Review 2012-2013 | Daily Technology News

BMW 335i Sedan Car Price, Review 2012-2013

May 172012

BMW 335i Sedan Car Price, Review 2012-2013

BMW’s 3-series sedan has long stood at the top of the luxury sport sedan segment for a variety of reasons. To begin with, its size has always been just right – not too small, not too big. Aesthetically, it’s always been pleasing to most eyes – not something that could be taken for granted during chief designer, Chris Bangle’s tenure. But mostly, what has made the 3 a benchmark is its well-rounded performance.

Let’s face it, when a manufacturer sets off to design an entry-level luxury/sport sedan, the car they target is this one – and some won’t even hide the fact, calling out BMW and touting their “latest and greatest” as the car that will finally topple the 3-series. And really, who can blame ‘em? After all, if you’re gonna target any car as “the one-to-beat”, you might as well go after The King. And in this class, the BMW 335i is still the King.

Performance
- Acceleration: Nearly as quick as last-generation E46 M3 (!!!) – turbo lag nearly imperceptible – pulls and pulls and pulls
- Handling: Traditional BMW balance and precise steering combined with excellent (read: unobtrusive) DSC allows you to adjust cornering attitude at will – still the class benchmark
- Braking: Never less than excellent on the street, they will start to go away on the track despite the brake fade compensation system’s best efforts (although in all fairness, this isn’t a track car)

Design
- Exterior: Thankfully, Bangle’s hand was restrained by BMW’s board on the E90 3-series, with this mild facelift mostly improving the car further – organic shapes at the front seem out of place
- Interior: Starting to get a bit dated inside – aluminum option helps keep it more modern chic than the traditional wood

Utility
- Comfort: Great ride/handling balance combined with impressive build-quality results in a comfortable place to be… at least in the front
- Space: Excellent accommodations up front, less so in the rear where competitors offer more space

Safety
- Dynamics: The single best attribute of the 3-series range – after all, if you can avoid the accident in the first place…
- Technology: Everything you expect to find in a car at this price

Value
- Price: Certainly starts to get expensive when you spec the 3 with all of the “must have” options, but somehow, it’s still worth it
- Mileage: Driven sanely, not too bad – driven on the boost…

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin’ factor: Excluding the awesome M3, it is the top-spec 3-series, but probably too common and practical to really make your heart soar
- Fun to spank: A little – although a limited-slip option would certainly help (nearly unforgivable oversight BMW!)

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear-wheel drive
Engine: 3 liter, twin-turbocharged Inline-6
Power (SAE): 300 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 300 lb-ft @ 1400-5000 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 3605 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.1 sec.
Top Speed: 150 mph
Mileage: 17 city / 26 highway
Base Price: $40,300
Competitors: Audi A4/S4, Mercedes-Benz C350, Infiniti G37

Lincoln MKS AWD Car Price, Review 2012-2013

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May 172012

Lincoln MKS AWD Car Price, Review 2012-2013

The Lincoln MKS is a modern interpretation of the American luxury sedan. And if you were to compare it to a traditional American luxury car from the not-too-distant past, it would be clear that the MKS is a vastly improved version of the species.

Performance
- Acceleration: Adequate at best, but befitting its class – really should have a V8
- Handling: Brisk is as fast as you’ll ever want to go – doesn’t do the hustle
- Braking: Spongy pedal doesn’t inspire confidence – you shouldn’t be going fast enough to tax them

Design
- Exterior: Finally, a design direction worthy of Lincoln’s heritage – show car that it’s based on was more confident
- Interior: Perfectly designed and finished for the segment – nice materials and craftsmanship throughout

Utility
- Comfort: So comfy, you could fall asleep at the wheel… as some of its owners’ driving habits will suggest
- Space: HUGE inside – almost Town Car big – Soprano’s worthy trunk

Safety
- Dynamics: Softly sprung nature and lots of mass means that changes of direction are not encouraged
- Technology: Overly obstructive stability control system is probably a good thing given the car’s weight and suspension set-up

Value
- Price: Base price a bit misleading – upper 40′s more accurate, but also in line with competitors – tons of technology inside
- Mileage: Lots of weight and all-wheel drive drag motivated by a V6 means you’ll be thankful for the large capacity fuel tank

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin’ factor: Distinctive American styling to be proud of, but the performance won’t raise your blood pressure – Fun to spank: Don’t even think about it

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / All-wheel drive
Engine: 3.7 liter, V6
Power (SAE): 275 hp @ 6250 rpm
Torque: 276 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4310 lbs.
0-60 mph: 7.5 sec.
1/4 mile: 15.7 @ 90 mph
Top Speed: 137 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 16 city / 23 highway
Base Price: $39,590
Competitors: Acura RL, Lexus GS 350 AWD, Volvo S80 T6 AWD

MINI John Cooper Price, Review 2012-2013

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May 172012

MINI John Cooper Price, Review 2012-2013

Performance
- Acceleration: Hang on to the wheel and prepare for torque steer! – goes impressively quickly, though, feeling faster than it is
- Handling: Playful rear axle makes this one of the most fun front-wheel-drive cars available… once you turn off the stability control system
- Braking: Brembos don’t have to struggle when they’re charged with slowing just over 2600 lbs of car

