Edmunds Daily
Weekly Top 3
November 6, 2009
Thus far, the Kia Sorento hasn't made much of a name for itself in the overcrowded world of SUVs. Saddled with an outdated body-on-frame design and excessive girth throughout its first generation (2003-09), the Sorento aimed for both off-roaders and suburbanites -- and ended up impressing neither.
But as Hyundai/Kia products are wont to do, the Sorento is stepping up its game in a big way for generation two, which goes on sale as a 2011 model in January. The new Sorento shares its unibody platform with the Hyundai Santa Fe, and it should start just under $20,000. Three more reasons why you should care are a single click away.
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- Josh Sadlier November 6, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Kia, Weekly Top 3
October 30, 2009
This week's column comes courtesy of item (1) below, which has blown our collective mind with its all-around competence. Used to be that automakers would take years or even decades to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, but now we see revolutionary changes occurring from one model cycle to the next. Hyundai started it, and now other automakers are following suit. I can think of three, that's right, three recent cars in particular that we've found to be enormously better than expected.
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- Josh Sadlier October 30, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
October 23, 2009
Technology's a great thing, though I'll admit I'm not exactly an "early adopter" as I prefer to wait until bugs are worked out and prices come down. For example, I finally bought a flat screen (LCD) TV this year, and am happy to say it works great and cost about half of what it would've been two or three years ago.
As far as tech features in cars, there are many that are useful and more than justify their existence (e.g. Bluetooth, navigation, park assist). Some however, seem to be technology for technology's sake. Or just plain gimmicky. Follow the jump for my top 3 (in no special order) of these geekoid embarrassments.
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- John DiPietro October 23, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Automotive Technology, Weekly Top 3
October 16, 2009
So we've been working on our 2010 Edmunds Buying Guide this week (the 2009 edition lives here), and it's been an eye-opening experience. There's truly something for everyone these days, from hemp-gnawing environmentalists to unrepentant gearheads. There's also a clairvoyant Edmunds editor who claims to know the future.
Accordingly, three automotive megatrends for 2010, coming right up.
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- Josh Sadlier October 16, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
October 9, 2009
So much of the car-buying process comes down to brand reputation. "Get a Toyota, it's reliable." "If you want something sporty, go with Honda." "American cars are garbage." Bits of conventional wisdom like these can make or break a deal, even though all three statements are outdated and highly misleading.
Automakers have changed a lot in recent years, and it's time for their reputations to catch up. Here's three examples.
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- Josh Sadlier October 9, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
October 2, 2009
If you've kind of lost interest in Acuras since they ditched the Integra/RSX and NSX and started slapping bionic beaks on every fascia in sight, well, here's some news you may have missed: the 2010 Acura ZDX is coming, and it's like no Acura ever before.
This five-passenger crossover SUV employs the venerable MDX crossover's platform, but it's got a lower seating position, and its shape is more akin to that of a fastback coupe. Yes, the Acura people were throwing around the c-word at a press event I attended yesterday, and no, a vehicle with four conventional doors cannot be a coupe no matter how many times they say so. But the ZDX certainly looks...special, and with a base price in the mid-$40s, it's a potentially interesting alternative to a wide range of luxury vehicles.
Three items of specific interest, coming right up.
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- Josh Sadlier October 2, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Acura, Weekly Top 3
September 25, 2009
So my dear friend The Professor bought a car last weekend -- a 2007 Mazda 3 hatchback with 23,000 miles. It was a private sale, and he got a doozy of a price: $13,400, well below our TMV.
Before closing the deal, though, he decided to check out the offerings at the enormous nearby Mazda dealership in Van Nuys with a name beginning with "G," which shall remain nameless. I tagged along. We asked the used car salesman a simple question: "Got any used Mazda 3 hatchbacks with automatic transmissions?"
You won't believe what this guy said in response.
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- Josh Sadlier September 25, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Used Cars, Weekly Top 3
September 18, 2009
Yes, this 300-horsepower, twin-turbocharged Nissan 300ZX qualified as a "clunker." A belated nominee for Riswick's "Keep Your Clunkers" list. That's one thing that always struck me as silly about the Cash for Clunkers program: there were a bunch of cars on there (see Riswick's column) that I seriously doubt anyone would think of trading in.
