The 2015 Chrysler 300C Platinum sedan in Four Mile Canyon, west of Boulder. (Bud Wells photo)
Chrysler showed off four models of its 300 flagship sedan at a gathering in Boulder Thursday evening.
Parked out front of the Rembrandt Yard Art Gallery & Event Center for 30 members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press were the 300 Limited, 300S, 300C and 300C Platinum. A larger grille dominates the front end of the new 300.
With Bob Sweeney and Donald Bain as passengers, I drove the high-end 300C Platinum edition several miles up Boulder Canyon, then several more miles up Four Mile Canyon west of Boulder.
The fully loaded Chrysler, equipped with all-wheel drive, was powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and 8-speed automatic transmission, which is shifted with a rotary selector. To maintain more secure control in the sharp turns on the steep climb up the Four Mile roadway, I used paddle shifters for 2nd and 3rd gears. As full-sized cars go, the Chrysler is a good handler, and the V-6 power is strong.
Bain and Sweeney each took their turns in the driver’s seat on our descent into Boulder and around the University of Colorado campus before returning to the Rembrandt Yard for dinner.
The 300C Platinum tops out at $50,175. Base prices are $31,395 for the Limited, $34,895 for the sporty S, $37,895 for the C and $42,395 for the C Platinum.
Andy Love of Chrysler Brand Marketing, Detroit, listed the Toyota Avalon, Chevrolet Impala and Ford Taurus as chief competitors for the 300, though neither the Avalon or Impala offer all-wheel drive.
Thirty-two percent of Chrysler 300s sold in the 2014 model year were equipped with all-wheel drive. More than 50 percent of those sold in Colorado are AWD models. For 2015, only the V-6 models will be available with the AWD feature. The Hemi V-8, with 363 horsepower, is of rear-wheel-drive configuration.
Chrysler 300’s AWD uses an active transfer case and front-axle-disconnect system aimed at improving fuel efficiency. It transitions between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive with no driver intervention. When AWD is not needed, the front axle is automatically disconnected to maximize fuel economy.
The 2016 Kia Sorento is powered by small turbocharged engine. (Bud Wells photos)
By Bud Wells
Already rolling into Colorado are several 2016-model cars and trucks, still a month ahead of the 2015 Denver Auto Show.
The ’16 Kia Sorento SUV is the first I’ve driven. It’s 3 inches longer than last year’s edition and filled with refinement. So filled, in fact, the SXL all-wheel-drive Sorento carries a sticker price of $45,095. Wow.
A new, turbocharged 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine, tied to a 6-speed automatic transmission, impressively moved the 4,000-pound Kia sent my way. Standard is a normally aspirated 2.4-liter 4-cylinder of 185 horsepower and also optional is a 290-hp, 3.3-liter V-6. The turbo, though out-towed by the V-6, 3,500 to 5,000 pounds, seems the better choice in responsiveness and fuel mileage.
The turboed 4-cylinder, after a momentary lag, delivers torque in strong fashion in low-end and midrange acceleration. Pushing a button on the center console will alter the drive mode; before getting to the sport setting, though, it rests briefly on the eco set, and shift points between eco and sport are immediately noticeable. With most of my driving time split between normal and sport modes, the Sorento averaged 21.4 miles per gallon. Suspension is firm, with little harshness.
The third-generation Sorento features a large, upright grille, redesigned headlights and LED foglights and power-folding side mirrors. Its exterior pales in comparison to several more stylistic competitors, including the new Nissan Murano.
Kia’s new look up front for the ’16 Sorento.
Inside, though, its upgrades are eye-catching, from its soft-touch dashboard to a 39-cubic-foot cargo area, one of the largest in its class. The cabin, a five-passenger with two rows of seats (a third row is optional), is especially roomy and premium Nappa leather seats are appealing and comfortable. The front seats are heated and ventilated and the steering wheel is warmed, too.
With the Sorento’s doors locked, walk up behind the rear liftgate with the smartkey in pocket, the taillights will flash, then momentarily the liftgate begins to open. Very handy for grocery shoppers.
A panoramic sunroof, Infinity surround-sound, navigation, Bluetooth, lane-departure warning, 19-inch wheels, rearview camera with additional surround view, electronic park brake and smart cruise control pushed the price to the $45k mark.
