought by the CVT.
Stay tuned for a follow-up drive post and updated full review covering the 2011 Nissan Rogue.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Driven: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost
Among models that go out on the edge with respect to design, there are those that are obviously a little too forced, and others for which the whole package just feels cohesive and complete. The 2010 Ford Flex is one of the latter; its boxy look and bold details might just match to your practical and fashionable needs, and the new EcoBoost turbo engine finally gives it a sprightly feel without bumping fuel economy close to the single digits.
This boxy brick of a vehicle is, for all practical purposes, the modern interpretation of the Volvo 245 wagon—crossed with some decidedly racy, stylish elements. There's a bit of MINI Clubman, with a hint of Ranger Rover Sport as well.
With a nice, upright seating position and lots of headroom, combined with an 'H point' (where your hips sit) that's a tiny bit higher than that of a car but not as high as in a true SUV, the Flex offers the best of both worlds with respect to packaging, with a good view out but none of the too-tall, tipsy feeling. The driving position itself feels sedan-like, and it's refreshing to know where the corners of the vehicle are when maneuvering around a parking lot. About the only detail we'd change on the inside would be the center-stack design; the sound-system and climate control dials were easy to mistake for each other, and the dot-matrix-like display of our non-nav-equipped car looks dated.
EcoBoost adds a friskier feel without sapping mileage
The EcoBoost 3.5-liter turbocharged V-6 engine in our Flex made it feel like a different, far more responsive vehicle than with the naturally aspirated V-6, with no noticeable decrease in fuel economy. The engine makes 355 hp and 350 pound-feet of torque, and you can feel plenty of accessible torque coming on from just above 1,500 rpm or so. The transmission smartly works with the engine to shift up if you can take advantage of the more economical range, yet it downshifts promptly, two or three gears, when needed for passing.
The Flex's powertrain will only reward you with excellent mileage if you drive it gently. Over the first 30 or 40 miles of driving, in town, our mileage languished under the 16-mpg mark, according to the trip computer. All considering, however, that isn't horrible; had Ford decided to put a V-8 with that level of output into the Flex, we doubt it would have returned more than 13 or 14 in real-world city driving. But then over a full week and about 400 miles of driving—including a weekend trip on the Interstate and two-lane country roads—the numbers were more impressive: We averaged about 21 mpg, coming close to match the 22-mpg highway rating overall. Also impressive is that Ford has no requirement for premium fuel with this engine (although it's recommended for peak power and we did gas it up with 91-octane).
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Trends: Fewer Teens Buying Cars, Younger Motorists Driving Less
It's the peak of summer-job season. And while in the past savings from teens' summer jobs used to often go towards buying a first used car, today it's more likely to go be used for a smartphone, and young drivers are more likely to share the family car—a safer option, anyway—or stay out of the driver's seat altogether.
Either in an indication about how few paying entry-level jobs we have today, or in an indication that teens simply aren't placing their priorities on cars anymore, the used-car market for teenagers has dramatically shrunk over the past several years. According to CNW Research it's fallen from 7.5 million to 4.2 million in just five years; and overall, just 10.9 percent of all used cars go to teens today, versus 17.4 five years ago.
Employment is attributed as one of the major reasons for the difference. Teen unemployment, in terms of those who have worked part- or full-time in the past year, is more than double that of 2005.
And while driving used to be the single most important symbol of independence for teens, many 16- or 17-years olds don't seem to mind forgoing the license restrictions some states put on young drivers and simply wait until 18.
Illinois, for instance, noticed that—as the state's population of teens increased—the number of 16-year-olds with licenses dropped significantly from 2006 to 2009. Admittedly, the state had phased in a tougher graduated licensing system during that time.
But with fewer teens getting their licenses at 16, when fatality rates are particularly high, there are simply more 16-year-olds staying alive.
Then of course there's the question of whether Gen Y drivers, and especially Millenials and those under 30, are eschewing the automotive lifestyle altogether.
All this while, as we reported a few months ago, the number of older drivers is expanding, but they're getting safer.
As Advertising Age reported, the share of miles traveled by those age 21 to 30 fell during a time when the proportion of people in that age group has risen. Overall, since 1995, the decline in miles driven by those age 21 to 30 is a shocking 7.7 percent.
Some experts say that it's a product of the Internet era and e-commerce; others point to attitudes toward the environment. Whatever the case, it's a trend on which marketers are no doubt keeping a close watch.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Report: 2010 Mercedes S-Class, Audi, VW Are Tops In Desirability
For the fifth time in the last six years, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was named the most desirable model in the entire industry.
That's according to the annual Total Quality Index (TQI) report compiled by the market-research firm Strategic Vision. The 2010 Volkswagen Golf, GTI, and Tiguan are all at the top of their segments in this year's results, announced this week, as are the Audi A5, Q5, and Q7.
