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The Car Exam Quick Quiz #8: The Chevrolet Camaro (2) SS

Good Grades: Powerful 400 horsepower, 6.2 liter V8 engine and good six-speed automatic transmission, solid chassis, terrific retro exterior styling, comfortable front seats, good interior materials.

Bad Grades: This car is extremely claustrophobic--the windows all around are extremely small (and the black interior doesn't help), limited outward visibility, huge blind spot when changing lanes, retro instrument gauges aren't a good thing (Instrument gauges down by the gear shifter on the console? C'mon, Man!), small back seats and trunk, and the car is too heavy--it needs to be lighter.

Final Grade: If you love all-out, American Muscle, then the Camaro SS is the car for you--possibly. This car would be the near perfect muscle car if it weren't for its glaring shortcomings. Still, it's a blast to drive! If you want better fuel economy, go for the 304 horsepower, 3.6 liter V6 in the Camaro RS. If you want more horsepower , get the Camaro SS with the six-speed manual transmission--and you'll get 426 hp, 26 more than the SS with the automatic transmission. The 2010 Camaro SS vs. the 412 hp 2011 Mustang GT: Let the heavyweight comparisons begin! Woo Hoo! :)

The Car Exam Grade: B+

Vehicle Price: $37,975

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #7: The Ford Taurus Limited

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Good Grades: Solid build quality, nice interior ergonomics and quality,supportive and comfy seats, good exterior styling--in short a lot of the SHO's good attributes.

Bad Grades: The base 3.6 liter, 263 horsepower V6 struggles to pull the 4,000 pound Taurus. You really miss the twin-turbocharged 365 horsepower V6 in the SHO--and it shows (pun intended)! My test car missed some of the goodies found on the SHO (navigation, all-wheel drive, etc.), and it shares a flaw with the SHO (short windows all around--which means a big blind spot in the rear.

Final Grade: The Taurus Limited is a good car, but it feels underpowered--especially after you drive the Taurus SHO. If you can afford to spend the extra dollars (and driving performance matters), do go for the SHO.

The Car Exam Grade: B

The Car Exam - New Car Reviews - Quick Quiz #6: The 2010 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

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Good Grades: Good power for the 315 hp 4.6 Liter V8, solid 5-speed manual transmission, competent braking, good exterior styling and better interior than the 2005-2009 models, Microsoft/Ford Sync System, comfortable seats, cool sequential turn signals at the rear.

Bad Grades: Retro is fine, but the skinny numbers on the speedometer and tachometer need to go away--now! I still felt like it could use more horsepower, small back seats, and I didn't care for the "Grabber Blue" color on my test car.

Final Grade: Chevrolet Camaro sales have been topping the Mustang for several reasons this year--one of them being huge horsepower advantages with the V6 and V8 engines. Ford freshened the Mustang for 2010, but left the outdated powertrains alone--a big mistake! If you are in the market for a Mustang, wait until spring and get a 2011 Mustang. You can get the new 5.0 liter 412 horsepower V8 Mustang GT or the new 305 horsepower, 3.7 liter V6 in the base model with a whopping 31 miles-per-gallon fuel economy on the highway (only 19 m.p.g. city), apparently a record for a 300+ hp engine. By the way, the 2011 Shelby GT 500 gains 10 hp to reach 550 horsepower. I have a feeling when I test the 2011 models, the Mustang will surely get a better grade!

The Car Exam Grade: B/B+

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #5: The 2010 Lexus RX 350

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Good Grades: Superb interior, nice exterior styling, silky-smooth and strong V6 3.5 liter, 275 horsepower engine/six-speed automatic transmission combination, terrific ride, good braking, good interior room and stereo system.

Bad Grades: It uses premium fuel--not good, considering gas prices are on the rise again.

Final Grade: The Lexus RX 350 is (by far) my favorite luxury CUV so far. It's best for daily driving--if you you just want a stress-free, easy driving experience. If you want a more exciting, connected driving experience--go with the Mercedes ML 350--it's the sportiest CUV I've driven so far (look for it in an upcoming review soon). The RX 350 stays true to the Lexus formula--which isn't a bad thing. Hopefully, Toyota's woes will not expand to the RX 350 line--if they do, then THAT would be a bad thing.

The Car Exam Grade: A

Upcoming Quick Quizzes

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These new quizzes will be coming soon: the 2010 Ford Mustang GT, the 2011 Kia Sorento, the 2010 Mercedes ML 350, the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid, and the 2010 Ford Taurus Limited. Look for them! :)

New Feature: "Mini Quizzes" Coming Up!

