2016 Hyundai Tucson- smoothing out its act!!

THE AUTO PAGE

By John Heilig

•  MODEL: 2016 Hyundai Tucson Eco FWD 
•  ENGINE: 1.6-liter Turbocharged I-4
• TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic
• HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 175 hp @ 5,500 rpm/195 lb.-ft. @ 1,500-4,500 rpm
• WHEELBASE: 105.1 in.
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 176.2 x 72.8 x 65.0 in.
• TIRES: P225/60R17
• CARGO: 31.0/61.9 cu. ft. (rear seats up/down)
• ECONOMY: 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway/23.5 mpg test 
• FUEL TANK: 16.4 gal.
• CURB WEIGHT: 3,369-3,580 lbs.
• COMPETITIVE CLASS: Ford Escape, Subaru Outback. Mitsubishi Outlander
• STICKER: $25,170 (includes $895 delivery, $125 option (carpeted floor mats))
• BOTTOM LINE: For its price, the Hyundai Tucson is a very capable small SUV/CUV. It has some quirks, but overall it does its job well.

            The third generation Hyundai Tucson rides on a longer wheelbase than it predecessor and has an edgier style. 

            Our tester was the base model, with a 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 that delivered 175 horsepower. That proved to be an adequate amount for the small crossover/sport utility that weighs around 3,400 pounds. We found we could accelerate into speeding traffic, with some engine complaining, fairly well. On more normal acceleration, you can feel the 7-speed automatic shift through all the gears. The transmission can also be shifted manually, using the gear lever. Because of the Tucson’s compact size, shifting manually makes it appear almost sporty.

            On the right road surfaces, which are rarely found in Pennsylvania, the Tucson rides quietly with only a modicum of engine and road noise. 

            Handling is very good. At the speeds I travel there is no feeling of top-heaviness, which can be a concern with sport utes and crossovers. Besides the longer wheelbase, the Tucson’s footprint is larger thanks to a one inch increase in width. 

            The front seats are comfortable. The side bolsters hold you in while driving hard and also during softer cornering. It’s a comfortable feel. Also, the seats are comfortable on longer rides. Did I mention that they’re comfortable?

            The rear seats offer good leg room. There is also a low center hump that would allow for a middle passenger to ride in relative comfort. The rear seat backs fold flat to provide an excellent cargo area. 

            The driver grabs a nice fat wheel with audio, cruise, phone and information controls. The instruments are clear with while-on black numbers in round dials. 

            I have a major complaint with the infotainment screen. It is almost impossible to read in daylight, and barely better at night. The screen is small and audio selections might as well be from AM because you can’t rear what they are anyway. While the Tucson is equipped with a backup camera, you can’t see what it is displaying either and backing up into tight spaces can be a challenge. Also dangerous.

            The audio is decent, even if the screen is impossible to read. There is good Bluetooth phone response with an easy setup.

            We drove the Tucson in weather that was fitting to its name, very hot. The HVAC system did an excellent job keeping us cool. At times we had to turn it down because we were too cold. 

            Cargo capacity is very good, even with the rear seats up. My golf bag fit easily when I put it in the back diagonally. In addition, there are hanger hooks by the rear assist handles as well as on the rear of the B pillars. In the cargo area itself there are multiple tie-downs. The Tucson would benefit from an interior lift gate release. More upscale models have a Smart Power Liftgate that allows the owner to raise the lift gate by merely standing close to the rear bumper. 

            For interior storage there is a large cubby at the base of the center stack with two 12-volt outlets as well as USB and AUX plugs. There is also a smaller cubby just ahead of the two cup holders, plus a deep center console/arm rest. All the door pockets have room for water bottles. 

            In addition, the Tucson has good visibility all around. Four assist handles aid entry and egress. 

            Overall, the Hyundai Tucson, even in its base form, is a good, practical crossover utility vehicle. It has a great price point, very good ride quality, and it doesn’t hurt the eyes.

(c) 2016 The Auto Page Syndicate

Lexus RX350 gets energized!!

Some new lines, matched with the latest in safety technology and combined with a heritage of luxury has revived the Lexus RX350. Bumper2Bumpertv thinks the changes are worth the wait considering what you get in the 2016 model.

VW 's small sedan with big features!!