Other high-ranking vehicles in TQI include the Toyota 4Runner, though it was the only top-ranked vehicle from Toyota or Lexus this year. Meanwhile Honda had several top-performers, with the Ridgeline, Odyssey, and Civic Coupe all at the top of their respective segments.
Dr. Darrel Edwards, the founder and chairman of Strategic Vision, pointed out that Volkswagen in particular has found such a loyal following by providing the vehicle experience that customers love. "While VoA [Volkswagen of America] may lag on ranked measures of initial quality, the experience with the vehicles is creating a sound customer base," he said in a release accompanying the results.
Strategic Vision argues that love/desire (as measured by the TQI) and quality (as measured by other metrics) are independent factors. "Simply counting how many problems a vehicle has or design characteristics that buyers do not find completely satisfying or 'excellent,' is inadequate when determining why people spend tent of thousands of dollars on a new vehicle," said Edwards, in a release accompanying the results. "It over-simplifies customers' processes, characterizing them as simple, non-feeling drones."
In the study's bow to traditional metrics, looking at "Things Gone Wrong" per 100 vehicles, GM posted one of the most significant improvements, especially with the Buick brand.
TQI is relevant in pointing out how well the company is doing in delivering the products that customers want—and, in turn, succeeding in the market—the firm argues. It points out that Ford's sales successes over the past couple of years came as no surprise; the brand performed strongly in the TQI back in 2007, managed to regain traction in the U.S. market through high levels of workmanship, exterior styling, and performance. Through those qualities in its products, it built brand equity and strengthened its image of quality at a time when the domestic brands were getting lots of bad press.
Cars with a high TQI score also have stronger youth appeal, Strategic Vision assesses. The average TQI score for vehicles purchased by those 29 and younger were over ten points higher than for older age groups.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Feds: 55 Models For 2011 To Be Tested For Revamped 5-Star Ratings
For safety-conscious car shoppers, it's been more than a little daunting over the past couple of model years to tell the difference between the safest models on the market and those that are merely good.
Every automaker, it seems, has a five-star rating to boast about, and almost every vehicle, it seems, offers the claim of "class leading safety" in ads.
With the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) having tightened its requirements to be a Top Safety Pick for 2010, and now the federal government introducing a new side-pole test and tougher 5-star rating system for 2011, it will at last be much easier to tell the vehicles that offer exceptionally good occupant protection from those that don't.
In recent years, some have called the federal tests useless at first glance, as in some classes nearly all of the models have received top five-star results. Very few have received three stars or less over the past several model years.
With the recalibration, NHTSA says that three-star vehicles will again provide average or close to average injury protection compared to other vehicles of the same model year.
As before, side and rollover tests will be comparable across all types of vehicles, but because the vehicle's weight is a factor in the frontal test, it can only be compared in that category between vehicles that are plus or minus 250 pounds of each other.
The new ratings will include an overall score that combines the results of frontal crash tests, side tests, and rollover tests, and displayed in a new format on NHTSA's SaferCar.gov information portal. While the frontal tests haven't been significantly changed, a completely new side pole test has been introduced, to simulate a single-vehicle impact with a utility pole or tree (one of the deadliest types of accidents).
In addition, the agency will now also summarize pertinent "advanced technology information," which includes electronic stability control, forward collision warning systems, and lane departure warning systems.
"This new testing program significantly raises the safety bar for all vehicle manufacturers and will provide consumers with a great deal more safety information about the cars and trucks they want to buy," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a release.
Shoppers won't be able to compare scores given by the new system with those of the old one, so this year NHTSA plans to test more vehicles than usual—55 models in all.
Click to the next page to see the complete list of 2011 model-year vehicles to be tested.
For Repairs, Maintenance, GM Dealerships Take A Cue From Wal-Mart
If you get great service, and a consistently low price that competes with independent repair shops or franchised service centers, would you return to the dealership to get your older, higher-mileage vehicle maintained or repaired?
GM is hoping so; to help drum up more business on the service side, GM Goodwrench dealers for Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet are introducing "Everyday Value Pricing."
In what sounds an awful lot to us like the "Every Day Low Prices" campaign from Wal-Mart, they claim to "meet or beat other service centers." The strategy certainly worked for the retailing giant, and GM dealerships could use some help in getting word out that they aren't always that much more expensive, if at all.
No doubt, many owners today are keeping their cars much longer, yet dealership service departments aren't benefiting from this the way they should. Most dealerships typically don't see a new vehicle after the factory warranty expires, let alone after the first maintenance visit or two, and lower new-car sales the past couple of years has left many new-car dealership service departments hurting for business.
A number of surveys have found greater satisfaction with independent shops, compared either to dealerships or to franchised centers.
In Consumer Reports' annual survey, encompassing more than 159,000 repairs over 12 months and more than 373,000 maintenance experiences, it found that car owners tend to be more satisfied with the repairs done by independent shops, yet dealerships have closed the gap.
