Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged do-all
2005 Toyota Matrix
Nov 7th
The guy at the transmission shop rushed out to get a look at the Toyota Matrix. “What is it?” he asked. “It’s pretty cool. Is it a four or a V6?” A grizzled diesel mechanic had a similar reaction when he saw our dark blue test car on his lot. “Is it a four-by-four?” he asked.
Not bad curb draw for a vehicle that’s basically a glorified Corolla wagon, eh?
Oh, right, we know, it’s called a “crossover” and all sorts of other hip-sounding things, but the fact of the matter is, Toyota’s Matrix and its Pontiac sibling the Vibe are intended to do the tasks that have been falling to station wagons for years. The trouble was, a little station wagon just isn’t cool enough for the active-sports crowd to feel good about tossing bikes, boards or tents into one for a long weekend. And that’s where the Matrix comes in. It’s a station wagon at heart, but the tall-sided body and angular design are loads hipper than the average wagon could ever be. For 2005 the Matrix gets fresh styling and Toyota’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system. More >
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid
Nov 7th
This SUV can, arguably, get you closer to nature than any other. Want to go for a drive through the woods? Steer the Ford Escape Hybrid off of the beaten path, roll down the windows to let the air in, and wait for a few seconds for the engine to shut itself off. Once that happens, you can cruise slowly along on electric power, with only the crunch of the tires to disturb the serenity of nature.
Beating Toyota to the punch by just weeks, the Escape hybrid is the first hybrid SUV on the market. It’s a full hybrid, unlike GMC’s Sierra hybrid pickup that can’t run on full-electric power. The Escape hybrid operates on the same theory as Toyota’s successful Prius; a small gasoline engine is assisted by an electric motor, and the electric motor’s batteries are charged with the help of regenerative brakes. By reducing the load on the gasoline engine when it’s at its least efficient, the Escape hybrid is able to minimize fuel consumption. More >
2010 Acura ZDX
Oct 8th
I was stopped in a parking lot by a gentleman who told me, in no uncertain terms, that he thought the ZDX was the “most beautiful car ever built.” It’s definitely striking; Acura’s family face suits the big, sharp-edged design. Of course, opinions will vary–Acura’s family face is also very polarizing, and folks either love it or detest it. Me? I like it, but then it’s funny-looking, so you probably knew I would.
The ZDX itself is a vehicle that’s apt to inspire debate, for that matter. This new-for-2010 Acura is a highly-evolved, high-tech…well, what is it? By the numbers, it’s a tall coupe-sedan, an ultra-modern luxury crossover that offers more utility than a similar sedan can. The ZDX features all of the usual Acura goodies: high-tech appointments, superb handling and cutting edge style. In the metal, it doesn’t really look like anything else. It doesn’t feel much like anything else, either. More >