Archive for the ‘SUV’ Category
First Drive: Ford Escape
April 30th, 2012 | 
Author: 
By Barbara Schaffer
Richmond, Calif. – Typically a year or two after a new vehicle is introduced, the sales peak and then decline until the next new model is introduced four to six years later. Evidently the Ford Escape didn’t get the message.
When Escape debuted in 2000 as a 2001 model sales were good and reached more than 164,000 during the first full year of production and then went on to average more than 185,000 units annually through 2010. During that time there was a minor freshening in 2007. Then in 2011, the year before the debut of an all-new model, Escape sold a record 254,293 to become the best-selling SUV in America. They definitely didn’t get the message. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Drive: 2013 Ford Escape Titanium AWD
“All-New 2013 Ford Escape: A Smarter SUV”
Saves Fuel, Money while providing new technologies
The Blue Oval team has come up with a better way to Escape – in the 2013 Escape. There will no longer be an Escape Hybrid, but the Escape stable will continue to offer three other fuel conscious models: an updated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, as well as a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and finally, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-banger.
Test Drive: 2013 Infiniti JX35 AWD
“Infiniti’s JX adds classy player to its utility team for 2013”
Infiniti just introduced the 2013 JX to their vehicle lineup. The JX is an all-new luxury crossover that was created to deliver inspired style, performance, roominess and innovative features, challenging the status quo in the segment. JX is a 7 passenger crossover with third row seating, an abundance of luxury, versatility and state-of-the-art advancements in technology.
Posted in Automotive Reviews, Infiniti, SUV | 
Tags: 2013. iveho, Arv, AWD, crossover, Infiniti JX, JX35, SUV, Voss | 
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Test Drive: Ford Explorer
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer
Once the icon of the SUV movement in the 1990s and early 2000s, the Ford Explorer dropped off the new car-buying map. A casualty of high fuel prices, the economic downturn and the environmental movement, Explorer was sent back to the drawing board.
Totally reinvented, the 2012 Ford Explorer has again moved to the forefront in the new age of SUVs – more economical, eco-responsible and better suited for today’s consumers.
“The all-new Explorer delivers exactly what today’s SUV buyers are looking for, combining the capability, convenience, performance and technologies they want with the fuel economy these times require,” said Bill Gubing, Ford chief program engineer. “Explorer adds refinement to redefine what a modern SUV can be.” Read the rest of this entry »
Ford Adds High Performance Explorer
Ford is adding its first-ever high performance version of the Ford Explorer SUV.
Taking advantage of the powerful and economical twin-turbocharged EcoBoost® V-6 engine, the new Ford Explorer Sport boasts 350 horsepower and four-wheel drive with a Terrain Management System™.
“Adding an EcoBoost drivetrain to Explorer Sport delivers even more fuel efficiency and performance to the lineup,” said Bill Gubing, Explorer chief engineer. “This is our highest- performance, most capable Ford Explorer ever.” Read the rest of this entry »
Test Drive: 2013 Acura RDX Tech AWD
“Acura’s RDX: Takes a new positive direction”
The entry level premium CUV segment is currently in a strong growth trend, so it’s only logical that Acura’s popular RDX CUV has taken on the position of going in a different direction in a an effort to capture an even bigger piece of the pie. Acura, Honda’s luxury division’s truck lineup consists of their flagship ZDX, followed by their highest volume luxury and performance MDX, and lastly, the sporty and youthful entry model, the RDX.
Test Drive: 2012 Acura RDX Tech SH-AWD
“Acura’s RDX Crossover continues as ‘Right-Sized’ SUV for 2012”
Since its introduction, Acura’s RDX has become one of the biggest players in the compact premium CUV market segment. For the 2012 model year, the RDX continues to evolve, still offering two drivetrains: a Two-Wheel Drive model for those consumers who have no need for Four-Wheel Drive, and a Super-Handling AWD model. The 2012 RDX manages to retain its core features which include: aggressive, modernistic styling cues; a sporty driving dynamic and intuitive technology in an efficient and more personally sized compact package, while displaying Acura’s bold signature grille, along with, integrated fog lights, futuristic headlight and taillight treatments, Black and Satin trim garnishes, aggressive alloy wheel designs and sporty, bright exhaust finishers.
Test Drive: 2013 Ford Flex Limited AWD
“Ford Flex for 2013: More to love”
If you happened to be a fan of the first iteration Ford Flex, then you’ll likely be an even bigger fan of the 2013 model, because there’s simply more to love. First off, both the front and rear styling display a bold new look, making the overall appeal of the vehicle even more alluring. The new 7 passenger Flex not only serves up a more captivating styling, it brings to the table a higher level of consumer oriented technology and improved fuel economy, but it delivers modern sophistication as well.
Test Drive: Honda CR-V
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer
In the world of compact sport utility vehicles, the Honda CR-V has been one of a handful of vehicles that have earned their place as icons of the category because they best fill the needs of the shoppers. As we see it, the group would include smaller SUVs like the Toyota RAV-4, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape, Kia Sportage and perhaps a few others. However, by the numbers, the previous generation CR-V was the bestselling compact SUV from 2007 through 2010, before the market got weird.
The CR-V leadership position came from class innovation, reasonable performance, good styling and an overall solid product. To improve on those characteristics, the fourth generation, which started rolling into Honda dealerships recently, was challenged to show significant improvements in order to maintain its position in the pack. That’s a tall order, especially with the advancements we’ve seen from many of the competitors. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Drive: Toyota Highland Hybrid
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer
Hybrids have been around for more than a dozen years now, but we’ve never taken one on a road trip, so we thought it was about time. With a possibility of snow and ice along our intended route, we decided it would be best to try a hybrid that offered four-wheel drive capabilities, too.
Enter the Toyota Highland Hybrid. First introduced to the U.S. market in 2001, the Highland, which is based on a unibody frame derived from the Camry, became an instant success, especially with families. In 2005, the Highlander was “hybridized” making it the world’s first seven-passenger hybrid SUV.
Our Highland Hybrid road trip took us from Portland, Oregon, south on Interstate 5 to central California and then to the Monterey Bay area, where our grandchildren are located. The route is not the most exciting, but it’s typical of what a family might drive. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the roads were all clear and dry, so our only tests were drivability, comfort and fuel economy along with a hands-on demonstration of how a hybrid excels in stop and go traffic. Read the rest of this entry »