Is the Lexus GS at the top of its game?

     

For all the wonderful things Lexus cars are, "athletic" is not an adjective that usually enters a discussion of the brand. Traditionally, the automaker has produced cars that trade sharp reflexes for more predictable comfort (the IS F sport sedan and LFA supercar excepted). Lexus has reshaped that perception with the 2013 GS 350. Slightly wider and taller, much stiffer and with vastly improved steering feel, the GS 350 can finally lay claim to ground once owned solely by German sport-lux sedans.

     The new GS is somewhat similar to the earlier generations, underneath all of that fancy, more aggressive looking sheet metal. For example, length and wheel base remain the same, but the chasis is widened by about 2 inches or so. Among other things that are shared between the generations is the same basic suspension setup, with an improved design that allows for a larger trunk, which is good for a few bags of golf clubs, or what have you. The engine is also almost the same, but it has been tweeked to give you more power and fuel economy. When you step on the gas, you hear an almost throaty growl coming from the exhaust, which will certainly put a smile on your face.

     Inside, interior designs worked their magic to reduce weight from things like the head liner and door panels, to make room for such things like the massive touch screen in the middle of the dash. That screen houses all of the infotainment functions, and can be a little bit tricky to use. For example, the radio screen is split into two different sections, but to get to the other side of the screen requires a firm, but gentle click of the cursor to get to the other side. Maybe a setting can be adjusted to where the sensitivity is adjusted based on the screen that appears on the screen.

     Overall, the end result is that the GS is more equipped than it has ever been to go chasing on the likes of BMW and Audi, and give them one heck of a fight in the process. With Lexus' ever popular quality standars, which translate into fantastic quality, and add one of the best dealer experiences in the industry, and you have one heck of a package.

Interior

   

 The 2013 Lexus GS350 is a sporty, yet luxurious midsize sedan that offers ammenities that you might not have even thought possible to have in a car. Standard on the GS are: 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, a sunroof, auto-dimming mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and 10-way power front seats with driver memory. Standard electronics features include Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, an 8-inch control display with touchpad interface and a 12-speaker surround-sound audio system with a CD player, satellite radio, HD radio and a USB/iPod interface.

     If you opt to step up to the Luxury package, you will get things like: 18-inch wheels, adaptive headlamps, adaptive suspension dampers, upgraded leather, an 18-way power driver seat, a wood-trimmed steering wheel and rear climate and audio controls. The Premium package builds on those features with heated and ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and a power rear sunshade. A Cold Weather package includes a heated steering wheel, headlamp washers and a wiper de-icer.

     Stand-alone options include 18-inch wheels, blind-spot detection, a head-up display, heated rear seats, parking assist, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist, dynamic rear steering, a night vision camera, adaptive cruise control (with a pre-collision mitigation system), a premium Mark Levinson 17-speaker surround-sound audio system, and a hard-drive navigation system with a 12.3-inch display, voice recognition, real-time traffic and Lexus Enform smartphone-connected apps and services.

Performance/Economy

   

 The 2013 GS 350 is powered by a Toyota/Lexus staple, the 3.5 liter V6. This engine makes 306 horsepower, and 277 lb.-ft of torque. A six speed automatic with a manual shift mode that allows you to use to steering wheel mounted padle shifters is the only transmission on the GS, but you do have a choice between AWD, or RWD. For bang for the buck fun, AWD is recommended. Fuel economy for the AWD version is rated at 19/26 city/highway, which if you think about it, is rather good for a car of its size, as well as having AWD.

Safety

     Safety is something that every automaker takes seriously, but Lexus takes it a step further. Standard safety features on the 2013 Lexus GS 350 include antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front and rear side-impact airbags, front knee airbags, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints and a rearview camera. Safety Connect, a traditional telematics service with automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle locator and emergency assistance button, is also standard.

Driving Impressions

   

 The GS350 delivers a healthy dose of V6 punch, while still giving you a Lexus smooth ride, like no other car can. However, when you push the car to its limits, gone are the days of the undulating, unsporty motions of GS cars past. Instead, improved steering feel, albeit a bit on the numb, and not much feedback side of things, as well as an improved suspension design make the GS feel almost as if it is glued to the road when going around certain turns. Make no mistake here, it is still a rather large car, and when pushed hard enough, it will certainly act like one, but it has been tightened up to give you more of a smile factor when you want to drive in a spirtied manor. A plus on this side is the stability control system that doesn't really seem to present itself when the times might call for it.

     One gripe would have to be the transmissions shift points. Even when in manual mode, the tranny releases revs to early, upshifting at about 6,500 rpm, a small nusiance when you want to slam the gas pedal to the floor after coming around a corner.

Overall

     If you are in the market for this type of car, should you put it on your list? Certainly, and here's why. You have the amazing dealer experience that comes with buying a Lexus, and you have the reliability that you could argue is legendary. Mix that altogether, and with the 2013 Lexus GS350, you have one heck of an amazing package. It will certainly bring the fight to the Germans, to say the least.

