I'm reviewing the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan this week. It is not very grand. This would not be my choice for a personal vehicle. It has no style and no pizazz. Mini-vans aren't even cool soccer mom vehicles anymore with competition from much more expressive crossovers. Hmmm...
The Grand Caravan has a standard V-6 engine that produces anaemic acceleration. When I say there is nothing remotely fun about driving this vehicle, please believe me.
It's signature feature is the famous "Stow 'n Go" rear seats which you can make quickly disappear into the floor to create substantial cargo space. Click here to see video demonstration.
I will say this-- the Grand Caravan is good basic transportation if you need room for family and cargo without spending a lot of money. The test model they sent me has no options and comes in under $24,000 including the destination charge.
Chrysler/Dodge pioneered the modern minivan in the early 1980's under the leadership of Lee Iacocca. It now appears the company is trying to stay in a market that GM and Ford have left. And, I'm fairly confident that this bare bones test model would not stack up well against the Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna. But, even with more creature comfort features, I still would not pick a minivan. Chalk it up to personal taste.
When you think about luxury cars, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti and Jaguar are probably the first brands that come to mind. Cadillac and Lincoln still register, but they generally fall much further down the list for many people. And, what about Buick? Does it register at all? If your answer is no, you may want to reconsider.
General Motors is serious about competing with its European and Asian counterparts in the luxury market. The Cadillac CTS is regarded as the best luxury sport sedan ever manufactured by an American automaker, performing well against-- if not outperforming-- European competitors. Now, Buick is seriously challenging the likes of Lexus with the 2010 Lacrosse.
If you have seen the commercials comparing the new Lacrosse to the Lexus ES350 and you find yourself saying, "no way," I'm here to tell you, "way!" Skepticism is understandable. I had plenty, until I drove the Lacrosse CXS.
Forget about the previous generation Lacrosse. Buick has totally redesigned the model-- front-to-back, top-to-bottom-- and Lexus was squarely in the crosshairs from drawing board to production line. If I did not know better, I would say GM kidnapped a Lexus designer and forced him/her to create an ES350 killer.
The leather seating is very comfortable and the cockpit is designed to place controls well within reach. The new center panel design takes a little getting used to. The layout can be a bit confusing at first glance, but once you get the feel for it, you'll be fine. Rear seating is also excellent providing generous leg, shoulder and head room. I don't think you'll hear complaints from passengers.
Features
Since the CXS is the top-of-the-ladder Lacrosse, everything is a standard feature. Dual-zone climate control-- standard. Ultrasonic rear park assist-- standard. Harman/Kardon 384-watt, 11-speaker, 5.1 Matrix surround sound audio system-- standard. Bluetooth phone connectivity, XM satellite radio, keyless start, ventilated leather seats, power sunshade-- all standard. I looked up the base CX model on GM's website and discovered the only thing that would leave you feeling less than luxurious is the standard cloth seats. Again, Buick is clearly serious about taking on and beating the competition.
Powerplant
Under the hood, GM's 3.6L, V-6 VVT direct injection engine powers the Lacrosse CXS. The engine is mated to a six-speed, automatic transmission. Together, the powertrain pairing produces 280 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration is good, but very Buick-like. This is not a sports sedan.
Buick models have a rather distinctive feel on the road. For the driving enthusiast, that feel is a bit soft. For the more refined highway cruiser, the feel is heavenly. The suspension absorbs nearly all minor road imperfections to provide one of the smoothest rides I have experienced since testing the Lexus LS460L in 2007. The cabin soundproofing is so good, I almost thought the engine wasn't running after I started the car. You can imagine what that means for road noise. You will hear very little.
Fuel efficiency is average. EPA fuel economy ratings for the Lacrosse are 17 MPG/City and 27 MGP/Highway. During my week in the car, I drove 345 miles consuming about 18 gallons of regular gasoline and achieving 19.1 MPG.
Summary
As Motor Trend declared on a recent cover, Buick is back! The 2010 Lacrosse is the second phase of a major comeback for the division that began with the introduction of the Enclave crossover. The Lucerne still exists, but I look for it to be phased out soon Buick's direction is clear and the division's new standard bearer is the 2010 Lacrosse. While it's still a car more suitable for my mother than me, the new Lacrosse is quite impressive. Pricing starts at $27,835. The CXS model starts at $33,765, including destination charge.
Many people view commercials as nuisances while watching their favorite television show or a drama-filled, exciting sporting event like the Super Bowl, The Masters or Daytona 500. You can count me among those viewers but professionally, I accept commercials as a necessary evil because the revenue they generate is the life's blood for most broadcast media companies.
That said, there are many commercials that I find more entertaining than the programs they support. Several Geico Insurance spots come to mind. Don't you just love that gecko? And how about the Kia hamsters?
The first time I saw that commercial I said to myself, "if the car is truly as cool as that spot, Kia has a winner." Guess what? The Soul is a winner!
The Soul is the first of the hip, boxy, pseudo crossovers that I have driven. Based on my week with the vehicle, the bar is now set pretty high for the competition, which includes the Scion xB and Nissan Cube. The words comfortable, cute and cool fit the Soul like a glove making the vehicle attractive to both youthful consumers and those with a bit more seasoning who still like fun cars. I consider myself to be a member of both categories. (Shhh! Pay no attention to the birthdate listed on my driver's license.)
The boxy appearance of the Soul instantly makes you think crossover or SUV and because the vehicle is small for those classifications, you might think it offers little in terms of functionality. Think again. The Soul is far roomier on the inside than you might expect. Seating is quite comfortable leaving driver and passengers feeling anything but cramped.
Open the rear hatch, and you will find ample cargo space for a vehicle of this size. You can easily fit a couple of small suitcases back there, without having to put the rear seats down. With the seats down, the cargo space expands nicely for your trip to the farmers' market or the home improvement store. Don't get me wrong. You won't be able to get six-foot wood panels in the Soul, but you will certainly be able to haul the big box containing the new lawn mower or outdoor grill you just bought.
Features
On the features tip, I think it would be hard to find a better deal than the Kia Soul. The car is rich with features that you would not expect in this class. Among the standard features, you find anti-lock brakes, power windows, door locks and outside mirrors, keyless entry and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
I was quite surprised to find, included among the standard items, Bluetooth connectivity for my cell phone, not to mention an iPod connection allowing the Soul's stereo system to easily access my personal music library. Sirius satellite radio is also included, as a standard item. I rather enjoyed driving at night while tuned to one of the bass-thumping Hip-Hop channels which made the speaker lights "dance" to the beat. So cool.
Amazingly, the only option on my test model was a power sunroof. Wow!
Powerplant
Under the hood, the Soul is equipped with a spunky engine that I first thought might be a small V-6. Of course, it was a four-cylinder powerplant which, in my test model, was mated to a five-speed, manual transmission. The combination provided impressive power that only added to the driving enjoyment. Acceleration is brisk and once at cruising speeds, you have adequate power to keep yourself rolling past slower moving traffic on the interstate.
Fuel efficiency was not bad for a boxy, non-aerodynamic vehicle. The Soul has an EPA rating of 24 MPG/City and 30 MPG/Highway. During my week in the Soul, I achieved only 21.8 miles per gallon, driving 192 city miles and consuming less than nine gallons of regular gasoline.
Summary
I loved this vehicle! It has personality, practicality and-- well-- soul, all at an affordable price. Why be the ordinary hamster always running in place when you can roll out and explore the world in something comfortable, cute and cool like the Kia Soul? Pricing starts at $16,950. As tested, the Kia Soul Sport was $18,345, including destination charge.
