Archive for the ‘SUV’ Category
Towing-Passenger-Cargo Capacity Show Down!
Friday, February 18th, 2011
When it comes to midsize SUVs, there are some really great products on the market right now. Drivers have always been fond of the Explorer over at Ford Dealership Ontario, but they have never really been excited by it. The Ford Explorer (pictured at left) returns for the 2011 production year with a few new upgrades that brings it up to speed with the rest of the competition. Another vehicle that has been freshened up to current standards is the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which can be found at Wallingford Jeep Dealer. People who are searching for these midsize SUVs usually need the best passenger capacity, cargo space, and a decent amount of towing capacity. Luckily, Ford Dealers Dickinson has more than a few great choices for shoppers, but given the amount of competition out there, they had better keep making improvements every year!
In terms of rugged ability, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2011 Ford Explorer each have a few tricks up their sleeves. Of course, you are never going to find the absolute perfect vehicle for your needs, but these two offer some great choices. In terms of size, the Explorer is larger all around than the Grand Cherokee. For 2011, there are now three rows of seats that come standard in the Ford Explorer so you can carry up to seven passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee (pictured at right) still can only carry five passengers, but does manage to offer a bit more cargo room. With all the seats in use, there is 21 cubic feet of cargo room in the Explorer compared to 34.5 cubic feet in the Grand Cherokee.
The towing capacity is different this year for the Ford Explorer, which used to be able to tow over 7,000 pounds. The new 2011 Ford Explorer is more car-like in the driving nature and it is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the Grand Cherokee is able to tow up to 7,400 pounds. In terms of overall spaciousness, the Ford Explorer offers 151.7 cubic feet of passenger space and the Grand Cherokee gives you 109 cubic feet. If you really need to carry some large items, you can fold the back two rows of seats down and enjoy an ample 80.7 cubic feet of cargo room in the Explorer.
Kia Soul Keeps You Safe
Sunday, February 6th, 2011
Drivers looking for a safe vehicle have plenty of options on the market right now, and you can visit the IIHS website to see which vehicles they are deeming to be the safest for 2011. We can tell you right now that the line up from Middletown Kia Dealers is safer than ever, and drivers are overly fond of the 2011 Kia Soul. This cute little car is a truly unique design that you either love or hate at first sight, but perhaps once you visit Kia Dealer Washington to learn about all of its great features, you can overlook its trendy appearance. Of course you could always run across the street to Vineland Hyundai if you are seeking something more timeless in terms of exterior design.
What surprises consumers the most about the 2011 Kia Soul, besides its amazingly low price, is the hefty amount of safety equipment that it offers. Usually, when you are spending less than $20,000 on a vehicle, you would expect to get a lower quality of safety features, and that is just how things go for the auto world. However, the Kia Soul comes with antilock brakes as well as electronic stability control. In addition to active head restraints, there are front side airbags plus side-curtain airbags. The NHTSA gives the Kia Soul a rating of four stars for frontal crashes and five stars for side impact crashes. The IIHS has awarded the Kia Soul its best rating of “good” for all of the crash test areas, even its new side crash test.
In terms of performance, the Kia Soul gives you two engines to choose from. The base engine is a 1.6-liter four cylinder engine that puts out a mere 122 horsepower plus 115 pound feet of torque. The majority of the vehicles sold feature the larger 2.0-liter four cylinder that produces 142 horsepower plus 137 pound feet of torque. There are four trim levels for the 2011 Kia Soul; the base Soul, Soul+, Soul!, and Soul Sport. You will find the larger engine on the top three trim levels and the majority of drivers admit to preferring the automatic transmission when compared to the performance you get from the manual gearbox.
Rugged Trucks To Get The Job Done!
