2012 Mazda 5 : Overview

2012 Mazda 5 
All-new, redesigned, new engines, low price.
 
By Jim McCraw

Overview

The 2012 Mazda 5 is an all-new model. For 2012, Mazda 5 has been redesigned inside and especially outside, where it uses Mazda's Nagare, or flow in nature, design, the first Mazda to be designed using this philosophy.

The Mazda 5, a small, six-seat, front-wheel-drive minivan, currently resides in a class of one, since no other manufacturer offers a minivan in this size class (although the Ford C-Max will be coming along later in the 2012 model year). For comparison purposes, Mazda uses the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4, which are not true minivans, since they don't use sliding doors as the Mazda 5 does, and are generally $2400-$2800 more expensive.

Using the patented Mazda upside-down pentagon grille up front and the Nagare or flowing design up over the front fenders and down the sides, the 2012 Mazda 5 has been made to look much, much bolder and sportier than its predecessor, without the slab-sided approach usually reserved for minivan bodies. The body has been reshaped with sculpted sheetmetal, a severely laid-back windshield, with a rear roof spoiler on the Grand Touring version. The body has a remarkably low coefficient of drag for a minivan, 0.30, which helps with wind noise.

The new grille, hood, fenders, lamps, bumper and air intakes up front complement new body-colored door handles and mirrors, new taillamps, a mechanically operated liftgate, and new 16- and 17-inch wheels. Underneath, there's a redone suspension that takes a lot of the body roll of the previous model out, and an improved disc/drum braking system.

Under the hood, there is a single engine choice, the same 2.5-liter double-overhead-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine that powers the Mazda 3, with variable valve timing to give it low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower. The engine is rated at a modest 157 horsepower and 163 foot-pounds of torque, five horsepower and 15 foot-pounds more than the previous 2.3-liter engine provided, and one more mile per gallon on the highway than the 2.3.

The interior layout of the new Mazda 5 is unusual in that it provides three rows of two seats each, with bucket seats in front, so-called captain's chairs in the second row, and a split folding bench seat in the third row, where the smaller kids and dogs will reside. All the seats have been redesigned to offer more long-trip comfort and durability.

But this is an economy minivan with a starting price under $20,000, so there is no blind-spot warning system, adaptive cruise control, or any of the other higher-priced safety gear. Nor is a built-in navigation system available, since Mazda believes most young family buyers will opt for a portable Garmin, Magellan or other stick-on system.

The Mazda 5 was last offered as a 2010 model. There was no 2011 model, in preparation for this all-new 2012 second-generation Mazda 5.

Model Lineup

The 2012 Mazda 5 comes in Sport ($19,195), Touring ($21,195), and Grand Touring ($23,875) versions. Mazda 5 Sport comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, which Mazda expects to be only about five percent of sales, with an optional automatic transmission ($1000). The other two models are automatic only.

The Touring version adds 17-inch alloy wheels and tires, body rocker panels, some leather appointments, fog lamps, seat coverings with contrasting piping, a rear roof spoiler, a multi-functional leather steering wheel, trip computer, a six-speaker sound system with Bluetooth, a CD changer, MP3 capability and an AUX plug. Unfortunately, the Mazda 5 is not iPod-friendly.

The Grand Touring version adds leather heated seats, xenon HID lamps, rain-sensing wipers, a 6CD changer, Sirius satellite radio, automatic lamps, heated mirrors, driver lumbar support, and a theft alarm system.

Options include a moonroof and audio package ($1140); white pearl paint ($200); 6CD changer for Sport and Touring models ($525); cargo net ($40); auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and Homelink ($295).

Safety equipment on the Mazda 5 includes front, side and three-row roof curtain air bags, and ABS disc brakes with both EBD and Brake Assist, traction control, tire pressure monitoring system and dynamic stability control.

*newcartestdrive.com

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2011 Mitsubishi Lancer : Overview

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 
Affordable compact to Evo, all of them good.
By Sam Moses
Overview

If it's a compact car you're looking for, the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer will have your head spinning at nine enticing models. The Lancer is a clean and lovely car, even with its fish face. Some see a shark mouth, and say the Lancer is lovely because of it, not despite it. Its good looks give it distinction in its field. Its good engines give it value.

All 2011 Lancers have anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control standard, along with seven airbags, the latest being driver's knee.

The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer lineup starts with the $14,995 Lancer DE, not quite bare bones because it's got power doors and windows, keyless entry and auto halogen headlamps, but lacks air conditioning, 60/40 folding rear seat, and cruise control. But it's got the same good 2.0-liter engine with variable valve timing making 148 horsepower. Driving gets more civilized with the Lancer ES with air conditioning and better seats, front and rear.

