The 2008-09 Suzuki SX4: A Decent Alternative

The Suzuki SX4 I tested doesn't really stand out in terms of overall driving experience (the 2.0 liter, 143 hp four cylinder engine handles most situations well enough--yet the fuel economy isn't anywhere near the best in its class), but the SX4 may offer an alternative for buyers wanting something different than its rivals (Civic, Corolla, Sentra, and Focus, Elantra and the new Kia Forte) have to offer.
The SX4 has great all-around visibility. The is a lot of glass, which provides good all-around views of the outdoors. The seating position is high, so you have good vision from the driver's point of view, as well. The driving experience is okay; it picks up speed adequately, and the brakes work well. However, the engine could be quieter, smoother and more fuel efficient (averaging city fuel economy in the low 20's and highway mileage in the mid 20's won't get it done in the compact car segment). Handling seems acceptable, though.
Inside, dash readouts are orange-- my least favorite color, but at least there is an outside temperature gauge--always a handy feature. However, controls and dials are easy enough to use. The Cruise Control and Stereo controls are on the front of the steering wheel, which is a nice touch and helpful to make sure drivers keep their eyes on the road. The seats have adequate comfort. I wasn't crazy about the seat material though, because it feels funny. Trunk space is okay, which should make weekend travelers and grocery shoppers happy.
Is the Suzuki SX4 reliable? That depends on what source you read; its reliability during the last three years has ranged from from mediocre by J.D. Power to excellent by Consumer Reports. If you want something different from the competition, maybe give it try. If you want play it safe, you may choose something different. The ball, as they say, is in your court. :)

The Car Exam Grade: B-

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Auto Show Highlights: Part 2

Part 2:

In the interest of time, I'll keep my comments for Part 2 brief and to the point! :) Here are some of the other cars that caught my attention at the auto show:

1. The 2010 Kia Soul: The Soul has the boxy shape like the Scion XB and the Nissan Cube, but it is by far the best looking of the three. It has a 2.0 liter, 140 hp four cylinder engine, and 19.3 Cubic feet of luggage space. If its reliability is good, this may just be a good car.




2. The 2009 Toyota Venza: The crossover based on the Camry sedan looks good. It may be equipped with a 2.7 liter, 182 hp four or a 268 hp V6 engine, depending upon your preference. The blind spot at the rear is a nuisance, however.



3. The Honda Fit: This economical, good-selling car has its advantages, but when I saw a IIHS crash test pitting it against the larger Honda Accord and doing poorly (along with the poor-performing low-speed bumper test), it left me quite disturbed. I like the Fit--but I'm not sold on buying it, in spite of its good reliability.



4. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette: The Camaro: the good- retro good looks, great base 304 hp V6 engine; the bad- Tiny windows, placement of some gauges down by the transmission shifter on the floor console (that is retro gone wrong), and wimpy trunk and back seat space. The Corvette: the 638 hp, $106,000 Corvette ZR1 is hot, but it looks too much like a base model--that's inexcusable for a car that expensive. Still, I would like to drive both the Camaro and the Corvette- they would be awesome to drive!

Auto Show Highlights: Part 1

The Nissan Cube

I paid a visit to the San Diego Auto Show in late December, and I impressed with a fair number of cars that I saw. The first two I'll briefly cover are the new Nissan Cube and the updated 2010 Ford Mustang. I expect both of the cars will have an impact on the sales segment in which each car is sold.

The Nissan Cube has been sold in Japan for awhile now, but we finally get an all-new version here in the U.S. I must admit, I'm not fond of its boxy styling--it looks a bit silly. Nevertheless, it does seem to make good use of the space its boxy styling affords. Add an economical four cylinder engine in the mix, and you have a vehicle younger buyers (and even some older consumers, too) will be attracted to.

The 2010 Ford Mustang

Muscle Car fans, rejoice! Ford has updated the Mustang with an upgraded exterior and freshened exterior styling. The 2010 Mustang looks leaner, meaner, and more aggressive than the 2009 model. All exterior panels have been changed--except for the roof. The new rear end is fitted with sequential turn signals--a feature that has not been seen on any Ford in about thirty years.

Inside, better materials have been used on the dashboard, as well as on other parts of the interior. No longer does it look or feel lower-quality. More ambient lighting adorns the interior (available on premium versions of the V6, GT, and also on the GT 500). However, the engine in V6 is unchanged (a smaller, yet more fuel efficient and powerful V6 engine would be welcome) but the GT gets a 15 horsepower increase form 300 up to 315, and the supercharged GT 500 now makes 540 horsepower (up from 500 hp for 2009--and matching the output of the '09 GT 500KR).

If the economy improves, and consumers are able to once again get credit to buy new cars, Nissan just may have a hit with the Cube, and muscle car fans will enjoy a renewed rivalry between the new Mustang, the all-new Chevrolet Camaro, and the Dodge Challenger. Bring it on, now--Bring it on!!

New Posts Coming Soon!

Hello Readers:

Things have been busy lately, but look for new posts coming soon! Coming up: Auto Show News, featuring upcoming models from Nissan (Cube), Ford (2010 Mustang), any many more! Visit again soon!

The Car Exam Bonus: 2009 Toyota Corolla Standard Model

Having already tested the 2009 Toyota Corolla LE, I thought it would be wise to test a no-frills version, the Standard version. What options did it have? It came with a 4-speed automatic transmission, air conditioning, and heated rear-view mirrors (no power windows, or even cruise control here). However, standard safety features like anti-lock brakes and side-curtain airbags are welcome.

Driving-wise, it behaves much like the LE version: safe, but not spectacular. Nevertheless, the Standard version of the 2009 Toyota Corolla seems to be a tad quicker (but not much) than the LE model (I clocked its 0-60 mph time at 10.52 seconds). Fuel economy was pretty much the same--very good--especially on the highway, where I averaged in the mid 30 mpg range.

Seat comfort still feels the same, and it is still hampered with the cheap plastic interior door handles the other Corollas are saddled with, unfortunately. On the plus side, it has the same useful bi-level glove box the LE model has. If you can live without the comfort conveniences the 2009 Toyota Corolla LE offers, then the Standard model of the Corolla will work just nicely for budget-minded shoppers.

The Car Exam Grade: B