Jerry Robbin

Overview

The third-generation 2011 Sportage has contemporary styling that can be recognized from any distance. The Sportage is stylish and spacious. Kia definitely has a winner in this totally re-designed vehicle.

Safety

• 4-wheel ABS
• Front and rear head airbags
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Child seat anchors
• Remote anti-theft alarm system
• Emergency braking assist
• Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes
• Rear door child safety locks
• Daytime running lights
• Front fog/driving lights
• 2 front headrests
• 3 rear headrests
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Rear center 3-point belt
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Turn signal mirrors
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• Front height adjustable headrests
• Rear height adjustable headrests
• Passenger head restraint whiplash protection system
• Driver head restraint whiplash protection system
• Tire pressure monitoring

Under the Hood

The new Sportage’s has a 2.4-liter twincam, 16-valve four-cylinder engine, that produces 176 horsepower (at 6000 rpm) and 168 lb-ft of torque (at 4000 rpm) The The EX I was test driving had a  six-speed automatic. The EPA rating is 21-MPG City & 28 MPG Highway.

Driving Impression

The driving dynamics of the Sportage made me feel like I was driving a car rather then a CUV. The Sportage felt sporty and was fun to drive. The vehicle took any turn with easy and was responsive in any traffic situation. The Sportage has unibody construction with McPherson struts in front and a new multilink system in the rear.

Inside

The word that describes the interior is stylish. The seats are comfortable and hug your body. The EX has a power driver’s seat and the passenger seat is manual. My EX has a heated and cooled drivers seat and the passenger seat is just heated. The instruments are nicely laid out and brightly backlit. The steering wheel has controls for cruise, auxiliary audio, and phone controls. One nice feature was the Push-button start/stop and a dual-panel panoramic sunroof. My EX came equipped with navigation with an upgraded audio system. The 60/40 rear seat folds easy and the cargo area can accommodate 26.1cubic feet of cargo.

Outside

The 2011 Sportage styling is contemporary and goes along with the new Kia styling cues found in other models. When you see a Sportage from a distance it is instantly recognizable!  The Sportage has flowing lines, sculpted body panels and the new signature Kia grill. The EX trim has LED running lights, that make the Sportage unique and intriguing.

Summary

The 2011 Kia Sportage is fun to drive, has unique styling and is definitely worth test diving if you are in the market for a CUV

The Sportage has sophistication, utility, style and all in one package
Specifications.

• Width: 73.0 in.
• Height: 64.4 in.
• Length: 174.8 in.
• Ground clearance: 6.8 in.
• Front track: 63.5 in.
• Rear track: 63.6 in.
• Wheel base: 103.9 in.
• Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 26.1 cu.ft.
• Maximum cargo capacity: 54.6 cu.ft.

• Maximum towing capacity: 2000 lbs.
• Maximum payload: 1311 lbs.
• Gross weight: 4497 lbs.
• Curb weight: 3186 lbs.
• Angle of approach: 28.1 degrees
• Angle of departure: 28.2 deg

Front Seats

• Front headroom: 39.1 in.
• Front hip room: 53.7 in.
• Front legroom: 41.4 in.
• Front shoulder room: 56.7 in.
• Premium cloth
• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Rear hip Room: 49.1 in.
• Rear headroom: 38.5 in.
• Rear legroom: 37.9 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 55.1 in.
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Folding with storage center armrest

2011 Kia Sorento SX AWD

Overview

The Kia Sorento has been totally re-designed from the ground up for 2011 and drives just like a car. The new Sorento has a rattle-free unibody construction and is fun to drive.

The styling is contemporary and Kia is definitely paying attention to quality as seen on the interior & exterior of the Sorento.

Safety

• 4-wheel ABS
• Front and rear head airbags
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Child seat anchors
• Remote anti-theft alarm system
• Emergency braking assist
• Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes
• Rear door child safety locks
• Engine immobilizer
• 2 front headrests
• 3 rear headrests
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Rear center 3-point belt
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• Rear height adjustable headrests
• Passenger head restraint whiplash protection system
• Driver head restraint whiplash protection system
• Tire pressure monitor

Under the Hood

The 3.5-liter V6 delivers 276 horsepower and 248 ft-lbs of torque. The acceleration is exhilarating and delivers consistently in any traffic situation.  The V6 is both quiet and delivers a refined feel and sound.

The EPA-rates this V6 at 19-mpg city and 25-mpg highway.

Driving Impression

The new Sorento drives and handles just like a car and has a quiet ride.

This crossover is agile and easy to control but I found the power assisted steering to be loose and a tad sloppy. The 4WD models use full-time all-wheel drive, which makes the vehicle excellent for all-weather conditions.

