2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR

Overview

New for 2014
The Lancer Evolution gains a 6.1-inch touch-screen stereo with HD Radio and satellite radio. Styling is a repeat of 2013.

Safety

Safety Features

Driving Impression

Adrenaline rush are the words to come to mind when driving the Lancer Evolution GSR. This car can snap your neck with its quick acceleration and the handling is superb.

This Mitsubishi is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, which produces 291 horsepower.

The Evolution GSR is one of quickest sedans in its class.

Under the Hood

The gas mileage is not one of the strengths of this vehicle with mileage overall 20 MPG (17 city / 23 highway). The Lancer Evolution is powered by a 291-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and is all-wheel drive. The GSR has a five-speed manual transmission.

Inside

This Lancer comes with Recaro front bucket seats, stereo with a USB port and Bluetooth streaming audio, steering-wheel audio controls, and automatic climate control. Standard Feature are as follows:

Rear Seats

Power Features

Instrumentation

Convenience

Comfort

In Car Entertainment

Telematics

Outside

The aggressive GSR has a very sporty and aggressive look, which features a grille with a dark mesh insert; The GSR features 18-inch wheels, fog lights, and aluminum hood, fenders, bumpers, and a large spoiler. The Lancer is really due for a redesign and hopefully this will happen in the near future.

Summary

If you are looking for a performance sedan you should definitely take a test drive in the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

Interior Measurements

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2013 Toyota Yaris LE 3-Door Liftback

Overview

The 2013 Toyota Yaris is great basic transportation, which has excellent fuel economy. The Yaris is reliable transportation and a great commuter vehicle.

Safety

• 4-wheel ABS
• Front and rear head airbags
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Child seat anchors
• Emergency braking assist
• Ventilated front disc / rear drum brakes
• 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
• Front height adjustable headrests
• Rear height adjustable headrests
• Passenger head restraint whiplash protection system
• Driver head restraint whiplash protection system
• Tire pressure monitoring

Driving Impression

The Yaris handles well at any speed and the steering is very responsive. The brakes were very responsive for fast or normal driving.

Under the Hood

This Yaris is equipped with a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine, which delivers 106 horsepower. The Yaris gets great fuel economy with the four-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy (CTY/HWY) 30/36 mpg

Inside

The Yaris’ interior is basic and the instrumentation is very easy to read and use. The seats are high-mounted and give you a great view of the road. There is ample room in the back seat for 2 adults. The materials used in the interior are not rich, but are adequate for this sub compact.

The 3- door hatchback is very versatile with the split-folding rear seat and gives you a ton of cargo space.

Standard Features:

Front Seats

Rear Seats

Power Features

Instrumentation

Convenience

Comfort

In Car Entertainment

·

Outside

Styling is definitely not jaw dropping, but the Yaris has a flare on the sporty side. The Yaris is brawny looking with air dams, and unique wheels,

Summary

If you are in the market for basic transportation for a commuter vehicle or a safe vehicle for your children it is worth a trip to your Toyota store for a test drive of the Yaris.

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

Interior Measurements

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The Fun To Drive 2013 Kia Soul

Overview

The 2013, Kia Soul has a few design changes, which include completely redesigned front and rear fascia. The 2013 Soul now has more personality and new badging.

Safety

Driving Impression

The 2013 Kia Soul is fun to drive and has plenty of power from its 2.0 4-cyl-drive train. The 2.0-liter delivers 164-hp and I averaged 26 MPG for the week I had my Soul.

The Soul handled very well in the city and on the highway. I found the Soul to be a fun car to drive. The steering was very responsive and the brakes were adequate.

Under the Hood

The new 2.0-liter is rated 164 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. My Soul had the six-speed automatic transmission and delivered great gas mileage.

Inside

The interior of the Soul is highlighted with a unique center stack and a host of creature features. The interior is well laid out and offers a nice balance between form and function. Quality materials are used on the interior and highlighted with two-tone leather upholstery in my loaded Soul.

