--CarJunkie's Car Review--

First Impression: 2012 Bentley Mulsanne

2013-05-19T14:14:00.000-05:00

The original Bentley Mulsanne was produced from 1980 to 1992. The name comes from the Mulsanne Straight, a stretch of the 24 Hours of LeMans course where cars reach their highest speeds. Between 1924 and 1930, Bentley had five victories at the 24 Hours of LeMans. While the Mulsanne was based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur, all Bentley models at that time were based on the Mulsanne until 1998, when the Bentley Arnage was introduced. In 1998, Volkswagen bought Bentely. The new Bentley Continental GT, Continental GTC, and Continental Flying Spur would be built on the same platform as the Volkswagen Phaeton. On August 16, 2009, Bentley unveiled a new four-door luxury sedan at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. This new Bentley went for $550,000 at the Pebble Beach car auction. This new car is the Bentley Mulsanne. Production for the Mulsanne commenced in 2010. The new Mulsanne is the first car to be independently designed by Bentley in 80 years since the W.O. Bentley 8 Litre model in 1930. From 1930 until 1998, most Bentleys shared platforms with Rolls-Royce models. The Bentley Mulsanne is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive, four-door sedan that serves as the flagship for Bentley.

I first saw the Mulsanne at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. This was one of three Bentleys on display, the other two being the Bentley Continental GT and the Bentley Continental GTC. I have seen both versions of the Continental around Houston and at various Houston Cars and Coffee events, but never a Mulsanne. The Bentleys were roped off so I could not sit inside the car. This car is beautiful. It attracted more attention then the other two Bentleys. It has a sleek, luxurious side profile. I really like how the front bumper and rear are integrated into the styling. Great job by designer Dirk van Braeckel.

The Bentley Mulsane is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75L V8 engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, that produces 505 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 184 mph. The Mulsanne does have some power under the hood, but it also weighs 5,700 pounds. It has good acceleration for a car of that size and weight. Prices for the Mulsanne start at $325,000. This is high, but added options can put the price over $500,000. The Mulsanne is expensive, but that is the price for luxury and performance.

The Bentley Mulsanne has been featured on RTL Autowereld, Auto Esporte, Cars.TV, The Car Show, Ultimate Factories, Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocal, Rubbeldiekatz, Motorweek, and Hotel Desire. The Mulsanne has made a stop by Jay Leno's Garage. The Bentley Mulsanne is playable in Saints Row: The Third and Saints Row IV.

Final Thoughts: The Bentley Mulsanne is a beautiful car. It has power and performance, but it is also expensive. $325,000 is quite a bit of money for a car. While I am not a big fan of the Bentley Continental GT. I see quite a few Continental GTs on Houston roads. I have seen the Mulsanne only once outside of an auto show, and that was recently outside a Houston restaurant. If you go with the Mulsanne, you get exclusivity, something that you would not get with the Continental GT. If you can afford one, go ahead and take it out for a test drive.

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First Impression: 2013 SRT Viper

2013-05-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

The original Dodge Viper was revealed as a concept car at the 1989 North American International Auto Show. The concept car received positive reaction to the point that Chrysler decided to turn the Viper concept into a production car. Chrysler's chief engineer selected 85 engineers to be part of Team Viper, which became SRT, or Street and Racing Technology. The first Dodge Viper went into production in 1992, a two-door roadster that contained a 8.0L V10 engine under the hood. Starting in 1996, a second generation Viper started its production run in 1996 and lasted until 2002. The second generation Viper was available as either a two-door roadster or a two-door coupe. The Second generation Viper came with a 8.0L V10 engine under the hood. The third generation Viper was in production from 2002 to 2006. After taking a year of in 2007, the fourth generation Viper was in production from 2008 to 2010. All Dodge Vipers are front-mid engine, rear-wheel drive and came with a six-speed manual transmission. One thing about the Dodge Viper is that it never had any electronic safety equipment like traction control and anti-locking brakes. In 2012, a new Viper started its production run. Unlike previous Vipers, the fifth generation Viper was required to have electronic safety features like electronic stability control, traction control, and an anti-lock braking system. There are controls that allow the driver to turn off most of the electronic safety systems. The new Viper would not be sold under the Dodge brand, but under the SRT brand.

While the new SRT Viper was not on display at the 2013 Houston Auto Show, a local Chrysler dealership brought one to the February 2013 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. The new Viper attracted the most attention as expected. It shares the same body design as previous Vipers, but more refined. It looks aggressive and sporty. The new Viper continues the Viper tradition of having a long hood, a short rear end and a cabin that is very rearward. This will turn heads on the roads and highways.

The SRT Viper is powered by a 8.4L V10 engine, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. that produces 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 206 mph. One area the Viper succeeds is performance and power. The Viper has 2 more hp than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 and is faster than the Corvette ZR-1 by 1 mph. The Viper is one fast car. Prices for the SRT Viper start at $97,395 and the Viper GTS starts at $120,395. The Viper also has a $1,995 destination charge and a gas-guzzler tax added to the price. This puts the Viper's starting price of over $100,000. The Viper GTS comes with a high-threshold sports mode and traction-control-free track mode along with two-mode, cockpit adjusted shocks. For the price, you are getting a lot of car.

The SRT Viper has been featured on Motorweek, Nitro Circus: The Movie, and Top Gear. The SRT Viper has made a stop by Jay Leno's Garage. The SRT Viper is playable in Ridge Racer: Unbounded, Car Town, Forza Motorsport 4, Forza Horizon, Need For Speed: Most Wanted, Nitto 1320 Legends, Car Town EX, Street Racer Police Dodge, Real Racing 3, Grid 2, and Fast and Furious 6: The Game.

Final Thoughts: The SRT Viper is an incredible grand tourer. It shares the same body layout as previous Vipers, but with a more refined look. As with all Vipers, the SRT Viper has a long hood and a rearward cabin. Plus it has a V10 engine, keeping up with tradition. What can turn away some Viper diehards is that the SRT Viper has electronic safety systems that were absent in the previous Vipers. For those that want to feel adventurous in the new Viper, you can turn off most of the electronic safety systems. The New Viper is an amazing car. I am just wandering, why is Chrysler taking away models from the Dodge brand since Ram is now its own brand and the Viper is now under the SRT brand? Whatever the reason is, I hope that there are more models planned for the SRT Brand.

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First Drive: 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman

2013-05-16T15:39:00.000-05:00

The original Austin Mini Countryman was a two-door estate car with double "barn"-style rear doors. Luxury models came with decorative, non-structural wood inserts on the rear exterior of the car. From 1961 to 1969, approximately 108,000 Austin Mini Countrymen were built. In 1994, BMW gained ownership of the Mini marque. In 2010, Mini announced that the brand would be making a compact crossover SUV. At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, revealed the production version of the compact crossover SUV, the Countryman. The Countryman is the first Mini crossover SUV and the brand's first five-door model. The Countryman is front-engine compact crossover SUV that is available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. In America, the Countryman is either available with a 1.6L I4 engine in the Cooper trim level or a turbocharged 1.6L I4 engine in the Cooper S trim level. The four-wheel drivetrain is only available on the Cooper S All 4. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the Countryman, and a six-speed automatic transmission is available as an option. I first saw the Countryman at the 2011 Houston Auto Show. On February 2, 2013, I decided to go to a local Mini dealership and test drive a Countryman along with a Mini Cooper Hardtop. The Countryman I drove was the Mini Cooper Countryman that came with the six-speed automatic transmission.

The Countyman is a bigger version of the Mini Cooper Hardtop. The Countryman has rear doors as well as being higher of the ground than the Mini Cooper Hardtop. It shares some styling from the Mini Cooper Hardtop. The Countryman has good head room and leg room for the front passengers. When I sat the back of one, I had little leg room. Just like the Hardtop, the Countryman has a speedometer in the center of the dashboard. I still find this feature strange. Not many brands, if any, has this feature on its vehicles. The seats have decent comfort. These are not the softest seats I have been in, but they are not stiff and uncomfortable.

The Mini Cooper Countryman is powered by a 1.6L I4 engine that produces 121 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. The Countryman goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 116 mph. The Countryman uses the same 1.6L I4 engine that is used in the Mini Cooper Hardtop. Yet the Countryman is 300 pounds heavier than the Mini Cooper Hardtop. This hurts the Countryman in the performance category. The Countryman felt slow. When a company makes a bigger car and uses the engine from the smaller car, it just does not work. The Countryman needs a bigger and more powerful engine. 121 hp is just not enough for a compact crossover SUV. As far as the ride goes, it has a slight sporty feel to it. It also feels a little bit heavy as well. The Countryman handles nicely. It responds well when I turn the wheel. It is also quiet inside the Countryman when I was on the roads and highways.