The four-wheel disc brakes are excellent and brought the vehicle to a complete stop with ease.

Inside

The center stack is nicely laid out and the Navigation Screen is lacking in graphic dynamics. The Navigation is easy to operate and includes a back-up camera. The steering wheel has controls, which are easy to access for the Infinity 10-speaker sound system, cruise control, and Bluetooth telephone. Easy accessible dials and push buttons operate the dual zone heating and air controls. At the base of the center stack is a large storage bin with dual 12-volt outlets.

The 2^nd row seats are comfortable and have reclining seatbacks there is plenty of head and legroom in the 2^nd row of seats.

The 3^rd row seats are not as comfortable as the 2^nd row, but can be used for children and in a pinch for adults.

The interior is accented with a gray simulated-wood trim and the driver’s seat has an eight-way power adjustment and lumbar support.

The SX comes standard with such amenities as Homelink, and leather trimmed and heated front seats.

Outside

The 2011 Sorento’s styling is crisp, contemporary, sleek and clean and Kia uses their signature new grill. Styling is aggressive with a big grill and lower air intake.

The front end is highlighted with unique headlights, turn signals; fog lights and has a matte-black to match the grille mesh.

The SX comes standard with18-inch wheels and roof rack rails. Plus integrated fog lights.

Summary

The Sorento SX is a great family vehicle, fun to drive, well equipped, versatile, attractive and comes standard with AWD.

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Specifications

• Width: 74.2 in.
• Height: 67.3 in.
• Length: 183.9 in.
• Ground clearance: 7.5 in.
• Front track: 63.7 in.
• Rear track: 63.8 in.
• Wheel base: 106.3 in.
• Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 9.1 cu.ft.
• Maximum cargo capacity: 72.5 cu.ft.

• Maximum towing capacity: 1650 lbs.
• Gross weight: 4828 lbs.
• Curb weight: 3763 lbs.

Front Seats

• Front head room: 39.2 in.
• Front hip room: 56.3 in.
• Front leg room: 41.3 in.
• Front shoulder room: 59.3 in.
• Height adjustable driver seat
• Cloth
• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Rear hip Room: 55.9 in.
• Rear head room: 39.2 in.
• Rear leg room: 37.6 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 58.7 in.
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Rear ventilation ducts with fan control

Overview

The 2011 Lincoln MKZ shows styling cues for the Lincoln brand and has a touch of elegance in the interior. The exterior design needs to be re-styled so that the Fusion sibling cannot be recognized.

Ford needs to take the MKZ to the next design level with some additional styling cues. The gas mileage is fantastic and the fact, that Ford is not charging more for a Hybrid version of the MKZ says a lot about this model.

Driving Experience

The MKZ has a lot of get up and go for a Hybrid, and the car has excellent handling when taking hard turns.

The MKZ Hybrid can hold its own, and the electric power steering is well tuned and provided a comfortable drive experience. The suspension provides a smooth ride over rough roads.  At 41-mpg city and 36-mpg highway, the MKZ Hybrid is fantastic for low speed, stop and go driving.

Safety

• 4-wheel ABS
• Front and rear head airbags
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Child seat anchors
• Remote anti-theft alarm system
• Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes
• Rear door child safety locks
• Engine immobilizer
• Front fog/driving lights
• Auto delay off headlamps
• Dusk sensing headlamps
• 2 front headrests
• 3 rear headrests
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Rear center 3-point belt
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Electronic brake force distribution
• Emergency interior trunk release
• Front height adjustable headrests
• Rear height adjustable headrests
• Post-collision safety system
• Tire pressure monitoring

Under the Hood

The drive train has a   2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine, which (produces 106-horsepower electric motor) 191 horsepower . The MKZ Hybrid has acceptable acceleration, which can handle most road situations.

Inside

The MKZ Hybrid has the THX audio system, which has a 600-watt amp and 14 speakers, and the system includes two subwoofers and a center channel array at the top of the dashboard. The system uses a new digital signal processing technology called DTS Neural Surround, designed to transform the stereo audio from an MP3 player into surround sound.  There is 10 gigabytes of space on the hard drive for music storage

That navigation system is excellent and calculates routes with ease. The maps are OK, but street labels are easy to read and it includes both 2D and 3D views. You can access traffic, gas prices, and movie times.

Sync also works automatic 911-call feature and a maintenance report on the car. A Sync Apps screen shows these services, and includes slots for future apps

The interior is elegant and the seats conform to your body when driving any and road condition.