Kia is also making a move with its redesigned 2015 Sedona minivan, which hopes to lure a few sales away from the competition’s Big Four of Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
I’ve driven the big Sedona, which is a bit longer in wheelbase than the Odyssey and Sienna and is only an inch shorter in overall length than the Town & Country and Grand Caravan.
It did some slipping on the icy streets of late February, though is generally an above-average handler with its front-wheel drive powertrain of 3.3-liter V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. Overall fuel-mileage average was 19.8.
The seven-passenger Sedona has three rows of seats; the middle row seats recline with footrests and slide horizontally for added cargo space.
Addition of xenon HID headlights, lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems, surround-view monitor and smart cruise control boosted sticker price to $43,295 from a base of $39,700 for the Sedona SXL.
Strong 4-cylinder power has been added to the 2015.5 T6 Drive-E Volvo S60. (Bud Wells photos)
What’s preferable for power-boosting – supercharging or turbocharging? The difference, of course, in the added air-induction system into the cylinders is that a supercharger is belt-driven, a turbocharger is exhaust-driven.
As for which is the better process, Volvo says that is a moot point in its new 2015.5 S60 T6 Drive-E sedan. The Swedish auto firm has installed both supercharging and turbocharging in its 2.0-liter, direct-injection 4-cylinder engine.
Under the hood in the Volvo are both supercharging and turbocharging.
That’s right, a 4-cylinder, though the T6 designation might lead to other assumptions.
With the dual power-boosters at hand, the small block kicks out an astounding 302 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque tied to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The supercharger is working from the initial takeoff and is effective for low-end thrust, then goes into idle mode as the exhaust turbines force the turbocharger into action all through the higher rpm.
A benefit beyond the high-power net is that, with only 4 cylinders at work, the S60 midsize four-door rolls up fuel mileage figures into the 30s. I averaged 31.3 miles per gallon with an S60 review model, even while enjoying the super/turbo perks. The car’s EPA estimate is 24/35.
The charged-up 4-cylinder with the 8-speed transmission is available for now in the S60’s front-wheel-drive sedans; the all-wheel-drive models still rely on power from the Volvo’s 5- and 6-cylinder engines. Eventually, the 4 will be under the hood of both configurations.
The fact this model is known as T6 Drive-E is confusing; it gets its 4-cylinder power from the super/turbo chargers, while another version called the T5 Drive-E has the 4-cylinder with only turbocharging.
The performance of the duo-boosters will sell the S60, even though, occasionally in sport mode at midrange the power seems to linger and jump back and forth momentarily.
A Platinum options package added a Harmon Kardon premium audio system with excellent speakers and boosted sticker price to $47,575. The rearview camera can be switched from full view to a closeup of the right side for parking the vehicle.
For years, the S60 four-door has been a bit short on legroom, and trunk space measures only 12 cubic feet.
Here are the specifications for the 2015.5 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E:
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf was ‘car of the year’ in Detroit. (Bud Wells photos)
There’s not a lot of glamour associated with the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE hatchback, yet I seemed, over and over, to look for reasons to get into its driver’s seat and maneuver it all over town.
This allure might explain its surprising choice as car of the year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. The little Golf beat out a couple of hot-shot finalists – the Ford Mustang and Hyundai Genesis – for the honor.
The new Golf, a five-passenger compact, sits an inch lower, is 2 inches longer and looks a bit sportier than last year’s model. It shows refinement inside and, with the small turbocharged engine, is fun to drive (except for the turbo lag on takeoff). Its sticker is just over $25,000.
Another Volkswagen I drove recently which might be an even better value is the ‘15 Jetta SE four-door.
This new VW Jetta carries sticker price of $20,810.
It doesn’t have a backup camera and there is no navigation screen. Let me tell you what the Jetta does have – the 1.8 turbocharged engine and manual transmission producing fuel mileage into the 30s, heated front seats, SiriusXM satellite radio and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity. That for a sticker price of $20,810.
While the Golf’s wheelbase is only an inch shorter than that of the Jetta’s, it is 16 inches shorter in overall length. At 3,023 pounds on a wheelbase of 103 inches, the Golf is a superb handler; the German engineering is appreciated.
The front-wheel-drive configuration performs well with the 1.8-liter turbo 4-cylinder developing 170 horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque and tied to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It has strut front and multilink rear suspension and rides on Continental ProContact 225/45R17 tires. The Golf averaged 31.2 miles per gallon in overall driving.