Overall, the Countryman is not a good car. When I think SUVs, I think space and comfort. I drive a 2007 Toyota RAV4, and that is also a compact crossover SUV. My RAV4 has plenty of leg room for rear passengers plus I have a large trunk to carry my belongings when I was travelling between Houston and San Antonio during my college years. The Countryman does not have the cargo space that my RAV4 has. My main issue with the Mini Cooper Countryman is the performance. 121 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque is not enough power for the Countryman. If a company is going to make a new model that is 300 pounds heavier than a current model, then the new model should gets its own line of engines that are suitable for the new model. When Mini and BMW came out with the Countryman, they should have given the Countryman its own set of engines. The Mini Cooper Countryman should have gotten at least a 2.0L I4 engine in addition to an optional V6 engine. If you want a compact crossover SUV will plenty of interior and storage space, pass on the Countryman. However, if you want a Mini with four doors, then go with the Mini Cooper S Countryman. That version gets 181 hp for a turbocharged 1.6 I4 engine. The Mini Cooper Countryman is just unimpressive.

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First Drive: 2013 Mini Cooper Hardtop

2013-05-10T18:38:00.000-05:00

Mini was originally a brand of small cars owned by the British Leyland Motor Corporation. The Mini brand was created in 1969 and was owned by British Leyland from 1969 until 1986, when British Leyland was broken up. Mini was a part of Rover Group from 1986 until 1988, when Rover Group, including the Mini brand, was acquired by British Aerospace. In 1994, BWM acquired Rover Group, including the Mini brand. In 2000, BMW broke up Rover Group, but BMW retained the Mini brand. While the Mini brand was around since 1969, the original two-door Mini car was created in 1959 and was in production until 2000. In 2001, an new Mini was created. This Mini was a three-door hatchback with a front engine, front-wheel drive layout. This new Mini is known as the Mini Cooper Hatchback, or Mini Cooper Hardtop in the United States. The second generation Mini Hardtop went into production in 2006. During one Saturday in February 2013, I went by a Mini dealership and test drove a Mini Cooper Hardtop. I also test drove the Mini Cooper Countryman. The Hardtop I drove came with a six-speed automatic transmission The Hardtop is also available with a six-speed manual transmission. There is also a version of the Hardtop that comes with a turbocharged engine called the Mini Cooper S Hardtop.

The Hardtop has a modern small sports hatchback styling, but it still pays homage to the classic Mini. The Hardtop has a small, yet sporty grill and front bumper. The grill on the Hardtop is shorter than the grill on the classic Mini. The Hardtop also has a sporty interior, but there are a few touches taken from the classic Mini. There is a speedometer located on the dashboard, between the driver and front passenger seats. This is a feature taken from the classic Mini. Current Mini Coopers have a turn indicator lever with two positions. If you just push the lever and release it, the turn indicator will blink for three seconds. This is helpful when turning lanes. The seat has a sporty feel to it. It is not soft, but it is not firm enough to be uncomfortable. I had decent headroom and leg room. This is a small car and there is not much room in the rear for adult passengers.

The Mini Cooper Hardtop is powered by a 1.6L I4 engine that produces 121 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds and has a top speed of 126 mph. The Hardtop has a sporty feel to it. The suspension is firm. The Hardtop has some zip to it. It is very responsive when I turn the wheel. It also has good throttle response. Prices for the Mini Cooper Hardtop start at $20,400. That is not bad for a small, sporty hatchback.

Overall, the Mini Cooper Hardtop is a great small car. As far as non-turbocharged city cars go, this is the best performing car in the class. Most city cars go from 0 to 60 mph in over 9 seconds. For a city car, the Mini Cooper Hardtop is quick and sporty. I like the styling of the Hardtop. It has a modern small hatch styling with some touches that pay homage to the classic Mini car. Most of all, the Mini Cooper Hardtop is a fun car to drive. It also has a reasonable starting price of just $20,400. If you are looking for a small sporty hatchback with solid performance and is fun to drive, give the Mini Cooper Hardtop a test drive. If you want a more performance from a small car, there is the Mini Cooper S Hardtop that is powered by a turbocharged I4 engine. The Mini Cooper Hardtop is one of the best city cars you can buy.

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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan

2013-05-01T16:26:00.000-05:00

The Cadillac CTS has been around since 2002, serving as the brand's mid-size luxury car. In 2004, Cadillac released a high-performance version of the CTS, called the CTS-V. Cadillac started production of the second generation CTS in 2007. In 2009, Cadillac released the second generation CTS-V. I have seen several versions of the Cadillac CTS-V on streets of Houston and at various Houston car events. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I got test drive the three versions of the Cadillac CTS-V, including the CTS-V Sedan. I also test drove the CTS Sedan. While both cars share the same body design, the CTS-V Sedan is a completely different car than the CTS Sedan. The version of the CTS-V Sedan I drove came with the optional six-speed automatic transmission. The CTS-V Sedan comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The Cadillac CTS-V Sedan is a front-engine, rear

On the outside, the CTS-V Sedan shares the same body as the CTS Sedan. The CTS-V has a different front bumper than the CTS. The CTS-V features a mesh grill instead of the checker grill found on the CTS. The CTS-V also has a mesh grill on the bumper and larger openings on the bumper for fog lights. The CTS-V Sedan also has a slightly different interior than the CTS Sedan. The CTS-V features Recaro seats that adjust fourteen different ways. These seats are very comfortable to sit in and still gives the CTS-V a sporty feel. The seats in the CTS Sedan are firm.

The CTS-V Sedan is powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 179 mph. This car is fast. All three versions of the CTS-V are fast. The CTS-V Sedan has a quiet ride, even with a big, powerful engine in the front. The CTS-V Sedan also has a sporty, yet soft ride to it. This is the result of the magnetic ride control system, suspension technology that Ferrari borrowed from Cadillac and used it in the Ferrari 458 Italia. The CTS-V Sedan responds quite well when I turn the steering wheel, press the accelerator pedal, and when I press the brake pedal. The CTS-V Sedan also features Brembo disc brakes, which help the CTS-V stop on a dime. Prices for the CTS-V Sedan start at $64,515, and a fully-loaded CTS-V Sedan can go for over $75,000. You do get a lot of car for that price.

The CTS-V Sedan has been featured on Top Gear Korea, Motorweek, Top Gear USA, Necessary Roughness, Tactical Force, and Golden Boy. The CTS-V Sedan is playalbe in StreetRally, Auto Club Revolution, Superstars V8 Racing, Superstars V8 Next Challenge, Race On, Forza Motorsport 3, vDream Racing, Forza Motorsport 4, Need For Speed: World, Everyday Cha Cha Cha, and Driver: San Francisco.

Overall, the Cadillac CTS-V Sedan is a great car. Actually, the entire CTS-V line is great. These cars are quick, fast, comfortable to drive in, and respond well when I turn the steering wheel. All three cars have quiet interiors. I also like the magnetic ride control system. I have driven all three versions and I prefer the CTS-V Sedan over the CTS-V Coupe since the Sedan has more in the back for adult passengers. But my favorite version of the CTS-V is the CTS-V Wagon. It has more room than the CTS-V Sedan, plus it has more space in the trunk to carry more items than the CTS-V Sedan. I highly recommend the CTS-V line to anyone who can afford one. Even if you cannot afford one, at least take one out for a test drive if you can. These cars are just amazing.

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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

2013-04-27T16:16:00.000-05:00

At the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Cadillac presented a sports wagon version of the CTS. The CTS Sports Wagon first went on sale in late 2009. At the 2010 New York International Auto Show, Cadillac introduced the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon. Production of the CTS-V Wagon started in late 2010. I have seen several Cadillac CTS-V wagons at the various car events in the greater Houston area. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I test drove one. The rule with Cadillac is that you have to test drive a Cadillac that is not a CTS-V before you can get behind the wheel of one of the three CTS-Vs. I got in the CTS-V wagon after I took the CTS-V Coupe for a test drive. The CTS-V Wagon is front-engine, rear-wheel drive, five-door sports wagon. The version I drove had a six-speed automatic transmission, but a six-speed manual transmission comes standard on the CTS-V Wagon.

The CTS-V Wagon has a very sporty styling to it. It has a double grill, which adds some aggressiveness to its styling. The CTS-V Wagon has sleek lines going along the sides of the car. The rear hatch is integrated nicely as well. The CTS-V Wagon shares the same interior features as the CTS-V Coupe and CTS-V Sedan. The CTS-V Wagon has more headroom for rear passengers than both the CTS-V Coupe and the CTS-V Sedan. Behind the wheel, I had plenty of legroom and headroom. The Recaro seats adjust in fourteen directions. The Recaro seats are also available in the CTS-V Coupe and CTS-V Sedan.