THE AUTO PAGE

BY

JOHN HEILIG

·        MODEL: 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4

·        ENGINE: 1.4-liter DOHC turbocharged I-4

·        TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic

·        HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 150 hp @ 5,000 rpm/184 lb.-ft. @ 1,400 rpm

·        WHEELBASE: 104.4 in.

·        LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 183.3 x 70.0 x 57.2 in.

·        TIRES: P205/55R16

·        CARGO: 15.7 cu. ft.

·        ECONOMY: 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway/32.6 omg test

·        FUEL TANK: 14.5 gal.

·        CURB WEIGHT: 3,025 lbs.

·        COMPETITIVE CLASS: Audi A3, Chevrolet Cruse, Ford Focus

·        STICKER: $23,145 (includes $820 delivery)

·        BOTTOM LINE: In a crowded field of tinny compact cars, the Volkswagen Jetta stands out with its solidity and comfort. 

            There are compact cars and there are compact cars. While most of the cars in the segment are Asian, the Teutonic Volkswagen Jetta stands out. Where slamming the doors in some other cars may be a risk because you fear it may fall apart, the Jetta has a solid sound when you shut the door. No, it isn’t a Rolls-Royce, but is also isn’t your normal econobox. 

            Dimensionally, the Jetta stands out as well. It feels as if there is more passenger volume than some other cars we have driven. This is borne out with very good rear seat legroom,that rivals many mid-size cars. But, although VW claims the Jetta is a five-seater, there’s no way a middle passenger in the back could find comfort with that tall center hump in the rear.

            Under the hood is a 1.4-liter turbocharged four that replaces the 2.0-liter four in last year’s model. It delivers a respectable 150 horses fairly quietly to the front wheels and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. This results in very good acceleration from stop signs and when merging into traffic. I have one stop sign where there is a blind right-hand turn for the cars coming toward me and I often have to tromp on the pedal to make it onto the road safely. The Jetta did a great job for me. With my old full-size van, however, there were time when I would pull out and have to immediately pull off the road to allow oncoming speedsters to move on.

            Ride quality and handling are good under most normal conditions, although I must admit we didn’t stress the Jetta too much. While we hit a variety of roads from Interstate to local to-the-supermarket roads, we did stay away from more difficult roads. The Jetta rides and drives more like a mid-size than a compact.

            Jetta underwent a 2015 redesign that didn’t change the character of the car that much. It is still a Jetta and conforms to the VW family style (excluding the Beetle, of course). Again, in a segment of fairly similar cars, there’s no denying that the Jetta is a German car and a VW to boot.

            Volkswagen has installed its new MIB II 5.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the Jetta. MIB II supports Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Mirror Link with USB and VW-Car Net App-Connect (available by subscription). With this extensive menu, just about any type of entertainment the driver and passengers might want is available. We, however, stuck with the radio and felt the sound quality was excellent.

            The Jetta has an interesting stop/start system. The “normal” key slot is plugged, and even though a key is available on the fob, it isn’t used. There’s a pushbutton start/stop just ahead off the shifter on the center console. 

            The driver grips a fat flat-bottomed wheel with cruise switches, audio and information panel choices. The instrument panel is basic, with a tachometer, information panel, and speedometer. 

            For heating and cooling, there is a set of three knobs for temperature, fan speed and air direction. It takes some getting used to but once learned it is easy. 

            The front seats offer good support in the kidney area as fellas in the seat. Of course, there is the requisite pair of cup holders on the center console and room for water bottles in all four doors. The pull-down armrest between the outboard rear seats holds a pair of cup holders as well. There is also a pass-through to the trunk when you pull down the arm rest. 

            The trunk is a good size at 15.7 cubic feet. The rear seat backs can be folded flat to accommodate more cargo is wanted. Releases for the rear seat backs are located in the trunk.

            Overall, the Jetta has a solid feel and ride quality that belies its size. It’s a compact that wants to be a mid-size.

(c) 2016 The Auto Page Syndicate 

A flashback to the classics!!

Sometimes it is worth it to look back at what can be considered classics in terms of automobile development. One place to do that as Bumper2Bumpertv found is at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville.

Buick goes topless!