A car that gives other subcompacts a run for their money

Intro

     

When I first tested the Kia Rio 4-door back in 2012, I wondered what the car would be like in hatchback form. Well, I got the answer earlier this year, when Kia was gracious enough to loan me a Rio SX 5-door for a week. This tester came with painted in Signal Red, with a black interior. It should be noted that this vehicle was tested during winter, so the maximum performance potential can't be noted due to safety reasons. With all of that having been said, let's take a look and see if the 5-door version of the Rio is a more fun, yet more practical car for you.

Exterior

     After taking a look at both the 4- and 5-door models right next to eachother, a lot remains the same on the exterior of the vehicle, including the somewhat bug-eyed look that many will love, or hate, depending upon your taste in design. One major, and one could also argue, the only difference on the outside of the vehicle would be the rear. Whereas the sedan has a traditional trunk, the 5-door does not, as its' name would indicate. The rear hatch is rather easy to open, and it yields a surprising amount of cargo space for the small car that the Rio is.

     As mentioned earlier, this vehicle is painted in Signal Red. If you happen to remember, the 4-door model that was examined last year was also painted in the exact same color. It is a fantastic color, and when clean, it shows remarkably well. Wheels are also the same, and they still manage to look fantastic on the 5-door, as well as the 4-door. Kia design did a fantastic job on this one. With little on the outside being different, let's take a look at the inside of the vehicle and see if anything has changed here.

Interior

   

 Initial looks might give you a false impression on this vehicle. While yes, little has also changed on the inside of the 5-door, it easily feels more open to the sun, thanks to the window on the rear hatch. Seat materials are the same, and like the sedan, additional padding might be needed for larger folk to remain comfortable for rather extended drives. Another small complaint is the plastic-feel to everything on the dash. While they feel like they are made of somewhat quality materials, they do still have a cheap feeling to them.

     Blindspots are kept to a minimum, but they do still exist, although you will have them on any vehicle, no matter what. This test unit was not equipped with the extras that the 4-door tester from last year was, but it was still a rather pleasant space to spend some time. A bonus for some people; Kia offered the 2012 SX 5-door model with a manual transmission, but that feature was dropped for the 2013 model year, at least in the Cleveland area. Check with your local Kia retailer for more info, or go to www.kia.com.

Performance/Safety

   

 As mentioned in other articles on other Korean vehicles, they aren't really the first brands that come to mind when you think of performance vehicles. This remains true of the Rio 5-door, as you won't be winning many stop-light drag races. However, this tester came equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission, which made for a vastly more enjoyable daily drive. The manual transmission comes attached to the standard 1.6 liter 4-cylinder engine, which produces and astounding 138 horsepower, and 123 lb.-ft of torque. I say astounding because the 2010 Hyundai Elantra that I own makes 138 horsepower as well, but that vehicle has a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine. All things aside,the Rio is not a rocket ship by any stretch of the imagination, but it does provide ample power for everyday driving situations.

     Handling, if you will pardon this pun, is not the Rio's Forte. While the steering wheel does provide some feedback, you still feel as though you are being left out of a rather important conversation with your mum, and that could lead to horrible, horrible things later on down the line. Also, when going around some of the sharper curves in the Cleveland area, the car will have a tendancy to understeer a somewhat hefty amount, although that is the nature of front-wheel drive vehicles. To save some face though, the brakes did feel rather strong, even after several hard, and I do mean hard, stops. Also of a positive note is the shifter. While some throws did feel a bit on the long side, the were still of a quality feel, although it is hard to match the feel of a slick shifting Audi. A downside to this shifter, however, was the ability to go from 5^th gear, back to 4^th gear, when you really want to be in 6^th gear. This is because of a slight dog-leg that was not discovered until a few seconds later. Oh, the joys of driving many different types of cars in a months' time. 

     Safety is of a major concern of many drivers these days, and rightfully so. Rest assured that Kia has packed this vehicle full of safety measures like: 6 standard airbags including full curtain airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, ESC, VSM, EBD, HAC, and TPMS. I will add in the note that the TPMS does indeed work, as there was a tire going flat due to a faulty plug in a really awful location where a tire plug should never be installed. Safety ratings for the Rio are: Good for the moderate overlap test. This is the only crash test ratings available for the IIHS at the time of writing. As you can see, Kia takes your safety rather seriously, as all car companies should.

Overall

     

Overall, the Rio SX 5-door can make for a fun, sporty, yet practical small family car, especially if you can find one that is equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission. However, even if you can't find a manual transmission model, the gas mileage is still impressive at 28 city/36 highway. You will be able to pass as many gas stations as you want with numbers like that. Yes, performance does leave a bit to be desired, that was not the Rio's main mission. It's mission was to be a small, economical to purchase, and operate car for the young high school, or college graduate, and introduce them to the Kia brand, and hopefully transition them to life-long buyers. Will it's mission be a success? That is something only you, the reader can decide. Like most vehicles, it certainly warrants a closer look, considering the amazing warranty package that also comes with the vehicle that will provide you with many, many miles of worry free motoring. Check it out, you just might be surprised.