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Everyone knows that Volvo Dealership Irvine has some of the safest passenger vehicles currently in production out of the rest of the auto brands. However, who has the toughest vehicle in their fleet? You might instantly think of some rugged truck from Ford or Dodge, but the truth is that the toughest and most durable trucks come from import brands like Toyota and Nissan. You likely won’t even find a used model in the Manchester Volvo Dealership used car inventory, as these tough trucks are treasured property of worldwide international organizations. You usually think of Toyota and Nissan producing small and affordable vehicles, but if you ever have the hope of owning one of these tough trucks, you will need to really consider taking out a Lebanon Bad Credit Car Loan.
First off from Nissan we have the Nissan Patrol; you might recognize this truck as the current Infiniti QX56. Don’t expect the leather upholstery in the rugged Nissan Patrol, but you will have a V8 engine with a seven speed automatic transmission. First brought about in 1951, the Nissan Patrol is really popular with the members of the United Nations. The Nissan Patrol gained a lot of popularity in 1987 when it started getting noticed by international aid organizations that needed a vehicle to withstand harsh environments.
The Toyota family might be famous for the fuel efficient Prius and small Camry, but the vehicles they are most proud of include the Hilux truck and the Land Cruiser truck-based SUV. You might remember the Toyota Hilux from the Back to the Future films driven by the character Marty McFly. Toyota refers to this truck as being unbreakable and since its debut in 1969 it has gained the trust of military and international aid organizations. The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the most recognizable fleet rugged trucks in the world, and there have been more than 4 million units sold since its creation in 1954.
2011 Journey Improves Dodge’s Reputation
Monday, November 29th, 2010
The Dodge Journey first debuted in 2008 and there have been some up and down moments regarding its fate. The competition from Chevrolet Aiken has had great sales since the safety ratings and cargo room of their Traverse have continued to increase. There have been questions raised regarding the lifespan of Payne Chevrolet since GM filed bankruptcy a few years back, but the determination is there. The same thing is true for Chrysler and their affiliate brands. Now that the Dodge reputation is back on the rise, their entire line up should pose adequate amounts of competition for Chevrolet Vermillion. The 2011 Dodge Journey seems to have retained only its best attributes and improved upon the rest for the latest model.
The exterior has improved, but only slightly. You still see the same station-wagon inspired exterior design mixed with SUV influences. The main improvements that Dodge made was to get rid of the plastic bulky control features on the inside of the vehicle. No one was sad to see the cheap plastic interior replaced with metallic trims and improved overall feel in the quality department of the materials used. Some drivers are likely to complain that the Journey has its front seat passengers sitting a little too close for comfort to the dash, but at least it looks better now!
If you opt for the higher trim levels, then you get the convenience of an LCD screen for navigation and other functions. The climate control knobs aren’t too complicated and are placed in a thoughtful location on the dash. The steering wheel is large and makes you feel a bit more powerful while you are behind the wheel. This new and improved midsized SUV has a little bit of everything to offer young families on the go. The 2011 Dodge Journey is a fantastic alternative to buying a dreaded minivan and the safety ratings will soon be released.
Domestics Deliver In the Crossover Class!
Friday, November 19th, 2010
When it comes time for you to consider buying an SUV, you should look at the crossover types. They offer the functionality of an SUV with the ease of a car. Savannah Honda Dealers have had a lot of success with their Honda CR-V sales, but what about if you need more cargo room? When you head on over to Flagstaff Dodge Dealers, make sure you test drive a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The car-like driving experience that the Grand Cherokee offers makes it ultra popular with young families. Another quality choice from domestic auto makers is available from Ford Edmonton; the 2011 Ford Edge. While several of the import models have a lot to offer, we want to focus on three of the domestic beauties that will meet all of your cargo carrying needs.
The 2011 GMC Terrain (pictured above) is sometimes hard to distinguish from the popular Chevrolet Equinox, but the cargo carrying capacity that the Terrain offers drivers can’t be beat. Not only does the Terrain offer the best fuel economy in its class, this crossover SUV has a rugged exterior appearance combined with the comfort and driving experience of a small passenger car. One of the best features is the power liftgate, which will help make loading and unloading the back of your Terrain a breeze.