Dealerships appear to have closed the gap with respect to maintenance, but not with respect to repairs. Overall, 84 percent were very satisfied with independents, but 78 percent with dealerships. But looking only at repairs, Consumer Reports found that there's more of a gap and those figures are 74 percent and 59 percent, respectively.
Given the much higher labor rate typically charged at dealerships, that's not surprising. With dealer rates in the vicinity of $90 to $120 per hour and some independents willing to charge half the higher figure, the bottom-line differences rack up quickly.
GM's dealerships have done quite well in dealer maintenance service satisfaction, with Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet all placing in the top ten. For repairs, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC dealerships placed mid-pack, with the largest gap between dealer and independent repair satisfaction indicated by GMC owners.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2010-2011 Jaguar XK, XF To Be Recalled For Stalling Issue
More than 5,000 late-model Jaguar vehicles are being recalled for an issue that might cause the 5.0-liter V-8 engine to stall with little or no warning.
In certain Jaguar XK Coupes or Convertibles from the 2010 or 2011 model years, or in 2010 Jaguar XF models, the fuel pump and fuel pump relay may fail to operate as they should after a restart, leading the engine to stumble, then stall.
The problem, which is considered a safety issue, and thus reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), doesn't appear to be linked with any mechanical failure. To remedy the problem, dealers will perform a simple software upgrade.
Such issues are very unusual for Jaguar in recent years. The brand has a greatly improved reputation for reliability and trouble-free ownership and has continued to do well on most well-respected metrics of quality and satisfaction. Just last month Jaguar placed second among overall brands in J.D. Power's annual APEAL study.
The issue, which we noted through a weekly summary from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, was reported by the automaker on July 21.
According to the official NHTSA brief, the recall will begin by August 30, and any owners with questions should contact Jaguar at 800-452-4827.
[NHTSA]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
GM Unveils Chevrolet Caprice PPV: The New Face Of Patrol Cars
Chronic speeders, it's going to take a little retraining. As the Crown Vic-based Ford Police Inetrceptor begins to fade away, GM has unveiled official details and specs for the Chevy Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV).
The 2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV is closely related to the Pontiac G8 and takes advantage of that short-lived model's performance tuning; and just like the G8, the model will be built in Australia and heavily based on the Aussie-market Holden Commodore SS.
Essentially as covered last week by our companion site Motor Authority—when someone tipped off GMInsideNews with a pdf link to a full technical manual on the PPV, before the rest of that site had gone live—the PPV will be offered in separate Detective Package and Police Package guise, with the detective version available in October and the other to start in January.
What matters to patrolling officers (and to those who try to run), is that there's a strong 6.0-liter V-8 engine under the hood, making 355 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. With the six-speed automatic transmission, which has a calibration for high-performance driving, the dash to 60 mph takes less than six seconds, and GM promises a "best-in-class top speed." The package includes a 160-mph speedo, and there's an included "Trap Speed" feature for pacing other vehicles.
To contrast, the Dodge Charger police edition comes with a 368-hp version of the Hemi V-8 and is now used by a number of highway patrols in place of the Ford Interceptor. GM has also in recent years been offering special fleet versions of the Impala for police duty, though most of these models have seen more relaxed patrol duty in residential areas.
Beginning in 2012, a lower-priced V-6 model of the Caprice will also be offered.
GM's StabiliTrak stability control system is also provided for an extra layer of safety, as are front-seat head-curtain airbags. Rear-seat curtain-type airbags are available.
Otherwise, the police version comes with all the expected available items such as blacked-out steel wheels, vinyl seating, a vinyl floor, and an auxiliary battery.
In the meantime, take a look at these pictures, and keep watch on the horizon.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2011 Ford Explorer: New Niche Approach Fits The Times
In some respects, the Ford Explorer nameplate is one lost in a particular time, when reality shows were fresh and new, Brittany Spears was just not that innocent, and gasoline prices were reliably under two dollars a gallon. Ten years ago, Ford [NYSE:F] sold a dizzying 450,000 Explorer SUVs, and for a few years, the Explorer was the family wagon of suburban, middle-class America.
But due to a combination of influences—the much-publicized Ford-Firestone tire recall, a migration toward crossover utility vehicles, and simply the passing wave of fashion—Ford wasn't able to hold on to many Explorer owners for a repeat sale and the numbers plummeted.
Last year's sales? A measly 52,000.
The Dearborn automaker clearly couldn't just walk away from such a successful nameplate. But fortunately, they recognized that few people want to go all retro like it's 1999 quite yet.
With the new 2011 Ford Explorer introduced today, Ford has taken a step in a new direction with what, arguably, used to be its flagship vehicle in the U.S. This time a modern, passenger-friendly three-row design, combining some of the best attributes of newer crossover designs, Ford's industry-leading connectivity features, and some of the ruggedness of a traditional SUV—including a Range Rover-like terrain system—the automaker hopes to appeal to a practical crowd that's looking for something a little different this time.
