By Darlene Donloe
I recently test-drove the Dodge Dart Limited and was
presently surprised. I drove the Volkswagen 2013 Beetle and felt rather
nostalgic. I drove the Nissan 2013 Altima and enjoyed the ride. I drove the
Juke and smiled the whole time. The SRX AWD Premium collection knocked my socks
off. Below is my review of the five vehicles.
DODGE DART LIMITED
THE CAR: Dodge Dart Limited
I must admit, I had a preconceived notion about what
the Dodge Dart Limited would look like and especially how it would drive. I
pictured a dated car with no funk to it. I pictured my grandmother’s car. Au
Contraire! The Dodge Dart Limited is fierce, baby! It looks modern and has a smooth ride. No more preconceived
notions for me!
VEHICLE AT A GLANCE: Tigershark 16-valve 2.0 liter engine;
five speed powertech Automatic Transmission; advanced multistage front airbags,
keyless entry with panic alarm
MSRP: $24,795
FUEL ECONOMY: 27/34
THE DRIVE: High-quality!
WHAT’S HOT:
The bright silver metallic exterior and the black interior!
VOLKSWAGEN 2013 BEETLE
THE CAR: Volkswagen 2013 Beetle
The Beetle is a classic car. Even though it has
undergone a slight change, the VW Beetle is still priceless. Its petite size makes it easy to zip
around town.
The 2013 Beetle, which ranks about 14th as
an affordable subcompact car, has a diverse engine lineup. It offers three
engines and four transmissions. The base model has a 170-horsepower,
five-cylinder engine. There’s also a turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. The Base Beetle models are equipped with
a six-speed automatic average 22/30 mpg. It offers four manual and automatic
transmissions, which have five or six gears.
This Beetle has distinctive
styling; a commanding turbo engine; fuel-efficient diesel and a high-style
interior.
Music lovers will
like the Fender stereo’s sound quality. There is also an optional navigation
system. The 2013 Beetle has a
competitive amount of standard features, which includes Bluetooth and an iPod
interface.
VEHICLE AT A GLANCE: 2.5 liter manual transmission; 200 horsepower, 5-cyl engine; 207 lb-ft
of torque. A six-speed dual-clutch automatic is optional. The Turbo gets
upsized brakes, a stiffer front anti-roll bar, and 18-inch aluminum wheels;
attractive interior with carbon-fiber-look dashboard trim and a dash-top pod with
a stopwatch.
MSRP: $28,130
FUEL ECONOMY: 28/41
THE DRIVE: Like Beetlemania!
WHAT’S HOT:
What’s Not!
JUKE
THE CAR: Juke
Ok, everyone will not like the shape of the Juke.
But, be clear, the Juke is no Joke! If nothing else, it stands out amongst
small crossovers. I’m not usually
a huge fan of hatchbacks, but this Juke is off the chain! Yeah, to some it may look funny. But
the car is actually no laughing matter. It drives well. Lively
performance; sporty handling; available all-wheel drive. The Juke also receives a revised
Navigation package on SV models that now includes a rearview camera and a
Rockford Fosgate premium audio system. A new Midnight Edition package, with
special exterior styling details, also debuts.
VEHICLE AT A GLANCE: 1.6 L Inline 4-cylinder, front
wheel drive, Turbo CVT continuously variable-speed automatic; 188 hp @ 5600 rpm;
Standard equipment on the entry-level S model includes
17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, 60/40-split-folding
rear seats, keyless entry, full power accessories, cruise control, a tilt-only
steering wheel, a trip computer, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a six-speaker
sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio input jack. The Juke's cargo
area offers just 10 cubic ft. behind the rear seats and 36 cubic ft. with the
seatbacks folded down.
MSRP: $18,841
FUEL ECONOMY: 27/32
THE DRIVE: Easy!
WHAT’S HOT: Have You Seen This Car?
THE CAR: Nissan Altima 2.5 SL
Get ready to like this car. This isn’t your typical family
car. This Nissan looks good, has a smooth and quiet ride. It handles well. It
has strong acceleration and fuel economy for both engines. Currently in its fifth generation, this
car is refined and fuel-efficient.
Other highlights include strong acceleration and fuel
economy for both engines; gratifying handling; comfortable front seats and user-friendly
electronics.
VEHICLE AT A GLANCE: 2.5-Liter DOHC16-Valve
4-cylinder engine Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), 182 hp
@6000 rpm, active understeer control, 17” aluminum-alloy wheels.
MSRP: $30,105
FUEL ECONOMY: 27/38
THE DRIVE: Nice!
WHAT’S HOT: Performance!
SRX AWD PREMIUM COLLECTION
THE CAR: SRX AWD Premium collection
This car has the ‘wow, this car is fabulous’ factor.
I like it a lot. I like the
interior and the exterior. I like the way it handles the road and still manages
to look chic and classy. I like
the way I look and feel while driving. I like the attention the car gets when I
drive it down the street. I love the questions I get regarding the car when I
get in and when I get out of it. The six-speed auto transmission upshifts
quickly. Clearly one of the
top-selling luxury crossovers in the U.S., the road looks better and feels
better when I’m behind the wheel of the SRX AWD. This is a sexy car!!!
VEHICLE AT A GLANCE: V6 cylinder engine, l6-speed auto w/OD, locking rear differential,
all wheel drive, engine type: gas/ethanol V6, displacement: 3.6L/217, Horsepower
(Net @ RPM): 308 @ 6800 torque (Net @
RPM): 265 @ 2400, transmission: automatic w/manual shift, turning diameter:
40.3, navigation system, wireless cell phone hookup, keyless start, sun/moon roof,
cargo: 61.1 cu. ft., 0-60 in 6.2
seconds
MSRP: $50,730
FUEL ECONOMY: 17/24
THE DRIVE: Classy!
WHAT’S HOT: Everything!
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