A hot hatch from Hyundai?

Intro

     

   

When you think of performance hatchback vehicles like the VW GTI, your mind might not think of one brand. Can you hazard to guess what that brand is? If you are like the majority of the sports car world, you would guess Hyundai. Hyundai is hoping to change the perception, and thus gaining a foothold in the coveted hot-hatch market. The car they have charged with this monumental task: the Veloster Turbo. The Veloster Turbo addresses some of the performance short-comings of its' naturally aspirated sister. However, does it address all of them? Let's take a closer look at the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo.

Exterior

     When you take a look at the Veloster Turbo parked next to a non-turbo version, you will hardly notice any difference. This is partly because it gives it a sleeper effect that some tuners out there work hard to achieve. There are however, a few key, but subtle differences in the exterior appearance. One of those differences is the front fascia. With the non-turbo Veloster, you have a color keyed bar running across the front grill. When you check the turbo option bo, that color matched bar now becomes black.

     Some other small but key differences is a piece of shiny silver trim running along the side skirts, giving the vehicle that extra special shine. Other differences include a Turbo badge in red on the rear decklid, as well as twin circle exhaust outlets. Overall, the outside still retains the odd, 3-door coupe profile that Hyundai originally set out to give the vehicle. The looks are for the most part, a love or hate thing, and through research, most tend to start out hating it, but it has the potential to grow on them over time. Suggested color for the turbo version: Black or Matte Gray, with this test units' Boston Red a very close second.

Interior

     

On the inside, not a lot has changed either. This is mostly because the changes made from the turbo version, to the non-turbo version occurred under the hood. However, some small changes were made inside to differentiate the two trim levels. One of those differences is the trim color. On certain vehicles, you will get blue, and on others you will get silver/gray. This tester came equipped with the silver/gray option, which went perfectly with the black leather buckets.

     Seats make up an important part of the driving experience, and the Veloster Turbo seats are better than average, but not great. Side bolster support is great, but if you are a larger fellow like myself, you might very well find yourself hanging over the seat, and after awhile, that becomes uncomfortable. Padding was a bonus, as there was just enough to make things comfortable, but not too much where you might start to feel like you will slowly sink into the seats. Controls for the windows are found behind the door handle, which for some people, might take getting used too, but it makes some sense after living with it for a week.

     Material quality does have some room for improvement as well. The dash is mostly made up of hard plastic, which honestly feels like it has the potential to not hold up to wear over time. On a side note, the few soft touch areas in the vehicle feel amazing, like the steering wheel. The steering wheel feels great to hold, and combined with the seats and the shifter, might give you a grin on your face before you even turn the vehicle on. Now we shall take a look at what matters when you purchase this type of vehicle, the performance.

Performance/Safety

     Hyundai wants soo badly to tap into the hot-hatch market, and with the Veloster Turbo, they might have a pretty good shot, but it won't happen overnight. Hyundai has equipped the Veloster Turbo with a 1.6 liter, inline 4 cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower, and 195 lb.-ft of torque. While not fire-setting numbers by any means, it puts it in the ballpark of such heavy hitters like the previously mentioned VW GTI. However, it is enough power to provide plenty of smiles, like this reviewer found out. It also provides enough power for passing on the highway, and for merging in an expedited manner. 0-60 times are in the 6-7 second range, depending entirely on the person behind the wheel.

    When coupled with the standard 6-speed manual transmission, that is when things really start to come alive. Shifts are short and firm, and provide a quality feel. However, when shifting from 2 ^nd to 3^rd, it is rather easy to skip 3^rd and 4^th altogether and land yourself in 5^th. Clutch feel is also rather good, but the high release point would certainly take some getting used to, and can humble even the most professional of drivers. Combined with some powerful brakes that have little to no fade after repeated hard stops, you have the foundation for a car that can be really great in another generation or 2. With the suspension set up almost identical to the non-turbo version, handling is almost the same, which is to say a little rough, and maybe borderline harsh. The very same could be said for the steering feedback as well, which is a major factor in sports vehicles.

     Hyundai certainly didn't cut corners on safety features,however. The standard safety feature list contains such things like ESC with Traction Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, and many more. While safety ratings aren't available at this moment, rest assured that this is a car that will protect you in the unlikely event that you are in an accident.

   

 While this isn't a safety or performance issue, the warranty package that Hyundai offers with this vehicle should also be noted. And for a performance-oriented vehicle, it's almost unheard of, with things like 5 yr./ 60k mile bumper to bumper warranty, and Hyundai/Kia's legendary 10 yr./ 100k mile powertrain warranty. With that kind of value, it makes the $26,520 as tested price a bargain, compared to the VW. Fuel economy is also impressive, with ratings of 24 city/ 35 highway, when equipped with the manual transmission.

