Archive for April, 2013
2013 Mazda Speed3 6 speed
Monday, April 29th, 2013
Overview
The words , that best describe the 2013 Mazdaspeed3 are performance., adrenaline rush and suburb handling.. Mazdaspeed3 body style gives you the utility of a four-door and the versatility of a hatchback. If speed is your thing then the Mazda Speed3 is for you!
Safety Features
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Driving Impression
RIDE AND HANDLING:
The MazdaSpeed3′ is a rocket ship on wheels. The suspension is harsh but handles superbly! The car corners well on the 225/40R18 Dunlops and the 180 mph speedometer says it all.
Under the Hood
PERFORMANCE:
The Speed3 2.3-liter motor develops an impressive 263 horsepower (at 5500 rpm) and a whopping 280 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm. Direct fuel injection allows the higher compression and the intercooler turbocharger develops power at your fingertips. The six-speed transmission is easy to shift.
The EPA mileage is respectable for the out put of the motor, which is 18 city, 25 highway;
Inside
COMFORT:
The Speed3 interior is highlighted with gauges that are brightly-backlit in white on a black and red background. They are easier to read than with the old ones that had a red illumination. The interior has many curves in its design and is highlighted with functionality. Information and climate system displays are situated near the base of the windshield; audio and navigation are controlled through a touch screen in the center stack. Two simple knobs in the center stack control climate. Interior materials are very basic, which are highlighted with soft-touch synthetic interior panels, synthetic upholstery with manual seat controls including driver’s cushion height, a leather-rimmed steering wheel manually adjustable for tilt and reach, and metal-and-rubber pedals with a left foot rest. There are audio, cruise, and information controls on the steering wheel.
Front seat comfort and support are good. The rear seat offers good space for the two adults positions and easy access. The rear seatback folds 60/40 for those times when cargo is the only thing you are transporting.
Outside
APPEARANCE:
The front grinning happy face grille has to go as it takes away from the total appearance of the Speed3. The hood is highlighted with a functional hood scoop that feeds the intercooler. The rear end speaks speed with the wing spoiler at the rear of the roof. The front fenders are slightly flared to accommodate the larger wheels and tires. A sculpted rear bumper and twin exhausts highlight the rear end.
Summary
Mazda’s Mazdaspeed3 has a lot character and is worth a test drive if you are in the market for a reasonably price speed machine.
Specifications
Exterior Measurements
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WIDTH 5 ft. 9.1 in. (69.1 in.) |
HEIGHT 4 ft. 9.9 in. (57.9 in.) |
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LENGTH 14 ft. 9.4 in. (177.4 in.) |
GROUND CLEARANCE 0 ft. 4.7 in. (4.7 in.) |
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FRONT TRACK 5 ft. 0.2 in. (60.2 in.) |
REAR TRACK 4 ft. 11.6 in. (59.6 in.) |
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WHEEL BASE 8 ft. 7.9 in. (103.9 in.) |
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Interior Measurements
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FRONT HEAD ROOM 38.1 in. |
FRONT HIP ROOM 53.7 in. |
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FRONT LEG ROOM 42.0 in. |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM 54.9 in. |
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REAR HIP ROOM 52.2 in. |
REAR HEAD ROOM 37.7 in. |
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REAR LEG ROOM 36.2 in. |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM 54.0 in. |
Weights and Capacities
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EPA INTERIOR VOLUME 111.6 cu.ft. |
DRAG COEFFICIENT 0.30 Cd |
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CURB WEIGHT 3048 lbs. |
CARGO CAPACITY, ALL SEATS IN PLACE 17.0 cu.ft. |
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MAXIMUM CARGO CAPACITY 42.8 cu.ft. |
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Drive Train
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DRIVE TYPE Front wheel drive |
TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual |
Engine & Performance
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BASE ENGINE SIZE 2.5 L |
CAM TYPE Double overhead cam (DOHC) |
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CYLINDERS Inline 4 |
VALVES 16 |
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VALVE TIMING Variable |
TORQUE 168 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm |
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HORSEPOWER 167 hp @ 6000 rpm |
TURNING CIRCLE 34.2 ft. |
Suspension
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Warranty
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BASIC 3 yr./ 36000 mi. |
DRIVETRAIN 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
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ROADSIDE 3 yr./ 36000 mi. |
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2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo A/T
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo A/T
Overview
The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo is dynamic and as exciting to drive as it looks. The Veloster Turbo has unique features like its front and rear styling, larger wheels and massive dual exhaust.
Safety
Safety Features
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Driving Impression
The Veloster Turbo is exhilarating and fun to drive. It handles like a sports car and the design of the vehicle turns heads as you are driving down the road. The Veloster Turbo holds any road with ease and its suspension is good enough to keep the car composed on winding turns. The brakes are definitive and can stop on a dime. The rear visibility is impaired by the dynamics of the split rear window. One of the criticisms I have for this vehicle is the suspension, which is not forgiving as it goes over any road imperfections.
Under the Hood
Veloster Turbo’s has 1.6-liter four-cylinder that delivers 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. I noticed minimal turbo lag at 0-and almost none at the top end.
Below are the stats on the motor.
1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4
201 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
195 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/35 mpg (manual), 24/31 mpg (automatic)
Inside
The interior has a space age look with tons of high tech gadgetry. Highlighting the interior is a standard 7-inch touch screen that acts as the command center for audio, telephone cruise control and the easy-to-read navigation system. The front seats are very comfortable and support your body for your drive. The rear seat entry is not meant for large or tall individuals and the space is a little tight for 2 large adults. Rear cargo volume is an impressive 15.5 feet of space and can accommodate a ton of luggage, The back seats fold to accommodate larger items. Turbo versions receive unique accents and leather seating, with the driver’s seat featuring lumbar support.