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I'll be doing a short series of "mini quizzes" on cars that I took on brief test drives. These will include: the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS, the 2010 Toyota Highlander, The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the 2010 Toyota 4 Runner. Look for these posts in the days ahead! :)

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #5: The 2010 Lexus RX 350

Good Grades: Superb interior, nice exterior styling, silky-smooth and strong V6 3.5 liter, 275 horsepower engine/six-speed automatic transmission combination, terrific ride, good braking, good interior room and stereo system.
Bad Grades: It uses premium fuel--not good, considering gas prices are on the rise again.
Final Grade: The Lexus RX 350 is (by far) my favorite luxury CUV so far. It's best for daily driving--if you you just want a stress-free, easy driving experience. If you want a more exciting, connected driving experience--go with the Mercedes ML 350--it's the sportiest CUV I've driven so far (look for it in an upcoming review soon). The RX 350 stays true to the Lexus formula--which isn't a bad thing. Hopefully, Toyota's woes will not expand to the RX 350 line--if they do, then THAT would be a bad thing. The Car Exam Grade: A

The Car Exam: Quick Quiz #4: The 2010 Cadillac SRX

Good Grades: Excellent interior and exterior styling, high quality interior materials, good ergonomics, comfortable seats, good navigation system with back up camera, nice visibility, good stereo system, decent ride and braking.

Bad Grades: Weak acceleration from the 3.0 liter V6 engine is a deal-breaker; large blind spot, the ride could be a bit softer.

Final Grade: The 2010 Cadillac SRX is light years better than the cars GM used to make. It is a very impressive crossover. However, if you choose to buy it, get the SRX with the 300 horsepower, 2.8 liter turbo V6 engine. It's more potent than the gutless 3.0 liter, 265 horsepower V6 engine (which strains to pull the 4200 pound CUV). The Car Exam Grade: B

The Car Exam – Quick Quiz #3: 2010 Ford Fiesta (Euro-Spec Model)

Good Grades: Great Styling, good utility, good seat comfort, good fuel economy, decent power and acceleration, acceptable ride, Microsoft Sync System, ambient interior lighting.

Bad Grades: Claustrophobic interior, large blind spots, rear headroom, uneven texture of dash materials, too many buttons for the stereo, "sloppy" feeling 5-speed manual shifter.

Final Grade: The Fiesta is a promising car from Ford. To be fair, the "sloppy" shifter could have been the result of a lot of test driving (which still doesn't make me feel any better about it long term). This car has its issues, but it should appeal to a fair number of people wanting to buy a small, fuel-efficient car. I would like to drive the U.S. Spec 2011 model later this year to get a better sense of what we are getting here--although the Euro-spec model is very close (the attached photos are of the 2011 U.S. spec models). The Car Exam Grade: B/B-

Flex-ing its Muscle: The 2010 Ford Flex SEL

Either you like it, or you don't--the styling of the 2010 Flex is quite polarizing, to be sure. While that may be the case, all can agree it's big on utility--and especially power--when it's packing the optional 3.5 Liter, twin-turbo charged 355 horsepower Ecoboost V6 engine under the hood.

To be fair, I don't particular like the styling of the Flex. To me, it worked much better as the higher-riding Ford Fairlane concept several years back. It simply looks better sitting higher off the ground. Now that I have that out of the way, I'll tell you the things I do like about it--which is actually a lot.

Back to the Ecoboost: what a blast! It's a smooth, gutsy power plant with plenty of muscle to get you where you need to go--and quickly. That's very impressive for a 4800 pound vehicle. The standard 3.5 Liter V6 touts 262 horsepower, but I didn't drive a Flex with that engine. However, based on the 2010 Taurus Limited I drove with the same engine (I'll feature that in an upcoming review), that weaker engine seriously lacks power in comparison to the Ecoboost V6.

The smooth six-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters) works well with the Ecoboost engine, too. Braking was decent--it could have been better, but decent. For people wanting a vehicle with high fuel economy, they may skip the Ecoboost Flex: the EPA ratings for city/highway driving: 16/22 mpg--not so good. In spite of its name, the Ecoboost could probably use some more economy. That's the price you'll have to pay for its strong rush of horsepower, though.

The Flex has comfortable seats, lots of leg and head room (excellent overall interior room, I must say), and good ergonomics. The dash seems generally well laid out. In fact, the interior is impressive--which shows just how far Ford has progressed the last several years. The quality--total fit and finish--is much better than Fords of old.