The seats were very comfortable and hold you firmly in position when driving.

The gauges and controls are nicely laid out and easy to use. The optional Infinity audio system’s illuminated trim rings for the speakers flash to the beat of the music and at 1^st thought I was seeing things. The Soul’s has a ton of head, legroom. Behind the rear seat is 19 cubic feet of cargo room, which grows to 53 cubic feet with both sections of the 60/40-split rear seatbacks folded down.

Convenience

Comfort

In Car Entertainment

Outside

The Soul styling is unique, quirky and makes a statement. The design has straight lines and square corners and will definitely appeal to a specific car buyer, who is young & hip.

Summary

Overall, the Kia Soul is a great value, fun to drive and a car worth taking a test-drive in before you purchase your next new car.

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

Interior Measurements

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC

Overview

The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander will be redesigned for the 2014 model year. For 2013, Outlander GT gets heated side mirrors and heated front seats.

Safety Features

Safety Features

Driving Impression

The driving dynamics and handling of the GT were a little disappointing for me. I found the steering too sensitive and a little on the sloppy side. I found the suspension was too harsh and I felt every bump in the road. The Outlander’s V6 was adequate in the acceleration department and the all-wheel-drive system keeps the car planted on loose road surfaces.

Under the Hood

The Mitsubishi Outlander GT has a 3.0-liter V6 230 hp and 215 lb-ft of torque and has a six-speed automatic transmission.

Outlander GT accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds and EPA fuel economy gets 19/25/21 mpg

Inside

Inside the interior is feels masculine and is nicely appointed with quality materials. The gauges and center stack were easily accessible. The navigation system has Bluetooth and is easy to access. The heated leather seats were very comfortable and the rear seats are adequate for 2 adults (3 in the rear seat is pushing the limits) With the rear seat down you have a whopping 72.6 cubic feet of cargo space. !

Features in the GT:
Front Seats

Rear Seats

Power Features

Instrumentation

Convenience

Comfort

In Car Entertainment

Telematics

Outside

The Outlander GT has an aggressive front grille, which highlights it’s front end. The Outlander has muscular wheel wells and a unique rear quarter glass that gives this CUV a sporty stance. It also has a rear tailgate that splits. The configuration of the tailgate is 70/30 and the lower half is a real tailgate.

Summary

The Mitsubishi Outlander GT is being redesigned for 2014 and I would definitely look at the new model line up that will be in showrooms.

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

Interior Measurements

Weights and Capacities

Engine & Performance

Suspension

Warranty

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC

2014 Kia Sorento SX AWD

Overview

The 2014 Kia Sorento has just been tweaked for the new model year with an upgraded engine, new chassis, new styling, and some tweaks in the performance department.

Safety Features

Safety Features

Driving Impression

The 2014 Sorento’s is superior to the 2013 counterpart in the acceleration department, The steering was very responsive, and you definitely have a real feel for the road.

You feel like you’re the king of the road as this mid size CUV which sits high.

Overall driving experience was defiantly a positive.

Under the Hood

The new 3.3-liter 24-valve DOHC V-6 with 290 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque replaces a 276-hp 3.5-liter V-6. The new 3.3-liter can accelerate the Sorento from 0 to 60 in 7.0 seconds. The six-speed transmission works perfectly with the new 3.3 drive train. The EPA rating is 18-mpg city and 24 highway.

Inside

The 2014 Sorento uses many upscale features and materials. The SX model had driver’s memory seat, heated and cooled front seats and a touch screen for the Navigation system.

The dash is functional, contemporary and laid out very well for driver use.

