The Passat may be passe'

THE AUTO PAGE

By John Heilig

• MODEL: 2016 Volkswagen Passat SEL
• ENGINE: 1.8-liter turbocharged I-4 
• HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 170 hp @ 6,200 rpm/184 lb.-ft. @ 1,500 rpm  
• WHEELBASE: 110.4 in.  
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 191.9 x 72.2 x 58.5 in. 
• TIRES: P235/45R18 
• CARGO: 15.9 cu. ft. 
• ECONOMY: 25 mpg city/38 mpg highway/23.8 mpg test 
• FUEL TANK: 18.5 gal. 
• CURB WEIGHT: 3,263 lbs. 
• COMPETITIVE CLASS: Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion 
• STICKER: $35,090 (includes $820 delivery) 
• BOTTOM LINE: The Volkswagen Passat is a very nice mid-size sedan with few outstanding features, and at a premium price. 

            I found it hard to be enthusiastic about the Volkswagen Passat. It has all the attributes of a nice mid-size sedan. It is quiet at speed, except for some tire noise on concrete and worse road surfaces. It has good power from its 1.8-liter turbocharged four, although the engine is buzzy on acceleration. Handling is very good thanks to a front suspension that features damper struts with robust lower control arms, coil springs and an anti-roll bar; and a four-link independent rear suspension with telescopic shocks and an anti-roll bar. And it has a comfortable ride.

            I think it’s the styling that doesn’t turn me on. While it has a new front and rear design with a four-bar chrome grille, I still think it’s bland. There are no exciting lines. In a sense it reminds me of my ’01 Buick. It does the job well, but look at it took long and you might fall asleep. There is a horizontal character line that extends from the head- to tail lamp, but there is no panache.

            Front seats are very comfortable with good side support for the back and lower back. The support isn’t enough for racing, but it’s fine for spirited driving. 

            Rear seats, while nominally for three, really hold two passengers, albeit with very good legroom. The outboard seats are similar to the fronts with good side support and are heated. There’s also good rear seat visibility with wide windows in the doors. In addition, the rear seats have their own HVAC controls and a USB outlet. The pull-down armrest has a pair of cup holders and a small console.

            The driver sits behind a flat-bottomed steering wheel with all the controls. The Passat is equipped with a push button start and stop. The exterior mirrors fold in when the doors are locked. 

            There’s a clear instrument panel with a tachometer, information panel, and a speedometer. The infotainment screen is clear, and the navigation system is easy to program after a short learning curve. The audio system has the standard assortment of choices. We chose SXM and iPod.

            Interior storage consists of a nice fold-out cubby by the driver’s left knee with change slots; a cubby at the base of the center stack with outlets for 12-volt, USB and AUX; two cup holders and a small cubby to the rear of them. There’s a deep center console/arm rest with another 12-volt outlet. In addition, there is room for water bottles in all four doors. Four assist handles aid in entry and egress.

            As a mid-size, you need a good trunk, and the Passat doesn’t disappoint with 15.9 useful cubic feet. The rear seat backs also fold to increase trunk capacity,, with the releases in the trunk.

            With the rear seats folded, it is possible to fit a small- to medium-sized dog crate for animal transportation. Our tester had leather seating surfaces which would be fairly easy to clean in the event of accidents. There are also carpeted floor mats. 

            While our Passat had no options, it still came with a healthy $35,090 sticker price, which to me was exorbitant, maybe $7,000 over a reasonable price for the car. 

           

(c) 2016 The Auto Page Syndicate

Prius Prime first look

Toyota has come up with a higher end variation on the Prius. The Prime comes loaded with a full suite of safety features and other high tech features. Bumper2Bumpertv has a first look.

Audi A4 S Line

The 2017 Audi A4 S Line comes with a wide range of technology in a compact sport sedan. Bumper2Bumpertv has a look at what makes this more than a vehicle that can take a driver from point A to point B.

Nissan Rogue, small but functional.

