From the Passenger's Seat

I know, I know. The Outlander is outdated and irrelevant to today's car market, especially the previous generation. Unfortunately for me, the only options at the rental car lot was this and the Kia Sportage. I had already extensively tested the Kia, so I ended up rolling with the Mitsubishi despite my knowledge of its mediocrity.  The car was not as bad as I expected, but it did have a defining fault: noise. Wind noise, road noise, and engine noise pours into the cabin at any speed. It's bad enough to the point where the turn signal click is not audible at all above 60 miles per hour or so. It was absent of any particularly annoying noises unlike the Passat I last tested, but the sheer volume of noise is astounding.

Since its last redesign, the Passat has garnered mostly praise from automotive journalists for its tight German handling, capacious interior, and solid feel. During my two days with it as a rental car running around Houston with my family, the Passat simply felt like a car. Nothing more, nothing less.  Okay, when it comes to the interior space, the Passat is definitely more. The cabin feels airy, thanks to a nice, large glass area. Legroom is a nonexistent problem in the Passat; it has the space of a flagship luxury sedan. There are two caveats: the floor hump in the second row is rather large for a front-wheel-drive sedan, and the steering wheel is situated noticeably to the right of the center of the driver. Interior quality was alright. Being the base model, our Passat had unattractive silver trim. Other than that, all of the upper door panels are padded, all of the armrests are padded, and none of the plastics were particularly harsh. Volkswagen even throws in an intricate

Well, it's that time of the year where students go back to school, and I am no exception. Since this is my first year of high school, I am super excited and anxious. But with the inevitable assignments and assessments, I feel I should take a break from my blog. The next time I will return will be Monday-Wednesday on Thanksgiving week. Until then, my readers! -Jason L.

As you might be able to decipher from the vehicle name, the Concept X5 eDrive is a plug-in hybrid version of the redesigned 2014 X5. Thinly veiled as a concept, the Concept X5 eDrive is almost sure to go into production as a environmentally-friendly luxury SUV (or SAV in BMW's language).  The big news with the Concept X5 eDrive [what a mouthful!] is its powertrain. There's a conventional turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine, and a 95-horsepower electric motor powering the wheels. The combination allows for a zero to 60 acceleration time of under 7 seconds. Driving on electricity alone, you can go 19 miles on a full battery charge and up to 75 miles per hour without wakening the gasoline engine. In slippery conditions, you can drive without worry as BMW's xDrive permanent all-wheel-drive system is there to get you moving.  BMW points out a 74.3  miles per gallon ( or up to 74 MPG, or 62 MPG, or 75 MPG, depending on your source) fuel economy rating on the Europea

Do you like the regular 458 Italia, yet yearn for more horsepower and performance? Well, Ferrari has just the extreme car to fulfill your extreme desire! The 458 Speciale is the ultimate trim of the 458 lineup that is street-legal (there is also a track-only 458 Challenge).  Horsepower is bumped to 597, which is 35 more than the base 458 Italia. Peak torque remains at 398 pounds-feet. This makes the 458 Speciale the high-power, naturally aspirated V-8 Ferrari of all time, Ferrari says. Ferrari claims the engine itself, at 133 horsepower per liter of displacement, is the most horsepower-dense naturally aspirated road engine ever. Ferrari cites a 0 to 62 miles per hour acceleration time of 3 seconds flat, and a 0 to 124 miles per hour time of 9.1 seconds.  To enhance the car's handling, dry weight (how much the car weighs without any fluids) is cut to 2844 pounds from 3024 pounds in the base 458. A different algorithm was programmed into the Side Slip angle Control for more co

After a substancial redesign for the 2013 model year, the 2014 Accord model line remains untouched with the exception of "premium" seat fabric for the Accord LX, and an automatically-dimming rearview mirror that no longer requires you to press a power button to activate it.  The new base price for the Accord sedan is $22745, which represents a $275 price hike to the 2013. The coupe starts at $24415, which also is $275 more than the 2013. Pricing includes a $790 destination charge. The 2014 Accord sedan goes on sale August 22, and the coupe is officially on sale now. The plug-in hybrid version of the Accord is new for 2014. 

