Automotive Reviews

Saturn Sky 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

If there’s one sure thing about the Saturn Sky, it’s the new sports car’s attention-grabbing appearance. Passersby stopped me at traffic signals and asked questions. Restaurant patrons came to my table and inquired. Neighbors wanted to know about the Sky, and even friends who care little about cars were interested. The Sky was introduced as the manufacturer’s first “high-performance” convertible sports car as a 2007 model although it was first available in the spring of 2006. The two-seater, which shares its basic design with the Pontiac Solstice, is available in two options, the 177-horsepower base model and the 260-horsepower, turbocharged Red Line. Both models, like the Solstice, are rear-wheel drive and have 5-speed manual transmissions as standard equipment. (A 5-speed

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Mitsubishi Eclipse, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Driving a nicely performing convertible with the top down on a sun-baked day is about as good as it gets. But the varying functionality and quality of convertible tops can easily diminish the experience. With the 2007 Eclipse Spyder, Mitsubishi is attempting to squelch the concerns of convertible buyers who may constantly wonder just how long their vehicle’s ragtop will work properly. After restyling and adding improved safety features to the Eclipse coupe for 2006, the convertible version became available for the first time this month (March, 2006). And it’s impressive. With the flick of two side easy-to-maneuver latches and then the pressing and holding a button just above the transmission box, the convertible function works fast. The entire up

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Honda CR-V, 2007: The Weekly Driver

There wasn’t much to complain about with the previous Honda CR-V. It provided a keen balance of versatility, comfort and utility vehicle refinement. But with the 2007 redesign, the manufacturer has done what Honda always seems to do. It took something good and made it better. For starters, the new CR-V has a restyled exterior. Its previous boxy appearance has been streamlined with elements of BMW and Audi. The new CR-V is also three inches shorter than its predecessor, but the wheelbase and interior dimensions are nearly the same as previous models. Honda further upgraded the vehicle by removing the exterior tire from the the tailgate, thus eliminating some slight rear window vision issues. Gone also is the swing out

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Mercedes Benz E350 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

I was 18 at the time, and when my father let me take the car to the market or when we took the car on father-son journeys, life couldn’t have been better. Mercedes had more luxurious cars then, just as the manufacturer does today. But more than 30 years after driving father’s Benz, I owned a 1979 Mercedes Benz, a 280CE, for several years. It wasn’t the same, of course. It was more than 25 years old and had its issues. But it was  Mercedes, I could afford it, and had the same interior and exterior color as my dad’s car, and that made it all good. That’s also plenty of fodder to explain my fondness or Mercedes Benz automobiles,

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Subaru Legacy, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

What that means is that handling and steering throughout the Subaru line is superior. Subarus confidentially entertain any driving situation, and that’s why the brand is particularly popular in mountain areas where obstacles can be presented without warning. Despite its reputation, however, the Legacy —the oldest name in the Subaru lineup — is far from the first choice for midsize sedan buyers. But with the 2007 models, the manufacturer has made a concerted effort to join the category’s top echelon. Of particularly note is the new GT turbocharged model. First available in a limited release in late 2006, it’s now in full production, and it’s quite a change. The 2007 GT legacy has a six-speed manual transmission, upgraded from the

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Suzuki Forenza Wagon, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

But the Forenza falls short in too many key areas, most notably craftsmanship and performance. As such, it isn’t a prudent choice in the economical wagon category. My weekly drive, like all Forenza and Reno (the hatchback) models included a 2.0-liter, 16-valve, 4-cylinder, 127-horsepower engine. It also featured a four-speed automatic transmission (a five-speed manual transmission is also available). The automatic transmission is the vehicle’s key disappointment. Acceleration is adequate from a stopped start, but it’s nowhere near as efficient in mid-range speed acceleration or in freeway situations. Likewise, the automatic shifting takes a concerted effort whether maneuvering into a forward or reverse gear or into the park position. As an economy vehicle, the Forenza isn’t particularly economical with ratings

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Ford Escape (Hybrid), 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

With its hybrid model, the Escape and its close hybrid sibling easily overcome the the SUV stigma — poor gas mileage. The Escape features a “full” hybrid electric system. It works in three different ways — as pure electric power, pure gasoline power or a combination of the two systems. While braking or decelerating, the Escape’s hybrid system relies on regenerative braking. The electric motor operates as a generator and coverts the vehicle’s momentum back to electricity for storage in the batteries. The system may sound complicated, but it all worked well in my weekly driver, one of four available 2007 Escapes.Like other hybrid vehicles, the Escape has a better city driving mph average than its freeway rating. It’s the

