Edmunds Daily
Comparison Road Tests
November 14, 2009
By Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
Photos by Scott Jacobs
"You get what you pay for." We all imbibed that maxim at our parents' knees, and experience tends to bear it out. The automotive marketplace is no exception: while upstart offerings may advertise extra bang for the buck, established models generally make for more satisfying purchases. But every now and then, a car like the all-new 2010 Kia Forte SX comes along and threatens to turn conventional wisdom on its ear.
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- Josh Sadlier November 14, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Comparison Road Tests, Kia, Mazda
September 14, 2009
By Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor
Photos by Kurt Niebuhr
What do you get when you pit the least expensive sedan in the market against the least expensive hatchback? For starters, you get zero radios and six window cranks, but happily, the story doesn't end there -- in the end, you wind up with more than you'd likely expect from this humblest of segments.
Both choices in our ultra-low-budget-economy-car comparison -- the Hyundai Accent GS Base hatchback and the Nissan Versa 1.6 sedan -- are available for thousands less than you'd pay for a base-model Honda Fit. Of course, sacrifices had to be made in the pursuit of such extreme frugality. The Versa was equipped with optional air-conditioning and antilock brakes, but the Accent wasn't. And as mentioned, neither car had a radio or power accessories like windows, locks and mirrors.
So there is some compromise involved, but with these cars, you won't have to compromise too much -- low price doesn't always go hand-in-hand with low quality.
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- James Riswick September 14, 2009, 12:00 AM
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- Comparison Road Tests, Hyundai, Nissan
August 31, 2009
By John DiPietro, Automotive Editor
Crossover versus station wagon. It has become as heated an argument among our staff as The Simpsons versus South Park or iPhone versus BlackBerry, and nowhere is it more fiercely fought than over a pair of siblings: the 2009 Audi Q5 crossover and the 2009 Audi A4 Avant wagon.
For the uninitiated, a crossover (or CUV) is essentially a car-based SUV as opposed to a traditional, truck-based SUV (such as a Chevy Tahoe). A crossover retains the latter's high seating position but typically boasts superior handling, better acceleration and braking, and higher fuel economy. In other words, no longer does SUV stand for "Slow, Unathletic Vehicle." For that matter, no longer does a station wagon scream "suburbia!" as it might've back in the days of Chevy Caprices and Volvo 240s.
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- James Riswick August 31, 2009, 1:00 AM
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- Audi, Comparison Road Tests
August 13, 2009
Americans don't like wagons. Never mind about the killer combination of versatility and drivability; coolness counts in this country, and the old-fashioned station wagon hasn't been hip since the mullet went out of style. But now traditional body-on-frame SUVs have fallen from grace as well, victims of volatile gas prices, inherent packaging inefficiencies and a burgeoning sense that bigger isn't always better. That's where so-called crossovers come in: car-like underneath but SUV-like in appearance and elevation, they're the latest in wagons for those who wouldn't be caught dead in one.
Our quarry in this Edmunds Comparison Test is the best new entrant in the rapidly expanding Compact Luxury Crossover segment. The field consists of four notables that have joined the ranks within the past year: the 2009 Audi Q5, 2010 Cadillac SRX, 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 and 2010 Volvo XC60. Since we limited ourselves to rookies, respected veterans like the Acura RDX, BMW X3 and Infiniti EX35 went uninvited. As for the redesigned 2010 Lexus RX350, we determined that its midsize interior dimensions and doughy ride would clash with this crew's intimate cabins and capable suspenders.
Shoppers in this segment want more than just typical crossover virtues like good visibility, secure handling and stout styling. They're also after an upscale cabin, premium features and confident power. Practicality counts, too, and that includes price, as these "CUVs" start at less than $40,000 -- well shy of cost-no-object territory. Details below on our winner by a hair, our loser in a landslide, and the wholly respectable tie for second place.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier August 13, 2009, 12:00 AM
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- Audi, Cadillac, Comparison Road Tests, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo
July 19, 2009
By James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Photos by Kurt Niebuhr
The sedan has always been the vehicle that drives America. Wagons, trucks, minivans, SUVs and crossovers have each had their day, but the traditional family sedan has stood the test of time, accounting for nearly 2.2 million sales last year. Today's batch is better than ever, but the choices are varied, and differences are sometimes difficult to discern. After all, most have roughly the same dimensions and deliver the same sort of performance, and many even look similar to the untrained eye. Moreover, all five participants in this test scored five stars in the government's frontal and side-impact crash tests.