While my mother's car is in the shop being fixed, we got a Jeep Patriot as a loaner car to drive for the week. When I saw that the Jeep Patriot was our rental, I was disappointed. I had read that the Patriot is an utterly mediocre vehicle, and I had rock-bottom expectations going in.  It turns out the Patriot is a mediocre car, but mediocrity isn't unexpected for such a cheap SUV. Starting at only $15995 (not including destination), the Patriot is the cheapest crossover/SUV on sale in America today.  The riding experience of the Patriot is underwhelming, mostly because of its stiff and bouncy ride. You get to know the road's imperfections well in the Patriot, which is not a good thing. The bouncy suspension doesn't pay off in the corners, either, where the Patriot leans.  The cabin was surprisingly quiet, though. Granted, many cars are quieter than the Patriot, but tire whine on grooved pavement was kept at a minimum at high speeds. Some low-frequency rumble filte

After being hit with class-action lawsuits that claim the C-Max was not getting close to the original EPA-rated 47 miles per gallon fuel economy rating, Ford has decided to drop the combined fuel economy rating to 43 miles per gallon.  This moves comes after a hybrid system update to Ford hybrids in an attempt to increase real-world fuel economy.  In addition, Ford will be sending owners of the 2013 C-Max money to compensate for the misleading mileage figures. Current owners will get $550, while lessees will receive $325. No specifics were released on how to obtain the money, but current owners will be sent letters with instructors on the matter.  The mileage discrepancy comes from old EPA "general label rules." Under these rules, a vehicle can carryover another vehicle's fuel economy ratings if the drivetrain and weight are shared. In this case, the C-Max carried over the Fusion Hybrid's ratings.  The 2014 C-Max will be tweaked mechanically and aerodynamica

To compete with the recent wave of subcompact German crossovers, the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, Mercedes decided to jack-up its hatchback A-Class to form the GLA-Class. A concept version previewed the GLA earlier this year, and the GLA will officially debut in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.  The GLA-Class is only 173.9 inches long, 71 inches wide, and 58.8 inches tall. That makes it very small; it is 4.4 inches shorter and 8.1 shorter than Mercedes' compact GLK-Class crossover.  While the GLA-Class is small in size, it does not have a modest personality. The exterior styling is best described as extroverted, with dramatic curves and bold shapes. I might also think it's cluttered and a mess, but others might think differently. 18-inch wheels are standard, and 19-inch wheels can be had as well.  T he interior, thankfully, is much more conservative. While I don't think the round air vents match the design, they do give off a high-quality air. The dashboard can be t

Fiat shows off the mischievous side of its cute 500 with the 500 Cattiva, which was first shown in concept form at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. Apparently, Cattiva describes "a person or situation that is naughty yet cool" in Italian. The 500 Cattiva might not really be "cattiva," but it sure does try hard to be.  The Cattiva can be ordered on the 500 Sport and the 500 Turbo. While the Cattiva model does not add any mechanical upgrades, it does feature many darkened elements. The lighting pieces are all darkened, there's a Nero-painted (black) roof, there's a Nero-painted rear tailgate spoiler, and the 16-inch wheels are finished in a two-tone design.  Inside, the dashboard trim is painted a sooty black instead of the body-color paint other 500s use. The seats are upholstered in Nero and Grigio (black and gray) cloth stitched with silver thread. Leather seats that are black are also available. Regardless of seat upholstery, the steering wheel and shift

The European and U.S. Honda Civics are loosely based on each other, but the only similarity anyone will be able to see is the shared steering wheel. As you can tell from the photos, the European Civic sports a much more audacious design. 

Now in its third model year, Chevrolet subcompact vehicle receives a few new safety features, some trim shuffling, and a price "change." All the same trim levels (LS, LT, LTZ and hatchback-exclusive RS) and body styles (awkward sedan and five-door hatchback) return for 2014. The mechanical bits carryover as well. However, a backup camera becomes standard equipment for the LTZ and RS trims, and it can be ordered with the MyLink multimedia interface on the LT.  A new advanced safety package that is an option at all trims. It includes forward collision warning, lane departure warning and a rear view camera.  Another package is the LT Promotional Package that adds MyLink, a power sliding glass moonroof, and front fog lights. Apparently, this is a limited production package.  Red Hot, Ashen Gray Metallic, Cool Blue and the limited-edition Deep Magenta Metallic join the Sonic's existing exterior color roster.  The 2014 Sonic starts at $14995, including a $825 desti

This is an i8 prototype. After launching the i3 urban electric car, BMW has now put out details about its i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. The i8 is all-wheel-drive, but not in the way that you might think.  The gasoline engine of the i8 is a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder churning out 231 horsepower and 236 pounds-feet of torque. With four valves per cylinder, an aluminum construction and the Valvetronic variable valve timing and lift function, the engine is essentially BMW's famed inline-six engine chopped in half. This is the basic engine that will be used in the next Mini Cooper. Being a 3-cylinder, a balance shaft has been added on to counteract vibrations and there's a multi-stage damper within the six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is placed in the middle of the vehicle, and it powers the rear wheels.

