SUVs

Ford Explorer 2011 car review

The Ford Explorer dominated the SUV market in the 1990s, but lost most of its ground by the middle of this decade. The redesigned, carlike 2011 model may make it popular again. The new three-row Explorer is larger, but lighter. It shares underpinnings with the Ford Taurus and Flex and trades its rear-drive layout for front-drive, while its trucklike body-on-frame construction gives way to a unit-body platform. Four-wheel drive continues to be available. The old Explorer’s trucky dynamics are gone. So is the V-8, replaced by a 3.5-liter V-6 that generates 290 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. It works with a responsive six-speed automatic transmission, which can be shifted manually. There are lowered initial gears for better off-the-line acceleration

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Kia Sportage 2011 car review

It never hurts to produce a vehicle with styling inspired by a striking auto show concept vehicle. That’s the case with the 2011 Kia Sportage crossover. It has styling inspired by Kia’s sleek Kue concept vehicle displayed at the 2007 Detroit auto show. The Sportage has Kia’s longest-running nameplate. With the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, it was among the first crossovers sold in the United States. The 2011 Sportage — introduced at a San Francisco media preview — rips a page from the old Detroit strategy of making new cars longer, lower and wider than predecessors. It’s a bold “looker,” with dramatically swept-back headlights, sculpted hood, high beltline, sweeping angles and more pronounced wheel flares. The interior has easily

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Kia Sorento 2011 car review

The carlike Kia Sorento is so dramatically changed one might wonder why it retains the name of the old truck-like Sorento, which arrived for 2003 and became dated. A test drive during the media preview of the new Sorento to Kia’s sprawling new, $1 billion assembly plant in a rural area an hour from Atlanta, Georgia, showed this crossover vehicle to be poised, quiet and comfortable. Kia‘s newest Sorento is the sporty “SX.” It has a revised front end, more luxury and sharper handling. The Sorento comes as an entry model and as the LX, EX and SX. It has front or four-wheel drive and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder or 3.5-liter V-6. Kia says rivals of the early 2011 Sorento include

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Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 car review

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets the upscale refinement and engineering it has deserved since its arrival in 1992. With design help from past owner Mercedes, the new model finally is a world-class SUV. Call it a Mercedes “on the cheap.” The 2011 Grand Cherokee shares its basic carlike platform with the new Mercedes ML, with such things as an all-new independent suspension, big disc brakes and a plush ride. The new rear suspension lets the spare tire be stored in the vehicle, not underneath it. This rigidly built Jeep looks much like its predecessor, with Jeep’s classic seven-slot grille, round headlights and trapezoidal wheel arches. But it’s the most luxurious Jeep ever. It is sleeker and more aerodynamic, with

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Hyundai, VW share top 2011 safety institute honors

Hyundai and Volkswagen combined to earn 18 of 66 Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the independent nonprofit scientific organization dedicated to reducing the incidents on American highways. Hyundai and Volkswagen each had nine winning models, the most of any manufacturer. The IIHS introduced more difficult standards for 2010, adding roof strength to its criteria by testing protection in rollover crashes. “In just a year, automakers have more than doubled the number of vehicles that meet the criteria for Top Safety Pick,” said Adrian Lund, the Institute president. “That gives consumers shopping for a safer new car or SUV — from economy to luxury models — plenty of choices to consider in most dealer showrooms.

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Nissan Rogue 2011 car review

Now in its fourth model year as a compact sport utility vehicle, the Nissan Rogue is the smaller sibling of the Murano crossover. It comes standard with front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive is an option) and a four-cylinder, 170-horsepower engine. For 2011, the Rogue has refreshed styling, several new colors and features for the first time Bluetooth and a USB port. It’s available in three trims, S, SL and Krom — the sport model. The new styling includes a new front fascia with fog-light cut-outs, a redesigned chrome grille, the addition of chrome trim on the lower door edges, a revised rear spoiler, and a new chrome bar above the rear license-plate holder. Eight paint colors are now available, twice as

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Honda announces Element will cease after 2011 model

Some car manufacturers would be pleased with a 2.5 percent market share. Not Honda. It will stop making the Element crossover after the 2011 model year because of diminishing sales. The box-shaped Element was introduced in the U.S. in December 2002 and more than 325,000 been purchased, according to the manufacturer. But sales of the versatile SUV crossover have steadily slipped while sales of its sibling, the CR-V, have increased. Honda also makes a large SUV, the Pilot. The Element accounted for nearly 10 percent of all crossover sales in the United States 2003. But the Element has accounted for only 2.5 percent of the crossover sales in 2010, according to Edmunds.com. Compared to last year, Element sales are down

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Porsche Cayenne, 2011: The Weekly Driver car review

The extensively redone 2011 Porsche Cayenne SUV finally looks like a Porsche. The bland appearance of its predecessor, however, didn’t stop it from being Porsche’s top seller here soon after it arrived in America in March 2003. Porsche always had been a sports car company, but it ignored protests from many Porsche owners and its often rabid fans when it introduced the Cayennne. But business is business, and Porsche needed the money the Cayenne would produce. Besides, it has lots of pride and was tired of seeing its sports cars sitting in garages next to expensive SUVs from competitors. As it turned out, Porsche has sold more than 280,000 Cayennes worldwide, with about 88,000 bought in the United States through