So which is the best midsize family sedan for the greatest number of car buyers? And which cater to specific buyers? To find out, we compared the top sedans that have been recently updated, namely the 2010 Ford Fusion and 2009 Hyundai Sonata, along with three we've rated highly in previous testing: the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2009 Honda Accord and 2009 Mazda 6. The 2009 Nissan Altima was invited, but there wasn't one available in Nissan's press fleet. And that's correct, no Toyota Camry. It finished a distant last in the two Inside Line comparison tests it participated in (four-cylinder test, six-cylinder test), and was universally panned by our six real-world consumer testers. Great sales don't necessarily equal a great car.
Each of the cars on hand features the most powerful V6 engine available. We readily admit that the four-cylinder versions of family sedans are the volume sellers, but most media outlets aren't interested in volume sellers, so finding enough four-cylinder models in manufacturer press fleets proved to be an impossible task. However, many of the conclusions regarding these vehicles apply regardless of engine choice.
After a lengthy comparison drive, a full day of track testing, two weeks of real-world driving and a few hours of number crunching, the results were in -- and they may surprise you.
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- James Riswick July 19, 2009, 11:00 PM
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- Comparison Road Tests
June 28, 2009
Once upon a time, family vehicle choices were limited to humungous station wagons with fake wood panels. Today, you can get a wagon, a minivan, a Suburban-like truck-based SUV, a crossover SUV, or something that bridges the gap between them all.
With fears of rising gas prices and growing environmental concerns, traditional SUVs -- like the Toyota Sequoia, which lost to the Honda Odyssey and GMC Acadia in Inside Line's Crossover vs Minivan vs SUV comparison test last year -- are falling out of favor. Meanwhile, the new 2009 Ford Flex has redefined "crossover" by being more like those station wagons of old -- only cool. So we decided to run the comparison test again, this time replacing the Sequoia with the Flex for a proper battle of leading family haulers.
Which is the best choice for the majority of American car buyers? And which is best for more specific family types? Not to spoil the surprise, but in the end, first and third place were separated by fewer than 2 points on the final scoring sheet, and even the "last" place finisher will appeal to many. Each had its specific high points and low points. Sorry, but there are no losers here.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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- James Riswick June 28, 2009, 10:00 PM
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- Comparison Road Tests
June 7, 2009
"The so-called German spirit," groused Nietzsche in 1888. "For the past 18 years a contradiction in terms."
Pity he didn't live to see BMW's 2009 convertible lineup.
Among contemporary droptops, it's the American spirit that's increasingly a contradiction in terms, whereas BMW and its Mini and Rolls-Royce brands have quietly amassed the most spirited collection of convertibles in the world. With roofless versions of the Mini Cooper, 1 Series, 3 Series and 6 Series, as well as the Z4 and incomparable Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, the Bavarian juggernaut now offers al fresco motoring for every budget.
For this test, we assembled our usual four-man comparison team and selected two of the most affordable topless options under the BMW umbrella: a 2009 BMW 128i and a 2009 Mini Cooper S. We commuted in them, abused them on winding canyon roads, wedged bulky items into their boots, and steadfastly resisted the temptation to cruise four-deep through Venice Beach in the Cooper with "M-I-N-I" painted on our bare chests.
After two weeks of evaluation, we had an undisputed winner on our scoring sheet, yet we'd unanimously recommend buying the loser if you can. More on which below.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier June 7, 2009, 3:00 PM
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- BMW, Comparison Road Tests, MINI
May 31, 2009
There's nothing glamorous about small economy cars. No wicked styling, no shove-you-into-the-seat performance, no "gee, you never see one of those" exclusivity. But that's not their mission. Low running cost, practicality and park-ability are the reasons people buy cars like this. Though these puppies won't win you some thumbs up from your buddies or sideways glances from the opposite gender, they could warm your heart with their commendable usability, fuel economy and ownership experience.
To determine which one of these little doggies you should take home, we assembled one four-door hatchback from each of the "Big 3" of Japan: the 2009 Honda Fit Sport, the 2009 Nissan Cube S, and the 2009 Toyota Yaris S. Lest you get excited by the "S" and "Sport" trim levels designations, know that they're essentially eye candy packages consisting of fancy wheels and spoilers. With the Fit Sport's exception of slightly larger tires and the addition of a rear stabilizer bar, there are no significant suspension or tire upgrades here.