New for 2011 is the Lancer ES Sportback, a smooth-looking 5-door that made its debut on the 2010 Lancer Ralliart. Fuel economy for the Lancer ES is an EPA-estimated 25/32 mpg City/Highway. We found the Lancer ES offers decent steering response and tracks well through corners, with no excessive body lean.

The Lancer GTS climbs the ladder with its 2.4-liter engine, a gem of a powerplant coupled with a sweet 5-speed gearbox or 6-step CVT with paddle shifters (23/30 mpg). We tested the Lancer GTS Sportback version complete with front air dam and rear spoiler, our test car with a 5-speed, looking sleek in Graphite Gray Pearl and beautiful 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels. The GTS is a compelling value for its good looks, enjoyable driving characteristics, affordable pricing, and fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 24/31 mpg City/Highway. If you don't need all-wheel drive or turbocharged acceleration, the GTS is the one, especially in the new Sportback body style with a great cargo area.

The all-wheel-drive Lancer Ralliart moves into high-performance land with an intercooled and turbocharged 2.0-liter engine making 237 horsepower, and showcasing Mitsubishi's racy 6-speed twin-clutch automated manual transmission. Sedan or Sportback, flared fenders, hood scoop, vents like shark gills, optional Recaro seats. The fishface gets a chrome ring, like silver lipstick on a largemouth bass.

The Lancer Evolution, the Evo, pumps out 291 horsepower. Shapely sedan only, with 5-speed GSR model, or with 6-speed twin clutch MS, which adds Bilstein shocks and lighter brake rotors. Have fun at the track, your car is ready.

Model Lineup

The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer DE ($14,995) comes with cloth upholstery, AM/FM/CD/MP3 with four speakers, power doors and windows, halogen headlamps. Air conditioning is optional. (All New Car Test Drive prices are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices, which do not include destination charge and may change at any time without notice.)

Lancer ES ($16,395) and ES Sportback ($16,795) come with a 5-speed gearbox or 6-step CVT with paddle shifters ($900). Standard equipment includes premium fabric upholstery, air conditioning, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, power door locks with keyless remote, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear stabilizer bar, six-way adjustable driver seat, 60/40-split folding rear seatback with folding center armrest, front map lights, floor mats, the auto-up driver-side window, silver interior accents, body-color outside mirror housings and door handles, anti-theft security alarm and pre-wired Bluetooth. ES options include a power sunroof and 710-watt, nine-speaker, Rockford-Fosgate premium audio system. The Sport Aero Package ($800) and Sport Accent ($295) give it an Evo look.

Lancer GTS ($19,295) and GTS Sportback ($19,695) feature a 2.4-liter four-cylinder making 168 horsepower, rear disc brakes replacing the drums in the ES, a 5-speed manual gearbox or optional CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) using Sportronic manual shifting with steering-wheel paddles. A 140-watt 6-speaker sound system is standard, along with sport bucket seats. New for 2011 is a FUSE Handsfree Links system, which ties voice command into all your worldly desires in the car, starting with talking on the phone. The sport-tuned suspension is tied to lovely 18-inch alloy wheels.

Lancer Ralliart ($27,495) and Ralliart Sportback get a 237-hp 2.0-liter intercooled turbocharged engine, while its suspension and brakes are upgraded from the GTS. It uses a six-speed twin-clutch automated manual called the TC-SST, with Normal and Sport modes. Automatic climate control is standard, along with sport bucket seats with unique fabric surfaces, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Also standard: six-speaker audio, aero package with front air dam, lower side air dams and rear spoiler, factory-installed fog lights, P215/45R18 tires on alloy wheels. Options include a Navigation & Technology package with GPS-based navigation system storing mapping data on a 40GB hard disk drive, with 10GB set aside for personally recorded audio files, to be played on the optional 710-watt 9-speaker Rockford-Fosgate audio system with Sirius satellite radio.

Lancer Evolution comes in two models, the GSR ($33,995) with 5-speed gearbox or the MR ($37,195) with 6-speed twin-clutch, plus BBS forged alloy wheels, Bilstein shocks, Eibach springs and big rear spoiler. Evo standard equipment includes automatic climate control, Recaro seats, 140-watt six-speaker audio system, power windows and locks and keyless entry, and Yokohama performance tires on 18-inch alloy wheels. Options include navigation, Bluetooth, 710-watt 9-speaker Rockford-Fosgate sound system, and HID headlamps.

Safety features for all Lancer models include front air bags, side airbags in front, side curtain air bags, a driver's knee air bag, and tire pressure monitor. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution is also standard, along with Active Stability Control. Front seatbelts have pretensioners and force limiters to help position users for maximum protection from airbags in crashes. Rear seats incorporate child safety seat anchors and tethers (LATCH). Available all-wheel drive enhances safety in slippery conditions.