Design
- Exterior: Conservative redesign of the first BMW MINI, but still quite nice – smile inducing and fun to look at
- Interior: An ergonomics nightmare that grows on you with familiarity – quirky design great to look at as well

Utility
- Comfort: Up front, no sweat, in back, less so – back seat ingress/egress not for the inflexible… don’t throw out that hip!
- Space: It is called a mini after all – not truly a four-seater if you’ve also got to put things in it, but again, it’s a MINI

Safety
- Dynamics: Eager to shake its butt when you’re playing around, but stability control keeps it in check during normal driving – super easy to maneuver around obstacles
- Technology: Airbags galore, stability control, traction control, electronic brake force distribution, yadda, yadda… you can’t beat physics though, so don’t crash

Value
- Price: The single bad piece of news… “They want how much for a car this small?!!?” Incredibly, though, you’ll think it’s worth it after you live with it
- Mileage: As usual with turbocharged cars (especially light-weight cars), stay out of the boost and reap the rewards

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin’ factor: Premium feel, spunky character and cheeky design will have you treating it like a pet and loving every bit of it
- Fun to spank: Once you send the stability and traction control systems on a break, fun, fun, fun to be had… for a front-wheel driver anyway

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Front-wheel drive
Engine: 1.6 liter, turbocharged inline-4
Power (SAE): 208 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 207 lb-ft @ 2000-5300 rpm *on overboost*
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Curb Weight: 2655 lbs.
0-60 mph: 6.0 sec.
1/4 mile: 14.4 @ 99 mph
Top Speed: 147 mph
Mileage: 26 city / 34 highway
Base Price: $29,200
Competitors: Mazdaspeed3, Volkswagen GTI, Honda Civic Si

Audi Q5 Car Price, Review 2012-2013

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May 172012

Audi Q5 Car Price, Review 2012-2013

The Audi Q5 is among the newest players in what is becoming one of the most fiercely competitive arenas in the automotive marketplace – that of the compact luxury sport utility. Nowadays more readily known as crossovers, the competitors in this class are virtual jacks-of-all-trades, mixing the amenities of a luxury car with the athletic nature of a sports sedan and the raised ride-height and utility of an off-roader.

Performance
- Acceleration: Mysteriously, feels quicker than its A4 sibling using the same engine – good torque as well
- Handling: More sport-sedan than SUV – exceptional handling/ride compromise
- Braking: The one dynamic area where you feel the mass – still quite effective though

Design
- Exterior: Same sausage, different lengths philosophy growing a bit tired – conservative and somewhat stubby looking
- Interior: Typical Audi design language with no surprises (again) – nice, but somewhat dull

Utility
- Comfort: Well controlled ride still provides excellent comfort
- Space: Perfectly in keeping with the average numbers in its class – not too large, not too small

Safety
- Dynamics: As sure-footed as the Quattro badge implies with excellent agility within its category
- Technology: Everything you’d imagine is here and then some

Value
- Price: If you get carried away with the options (and it’s easy to do) you’ll suffer the consequences
- Mileage: Direct injection combines with the largest fuel tank in its class to provide good mileage (relatively) and impressive range

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin’ factor: Perhaps for hardcore Quattro loyalist…
- Fun to spank: Not available in this category

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / All-wheel drive
Engine: 3.2-liter, V6
Power (SAE): 270 hp
Torque: 243 lb-ft
Gearbox: 6-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4350 lbs.
0-60 mph: 6.7 sec.
Top Speed: 129 mph
Mileage: 18 city / 23 highway
Base Price: $38,275
Competitors: BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK350, Lexus RX350, Volvo XC60, Cadillac SRX

BMW M3 Price, Review 2012-2013

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May 172012

BMW M3 Price, Review 2012-2013

Performance
- Acceleration: High revving nature of the 4-liter V8 means that it doesn’t feel quite as quick as it actually is… more bottom end would help
- Handling: Perfect balance means you can dance like Mikhail Baryshnikov
- Braking: Perfectly potent brakes… until you really tax ‘em on a track – why can’t we get four or six piston calipers BMW? – the single weak point of the M3

Design
- Exterior: Not as aesthetically pleasing as its E46 predecessor, but still the best looking current BMW – especially in coupe form
- Interior: Minimalist design works best with aluminum interior accents – not the best interior design in its class however

Utility
- Comfort: Very comfortable for front passengers, and completely acceptable for those in the back seat as well
- Space: Completely adequate given its coupe layout — Front seat headroom is compromised by tall seat height though

Safety
- Dynamics: Athletic moves and excellent agility means evasive maneuvers are a cinch
- Technology: Everything you’d expect, plus M Dynamic Mode for fun with safety

Value
- Price: Base price is not sky-high, but by the time you get the must-have options you’re looking at the far end of $60K or even $70k
- Mileage: Not as good as the 6-cylinder E46 M3, even when you stay off the throttle – then again, that’s the price of V8 power