This dogfight involved living with these cars for a week, subjecting them to a variety of driving conditions and a 27-point evaluation form that encompassed everything from engine performance to instrument panel layout. The test pilots consisted of editors John DiPietro, James Riswick and Josh Sadlier.
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- John DiPietro May 31, 2009, 11:00 PM
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- Comparison Road Tests
- Technorati Tags:
- 2009 Honda Fit, 2009 Nissan Cube, 2009 Toyota Yaris, Comparison Test, Economy Cars
May 11, 2009
Back in early March, months of planning and logistics that could put NASA to shame came together in an incredibly in-depth comparison test of four popular full-sized trucks. The smackdown consisted of four tow-equipped, crew cab models: the Chevrolet Silverado LTZ 4WD Crew Cab, Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 4WD Crew, Ford F-150 Lariat 4WD SuperCrew and Toyota Tundra SR5 4WD CrewMax.
The full story on Inside Line gave the overall win to the Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie, but as the story notes, the margin of victory to last place was incredibly slim. Some of the competitors excelled in certain areas but lagged in others, and we'd like to take the time to point out these traits for consumers that have a narrower focus on what they need from a truck. Keep in mind too, that some trucks offer options that may even-things up or possibly change the final rankings. For this exercise, we're comparing the models as they were delivered to us.
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- Mark Takahashi May 11, 2009, 8:01 AM
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- Chevrolet, Comparison Road Tests, Dodge, Ford, Toyota
- Technorati Tags:
- 4x4, Chevrolet, Comparison Test, Dodge, Ford, Full-Size Pickup Trucks, Towing, Toyota
March 29, 2009
When the half-baked first generation of Cadillac's CTS luxury sedan gave way to the crisp, mature, refined second-generation model in 2008, we breathed a patriotic sigh of relief. Here, finally, was a no-apologies high-end American car that could go toe to toe with the world's best. The styling was on point inside and out, the cabin materials were up to snuff, and lo and behold, the performance was there, too, thanks to countless chassis-tuning laps on the famed Nurburgring and a sophisticated available 3.6-liter direct-injected V6. We added one to our long-term fleet in March of 2008, and the experience has mostly left us marveling at how good the folks at GM can be when they put their minds (and money) to it.
But that was then, and this is the year of the Genesis. That's what Hyundai calls its new segment-busting premium four-door, and as the name implies, it constitutes an assault of biblical proportions on the luxury sedan status quo. With a base price of $32,250, the V6-powered Genesis 3.8 undercuts the base price of a 2009 CTS DI V6 by more than $6,000 while matching its acceleration numbers. "Too good to be true," the naysayers will cry -- but certainly not too good to join our long-term ranks, and that's precisely what a silver 2009 Genesis 3.8 did earlier this month.
With the long-rumored cagematch between the Smart and Mr. Romans' tricycle on indefinite hold, we agreed that no other pair of wheeled conveyances in our possession was more deserving of a comparison test than this one. Accordingly, your intrepid narrator rounded up three of the usual suspects -- Automotive Editors John DiPietro and James Riswick, and Associate Editor Mark Takahashi -- and we headed for the hills and highways, notepads and stereo-testing CDs in hand. Neither car disappointed, but one consistently outshined the other. Identities revealed below.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier March 29, 2009, 9:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Comparison Road Tests, Test Cars and Car Reviews
February 2, 2009
It's become an ongoing head-to-head battle on par with Yankees-Red Sox. Or Jefferson-Adams, Ginger-Mary Ann or Godzilla-Rodan. Since Subaru and Mitsubishi finally brought the piece de resistance editions of their respective rally-bred sedans, the Impreza WRX STI and Lancer Evolution have fought for the hearts, minds, track space and wallets of young car nuts everywhere. They've also battled for supremacy in comparison tests, including one on Edmunds Inside Line featuring the Subaru WRX STI and both versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo (MR and GSR).
Yet, none that we know of have been devoted to car shoppers, where every-day driving/ownership is given as much weight as how much quicker the Evo lapped the Streets of Willow race circuit. So we did it. Ever wonder which one is better to haul your family of four to Grandma's house? Well, read on (although as performance cars, we still recognized you'll be getting to Grandma's house on some form of twisty back road).