Silliness aside, there are some real questions to ask about this episode. Here's three for your consideration.
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- Josh Sadlier September 18, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
September 11, 2009
I'm not a fan of the way the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies went down. The case of GM is particularly vexing: billions of taxpayer dollars later, we've still got members of the old guard calling the shots. Maybe we should have saved our money and let 'em go bankrupt the hard way, eh?
Nonetheless, there are some signs that Detroit is finally getting it. Well, GM and Ford, at any rate; the most notable news out of Chrysler lately has been the removal of the hood strakes from the 2010 Sebring, a godsend for car-renting aesthetes across the country. Seriously, though, GM and Ford have been making moves. Here's three encouraging signs of life.
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- Josh Sadlier September 11, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Weekly Top 3
September 4, 2009
At any given horsepower point, turbocharged engines use significantly less fuel than their naturally aspirated counterparts. At least, that's the conventional wisdom these days. Ford even goes so far as to slap "EcoBoost" labels on its turbocharged vehicles. Eco-nomy! Get it?
No, I don't. Not yet. Not based on the current offerings. Automakers can talk all they want about the theoretical efficiency benefits of turbocharging, but the proof is in the pudding, and thus far I haven't seen much. Here's three reasons to be skeptical.
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- Josh Sadlier September 4, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Fuel Economy, Weekly Top 3
August 28, 2009
For some diehard car guys, stating your favorite car designers is akin to proclaiming your favorite bands. Whole-hearted agreement and irksome responses such as "How could you leave out so-and-so?" are bound to follow. Long a student of automotive sculpture, I spent much of my high school (and college) study halls reading about and drawing cars -- both actual models and ones of my own overzealous design. Yes, I considered becoming a designer, but realized that, for me, being a journalist and getting to drive and write about all the new cars would be even better.
But enough about that -- follow the jump for my "Big 3" of American automotive design.
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- John DiPietro August 28, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
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- Top American Car Designers
August 21, 2009
Like Neo in The Matrix, we Edmunds journalists lead two lives. As diehard automotive enthusiasts and regular contributors to the Long-Term Blog, we spend much of our time chasing down the finer points of cars, particularly sporting ones. But we're also responsible for writing consumer-friendly model reviews of every car on the road, and we know the usual enthusiast jargon won't fly there, since many consumers are about as interested in sports cars as I am in knitting needles.
So when I have my model review hat on, I'm often identifying aspects of a car's performance that the average shopper rarely pays attention to. Here's three I've come up with -- check 'em out and see if you can add more.
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- Josh Sadlier August 21, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
August 14, 2009
I logged a lot of miles recently in a front-wheel-drive 2010 Cadillac SRX with the 3.0-liter V6, and I emerged with a scowl. "Now that's Old GM," I grumbled to anyone within earshot. "New GM just gave us an Old GM product." Why? Because the SRX is just too similar to relatives like the Saturn Vue and Chevrolet Equinox to be special. It's not remotely as bad as the unparalleled Cadillac Cimarron, but I won't lie to you -- the word Cimarron did occasionally come to mind during my time with the SRX.
This episode got me to thinking about parts-sharing between standard and premium brands. Everyone does it, of course, but some pull it off with more success than others. Here's three basic rules I'd like to see every parts-sharing automaker follow.
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- Josh Sadlier August 14, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
August 7, 2009
I drive (read: hold hostage in the bowels of the company garage) a 2001 Honda Prelude, which has something in common with every Honda car ever: it's not on the Cash for Clunkers Eligible Used Vehicles list.
But I've always kind of wanted a 1993 Acura Legend GS (above) -- you know, the one with the six-speed manual and 230-horsepower "Type II" V6 and shiny wheels. And that's on the list.
So let's suppose I had that Legend instead, and I felt like getting in on this Cash for Clunkers action. Want to know which car I'd trade it in on from the Eligible New Vehicles list? Sure you do. In fact, you want three.
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- Josh Sadlier August 7, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Fuel Economy, Vehicle Incentives and Rebates, Weekly Top 3
July 31, 2009
Spend enough time in this industry and you'll get pretty good at predicting what a new model is going to feel like. Chances are you're familiar with the platform and powertrain from other applications, and you'll probably be able put the rest together from the way the car's marketed -- "Great for Grandma!", "Fast and Furious!", "So Cheap We're Privately Embarrassed!", et cetera.
