With an all-new remake of what was one of the market’s lesser entries, General Motors is out to prove it can emerge from bankruptcy protection with the sort of products that win back skeptical buyers. The ’10 Equinox could be one of its best chances. The new CUV is attractive, well-appointed, roomy, and surprisingly refined. It's also got great fuel-economy—a whopping 32 mpg on the highway with the base 2.4-liter inline-four engine, and 25 mpg with the peppier 3.0-liter V6. And the 4-cylinder model uses an active noise-cancellation system, like the technology used in headphones worn by frequent fliers. Overall, the 2010 Equinox offers the sort of value the brand once was known for—a good reason the crossover-utility vehicle is one of three finalists for North American Truck of the Year.
Courtesy of Chevrolet / GM Corp
The smaller of two vans Ford originally developed for Europe, the Transit Connect recently made the jump over the pond and into U.S. showrooms. Designed for tight, urban environments where space is at a premium and fuel prices are high, it’s finding a new niche with both commercial and retail customers looking for a blend of room, affordability, and flexibility. At 6’8” tall, the Transit Connect can fit into most urban parking structures, yet it has a surprising amount of cargo space—a total of 143 cubic feet—which makes it perfect for people who need it to haul stuff for work. (The distinctive sides even provide a striking mobile billboard.) Yet Ford is also finding plenty of folks who see the Transit Connect as a viable alternative to traditional minivans—as well as fuel-guzzling SUVs.
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Back in the days when actor Paul Hogan (aka Crocodile Dundee) was pitching for Subaru, the Japanese brand was a minor player, appealing mainly to niche buyers in the snowiest parts of the country. No longer. Subaru is increasingly going mainstream, and the latest version of its Outback shows why. The original was little more than a Legacy wagon with a bit more ground clearance. The new model is decidedly more stylish, roomy, and functional, though it still shares its underlying “architecture” with the latest-generation Legacy. What’s helped Subaru expand out of Snow Belt markets like Boston and Denver is the growing recognition that AWD has performance and handling advantages on even the driest pavement.
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Since its 1999 launch, Toyota’s midsize Prius sedan has become both the world’s most distinctive and bestselling hybrid-electric vehicle. Those who’ve come to love the futuristically nerdy Prius shape will readily recognize the 2010, though it’s a bit more sophisticated and stylish overall. Most of the high-tech additions are aimed at improving safety, such as the Lane Departure Warning System. Many of these are standard features, yet there are some intriguing options, including a solar roof panel that powers the ventilation system on hot days. As for Toyota’s trademark Hybrid Synergy Drive, it’s undergone a number of improvements, though there are no real breakthroughs. The internal combustion engine, at 1.8 liters, is larger and improves highway mileage. Yet again, Prius looks likely to remain the most popular hybrid in 2010.
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Long ignored in the critical midsize sedan market, Detroit carmakers are regaining traction, and no more effectively than with the latest incarnation of Ford’s remaining four-door. But the version most worth noting is the 2010 Fusion Hybrid, which features Ford's latest gasoline-electric drivetrain and proves the Japanese aren’t the only ones making serious inroads into alternative power. In fact, at 41 mpg on the highway, the Fusion Hybrid gets about 4 miles per gallon more than the comparable Toyota Camry Hybrid. The sedan is roomy, well-appointed, and delivers a surprising amount of features for the money. It’s no sports car, but it has a nice sporty feel on the road. And Ford’s offering has routinely scored high on all the quality and reliability charts. It's one of the three finalists for North American Car of the Year.
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American motorists have long had a love/hate relationship with Volkswagen, in part due to past quality problems. Recent surveys show a big improvement in quality, which will play well for the launch of the sixth-generation 2010 Golf. A bit "crisper" and broader-shouldered than the old version, known internally as Golf V, the 2010 model features more pronounced wheel arches and several distinctive character lines. The cabin echoes this philosophy, maximizing functionality while delivering a more sophisticated, upscale feel. There are pleasantly fewer hard plastic surfaces than in the old Golf. And the base car boasts a 2.5-liter inline-four, which gets 22 mpg city and 30 on the highway. But the real mileage miser is a new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder “clean” diesel delivering an impressive 30 mpg on the EPA City cycle, with the Highway rating at 42 mpg. Handling is just what you’d expect from a German car and delivers a mix of driving pleasure, functionality, and great fuel economy.
Courtesy of Volkswagen
Think of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse as more than just another midsize sedan. It could be the make-it-or-break-it model for the once well-regarded General Motors division, one of just four North American brands that survived GM’s bankruptcy last year. Those who thought they knew what Buicks are all about could be in for a a big surprise when they step inside this elegantly executed sedan. The quiet cabin is the most refined Buick has brought to market in decades, with the ice-blue lighting of its gauge cluster adding a nice high-tech touch further accented by the big navigation screen. Oddly enough, credit goes to the Chinese, who have embraced Buick in recent years, turning the brand into one of the top sellers in the booming Asian market. GM hopes that success will make the trans-Pacific leap and that this finalist for North American Car of the Year will kick-start sales for the once-powerful marquee.