The Subaru STI on hand is a fully-loaded example with the BBS & Navigation Package that includes silver BBS wheels, fog lights, a navigation system and upgraded stereo. Like all STI models, it is a four-door hatchback and features a six-speed manual transmission. The 2008 Mitsubishi Evo is of the MR variety, which indicates that it features Mitsu's fancy new TC-SST dual-clutch automated manual transmission. The MR also adds (compared to the traditional manual-equipped GSR) BBS wheels, softer shock absorbers and springs, xenon lights, a bigger rear wing, Bluetooth and steering wheel audio controls. Both vehicles are similarly equipped and similarly priced.
Let's get ready to rumble.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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- James Riswick February 2, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Comparison Road Tests
January 11, 2009
We can guess what some of you are thinking: "Look at that! Honda went and built a Prius!"
Not necessarily. Honda's Insight hybrid actually came to these shores before the Toyota Prius. It even had the high rear hatch with the vertical peek-a-boo glass panel between the taillights from Day One. That no one remembers this is due to the fact that the original Insight was a weird-looking 2-seater that was impractical for the masses. Honda sold only 18,000 of them worldwide over a 6-year run.
Understandably, Honda wanted its new Insight to have broad-based appeal. They wanted to build a hybrid that didn't harbor any eccentricities. And they wanted to sell some 90,000 of them per year. To do this they had to morph the Insight into a 4-door, 5-passenger machine. The 2010 Honda Insight you see above is the result. But comparisons to the Toyota Prius are inevitable. How would this new Insight measure-up to the current king-of-the-hill? We recently pitted the two against each other to find out.
Final pricing for the 2010 Honda Insight won't be released until we get closer to the April 22, 2009 on-sale date, but an Insight is expected to go for several thousand less than a comparably-equipped 2009 Toyota Prius. In this case, the desire to compare on an equivalent equipment basis means we've matched the top-level 2010 Honda Insight EX Navi against a 2009 Toyota Prius with package #5 -- loaded, but without leather seats.
We put these cars head-to-head at our test track, compared them back-to-back on the road and ran them nose-to-tail through the same 197-mile fuel economy test loop. Then we poked, prodded and evaluated them side-by-side using our 27-point evaluation sheet. And yes, we also factored-in the expected price difference. After crunching all of that data, which of these dedicated hybrids do you suppose came out on top?
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing
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- Dan Edmunds January 11, 2009, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Car Buying, Comparison Road Tests, Fuel Economy
- Technorati Tags:
- fuel economy, gas mileage, Honda Insight, Hybrid, Toyota Prius
December 29, 2008
Even with uncertain economic times and crazily fluctuating gas prices, we're going to bet that the crossover SUV is here to stay. They now come in all shapes and sizes, while seating between five and eight passengers. This test concerns the five-passenger midsize group, the one that effectively replaces those truck-based models from the 1990s that launched the SUV craze. These are the bread-and-butter crossovers, but amongst 2009 Nissan Murano, 2009 Toyota Venza V6 and 2009 Ford Edge which one excels in the most areas?
Each vehicle was similarly priced and equipped. The Murano was all-wheel-drive, while the other two were front drivers. We ran each crossover through our usual gamut of testing and utilized the same comparison scoring system as Inside Line, with the exception of final score weighting, which we adjusted to reflect a more consumer-oriented perspective.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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- James Riswick December 29, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Comparison Road Tests
November 24, 2008
So you've got about $40 grand to play with, and...wait a minute. Actually, these days you probably don't. For that matter, neither do I or my cohorts in this comparative venture, Automotive Editor John DiPietro and Associate Editor Mark Takahashi. Nonetheless, what would you do if a 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD, a 2009 Infiniti G37 Journey and a 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion magically appeared in your garage?
You'd grab the keys and head for the hills, that's what. And that's exactly what the three of us did. We mapped out a 22-mile driving loop through the Santa Monica mountains and hot-lapped it three times, switching cars after each circuit. Then we sat down with our ratings sheets, ordered up some bloody burgers and debated the virtues and vices of each ride.
Truth be told, there wasn't much disagreement. In fact, the final rankings were unanimous. Read on to find out how these midsize sport sedans stack up -- and don't be afraid to tell us what you think.
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- Josh Sadlier November 24, 2008, 10:15 AM
- Categories:
- Acura, Auto Leasing, Car Buying, Comparison Road Tests, Infiniti, Life with Cars, Volkswagen
