Nik J Miles

Archive for February, 2010

Consumer Report magazine announced its Top picks for 2010, and the list includes six new models.

Consumer Reports’ Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories and must meet the non-profit organization’s stringent road test, reliability, and safety requirements. Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among the more than 280 vehicles Consumer Reports recently evaluated at its Auto Test Center; has average or better predicted reliability (based on the problems subscribers reported on more than 1.4 million vehicles in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Survey), and performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or insurance industry. In addition, each model must offer electronic stability control (ESC), a proven lifesaving safety feature as standard equipment or as a readily available option. All of this year’s Top Picks provide standard ESC and curtain air bags. Read the rest of this entry »

We get spoiled driving 150 new vehicles a year, most of which are top of the line models loaded with the options.  I’m sure the manufacturers justify providing well equipped models so we can try the options making it easier to write about them.

When the 2010 Nissan Versa 1.6 sedan arrived, it was at the other end of the spectrum, you might say it was a ‘vice Versa’.  Our test car had crank windows, manual locks and manual mirrors.  There was no remote switch to get into the trunk, no keyless entry and there wasn’t even a radio or CD player or satellite radio.  It was back to basics and without a radio, we had to think about things to talk about. Read the rest of this entry »

She – Okay, I was a little embarrassed when He picked me up at the airport in white van emblazoned  with “Ford Transit Connect… 22/25 mpg…1600 lbs. Payload…135 Cubic Feet Volume…Low Load Floor” and a large Ford logo, not to mention the www.fordvehicles.com/transitconnect web address.

It was as if He had become a Ford dealer while I was in California visiting grandkids for a few days.

He opened the passenger door for me and I sat into a comfortable truck-like cockpit with one of those heavy-duty screens mounted right behind the seats.  I wasn’t sure if the screen was to protect me from flying objects if he slammed on the brakes or to hold something captive back there.  He slid open the curbside door and set my bags into the rear area, came around and we headed toward home advertising “1600 lbs. Payload”.

He – When I first saw the Ford Transit Connect a couple of years ago at the Chicago Auto Show, my mind was flooded with the possible applications.  I had been impressed by the Dodge Sprinter van, but it’s sooo big, it was overkill for most businesses.  The Transit, however, had that just right size and should be perfect for millions (or at least hundreds of thousands) of small business that need a reasonably sized vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »

San Diego – European sport sedans should watch their rear view mirrors closely because there is another Infiniti pulling into the passing lane.

Graphically expressed by sweeping brush stokes, the new 2011 Infiniti M styling is a translation of organic lines to sculpted steel.  From the complex face with the trademark Infiniti grille and raised fenders that extend back to the rear fascia, the lines are distinctive and elegant. Read the rest of this entry »

Lexus pioneered the luxury crossover category in 1998, introducing the RX 300 as an alternative to the SUVs that were riding high at the time.  The RX was an instant success with more than one million worldwide.

In 2005, they expanded the RX lineup pioneering again, with the first luxury hybrid crossover, the RX 400h.  For 2010, the second-generation crossover hybrid, the RX 450h, redefines that category with a new level of luxury and economy. Read the rest of this entry »

Too bad Honda used the slogan “We make it simple”, because it’s perfect for the Suzuki SX4.  From the time you walk up to this little five-door, open the door and slide behind the wheel it’s obvious this car is simple.  And, that’s a good ‘simple’.

The simplicity covers everything from the styling, to ease of operation.  With its tall design, ingress and egress is simple with lots of headroom and seats that are at the height of a normal chair.  Once inside, the comfortable front seats wrap around your body, there is plenty of headroom and even quite good legroom.  The same goes for the rear seat, as long as the front seats are not pushed all the way back.  Seating is designed for five, but anyone much larger than a size 0 supermodel will be squished in the middle of the back seat.  Plus, everyone but the supermodel has a neat spot in the door for a cream soda. Read the rest of this entry »

She – The Ford Taurus SHO will likely get a mixed reaction from consumers.  The SHO is a very big sedan, about the same size and weight as cars like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Chrysler 300, and at that size, it goes against the ‘smaller is better’ attitude that seems to be the recent trend with new cars.

On the other hand, the SHO has a new level of performance, handling and agility for people like my husband who insists on pushing the limits.  However, the SHO gets much better fuel economy than we normally expect from a car with these attributes.  For people like me, it’s a winner with its comfortable quiet ride.

He – At a time when the automotive tsunami has smaller cars and crossovers riding on the crest, it seemed risky for Ford to be rolling out a big, fast high performance sedan like the Taurus SHO.  On the other hand, SHO might have been a stroke of marketing genius from the company that has become a leader in product innovation. Read the rest of this entry »

She – Over the years, the Toyota 4Runner has developed a well-deserved reputation for being a rugged and versatile off-road SUV.  This reputation has carried forward with the model through generations with the traditional improvements that customers expect.

For 2010, 4Runner has made even more advancements to bring the fifth generation to the pinnacle for the category.  The latest version is taller, wider, longer and more powerful.

He – You can’t make something bigger and better without more power and of course, this runs contrary to the industry trend to improve fuel economy.  So Toyota did both.  First, they dropped the 260-hp V-8 engine.  Then they developed a new version of the 4.0-liter V-6, taking the horsepower from 236 up to 270.  The new engine fuel economy was improved significantly to 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.  We averaged 19.6 mpg during the week we drove the SR5.  On-road acceleration is down slightly to 7.8 seconds for the 0 to 60 mph run. Read the rest of this entry »

He – As a person who always wants more horsepower, I suppose I should be bemoaning the loss of the 265-hp, 3.2-liter V-6 engine in the Audi A4, but I am not.  In the new world order of smaller is better, Audi planners had the wisdom to drop the V-6 engine from the compact size A4 and just offer it with 211-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

Actually, the Audi A4 sedan with that engine, quattro all-wheel drive and the six-speed Tiptronic transmission is just about my favorite real world combination.  I say real world, because in an “if you could have any car you want” exercise, the Audi S4 with the 333-hp supercharged V-6 and quattro would get my enthusiastic nod.

She – As the practical member of this family, I agree with the four-cylinder version, too, but not simply because it is more economical.  I also Iove driving this car.  It is exciting to press down on the accelerator to merge quickly into traffic or pass a car on a two-lane road and have the car leap into action.

Okay, my frugal nature likes the better fuel economy, too. Read the rest of this entry »

Just as we have all watched someone develop over the years from a gangly child into a mature adult, the same thing has happen to the Honda Civic.  After 38 years and eight generations, the Civic has gone from basic transportation into a mature world-class line of cars.  We say line of cars because when you buy a Civic now, there are 41 choices including two body styles, six trim levels and three types of powertrains. Read the rest of this entry »