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The German maker’s mid-line mainstay is back in entirely new trim for 2010. And this time, it’s being offered in both sedan and coupe body styles, the latter 2-door replacing the old Mercedes-Benz CLK. The new E-Class is more than just what automotive folks like to call a “simple refresh.” It’s a top-to-bottom remake that, in many ways, represents the best Mercedes can muster, even more than the flagship S-Class. The ’10 sedan is offered in two distinct versions: the relatively conservative Luxury edition and the more edgy Sport. As you’d expect of Mercedes, the E-Class boasts a gadget freak’s cornucopia of high-tech infotainment, performance, and safety features. The latter group includes the tongue-twisting Distronic Plus with Pre-Safe Braking, which can help you maintain a safe distance in stop-and-go traffic. (In an emergency, it’ll even begin braking for you, which can, at the very least, reduce the extent of injuries and vehicle damage.) What’s particularly appealing is the big price cuts Mercedes has announced for the 2010 model-year. Meanwhile, the auto maker will be revealing a new convertible version of the E-Class at this year’s Detroit Auto Show.
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Who knew square could be so hip? The Kia Soul belongs to a quirky new class of vehicles you might want to call boxes on wheels, which includes models like the new Nissan Cube and the Scion xB. Mathematicians will tell you a square shape packs in maximum room, but Kia designers have found a way to turn the Soul into more than just your basic econobox. Despite its surprisingly affordable price, it’s both well-equipped and delightfully stylish. Just ask the hamsters who star in Kia’s ad campaign, which has turned into a viral Internet favorite. Gen Xers and Millennials will love the hip-hop sensibility of the Soul, which features speakers that pulse like a heartbeat to every bass note. But the crossover’s practicality and good fuel economy are winning over buyers of every generation.
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The SUV's obit was written prematurely. Sure, demand has slipped sharply, but while car-based crossovers are picking up ground, there is still plenty of demand for classic, truck-based SUVs, and the all-new Land Rover LR4 helps explain why. The successor to the old LR3 has a lot going for it. While the exterior design is familiar, it’s a lot cleaner and better executed. But the real changes can be found in the cabin, which has lost most of the clumsy plastic bits and pieces that gave the old car an unpleasantly down-market feel. The 2010 LR4 is sophisticated, comfortable, and uncannily competent. One of the most intriguing features is Terrain Response Control—a simple turn of the dial adjusts all manner of vehicle functions, such as brakes, accelerator, transmission, and ride height, to a variety of different road and weather conditions. The LR4 will ford nearly two feet of water and crawl across the biggest boulders—yet still show up in style at the theater.
Courtesy of Land Rover
This year brings the long-awaited revival of General Motors’ classic American pony car. First seen in 1967, the iconic design that GM designers liberally borrowed from was the Camaro that debuted two years later. Sure, you’ll recognize the classic design cues: the egg-crate grille, Coke-bottle silhouette, and muscular kick-up of the 2010 Camaro’s rear shoulders. But the new car isn’t just a retro-mobile. This is a decidedly modern interpretation, taking advantage of state-of-the-art engineering and technology. Offered in a variety of trims, with a mix of powertrains, the SS is the most powerful version of the new Camaro and the only one with a V-8, turning out a solid 426-horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque with the manual transmission. Most buyers will opt for the smaller V6. It still can leave rubber at a stoplight—yet deliver an unexpected 30 mpg on the highway. The long-awaited Camaro Convertible debuts at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show but, sadly, is still a year away from production.
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The buzzword in automotive circles these days is electrification, a fancy way of saying “battery power.” The question is whether American motorists will get charged up over the environmentally friendly technology. While most makers are working on some form of electric vehicle, Nissan will be among the first to market with this “pure” battery-electric vehicle, or BEV. While the 2011 Leaf is small, its crossover-style design offers a surprising amount of interior space in a stylish package. And Nissan contends the sedan’s lithium-ion battery will deliver enough range—up to 100 miles per charge—to more than adequately cover the daily driving needs of the typical American. Lithium-ion batteries aren’t cheap, but Nissan has come up with a novel way to sell Leaf. You’ll buy the car—the anticipated price is around $25,000, after the $7,500 federal tax credit—then lease the battery. How much, the automaker isn’t saying, but Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn hints the lease will come in around the same price the typical motorist would spend each month on gasoline.
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Few cars have ever gotten more publicity long before they came to market. But there’s a reason why the world has been eagerly anticipating the Chevy Volt. Formally known as an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle—though most folks will call it a plug-in hybrid—Volt has enough lithium-ion batteries onboard to travel about 40 miles per charge. That’s enough, according to industry data, to handle the daily commute of more than 70 percent of American drivers. But unlike battery cars like the Nissan Leaf, you won’t have to pull over and wait for a charge. Once the batteries are drained, Volt’s compact internal combustion engine will automatically fire up and let you keep driving, for as much as 400 miles on a tank and a charge. GM is betting that the majority of Volt buyers could go weeks, even months, without using a drop of gasoline. The sedan won’t be cheap, but the rumored $40,000 price tag will be offset by $7,500 in federal tax credits—and the sense that you're doing right by Mother Nature.
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