The SX has a power litigate, which makes putting groceries in the cargo area a snap. You can adjust the opening height by simply changing the programming. Other standard SX trim items including second-row sunshades, dual cooling and heated front seats, 115-volt power invertor, backup camera, push-button start, dual climate control, and blind spot detection system

Below is a complete list of features on the SX:

Front Seats

Rear Seats

Power Features

Instrumentation

Convenience

Comfort

In Car Entertainment

Telematics

Outside

The 2014 Sorento has a new front clip, which has a wider lower valance with fog lights. The front of the Sorento grille has an anodized mesh, halogen projector headlights and LED auxiliary lamps. The rear of the Sorento has been updated with LED taillights. New 19-inch silver alloys, which highlight the 235/55R-19 all-season tires.

Summary

The Kia Sorento is a good value in the crowded CUV market. My test drive was the SX AWD with a MSRP of $37,650.00, which had luxury features for thousands less than its competitors.

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

Interior Measurements

Weights and Capacities

2014 Mazda6 Grand Touring

Overview

The all-new 2014 Mazda6 is an automotive masterpiece and a continuation of Mazda’s new styling. The stylish sedan is an extension of Mazda’s CX5 design and compliments the balance of Mazda’s current line up of vehicles.

Safety Features

Driving Impression

The Mazda6 is a great sedan that handles well both in the city & the highway. The Mazda6 is fun to drive and has plenty of passing power on the highway. The Skyactiv-G engine is complimented by the Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA Fuel economy estimates stand at 26-mpg city/38 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined. The Mada6 definitely has the Zoom-Zoom.

Under the Hood

The 2014 Mazda Mazda6’s i Grand Touring’s is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder Skyactiv-G engine, which output is 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. The new 2.5-liter has about 14 more horsepower & 20 more pound-feet of torque than the outgoing model.

Inside

The all-new Mazda6 interior is well laid out and the seats are excellent for support and comfort. The instrumentation is well laid out and the center stack has all the controls at your fingertips and is easily accessed. The Mazda6 driver can make use of the control knob on the center console to make onscreen selections.

The interior material used is high quality. The interior space is ample for 5 adults and there is a ton of cargo space in the trunk. The Mazda6 Grand Touring trim level comes fully loaded with the following:

· Power windows with driver’s one-touch-down/up feature

· Power door locks

· Cruise control

· Push button start

· Tilt and telescopic steering wheel

· 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback

· Carpet floor mats

· Dual-zone automatic climate control

· Steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls

· Rearview camera

· Commander Switch

· Rear seat heat and A/C vents

· Blind Spot Monitoring System

· Rear Cross Traffic Alert

· Bluetooth^® hands-free phone and audio streaming

· 5.8″ full-color touch-screen display

· HD Radio

· Pandora Internet radio

· SMS text message audio delivery and reply

· Carpet floor mats

· Power sliding glass moonroof

· 19″ alloy wheels with premium finish

· Rear lip spoiler

· Bi-Xenon headlights

· LED daytime running lights

· Auto on/off headlights

· Auto-dimming driver’s side mirror

· Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters

· Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry with push-button start

· Tom Tom Navigation system with real-time traffic updates

· Heated front seats

· Leather-trimmed seats

· 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar adjustment and memory settings

· 4-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat

· Bose® Centerpoint^® Surround Sound Audio System with 11 speakers (including subwoofer)

· SiriusXM Satellite Radio with 4-month trial subscription to the Sirius Select Package

Outside

The all-new 2014 Mazda6’s highlights the Mazda Kodo design language and has an aggressive fascia. The Mazda6 front fenders have a masculine bulge, and new front grill comes directly from the CX-5. The Mazda6 is the first Mazda to incorporate LEDs and a halo ring into the headlights.

Summary

The Mazda6 is a great midsize sedan, that is loaded with features, “fun to drive”, affordable and worth taking a test-drive in. The styling is contemporary and is recognizable as being part of the all-new Mazda styling.

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

Interior Measurements

Weights and Capacities

2014 Mazda CX5 Grand Touring AWD

Overview

The improved 2014, Mazda CX-5 has more power than last years model and now has (Zoom -Zoom) 184 HP. The new drive train is worth taking a test drive if you are in the market for a new CUV.

