Jerry Robbin

2011 Mazda 2 Touring

Fun ! Fun ! Fun To Drive!

Overview

The Mazda 2 is new for the US market but it has been overseas since 2007.

Fun, Fun Fun To Drive!

The Mazda 2 shares the platform with the Ford Fiesta, but the Mazda2 has its own Zoom Zoom personality. The Mazda 2 Touring has a sport- like feel especially in the handling department…

Safety

Driver Airbag	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Standard
Passenger Airbag Cutoff Switch/Sensor	Standard
Front Side Airbag	Standard
Second Row Side Airbag	N/A
Front Side Airbag with Head Protection	N/A
Second Row Side Airbag with Head Protection	N/A
Side Head Curtain Airbags	Standard

• · General Safety Features

Side Guard Door Beams	Standard
Safety Rollbar	N/A
Child Safety Door Locks	Standard
Trunk Anti-Trap Device	N/A
Locking Pickup Truck Tailgate	N/A
Panic Button or Alarm	Not Listed

• · Theft Prevention

Vehicle Anti-Lockout Device	Not Listed
Selective Locking / Unlocking	Not Listed
Valet Lockout	Not Listed
Wheel Locks	Optional
Locking Fuel Filler Door or Gap	Not Listed
Vehicle Theft Tracking / Notification	N/A

Under the hood

A 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that is rated at 100 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque powers the Mazda2. My test drive came equipped with the optional 4-speed automatic. The fuel efficiency came in at 29-mpg city/35 mpg highway,

The Mazda2 motor was adequate for city or highway driving. No do not attempt to drag race with most vehicles unless you want to take on a bus.

Driving Impression

I found the Mazda2 to be fun to drive, agile in the handling department and had very responsive steering. The Mazda 2  had a slight body lean and this could be due to the narrow profile of the tires.

The Mazda 2 has McPherson strut/torsion beam suspension, which delivers a firm ride.

The Mazda 2 is a great commuter vehicle for the city, but I would not like to take a long distance vacation.

Inside

The interior of the Mazda 2 is highlighted with comfortable seating in the front and adequate seating in the rear. The instrumentation has large gauge cluster with a basic trip computer and an outside temperature gauge. The steering wheel has audio and cruise control functions are laid out for easy access.

The radio has AM/FM/CD unit with no frills sound and no Bluetooth capability

With the back seat down the Mazda 2 is capable of handling 28 square feet of cargo.

The Mazda 2 has a no frill interior, but is definitely comfortable to drive.

Outside

The Mazda2 is small has its own distinct look for a small vehicle with its signature Mazda logo & grill. The front wheel wells have arches, which highlight the 15-inch alloy wheels. The vehicle definitely is a small entry-level vehicle, which lacks in styling.

Summary

If you are looking for basic commuter transportation then you should definitely stop in a Mazda showroom to take a look at the Mazda 2. It a fun to drive vehicle, that can zip through any road course you may encounter.

Specifications

Measurements

• Width: 66.7 in.
• Height: 58.1 in.
• Length: 155.5 in.
• Ground clearance: 5.1 in.
• Front track: 58.1 in.
• Rear track: 57.7 in.
• Wheelbase: 98.0 in.
• Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 13.3 cu.ft.
• Maximum cargo capacity: 27.8 cu.ft.

• EPA interior volume: 100.4 cu.ft.
• Gross weight: 3263 lbs.
• Curb weight: 2306 lbs.

Interior

Front Seats

• Front headroom: 39.1 in.
• Front hip room: 50.9 in.
• Front legroom: 42.1 in.
• Front shoulder room: 52.8 in.
• Height adjustable driver seat
• Cloth
• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Rear hip Room: 46.8 in.
• Rear headroom: 37.0 in.
• Rear legroom: 34.8 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 51.2 in.
• Split-folding rear seatback

Overview

The new 2011 Suzuki Kizashi is the only star, that Suzuki has in its model line up. The Kizashi  takes the award for being the coolest vehicle.  The Kizashi is definitely a contender in its market segment and Suzuki created a youthful design and it is fun to drive.

Safety

• Airbags, frontal
• Airbags, side impact
• Airbags, side curtain
• Occupancy sensor
• Traction control
• Height adjustable safety belts
• Seatbelt pre-tensioners
• Headlights Halogen
• Exterior light control
• Daytime running lights
• Door curb lights
• Illuminated entry
• Parking assist
• Remote keyless entry
• Keyless access system
• Panic alarm
• Door locks
• Rear child safety door locks
• Content theft-deterrent alarm system
• Ignition disable
• First aid kit
• Theft deterrent radio
• Low tire pressure warning

Under the hood

The drive train is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, that produces 185 horsepower and 170 foot pounds of torque. Power is adequate and you have enough power to handle most highway conditions. Fuel economy estimated at 20mpg city and 29mpg highway, which is acceptable for the vehicle.

Driving Impression

The Kizashi has a unique chassis and suspension system that gives the vehicle a sports like driving dynamic.

The Kizashi has high-performance KYB shocks and a multi-link rear end give you the sense you are driving a sports car.

The Anti-Lock brakes could handle any situation and I felt like I was in control of the vehicle. I found the Kizashi a fun vehicle to drive.

The 185 Horsepower motor was mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and was fun to drive.