Overall

     Overall, Hyundai has the foundation for what could be a very sporty car in a generation or two. All that is really needed is some suspension tweaks, and a little less turbo lag, and they could have a winner on their hands. But enough of what my thoughs on the car are, because it's what you, the loyal readers, and possible buyers of this car think. Do I think it deserves at least a test drive? I certainly do. But if this is going to be the main family vehicle as well, looking elsewhere might be better, as the back seat might be a little on the tight side.

Can a Hyundai SUV be any good?

     

The saying goes, if it's too good to be true, it probably is. However, if someone tells you that you can buy a crossover that offers a good amount of luxury, loads of features, a surprising amount of performance, and that you can do it without breaking the bank, you can take that person at their word this time. That is, at least if you are talking about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe.

     Topping of what has been quite an impressive rise in the rankings for Hyundai, the redesigned 2013 Santa Fe adopts the corporate 'fludic sculpture' design language with certainly favorable results. For the first time, Hyundai has split the Santa Fe into 2 models. The Santa Fe GLS and Limited now feature a somewhat useable third row of seats, increasing the total passenger count to 7. But if you are just starting out in life and don't have a family yet, Hyundai also offers the slightly shorter, five-seat Santa Fe Sport with 2 rows of seats.

     Under the hood, Santa Fe Sport buyers have the choice of either a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder, or a more powerful turbocharged 2.0 liter 4-banger. With the marginal gain in fuel economy, versus a healthy boost in power, the turbo might be the engine of choice. Three-row models come standard with a 3.3 liter V6.

     Standard features on the Sport model include 17-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, cruise control, trip computer, full power, a/c, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cloth seats, split fold rear seats, bluetooth, Hyundai Bluelink, six speaker sound system, and satellite radio.

     

You can add the Popular Equipment package, which adds auto headlights, fog lights, heated mirrors, roof rack rails, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and an 8-way power adjustable drivers seat.

     The Sport 2.0T adds all of those options, along with a more powerful engine, 19-inch wheels, an upgraded gauge cluster, and keyless entry/ignition.

     The Santa Fe GLS is similar in features, but gains a longer wheelbase, a V6 engine, split folding rear seats. 18-inch wheels fog lights, and a sliding feature for the second row bench seat is also added.

     The range topping Limited model includes all of the features found on the 2.0T and GLS, but seating is reduced to a still modest six people, as the second row bench is replaced with 2 captains chairs. Other additions to the list are a power liftgate, windshield wiper de-icers, dual zone auto climate control, leather seating, heated second row seats, a memory function for the driver seat, a power passenger seat, upgraded interior bits, auto dimming rear view mirror, and a couple more goodies.

     Some features are offered as options on trims as part of packages. Most notably, a navigation system is offered on all trims, and is also paired with an 8-inch touchscreen, a rear view camera, and premium sound system. A panoramic sun roof is an option on all but the GLS, and all trims can be had with a heated steering wheel. And last but not least, a blind spot monitoring system can only be had on the Limited.

     Powering the base Santa Fe is a 2.4 liter engine that makes a respectable 190 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. As with all models of the Santa Fe, front wheel drive is standard, and all wheel drive is optional. The only option for a transmission is a six-speed automatic, which shifts smooth, if not a touch on the slow side. Fuel economy estimates are amazing for a vehicle of this size, and is rated at 21 city/ 29 highway for the front wheel drive, and 20 city/26 highway for the AWD 4-cylinder.

     The 2.0T Santa Fe is powered by a 2.0 liter, turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that makes 264 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy drops only slightly to 20 city/27 highway for FWD, and 19 city/24 highway for AWD.

     Larger GLS and Limited models benefit from being powered by a 3.3 liter V6 that thumps out 290 horsepower, and 252 pound-feet of torque. EPA estimates are at 18 city/ 25 highway for FWD, and 18 city/ 24 highway when you have AWD. In performance testing, this AWD equipped tester was able to make a run from a stand-still to 60 in about 7.5 seconds. When properly equipped, the V6 models can tow up to 5,000 lbs, while 2.0T models are limited to 3,500 lbs.

   

 Standard safety features on all Santa Fe models include things like anti-lock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, front seat active head restraints, as well as hill hold and descent control. Also standard is Hyundai's Blue Link, their version of OnStar that provides emergency telematics services, as well as remote access, emergency assistance, theft recovery, and geo-fencing.

     In government crash testing, the Santa Fe Sport earned the top five star rating for overall crash protection, with five stars for total frontal impact, as well as side impact safety. Top scores have also been awarded by the IIHS. In brake testing, the vehicle came to a stop in about 126 feet.

     Among the numerous competitors in the segement, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe has one of the nicer cabins in the class. This is mostly thanks to the quality of materials, thoughtful placement of the controls, and overall spacious feeling of the vehicle. As I have come to expect from Hyundai, the cockpit could serve as a benchmark for others in the class. The switch gear is well layed out and easy to read, while the touchscreen menu and functions are as easy as they can get. Build quality overall how ever was spotty in some areas.

