Test Drive: 2010 Volkswagen GTI

This week's Test Drive takes place in the 2010 Volkswagen GTI.  Small. Sporty. Stimulating.

My first impressions are very good. I'm finding this car to be quite comfortable. The leather bucket seats are great, though I don't understand why driver's seat has a power recline feature, but adjusts forward and backward manually.

I really dig the race car inspired steering wheel.

This GTI test model is fairly well equipped.  Features include DVD navigation, Sirius satellite radio and a premium sound system which includes an iPod connection.  Bluetooth connectivity is also included for both cell phones and audio devices.  There is no automatic lights feature.

Test Drive: 2010 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul Lives Up To Its Name

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.

Test Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

The New Equinox: A Diamond in the Rough

As a big fan of big sports utility vehicles, my interest in small SUVs and crossovers has been limited to helping my mother select possible vehicles for lease. She bought two Buick Rendezvous crossovers, on my recommendation, and loved them. When GM discontinued the model, Mom went back to a sedan, choosing the award winning Saturn Aura, again, on my recommendation. I’m ready to go three-for-three: “Mom, if you want to go back to driving an SUV or crossover next year, get the all-new Chevy Equinox!”

It is an easy recommendation to make. My mother, as a company retiree, only drives General Motors vehicles. If she wants to return to the comfort, practicality, and sure-footed traction of a crossover/SUV, the new Equinox is the ticket.

Chevy has done a great job designing this latest generation of the popular Equinox. With competition from the class-leading Honda CR-V and the popular Toyota RAV-4, and the rough landscape for American automakers, Chevy really needed to hit a home run with the second generation Equinox. After spending a week in the Equinox LT with front wheel drive, I am left thinking that front-to-back, side-to-side, top-to-bottom, the new Equinox is winner.

Exterior Appearance

On the outside, the new Equinox looks larger than the previous generation and takes advantage of GM’s many styling improvements. The standard Chevy grill with body-colored bar through the middle and the trademark Chevy bow tie logo, new headlamps, fog lights, tail lamps, fender flares and side panel lines combine to give the vehicle’s small body and more muscular look. Add the optional 18-inch or 19-inch wheels and you have some real beef. This moves the Equinox from a soft, female oriented vehicle to a harder, more unisex model in my mind.

Power

Under the hood, the Equinox comes with a 2.4 liter, I-4, direct injection engine producing 182 horsepower and 172 lb.-ft. of torque. A 3.0 liter, V-6, direct injection engine producing 264 horsepower and 222 lb.-ft. of torque is optional. My test model had the standard engine, which I found to be surprisingly adequate. While I would prefer the more powerful V-6 setup, the four-cylinder setup will be just fine for those who place less emphasis an acceleration and require less than 1,500 pounds of towing capacity. Also, these power ratings match or nearly match the Honda and Toyota competition. Any differences are so minor they are negligible.

As for efficiency, my energetic driving style allowed my to manage only 18.3 MPG in city driving during my week in the Equinox. EPA fuel economy ratings for the Equinox are 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. These figures match or surpass the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4.


Interior Appearance and Comfort

The new Equinox has a far more attractive interior than the previous generation. Seating appears more upscale. My test model included optional leather appointed seating, which was quite comfortable. Leg, head and shoulder room is plentiful, both front and rear. The most notable and welcomed improvement, in terms of interior appearance, is the center console. I never liked the former styling, which looked more like a mini-van console than an SUV console. The 2010 model now employs a more traditional SUV console with the gear shifter, and cup holders in the expected positions.

Features

Standard features on the 2010 Equinox are plentiful. Among the safety features are antilock brakes, dual front and side airbags, and a rearview camera system that puts the video screen right in the rearview mirror. Outside the vehicle, heated power sideview mirrors, roof rack side rails and fog lamps are all standard. Inside, you will find GM’s trademarked Multi-Flex sliding rear seat, a premium 8-speaker audio system with CD player and AM/FM/XM radio, and Bluetooth connectivity for your cell phone. GM has also, finally, combined the key with the key fob in switchblade style. But, the best feature is the cargo space. With rear seats upright, it is large enough to accommodate your golf bag! Impressive, considering the larger HUMMER H3 cannot make the same claim.