But every now and then an evaluation drive reduces me to bemused muttering, a la Neo in The Matrix: "No way. No way. This is crazy." I racked my brain for examples. As luck would have it, I came up with three.
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- Josh Sadlier July 31, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
July 24, 2009
So I was in Detroit earlier this week for Ford's 2010 model rollout. And if you're experiencing a vague sense of deja vu, then you are officially a diehard fan of the Weekly Top 3. I did this last year, too, and in that post I mentioned three of Ford's projections for 2010. Now that I've got the inside info, let's see how those projections turned out.
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- Josh Sadlier July 24, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Ford, Weekly Top 3
July 17, 2009
I'm not completely convinced that California is the ultimate sightseer's road trip state, but I'd say it's at least in the running with Arizona, New Mexico, and maybe Utah and Colorado. Trust me, I've done my due diligence on this one. As for top scenic destinations within California, it's hard to pick just three, but hey, we don't call it the Weekly Top 3 for nothing. Read on, and then tell me some favorites of yours that I left out.
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- Josh Sadlier July 17, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
July 10, 2009
In the past few weeks I've had the privilege of driving not one, not two, but all three of the Cayennereg7 siblings, culminating with a romp in the preposterous Cayenne Turbo S yesterday. And it really has been a privilege. These are three of the most luxurious and capable SUVs on the planet. It's a testament to how good their shared platform is that it still feels remarkably tight and robust by current standards despite having debuted way back in 2004.
But it's time to play favorites. If I had $150,000 in my car account and this particular trio of SUVs to choose from -- Audi Q7 TDI, Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Volkswagen Touareg 2 V6 TDI -- here's the top three ways I'd spend it.
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- Josh Sadlier July 10, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Audi, Volkswagen, Weekly Top 3
July 3, 2009
As all you diehard Weekly Top 3 fans will recall (come on, I know you're out there, you silent majority you!), I was pretty smitten with the new Volkswagen Touareg 2 V6 TDI after driving it to San Francisco and back. But the Touareg's theoretically the runt of this litter, upstaged by its Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne platform-mates. Now, there's no Cayenne diesel, so I'll spare you my "OMG I <3 this car!" paean to the Porsche.
There is a Q7 TDI, though, and it just so happens to share the Vee-Dub's powertrain. And I just so happened to snag the keys to one last weekend for my sojourn in California's ancient bristlecone pine forest.
Three reasons why I'd buy the Touareg TDI instead, coming right up.
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- Josh Sadlier July 3, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Audi, Volkswagen, Weekly Top 3
June 26, 2009
Driving a different car every night is like being a doctor: after a while, you've seen all the body types in existence, you're familiar with the full spectrum of capabilities and tradeoffs, and your job becomes less about emotional engagement and more about understanding each specimen in the context of the species as a whole.
Nonetheless, I can still think of a few cars we've tested that tugged at my heartstrings when they left the garage. If I were a betting man, I'd put my chips on there being exactly three.
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- Josh Sadlier June 26, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
June 19, 2009
Okay, so I didn't have a chance to do that. But I did get to know the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2 TDI pretty well when I drove one to the Bay Area and back last weekend. "TDI" is VW-speak for "turbodiesel," and the '09 Touareg 2's got a great one. It's the latest lesson the Germans have given us anti-diesel Americans on why diesel's dope.
But the diesel thing isn't the only reason why I think the Touareg 2 TDI is almost the perfect SUV. In point of fact, it's just one of three.
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- Josh Sadlier June 19, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Volkswagen, Weekly Top 3
June 12, 2009
"What's a Kia Forte?"
I knew you'd ask. And ye shall receive.
The Forte is Kia's new entry in the compact sedan segment (Corolla, Civic, Mazda 3, etc.). It shares a platform with the Hyundai Elantra, and it replaces the not-so-dearly departed Kia Spectra, which was known for bargain-basement pricing and little else. The Forte aims to maintain Kia's customary affordability while adding appealing style and competitive feature content and performance.
Having attended a Forte press event in Seattle earlier this week, I've got three things to say about that.