Other goodies include: a push-button ignition starter, the Microsoft SYNC system, heated seats and mirrors, BLIS mirror system (blind spot information system), a navigation system with rear backup camera, ambient lighting, moon roof, three-row seating (with rear climate controls), lots of cup holders and great outward visibility from all sides.

It sum it up, I was surprised how much I liked the 2010 Ford Flex SEL. Its exterior styling may leave a lot to be desired (its cousin--the Lincoln MKT--is less attractive) and the fuel economy isn't the best--but for those buyers who can get past those shortcomings, they will be rewarded with one heck of a crossover utility vehicle.

The Car Exam Grade: B+

The Car Exam – Quick Quiz #2: 2010 BMW X5

The Car Exam – Quick Quiz #2: 2010 BMW X5

Good Grades: Good exterior styling, seemed to handle decently, “sort of neat” push- button transmission.

Bad Grades: “Sort of weird” push-button transmission, overweight, terribly underpowered 260 hp 3.0 liter six-cylinder engine, mediocre ride quality, low-rent interior for a $50,000 CUV, lousy I-Drive system, lousy-sounding stereo system, entry in and exit out of the X5 is a pain in the backside!

Final Grade: I don’t care if it is a BMW, I didn’t enjoy the driving experience at all. I expected everything about the X5 to be better than it was—and it wasn’t.

The Car Exam Grade: C-

An Impressive American: The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

The 2010 Ford Taurus is one impressive car. It’s not perfect, but it’s good—one of the best performing cars I’ve driven. The 365 hp twin-turbocharged, 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 is a sweet power plant. Floor the gas pedal and feel the rush of the twin-turbocharged engine push you back in your seat. Wow! The brakes work well, too. Even more impressive is the fit and finish of the interior. I felt like I was driving an expensive import car. The leather seats are comfortable and supportive.
The interior also has some cool touches, such as the Sync System, which allows the driver to control audio functions with his or her voice. It also had a navigation system, backup camera, a BLIS system (which senses hidden cars in the driver’s blind spot when trying to change lanes) a power rear window shade, and many more features.
The 2010 Taurus SHO also has a has a wide array of safety features, such front, side, and curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, and radar cruise control which slow the car if it gets too close behind another vehicle. The Taurus is not perfect, however. Head room in the rear is limited by the moon roof, the rear window is smallish (as are the side windows), and the blind spot is problematic (this is where the BLIS system would pay for itself—if you use it). The Taurus is also heavy car, and while it is fast I know it would have been faster and more athletic if it were three to four-hundred pounds lighter.
Nevertheless, this is the best Ford I’ve ever driven—I even drove a 2010 Mustang GT convertible two days earlier (which I’ll review soon), and I like this better (I would like to drive a 2011 Mustang GT with the 412 hp, 5.0 V8—I may have a different opinion after that). Ford has made great strides with its cars, and the Taurus SHO proves that. If the Taurus (as well as Ford’s other cars and trucks) proves to be reliable like the Fusion has been, it may become America’s top rival to some of Asia’s best sedans.

The Car Exam Grade: A

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #1: The 2009 Nissan Versa

The Car Exam Quick Quiz #1: The 2009 Nissan Versa

Good Grades: Comfy front seats, okay cornering ability, good ergonomics and placement of controls, great visibility for the most part, excellent rear foot room, good low end acceleration, acceptable hill-climbing ability, decent styling and braking (and fuel economy).

Bad Grades: CVT can hunt too much at times (affecting acceleration at important times), coarse-sounding, somewhat loud and unrefined engine, sitting in the back seats feels like sitting on a hard bench, thick rear seat backs lead to an annoyingly uneven rear load floor when the rear seat backs are folded, thick c-pillar leads to large rear blind spots.

The Final Grade: This car has some nice features and attributes, but its short-comings are far too glaring to ignore.

The Car Exam Grade: C-


P. Scott

Check out the Exams from 2008 and 2009!

Just a Reminder--check out my past reviews from 2008 and 2009! Read how cars fared during those tests! :)

New Reviews for 2010!

Happy New Year! The Car Exam will be packed with a lot of new reviews--the most since I've started this blog back in 2008! I've driven a lot of cars, some with surprising results. Some of the models tested come from Ford, Kia, Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, BMW and more! Some will earn high grades, while others will surprise with mediocre and lower grades. Get ready for the new exams--they are coming! :)

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!