The Chrysler 300 AWD back in its driveway, already cleared of snow, after icy outing. (Bud Wells photo)
As I shout “Merry Christmas” from the open window of an all-wheel-drive sedan, I’m eager as a longtime automotive journalist to promote the added safety and security of AWD in a full-size, four-door automobile.
We in Colorado, where winter weather surprises sometime border on treachery, have become accustomed over the past 20 years to four-wheel drive and AWD capability in virtually all the SUVs and crossovers and majority of pickups delivered into the state.
Not so for the large sedans, though; for a number of years many drivers to respond to winter perils were faced with choice of trading in the comfort of a sedan for an SUV or truck, or adding an alternate vehicle to the stable.
Chrysler, when it redesigned its 300 model into a full-size, rear-drive four-door for 2005, offered optional AWD. It caught on quickly around here. The Dodge Charger, Ford Taurus and Buick LaCrosse have followed in its tracks. Other popular big cars, such as the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima and Chevrolet Impala, retain their front-wheel-drive-only setup, missing increased sales with AWD.
Nine inches of snow was on the ground and blowing one day last week when we backed the 2016 all-wheel-drive Chrysler 300 sedan from the garage and headed for Jan’s doctor appointment. The 300 maneuvered somewhat predictably and maintained fairly good grip, even on deep-snow and icy inclines.
How successful in these parts has been Chrysler’s offering of AWD for its 300?
I’ve suspected it’s been a dominant force in sales, and asked Kelley Enright, a FiatChryslerAutomobiles communications executive in Chicago, about it. Within an hour, she responded with confirmation of my impressions:
Of Chrysler 300 sales nationally during the past year, 27 percent are equipped with all-wheel drive;
Of Chrysler 300 sales in the Denver/Colorado region, 77 percent are equipped with AWD.
Many of those who venture out in the worst of conditions embrace the benefits of all-wheel control. Driving skill is primary; the AWD is a secondary edge that increases security in this tough-driving part of the country.
The model I drove last week was a ’16 Limited with 300-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission shifted with a rotary dial on the center console. Its AWD system engages at any speed, splitting torque between front and rear wheels for optimal traction; a fuel-saving feature is a front axle-disconnect function.
The Chrysler also carried Jan and me on a less-cold evening to Denver, where we helped recognize David Muramoto as new president of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), succeeding Andre Smirnov. It was the annual RMAP Christmas party, in the Bud Wells Board Room of the Colorado Automobile Dealers’ Bill Barrow Building at Speer and Grant.
The 300 carried a sticker price of $38,385, including a preferred option package of GPS navigation, 8.4-inch touchscreen display, USB ports and integrated voice command with Bluetooth, dual-pane panoramic sunroof and remote start.
Jeep Renegade is new small crossover model. (Bud Wells photos)
It’s Italian-built with an all-American name and a nose like a Chinese pug.
The 2015 Jeep Renegade was waiting for us at Denver International Airport on our return from Seattle.
It is the newest model for the fast-growing Jeep brand, competing in the new subcompact crossover category against the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V, Chevy Trax and Buick Encore.
It’s a near-twin of the Fiat 500X. Both the Renegade and 500X come off a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles assembly line in Melfi, Italy.
The Renegade’s upright front end.
An optional 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine and 9-speed automatic transmission pushed the sticker price of the model I tested, the Renegade Latitude 4X4, to $26,980.
It wouldn’t be a Jeep without some form of four-wheel prowess and that came in the selec-terrain system, which dials capability in normal going, or in snow or sand or mud. It also offers 4WD Lock for adverse conditions. It is the most capable four-wheel-drive setup among the small crossover competitors.
The Jeep is also equipped with push-button start and remote start, backup camera, speed control, automatic headlamps and a 5-inch touchscreen display for audio, with Bluetooth voice command.
The Renegade delivered an average of 23.5 miles per gallon for my travels; it is EPA rated at 21/29.
Decent-sized cargo space of 18.5 cubic feet comes at the expense of rear-seat legroom, which is tight. There is no spare tire and the compact air canister and sealant kit leave storage space beneath the floor of the cargo area where the spare would have been.
Jeep’s been part of American four-wheeling for 75 years, as evidenced by the “Since 1941” script above the display screen in the front dash.