Safety

Driving Impression

Handling and performance

The CX-5’s ride was firm  and  lets you feel the road. The steering was very responsive and handled turns with ease. From a dead stop I found the drive train adequate, and once you hit 30mph you have plenty of power at your disposal.

The new 184-horsepower SkyActiv engine supplies adequate power and torque and the 2.5-liter engine is powerful for the size of the CX5

Under the Hood

The 2.5-liter SkyActiv engine produces 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque and is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA rating for the AWD model is 30 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg in the city, averaging out to a combined 27 mpg. This drive train is very responsive in performance and adequate in fuel economy.

Inside

Inside the CX5 the instrument cluster is laid out and is easy to read. The CX5 comes equipped with the start button to the right of the steering wheel. The center stack has amber illuminated automatic climate controls, new touch-screen infotainment system and had the Navigation by Tom Tom, which is very easy to navigate.

The navigation had a neat option of showing current speed limit for an area and your current speed. I found the system easy to use and fairy accurate for directions. The navigation screen also compliments the CX-5 Grand Touring’s standard rearview camera.

Bose premium audio is featured as part of entertainment system and has the Mazda infotainment system. The system features a USB port for iPod and mass-storage connectivity, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, AM/FM tuning with HD Radio decoding, satellite radio provided by Sirius, a single-disc CD player with MP3 decoding,

Other standard comfort features at the Grand Touring power moon roof, heated leather front seats, power driver seat and a blind-spot monitoring system.

Outside

The CX5 has excellent styling for the segment, which shows you the new direction Mazda is taking for all their vehicles. This CX5 has large headlamps large black grille. The Cx5 definitely has its own unique styling that makes you recognize it when you see it traveling down the road. The overall design is pleasing and makes you think of their catch phrase “zoom-zoom”.

Summary

The CX-5 is worth going to the showroom for a test drive. The new technologies, that Mazda has integrated into the CX5 is definitely worth looking at.

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

Interior Measurements

Weights and Capacities

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer GT

Overview

The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer GT is a mid size sedan that has a sports car flare with it’s aerodynamic body cladding. It is a roomy economy sedan that moderate fuel economy.

Safety Features

Driving Impression

The Lancer GT is not is not a performance car like its name or look implies.

The suspension is balanced and the GT features agility when driving on the road. The car lacks major get up and go when entering onto the expressway. The brakes are adequate and I find the ride was just boring.

Under the Hood

The 2.4 produces 167 horsepower and 168 pound-feet of torque and is rated by the EPA at 26-mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. My Lancer had the CVT transmission.

The pick up on the 2.4 is adequate, but it is not a great car off the line.

Inside

The materials, fit and finish are good, and the design is simple. The GT Touring package comes with a host of amenities

My test car had the heated leather seats, which were very comfortable & supported my body.

Rear seat room is very good and the backs fold 60/40.

Below is the list of amenities the GT Touring Package comes with:

• Leather Seating Surfaces
• 710-Watt (Max) Rockford-Fosgate^® Punch Premium Sound System including 10” Subwoofer
• SIRIUS^® Satellite Radio w/ 3mo Service Provided by SIRIUS From Date of Sale
• 6CD/MP3 In-Dash Head Unit
• Bi-Xenon HID Headlamps
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Auto On/Off Headlights Control
• Heated Front Seats
• Power Glass Sunroof
• Auto Dimming Rear-view Mirror w/ Rear-view Camera System
• Rear Lip Spoiler (replaces rear wing spoiler)

Outside

The exterior styling for the Lancer GT is bold. The GT has an aggressive stance, large grille, large rear wing and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Lancer has a sedan very sedate profile and I think it needs some updating to be a more desirable vehicle. One big drawback for many Mitsubishi vehicles I have test-driven is the tinny sound of the doors has when being closed.

Summary

The Lancer is fun to drive and is worth a trip to a dealer for a test drive.

Specifications

Exterior Measurements

Interior Measurements