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Kia Sportage 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Among several changes then was the transition from a truck to car platform. The 2007 Sportage is available is seven configurations, and my weekly driver was the 4×4 (all-wheel drive). It has a 2.7-liter, 24-valve, V6 engine with 173 horsepower a four-speed automatic transmission. Considering its status as a  compact SUV, the Sportage has a lot to offer. Its interior is attractive, with the dark gray paneling and console matched against a silver medal instrumentation panel, shift knob and various handles and supports. The approach is simple and functional. There’s good leg and head room and a surprisingly large and efficient cargo area. The Sportage is available in two trim levels, the LX and EX, with front wheel and all-wheel

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Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The compact crew cab has new safety features, a new an optional V8 engine and a new independent rear suspension. Like the Ridgeline, the independent rear suspension was added to provide a more carlike ride than other trucks equipped with a solid rear axle. It works. My weekly test drive was the V8, 4-door crew cab, one of eight Explorer Sport Trac models. It’s a smooth-driving, four-door truck with nearly the comfort of a sedan, but with all the benefits of a workhorse truck. A 210-horsepower engine is standard, but the Limited Edition — the most expensive model — has a 4.6-liter, 292-horsepower, V8 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and 4-wheel drive. The ’07 redesign also includes a wheelbase

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Cadillac SRX, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Add it all up while also considering the various configurations of various manufacturers’ models and there are nearly 90 available SUVs in the United States. The 2007 Cadillac SRX 4-door wagon is listed in the premium midsize SUV category, and it offers an attractive combination of luxury, performance and styling. My weekly driver was the four-door V6 model (there’s also a V8). The V6 includes a 3.6-liter, 260-horsepower engine and a five-speed automatic transmission. The SRX already had a strong performance reputation, but its interior design and material use were often criticized. This year, the higher-grade materials are featured in its near-complete interior makeover. The  console layout and instrumentation panel and overall dash features are more attractive and more functional.

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Audi A4, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

But not everything is quite right with the A4 and its price point, particularly considering several option packages, provides more than one reason to consider other manufacturers’ offerings. My weekly test drive was the 2007 A4 sedan 2.0 T quattro AT6. It featured a 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower, DOHC turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. The A4 is a handsomely designed sedan and its attractive body style and exterior color (ocean blue pearl) combined to attract a good share of attention. Add the platinum-colored interior to the mix, and the Audi is among the nicest-looking sedans on the road. Audi‘s other signature component is its aforementioned superior steering and handling. Every time I drove the car, I was impressed with

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Lincoln MKZ, 2007: The Weekly Driver

In its place as a renamed, restyled and more powerful entry level luxury sedan is the MKZ. And, as the adage goes, what difference a year makes. The MKZ is everything the Zephyr wasn’t. It has more horsepower, more interior space (15.8 cubic feet in the trunk, for example), an attractive redesign (including a pronounced chrome front grill and other chrome trim) improved interior refinements and a better warranty. Similar to the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, the MKZ has the high-end standard features apropos the Lincoln tradition. The MKZ is equipped with a host of standard features: 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, wood trim, power seats with memory, dual-zone automatic climate control and a seven-speaker CD stereo with an

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Saturn Sky, 2007: The Weekly Driver

The Sky was introduced as the manufacturer’s first “high-performance” convertible sports car as a 2007 model although it was first available in the spring of 2006. The two-seater, which shares its basic design with the Pontiac Solstice, is available in two options, the 177-horsepower base model and the 260-horsepower, turbocharged Red Line. Both models, like the Solstice, are rear-wheel drive and have 5-speed manual transmissions as standard equipment. (A 5-speed automatic is also available in both models.) My weekly test drive was the base model, but it featured two option packages, including a premium leather trim package, automatic transmission and an upgraded sound system. Like the Solstice, Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata, the Sky is at its best with its

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Saturn Aura, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

With 16 manufacturers offering midsize cars and another 10 manufacturers in the premium midsize market, newcomers in the exceedingly popular category often face rough sales roads. Saturn didn't fare well with its midsize L-Series, which was discontinued in 2004. But the General Motors division is trying again with the 2007 Aura.

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Acura RDX, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

“We don’t call them crossover; We call them car-based SUVs, because that’s what they are,”Gabriel Shenhar, senior auto testing engineer for Consumer Reports magazine, said in a recent article in bankrate.com. “These are vehicles that are usually derived from passenger cars, not trucks.” Crossover vehicles also often have fully independent suspensions and more adept for road travel and lighter cargo loads rather than off-road treks and heavy cargo hauls. However properly defined, Acura has entered the crossover mix with its 2007 RDX. It features all-wheel drive, a turbocharged engine, an impressive array of features and an automotive oxymoron. It’s a compact SUV that with its various “bells and whistles” options can exceed more than $37,000. My weekly driver was the

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