Instead of starting at $39995 like the 2013 Volt did, the 2014 Chevrolet Volt will start at $34995 (including an $810 destination freight charge). That represents a $5000 price cut, and it means that you could theoretically get a new Volt for just $27495 once you factor in the $7500 federal tax rebate.  In reality, the 2013 Volt already started at $39495. Chevrolet has been running a $5000 discount for some time to get those cars off dealer lots.  Two new exterior paint colors, Ashen Gray Metallic and Brownstowne Metallic, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are added for the 2014 model year. The Volt is still eligible to drive in HOV lanes in California and New York even if there is only a single occupant.  The Chevrolet Volt's price reduction comes after a series of lease and purchase discounts from other automakers for their EVs, including Nissan, Ford, Honda, and more.  In other news, nobody is commenting on my blog! I know people are viewing it! It would be great i

I'm super lazy today, so I just decided to post an old research paper of mine. It's not super good, but it gets the point across.  Honestly, what is up with the stigma of minivans? They're so good, yet so bad. I can't think of anything else that is as good of a product as the minivan but has such a lowly image among consumers. Well, maybe the station wagon... Ugh, I want a Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon so badly. Corvette LT1 engine, dual sunroofs, wood graining. It's so appealing! Yeah, maybe I'm weird. Anyways, read my report if you would like to. Just click the words "Read more" below this paragraph.

In almost 13000 Nissan Versa Notes, there could be weak, loose, or missing bolts in the rear seatback latches. As for bolts bolting the body of the car to the undercarriage, some may be too loose or missing. These bolts, or lack thereof, negatively impact the car's crash performance and/or can harm  passengers in the backseat. Nissan is not aware of any injuries or collisions related to the bolts.  Vehicles under this recall were assembled before July 5, 2013, in Mexico. Owners will be notified by Nissan of this recall in mid-August. Dealers will inspect and repair the bolt problem free of charge. For more information, owners can call Nissan at 800-627-726, the NHTSA's (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or visit www.safercar.gov. 

Ford has just introduced a compressed natural gas conversion package for the 3.7-liter V-6 version of the 2014 F-150. The package has hardened valves, valve seats, pistons and rings for the engine. After the conversion, the truck will be able to burn gasoline, compressed natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas. It can only run on one fuel at a time.  The package itself will be about $315, but the full conversion by a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier will be anywhere from $7500 to $9500. Ford claims that customers who convert their F-150s can break even 24-36 months, thanks to the low price of natural gas; compressed natural gas only costs roughly dollar in Oklahoma and $2.11 on average in the United States.  For now, Ford is the only automaker to offer a natural gas package for its half-ton pickup truck, though other trucks can be converted to run on natural gas in the aftermarket world. Within the next year, Ford anticipates it will have 8 compressed natural gas models in t

After having seen GM offer OnStar for years and Hyundai present Blue Link, Volkswagen is jumping into the car telematics system with Car-Net.  Car-Net is free for the first 6 months of ownership, and then costs $17.99 per month. You can opt for a $199 one-year contract, a $378 two-year contract, or a $540 three-year plan to save some money on Car-Net.  Features that come with Car-Net are similar to other automakers' systems. There is Automatic Crash Notification, where the vehicle automatically calls a Car-Net representative if the airbags are deployed and/or a rollover is detected. The vehicle's location and information are sent to the Car-Net Response Center, and emergency services can then be sent to the vehicle.  Roadside Assistance has the vehicle's location and VIN number sent to Car-Net. You can accomplish this by either pressing the appropriate button or using the iPhone app (an Android app will be released soon). Additionally, Car-Net has a website that ser

BMW has at last released the full details of its new i3 electric vehicle. The i3 is part  of BMW's  new sub-brand, i,  and it ushers in a new type of BMW.  The i3 is a very different beast compared to other BMWs. Starting with the structure, it isn't conventional steel. The body of the car is divided into the Life Module and the Drive Module. The Life module is the passenger compartment, and it is formed out of lightweight carbon fiber. The Drive module houses the drivetrain of the veh icle, and it is made of aluminum. All that lightweight material allows for a relatively low curb weight of about 2700 pounds. That, combined with the 170-horsepower and 184-pounds-feet of torque electric motor, makes for an approximate 0 to 60 miles per hour acceleration time of 7 seconds. Top speed is 93 miles per hour.  The electric motor is fed by a 450-pound, 22-kwH lithium-ion battery pack. Normal range in Comfort mode is 80 to 100 miles, but Eco Pro mode earns roughly 12% more rang

While the Sentra was just redesigned for the 2013 model year, Nissan is refining some of its mechanicals for the 2014 model year to address the Sentra's mediocre reviews.  The steering system, suspension, and CVT transmission are reportedly to be revised for 2013. Otherwise, a sliding front armrest becomes standard on the SL trim and becomes available in the SV and SR trims with the Driver Package. Front seat cushion pockets are introduced on all trims as standard equipment. Finally, the NissanConnect infotainment system has been upgraded for better voice recognition, easier destination entry for the navigation system and enhanced app integration for iPhones and Android phones. Pricing will be released closer to the 2014 Sentra's late-November launch.