The Jetta’s 1.8-liter turbocharged engine.
Small, inconspicuous paddle shifters are easy to touch and use with the transmission’s manual mode. The Golf’s out-of-the-way touch-shifters contrast in appearance with the 6-inch-long magnesium paddles on the Infiniti QX70 which replaced the VW in my driveway.
Inside the VW are firm, supportive perforated leather seats (heated in front), a 5.8-inch touchscreen display with small but clear-imaged backup camera and flat-bottomed steering wheel. The rear-seating area has added legroom and headroom and the cargo space behind the rear seats has grown from less than 16 cubic feet to more than 22.
As for the Jetta, few cars in that price range will handle better than the German product (built in Mexico) from VW. Rural roads with their bends and knolls and short-stretch straightaways brought out the best in the front-wheel-drive Jetta. It exhibits precise steering. The Jetta is Volkswagen’s best-selling model, ahead of the Passat and Golf.
I reviewed the first Jetta, an ‘80 model, 35 years ago; it was 15 inches shorter than today’s sedan and weighed only 1,900 pounds.
The 2015 Jetta weighs 3,000 pounds on a wheelbase of 104.4 inches and overall length of 183.3 inches. The added size gives it a roomy interior and a nice-sized trunk of almost 16 cubic feet. The driver’s side sun visor can’t be swung completely around to the side window because of obstruction by the overhead grip handle, and is left hanging at an awkward position.
Here are the specifications for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI SE:
Capacity 5-passenger hatchback
Wheelbase 103.8 inches
Length 167.5 inches
Width 70.8 inches
Height 57.2 inches
Curb Weight 3,023 pounds
Track 61 inches front, 59.8 rear
Ground Clearance 5.4 inches
Turn Circle 35.8 feet
Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
Engine 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque 170/200
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Steering electromechanical power
Suspension Front strut, rear multilink
Fuel mileage estimate 25/36
Fuel mileage average 31.2
Fuel Tank 13.2 gallons, regular unleaded
Wheels 17-inch
Tires Continental 225/45R17
Cargo Volume 22.8 cubic feet
Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors Ford Fiesta hatchback, Subaru Impreza Sport, Honda Fit, Mini Cooper Clubman, Fiat 500L
Assembly Plant Puebla, Mexico
Parts Content German 25%, Mexico 21%, U.S./Canadian 7%
Base Price of Lowest Model $18,815; Base Price of Review Model $24,895; Destination Charge $820; Sticker Price $25,715.
1980 Plymouth Gran Fury was equipped with optional 318 V-8 engine. (Bud Wells photo/1980)
Thirty-five years ago this week, I reviewed in the Denver Post the 1980 Plymouth Gran Fury Salon four-door sedan. Excerpts:
The long popular Plymouth nameplate, which has been surprisingly short in model variety for several years, has been expanded this year (1980) with the return of the Gran Fury, last built in 1977.
The new one is a good-handling, comfortable-riding full-sized model, quite the same as the Dodge St. Regis and Chrysler Newport. Excellent braking complements the handling. The Gran Fury is aimed against the Ford LTD and Chevrolet Caprice and Impala.
The car, powered by Chrysler’s 318-cubic-inch-displacement V-8 engine, rolled up gas mileage averages of 13.2 and 21.8 in town and highway drives, respectively. Acceleration is strong in low gear, then falls.
The six-passenger sedan has a large trunk of 21.3 cubic feet capacity. The 3,600-pound car is built on a wheelbase of 118.5 inches.
Base price of the Plymouth is $6,927 with power steering, power brakes, automatic transmission and seat-belt chimes. Among options which raised sticker price to $10,600 were halogen headlamps, cornering lights, speed control, power bench seat of ribbed velour fabric, power windows and power locks (the locks seemed inconveniently placed on the window sills).
Other Plymouth models are the subcompact Horizon and the compact Volare, besides imports from Japan.
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport sedan is slightly longer and wider than last year’s model. (Bud Wells photos)
Hyundai sticks with 4-cylinder power, naturally aspirated or turbocharged, as its seventh-generation 2015 Sonata midsize sedan attempts to move up from its 10th place position in car sales in this country.
The Korean maker is betting on its smaller-block power, though most competitors offer an optional V-6 engine.