Lincoln offers a few driver assistance features with the MKZ Hybrid. We had a rear-view camera and blind-spot detection on our car, which both worked very well Other available features are Rain-sensing windshield wipers and adaptive headlights are nice luxury touches.

Outside

Lincoln’s designers still have a way to go to create a separate identity for the MKZ. The average person can detect the Fusion underneath the MKZ sheet metal. The MKZ Hybrid has different sheet metal from the A-pillar forward. More subtle fenders, a hood with fewer compound details and, of course, Lincoln’s baleen grille on the front fascia are additions that do well to differentiate the MKZ from its more common cousin. Likewise, splashes of chrome along the lower fascia, mirrors and windowsills also help to separate the Fusion and the MKZ.

Summary

Foe the same price as a gas aspirated MKZ you can purchase a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The car really excels in cabin tech. like the Sync system. The MKZ is worth taking a look at if you are in the market for a nicely equipped Hybrid

Specifications

Exterior

• Width: 72.2 in.
• Height: 56.8 in.
• Length: 189.8 in.
• Front track: 61.3 in.
• Rear track: 61.0 in.
• Wheelbase: 107.4 in.
• Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 11.8 cu.ft.
• Maximum cargo capacity: 11.8 cu.ft.

• EPA interior volume: 110.8 cu.ft.

Interior

Front Seats

• Front headroom: 38.7 in.
• Front hip room: 54.0 in.
• Front legroom: 42.3 in.
• Front shoulder room: 57.2 in.
• Multi-level heating passenger seat
• 10 -way power passenger seat
• 10 -way power driver seat
• Passenger seat with power adjustable lumbar support
• Multi-level heating driver seat
• Driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support
• Height adjustable driver seat
• Height adjustable passenger seat
• Premium leather
• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Rear hip Room: 53.5 in.
• Rear headroom: 37.8 in.
• Rear legroom: 36.7 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 55.8 in.
• Folding with storage center armrest

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect XLT is a unique, multi-purpose small van designed for small-business owners. It is perfect for small jobs and is great on fuel consumption, with a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine.

The Transit Connect is easy to maneuver and can be parked in tight quarters. The cargo space is ample for many businesses such as plumbers, handymen, florists and caterers.

Driving Experience

The Transit I drove as the cargo model with no side or rear windows. It handled well in both city and highway driving. The vehicle is agile and easy to maneuver.

Because of its size, the Transit Connect is easy to park. Driving the Transit Connect is like driving a front wheel drive car or a CUV. Steering is responsive and the turning radius is just 39 feet. Acceleration is good and the vehicle handles just like a car.

The Transit has a 15.4-gallon fuel tank, which provides you with a range of approximately 350 miles based on its EPA rating of 22 mpg city driving and 25 mpg highway driving.

Safety

The following are the safety features on the Transit Connect:

1. Driver air bag

2. Passenger air bag

3. Front anti-lock brakes

4. Safety belts w/pretensioners and energy-management retractors

5. Collapsible steering column

Under the Hood

The drive train is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and has 136HP, 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine. The Transit Connect is front-wheel drive.

Ford has introduced an electric version of the Transit with a range of 100 miles. Charge time will be 6 to 8 hours, with a maximum speed of 70 mph, using liquid-cooled Lithium-Ion batteries.

Inside

The cargo area is 59.1 inches tall from floor to ceiling with a payload of 1,600 pounds. There is more than six feet of cargo floor space, with 48 inches of flat space between the wheelwells.

Any small business can configure the cargo area with a variety of racks, bins and other storage equipment for their particular application.

The seats are well constructed and hold you firmly in place. The driver’s seat adjusts six ways, manually; the passenger seat adjusts four ways.  The center armrests are positioned so you can drive in comfort for any distance.

The controls on the steering wheel are positioned well, and have tilt and telescope functions. Air conditioning is adequate and the radio controls are positioned for easy access. The front visibility is excellent due to the large front windows, and the sideview mirrors are large and adjust like a car.

The Transit Connect had the optional Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer with Garmin navigation, which allows small-business owners to run their business from the vehicle.

My Transit Connect was configured as a panel van without side or back windows and had the XLT trim package.

Outside

The styling of the Transit Connect looks like a miniature Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter, and has its own personality and dynamics when you first spot the vehicle on the road

The Transit Connect styling says work and can handle a variety of jobs for any small or large business. The sliding side cargo doors, and rear doors that open 180 degrees make it easy to get at cargo no matter where the vehicle is parked.

The Ford Transit Connect is the perfect solution for business owners who are looking for a vehicle for a variety of jobs. It’s designed for efficiency, requiring no special driving skills to operate. It can be custom designed for many purposes, and is inexpensive to maintain.