Another great choice from our domestic auto makers is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Chrysler made a smart move by upgrading their popular SUV to incorporate more of the car-like features drivers are asking for. There is always the option of upgrading to a larger and more powerful engine, but the handling will always be smooth with tight suspension. Lastly is the 2011 Ford Edge. This near-luxury crossover comes with plenty of cargo space to make your life easier. When you go to load and unload your cargo, you will appreciate the lower ground clearance that makes the entire process not as difficult.
Who Ranked #1 In Affordable Compact SUVs?
Monday, October 25th, 2010
Now available at Phoenix Peoria Volkswagen, are the new 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. They were ranked 5 out of 24 Affordable Compact SUVs. They offer a pretty standard warranty. The vehicle comes with a three year/36,000 mile basic warranty, a five year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty and not to mention Volkswagen provides a free maintenance program, similar to the maintenance program offered at Mazda Tire.
The Tiguan also received five stars for occupant protection in all seating positions in both frontal and side crash tests. They also received four stars on rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Tiguan one of it’s top ratings of “Good” for frontal offset and side impact tests. They also received Top Scores in rear crash protection and roof strength tests.
2011 Tiguan has eight air-bags. They include front, side thorax and side curtain protection for the front seat passenger and driver. This vehicle is also equipped with Anti-Slip Regulations, Electronic Differential Lock, Engine Braking Control, Electronic Brake Pressure Distribution and Volkswagen Electronic Stabilization Control.
Now the 2011 Chevy Equinox, which can be found at Washington DC Chevrolet, was ranked number 1 out 0f 24 Affordable Compact SUVs. They offer a three year/36,000 mile basic warranty as well as a transferable five year/100,000 miler powertrain warranty and roadside assistance.
The 2011 model has yet to be tested, but is nearly identical to the 2010 model. The 2010 model received five stars in frontal and side crash tests. They also received four stars in rollover tests. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave the 2010 model Top Scores of “Good” in front, side and rear crash protection tests. They also received a rating of “Good” in roof strength as well.
The 2011 Equinox comes standard with dual-stage frontal air-bags; thorax side impact air-bags; seat mounted driver and front passenger air-bags; and head curtain air-bags for outboard seating positions. They also have four wheel anti-lock brakes; StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System; Traction Control System; Brake Assistance and OnStar Automatic Crash Response and Emergency Services. A rearview camera and rear parking assistance are optional on the LT models but they come standard on the LTZ models.
Both vehicles are excellent vehicles to purchase, Even though the Tiguan is a little bit more expensive than the Equinox, the Equinox has a few more safety features and a few more warranty options, not to mention they were ranked #1!!
SUV Crossovers and Luxury!
Monday, September 6th, 2010
The crossover SUV category is booming right now! American consumers love the Ford Edge from Pittsburgh Ford Dealers, just for an example. What is nice about the Edge is that it comes with a nice list of standard features, but if you add on some of the optional packages then you end up with a super luxurious vehicle. Even the newly redesigned CR-V from Los Angeles Honda Dealers comes with a great list of amenities. After years had gone by without an overhaul, Honda spent a good deal of time making sure that they thought of everything drivers would want in their popular and affordable SUV.
Another popular model comes from Detroit GM Dealers, the GMC Terrain or Acadia. While the Terrain is going to be more affordable than the larger Acadia, General Motors might be running more specials on the Acadia right now to boost sales. Drivers love that GM vehicles come with a lengthy list of standard features, and even the options are affordable. You can get a loaded Terrain with keyless entry and remote start, heated seats, leather, and the upgraded engine size for still less than you would pay for a base model luxury line.
Another great option on the market right now is the Infiniti FX35. The interesting thing about this car that came to markets in 2003 is that it was a concept car originally, and yet it still even looks like the original concept! That rarely happens that a computer generated picture can actually be put into reality for consumers to purchase! The problem with some of the luxury lines is that they spend so much time focusing on making their vehicles comfortable and technologically advanced that they miss the part about making sure their vehicles are practical. The main complaint usually has to do with the lack of cargo room or practical features are missing.