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- Josh Sadlier June 12, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Kia, Weekly Top 3
June 5, 2009
It's heartening to hear that Ford will bring its excellent Euro-spec Fiesta and Focus compacts to the US market by early next year. Too often, though, Europeans get the good stuff while we're stuck with the dregs (e.g., the current Focus). Here are the three Euro-only models I miss the most.
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- Josh Sadlier June 5, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- BMW, Ford, Smart, Weekly Top 3
May 29, 2009
Faced with imminent bankruptcy and revamped federal fuel economy standards, General Motors will likely be forced to nix many of its niche vehicles in favor of volume-selling, fuel-efficient small and midsize cars. Some won't be missed, but I say the following three deserve a new lease on life, even while the fallen Detroit giant struggles for air.
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- Josh Sadlier May 29, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Weekly Top 3
May 22, 2009
Among other things, the long Memorial Day weekend means that automotive hacks like us get an extra day with our temporary rides. Mine will be a Mini Cooper S Convertible, if you're wondering, which I'm not completely enthused about. Ah, I suppose there are worse fates than rolling in a lime-banana-colored Mini ragtop for three days. But I do wish I were signed up for our current 2009 Chevrolet Corvette loaner instead.
And no, that's not just because the Mini lacks gravitas. I dig the base Corvette, I really do. It doesn't get a lot of love in these parts -- "It has leaf springs?!", "Why can I pull the interior apart by hand?", "Why can I press the rear fascia six inches inward with my pinky?", and so on -- but I don't think its somewhat seedy reputation is deserved.
Here's three reasons why.
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- Josh Sadlier May 22, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Weekly Top 3
May 15, 2009
Most vehicles seem to be priced about right these days, but this week I've got three that are priced really, really wrong. Let's get straight to it, shall we?
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- Josh Sadlier May 15, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Weekly Top 3
May 8, 2009
Awhile ago I wrote a piece on what I called "the 'ABP' (All But Platform) design movement." The 2010 Ford Fusion was my featured example. "It looks different inside and out," I noted, "and its powertrains have been revised. But underneath, it's basically the same car as the 2009 model, which means it's based on a stretched previous-generation Mazda 6 platform."
At the time, I praised Ford for taking this money-saving approach with a product that didn't actually need a ground-up redesign. However, the 2010 Fusion wasn't out yet, so I couldn't comment on the result. Now that I've tested the 2010 Fusion SEL V6, I can. Here's three reasons why Ford did the right thing by holding off on a full redo for the Fusion.
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- Josh Sadlier May 8, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
May 1, 2009
With the wall-to-wall news coverage of swine flu over the past week, one could be forgiven for assuming that the dread virus must have afflicted somewhat more than 0.00000036 percent of the American population by now. That, folks, is a lesson in human nature. Thanks to modern medicine and the welfare state and so on, there's not a lot to freak out about anymore in our daily lives, yet we humans insist on finding reasons to freak out anyway. In honor of the current swine flu hysteria, I give you three examples of automotive hysteria that amount to much ado about, well, not much.
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- Josh Sadlier May 1, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Weekly Top 3
April 24, 2009
It's easy to get caught up in the moment when you're looking at a used car. You've been scouring the classifieds for weeks, and you finally found what you were looking for, and now you're test-driving the car and marveling at what a gem it is and hoping that the seller accepts your offer before someone else offers more...
This is precisely when you need to take a step back and think about whether you've gathered enough information to make an informed decision. I had not, but I went ahead and bought my 2001 Honda Prelude anyway. Turns out I got a pretty good one, it seems, but here are three things you should do before buying that I didn't.
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- Josh Sadlier April 24, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Used Cars, Weekly Top 3
April 17, 2009
It's always bugged me that the current-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata hasn't been available in turbocharged Mazdaspeed trim. But the weekend I spent recently in the revamped 2009 MX-5 Miata Grand Touring was a lot more fun than I'd anticipated. Here's three random observations, because that's how I do.
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- Josh Sadlier April 17, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Mazda, Weekly Top 3
April 10, 2009
As you avid readers out there may recall, I've been looking for an Integra replacement, having parted ways recently with my perhaps uniquely unmolested '95 GSR hatchback. I think I found a suitable candidate last night (stay tuned for a more detailed post on the purchasing process), which is a relief, because I was starting to dream in Craigslist classifieds. Speaking of which, there are a few things that I never ever EVER want to see again in ANY automotive classified ad. Three of 'em, to be precise.
