TCC Drives: Suzuki SX4 Sport

By Bengt Halvorson January 27th, 2008

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At $15,270 as delivered, the SX4 is the lowest-priced car I've driven in the past year.

It's also perhaps the case where reality has most exceeded my expectations.

I'm not so fond of the exaggerated-upward proportions and abbreviated silhouette of the oddly named Sport (as the sedan body style is called), which doesn't look as sporty, by most accounts, as the SX4 hatchback. Look beyond that and it's quite a zippy, little commuter, with enough space for four adults in a pinch and a tiny, easy-to-park footprint. It feels more expensive than its price tag indicates, and it's a really well-rounded choice for anyone who's on a tight budget.

The 143-hp, 2.0-liter engine is ideally suited to daily stop-and-go driving on congested streets, either with the four-speed automatic, which I'd previously tested in an SX4 (all-wheel drive) hatchback, or with the five-speed manual, which my SX4 sedan (front-wheel drive) test car was equipped with this time around. As Marty Padgett covered in our full road test of the SX4 Sport, the seating position is supportive and upright, and the suspension keeps the SX4 more buttoned-down and crisp-handling than we'd expect from a very affordable ride — even more commendably, not at the expense of ride comfort.

But some of the same qualities that make the powertrain feel smooth and zippy at first eventually betray themselves when you drive the Sport more enthusiastically. The throttle is aggressively calibrated yet the engine is slow to rev, so quick throttle-blip downshifts aren't possible; pity, as the tactile experience from gearbox and clutch wouldn't be out of place in a serious sport sedan. The other issue, if you really want to take advantage of the pep available, is engine noise; it gets quite boomy as you reach and exceed 4000 rpm.

People are going to look at the SX4's size and engine size and assume it's exceptionally fuel-efficient, but that's not the case here. Our front-wheel-drive sedan brought EPA estimates of 22 city, 30 highway, and in a week of relaxed, mixed-duty driving, mostly with a light throttle foot, we managed just 23 mpg — about the same we've seen in mid-size sedans like the four-cylinder Accord and Altima.

But there are plenty of practically minded upsides to the SX4. Materials look and feel great for such an affordable car, and build quality on my test car was spectacular — better than I've seen recently on some luxury-brand vehicles. And the SX4 was devoid of two common small-car evils: road noise on coarse surfaces, and wind noise at 70 mph.

Factor in the 100,000-mile/seven-year powertrain warranty that's transferable to subsequent owners, and it's even more appealing. Not that you're likely to need that, as the SX4's predecessors, the Suzuki Swift and its GM equivalents, the Chevy Sprint and Geo Metro, carried a longstanding reputation for better durability than rival cheap cars.

Here, you see, cheap is not cheap.

Posted in : 2008, Sedans, Shoppers, Suzuki

G8: Definitely Not Lost in Translation

By Bengt Halvorson January 25th, 2008

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We're still waiting for some seat time in the much-anticipated, rear-wheel-drive Pontiac G8 sport sedan, but the details continue to trickle in regarding exactly how the G8 differs from Australia's home-grown muscle car, the Holden Commodore SS, which the G8 will be assembled alongside.

Fortunately, it's sounding like what's soon arriving to Pontiac dealerships is remarkably similar mechanically to what's sold on the other side of the world.

According to Pontiac's marketing director, Craig Bierly, there are relatively few chassis differences between the Commodore SS and the sporty G8 GT model. Bierly verified that the so-called FE2 suspension, standard on the G8 GT and optional on the G8 V6, is identical to that used in the Aussie Commodore SS. On the other hand, the FE1 suspension, standard on the V6 model, is a U.S.-exclusive tune.

Prices and equipment for the G8 were announced last year. The G8 V6, with a 256-hp, 3.6-liter V-6, will start at $27,595, while the G8 GT, with a 361-hp, 6.0-liter V-8, teases at $29,995 — both significantly lower than the Commodore's translated sticker price.

One thing that the U.S.-market Commodore..ehem, G8 GT...will have on the big 6.0-liter V-8 that the Down Under car doesn't is Active Fuel Management, which brings the V-8's EPA highway estimate up to 24 mpg. The 25-mpg figure for the V-6 model isn't much better, and is significantly lower than that of the Grand Prix, which the G8 is replacing. Performance is a strength though for both models; the V-8 can get to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, and the car has a near-ideal weight distribution.

GM's Australian division, Holden, also built the GTO coupe, which was sold in the U.S. through the 2006 model year. It was closely related to the Australian-market Holden Monaro and was eventually discontinued due to slow sales. GM had been hoping to sell 20,000 GTOs per year, but sales struggled to reach that rate in any of its model years; the company is hoping to move about 50 percent more than the original GTO target, according to Bierly, or about 30,000 G8s annually.