THE AUTO PAGE

By John Heilig

• ENGINE: 2.5-liter DOHC I-4
• TRANSMISSION:CVT
• HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 170 hp @ 6,000 rpm/175 lb.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm 
• WHEELBASE: 106.5 in.
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 182.3 x 72.4 x 67.5 in. 
• TIRES: P225/65 R17
• CARGO CAPACITY: 9.4/32.0/70.0 cu. ft. (3rd row seats up/down/2nd row seats down
• ECONOMY: 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway/25.6 mpg test
• FUEL TANK: 14.5 gal.
• CURB WEIGHT: 3,422 lbs.
• COMPETITIVE CLASS: Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Jeep Compass, Subaru Forester
• STICKER: $28,465 (includes $900 delivery, $2,785 options)
• BOTTOM LINE: The Nissan Rogue is a capable small SUV with decent power and very good cargo capacity.
  

            The first time I tried to load a package in the back of the Nissan Rogue I was surprised. The cargo area was minuscule at 9.4 cubic feet. My grocery bags would barely fit. That’s because the third row seats were up. I lowered them immediately, and suddenly had 31 cubic feet to use for my two bags. Eventually we would load up even the 31 cubic feet. A medium-sized dog carrier would fit nicely.

            What I’m trying to convey is that the third row in the Rogue is more a hindrance than useful. Sure, you can put a couple of legless adults back there or children if they are suitcases, but otherwise it’s a waste of space (and $940), at least in my mind. 

            I find that small SUVs like the Rogue are practical vehicles, in general, especially for empty nesters. They are big enough to carry all that’s needed when you go over the hills and through the woods to grandkids’ houses, yet small enough to offer decent economy. They also ride slightly higher than a sedan and give you a better view of the road. 

            Rogue doesn’t offer the dramatic styling of its bigger brother, the Murano. There is still a strong family resemblance in the front. Dimensionally, the Rogue is five inches shorter in wheelbase and ten inches shorter overall. Second-row-seats-down cargo capacity is surprisingly greater in the Rogue. Rogue’s sticker is also $16,000 less than Murano.

            Rogue was redesigned in 2014 and receives a freshening in 2017. The 2014 redesign results in a smoother package that makes the previous generation look old.

            Ride comfort is good, thanks to Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats that are similar to those in the Altima. The adjustable seats offer continuous support from the pelvis to the chest, helping reduce fatigue on longer trips. When the old back does get tired, the heat feature helps to ease the aches.

            Second row seats offer good leg room. In addition, the wide (and wide opening) rear doors have large windows for good visibility. Third row access is difficult, with minimal third row legroom.

            Rogue’s 2.5-liter inline four cylinder and CVT transmission are quiet at highway speeds. It also has a tendency to want to exceed the speed limit, which requires judicious use of cruise control to stay within bounds.

            Among the options is the SV Premium Package ($1,620) are Nissan Connect that offers voice recognition for navigation and audio, the Around View Monitor that gives an “overhead” view of the vehicle’s position, Blind Spot Monitor, Moving Object Detection, and heated seats and outside rear view mirrors. The AVM switches on automatically in reverse, but there is also a button that you can use to turn it on when you are parking, just to make sure you are within the lines.

            Moving Object Detection works with the AVM and alerts the driver if it detects a large moving object around the vehicle in dangerous situations as when pulling out of a parking space. It also detects pedestrians.

            Instruments are clear, with a tachometer, info panel and speedometer. We chose from the info panel’s host of options to read, from the top, digital clock and outside temperature, fuel economy - overall and instant - odometer and gear. 

            Interior storage consists of a large cubby at the base of the center stack that contains the USB and AUX plugs plus a 12-volt outlet. There are two cup holders up front with room for water bottles in all four doors. The deep center console/arm rest also has as 12-volt outlet. 

            I appreciate the wheel with its many controls. The switches have back lighting that turns on with the headlights so you can read them in the dark.

            There is a clear infotainment screen with a suite of options - SXM, FM, AM, CD, AUX, NAV and MAP. 

            While the Nissan Rogue might not attract as much attention as the Murano because of its more conservative styling, it still does its job with a minimum of fuss.

(c) 2016 The Auto Page Syndicate

Prius Four, a second look

The Prius liftback has a lot more to offer than what you might think at first glance. So Bumper2Bumpertv went back to take a deeper look at the features offered in the top of the line trim package of the hybrid.

