Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged wagon
2005 Ford Freestyle
Dec 7th
Wagon fans, rejoice! The full-size station wagon is back! For that lunatic fringe of unabashed station wagon fans, the Ford Freestyle is just what we’ve been looking for. Forget the Dodge Magnum, whose butch posturing is just masking the fact that it’s a station wagon. The Freestyle is a big wagon in the Country Squire tradition, and it’s proud of it.
Well, maybe that’s overstating the case a little. After all, it’s wearing SUV-style contrasting color fender flares and tall tires instead of fake wood down the sides, and Ford calls it lots of things but never a “station wagon.” But we all know what this big boy really is, even if Ford’s afraid to admit it. The Freestyle hits the streets just in time to serve the needs of buyers who like the spaciousness of a full-size SUV but are tired of the poor handling and fuel economy common to those vehicles. The Freestyle shares underpinnings with the Ford Five Hundred sedan, as well as a 3.0 liter V6 engine, available all-wheel drive and an SUV-like high seating position. More >
2006 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT
Dec 3rd
We’ve always had a hard time thinking of the Forester as an SUV thanks to its close relationship with the Subaru Impreza, but plenty of onlookers clearly had no problem seeing it for what it was. Subaru’s little crossover sport-ute acquits itself as the most carlike vehicle in its class. The good news is that it doesn’t sacrifice any of its go-anywhere ability in the name of comfort, either.
Obviously this isn’t an off-roader; the Forester lacks a dual-range transmission and the suspension articulation required for serious dirt-bashing, but the 8.1 inches of ground clearance and sure-footed all-wheel drive enable it to go pretty much anywhere the average mortal is interested in going. More >
2005 Suzuki Forenza wagon
Nov 13th
It may not seem like it, but compact station wagons are a highly evolved breed. Since most serve as the only car for a household, they’ve got to carry small families and any cargo that might present itself. They’ve got to be easy to pilot through crowded suburban streets, and ride smoothly enough to deal with a variety of road conditions. A compact wagon needs to be sure-footed enough to handle all sorts of weather, and it should be comfortable too, because there are lots of errands to be run. And on top of all that, it ought to get good gas mileage, too. That’s a lot to ask of any car, and with the added competition of compact SUVs and the growing popularity of “crossover” five-door hatchbacks, means that a compact station wagon has to be very good indeed if it’s going to succeed.
For 2005, Suzuki has joined this complicated and competitive market, with a long-tailed version of the Forenza compact. Riding the same chassis as the sedan (and, going farther back, as the Daewoo Nubira), the Korean-built Forenza wagon features a handsome design, a well thought-out interior and one of the best warranties in the business. More >