Dressed up in white pearl exterior and black leather sport seats with orange piping, the 2015 Sonata Sport four-door sent my way was equipped with a 2.0-liter, twin-scroll turbo and 6-speed automatic transmission. The ride was quieted through increased use of sound-deadening materials in the dashboard, and enhanced the finely detailed interior.
One of the most attractive colors I’ve seen in the new year, canyon copper, adorned another Hyundai driven recently, the 2015 Santa Fe Sport AWD. This color is striking enough to steal away some looks from, say, a silver-finished Toyota Highlander.
A canyon copper finish enhances the ’15 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport crossover.
The Sonata sedan and Santa Fe crossover are two of Hyundai’s three most popular models. Only the Elantra compact outsells them.
The sleek style introduced by the Sonata in 2011, known as “fluidic sculpture,” has been softened somewhat in the new look for 2015. The Sport version features a low-slung exterior with sharply raked windshield and rear window.
Though horsepower and torque have been lessened in the Sonata’s 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine, the sport setting in drive mode choice with paddle-shift use will increase response and tighten steering feel for a more satisfactory performance level. The drive mode’s normal set offers smoother shifts and acceleration; a mild-mannered eco mode is available for ultimate fuel mileages. The turbo’s horsepower has been reduced to 245 from last year’s 274 and the torque drops to 260 lb.-ft. from 269. The Sonata’s base engine is a 185-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder.
The front-drive Sonata Sport with the turbo power carries an EPA estimate of 23/32 miles per gallon; my overall average was 24.7.
Highlighting the interior, in addition to the orange piping on the seats, is a panoramic sunroof, a high-tech center stack angled toward the driver for easier-accessed controls and a flat-bottomed sport steering wheel. The front seats are heated and ventilated and power control has been added to the passenger side; for years, Hyundai has caught grief for a low-positioned front passenger seat without height adjustment.
A full-length sunroof brightens Santa Fe Sport interior.
Good headroom and legroom add comfort to the rear-seating area, where the flat-cushioned seats are heated. Manual sunshades are part of the rear side windows.
Price of the Sonata Sport jumped from $28,575 to $34,460 with the addition of an ultimate package, including such items as the sunroof and navigation, Infinity audio speakers with subwoofer and amplifier, electronic parking brake and a safety group – smart cruise, lane-departure and forward-collision warning, blind-spot detection and rearview camera.
The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder in the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport all-wheel drive delivers 264 horsepower; there is some lag in low-end acceleration. The 6-speed automatic transmission offered no paddles. The 3,600-pound Santa Fe averaged 23.2 miles per gallon; its EPA rating is 18/24.
A button on the steering wheel moves steering feel through normal, sport and comfort levels.
Perforated leather seats are part of a well-designed interior, contrasting light and dark finish with wood trim. A power liftgate at the rear opens up 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space; the spare tire is underneath the vehicle.
Navigation, 12-speaker Infinity audio, panoramic sunroof, heated seats and power liftgate pushed sticker price of the Santa Fe Sport to $38,350.
The Santa Fe Sport is 9 inches shorter and 300 pounds lighter than the bigger Santa Fe.
Here are the specifications for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T:
Capacity 5-passenger sedan
Wheelbase 110.4 inches
Length 191.1 inches
Width 73.4 inches
Height 58.1 inches
Curb Weight 3,575 pounds
Track 62.9 inches front, 63.1 rear
Ground Clearance 5.3 inches
Turn Circle 335.8 feet
Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
Engine 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque 245/260
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Steering electric-assist rack-and-pinion
Suspension MacPherson strut front, multilink rear
Fuel mileage estimate 23/32
Fuel mileage average 24.7
Fuel Tank 18.5 gallons, regular unleaded
Wheels 18-inch
Tires Kumho Solus 235/45R18
Cargo Volume 16.3 cubic feet
Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles basic, 10/100,000 powertrain
Competitors Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, VW Passat TSI Sport, Chrysler 200, Mazda6
Assembly Plant Montgomery, Ala.
Parts Content U.S./Canadian 41%, Korea 51%
Base Price of Lowest Model $21,150; Base Price of Review Model $28,575; Destination Charge $810; Sticker Price $34,460.
The 2015 Camry XSE helped Toyota outsell Ford in new-car registrations in Colorado in 2014. (Bud Wells photo)
Toyota, Ford and Subaru were the biggest sellers of new cars and trucks in Colorado during the past year, while Jeep, Audi and Ram posted large increases in sales.