Now in its third generation for the 2014 model year, Mazda's 3 compact car has been acclaimed to have an engaging driving experience seldom found in the compact car segment. After it has been redesigned, it also happens to wear some striking "Kodo" design language sheet metal. The Mazda3 will come with two engines: the SKYACTIV 2-liter, 155-horsepower four-cylinder gasoline engine and the SKYACTIV 2.5-liter, 184-horsepower four-cylinder gasoline engine. All trim levels with the 2-liter engine will have the option of choosing either a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission, but  choosing the automatic transmission will cost $1050 over choosing the manual.  The 2.5-liter engine can only be optioned on the Touring and Grand Touring trims, and it comes paired exclusively to the six-speed automatic transmission for now.

The EXP 9 F concept Bentley first showed its idea of building an SUV was displayed at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show in the form of the controversially-styled EXP 9 F concept. Now, Volkswagen chairman Martin Winterkorn and British Prime Minister David Cameron have declared that the SUV will be produced at Bentley's Crewe manufacturing plant.  They said that Bentley will invest approximately 1.2 billion dollars into the plant and the SUV's production will introduce 1000 new jobs.  Pricing for the new Bentley SUV will be appropriately steep to compete for affluent customers with the upcoming Lamborghini Urus SUV, and upper-end versions of the Range Rover and Porsche Cayenne. The platform is reported to be Volkswagen's MLB architecture, which the Bentley SUV will share with the next generations of the Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Audi Q7. Possible powertrains involve a V-8 diesel, a gasoline-electric hybrid, and a twin-turbocharged W-12 gasoline engine. The ne

BMW's new electric hatchback will have a base price of $42275 (including a $925 destination fee) in the Unites States, and 29370 euros in Germany. Those prices do not include tax incentives or taxes.  While that makes the i3 the most expensive EV in the U.S. other than Tesla's Model S, the i3 brings to the electric table a state-of-the-art carbon fiber body on an aluminum frame. That brings the i3's weight down considerably compared to other EVs, to an alleged 2630 pounds.  Inside, BMW says the i3 will have space comparable to the 3 Series, despite being more compact on the outside. Incomparable to the 3 Series is the i3's intriguing door arrangement, which is the same as an extended-cab pickup truck. A 170-horsepower, 184-pounds-feet of torque electric motor drives the rear wheels. Feeding that motor is a 22-KWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the passenger compartment that provides 80 to 100 miles of range, and a two-cylinder gasoline generator can be o

To celebrate the 50th Clubvan sold in the US, Mini has ceased United States sales of the Clubvan premium compact delivery van. The Clubvan is essentially a Mini Clubvan with solid rear side wind ows, a carpeted cargo area, no rear seats, and a partition between the front passenger area and the cargo area.  According to Mini, the culprit for underwhelming sales is the Chicken Tax, a 25% tax on foreign-built commercial vehicles. That tax is responsible for the Clubvans' $25985 base price (including destination), which is both over $2000 than the much-roomier Ford Transit Connect and much pricier than the more-versatile Clubman. The Clubvan has a 30.3 cubic feet cargo area and utilized Mini's base 121-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder mated to either six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The Clubvan lives on in other markets, where it enjoys no such taxes and strong sales.

Last week, I had the pleasure of taking a road trip in Eastern California and Western Nevada with a 2013 GMC Terrain. It was almost the perfect road trip vehicle, with well-behaved highway manners and good grip on winding mountain roads. It certainly did not come without its kinks, though. The interior of my test Terrain was well-equipped in terms of options, being the uplevel SLT trim. It had a sunroof, perforated leather seats, a power rear hatch (which I enjoyed), and heated front seats. While the feature list is nice, the interior quality will not trick you into thinking this is a luxury car. The graining of the plastics and the two-tone color theme of my test car made it have premium aura, but the plastics were all hard. There wasn't a single surface that was padded anywhere other than the gauge hood and armrests. To make matters worse, there was a liberal use of glossy silver plastic on the dashboard. I'm not sure if it's even supposed to look like genuine aluminu

Yesterday night, Toyota revealed the next generation of its incredibly popular Corolla. It is now in its 11th generation.  The new Corolla is perhaps the most radically styled yet. At first, I was appalled by the design, but it grew on me after half an hour or so. The interior is just as stylish (or overstyled) as the exterior, with a stacked design that looks like a fusion of the Yaris's and Avalon's interiors. It does look to be of much higher quality than the current Corolla.  More sounds deadening means a quieter interior, and a 3.9-inch stretch of the wheelbase translates to more legroom for the rear passengers. There is also heavier padding and foam inserts for the rear passengers, making it even more comfortable for them.  The engine is carryover; you'll find the same 132-horsepower, 128 pounds-feet of torque, 1.8-liter four cylinder under the hood. There is a new LE Eco trim level that has the same engine, but with a higher compression ratio and bette