THE AUTO PAGE By John Heilig

• MODEL: 2016 Buick Cascada Premium 
• ENGINE: 1.6-liter turbocharged I-4 
• TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic 
• HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 200 hp @ 5,500 rpm/221 lb.-ft. @ 2,200-4,000 rpm 
• WHEELBASE: 106.1 in. 
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 184.4 x 72.4 x 56.8 in. 
• TIRES: P245/40R20 CARGO: 9.8/13.4 cu. ft. (top down/up) 
• ECONOMY: 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/26.0 mpg test 
• FUEL TANK: 14.3 gal.
•  CURB WEIGHT: 3,979 lbs.
•  COMPETITIVE CLASS: Audi A3, Lexus IS, VW Beetle convertibles 
• STICKER: $36,065
•  BOTTOM LINE: The first Buick convertible in 25 years is a solid convertible with outstanding styling, decent power and ride quality, but did it have to be built in Poland?
  
  
            It was almost stereotypical. So many people came up to me when I was with the Buick Cascada and asked the question you hear in commercials, “Is that really a Buick?” or “It sure doesn’t look like a Buick.” No, the Cascada doesn’t look like your standard Buick, and is a true break from the norm. 
   Rather than a stodgy (no comments; we drive one) four-door sedan with a waterfall grille, this is a sleek, two-door convertible, something Buick hasn’t built in 25 years. Interior design also flows and there are lighted highlights to accent the internal design. Actually, the Cascada is closer to my old MGA roadster in many ways than it is to the standard Buick.                                             Besides the two doors, it is slightly underpowered, yet compensates for the power issue with better-than-average handling. Honestly, the Cascada has decent power from its 1.6-liter turbocharged four, although at times the engine does appear to be straining.                                                                                            
   We drove the Cascada on Interstates and local roads, and there were times on the Interstates where it seemed to be working its little heart out. While the transmission is smooth, we looked for a manual mode when we felt we were hurting for power. There aren’t paddle shifters, but you can use the console-mounted shifter for manual mode. On the reverse side, we had very good fuel economy, and filling the tank, which we didn’t have to do often, wasn’t a big strain on the credit card statement.       
  Ride quality is good, if slightly firm. Despite similarities to the suspension in the LaCrosse, the Cascada seemed hard. It wasn’t harsh, however, and overall ride quality is good. Handling is also good. The Cascada has a longish wheelbase at 106.1 inches, yet it has a tight turning circle. On one instance in particular, we found ourselves needing to make quick turnarounds in cul-de-sacs and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
  The front seats are comfortable and offer good side support. The fronts, like the backs, are upholstered in heat reflective material to make getting in and out of the Cascada in hot weather with the top down less painful. The rear seats also offer decent side support. We put two teenage boys back there with no complaints about the lack of leg room or comfort issues.                                        Despite the low profile with the top up, there is adequate headroom in the front and back. Yes, the trunk is small. With the top down, it intrudes into the trunk and cargo capacity is a mere 9.8 cubic feet. With the top up, the “bag” that holds the top can be moved out of the way and cargo capacity increases to 13.4 cubic feet. Even with the top down we were able to put flexible luggage in the back, or four full grocery bags. The top raises and lowers easily with a small lever on the center console. There’s also a button within the lowering lever that drops all four windows at once. Cascade has a nice profile, top up or down.                                                                          There is a clear instrument panel with the customary gauges. The fuel and water temperature gauges are semi-circular, but with the information part on the lower half, making them “upside down“ from standard. I constantly thought I was low on fuel when I was just mis-reading the gauge. The infotainment screen is clear, but there are too many buttons (24) beneath it for various functions. There are also 15 HVAC buttons or knobs. This is far too many. Cascada is small, and therefore internal storage is at a premium.                                             There’s a small cubby at the base of the center stack that also has USB and AUX outlets. The doors have small pockets but there is room for water bottles. And the center console/arm rest is small. My only real complaint is that I couldn’t find an internal trunk release, so I had to use the fob to open the trunk.
   Overall, the Buick Cascada is a beautiful two-door convertible that should compete well with the other vehicles in its class. If it is a harbinger of Buick designs of the future, I can’t wait. 
•  (c) 2016 The Auto Page Syndicate

A revisit to the Mazda MX5

The Mazda MX5 is not only continuing the legacy of the model but with some smart engineering the sports coupe may be setting the bench mark for small two seaters.

Judging Cars!!

Every year journalists come up with their best of lists. Of course Bumper2Bumpertv wants to get in on that fun and we do so by being part of a regional group of automotive writers with a focus on what works best for families.