Registrations of new cars and trucks in the state increased by 6.8 percent in 2014, from 176,433 a year earlier to 188,416 in 2014, according to figures from the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. The total is the highest since 2002, when 192,415 new units were registered.
The top 10 individual makes in registrations were Toyota with 25,001, Ford 22,208, Subaru 20,806, Honda 14,524, Chevrolet 13,940, Jeep 13,126, Nissan 12,298, Ram 7,538, Kia 6,065 and Hyundai 6,043.
Jeep achieved its sixth-place rating by increasing its registrations 2,849 units during the year, followed by Subaru with 2,531, Toyota 1,918 and Ram 1,291. In percentage of increase, Jeep led with 27.7, Audi 23.6 and Ram 20.7.
Colorado has been one of Subaru’s strongest sales markets for more than 35 years. Its third-highest status in Colorado compares with a ranking of ninth nationally for Subaru.
Low fuel prices and interest rates and gains in the job market were factors cited by Tim Jackson, president of CADA, in assessing the jump in sales, along with incentives from dealers and manufacturers.
Of the 188,416 registrations, 73,111 were cars and 115,305 were trucks and SUVs.
Following are the 2014 new car and trucks registrations by make:
The 2015 Dodge Dart GT is one of lengthier compacts. (Bud Wells photo)
I glanced briefly at the center stack, while heading downroad after dark in the 2015 Dodge Dart GT, and staring right back at me was the colorful face of the Uconnect 8.4-inch audio/navigation touchscreen display.
The large, high-resolution screen is a highlight of a very pleasant interior for the Dart. The entertainment package is tuned in with AM/FM/CD/satellite audio, VoiceCommand, Bluetooth and Garmin navigation/SiriusXM Traffic, which provides current weather, travel, fuel information, sports and movie listings.
The roomy, front-wheel-drive Dart compact (it is 3 inches longer than the Chevy Cruze or Toyota Corolla) returned to Dodge showrooms in 2013 after an absence of 37 years. Aimed at young adults, the Dart is available in five models, beginning with the SE at $16,495, the SXT, Aero, GT and Limited.
The Dart GT performed smoothly with its 2.4-liter, 184-horsepower Tigershark engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. It delivered an average of 27.4 miles per gallon in overall driving; that was close to the middle of its 22/31 EPA estimate.
Two other optional engines will go considerably higher in mpg – a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder of 160-hp and a peppy 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. I tested the little turbo 2 ½ years ago and averaged 33.4.
The Dart GT carried a sticker price of $24,680, which included the UConnect setup, Powertech automatic transmission, remote start, 18-inch hyper black wheels and compact spare tire. Among standard items for the GT are Nappa leather seats (heated in front), backup camera, dual-zone climate control and speed control.
Lightly bolstered front seats are wide and comfortable. Anyone who has ridden with us over the years knows that Jan oversees much of the usage of HVAC in the cars and trucks. More than once during the very cold week we drove the Dart I heard grumbling from the passenger side over “slow warmup” of the heater.
The Dart was a strong competitor for Dodge from 1960 to 1976, when it was discontinued in favor of a new model called the Aspen.
Here are the specifications for the 2015 Dodge Dart GT:
Capacity 5-passenger sedan
Wheelbase 106.4 inches
Length 183.9 inches
Width 72 inches
Height 57.7 inches
Curb Weight 3,186 pounds
Track 61.7 inches front, 61.6 rear
Ground Clearance 4.4 inches
Turn Circle 37.7 feet
Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
Engine 2.4-liter 4-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque 184/171
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Steering rack-and-pinion
Suspension strut front, multilink rear
Fuel mileage estimate 22/31
Fuel mileage average 27.4
Fuel Tank 15.8 gallons, regular unleaded
Wheels 18-inch
Tires Goodyear Eagle 225/40R18
Cargo Volume 13.1 cubic feet
Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain
Competitors Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Cruze
Assembly Plant Belvidere, Ill.
Parts Content U.S./Canadian 60%, Mexico 18%
Base Price of Lowest Model $16,495; Base Price of Review Model $21,195; Destination Charge $995; Sticker Price $24,680.
One of the vehicles most closely associated with our state and its rugged terrain is the Subaru Outback.