The CTS-V Wagon is powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 185 mph. This is one quick wagon. The CTS-V Wagon has a great ride quality. For having a powerful engine, it is very quiet inside the car. The CTS-V drives smoothly and handles bumps quite well. I love the magnetic ride suspension system. This gives the CTS-V a very sporty feel, yet it is very comfortable to drive. The car responds quite well when I turn the wheel, press the accelerator pedal, or step on the brake The Brembo brakes package improves CTS-V Wagon braking performance. Prices for the CTS-V Wagon start at $64,515 and a fully loaded CTS-V Wagon can go for $75,345. Just like the other CTS-Vs, the CTS-V is not cheap. But you do get a lot of car for that price.

The CTS-V Wagon has been featured on Top Gear USA and on Hit and Run.

Overall, the CTS-V Wagon is an amazing car. I have never driven any wagon like the CTS-V Wagon. This is the true definition of a sports wagon. The CTS-V Wagon has styling, performance, power, and is just fun to drive. What I like about this car is that you can use the CTS-V Wagon for grocery shopping on the weekdays, and then use it for track days on the weekends. This wagon is quick. It has the most headroom out of all the CTS-Vs, which is a plus. If you can afford this car, the gas bill, and the insurance, then I highly recommend the CTS-V Wagon. This is one amazing vehicle.

Next time, I review the last of the three CTS-Vs, the Cadillac CTS-V Sedan.

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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

2013-04-26T22:08:00.001-05:00

Cadillac has been producing the CTS since 2002. In 2004, Cadillac started making a high performance version of the CTS, the CTS-V, in 2004. Production of the first generation CTS-V occurred between 2004 and 2007. The first generation CTS-V was a front engine, rear-wheel drive sedan. Cadillac did not produce the CTS-V in 2008 since the second generation CTS came out that year. The second generation CTS is available as a four-door sedan, a two-door coupe and a five-door sports wagon. In 2009, Cadillac started producing the second generation CTS-V, which is also available as a sedan, coupe and wagon. The most popular car brand for test drives at the 2013 Houston Auto Show was Cadillac. There were several occasions when all eight Cadillacs were on the road and not parked at the Cadillac test drive area. I test drove all eight Cadillacs that were available for test drives, including three Cadillac CTS-Vs. The rule with Cadillac is that you have to drive either the ATS, XTS, SRX, CTS, or Escalade before you can get behind the wheel of a CTS-V. Once you test drove one CTS-V, you can get back in line and test drive the other CTS-Vs. After test driving the Cadillac CTS, I got behind the wheel of the CTS-V Coupe. This version of the CTS-V is a front engine, rear-wheel drive two-door coupe. The version I drove features a six-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the CTS-V.

The CTS-V Coupe features a sporty, sleek styling. I love the side profile of the car. I also like the double grill, which adds some aggressiveness to the CTS-V. There is a "V" badge on each door. The interior is of the CTS-V Coupe is luxurious with a sporty flare. There is leather everywhere and it does not feel cheap. The CTS-V Coupe features an infotainment system that includes a screen that rises up from the dashboard. The CTS-V Coupe also features an analog clock, which is a staple for luxury vehicles. The CTS-V Coupe features Recaro seats that adjusts fourteen different ways. I have never been in a car seat where the upper back support moves in and out. I had good amount of head room and leg room behind the wheel. But the low roofline of the coupe minimizes headroom for rear passengers.

The CTS-V Coupe is powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 that produces 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaches a top seed of 179 mph. The CTS-V Coupe feels fast. The CTS-V Coupe has a big engine, yet it is very quiet inside the car. Also, for a sporty car, the CTS-V Coupe has a smooth ride. This is caused by the magnetic ride control. Ferrari borrowed this technology and used it in the Ferrari 458 Italia. When a legendary supercar manufacturer uses your technology for one of its cars, you are doing something correct. The CTS-V Coupe is the best two-door car I have ever driven. Prices for the CTS-V Coupe start at $64,515. A fully-loaded CTS-V Coupe can fetch over $74,000. The CTS-V Coupe is one of the most expensive cars I have driven, but you get a great car for the price.

The CTS-V Coupe has been featured in Alex Cross, The Defenders, Chuck, Auto Esporte, Top Gear USA, A Gifted Man, Running Wilde, Charlie's Angel, Jack and Jill, Criminal Minds, Switched at Birth, and the Office. The CTS-V Coupe is playable in Forza Motorsport 3, Car Town, Forza Motorsport 4, Forza Horizon, Asphalt 7: Heat, and Car Town EX.

Overall, the CTS-V Coupe is one amazing car. I have driven the entire CTS-V line up, and all three cars are amazing. These cars are an experience. As far as the CTS-V Coupe compared to the other two, it is my least favorite. There is not enough head room for rear passengers. But the CTS-V Coupe is still the best two-door car I have ever driven. I have driven a Ford Mustang 5.0, Chevrolet Corvette Camaro SS, and the Scion FR-S, and none of those cars can compete with the CTS-V Coupe. The CTS-V Coupe has a comfortable ride, power, performance, handling, and yet it is quiet inside the car. The CTS-V is not a cheap car, but if you can afford to spend over $65,000 for a car plus gas and insurance, definitely give the CTS-V Coupe a test drive. I highly recommend this car, even with the limited head room for rear passengers. This car borderlines supercar performance.

Next time, I cover the CTS-V Wagon.

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First Drive: 2013 Nissan Versa Sedan

2013-04-23T16:16:00.000-05:00

The Nissan Versa has been sold in the United States since 2007. The Versa has been on sale in Japan since 2004. In Japan, the Versa is known as the Tida. At the 2011 New York Auto Show, the second-generation Versa was revealed and went on sale in late 2011. The hatchback version of the Versa will be based on the Nissan Note while the sedan version of the Versa will be based on the Nissan Sunny. The Versa is a front-engine, front-wheel drive compact car and it serves as the entry level car for Nissan in the American market. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take the Nissan Versa Sedan for a test drive. The Nissan Versa is the least expensive new car available in the United States.

The Versa Sedan has a boring exterior styling. I prefer cars with sporty aggressive or luxurious exteriors. The Versa Sedan does not have luxurious styling or a sporty aggressive styling. The headlights are big and not streamlined. There are no sleek lines or curves going along the sides of the Versa Sedan. The interior feels cheap. A 5" touchscreen, bluetooth connectivity, an interface system for the iPod, radio data system, and 60/40 split fold-down rear seats are all options for higher-end Versa Sedans. But the standard Versa interior is boring. There is nothing luxurious about it. The radio looks cheap. The S and S plus trim levels do not come with power windows and power door locks. I drove the SV trim level that had power windows and power locks. The seats come with cloth upholstery. The driver seat is uncomfortable. I had decent leg room, but my head nearly touched the roof of the car.

The second generation Nissan Versa Sedan has been featured on Motorweek and Vrum.

The Versa Sedan is powered by a 1.6L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 109 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission also available for the Versa Sedan. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 107 mph. The Versa did not feel quick. The Versa Sedan has a rough ride. It was also noisy inside the Versa, which makes it hard to hear the Nissan product specialist explain the car. The Versa Sedan has a cheap drive quality to it. Prices for the Versa Sedan start at $11,990. Prices for the Versa Sedan SV starts at $15,240.

Overall, the Nissan Versa Sedan feels cheap, The exterior is bland and cheap. The interior is cheap. The drive quality is cheap. The Versa Sedan has the lowest base price of any new vehicle. The engine feels underpowered. The car does not feel fast. The Versa Sedan has subpar performance. This is a horrendous car. But the base prices of $11,990 can attract first time car buyers. But you get what you paid for. I have had fun behind the wheel of cars with base prices of under $17,000. I enjoyed driving the Chevrolet Sparkand that has a base price of $12,995. The Versa Sedan is just too cheap of a car for me to recommend to experienced drivers. But it is a good car for teenagers who just got their driver's license because the Versa Sedan has the lowest base price. They do not need a fancy car starting out. But for everyone else looking for a new vehicle, look elsewhere.

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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac CTS

2013-04-12T15:05:00.000-05:00

The Cadillac CTS has been around since 2002, serving as the brand's mid-size luxury car. The CTS is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive car. All-wheel drive is available as an option. The CTS comes with either a six-speed manual, a five-speed automatic (first generation only), or a six-speed automatic transmission. The first generation, which was produced from 2002 to 2007, was only available as a four-door sedan. The second generation CTS, which went into production in 2007, is in its final year. The second generation CTS is available as a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan, or a five-dour wagon. There is also a tuned version of the CTS, the CTS-V, which is powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. On March 26, 2013, General Motors announced the all new third generation Cadillac CTS which will be available starting with the 2014 model year. With the new CTS comes an all new CTS-V. I have seen various versions of the Cadillac CTS at the various car events in the greater Houston area. I got behind the wheel of the CTS at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. The vesion I drove was a CTS Sedan with the six-speed automatic transmission.