     

The front seats are rather comfortable for the longer drives that you may have to make, and they have enough adjustments for drivers of all sizes. Second row passengers will also find the quarters to their liking, with a wide range of recline angle and plenty of head and leg room for the average sized adult, even with the optional panoramic sunroof equipped. The longer wheelbase Santa Fe further enhances second row comfort with a bit more legroom and a spacious 31.5 inches of legroom for the folks who draw the short straw and have to sit in the third row, which is competitive with others in the class.

     The Santa Fe also has an amazing ability to haul gear, as it boasts a rather healthy 35.4 cubic feet of cargo behind the second row of seats, while the seven passenger model can hold upto 41 cubic feet. Bulky items can be loaded with ease, as the second row seats fold flat to allow 71.5 cubic feet, putting the two row Sport right up there with the likes of the Honda CR-V, and the Toyota Rav 4. The larger Santa Fe can hold up to 80 cubic feet, but if you have all of the seats up, you can only stuff 13.5 of them with the third row seats in place.

     On either side of the driving spectrum, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe certainly has the ability to impress. As a family shuttle and daily commuter, the ride is suprisingly compliant and the cabin is also rather quiet, even at freeway speeds. On the twistier sections of road, the Santa Fe feels faily light and somewhat sporty, given the class and size of the car. There are a few downsides, however. One of them is that the Santa Fe has a tendency to wander on the highway, the other is that there is poor rearward visibility due to the thick rear pilars.

   

 With nearly 300 hp available to your disposal, the V6 powered Santa Fe GLS and Limited acelerate with authority and minimize the frequent gear shifts that can sometimes come with the 4-cylinder models. Compared to the Sport, the V6 model makes for a better highway cruiser, and gives the car a slightly quieter cabin.

     Overall, if you are in the market for a crossover, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe is certainly a vehicle that is worth some research. You could argue that it even warrants a test drive. However, only you the reader can determine if it deserves a spot in your driveway.

It's like a Tesla, but with a cheaper price tag

     

In some ways, the 2013 Chevy Volt is better than an electric car, because it is not an electric car. The Volt belongs in a new class of car called plug-in hybrids. For a simple explanation, a plug-in hybrid runs on pure electric power for a given distance, for the Volt it is about 30-40 miles, depending on driving styles etc etc, then switches over to a gasoline-electric powertrain similar to that of regular hybrids, like the Toyota Prius. When the gas engine kicks on in the Volt, it can extend the vehicles' range about another 300 miles.

     Obviously, this means that the vehicles actual fuel economy will vary depending on how you drive. Buyers who have a commute that is shorter than 30 miles can have the ability to drive to and from work using no gas, and then pluging your vehicle into the charger when you get home. The charging process can take upto 10 hours however, depending on several things.

     For 2013, Volt engineers introduced a new wrinkle into the equation, a hold mode. Let's say you are about to take a drive that involves lots of highway driving followed by stop-and-go city traffic. In Normal mode, most of the electric power would be wasted on the highway. Selecting Hold allows the driver to engage all-electric power when most appropriate.

     The 2013 Chevrolet Volt is a mid-size four door hatchback with seating for 4. Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, LED running lamps, heated mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, remote ignition, automatic climate control, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, OnStar emergency communications, MyLink (which includes Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, voice-controlled audio functions and enhanced smartphone integration) and a six-speaker sound system with a touchscreen interface, a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB interface.

The Comfort package adds heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

     Other packages include things like leather upholestry, and a removeable rear center armrest. Stand-alone options include things such as a 7-speaker bose sound system, to which navigation can be added.



     

The 2013 Chevy Volt is a front-wheel drive vehicle that is mostly powered by an electric motor that puts out 149 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft of torque. The electric motor is fed by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack until the battery charge is around 70 percent depleted, and at that point, the 1.4 liter 4 cylinder engine grumbles to life to power the electric motor. In certain situations, the gas engine can also come online to boost the performance of the car. Driving modes are Normal, Hold, Sport, and Mountain that are designed to maximize the performance of the powertrain and efficency in different situations.



     To recharge the battery pack completely, it requires plugging the car into a 120- or 240- volt outlet, though regenerative braking and the engine generator helps to some rather small extent. During testing, the Volt was found to have about 37 miles of all-electric range. Once the battery was depleted, fuel economy was a solid 37 miles per gallon.



     During performance testing, the Volt took about 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph overall, using either all electric, or the gasoline generator. That is a rather good time for any vehicle in the hybrid segement. Braking was also rather good, and the brakes still felt strong after a couple of hard stops. Handling, however isn't the best area of this car, thanks to the low-rolling resistance Goodyears equipped on this tester.



     The list of standard safety features on the 2013 Chevrolet Volt include: ABS, Stability control, front-seat side impact airbags, front knee airbags, and full length side curtain airbags. Also standard is Onstar, which includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, stolen vehicle assist, and turn by turn navigation.



     In government crash testing, the Volt scored an overall average of 5 stars ( the highest possible,) with 5 stars for both frontal and side-impact categories.