Inside

Kizashi’s interior was contemporary and the seats were comfortable. My test drive SLS Sport came equipped with creature features like leather seats, heated front seats, power seats, Navigation, sun roof, dual zone climate control, satellite radio, Bluetooth hands free phone, cruise control and many other features. The center stack was laid out for easy access to radio, Navigation and Climate control functions.

The SLS Sport comes equipped with a 425-watt 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system that has a great sound.

There are plenty of cup holders in front, and in the rear they are located in the dropped center armrest. The legroom in the rear is adequate. The cabin is quiet due to the amount of sound insulation that has used in the vehicle.

The Kizashi comes with keyless ignition, which is a great feature to start your car.

Outside

The styling of the Kizashi looks is contemporary and has a performance profile. The twin chrome tailpipes give the Kizashi a muscle car appearance. The 18-inch alloy wheels are impressive and highlight the vehicle.

The shape of the grille says Suzuki, with the big S in the center and the headlights/fog lights accenting the front end. The Sport SLS comes with a sport aero body kit to add icing to the cake on Suzuki new model.

Summary

The Suzuki Kizashi is worth taking a ride to a dealer if your looking for a small sports sedan that offers more standard equipment than its competitors. The engineering is excellent, and the vehicle delivers a great ride, great cornering, and precise brakes.

Specifications

• Wheelbase: 106.3in.
• Total length: 183.1in.
• Total width: 71.7in.
• Total height: 57.9in.
• Fuel tank: 16.6 gallons
• Headroom: f/r-39.3/37.0in.
• Shoulder room: f/r-55.5/54.6in.
• Curb weight: 3,241lbs.
• 0-60mph: 8.3sec.
• EPA mileage: 20mpg/city, 29mpg/highway

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT-AWD

Overview

The Mitsubishi 2011 Outlander GT is a crossover that seats up to seven passengers and it shares the same platform as the Outlander Sport. The GT is about 15 inches longer and an inch wider than the Sport.

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
• Daytime running lights
• Engine immobilizer
• Auto delay off headlamps
• 2 front headrests
• 3 rear headrests
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Rear center 3-point belt
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Front height adjustable headrests
• Rear height adjustable headrests
• Passenger head restraint whiplash protection system
• Driver head restraint whiplash protection system
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Electronic brake force distribution

Under the Hood

The Outlander GT comes equipped with a potent 3.0-liter V-6 engine that produces 230 hp and 215 ft. lb. of torque.  The GT comes with a six-speed automatic with manual shifting paddles on the steering column.  The GT comes equipped comes with all-wheel drive and can hit 0-60 in 9.4 seconds.

Driving Impression

The GT steering and handling are excellent and give the driving dynamics a sports demeanor when taking hairpin turns. The GT comes equipped with independent suspension consisting of McPherson struts up front and a multi-link in the rear. The ride is good, and the disc brakes provide ample stopping power.

Inside

The Outlander GT comes with cloth seats highlighted with leather accents. The seat back was finished with ultra suede/velour like material. The front seats are comfortable and hold you in place. Both front seats are manually adjustable.

My GT came equipped with Sun and Sound Package, which had a sunroof a 719-watt Rockford Fosgate 9-speaker sound system with subwoofer and MP3 jack.

The seating has ample headroom for all passengers. The rear seat has a 60/40-split bench seat the seats can recline long trips.

There is a third row seat, which can accommodate small children. The rear seat does fold flat into the floor to increase the storage space behind the 2^nd row seat. To make loading easier in the rear cargo area Mitsubishi has added Flap-Fold tailgate, which has a 6-inch section that folds down when the upper section of the lift gate is raised.

The dash is unique and well laid out. The dash is highlighted with two large round pods with tach and speedometer and an info screen. The instrumentation shows the outside temperature, trip information and average mileage info, etc. At the top of the center stack you have a secondary info screen with the clock and radio information. The radio and CD controls are easily accessible and easy to operate. The steering wheel controls are for cruise, radio and telephone communications.  The HVAC is controlled using 3 large round dials & there are ample cup holders in the door panels.

Outside

Exterior styling is contemporary and has some personality. The huge front grill duplicates the Mitsubishi moniker like other models. The Outlander GT has flared fenders. which accent the  7-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels ..

Summary

The Outlander GT is a great all around SUV, with lots of passenger and cargo room for the entire family. The GT is moderately priced and it is worth the drive to a Mitsubishi showroom if you are in the market for a CUV

Specifications

• Width: 70.9 in.
• Height: 66.1 in.
• Length: 183.7 in.
• Ground clearance: 8.5 in.
• Front track: 60.6 in.
• Rear track: 60.6 in.
• Wheelbase: 105.1 in.
• Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 36.2 cu.ft.
• Maximum cargo capacity: 72.6 cu.ft.

• Maximum towing capacity: 1500 lbs.
• Curb weight: 3384 lbs.

Front Seats

• Front headroom: 40.3 in.
• Front hip room: 52.2 in.
• Front legroom: 41.6 in.
• Front shoulder room: 56.4 in.
• Height adjustable driver seat
• Cloth
• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Rear hip Room: 51.9 in.
• Rear headroom: 38.3 in.
• Rear legroom: 39.6 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 56.1 in.
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Reclining rear seats
• Folding with storage center armrest
• Rear ventilation ducts