On the outside, the CTS has a nice sporty luxurious exterior. It has some sleek sporty lines on it. The CTS has a luxurious interior. You know a car is luxurious when it has an analog clock on the dashboard. The CTS also features a pop-up screen. Behind the wheel, I had a decent amount of headroom and a good amount of leg room, but the seat is very firm.

The CTS is powered by a 3.6L V6 that produces 318 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 in 6.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 150 mph. This car feels quick. It is not super quick, but it is till quick enough for highway passing and highway entry. The ride is rough. The suspension is stiff, meaning that you will feel every bump in the road. But due to the stiff suspension, the CTS is very responsive. The CTS also has good throttle response. This would make a good track car if it had a V8 engine. Prices for the CTS with the 3.6L V6 and an automatic transmission start at $43,340. The base CTS with a 3.0L V6 engine starts at $39,095. For a luxury mid-size sports sedan, that is not too expensive compared to its European rivals.

Overall, the CTS is a good car. It has good performace, a nice sporty styling, a luxurious interior, good leg room, decent leg room, and is not too expensive for what you get. The car is very responsive due to its stiff suspension. But the responsiveness comes at a price. The CTS has a rough ride. The seat is very firm to the point that it is uncomfortable. The CTS is a sports sedan and it has a sporty feel. If you do not mind a stiff ride, then I can recommend giving the CTS a test drive. But for those who want to be comfortable behind the wheel and do not like a stiff ride, look elsewhere. When the 2014 CTS hits showroom floors, expect a price drop in the 2013 CTS. Now, I also test drove three CTS-Vs and there is significant difference between the CTS and CTS-V.

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First Drive: 2013 Honda Accord Sedan

2013-04-05T16:12:00.000-05:00

The Honda Accord has been around since 1976. On September 19, 2012, Honda released the ninth-generation Accord Sedan, with the Accord Coupe being released on October 15, 2012. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, Honda had only one model available for test drive, the Accord Sedan. To keep the line going, there were five Accords available for test drive. On day 5 of the Houston Auto Show, I took one out for a test drive. The Accord I drove came with a 2.4L I4 engine paired with a CVT automatic transmission. The Accord can come with a 3.5L V6 engine that can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual transmission can also be paired with the 2.4L I4 engine. The Accord is a front engine, front-wheel drive mid-size car.

As far as exterior styling goes, there is nothing special about the Honda Accord. It is slightly more refined than the previous generation Accord. There is nothing special regarding the interior styling of the Accord. I have seen much worst interiors in other cars, but I have also seen much better interiors in other cars than in the Accord. The Accord does come standard with an 8" LCD screen, a single angle backup camera, dual zone automatic control. The optional navigation system includes a 6" touchscreen. Also available is a tri-angle backup camera and wide angle passenger blind spot camera. Safety features include an optional forward collision warning system, lane departure warning system, and blind spot monitor. The safety features do work and are noticeable on the test drive. I had a good amount out head room and leg room behind the wheel. The seat was comfortable.

The Honda Accord I drove came with the 2.4L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 120 mph. The Accord has a smooth ride, but it did not feel as a fast as some other cars I have driven. It was quiet inside the Accord during the test drive. Prices for the Accord start at $22,470. That is a reasonable price for a mid-size sedan.

The Honda Accord is not a bad car. It has a comfortable, smooth ride. The engine provides good power for being a 2.4L I4 engine. But I have only one word to describe the Honda Accord, boring. I was bored behind the wheel of the Honda Accord. The Accord did not feel as fast as the 0 to 60 mph time suggests. Cars that go from 0 to 60 mph in under 8.0 seconds have good acceleration. The interior has good features, but the layout and styling is nothing special. The exterior styling is bland. The Toyota Camry and the Nissan Altima were available for test drives as well. Both are mid-size sedans with standard I4 engine, but the versions of these two cars that were available for test driving came with the V6 engine. Why Honda decided not to have the V6 Accord available for test driving just does not make sense. If you are a car company and the only one model available for test drives, you should have it be the top of the line version. You want to get people excited and want them to enjoy their time behind the wheel of your car, bring out the most powerful version of that car. Honda only had the Accord available for test drives because all of the Honda's technology is available in the Accord. Still, it would have been nice to have the Civic, Insight, CR-V, CR-Z, and Fit available for test drives in addition to the Accord. If you want a reliable car that can get you from point A to point B, then give the Accord a test drive. If you want an everyday car that is fun to drive, then pass on the Accord. This was a boring car to drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Toyota Prius V

2013-03-28T17:23:00.000-05:00

The Toyota Prius came out in 1997 and is the face of hybrid vehicles. The Prius is so popular that Toyota has created a Prius Family. There is the standard Prius, a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius, the Prius C, and the Prius V. The Prius V is a front-engine, front-wheel drive, compact MPV with a hybrid drivetrain. I first saw a Prius V in a movie theater parking garage in early 2012 and at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I took one out for a test drive.

The Toyota Prius is not easy on the eye. The Prius V looks like a Prius with a larger rear end. There are no sleek body lines on the Prius V. The lights on the bottom corners of the front bumper hurt the styling of the Prius V. The Prius V is an eye sore. One advantage of the larger hatchback is more headroom for rear passengers. I hit my head on the roof when I sat in the back of the standard Prius. The Prius V has the same interior as the standard Prius. I still do not like that the gear changer is on the dashboard, and not between the driver and passenger seats. Behind the wheel, I had a good amount of headroom and legroom. Plus the seat was comfortable. But Toyota should have given the Prius V its own interior instead of putting the interior from the Prius in the Prius V.

The Prius V is powered by a 1.8L I4 engine that produces 98 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque and an electric motor that produces 80 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque. The combined output is 134 hp and includes a 1.3 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The Prius V goes from 0 to 60 mph in 10.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 103 mph. I have driven the Prius and the Prius V and the Prius V felt quicker than the Prius. Both have the same drivetrain and the Prius V is heavier than the Prius, but the Prius V just seemed faster. The Prius V drove smoothly on Houston roads. If I did a second test drive, I would do highway driving to see if it can handle highway speeds, something that the standard Prius could not do. Also, it was quiet in the Prius V. It was quite noisy inside the baby Prius C. Still, this was not a fun car to drive. Prices for the Prius V start at $26,650.

Overall, the Prius V is subpar. I have driven its competitor, the Ford C-Max, and I had more fun in the C-Max. But, I had more fun in the Prius V than I did in the Prius. Toyota needs to greatly improve the styling of the Prius familly. The Prius family line of cars is hard on the eyes. I understand that Toyota designed the Prius family with a low air drag coefficient, 0.25, but the exterior styling suffers greatly for it. The interior is nothing special for the Prius V, especially since the interior is the same as the interior in the Prius. The Prius V has the same drivetrain as the Prius, but it is slightly heavier. Car companies need to realize that if you are going to add weight to a car, you have to up the power output of the engine or the performance suffers. The Prius V somehow felt quicker than the standard Prius. It might have been that I was driving the Prius in Eco mode and the Prius V in standard mode. I am not a fan of the Prius family. I think the Prius cars are boring to drive. If excitement and fun have to be sacrificed in order to get a car with an EPA estimated 45+ mpg, then it is not worth it. I cannot recommend the Prius V over the Ford C-Max. The Prius V is not as bad as the Prius C, but it is still a subpar car. Yet, fans of the Prius who want a slightly larger car would go for the Prius V. If you are looking for a fuel efficient car and want to have some fun while driving, look elsewhere. Plus, there are much better cars than the Prius V four around the same price. For its bland interior, horrendous exterior, and underwhelming power and performance, the Toyota Prius is a pass.

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First Drive: 2013 Toyota Prius C

2013-03-28T16:24:00.000-05:00

The Toyota Prius has been around since 1997. The Prius is a front engine, front-wheel drive, four door sedan that comes only with a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain. The thrid-generation Prius came out in 2010. In 2011, Toyota came out with an extended hatchback wagon version of the Prius, called the Prius V. In 2012, Toyota released the Prius C, a subcompact version of the Prius. In Japan, the Prius C is known as the Toyota Aqua. The Prius C is a front engine, front-wheel drive, five door subcompact hatchback. I first saw the Prius C as the 2012 Houston Auto Show. On day one of the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to test drive one.

The Toyota Prius was never a pretty car. The original Prius was a four-door sedan featuring a bland exterior. The Prius got a redesign in 2004 and a styling refinement in 2010. The best way to describe is unique. The Prius C is nothing special. I really do not like the front end of the Prius C. It looks like the face of a fish. The Prius C also lacks sleek side lines. It instead has a subpar side profile. The Prius C has one of the worst stylings I have seen on modern cars. In my book, the Prius C is an eye sore. The interior of the Prius C is not much better. I felt cramped in the Prius C. I did not have much leg room or head room behind the wheel. The seat was adequate in comfort. It did not try to kill my back. I have sat in more comfortable seats in other cars. The interior itself is nothing special. Upper trim levels feature Toyota's infotainment system, Entune, which is used with a compatible smart phone. I did not test this feature out on the test drive. Overall, the Prius C is not easy on the eye and the interior is bland and cramped.

