Frugal Shopper: Compare New And Used Vehicles Before You Buy
This year may go down in history as one of the best for frugal car shoppers. Thanks to incentive programs from automakers and the federal government and return policies from companies like Hyundai and GM, 2009 has been mostly a buyer's market (at least for buyers who've been able to score loans in the credit crunch).
Last week, we mentioned TrueCar's analysis of the auto marketplace and some of the more "flexibly priced" new vehicles, including the 2009 Chrysler Aspen and the 2010 Mini Cooper. Many bargain-hunters also look at used cars, but in 2009 and into early 2010, that might not be the cheapest route to follow. Used vehicles come at a premium these days, thanks in large part to (a) Cash-for-Clunkers, which has shrunk used car inventory, and (b) the economic downturn, which has forced owners to hold onto their vehicles. In fact, according to Edmunds AutoObserver, many new 2009 models -- including SUVs like the 2009 Audi Q7, 2009 Buick Enclave, and 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid can be had at the same or lower cost than their used equivalents.
If you're shopping the lots this holiday season and you haven't checked out TheCarConnection's Car Compare Tool, now would be a great time to give it a spin. You can take a side-by-side look at your favorite rides and sort by price, fuel-economy -- and of course, the ratings of TCC's review experts. Hey, it's the least we can offer you this holiday season.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Driven: 2010 Subaru Outback
In Portland and Seattle, or throughout the coastal or mountain backcountry of the Pacific Northwest, you won't have to look long to find a Subaru Outback. They're every which way you look, in the driveways of everyone from windsurfers to skiers to antiquing empty nesters. And if there's an official car of this region, this is it.
With the relative ubiquity of this model, it didn't take long to feel at home behind the wheel of a 2010 Outback. Elsewhere in the country, we had to keep in mind, the Outback is still more of a niche vehicle—although the automaker is hoping to broaden its base with this completely redesigned Outback.
At first take, the new Outback looks and feels surprisingly big—even compared to the new 2010 Legacy sedan on which it's based. But the proportions are somehow deceiving; the new Outback has three inches more wheelbase, and it's several inches taller, while overall length is virtually the same. And from the outside, it actually looks a bit like the Subaru Tribeca crossover—albeit with a slightly lower roofline and more carlike stance.
Thanks to the longer wheelbase and higher roof, the Outback is significantly more spacious than the previous version, especially when it comes to back seat legroom. Front seats in the 2010 Outback have copious amounts of legroom, while tall adults will find plenty of legroom and headroom in the back seat. There's no third row, however if you're stepping out of a crossover SUV like a Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander, you're going to find just as much useful interior space.
First Drive: 2011 Kia Sorento
- What is it?: A new crossover aimed between the Honda CR-V and Honda Pilot, among others
- The basics: A smoothly rounded shape, V-6 power and available all-wheel drive
- On sale: January 2010
- Price: $20,000 base (est.)
Earlier this week, TheCarConnection was among the first dozen journalists to drive the new 2011 Kia Sorento, a crossover that's sure to cause some heartburn for the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Despite some flooding in Georgia that abbreviated the test route, and the availability of only the six-cylinder Sorento, our drive confirmed a few things. Most importantly, that the Sorento's repositioned size and mission cuts across the crossover class in a useful way, and its first-rate execution continues the string of hits that's included the 2010 Kia Soul and 2010 Kia Forte.
The Sorento used to be a frame-rail, truck-based SUV, but no more. Now it's a crossover based on car pieces--and it's a close relative of the current Hyundai Santa Fe, also built in the deep South about 90 miles from the Sorento's new home in West Point, Georgia. For $1 billion, Kia's built a new plant that's set to build 300,000 vehicles a year in the medium term, with the Sorento accounting for a third to half of that volume. (More to come on this later today).
With the new body and new plant, the Sorento has a new task. Bluntly put, it's to take a chunk out of Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 sales. To do that, Kia's outfitted it with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines, which trumps the CR-V's sole four-cylinder. And it's also installing third-row seats on the highest-trim Sorento, which throws down the challenge to the three-row RAV4. In the process, the Sorento tangles with all sorts of crossovers sized and priced vaguely close--the list includes the Ford Edge, the Mazda CX-7, the Chevrolet Equinox, even the Nissan Murano and Toyota Highlander.
On style, the 2011 Sorento makes big gains with a nicely proportioned look that draws on Kia cars for its grille and headlamps, and bigger crossovers for its rear quarters. The Sorento sits lower now, and it's taken on some of the cues from Kia's passenger cars, like the "Schreyer line" named for the chief designer Peter Schreyer, that splits headlamps from its grille. The cabin is defined by a somewhat imposing dash with three big oval gauges and a center stack with a large LCD screen flanked by big vents. It's clean, but the plastics on the dash and doors are hard and have a large grain, and some versions have grey-toned artificial wood that sits at the crossroads of Nice Try Street and No You Really Shouldn't Have Boulevard.