Cadillac XT5

THE AUTO PAGE

By John Heilig

• MODEL: 2017 Cadillac XT5 Platinum AWD
• ENGINE: 3.6-liter V6 
• TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic 
• HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 310 hp @ 6,700 rpm/271 lb.-ft. @ 5,000 rpm 
• WHEELBASE: 112.5 in. 
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 189.5 x 75.0 x 66.0 in. 
• TIRES: P235/55R20 
• CARGO: 30/63 cu. ft. (2nd row seats up/down) 
• ECONOMY: 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway/26.0 mpg test 
• FUEL TANK: 22.0 gal. 
• CURB WEIGHT: 4,257 lbs. 
• COMPETITIVE CLASS: Audi Q5, Acura MDX, Jeep Grand Cherokee 
• STICKER: $63,845 (includes $995 delivery, $350 options (cargo net))
• BOTTOM LINE: The Cadillac XT5 is an elegant mid-size SUV with everything you would expect from a Cadillac, styling, performance and luxury.
  

            Classified as a small SUV/Crossover, the Cadillac XT5, which replaces the SRX, is closer to what I would consider a mid-size. It is comfortable (and a comfortable size), with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. But the XT5 is in all ways a Cadillac.

            Cadillac’s XT designation will be on all the brand’s crossovers, and the XT5 is the first of four Cadillac crossovers to appear in the future. 

            Power is very good from the venerable GM 3.6-liter V6. It offers good acceleration, even though the XT5 weighs more than two tons. There is the important ability to accelerate and maintain speed and keep up with the ambient traffic. Despite its weight, handling of the XT5 is good, with a tendency to lean slightly in hard corners.

            The transmission shift pattern is different. Push the button on the side of the shifter and push up and to the left for reverse. Down for drive. Push the “P” button on the top of the shifter to park. It is a very short learning curve.

            Three drive modes are available - Tour, AWD, and Sport -  and you can switch among them with a pushbutton on the center console. Most of the time we kept it in Tour.

            The interior’s combination of leather and a suede-like fabric adds to the elegance. The combination of black and tan, with wood accents, is stunning. Care was put into the placement of all the elements, so there is none of the slapdash look you find in some other vehicles.

            Instrumentation is clear and complete. White-on-black round gauges face the driver. There are two major dials plus four accessory gauges arrayed at the top of the instrument panel. There is an information panel between the tachometer and speedometer that we set for a digital speedometer. Since we also had a heads up display plus the analog speedometer, this was redundant, but you can never have too many speed indicators.

            In the center is a standard GM infotainment screen. The navigation system was easy to program a destination into, even between states. We took the XT5 on a NY Thruway-center trip and had to program our destination in order to assure that we hit the right exit. 

            We had excellent performance from the HVAC and audio systems.

            Since on our long trip we visited my 93-year-old sister, I was somewhat concerned about her ability to get into the XT5. She had no problems, and commented that getting into the XT5 was easier than getting into some other vehicles she rides in.

            Front seats are comfortable on long rides. There is excellent rear seat legroom, with the standard pair of cup holders in a pull-down armrest. Rear seats, as well as fronts, are heated. The rear seats recline slightly and slide fore and aft. For privacy, the rear side windows are darkened. The rear seat backs also fold easily to increase cargo capacity, but this wasn’t necessary as I was able to fit my golf bag in the back without folding the seats. 

            Owners who choose to travel with pets can fit a medium-sized dog crate in the cargo area without folding the rear seat backs. 

            There is a large sun roof that extends all the way back to the rear seats. Only the front half opens, however.

            Unique to the XT5 is the inside rear view mirror. While it can be set for normal reflection, it can also be set to give a video view of what’s following you. Since the field of vision is wider with this setting, and the view is from a lower angle, it can be disconcerting at times. For example, you look at the grille of the vehicle behind you rather that at the driver. It is, however, much clearer than the standard mirror. It is also quite practical if you have a car full of people and/or cargo and can’t see in the standard mirror. 

            All in all the Cadillac XT5 is a very nice package. It combines styling and performance with decent economy. 

(c) 2016 The Auto Page Syndicate