*newcartestdrive.com

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2011 Hyundai Tucson : Strong value in a compact SUV

newcartestdrive.com Overview

Launched all-new for 2010, the Hyundai Tucson employs the latest technology. A compact crossover SUV, the Tucson is shorter in length but slightly wider than its chief rivals, the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Subaru Forester. The Tucson is available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.

For 2011, the Hyundai Tucson lineup includes a new value-priced Tucson GL with a smaller, more fuel-efficient 2.0-liter engine and front-wheel drive. The 2011 Tucson GL rates an EPA-estimated 23/31 City/Highway mpg when equipped with its optional 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is rated at 165 horsepower.

The Tucson GLS and Limited models are powered by a 176-horsepower 2.4-liter engine. 2011 Tucson Limited and GLS models come with more standard equipment than before.

The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine in the Tucson GLS and Tucson Limited wins the power-to-weight battle, the key to good performance with good fuel mileage, against every four-cylinder competitor except the turbocharged Forester XT. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder achieves an EPA-estimated 22/31 mpg City/Highway. The GLS and Limited come standard with the 6-speed automatic. This compact, extremely light transmission places Hyundai in an elite group of manufacturers who have built their own 6-speed automatic. We think it's a superb transmission and it offers better fuel economy ratings than the standard 5-speed manual gearbox.

Inside, the cabin is a model of straightforwardness and simplicity. It's excellent ergonomically, meaning everything is easy to reach and operate. The materials are nice. The seats are supportive and comfortable. There's plenty of room in both the front and rear seats, with comfortable seating for four, capability for five.

Though Korean, the Tucson design is decidedly European in flavor, sporty and aggressive, capturing the crisp, agile look German styling studios are famous for. And the Tucson skillfully tricks the eye, to its benefit. Just as the huge Audi Q7 manages to appear smaller and more athletic than it is, the new Tucson does just the opposite. Its high beltline and squinty side-window configuration make the Tucson appear larger and more capacious than it really is. This may give the buyer a feeling of getting more for the money.

In short, the Hyundai Tucson is a well calculated vehicle that delivers roomy interior space, crisp performance and very good fuel efficiency.

Model Lineup

The 2011 Tucson GL ($18,745) comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, AM/FM/satellite radio/CD/MP3 audio with six speakers, iPod/USB input jacks, iPod cable, roof antenna, power windows, mirrors and locks, remote keyless entry, trip computer, tilt steering, front and cargo area power outlets, bottle holders in all four doors, rear armrest with cupholders, 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, bodycolor rear spoiler, rear wiper and washer, and 17-inch steel wheels. Tucson GL comes standard with the 5-speed manual but is available with Hyundai's 6-speed automatic transmission ($19,745). The GL is front-wheel drive only.

Tucson GLS 2WD ($21,845) upgrades with leatherette upholstery with cloth inserts, leather-wrapped wheel and shifter, Bluetooth hands-free phone, illuminated vanity mirrors and glovebox, cruise control, steering wheel audio and cruise controls, faux leather inner door trim, soft-touch interior paint, black garnish moldings, and silver roof rails, 17-inch alloy wheels, bodycolor door handles, heated fold-away outside mirrors, privacy glass, roof cross rails, and an engine cover. The GLS comes standard with the 6-speed automatic. The GLS is available with AWD and heated front seats ($23,495). The GLS Navigation Package ($2,000) adds touch-screen navigation, a review camera, premium audio with external amplifier and subwoofer, and automatic headlights.

Tucson Limited ($24,695) and Limited AWD ($26,195) upgrade to leather seating, heated front seats, eight-way adjustable driver's seat, power lumbar support for driver and front passenger, dual-zone automatic temperature control, solar glass, cargo cover, chrome grille and door handles, automatic headlights, front foglights, front wiper de-icer, side repeater exterior mirrors, and 18-inch alloy wheels. New for 2011 are an auto-dimming inside mirror with HomeLink, and high-tech shock absorbers called Amplitude Selective Dampers (ASD) from German supplier Sachs. The Limited Premium Package ($2,850) adds navigation with rearview camera, premium audio, and a panoramic sunroof that deletes the roof rack.

Safety features on all Tucson models include electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, downhill brake control, four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, EBD, brake assist, six airbags with rollover sensor, active front adjustable head restraints, lane-change assist turn signals. All-wheel drive is optional.

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SUVs: An Overview

By Jamie Page Deaton | US News

In the past 15 years, SUVs have become the go-to vehicle for American drivers. But even though more and more people are driving SUVs, it’s easy to be confused by just what an SUV is. As SUVs became popular with shoppers, carmakers started offering more variances on the old SUV model. The result is that today, SUVs run the gamut from vehicles that are essentially tall station wagons to truck-based, hard-core work vehicles. If you’re shopping for SUVs, it’s important to know just what you’re getting into.