The Veloster’s offers a single passenger-side-only mini door, which is a great feature so you can let the rear passengers have access without bothering the front seat passengers.
Outside
The exterior design is unique with its low profile, large wheel arches and sloping roof. The Turbo’s unique dual exhaust coming out of the center or the rear end gives it a muscular look. The Turbo has a trapezoidal grille, fog lights and ground effects. Highlighting the Turbo are 18-inch alloys with chrome inserts.
Summary
The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo is a youthful fun and exciting vehicle. Take a test drive and see for your self if this vehicle is for you!
Specifications
Exterior Measurements
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WIDTH 5 ft. 11.1 in. (71.1 in.) |
HEIGHT 4 ft. 7.1 in. (55.1 in.) |
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LENGTH 13 ft. 11.3 in. (167.3 in.) |
GROUND CLEARANCE 0 ft. 5.6 in. (5.6 in.) |
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FRONT TRACK 5 ft. 1.3 in. (61.3 in.) |
REAR TRACK 5 ft. 1.8 in. (61.8 in.) |
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WHEEL BASE 8 ft. 8.3 in. (104.3 in.) |
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Interior Measurements
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FRONT HEAD ROOM 39.0 in. |
FRONT HIP ROOM 53.2 in. |
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FRONT LEG ROOM 43.9 in. |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM 55.6 in. |
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REAR HIP ROOM 52.6 in. |
REAR HEAD ROOM 35.3 in. |
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REAR LEG ROOM 31.7 in. |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM 54.0 in. |
Weights and Capacities
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EPA INTERIOR VOLUME 105.3 cu.ft. |
DRAG COEFFICIENT 0.33 Cd |
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CURB WEIGHT 2888 lbs. |
CARGO CAPACITY, ALL SEATS IN PLACE 15.5 cu.ft. |
Suspension
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Warranty
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BASIC 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
DRIVETRAIN 10 yr./ 100000 mi. |
Features
Interior Features
Front Seats
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Rear Seats
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Tires and Wheels
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2013 Kia Rio 5-Door SX
Sunday, April 14th, 2013
2013 Kia Rio 5-Door SX
Overview
The 2013 Kia Rio SX has added a unique 5-door design for the already crowded sub-compacts segment. The ’13 Rio competes against the Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, and Chevy Sonic. My SX MSRP was $18, 650.00.
Safety
Safety Features
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Driving Impression
I thought the Rio’s drive train & 6 speed manual transmission missed the mark as far as power and the 6 speed was not a pleasure to drive. The handling is adequate, but I did not find this a fun vehicle to drive.
While driving the Rio for a week I found the cabin noise at a minimal, but you could feel the bumps and vibrations when you hit a pothole.
Under the Hood
The ’13 Rio SX 5-door has a 1.6L GDI 4-cylinder engine producing 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. My test car had a 6-Speed manual transmission. The drive train is adequate, but was not in any case dynamic or responsive to acceleration.
Inside
The Rio SX interior is very inviting, and the seats are very comfortable. The driver’s seat has six-way adjustable and can be raised and lowered in height. The interior materials are very nice and the instrument cluster is nicely laid out. All controls are easy to reach and easy to read. The steering wheel on the Rio has controls for cruise, radio, and telephone controls. The large switches on the center stack for the climate controls were also easy to use, and pretty cool in design. All the Rio interior surfaces are soft, which are high quality in feel and touch. MY SX had Navigation, Back Up Camera & Sirius Radio. The Rio 5-door with the seats up has 15 cu. ft of storage and with the seats down has 49.8 cu. ft of storage.
Outside
The 2013 Rio 5-door design is unique to its sibling the Hyundai Accent. The unique C-pillar treatment gives the appearance of a sporty compact. The front fascia has an aggressive look and is rear end is highlighted with chrome twin- exhaust; the blackened lower rear valance and a taillight treatment emphasize the vehicle
Summary
The Kia Rio is a great value for the money and has good fuel economy. The Rio 5 door is a great commuter vehicle that is worth stopping at a Kia dealer to check out!
Specifications
Exterior Measurements
| WIDTH 5 ft. 7.7 in. (67.7 in.) | HEIGHT 4 ft. 9.3 in. (57.3 in.) |
| LENGTH 13 ft. 3.3 in. (159.3 in.) | GROUND CLEARANCE 0 ft. 5.5 in. (5.5 in.) |
| FRONT TRACK 4 ft. 11.9 in. (59.9 in.) | REAR TRACK 5 ft. 0 in. (60 in.) |
| WHEEL BASE 8 ft. 5.2 in. (101.2 in.) |
Interior Measurements
| FRONT HEAD ROOM 40.0 in. | FRONT HIP ROOM 52.1 in. |
| FRONT LEG ROOM 43.8 in. | FRONT SHOULDER ROOM 53.1 in. |
| REAR HIP ROOM 51.2 in. | REAR HEAD ROOM 37.6 in. |
| REAR LEG ROOM 31.1 in. | REAR SHOULDER ROOM 52.1 in. |
Weights and Capacities
| EPA INTERIOR VOLUME 103.4 cu.ft. | CURB WEIGHT 2483 lbs. |
| CARGO CAPACITY, ALL SEATS IN PLACE 15.0 cu.ft. | MAXIMUM CARGO CAPACITY 49.8 cu.ft. |
Drive Train
| DRIVE TYPE Front wheel drive | TRANSMISSION 6-speed shiftable automatic |