The Toyota Prius C is powered by a 1.5L I4 engine that produces 73 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque as well as an electric motor that produces 60 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. The combined output is 99 hp and mated to a CVT automatic transmission. The Prius C also has a 0.9 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The Prius C goes from 0 to 60 mph in 10.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 105 mph. The Prius C has a smooth ride, but it was very noisy inside the Prius C. I drove the standard Prius in 2012 and it was quiet inside. Why Toyota decision not to add sound dampening material to the Prius C is a mistake. Also, the Prius C is just slow. I drove the standard Prius on the highway and I was worried that I was going to get hit by another car since I could not accelerate properly to change lanes or even get on the highway. Since the test drive was done at the Houston Auto Show, there was no highway driving, which is a good thing since the Prius C is even slower than the standard Prius. Prices for the Prius C start at $19,710. The Prius C is a cheap car with underwhelming performance.

Overall, the Prius C is one of the most disappointing cars I have driven. I named it my worst car to come out in 2012, and I stand by my decision. The Prius C has poor styling plus an interior that is nothing special. The Prius C has low engine output and poor performance. This was not a fun car to drive, especially since it was noisy inside. This is one of the worst cars I have driven. I did not drive anything this bad in 2012 and there were maybe few other cars that were just as bad or worse that I drove at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. Avoid test driving this car at all costs. The Prius C sucks. Yet, Toyota Prius fans might look into the Prius C if they want a smaller version of the standard Prius.

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First Drive: 2013 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 Coupe

2013-03-21T21:37:00.000-05:00

The Ford Mustang was first released in 1964 and it started the pony car wars. It beat out its rivals, the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro. Starting in 1969 until 1973, the Mustang was available with a 302 cubic inch (4.95L) V8. The 302 engine was available in the second generation Mustang starting in 1975. 1975 marked the year when Ford first used the "5.0" moniker for the Mustang. The 4.95L V8 was brought over to the third generation Mustang. Due to an oil crisis, the 4.95L V8 was replaced for a 4.2L V8 for the 1980 and 1981. In 1982, Mustangs regained the 4,.95L V8. All third generation Mustangs with the 4.95L V8 carried the "5.0" moniker. When Ford released the fourth generation in 1994, Ford brought over the 4.95L V8 and kept it in the Mustang for the 1995 model year. In 1996, Ford replaced the 4.95L V8 with a 4.6L V8. In 2005, Ford came out with the fifth generation Mustang, and the 4.95L V8 was not included with the initial release of the fifth generation Mustang. When the fifth generation got a styling update in 2010, the 4.95L V8 was still not available. The 302 cubic inch V8 made its return to the Ford Mustang in 2011, replacing the 4.6L V8 engines found in the Mustang GTs. Starting in 2011, Ford Mustang GTs gained the "5.0" moniker. In 2012 and 2013, Ford released the Mustang Boss 302. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, the Ford Mustang 5.0 was available for test drive, but there was a long line just to drive one and Ford allowed you to only drive in the parking lot. I decided not to drive the Mustang at the auto show. There is a Ford dealership close to where I live and I stopped by to test drive the Mustang 5.0. The Ford Mustang is a front engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door sports car with a 2+2 seating arrangement.

The Mustang GT 5.0 has a sporty, aggressive styling. It has the classic front grill and a sporty profile. I really like the taillights on the Mustang. The Mustang I drove had a simple interior. There is no touch screen in the Mustang I drove. I was comfortable behind the wheel. I had a good amount of head space and leg space. This is a sports coupe, there is not much room in the back for adult passengers. The Mustang I drove also came with Brembo brakes, which improve the Mustang's stopping power.

The Ford Mustang GT 5.0 I drove is powered by a 5.0L V8, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, that produces 420 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 146 mph. The Mustang 5.0 is also available with a six-speed manual transmission. The Mustang 5.0 has great acceleration. It felt quick behind the wheel. For a sports car, the Mustang 5.0 has a smooth ride. It was quiet inside the Mustang 5.0, even with a V8 engine.The Mustang has responsive handling and the car responded well when pressed the accelerator and brake pedals. This is a solid muscle car and I had fun test behind the wheel. Prices for the Mustang GT Coupe start at $30,750. Prices for the Ford Mustang GT Premium start at $34,750.

Overall, the Mustang GT 5.0 is a great muscle car. The Mustang has great performance at a very reasonable price. I have driven the Chevrolet Camaro SS, yet I had more fun in the Mustang GT 5.0 than I did in the Camaro SS. I have also driven the Mustang V6. The Mustang V6 is good for everyday driving. But if you want a car you can live with everyday and want to use on track days, the Mustang GT 5.0 is the way to go. Since there is not much room in the back, the Mustang should not be used as a family car. If you want a great performing car for under $40,000, give the Mustang GT 5.0 a test drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS

2013-03-14T11:42:00.000-05:00

Chevrolet discontinued production of the Camaro in 2002. In March of 2009, Chevrolet started production on a new Camaro. The new Camaro is a very popular pony car/muscle car. I see Camaros everyday on Houston roads and highways. Both old and new Camaros are on display at the various car shows in Houston. At the Houston Auto Show, General Motors/Chevrolet brings a Camaro SS available for test drives. Since moving back to Houston after graduating college in 2010, I have attended the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Houston Auto Shows. I did not test drive any cars in 2011. I attended the 2012 Houston Auto Show with my dad and we test drove five cars. Unfortunately, there was a line for Camaro, so we went in the Chevrolet Volt. During the fall of 2012, I test drove a Camaro RS, which is powered by a 3.6L V6. At the 2013, Houston Auto Show, I finally got behind the wheel of a Camaro SS. But in order to drive the Camaro SS, I had to first drive another General Motors car that was not a Cadillac. I test drove the Chevrolet Spark before I was able to test drive the Camaro. However there was a line, so I drove the Buick Enclave and hope that the line shortened for the Camaro. After driving the Enclave, I had to wait behind five other people before I got my chance behind the wheel of the Camaro SS. The version of the Camaro I drove was the Camaro 2SS, which is the upscale trim level for the Camaro SS.

The Camaro has a retro sporty styling, which I like. The Camaro has a low roof line, which minimizes head room. The is a SS insignia on the corner of the grill. The Camaro has a great side profile. The Camaro has a sporty interior. There is not much head room in the Camaro, especially for rear passengers. The Camaro has a 2+2 seating arrangement, but adults would not be comfortable sitting in the back. The seat itself is comfortable. I had good leg room behind the wheel. The Camaro 2SS comes with a rear camera and a 7: touchscreen.

The Camaro SS I drove is powered by a 6.2L V8, paired with six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, that produces 426 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 157 mph. The Camaro SS is a quick car. It has really good power distribution throughout the rpm spectrum. Gear shifts were smooth when using the paddle shifters. The car drove smoothly on the Houston roads. Steering is responsive. For a car with a 6.2L V8, it was quiet inside the Camaro. Prices for the Camaro SS starts at $33,535. The version I drove, the Camaro 2SS, starts at $37,035, which is not bad for a performance car.

Overall, the Chevrolet Camaro SS has great performance at a reasonable price. The Camaro also has a sporty retro styling. The Camaro lacks in the head room department. The low roof line minimizes head room. Since this is a sports coupe, there is very little leg room for rear passengers. If you are looking for a performance car at a reasonable price, give the Camaro SS a test drive. If you want a family car, then the Camaro is not for you. So after passing up the opportunity to drive a Camaro SS two years in a row, I was glad that I finally drove one. The Camaro SS is a fun car to drive, even if it is lacking in head room.

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First Drive: 2013 Dodge Challenger SXT

2013-03-04T17:48:00.000-06:00

The first time Dodge used the Challenger was in 1959 with the Dodge Silver Challenger, a two door coupe that only came in silver and was available with either a six-cylinder or eight-cylinder engine. The first generation was produced from 1970 to 1974, serving as Dodge's entry in the pony car market, competing with the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. The Challenger shared the Chrysler E-Body platform with the Plymouth Barracuda. 165,437 first generation Challengers were sold. The second generation Challenger was sold from 1978 to 1983. It was a rebadge Mitsubishi Galant Lambda. The second generation Challenger was a subcompact two-door coupe. It was available with either a 1.6L I4 engine or a 2.6L I4 engine. On February 6, 2008, Dodge debuted the third generation Challenger at the Chicago Auto Show. For the 2008 model year, the Challenger were only SRT-8s and came with a 6.1L Hemi V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission. Starting in 2009, more options and trim levels were available for the Challenger. After years of seeing Challengers at various Houston car events, I was able to drive one at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. The version I drove featured a 3.6L V6 and an automatic transmission. The Challenger I drove is also a front-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door pony car with a 2+2 seating arrangement. Since it did not have a V8 engine, I cannot classify the car I drove as a muscle car.