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Kia Sportage, 2011: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

No, make that the Sportage is the best-looking car in its class. With chiseled features, a bad-boy-on-the-block lowered roof line and “look at me know” sparkling LED accents, the Sportage is youthful and refined. Yet, four small details hold the Sportage back from perfection. 1. The seats are Amish hard; 2. The ride suffers from too much wooden roller coaster personality; 3. My tester had a persistent, annoying squeak that drove me batty; 4. The engine is anemic. Let’s start with the squeak. It used to be, especially back in the bad old car ’70s and ’80s, that almost all cars, especially those built in Detroit, came factory equipped with complimentary squeaks, rattles and rolls. But Japanese manufacturers raised the

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Tata Motors set to debut first crossover Aria to Indian market

Tata Motors has not announced the price range of the Aria. Features Built-in GPS system, Multi-functioning steering wheel, Dual Air Conditioner, Automatic climate control, six SRS Airbags, ABS with ESP, Alloy wheels, Parking Sensors Specifications Model: EX, Car Body Type: Crossover, Displacement: 2179cc, DICOR, 16 Valve DOHC, Engine Type: Diesel, Maximum Power: 120 Bhp @ 4000 rpm, Maximum Torque: 250 Nm @ 1500 rpm, Gears: 5 Manual, Length: 3329 mm Width: 1710 mm, Seating Capacity: 7, Steering: Power, Brakes: Front Disk, Rear Drum, Ground Clearance: 150mm James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James

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Honda Crosstour in crossfire, facing airbag recall, reinforced roof

“The front passenger airbag may not have been assembled according to correct specifications,” said NHTSA of the recall that will begin September 22. “In the event of a crash, the front passenger airbag may not deploy as intended and could place an unbelted child seated in the front passenger seat at greater risk of injury should the airbag deploy.” In other documentation filed with the federal government, Honda said the problem lies with the airbag packing cloth cover. “Deployment of the low-risk deployment flag will be delayed, resulting in improper performance,” said a Honda spokesperson. “Should the flap deploy improperly when an unbelted child is out of position in the front seat, the child may incur neck injuries.” The Crossover’s

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Honda Crosstour, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

Today’s modern soccer moms and dads wear Crocs and Reefs, not Birkenstocks and flip-flops. They drive Crossovers, not station wagons. Minivans are uncool and SUVs are so yesterday. So what’s the next big thing? It’s not a station wagon — Volvo can’t seem to sell the XC 70. The only “station wagon” that sells substantially is the Subaru Outback. And Subaru has gone out of its way to re-brand it as a crossover. Enter the Honda Crosstour and the 2010 Toyota Venza. Both cars partially fill the elusive domain of the American station wagon. Think of the Crosstour as the next MUV (Modern Utility Vehicle). With a 271 HP 3.5L V6 engine, real time all-wheel drive, and tons of space,

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BMW, Ford, Honda, Volvo, Toyota among cars gone to the dogs

More precisely, the AAA has selected its newest list of 11 cars in six lifestyle categories that dog owners prefer when transporting their pets. According to the AAA, 45 million households in the United States have a dog and more than 80 percent of dog owners take their best friend with them when they run errands or drive their cars for leisure. “There several vehicles with features that can help keep pets safe, comfortable and easy to clean-up after while also addressing other driver desires such as sportiness, adventure or luxury,” said John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Repair and Buying Services. The AAA’s experts drove and reviewed hundreds of vehicles and compiled a list of their top car

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GM recalls nearly 250,000 recent SUVs for potential safety belt issues

The automaker and regulators said most of the vehicles were shipped within the United States. Several thousand others were exported to Canada, Mexico, China, Saudi Arabia, among other countries. Potential damage to the second-row safety belts could result in the latch seemingly appear it was secure when it wasn’t. No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of the issue. The problem was discovered during warranty returns and sustained damage was cosmetic in most cases. General Motors will detail dealership repair procedures to owners via letter. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in

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Nissan Cube (KROM), 2010: The Weekly Driver car review

Few cars have received such polarizing reviews. The Los Angeles Times called The Cube an “air-hating box ugly.” The New York Times critic wrote: “The Cube is undiluted Tokyo chic, from its asymmetrical rear window to its shag-carpet dashboard pad to the bungee cords on the doors.” Regardless of opinion, the current edition Cube is arguably the most uniquely designed new vehicle on the road. It won the 2010 Automobile Design of the Year Award. Nissan engineers say the circular-dominated interior is inspired by the enveloping curves of a Jacuzzi. There’s a ripple motif in the ceiling, seat covers and cup holders. There are appliqués for air vents and window switches, utility hooks and elastic bands and variable color LED

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Chrysler recalls 600,000 Jeep Wranglers, minivans

Chrysler is recalling nearly 600,000 minivans and Jeep Wranglers because of brake or wiring problems that could become safety issues, according to the automaker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA website reported Chrysler is recalling 288,968 Jeep Wranglers from the 2006 through 2010 model years due to a potential brake fluid leak. Additionally, 284,831 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years are being recalled because a wiring problem can cause a fire inside the sliding doors. Neither problem has caused any crashes or injuries, Chrysler reported. On the Jeeps, the front inner fender liners can rub against the brake fluid tubes and cause a leak. NHTSA says

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