3) "$X,995." I know Walmart and dollar stores have a lot of luck with this tactic, but seriously, what screams "sleazy used car dealer/private party" louder than a price that ends in 995? Round up. Please. It's a car, not a box of plastic forks.
2) "Babied." This almost certainly means the seller drove the snot out of it, especially if it's a performance/modified car. Did you really baby your '99 Civic Si with the grapefruit-sized tailpipe and Lambo doors and "JDM swap" that's been lowered to the bumpstops? Let's dispense with the hyperbole, shall we, and keep to useful information like "all scheduled maintenance performed" -- a claim you don't often hear from those who supposedly "babied" their cars.
1) "Highway miles." Do you EVER see a low-mileage car described as having "highway miles"? No. Of course not. "Highway miles" is a transparent euphemism for "Oh, Schmidt! My car has a bajillion miles on it! How am I ever going to get rid of this steaming pile?!" No, the fact that your '93 Camry has 274,000 highway miles does not make me feel the slightest bit better about the fact that it has 274,000 freaking miles! If you tracked the car or drove it primarily on a winding road above 5,000 rpm with the tires squealing, yes, I would like to know that. Otherwise, just the miles will do, and please don't make me email you because you didn't list 'em. Thanks.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com
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- Josh Sadlier April 10, 2009, 3:00 AM
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April 3, 2009
By now we all know about the Big Three's disastrous overreliance on big SUVs, but there's a crucial flipside to that coin: in focusing on building more and more gas-guzzling monsters, GM, Ford and Chrysler continued to neglect the volume-selling economy and midsize segments. Cirrus, Stratus, Avenger, Sebring, Caliber, Cavalier, Cobalt, Escort, Festiva, old ovoid Taurus, current Focus...the list of Detroit's medicore-at-best efforts in these segments from the '90s and '00s is long and undistinguished.
At present, Chrysler's small and midsize offerings remain hopeless; only Fiat can save them now. Things seem to be looking up for GM, though, given our encouraging first drive of the new Chevrolet Cruze. And then there's Ford, which has its act together more than any other American automaker. The revamped 2010 Fusion is a competitive car, the up-to-date Euro version of the Focus is coming soon to our side of the pond, and the subject of this article -- the spunky little Fiesta -- is a truly world-class runabout.
How do I know? Because Automotive Editor John DiPietro and I drove the Fiesta at a special event in Oxnard, CA last week. You won't be able to buy one until the spring of 2010, but that's about the only thing wrong with it. Read on for three reasons why the Fiesta is Detroit's best small car in years.
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- Josh Sadlier April 3, 2009, 3:00 AM
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March 27, 2009
So I've sold my '95 Integra GSR. Loved the powertrain -- that's how a four-banger should sound and respond, and that's how a shifter should feel -- but can't say I loved much else. I need a replacement player, but I'm torn between sporty things and completely ridiculous things. How do you feel about...
3. A mid-to-late-'90s Lexus with a V8. These old Lexus V8s -- namely those in the SC400 and LS400 -- are the very definition of "bulletproof reliability." Remember, this was when Lexus was still establishing itself as a marquee brand,
so its cars were overengineered to be wildly dependable. I do love me some V8, even if it's only got 250-290 horsepower. And after putting up with the Integra's skateboard ride and road noise for awhile, I could use a little luxury in my life.
2. An old Caprice, or some comparable American beater. Excellent donk potential (see picture).
1. You tell me. Keep the budget to about $10 grand and under, and keep in mind that I appreciate entertainment value as much as performance these days. What's my next car?
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier March 27, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Used Cars, Weekly Top 3
March 20, 2009
Folks, I've been hearing a lot of talk lately, and I'm sure you have too, about the pent-up automotive demand that's going to explode when the economy gets back on its feet. Assuming the economy will recover in the near term, I'm still not convinced there's much merit to this theory. Demand is bound to increase to some extent, but my hunch is it won't come close to previous levels. Here's three reasons why.