     Inside the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, the 4 passenger feel has a somewhat modern feel to it, thanks in large part to the touch sensitive controls inspired by the well-known brand of personal electronics. While the design does create a somewhat cutting-edge mood, in testing the small and similar looking buttons can be difficult to identify at a quick glance. If you are wearing gloves, they also don't work well at all.



     The gauge cluster is a nice futuristic touch, as it is really a display screen that shows you speed, battery and or gas level, the various trip functions, and a graphic that encourages you to drive more efficently. It can be overwhelming at first, and the screen also has a habit of washing out in direct sun, but most people that laid eyes on it found it to be incredibly useful, and some even said helpful.



     From a looks point of view, the cabin looks great and has a rather refined feel to it thanks to higher quality materials. The lack of a power adjustable drivers seat and a somewhat small second row are on the disappointing side of things, especially considering the price range the car is in. The Volt's hatchback design makes for a super easy loading and unloading of the hatch/trunk area, which is a large plus. However, at 10.6 cubic feet of space with the seats up, it puts it at a huge disadvantage when compared to cars like the Toyota Prius.



     Driving the 2013 Volt is rather rewarding. It accelerates quickly from a standstill on a wave of torque typical of electric power, and it behaves like a potent hybrid when the battery juice runs out. The Volt's appeal goes further than the powertrain though. From the excellent ride quality, to the response and feel of the steering, the Volt drives more like say, a Malibu, than it does like a Toyota Prius or Honda Insight.



 

   There are some minor oddities and annoyances to note, however. The change over from battery charge to generator can be hard to notice, but once you do it might take you a while to get used to the engine revving regardless of your speed. The brake pedal can also be a little on the touchy side and hard to modualte, but the brakes do work rather well. A small annoyance would be the low-hanging front air dam, which scrapes on almost every single speed bump or driveway.



     As is the usual case with hybrid buyers, bottom line minded people might want to spend a little bit of time crunching the numbers. Though the cost of charging the Volt is a bargain compared to the price of gas, the high sticker price of the car can be hard to justify, even with th $7,500 federal tax credit. Good news on that front though, for 2014, Chevrolet lowered the price of the Volt by about $5,000.




     For this reason, buyers might also want to take a look at some cheaper alternatives, like the all electric Ford Focus Electric, or Nissan Leaf. They are cheaper, and might better satisfy your possible green desires. Also not to forget, the Ford C-Max Energi and Toyota Prius Plug-In might also be vehicles to look into. Yet, at the current moment, the Volt offers up to 50 miles of pure electric driving, and is the nicest driving green car, which should more than make up for some of the price issue.

GM has a potential hit on their hands, but it is more of a miss

Intro

     

The midsize sedan segement has long been one of the most critical segements in the auto industry. That still remains very true to this day. This is mostly because it is one of, if not, thee most popular segements in the business. What this means, is that most companies either sink,or swim, depending on their efforts here. With GM, however, that is a little different. GM also has trucks to fall back on, and even today, that is where a rather large, and possibly unhealthy, portion of their profit comes from. This article, however, will focus on their most recent effort into the mid-size class, the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.

Exterior

   

 Upon first glance at the car, you might notice that it has a more modern, masculine look to it, compared to the 2012 Malibu. However, in terms of design, it looks, and feels, more like a evolutionary, as opposed to a revolutionary step forward. Most of the general public seemed to agree with this statement. Starting at the front of the car, one of the first things you might notice are the rather large headlights. These are great at night, as they provide lots of light so you can see the road ahead of you. They are also one of the major design features on the front end. Other notable design features are the crome grill surrond, as well as the crome wrapped fog light bezzles. It should be noted that this LTZ tester was painted in the stunning shade of Crystal Red Tintcoat.

     Walking around to the sides of the vehicle, one of the very first things your eyes are drawn to is this test units' optional 19-inch aluminum wheels. They fill out the wheel wells quite well, and again, they add to the more modern, masculine feel of the car. There is one character line that runs from the hood of the car, all the way to the rear, and wraps around the other side. Otherwise, they only things dressing up the sides of the vehicle are chrome accents, like the door handles, as well as some window moldings. You can tell that GM took the lets not offend anybody styling approach, but they still did a decent job in spicing it up.

     

Walking to the rear of the car is where you will notice some of the biggest changes to the car, at least on the exterior. The tailights look like they were taking straight from the Camaro, molded a tiny little bit, then glued onto the rear of the Malibu. They are nice looking, and they do certainly make their presence known. With the LTZ trim level, the tailights are lit by LEDs, while on other models they are not. Looking at the back of the car from ground level up, it is a somewhat boring view, until you see the sculpted hanuches of the vehicle, ala, Volvo, looking down at you. Aside from twin tailpipes denoting the 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder engine, it is a somewhat hohum rear, as just mentioned. Has the interior changed at all? Let's take a step inside and find out.