The Dodge Challenger has a retro styling. It looks like a modern day version of the first generation Challenger. The Challenger has a sporty, aggressive styling. It is The Challenger has a small spoiler on the edge of the trunk lid, which I prefer over a large wing. I like the design of the hood. It is not flat like most cars. Since the version I drove was a Challenger SXT Plus, there are fog lights in the lower part of the front bumper. The interior is nothing special. The seats are comfortable. I had a good amount of head room and leg room behind the wheel. There is space for rear passengers.

The Challenger I drove is powered by a 3.6L V6, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with a manual shifting mode, that produces 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 114 mph. The Challenger SXT has a comfortable ride. The car drove smoothly along the test route. The Challenger is also responsive when I turn the steering wheel, push the accelerator pedal, and press the brake pedal. The Challenger has a good drive quality. It has good performance, while being comfortable to sit in. Prices for the Challenger SXT start at $25,795.

Overall, the Challenger is a good car. It is comfortable behind the wheel while having good performance. This is the base model and is good for everyday driving. If you want more power and performance and want a V8 engine instead of a V6, then go with either the Challenger R/T and Challenger SRT-8, both being available with Hemi V8 engines. The only thing Dodge needs to do is to improve the interior of the Challenger. The Challenger's interior is nothing special and is very similar to interiors found in other Dodges. Dodge and Chrysler should put a sportier interior into the Challenger, something that compliments the retro sporty exterior styling of the Challenger. But if you are looking for a good pony to use as an everyday driver, give the Dodge Challenger SXT a test drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Scion iQ

2013-02-20T15:10:00.000-06:00

The Toyota iQ was revealed in March 2008 at the Geneva Auto Show. In October 2011, iQ was released to the United States and Canada, but wearing a Scion badge instead of Toyota badge. The Scion iQ is a front engine, front-wheel drive, three door hatchback with seating for four. The iQ is classified as a supermini and a city car. The iQ is the world's smallest four seater. I first saw the Scion iQ at the 2011 Houston Auto. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I took one out for a test drive.

The Scion iQ is very small. It is only 120.1 inches long and has a 78.7 inch wheelbase. It is also 66.1 inches wide and 59.1 inches high. It has cubic shape. The iQ has a bland styling with no characteristic lines. It is quite small on the interior. There are two seats in the back, but the front seats have to be pushed forwards all the way in order to have some room in the rear for adult passengers. The center is simple, but it works. There are three knobs stacked above each other that operate the air condition/heater. I had some leg room and head room behind the wheel of the iQ, but not much.

The Scion iQ is powered by a 1.3L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 94 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The iQ goes from 0 to 60 mph in 11.8 seconds and has a top speed of 100 mph. The Scion iQ is very slow. It did not feel zippy. The engine felt underpowered. Yet somehow, I caught up to a Hyundai Veloster Turbo. The ride quality is okay. The iQ responds when I turn the wheel. One issue is noise. It was very noisy behind the wheel of the iQ. I could hear the engine the entire time. This made it hard to hear the Scion representative when he was explaining the details of the iQ. This issue can be solved by adding sound dampening material inside the car. Also, the iQ's ride is bumpy. Prices for the iQ start at $15,995, and you do not get a lot of value for what you get with the iQ.

It is very hard for me to recommend the Scion iQ. It does not have a pleasant drive quality. The ride is bumpy, noisy, and slow. I did not have much room behind the wheel. The front seats have to been pushed all the way forward for rear passengers to have adequate leg room. The iQ should have been designed as a two-seater and not a four-seater. There is no point to sacrifice leg room and comfort in order to make the world's smallest four-seater. I have been in a very small car that has good leg room for rear passengers. The Scion iQ is too small to accommodate rear passengers. If the iQ was three inches longer, then there would be good leg room for rear passengers. One positive for the iQ is the center console. I really like how the climate control knobs are stacked above each other and are nicely spaced out. I like that the gear shifter is on the floor between the driver and front passenger and not on the dashboard. The iQ does not deserve the $16,000, especially when there are other superminis that offer a better driving experience than the iQ does for around the same price.

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First Drive: Chrysler 300 SRT-8

2013-02-13T14:52:00.000-06:00

The Chrysler 300 has been around since 2005, serving as Chrysler's full-size luxury sedan. So far, there have been two generations of the 300. Chrysler has its own in house tuning company Street and Racing Technology, or SRT for short. SRT took a Chrysler 300 C and turned into the Chrysler 300C SRT-8, replacing the 5.7L Hemi V8 engine found in the standard 300C with a 6.1L Hemi V8 that produces 425 hp. With Chrysler releasing the second generation 300 in 2011, SRT got its hands on the car. At the 2011 New York International Auto Show, Chrysler revealed the next generation Chrysler 300 SRT-8. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take one out for a test drive. Unlike my test drive with the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee, I did not have a slow moving car preventing me from unleashing the fury of a SRT vehicle.

On the outside, the 300 SRT-8 looks like a standard Chrysler 300, but there are few minor changes. The chrome trim has been replaced with body color trim, a lower front fascia, larger exhaust tip, and 20" aluminum wheels. The 300 SRT-8 also sits a half-inch lower to the ground than the standard 300, plus the 300 SRT-8 also has a sportier suspension and a Brembo brakes package. The interior is very similar to other Chrysler 300 that I drove. The major difference is that the seat in the SRT-8 is stiffer than the seat in the 300S. I still had good head room and leg room behind the wheel of the 300 SRT-8.

The 300 SRT-8 is powered by a 6.4L Hemi V8, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, that produces 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 175 mph. On the test drive with the 300 SRT-8, I had no cars in front of me, so I was able to unleash the fury of the engine. The 300 SRT-8 is quick. Compared to the 300S, the 300 SRT-8 has a stiffer, sportier ride. It was stiff, but not too stiff for my comfort level. The 300 SRT-8 did not try to kill my back, unlike some other vehicles I have driven. For a car with a big engine, it was quiet inside the 300 SRT-8. This car has good muscle car performance. The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 goes for $47,995, which is over $1,000 more than the Dodge Charger SRT-8. Still, that is not bad for a full-size luxury four-door muscle car.

The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 has been featured in Breaking Bad. The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is playable in Forza Motorsport 4, Car Town, and Car Town EX.

Overall, the Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is a fun car to drive. It is a quick full-size four door door sedan. It has a few minor differences on the exterior compared to the other versions of the Chrysler 300. It still feels luxurious on the inside, even with the stiffer ride. When I was in the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee, I was not able to test out the acceleration of the car since I had a slow moving car in front of me. It was a different story with the Chrysler 300 SRT-8. I had nothing in front of me when I was on the roads in the 300 SRT-8 and I could just nail it. I could feel my heart beat fast when I was in this car. The 300 SRT-8 has a sporty ride, but I was still comfortable behind the wheel. If you want a muscle car with four doors, then check out the Chrysler 300 SRT-8. If you want a slightly softer ride from SRT, then go with the 300 SRT-8 over the Charger SRT-8. But if you want a slightly sportier ride, then go with the Charger SRT-8. Both are very good four-door muscle cars. But if you want an American full-size sedan with a softer ride, then go with the Charger or 300 that was not tuned by SRT, or go with the Cadillac XTS. SRT cars are for people who want to go quick.

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First Drive: Chrysler 300S

2013-02-13T12:27:00.002-06:00

The Chrysler 300 has been around since the spring of 2004, serving as the full-size luxury sedan for Chrysler. It replaced the Chrysler Concorde. In 2011, the second generation Chrysler 300 was released. At the 2011 New York International Auto Show, Chrysler revealed an "S" level trim for the 300. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take the 300S out for a test drive. This was one of two versions of the Chrysler 300 that I drove. The other 300 was tuned by SRT.

The 300S has a nice exterior. It is not sporty or aggressive, but it looks luxurious. I prefer the lined grill on the second generation 300 over the checker grill on the first generation 300. It has a nice hood and a slanted truck, and a nice luxurious side profile. The 300S also comes with 20" polished aluminum wheels with black painted pockets, and a black painted grill and headlamps. The 300S comes with a 10-speaker Beats by Dr. Dre sound system, and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The interior is luxurious. The 300S has leather seats with the Chrysler 300S logo located on the upper part of the seats. The dashboard is wrapped in leather. The seat was comfortable and I had good head room and leg room behind the wheel.