The Outback wagon has been the staple of Subaru’s unqualified success in Colorado over the past 20 years.
Subaru’s outstanding symmetrical all-wheel-drive system with active torque vectoring kept me going through recent deep snow and icy surfaces with the 2015 Outback 3.6R Limited model. The Subaru’s 8.7-inch ground clearance is much appreciated.
The 3.6R’s outdated 5-speed automatic transmission of the past has been replaced by an improved continuously variable transmission to go with the wagon’s boxer 6-cylinder engine.
As for wagons, when it comes to handling, I prefer the Audi allroad; for fuel mileage, none of the other wagons can match the mpg of the Volkswagen Jetta Sportswagen TDI diesel, and, perhaps the nicest of leather and comfortable interiors is that of the Volvo V60.
Still, for all-around, everyday service, dependability and durability, the Outback can compete with any of them. It’s been a winner of long standing.
I remember the first Outback, introduced in 1995 as a variant of the Legacy wagon.
Wagons were going nowhere at that time. The Outback, though, with its boxer engines and sturdy all-wheel-drive structure and heavy side cladding, endured among a rush of SUVs and more modern crossovers, and found favor with lots of outdoors persons.
The first one I drove back in ’95, with a sticker price of $24,500, weighed 3,250 pounds on a wheelbase of 103.5 inches. Its 150-horsepower, 2.5-liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine produced surprising low-end torque.
The Outback has grown in 20 years – its wheelbase by 5 inches and curb weight by 550 pounds.
The ’15 model has some exterior redesign, including a more rakish windshield in which the base has been moved forward 2 inches, and it is a bit longer, taller and wider than last year’s version. Noticeable atop the wagon is a sturdy luggage rack.
I’ve not been a fan of CVT transmissions in 3,800-pound vehicles; however, this one in the 3.6R is a much stronger higher-torque unit than those I’ve tested in the past for Subaru. Under certain acceleration levels, the driver even feels simulated “gear steps” like a conventional 6-speed automatic, and it is quickened with manual-mode and paddle-shift control switches. All this while attaining the better fuel economy of a CVT on regular-grade gasoline. The review model averaged 23.9 miles per gallon; its EPA estimate is 20/27.
The flat-6 boxer engine develops 256 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of torque, with adequate performance. Standard engine in the Outback wagon is a 175-hp, 2.5-liter boxer-4-cylinder with CVT, which is EPA rated at 25/33 mpg.
Acceleration is increased with the bigger 3.6R powerplant, complemented with responsive steering and the torque vectoring, which applies brake pressure to a front wheel for improved cornering ability. The Outback Limited rides on Bridgestone Dueler 225/60R18 tires.
Eighteen-inch alloy wheels on the new Outback.
Highlighting the interior, in addition to perforated-leather heated seats, is a 7-inch touch-screen display with voice-activated controls, navigation, harman/kardon audio system with 12 speakers, backup camera, SiriusXM, text messaging, Bluetooth and dual USB ports.
The navigation, moonroof, keyless access and push-button start pushed sticker price to $36,040.
The Outback 3.6R Limited is equipped with eight airbags, including new front seat-cushion bags to keep occupants in place during frontal collisions. Blind-spot detection, lane-change assist and rear-cross-traffic alert are other safety enhancements.
The rear seating area boasts lots of legroom and headroom, with added comfort from rear heat/air vents. Seatbacks recline for passengers in the back row. Cargo-carrying capability behind the second row of seats, 35.5 cubic feet, is a favorite feature for many buyers of the Outback.
Here are the specifications for the 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited:
Chris and JoAnne Jones, right, of Castle Pines, show their 2015 Ford Platinum F-150 truck, the first of the new aluminum-bodied Ford trucks sold in Colorado. Jones, who traded in a 2006 F-150 with 191,000 miles, has been a Ford owner since 1982, when he bought a used F-100. He has owned five F-150s, two Expeditions and a Bronco. Shown with him and his wife are their son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Julie, with their 2010 F-150 and mother-in-law Hazel with her 2012 model. Personnel at AutoNation Ford in Littleton helped Jones find the fully loaded truck, which is 700 pounds lighter than the previous steel-bodied version. “My favorite features on the new one are the 5.0-liter V-8 engine and the automatic four-wheel drive,” said Jones. (Photo from SummitInfo.net)