Interior

     

On the inside of this car, GM also did a decent job of changing up the stlye. Depending on the color of the interior, it will either feel airy and comfortable, like this tester, or dark and cramped like the comparison vehicle, which was another 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, courtesy of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. One thing you might first notice is the seats. They are rather comfortable, but like the old model Malibu, they get hard feeling after a couple hours or so. Lumbar support is rather good, but if you are a larger person, beware.

     Another rather large design element of the interior of the car is the center stack. If you have ever rented, or even seen the center console from the Buick LaCrosse, you have seen the center stack that is in the 2013 Malibu. However, there is one slight change, and that is the not so secret, secret compartment that opens up at the flick of a slider, behind the touch screen radio, aka, Chevy MyLink. MyLink is a pretty good setup, but more on that in a later review. Looking over to the passenger side of the car, you will notice the twin-cockpit theme that has been a staple of the Malibu since the previous generation vehicle. A nice, but hard to notice touch during the day, is the backlighting on the chrome strip that runs from the drivers door, all the way to the front passenger door. It lights up a bluish green, which is great at night because it isnt a harsh color that will hurt your eyes. Also easy on the eyes are the gauges. They are large and easy to see, which make driving the Malibu a snap. Once not so nice thing about the Malibu, the high rear-end of the vehicle makes looking out the rear-view mirror almost pointless, as you cant see much, unless it is taller than the car, or standing rather far behind it. However, trunk space is amazing for this car, as you could fit enough stuff for 4 people to go away for a weekend or so.

Performance/Safety

     

Performance might not be thought of when you think about the Chevrolet Malibu. When you opt for the 2LTZ trim level, like this tester was, you get a Malibu that is equipped with the potent 2.0 liter, 4-clyinder turbocharged engine. That engine pumps out a somewhat impressive 259 horsepower, and 260 lb.-ft of torque. While that may not sound like a lot of power to some people, I can personally assure you that it is more than enough for everday driving situations, as on Ohio State Trooper can atest to. The engine is paired with a smooth shifting 6-speed automatic transmission, with a manual shift function. One small complaint in this area is that the buttons for the manual shift mode are on-top of the gear lever. Also, there is a slight lapse in time between when you press the button, and when the tranny actually shifts gears. However, one must realise that this is a Chevrolet, not a $100k plus Audi.

     Fuel economy is also a plus to this car. With an epa estimated 21 city/30 highway mpg, you can have loads of power, without having to take out a second loan on the house just to put gas in the tank. Handling is rather good thanks in some degree to the Goodyear rubber that comes wrapped around the optional 19-inch wheels. Turn in is sharp, but understeer can happen quick if you aren't paying close enough attention. Brakes are another decent area of the car. After several hard stops, some fade was noted, but not an alarming level, just something that should be noted.

     Safety is something that Chevrolet takes very seriously. That is why the standard safety featues of the car include things like: 10 airbags, Stabilitrak stability control, as well as ABS. One optional safety feature that works quite well is the Lane Departure Warning, which will beep a few times if the car senses that you are swerving out of your lane. This warning can be mitigated, however, if you use the turn signals (yes folks, this is a feature of a car that should be always used. They aren't just there for looks,) or press the button to turn the system off on the center console. Also on the standard feature list is OnStar, which is a handy system to have, and worth the money if you ever have to use it, even just once.

Overall

     Overall, GM has made several large improvements to the Malibu. Are they enough to put it at the forefront of shoppers. Well, not really. A few months ago, GM had to idle the plant for a couple of weeks, so the supply of cars would go down to match the demand. Demand has been low enough that recently, GM has said that they would be making tweaks to the 2014 Malibu, in hopes that it would increase demand for the car. With that said, is the Malibu a bad car? I don't think so, no. Could it be better? Every car could be better. It is only your opinion that matters, however. So, what do you, the reader, think about this car? I say go take one for a spin, because it might just change your mind.

What happens when you drive a car purpose built for speed?

     

Sporty performance and luxury hardly ever combine in vehicles as well as they do in the 2013 Audi S4. Based on the A4, the S4 is a more aggressive and enthusiast-aimed variant of one of Audi's bread and butter cars. The supercharged 3.0 liter V6 sends 333 horsepower to all 4 corners of the car, combining a highly pleasing exhaust note, and a bit of screaming tires to make for one addictive sound track. With a suspension that is more sporty in nature and stronger brakes, the S4 will paint a permanent smile on the faces of all but the Porsche-obbsesed car fans.

     That fun comes without sacrificing comfort makes the S4 one of the best bargains shy of other German machines that have 6 figure price tags. The cabin is tasteful, calm, quiet, and feels like an upscale modern hotel. The ride is for the most part compliant, and brushes off all but the very worst of road conditions. Plus, you have room for 4 of your friends, and trunk space for most of their stuff for a weekend jaunt to where ever.

     The 2013 Audi S4 is the high performance version of the bread and butter A4. It is offered with a single trim level, Premium Plus, and comes with an optional Prestige package.