The 300S is powered by a 3.6L V6 enigne, paired with a eight-speed automatic transmission that comes with paddle shifters, that produces 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 300S goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 114 mph. The 300S has good acceleration and power throughout the rpm range. The acceleration was smooth. I did not feel any jerky motions when I upshift and downshift. The 300S has a very comfortable ride. It was very quiet inside the 300S. The 300S also has good handling. The car responded when I turned the wheel. Prices for the 300S start at $33,995, which is a good value for what you get with the 300S.

Overall, the 300S is a good full-size luxury sedan. It has good acceleration and a good ride quality. The car drives smoothly on city roads. I was very comfortable behind the wheel. And you get a good car for under $35,000. So if you are looking for a good domestic luxury full-size sedan and do not want to spend $40,000, give the Chrysler 300S a test drive. If you want a Chrysler 300 is a Hemi V8, there is an SRT-8 version of the 300.

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First Drive: 2013 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee

2013-02-10T14:14:00.000-06:00

The Dodge Charger served as Dodge's entry in the muscle car market from 1966 to 1978. It was a front engine, rear-wheel drive mid-size two door coupe. In February 2005, Dodge revealed a new full-size sedan to replace the Dodge Intrepid. Dodge decided to bring back the Charger name. With the new Charger comes a Charger SRT-8 powered by a hemi V8. In 2010, the second generation of the Charger came out. Starting in 2012, SRT got its hands on the second generation Charger. I first was the second generation Dodge Charger SRT-8 at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I got a change to take one out for a test drive. The version I drove is the 2013 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee. This was one of two SRT vehicles available for test drives. You have to first drive a non SRT Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, or Fiat before getting into one of the two SRT vehicles.

The Charger SRT-8 Super Bee has an aggressive styling. It starts with the front bumper, grill, and headlights. It looks mean. The is a rear spoiler that does not hinder visibility when looking at the rear view mirror. I have driven some cars where the rear spoiler hinders visibility when looking at the rear view mirror. The yellow paint job with black trapezoids on the hood. The Charger has a sporty interior. No leather seats are in the Super Bee. The seats are covered with an exclusive Z-stripe cloth with the Super Bee logo on the headrests. The are two gauges and a screen behind the steering wheel. I had a good amount of head room and leg room behind the wheel. The seat was comfortable, especially for a performance vehicle.

The Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee is powered by a 6.4L hemi V8, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode, that produces 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4,2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 178 mph. The Charger felt fast, for the few seconds I could unleash the Charger. I was behind a very slow driver and every time I gave myself some distance, I caught up. This was frustrating because I wanted to test the power and acceleration of the Super Bee, but I just could never give myself some room because the person test driving the Chevrolet Spark in front of me was driving very slowly. As far as drive quality, the Charger has a smooth ride. The Charger also has responsive handling. It was also very quiet inside the Charger as well. This is a good ride, I just wish I was not behind a very slow driver.

Overall, the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee is a great muscle car. It is quick, fast, and comfortable. The Dodge Charger is available with a 3.6L V6 engine for people who want a good full-size sedan ideal for everyday driving. For those who want a four-door sedan for both everyday driving and track days, the Super Bee is the ideal car. A Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee will set you back $43,450, but that is a great value for what you get. If you are in the market for a full-size sedan that is practical and fun to drive, give the Super Bee a test drive. There was another SRT vehicle available for test drive, and when I was in that car, I did not have a very slow driver in front of me.

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First Impression: 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

2013-02-09T14:10:00.002-06:00

The original Aston Martin Vanquish was in production from 2001 to 2007, serving as the flagship for Aston Martin. It served as the Bond car in Die Another Day. In 2007, Aston Martin came out with the DBS, a grand tourer that served as the successor to the Vanquish. In 2012, Aston Martin revealed the Project AM310 Concept. The concept car became the new Aston Martin Vanquish. The new Vanquish is the successor to the Aston Martin DBS. The Vanquish is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door grand tourer.

I saw the new Vanquish at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. This was the main car I wanted to see at the auto show. However, this was not one of the seventy cars I drove during the five day event. The local Aston Martin dealership has a few Aston Martins on display, including an unfinished Vanquish. Aston Martins are known for power, beauty, and soul. The Vanquish is beautiful. It is more refined than the DBS. Compared to the old Vanquish, the new Vanquish has a small grill, sleeker side body lines, and a wider hole on the lower part of the front bumper. While the old Vanquish has beauty, the new Vanquish has both beauty and aggressive styling. The new Vanquish will turn heads when it is on the road.

The Vanquish is powered by a 5.9L V12, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode, that produces 565 hp and and 457 lb-ft of toque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 183 mph. Prices for the Vanquish start at $282,110. The Vanquish has power, speed, and acceleration, but it comes at a steep price.

Final Thoughts: The Vanquish is another car worthy of the Aston Martin badge. The Vanquish has beauty, power, and soul. This car is beautiful and has an aggressive styling. Plus, it has good acceleration and a supercar speed. This is one amazing car. But it is expensive. Still, if you can afford it, take it out for a drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Equus

2013-02-06T13:27:00.000-06:00

The Hyundai Equus has been around since 1999, serving as the brand's full-size luxury sedan. The first generation Equus was produced from 1999 to 2008 and was sold in South Korea, China, and Middle East. The Western European got this car, which was renamed the Hyundai Continental, in the early and mid 2000s. In 2009, the second generation Equus was released. This time, the Equus was available for the North American market. In 2012, the Equus got an update, now available with an eight-speed automatic transmission. I have seen the Equus at a few automotive events in the greater Houston Area. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to test drive one. The Equus is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive four-door full-size luxury sedan.

I have to give credit to Hyundai for the great improvements over the years to its brands. The new Hyundais are vastly improvements over previous Hyundais. The Equus is very easy on the eyes. The car looks luxurious. I like the sleek body lines and the front grill. Everything is nicely integrated as far as body design goes. While it does not have a sporty or aggressive styling, the Equus is still beautiful. The Equus is very luxurious on the inside. The leather seats are nice a comfortable. The leather and wood trim gives the Equus a luxurious feel. The user interface and touchscreen are easy to use. Behind the wheel, I had plenty of head room and leg room. And there is plenty of room in the back for adult passengers. I was very comfortable behind the wheel.

Powering the Equus is a 5.0L V8 engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, that produces 429 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. The Equus goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The Equus felt quick when I pressed the accelerator pedal. The Equus has a very soft ride. I felt like I was riding on a cloud when I was driving the Equus. The Equus may have a soft suspension, but it handles well. There is an instantaneous response when I turned the wheel. The Equus also has a quiet cabin. I did not hear any outside noise and I could barely hear the engine when I was inside the Equus. Prices for the Equus start at $59,250 and the Equus Ultimate goes for $66,250. That may seem expensive for a car, but the Equus is a good value compared to the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Audi A8.

Overall, the Equus is a great luxury full-size sedan. I felt like I was riding on a cloud because the Equus has a very soft ride. The car has a luxury sedan styling and a luxurious interior. The Equus has wood trim and very comfortable leather seats. The Equus gets good power from the V8 engine and has good acceleration for a full-size luxury sedan. Despite the soft ride, the Equus handles nicely. The Equus has a very reasonable price of around $60,000 compared to its German rivals. If you are in the market for a full-size luxury sedan, give the Equus a test drive. Hyundai has greatly improved its quality of vehicles over the years.

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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0T

2013-02-03T10:11:00.001-06:00

In 2012, Cadillac came out with two new sedans. The first of the two new sedans is the XTS, a full size sedan that replaced both the STS and DTS. The second new sedan is the ATS, a compact sedan that competes against the Lexus IS, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.The ATS is the first Cadillac compact sedan to be sold in North America since the Cimarron was sold from 1982 to 1988. The European market got the BLS from 2005 to 2010. The Cadillac is a front-engine, four door compact sedan that is available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. I first saw the ATS at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. I liked what I saw out of the ATS and named it my 2012 Best Sports Sedan award before even driving it. The ATS was Esquire's 2013 Car of the Year, Popular Mechanics' 2013 Luxury Car of the Year, and Motor Press Guild's 2013 Vehicle of the year. The ATS is also the 2013 North American Car of the Year. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to get behind the wheel of the ATS and take it out for a test drive. The version of the ATS that I drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and with rear-wheel drive.

The ATS styling grew on me. It has some nice character lines and a nice sports sedan styling. It does not look as bland as some of the other compact sedans, luxury sedans, and sports sedans. The ATS has a nice interior. The touch screen is user friendly. The seat was comfortable to sit in. I had a nice amount of leg room and head room. The car has a sporty feel to it, but it is not too stiff and unpleasant.

