2013

CAR REVIEW: 2013 Chrysler 300 a bargain Bentley

Can’t afford a $200,000-plus Bentley? Then you might want to check out the latest Chrysler 300. The Chrysler 300 is aging, but the 2013 model is reminiscent of a $206,225 Bentley Flying Spur, if only because they have the same subdued elegant styling, an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. As with the British Bentley, the 300 has a great heritage—the 1955 C-300 was America’s first mass-produced 300-horsepower car. Of course, the latest 300 is far less costly than the exquisite Bentley. Prices range from $29,845 to $48,250. The 300 comes with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or, like the Bentley, with all-wheel drive (AWD). Both also have an eight-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. The 300 is filled

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Review: 2013 Toyota RAV4: Updated, mature SUV

Some models just keep rolling along, while getting better all the time. One such model is the 2013 Toyota RAV4. The original crossover SUV, the fourth-generation Toyota RAV4 model shows Toyota has kept improving it since its debut in the mid-1990s. The smaller first RAV4s were noisy, underpowered and rough-riding. But they had decent utility and good fuel economy. Honda, which was Toyota’s main rival, soon got into the small crossover SUV arena with its CR-V. Others followed. Toyota has dropped the RAV4’s potent V-6 and third-row seat for 2013, and the top-hinged rear hatch finally replaces the clunky side-swinging cargo door. The nicely shaped cargo area has a low, wide sill for fast loading, and cargo room is especially

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Review: 2013 Ford Fusion gets sporty, flirts with luxury

Redesigned for 2013, the Ford Fusion is firmly positioned in the midsize sedan market — the most prevalent and most competitive segment in the auto industry. Available in three trims, the 2013 Ford Fusion is a four-door, five-passenger offering. Like several of its many competitors, the Fusion was also previously firmly planted in the world of pedestrian vehicles. Not any more. It’s now in a segment chock-full of cars hard-to-beat. They’re fairly priced and offer high quality in comfort and equipment with comprehensive standard equipment lists and plenty of option packages. In its new design, the 2013 Ford Fusion goes the front of the handsome line. The front grille is more pronounced and it’s meshed stylishly with a slightly wider

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Car Review: 2013 Toyota Sienna: Practical, Easy Drive

With all the emphasis on stylish crossover vehicles, some might suspect that the generally dull-by comparison minivan is dead. But the 2013 Toyota Sienna shows some minivans still sell at a brisk pace. That’s because it’s hard to beat a minivan for sheer practicality and family utility. After all, a minivan’s boxy shape provides lots of interior space, and it has carlike manners. The 2013 Sienna is designed, developed and assembled in America. However, it isn’t purely apple-pie American because it is, after all, a Japanese brand. But, with the growing worldwide sharing of vehicle components and manufacturing because of economics, does anybody really care anymore? The new Sienna feels very “American.” Anybody who has been driving a U.S. brand

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Hyundai Azera, 2013: Strong entry in tight full sedan field

One year after its complete redesign, the 2013 Hyundai Azera remains much the same as its year-older sibling. It’s the South Korean manufacturer’s entry level full-size sedan and it’s positioned between the Sonata and Genesis. Unlike many manufacturers who sometimes make it difficult to chose from an overload of available trims, the 2013 Hyundai Azera is available in only one trim. It’s offered as a 3.3-liter V6 with 293 horsepower, a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The Weekly Drive It’s uncommon for two different cars from the same manufacturer to be considered competitors. But the Genesis is Hyundai‘s entry point in its luxury lineup, followed by the top-line Equus. Yet the Azera could easily make the carmaker’s luxury car

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Honda Pilot, 2013: Workhorse in tough SUV segment

Nearing the end of its 12th year, the Honda Pilot is the manufacturer’s largest and only three-row sport utility vehicle. As such and after two new generations and various updates, the 2013 Honda Pilot maintains its image as the workhorse in the Honda lineup. The Honda Crosstour, which debuted in 2010, is longer. But the big, boxy and utilitarian Pilot is built with reinforced frame rails, which assist in towing and light off-road driving. It has plenty of head and legroom and a high roofline for mega hauls from the grocery store or to store camping equipment or to carry lumber to build a new backyard fence. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2013 Honda Pilot is much the same

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2013 Nissan Rogue: Value, but doesn’t lead SUV pack

The Sport Utility Vehicle segment is increasingly crowded and an underdog in the marketplace like the Nissan Rogue needs an outstanding feature or two to distinguish itself among the heavy hitters. I recently drove the 2013 Nissan Rogue for eight days and for a total of about 920 miles throughout Colorado. The Rogue was an adequate companion on my trip during the third edition of the USA Pro Challenge bicycle race. I averaged 26.8 mpg for the trip and while often driving with the air conditioning engaged and at an averaged speed sometimes great than the 75 mph posting. The Nissan Rogue, which debuted in 2008 and is in the final year of its current edition, has several good features.