     Standard features for the Premium Plus include 18-inch wheels, summer performance tires, a sunroof, automatic xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, foglights, automatic wipers, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated eight-way power front sport seats (with four-way lumbar adjustment), driver memory settings, leather and simulated suede upholstery, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, auto-dimming mirrors, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a dash-mounted MMI electronics controller and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, iPod interface and satellite radio.

     The Prestige package adds adaptive xenon headlights, a rearview camera, keyless ignition/entry, rear parking sensors, voice controls, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, blind-spot monitoring, an MMI controller mounted on the center console, Bluetooth audio connectivity, Audi Connect smartphone integration, a navigation system and HD radio. If you don't want to pay for this entire package, the nav system and Bang & Olufsen stereo can be purchased separately.

Options exclusive to Audi S4s with the Prestige package include the Driver Assist package, which adds adaptive cruise control, an enhanced steering system and adjustable settings for engine, transmission, steering and response (known as Audi Drive Select). A power rear sunshade and manual side shades are also optional.


     Options available on all S4s include 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, a sport rear differential (essentially a sophisticated limited-slip differential), full leather upholstery and rear-seat side airbags. Both the adaptive suspension and sport differential must be purchased in combination with Audi Drive Select, and doing so adds adjustable settings for the suspension to that menu.




 

 The 2013 S4 is powered by a 3.0 liter supercharged V6, that thumps out a very respectable 333 horsepower, and 325 lb.-ft of torque. All-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission are standard, and is this reviewers preferred setup, however a 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual, aka S tronic, is an option and serves as the automatic transmission option for this car. Audi even offers what they call a sport differential which is more or less a limited slip diff that helps portion out the torque between the rear wheels to help handling performance, which is very excellent. This is a car that is certainly worth buying if you travel and twisty roads often.



     In performance testing the S4 reached 60 mph from a standsill in about 5 seconds. EPA fuel economy estimates are at 17 city/26 highway for the manual transmission equipped vehicle, and 18 city/28 highway when equipped with the S tronic transmission.



     Standard safety features for the 2013 Audi S4 include stability and traction control, antilock brakes, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Rear-seat side airbags are optional, and the Prestige package adds a rearview camera, rear parking sensors and a blind-spot warning system. This package also allows you to add adaptive cruise control (at additional cost), and it includes a collision warning and mitigation feature that primes the brakes if it detects a possible frontal crash.



     During brake testing, the S4 averaged a respectable 109 feet 60-0 mph stopping distance, which is average for this class of vehicle.



     Government crash test ratings were not out at the time of writing, but the related A4 scored a perfect 5 stars for overall side-impact protection. The A4 earned the highest rating of Good from the IIHS for the moderate over-lap, side impact, and roof strength tests. However, the A4 did earn a poor rating for the IIHS' new small over lap frontal-impact test, but only a small number of vehicles have been subjected to this testing, and the vast majority have received the same rating.



     All new Audis get high remarks for interior quality, and the S4 is certainly no exception. Seats, doors, panels, and consoles are dressed with top shelf materials in a swanky, modern style. The front seats both comfort and cuddle you for long drives, or short trips, but also hug you when you desire more spirtied driving.



     Infotainment functions are controlled by Audi's MMI. This consists of a small knob surrounded by buttons that work in conjunction to control menus on a central screen mounted up on the dash. Overall, it is a very usable interface if you are no stranger to Audi/VW vehicles, as it will feel very familiar to you. When equipped with navigation, the controls for MMI are mounted on the center console. However, if you don't have navigation equipped, they are mounted next to the screen on the dash, which is a slight hassle/ergonomics nightmare. On the plus side, the S4's other controls are generally well laid out. Like the A4, the S4 has a roomy cabin for 4 adults to be seated in comfort, even for longer periods of time. The trunk space, rated at 12.4 cubic feet, is average for its class.



     Clearly, the S4 is the performance minded driver's choice. Handling is certainly impressive, with an aggressive AWD traction, and virtually 0 body roll. Consider it a huge plus that this well handling machine doesn't make you sacrifice comfort when you want to take that corner at the limits. Ride quality is also impressive, given the performance orriented nature of the vehicle.



     The supercharged V6 under the hood is a rather smooth, strong engine that delights with instant throttle response, giving you a 0-oh “£$% factor of about 2 seconds. Aside from a subdued supercharger whine, you would more than likely never guess what is going on under the hood to put that huge “£$% eating grin on your face. The manual transmission shifts smooth, although clutch travel and shift throws are a tad on the long side. It is still without a doubt one of the best powertrain combos this reviewer has ever driven.




     The 2013 Audi S4 can seem a little pricey, but if you factor in its standard all-wheel drive and comprehensive standard features, it compares very well to the BMW 335i, a sedan long considered the benchmark in the segment. Playing loose with the options list, however, puts the S4 in range of the Cadillac CTS-V,and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, models that some might say surpass the S4 in terms of performance and prestige. But even among such lofty rivals, the S4's all-wheel drive, refined surroundings and balanced nature make it a compelling choice.