Traditional SUVs

Many of the first SUVs were simply pickup trucks with an enclosed cargo hold instead of an open bed. Built on truck frames, these SUVs excelled at the same tasks as pickups: towing heavy loads and traversing rough terrain. But SUVs also held more passenger space and could keep cargo safe from the elements.

A number of SUVs on the market still follow this formula, though they’re significantly more comfortable and upscale than their forebearers were. The Chevrolet Tahoe, for example, rides on the same platform as the Chevrolet Silverado Pickup truck. Like the Silverado, the Tahoe has available four-wheel drive that makes it capable off-road and in foul weather. Plus, because of its rugged construction and powerful engines, the Tahoe and other truck-based SUVs can tow loads that cars and car-based SUVs just can’t handle.

Off-Road SUVs

Off-road capability was one of the key reasons carmakers developed the SUV. You only have to look back at the original Jeep, rolling across battlefields in World War II to see that. While off-road SUVs may or may not share a platform with a pickup truck, all have the same body-on-frame construction that trucks do. Body-on-frame construction is stronger than unibody construction, which is what most cars use. The stronger construction lets off-road SUVs tackle harsh conditions that would literally break vehicles with unibody construction. Today’s off-road SUVs combine a strong platform with high-tech off-road systems that can be customized to handle almost any terrain. And while there are plenty of rough-and-tumble SUVs out there, such as the Jeep Wrangler, Nissan XTerra and Toyota 4Runner, many luxury SUVs, such as the Land Rover Range Rover, Mercedes Benz G and Lexus LX, can also handle the rockiest trails.

Crossover SUVs

While traditional and off-road SUVs are great for buyers who like to keep going when the pavement ends, they have their drawbacks. While body-on-frame construction and beefy suspensions are great for off-roading, on pavement, they compromise handling.  Plus, that kind of rugged construction makes the SUV heavy, so you need a powerful engine to keep things moving.  Big engines like that use a lot of gas.

Those downsides kept a lot of buyers away from SUVs. To bring them in, carmakers developed crossover SUVs. A crossover SUV is a vehicle with an SUV body that rides on a car-based, or unibody, platform. The result is a vehicle that has the passenger and cargo utility of an SUV, but drives like a car.

Crossovers are one of the hottest segments of the SUV market, and if you’re looking at an SUV, odds are it’s a crossover SUV. Crossovers tend to be smaller than most traditional SUVs.  All but a few compact SUVs are crossovers. Popular models like the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and GMC Terrain are all crossovers.

Crossovers can also be found among midsize SUVs. The Ford Explorer is the nameplate credited with taking the SUV mainstream, but while it used to be a truck-based SUV, the latest generation is a crossover. The changes let Ford keep its popular model while increasing its fuel economy by 25 percent and making it more comfortable for driving around town. Large crossovers, like the Chevrolet Traverse and Mazda CX-9, let you ferry seven or eight people around in comfort, and they aren’t all that much different from driving a car.

Hybrid SUVs

As SUVs have gotten more popular, they’ve also gotten flack for the amount of fuel they use. While the introduction of crossovers has helped remedy this somewhat, carmakers have also started applying the technology from their small hybrid cars to SUVs. The results are vehicles with lots of utility and improved fuel economy. Models like the Lexus RX Hybrid give buyers a lot of luxury in their hybrid SUV, while hybrid SUVs like the GMC Yukon Hybrid let traditional SUV buyers save on fuel without giving up capability. Even SUVs that aren’t hybrids have employed fuel-saving technologies like cylinder deactivation to improve their fuel economy.

SUVs and Safety

Many buyers are attracted to SUVs in part because there’s a perception that they fare better in crashes than cars do. Because of their size, some SUVs may do a better job of protecting their occupants.  However, that’s not a hard and fast rule. Before buying any SUV, you should check out its crash-test ratings and available safety features.

However, the most important component of SUV safety is the driver. Because they are taller and heavier than most cars, SUVs require extra driver attention. Their higher centers of gravity make SUVs more prone to rollover accidents. While carmakers have added lots of roll-mitigation technology to their SUVs, the risk is still there. The extra weight in most SUVs, particularly traditional or off-road SUVS, means that they will take extra time to stop. Also, the height and shape of SUVs means that they can have more blind spots than cars, particularly to the rear. Add-ons like rearview cameras have helped make SUVs easier to drive, but they still require a different set of driving skills than cars do. In fact, because of the extra concerns that come with driving an SUV, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recommends that only experienced drivers operate them.

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