Bierly said that some important lessons were learned with the GTO in sales and marketing channels. For instance, relative to the GTO the G8 will be offered in a reduced number of color and trim variations — one of several factors that contributes to faster dealership delivery and less time at port. Bierly also said that the current car was developed with the U.S. market as part of the plan, while the GTO was brought over on very short notice, mid-product cycle.

The first 888 G8s to be sold in the U.S. will be brought over as a group and given a special instrument-panel plaque featuring a VIN-related number sequence from 001 to 888. There are well over twice that number of Pontiac dealerships in the U.S.

Posted in : 2008, Enthusiasts, Pontiac, Sedans, Shoppers

HUMMER Web Site Nabs New H3T Truck

By Marty Padgett January 25th, 2008

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It's embargo time again for Chicago's auto show - and the new HUMMER H3T is the latest victim to fall. HUMMERguy.net's Web site says this photo was taken in anticipation of a Detroit show debut, but of course HUMMER had an HX concept for the ongoing Cobo affair earlier this month.

The new HUMMER truck has a short bed and lots of nifty cargo features, like a built-in lunchbox, according to the Web site. No specs are produced, but GM's 3.5-liter in-line five and the palindromic 5.3-liter V-8 are expected to be options. The new truck will be built alongside the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon twins in the GM plant in Shreveport, La., starting this year.

Stay tuned for more on the H3T as TheCarConnection.com reports from the Chicago auto show.

Hummer Guy » HUMMER H3T Sneak Peak Photos

Posted in : 2008, Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, HUMMER

Toyota, In Pricing Spree, Tags FJ, Corolla and Matrix

By Marty Padgett January 25th, 2008

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Toyota’s set the prices of three of its new models before they go on sale in February.

First up is the new Corolla sedan, which we said “for someone moving out of an older Corolla or almost any other small car, these much-improved new ones should be highly satisfying,” the new base price starts at $15,910, including destination fees of $660. Five trim levels will be offered, as well as two engines, a 132-hp 1.8-liter four and a 158-hp, 2.4-liter four. The fetching-est Corolla XRS starts from $20,610 when outfitted with an automatic transmission.

The Matrix crossover returns alongside the new Corolla. TheCarConnection.com road-tested it as well: “We like this new Matrix better than the old one, primarily for its easier-on-the-eye exterior, upgraded interior, available 2.4-liter engine and (for those in northern climes) optional AWD,” Gary Witzenburg said. It’s available in three trim levels, with one of two engines, and with optional all-wheel drive. The new Matrix starts from $16,850, with prices rising to $22,510 including destination.

Lastly, a special edition of the FJ Cruiser, the Trail Teams Edition, goes on sale next month. A four-wheel-drive model, the Trail Teams FJ gets the SUV’s first monotone white paint job, accented with black trim, mirrors, grille surrounds, and mirrors. Inside, the Trail Teams version gets a leather-trimmed steering wheel, white door trim, a six-CD changer and 12- and 115-volt power outlets, along with BF Goodrich off-road tires, 16-inch alloy wheels, a new exhaust system, auxiliary lights and skid plates. It’s priced as a package costing $4755 over the roughly $24,000 base price of the standard FJ Cruiser.

Posted in : 2008, 2009, Crossover Vehicles, Sedans, Shoppers, Sport-Utility Vehicles, Toyota

Spied! New Benz ML Gets Frosty Reception

By Marty Padgett January 24th, 2008

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TheCarConnection.com's spies are like mailmen - neither sleet, nor snow, nor the new Nintendo Wii keep them from their appointed rounds. Today, they've nabbed a batch of photos of Mercedes' facelifted ML as it paused during a fuel stop in some snowbound place we're glad to be far from.

The latest shots clear up some details that older spy shots haven't revealed, and shows a distinctly different front end than the redesigned ML-Class brought to market a few years back. The front bumper gets a bit more butch, with protrusions which flare out at the corners, beneath the headlights. The flares lead into a larger lower grille-opening, resulting in an ML with a more pronounced "jaw line" than the current model. The tweaked ML also showcases a new hood, with a taller central bulge further augmented by two chiseled strips flanking the Mercedes star. The new ML's fog lamp clusters have also been reshaped and fitted with some revised mesh trim. Some tape on the headlights suggests that some minor changes will also be made to the headlights.

Changes to the rear are more subtle, but it appears that the rear bumper has also been slightly redesigned. The tail-lights look unchanged, although the internal lighting elements may employ brighter LED technology which would up the safety quotient, but do nothing to enhance styling.

All in all, this facelifted ML is typical for Mercedes -- a cautious update halfway through a car's life cycle. Can we expect a new M-Class in 2012, then? We'll keep you posted.

See the whole ML-Class spy shot gallery

Posted in : 2008, Mercedes-Benz, Shoppers, Spy Shots