Kia offered us a six-cylinder, automatic-equipped Sorento for our test drive--with four-cylinders in the pipeline for a major media drive next month. We were confined to I-85 thanks to the floods in the Atlanta area, but got enough seat time to confirm the V-6's supple howl, smart passing power and the somewhat slow responses of the Kia homegrown six-speed automatic. A pair of paddles for shifting would be welcome, though there is already a manual-shift mode on the console. Kia promises 20/28 mpg with this combination, which probably makes the four-cylinder's 21/29 mpg a choice only for the very price-conscious shopper. Ride and handling are softer than the RAV4 and CR-V, with a touch of rumble on rippled interstates, but the Sorento's one of the typically predictable handlers that make crossovers so much better than big, trucky SUVs. It feels failsafe, and the optional all-wheel drive underscores its new emphasis on safety. Kia's predicting five-star safety for the Sorento, but the NHTSA hasn't had one to crash yet.
The general right-sizing of the Sorento means more interior room and a take-it-or-leave-it third-row seat. Front and second-row passengers can be full-sized adults and still not feel cheated; there's Equinox-sized space here, with about a half-inch of headroom for six-footers in back, sitting beneath the new panoramic sunroof. The third-row seat is off-limits for the middle-aged man--the cushion's on the floor, and with reclining second-row seats, it's impossible to see anyone over 12 years old making a willing choice to sit back there. It is flexible for kiddie carpools, though, and the third row folds flat to open up a big cargo space with a decently low cargo floor and a hidden storage space below the floor itself. Initial build quality, particularly from a brand-new vehicle in a brand-new plant, is encouraging.
There's more to come with the Sorento--in fact, we've published our 2011 Kia Sorento Bottom Line while we wait to sample the four-cylinder version. While we toil, you can see a raft of photos and related news over at our 2011 Kia Sorento page. And stay tuned: as soon as we've updated other reviews, we'll pit the Sorento against the RAV4, CR-V, Equinox and CX-7 in a playoff round to find out which crossover's best for you.
TheCarConnection's Bottom Line: The 2011 Kia Sorento takes a right turn in its transition from off-roader to all-weather wagon: it's sized right, timed right, and packaged right.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2010 Honda Pilot Rolls In – Blink And You’ll Miss It
The Honda Pilot underwent a major update only last year, with the mid-size SUV receiving a complete redesign, new trim levels and a more efficient powertrain. Not surprisingly, Honda has decided to leave the vehicle untouched for the 2010 model year, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot going for it.
Up against strong competitors like the Ford Edge, the popular Toyota Highlander, and the all-new Chevrolet Equinox, the 2010 Honda Pilot relies on its already strong reputation for efficiency, comfort, and quality, combining the appearance of a tough SUV with the practicality of a crossover.
Standard features across the line include a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine equipped with Honda's cylinder shutdown technology and delivering a peak output of 250 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. This is matched to a five-speed automatic, with standard 2WD or optional 4WD modes available across the range. Emissions meet CARB's ULEV-2 rating, and the Pilot delivers fuel economy of 17/23/19 mpg (city/highway/combined) in 2WD guise, while the 4WD model slides in just below at 16/22/18 mpg. A 21-gallon fuel tank can comfortably provide a driving range of more than 400 miles on the highway.
The Pilot is once again available in four model choices (LX, EX, EX-L and Touring), each offered with standard air-conditioning, cruise control, a seven-speaker CD stereo, and 17-inch wheels. Inside, the vehicle emphasizes an expansive feel with an efficient and modern design that supplies 152.7 cubic feet of passenger space within three rows of seats offering plenty of space for up to eight adults.
All models, starting with the base LX, are also equipped with a standard towing receiver and a maximum tow rating of 4,500 pounds on 4WD models and 3,500 pounds on 2WD models. Other features include a tailgate with a lift-up glass hatch that makes quick access to the back of the vehicle easier, as well as hill-start assist to keep your rear bumper off the hood of the car behind you in steep driving.
EX adds a tri-zone automatic climate control system with humidity control and air filtration, a power driver's seat with ten-way power adjustment with lumbar support, six-disc in-dash CD changer, XM Satellite Radio, body colored side mirrors and door handles, and roof rails.
Opt for the Pilot EX-L and you also get leather trim, a four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, a moonroof, a rear view camera, and an optional 9-inch display screen and DVD entertainment system.
Topping out the range is the Touring model, which adds satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, a power tailgate and an optional rear-seat DVD entertainment system as well.
Aesthetically, the Pilot has always been a very boxy but mildly styled SUV—not a rugged, brutish brick like a Hummer, but more of a tall wagon. That car-like demeanor is what helped the first-generation Pilot break ground in the crossover SUV category back in 2002, and fortunately the latest model still has some of the visual appeal of a more rugged off-roader while holding on to its excellent ride quality and moderate size.
Prices rise slightly across the line for the 2010 Honda Pilot, now ranging from $27,895 for the 2WD Pilot LX to $38,645 for the 4WD Pilot Touring, excluding $710 destination.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