The ATS I drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine that produces 272 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The ATS is also available with a 2.5L I4 engine that produces 202 hp and 190 lb-ft. The ATS also comes with a 3.6L V6 engine that produces 321 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque. All engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 2.0L engine is available with an optional six-speed manual transmission. The first I noticed about the way the ATS 2.0T was the lack of turbo lag. I did not notice any turbo lag, if there was any. The car has smooth acceleration. The ATS 2.0T can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds, and it felt quick. The ATS has a comfortable, quiet ride and was fun to drive. The car has good throttle response and responds well when I turned the steering wheel. The base price for the ATS starts at $33,995. The ATS 2.0T starts at $35,795. The ATS 3.6 starts at $42,090. That is a good price for what you get with the ATS.

Overall, the ATS is a very good sports sedan. I drove both the ATS and CTS sedans, and I was more comfortable in the ATS than in the CTS.The ATS has a nice balance between ride quality and handling. The ATS has a sporty suspension, yet it was comfortable to be in. I have been in cars that have too soft of a ride that there is a delay between turning the steering wheel and the car turning. I have also been cars that the suspension was too stiff more me to enjoy the car. The has good power and nice acceleration. I drove the ATS with the turbocharged engine, but I did not notice any turbo lag. Well done General Motors and Cadillac. Also, the ATS has a good sports sedan styling. It shares some resemblance to the Cadillac CTS, but that is not a bad thing. And the ATS also goes for a reasonable price. You get a lot of car for under $40,000, and that includes a turbocharged engine. If you are looking for a luxury compact sedan or a sports sedan, give the ATS a test drive. I highly recommend the ATS. This is one of the best cars to come out in 2012.

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First Drive:2012 Buick Regal CXL Turbo

2013-02-01T18:05:00.000-06:00

The Buick Regal has been around in North America since 1973. In 1999, the Regal made its way to China. From 2004 to 2010, Buick and General Motors stopped selling the Regal in North America, but sales of the Regal continued in China. In 2009, an new Regal went to production. From 2009 until early 2011, the Regal was produced in Germany at the Opel (the German subsidiary for General Motors) Russelheim Assembly facility. In German, the car was called the Opel Insignia. In 2011, the Buick Regal began being produced in Oshawa, Ontario. The Regal is a front engine, front-wheel drive four door mid-size sedan. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, I took one out on a test drive with my father sitting in the back.

On the outside, nothing special. Nothing really stands out. It just looks bland compared to other mid-size sedans. On the inside, there is not much head room. My dad is 5'5"/5'6" and his head was hitting the roof. The seat was not comfortable what so ever. My back stated hurting just one minute into the test drive.

The Regal I test drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine that produced 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Regal goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. I had no desire to test the acceleration of the Regal. My back was hurting. Also the car has a stiff suspension. The other two Buicks that I drove were very comfortable and had a soft ride. Why did Buick need to make the Regal have a very stiff ride. It is not a car people would take to the track. It is a luxury sedan. Prices for a Buick Regal Turbo start at $30,260. That is not a lot of money for a luxury mid-size sedan with a turbocharged engine, but the ride is too uncomfortable for me to recommend.

Overall, I did not like the Buick Regal Turbo. The ride was so stiff that my back was hurting after one minute of driving it. For as much as I did not like the Chevrolet Volt, at least the Volt was not trying to kill my back. The Buick Regal was not available for test drives at the 2013 Houston Auto Show, but one was on display inside. I sat in a 2013 Buick Regal and it too was uncomfortable. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, I drove the Buick Verano and Buick LaCrosse and both cars were very comfortable to sit in. I even drove the Buick Enclave at the 2013 Houston Auto Show and that was comfortable to sit in. I just do not understand why the Buick Regal was designed with a stiff suspension. It is not a car someone would drive on track day. The Buick Regal is the most uncomfortable car I drove in 2012. I cannot recommend someone buying this car. If you want a turbocharged four-door sedan, I recommend almost anything else.

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First Drive: 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

2013-01-31T19:47:00.000-06:00

The Ford C-Max has been around since 2003, serving as Ford's entry in the European compact MPV market. The first generation, which was in production from 2003 to 2010, used the Ford C1 platform, which was also used for the Ford Focus Mk II and the Mazda 5. Production for the second generation C-Max started in 2010. In 2012, the C-Max made its way to North America. While the European market C-Max has various different engines to pick from, the North American C-Max comes only with a hybrid drivetrain. I have seen a few C-Maxes on the Houston roads, but I only got a distant glimpse at them. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, there were two C-Maxes available for test drives. The only difference between the two was the color. For the ride and drive event, Ford had several cars to choose from. The popular Ford was the Mustang 5.0. Since there were only four representatives rode along on the test drives, participants were restricted to driving in the parking lot. Out of the 70 vehicles I test drove over the five day period, the C-Max was the only vehicle I drove twice. The first time was Friday night in the parking lot. For the second time out in the C-Max, I was able to drive on the streets. The C-Max was the last car I drove on Sunday. The C-Max is a front engine, front-wheel drive five-door compact MPV.

As far as styling goes, there are a few things that stand out. The C-Max has a double grill. The upper grill is from a Ford Focus and the lower grill is from the Ford Fusion. The styling is similar to the Ford Escape. Other than that, nothing real special about the styling. The C-Max has a nice sized interior. There is plenty room for five. Behind the wheel, I had plenty of head room and leg room. The seat was comfortable. The gauges are nice. On the right, there is a screen that uses leaves to show the driver how efficiently the person is driving.

The C-Max is powered by a both an Atkinson cycle 2.0L I4 engine that produces 141 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque and a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor that produces 118 hp and 117 lb-ft of torque. The C-Max comes with a 1.4 kWh lithium ion battery pack. The combined hybrid powertrain produces 188 hp. The C-Max uses a CVT transmission. The C-Max goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and has at top speed of 115 mph. The C-Max can reach 62 mph will only using electric mode. The C-Max has good acceleration for a hybrid. The C-Max also has smooth acceleration. I felt no jerks will accelerating. The C-Max has a smooth, quiet ride. Prices for the C-Max Hybrid SE starts at $25,995. Prices for the C-Max Hybrid SEL starts at $28,995. That is a fair price for a hybrid. The C-Max performs very well compared to the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and Prius V, and the Chevrolet Volt.

The Ford C-Max Hybrid was featured in Motorweek.

Overall, the Ford C-Max Hybrid is a good hybrid. The ride is smooth. It has good acceleration. The interior is nice and roomy. The styling is nothing special, but it is better than the Volt, Prius, Prius C, and Insight. If you are in the market for a hybrid, give the C-Max a test drive. If you are in the market for a five seat MPV, give the C-Max a test drive. Compared to the competition, the C-Max is the best value for a hybrid.

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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac XTS

2013-01-29T18:10:00.000-06:00

In 2011, General Motors and Cadillac ended production for both the Cadillac STS and DTS. In 2012, Cadillac came out with an all new full-size sedan, the XTS, to replace both the STS and DTS. The XTS also serves as the flagship car for the Cadillac brand. I first saw the Cadillac XTS at the 2012 Houston Auto Show and named it my best full-size Car to come out in 2012, and I did that before I drove the XTS. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I got behind the wheel of an XTS. This was the first car I drove on Day 4 of the Houston Auto Show.

The XTS is just beautiful. The XTS has some sleek lines going along the side of the car. The rear slope is integrated nicely. The headlights are integrated nicely into the body. The interior is even better. The XTS has a luxurious and roomy. I was very comfortable behind the wheel. The feel like I am on a cloud when I am behind the wheel. I had plenty of leg room and head room. There are some features that I like. There is a heads up display that informs the driver what the speed limit is and also acts as a speedometer. The gauges are digital and can be customized to fit the driver's need. The middle gauge acted as a speedometer and navigation. This is the first time I have been behind the wheel of a car with the navigation located in front of the driver and not to the side. I have an external GPS device for my RAV4 and I have to turn to the side to look at it instead of looking ahead. In the XTS, I can look straight at the rood and at the navigation screen at the same time. This feature is something that needs to be on more cars. It is dangerous for a driver to have his or her eyes not looking directly at the road.

Powering the XTS is a 3.6L V6, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, that producs 304 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque. The XTS goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is good for a full-size sedan. The car feels quick. The XTS has a soft ride, yet the XTS handles well. The car immediately turns when I turn the steering wheel. Over the five days, there were some vehicles that did not turn one way or another immediately when I turn the steering wheel. The XTS handles bumps well. I barely felt any bumps when I was behind the wheel. The XTS is a good car to be behind the wheel of.

Overall, the XTS is an amazing cars. I love the exterior styling. It is just beautiful. The interior is really nice. I felt very comfortable behind the wheel. I love that the driver can customize the gauges to fit his or her needs. I liked having the navigation screen directly in front of me when I was behind the wheel of the XTS. The XTS also has good acceleration. It is just an enjoyable car to drive. Prices for the XTS start at $44,075 and can go up to $60,385 for a fully loaded XTS premium sedan. That price may seem high, but compared to its German rivals, the XTS has a lot to offer for a good price. If you can afford it, get it. The XTS is an amazing car.

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