2010 Toyota Sequoia Review
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
The 2010 Toyota Sequoia is a full size SUV based on the Toyota Tundra truck. It has a large roomy interior, smooth V8 engine and excellent towing capacity. But with the large interior comes a large exterior that is difficult to park and has poor fuel economy. The Sequoia’s direct competitors are the Chevy Suburban, Ford Expedition and Nissan Armada.
The Toyota Sequoia is built for hauling a lot of people with a lot of stuff. Bands with musical equipment, church groups on mission trips, artists travelling summer fairs with pieces to sell are just a few of the consumers that would love this vehicle. The dashboard is functional with a wide center console with large controls and displays. A matte metallic plastic trim flows down from the gauge area and covers part of the center console. Some might say the exterior looks cartoonish with the chrome grille, flared fenders and chrome mirrors but I think it has character and isn’t as boring or bland as some other SUVs.
A 4.7L V8 and five speed automatic are standard on this SUV. It gets 13/16 MPG with four wheel drive. When outfitted with a 5.7L V8 and six speed automatic it gets 14/19 MPG with two wheel drive and 13/18 MPG with four wheel drive. The fuel economy of the Sequoia is actually better than some competitors.
The Toyota Sequoia is great for towing with a smooth and responsive powertrain. However it’s not very pleasant on a tight, curvy road and there’s body motion and nosediving during braking. It has a 39 feet turning radius.
Since full size SUVs are losing popularity to crossovers, the most important selling point for the Sequoia is it’s truck abilities. Rear wheel drive is standard with four wheel drive and adjustable suspension optional. The tow ratings are up to 9,100 pounds for rear wheel drive models and 8,800 pounds with four wheel drive.
The Toyota Sequoia has extensive room in the first and second rows of seating. The third row seating has a reasonable amount of space for those willing to contort for entry and exit. There is a power folding option that makes expanding the rear cargo area a snap. Most of the interior design and controls carry over from the Toyota Tundra. The upholstery isn’t a standout either. There are numerous cup holders and small bins scattered throughout.
The 2010 Toyota Sequoia received a five star rating for driver side front impact protection, four stars for the front passenger. If you need a car to haul a lot of people and equipment, this is the SUV for you. Get one from an Iowa City Toyota dealer.
Compact SUV Decisions.
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
One of the fastest growing classes in the auto industry is the crossover and small SUV class. You can get some great deals on one of these functional, cute, and versatile vehicles at Greensboro used car loans or another dealership near you. Some of the more popular contenders include the Honda CR-V, the Toyota Rav4, the VW Tiguan, the Chevrolet Equinox, and the GMC Terrain. Plus, if you purchase one of these from Toyota Quick Lube Los Angeles, a lot of times the dealer will offer maintenance incentives for their respective brand or some kind of loyalty program that makes owning one of these models reasonable and affordable.
So what are some things you need to consider before dropping $25,000 or so on a new vehicle? Well, the Terrain from GMC Pittsburgh can be a bit pricier than some of these other models, but the list of standard features is also pretty long when compared to the competition. If you have already made the decision you don’t want to spend too much on an SUV, you need to then decide what you will be using your SUV for. Do you plan on carrying cargo or passengers on a frequent basis? Most offer great cargo options, but some offer more legroom or reclining backseats.
Next you will want to look at how safe these models are. If you are carrying children in car seats, you will want to try out the car seat in the back seat to make sure it fits easily and properly. And just because the space measurements are the same among some models, you really need to test them out first hand to make sure it is comfortable for your specific body type. Lastly, you will want to test drive every type of small SUV you are interested in. Don’t believe the dealer when he tells you the Equinox and the Terrain are identical; if they really were, then why would GM ultimately produce the same car with two names?