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin’ factor: The M badge alone will get your heart racing… and when you fire up the V8 your pulse rate will jump again
- Fun to spank: Ah… yeah, you could say that. Or you can watch our Director’s Cut video for a visual demonstration…

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear-wheel drive
Engine: 4.0 liter, V8
Power (SAE): 414 hp @ 8300 rpm
Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Curb Weight: 3650 lbs.
0-60 mph: 4.3 sec.
1/4 mile: 12.7 @ 112 mph
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 14 city / 20 highway
Base Price: $56,500
Competitors: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, Cadillac CTS-V, Lexus IS-F

Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Car Price, Review 2012-2013

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May 172012

Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Car Price, Review 2012-2013

The Subaru Legacy has been around since 1989. Built in both Japan and the United States, the model’s total production number exceeds three and a half million vehicles, making it Subaru’s core model. But while those numbers may sound impressive, keep in mind that tally is for over 20 years of production. For perspective, the most popular mid-size car in the U.S. – the Honda Accord – has over one million sales every three years. So while the Legacy is big for Subaru, if it hopes to compete against the top players in the mid-size sedan segment, it needs to step up its game – and the newest Legacy clearly has.

Performance
- Acceleration: Boost arrives early – at 2000 rpm – with strong pull all the way to redline – excellent thrust from first and second gears especially, although gearbox and clutch aren’t the best and require some getting used to (at least its a manual)
- Handling: Surprisingly softly sprung given the engine’s character – despite the soft initial suspension movements, once it takes a set it holds the road well… still, a lot of roll
- Braking: Springing also results in more brake dive than expected, although the brakes are extremely effective

Design
- Exterior: Attempts to improve on handsome yet conservative predecessor with aggressive styling that somehow manages to remain conservative
- Interior: Improved fit-and-finish and material quality, but design remains uninspired – truth be told, the materials could still be better

Utility
- Comfort: Excellent seats (not tiring, even after several hours) and ergonomics – equally good ingress/egress
- Space: More spacious than last Legacy thanks to extended wheelbase – gains most apparent in back seat – trunk surprisingly large given the short rear deck

Safety
- Dynamics: Initial movements result in lots of body roll, which is disconcerting, but grip is there as is traction thanks to AWD
- Technology: AWD headlines the tech, but everything else is there as well, including ABS, traction/stability control, electronic brake distribution, etc.

Value
- Price: Let someone drive this car and ask them how much it costs and inevitably they will come back with a number $5-10k higher than its price – very good value
- Mileage: As always, lusty turbo thrust has its price, but overall, mileage is acceptable given the power on tap

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin’ factor: With some of its rally-breeding apparent, there’s a bit of soul in there somewhere, but it’s not really enough to get your heart racing (at least not as much as the STI)
- Fun to spank: A bit too grown up for a spankin’… which bodes well for the Legacy within its market segment

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / All-wheel drive
Engine: 2.5-liter, turbocharged, flat-4
Power (SAE): 265 hp
Torque: 258 lb-ft
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Curb Weight: 3477 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.8 sec.
Top Speed: n/a
Mileage: 18 city / 25 highway
Base Price: $29,995
Competitors: Volkswagen Passat, Mazda6, Nissan Altima

Infiniti G37S Car Price, Review 2012-2013

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May 172012

Infiniti G37S Car Price, Review 2012-2013

The cabin features the usual mix of leather, high-grade soft-touch plastics and great looking aluminum accents with a texture that simulates hand-made Japanese paper (Washi paper). This is a particularly nice touch that shows a heritage unique to this class, as the G37′s competition for the moment amounts to a few coupes from Germany.

Performance
- Acceleration: Torque-rich VQ37 pulls well from anywhere on the tach – flat torque curve means it doesn’t feel a quick as it is
- Handling: Good compromise between comfort and sport, leaning toward comfort – but limited-slip differential (LSD) means you can get sporty too…
- Braking: No longer supplied by Brembo, the brakes feel great nonetheless

Design
- Exterior: Perfect proportions and subtle surfacing produce one of the best looking cars on the road
- Interior: A near match for the excellent exterior design – great textured aluminum accents

Utility
- Comfort: Very spacious coupe… for the front passengers
- Space: Using the rear seats as storage space means there’s plenty of room

Safety
- Dynamics: Very predictable chassis has no bad habits – perhaps a bit too softly sprung?
- Technology: Excellent stability control system and all the safety goodies you’d expect

Value
- Price: More content as standard equipment than its competitors and nearly all of the performance
- Mileage: V6 does well when driven with a light throttle foot

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin’ factor: The best (and only) Japanese performance luxury coupe moves you with its gorgeous looks
- Fun to spank: Willing partner on track with its LSD, but not really at its best when driven hooligan style

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear wheel drive
Engine: 3.7 liter, V6
Power (SAE): 330 hp @ 7000 rpm
Torque: 270 lbs-ft @ 5200 rpm
Redline: 7500 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed manual
Curb Weight: 3670 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.4 sec.
1/4 mile: 14.1 sec. @ 102 mph
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 17 city / 26 highway
Base Price: $36,200
Competitors: BMW 335i, Mercedes Benz CLK350, Audi A5