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- Josh Sadlier March 20, 2009, 3:00 AM
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March 13, 2009
3) It looks good.
Okay, it's not perfect. The taillights are a little droopy. But overall, I love the looks of the all-new 2009 BMW 750i -- classic Bimmer proportions and styling cues with a contemporary veneer. At the very least, I think we can all agree that it's not frightfully ugly like the last 7 Series, which tragically supplanted one of the best-looking BMW sedans of all time, the E38 7 Series.
2) It goes fast.
How fast? Check the performance numbers over at our very own Riswick's Inside Line 750i full test. 5.2 seconds to 60 mph? 13.5 seconds in the quarter-mile at almost 104 mph? That's pretty much neck-and-neck with the Alpina B7, which was effectively the M version of the outgoing 7 Series. Now check the difference in base MSRPs -- the new 750i undercuts the Alpina B7 by nearly $45,000. As noted, it also doesn't look like it was repeatedly bashed against Mt. Ugly by a belligerent giant on Mercedes' payroll.
1) It handles like a gigantic 3 Series.
Which is quite an achievement for a full-size luxobarge that weighed in at 4,599 pounds. But pardon me while I end on an ambivalent note. Unlike the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, for example, which is vastly inferior to the S-Class, the BMW 3 Series is just so dadgum good that it would make me think twice about buying a 750i. Of course, if my chauffeur were going to be doing most of the driving, I'd take the 750i in a heartbeat (or actually, I'd take a Hyundai Genesis and its superior backseat comfort). But if I were going to be driving regularly, I'd honestly rather have the better-handling 335d and keep the $40 grand. That's no knock against the 750i, which is a nearly faultless car. I'm just sayin', the 3 Series is that good.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier March 13, 2009, 3:00 AM
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March 6, 2009
3. Rides like a Honda.
The 2009 Toyota Prius (I haven't driven the new 2010 model yet) rides like a four-wheeled pillow. It's one of the few pleasant aspects of its generally forgettable driving demeanor. The 2010 Honda Insight, on the other hand, has Honda's trademark firm-to-stiff ride. Pavement imperfections that the Prius serenely shrugs off will make their presence felt in the Insight. At least the Insight didn't evince the typical Honda road noise on my brief drive today.
2. Cheaper than Prius for a reason.
Make that reasons, plural. The Insight lacks a center armrest, just like my old '93 Honda Prelude. I used to employ my CD wallet as a makeshift armrest, but the Insight's center console is about two feet lower than the 'Lude's relative to the driving position, so you'll need a considerably taller object. The door armrests have zero padding, so if your elbows are bony like mine, prepare for discomfort on long trips. The hybrid powerplant provides adequate acceleration, but it makes an unpleasant racket when you goose it. I'm not saying the '09 Prius is a luxury car, but it admits none of these foibles. To the Insight's credit, though, its front seats are vastly superior.
1. Cramped backseat.
This could be a dealbreaker for green-leaning families. When I got out of the Insight's driver seat and tried to sit behind my 6'1" self, I almost couldn't. There literally was not enough room for my size-12 sneakers to fit between the rear seat structure and the front seatback -- I had to turn my feet sideways and awkwardly slide them underneath the front seat, where there's thankfully some foot space. No headroom either; my head was crammed against the ceiling. One of the Prius's most alluring charms is its midsize interior dimensions, including its commodious backseat. If you need that kind of space back there, the Insight isn't for you.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier March 6, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Fuel Economy, Hybrids and Alternative Fuels, Weekly Top 3
February 27, 2009
I hadn't done my research on the new 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track before nabbing the keys for the weekend, so I didn't know that Hyundai had benchmarked Infiniti's G35/37 coupe. Then I pressed the ignition button, and suddenly my ears were filled with the unmistakable quasi-exotic baritone bark that any enthusiast would recognize as the G coupe's exhaust note. Hyundai really sweated the details on this one: in addition to the dead-ringer soundtrack, the Genesis Coupe drives eerily like the G in most respects, and it does it for thousands less. Not to be outdone, this week's WT3 post will be eerily like its predecessors -- three random observations about the Genesis Coupe, coming right up.
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- Josh Sadlier February 27, 2009, 3:00 AM
- Categories:
- Weekly Top 3