Summary

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is one of the vehicles General Motors is counting on to help fuel is rebirth and return to prominence in the auto industry. The first new vehicle introduced after bankruptcy, the Equinox is a great start for the New GM. It has the look, the feel and the features to make this large SUV lover consider the smaller package.

Test Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 Hatchback

The Small Car with No Heart

Nearly 30 years ago, when I was in high school, my first car was a late 1970's model Toyota Corolla. It had a four cylinder engine with a four-speed manual transmission. That Corolla was a great little starter car until the frame, probably stressed from the harsh Michigan winters which include the liberal use of corrosive rock salt to keep roads ice free, broke. While in college, I had an early 80's Honda Accord hatchback, also with a four cylinder engine and manual transmission. it was the perfect car for a young college guy looking for mobility and practicality.

Fast forward and I can say the same thing about the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo-- After spending a week driving the vehicle, it's the perfect car for young college bound students who need mobility and practicality.

Chevy offers the Aveo in three trims, all with GM's Ecotec 1.6 liter, dual overhead cam engine. It produces 106 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. On paper, not bad for a this type of car. But at no time did I feel like the Aveo was adequately powered. Acceleration was anemic and passing power was next to non-existent. Of course, my frame of reference is based on the thirsty eight cylinder powered vehicles in my own garage.

What the Aveo lacks in power, it makes up for in its interior. I was quite impressed with the look and layout of the car and found it quite comfortable for a sub compact. Safety ratings are also a plus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Aveo its highest marks, 5-stars for frontal crash ratings and 4-stars for side crash and rollover ratings.

Designed and built by GM-Daewoo in Korea, the Aveo does not have the heart or soul of the typical Chevy, but it will do for your newly licensed teenager or college bound young adult. Starting price is $15, 365. Can anybody say, "nice high school graduation gift?"

Appearance

On the outside, the Aveo looks like the typical sub compact. Its most distinctive feature might be the now-Chevy standard front grille design with a body-colored bar through the middle and the trademark Chevy bow tie logo. Front and rear light designs help provide an aggressive appearance and the optional 15-inch, 5-spoke aluminum wheels on my test model helped make the Aveo somewhat easy to look at.

Power

Under the hood, the Aveo needs help. For all of the aggressive look Chevy tries to give the Aveo, when you start it up and give it some gas, you quickly learn this dog is all bark, no bite. As I have already stated, the Ecotec 1.6L DOHC engine is anemic. It needs an iron injection to counteract the condition. If the exhilaration one feels from acceleration is measured in G-forces, is it possible for that number to be negative?

My test model was equipped with the optional four-speed automatic transmission. It performed adequately in city driving and also once I got up to speed on the highway. But forget about passing anyone.

As for efficiency, you would expect some big numbers from the Aveo. The EPA fuel economy estimates are 25 MPG/City and 34 MPG/Highway. I did not take a highway road trip in the Aveo (and, I really wouldn't want to) but the Aveo's city performance, under my foot, was less than impressive. I drove 112 miles consuming about 5.6 gallons of regular gasoline. That works out to a disappointing 20 MPG. I must have really been pushing the car to make me feel the acceleration.

Comfort

On the inside, the Aveo does not disappoint. I never expect much from sub compact interiors so opening the doors to find a clean, convenient dash layout, plenty of room, optional leatherette seats along with leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob was quite satisfying. Leg and headroom were plentiful almost creating the illusion that I was not inside a sub compact.

Features

My test model was the Aveo5 2LT. Standard features included some surprises. Things like power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry with alarm, tire pressure monitor system, stainless steel exhaust. I did not expect to find those features offered without having to pay extra for them. Add to that list the 180-watt, six speaker AM/FM stereo with CD player, auxiliary input jack and steering wheel controls and I say, "nice touch, Chevy!" XM Satellite Radio is also standard with the first three months of service included.

In addition to the aluminum wheels, automatic transmission, leatherette seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob already mentioned, my test model also included an optional antilock brake system with engine immobilizer.

Summary

The first three letters in the Aveo name are also the first three letters in the word I will use to describe the car overall-- average. A decent appearance, good comfort and nice features on the plus side; Lack of power and less than stellar fuel efficiency on the minus side. I will stick with my initial assessment-- not the car for me, but a great first car for kids.