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, #3: Wide open spaces in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

For the past two days, I’ve driven the 2013 Nissan Rogue on the scenic and often wide open and hilly state routes of Colorado during the USA Pro Challenge. Yesterday, I drove from Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs for stage 3. And today, for stage 4, I drove from Steamboat Springs on most of the same route in the reverse direction before diverting in the final sections to US 6, then Interstate 70 to Avon and then the uphill stretch to Beaver Creek Resort. The state highway system in Colorado offers stunning views and often undulating roads through small towns, ranches, abandoned farm equipment and sections of open range. I stopped yesterday at the Toponas General Store. It rests in the

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2013 Infiniti QX56: Big, plush, capable

The 2013 Infiniti QX56 is a fast, luxurious full-size SUV that feels as if it could tow just about anything short of the London Bridge. The imposing looking QX56 is in the third year of its current-generation design. It has a 5.6-liter direct-injected, 32-valve V-8 with 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque for quick acceleration and a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. The V-8 is hooked to a smooth 7-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. The 4WD version has a computer-controlled transfer case with settings in Automatic, 4L and 4H. A console dial controls snow, tow or hill-start assist modes. The QX56’s engine muscle is needed because it’s such a big guy. It weighs 5,595 pounds with

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, #2: Navigating the mountains in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

A good navigation system is a welcomed companion, particularly on long solo trips like the journey I’m taking through the heart of Colorado in a 2013 Nissan Rogue during the third USA Pro Challenge. After flying from Sacramento to Denver, I drove to Snowmass in the Rogue following the navigation system instructions, which ideally detailed the 215-mile route. The 5-inch screen in the Rogue is small and it’s not positioned in the best location. It sits low on the center dash. But for its small size, the system has some keen features. Many of its functions, for example, are available on via the touch screen and via a dial. Unlike some navigation systems, which seemingly bark orders and sometimes within

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Driving the 2013 USA Pro Challenge, #1: Mixed Bag debut in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

The third edition of the USA Pro Challenge begins Monday, Aug. 19 and it will take a field of 128 pro cyclists from 16 teams around Colorado for a week. I’m making the trip in a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The compact crossover debuted in 2008 and the 2013 edition is the last year of the car’s first generation. The manufacturer announced recently a second generation will debut with the 2014 edition. I drove from the Denver International Airport to Snowmass in about 5 hours, including a lunch stop and two five-minute stops for phone calls. As a compact crossover, first impressions on the first of eight days in the Rogue were mixed. The Rogue is more carlike than an SUV

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LA Auto Show, 2013: dozens of global debuts await

Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, MINI, Porsche, Subaru and Volkswagen have all confirmed representation among more than 50 global debuts at the 2013 LA Auto Show, the first major car of the year for automakers’ new models and concepts. Founded in 1907, the LA Auto Show is the first major North American show of the season and it will be held Nov. 22-Dec. 1. Press Days will be Nov. 20-21. The debut line-up this year promises a mix of cutting-edge trends and innovations in today’s competitive automotive market. BMW has confirmed seven to eight debuts,including a yet-to-be-named global premiere. MINI will also present a strong showingwith the long-awaited global introduction of its brand-new MINI automobile. The LA Auto Show is

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2013 Smart Fortwo: Electric, eclectic, fun

Introduced 15 years ago at the Paris Motor Show, the Smart Fortwo, named after its two-seat capacity, is now in its third generation as the smallest full production car available in the United States. The third generation of all electric model was also recently unveiled, and The Weekly Driver drove and filmed the new car at a press launch in San Francisco. Priced respectively at $25,000 (coupe) and $28,000 (cabriolet), the manufacturer is marketing the car as the most affordable full production electric vehicle in the United States. Customers may also be eligible for federal tax credits (totaling as much as $7,500) as well as state and/or local tax credits. During the presentation (and subsequent driving opportunity) of the new

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2013 Nissan Juke Nismo: Wacky look, keen power

The Nissan Juke is an odd name, but the Juke Nismo sounds even more offbeat. That is, unless you know “Nismo” is derived from “NISsan MOtorsports, which is the name of Nissan’s motorsports division. The compact four-door, five-passenger Juke hatchback differs from the fun-loving regular Juke in that it has a race-inspired exterior, specially tuned suspension, steering and transmission. It also has more power from its small, sophisticated turbocharged and intercooled 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which has goodies: direct injection, dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The Juke Nismo is rated at 197 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, versus the standard Juke’s 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Juke Nismo comes with front-wheel drive and a

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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (Sport): New design, quiet ride

The Weekly Driver recently had an opportunity for an extended review, a nearly 2,000-mile, two-week trek in the newly designed, six-passenger 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (Limited). This week, it’s back to standard procedure. My weekly driver was the 2013 Santa Fe Sport edition. It’s the smaller (in several ways) five-passenger edition in Hyundai‘s restyled Santa Fe lineup. The larger Santa Fe replaced the poor-selling Veracruz. In addition to one less passenger and a smaller engine, the Sport is eight inches shorter than the Limited. But there are also interior and exterior similarities among the siblings, with the SUVs both offering a smooth ride. Hyundai’s new design is featured throughout its SUV lineup, and it attracts a lot of attention. The

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2013 Toyota Highlander: Polished, roomy crossover

To the surprise of many, American station wagons from the 1950s and 1960s are becoming very desirable. One can only guess if the 2013 Toyota Highlander crossover will eventually become a collector’s item. The 2013 Highlander I tested had the smoothness of one of those old, big domestic V-8 wagons—along with lots of room. Although it’s from Japan’s Toyota, this second-generation Highlander has American flavor because it was designed at Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, Calif., and is assembled at Toyota’s Motor Manufacturing facility in Princeton, Indiana—part of America’s heartland. The Highlander won’t win beauty contests, but has clean, sculpted lines and a wide stance. However, the optional $649 running boards are recommended to ease getting in and out,

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