The Jeep rides on Continental CrossContact 215/60R17 tires.
Bob Penkhus at his desk in Colorado Springs. (Bud Wells photo)
Bob Penkhus, president of three dealerships in Colorado Springs featuring brands Volvo, Mazda, Volkswagen and Mitsubishi, has been nominated for the 2016 Time Dealer of the Year award.
He’ll be honored, along with 50 other dealers from around the country, at the 99th annual National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Exposition April 1 in Las Vegas.
The Time award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Penkhus, 66, was nominated by Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association.
A 1969 graduate of Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, Penkhus earned a B.S.B.A. in marketing from the University of Denver in 1973. With his business education background, he joined the family Volvo dealership, which was founded by his father Robert in 1956. “It was one of only 10 Volvo franchises in the country when the dealership opened,” Penkhus said. “As a child growing up, I was a permanent fixture around the store, so it was a natural that I would join my father in the business.”
Bob Penkhus opened his own Mazda store in 1973 and in 1977 became president of the Penkhus Motor Co.
Penkhus and his wife, Leslie, have three children and nine grandchildren. For the past 15 years, Bob and Leslie have hosted the Bob Penkhus Hangar Party to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Colorado Springs.
An avid flyer, Penkhus put his skills to good use after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. He galvanized an effort to carry doctors, nurses and medical supplies to the country on his private plane. He also raises money for and supports many other charities.
Penkhus succeeds Scott Ehrlich of Greeley as Colorado Time Dealer of the Year. First winner of the award was Russ Lyon of Boulder in 1970.
The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider in Denver’s City Park. (Bud Wells photos)
Most impressive in style at the Denver Auto Show last spring, in my observation, were the Nissan Maxima and the new Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe.
The Spider (roadster) version of the Alfa Romeo came my way recently and provided one of the most fun drives of the year.
The Spider was the fourth consecutive rear-wheel-drive model on my schedule, following the Mazda Miata, Cadillac ATS and the Infiniti Q50 in Seattle. More than 90 percent of the cars I review are front-drive or all-wheel drive.
The 2015 4C Spider and Coupe are the first Alfa Romeos sold in the U.S. in 20 years. I last drove one in 1995, the 164 Saloon (sedan), a heavy four-door with a 3.0-liter V-6 engine.
The Alfa 4C is small and light and exciting to drive. What it lacks in comfort (it is a rough ride) and power, it compensates in style – it is one of the world’s best-looking sports cars. It sits low, with wide, muscular rear haunches.
A mid-engine, 237-horsepower, 1.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission send the Spider 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds; it has been tested at 160 miles per hour tops. It is rated at 258 lb.-ft. of torque, a fact loudly proclaimed by the racing exhaust setup. Large Brembo four-piston brake calipers lend great stopping power.
It has no power steering, which removes much of the oversteer tendency in performance maneuvers. An attempt to turn the wheel, though, from a dead stop can become a test of muscle power.
Throttle response and quickness of shifts can be adjusted with switches between natural, all-weather, dynamic and race modes.
Cruise moderately and the 4C will deliver high fuel mileage. It is rated at 24/34 miles per gallon; my overall average was 25.3.
The Alfa Romeo 4C, part of the Fiat and Chrysler Group, is built in the Maserati plant in Modena, Italy.
Alfa Romeo has capacity to build only 3,000 of the 4Cs per year. Only 1,000 per year will be sold in the U.S.
The two-seater Spider’s tight cabin is tough to access and exit, compounded by the very high side sills.
Though its wheelbase is only 2.5 inches longer than the new Mazda Miata, the Alfa’s turn circle is over 40 feet, 10 feet wider than the Miata. Sport suspensions take a toll.
Directly behind the Alfa’s rear engine is a small trunk.
The Alfa features a roll-up targa-type top, which can then be stowed in a small 3.7-cubic-feet trunk, directly behind the engine. Of course, with the top on, it is difficult to see out the back, and there is no rearview camera.
A carbon fiber monocoque adds to stiffness of the Alfa’s body; aluminum is used in the front and rear frames. The Spider weighs only 2,487 pounds.
A sticker price of $77,195 included rosso (red) tricoat exterior finish, sport seats, Pirelli racing tires, racing exhaust, red brake calipers and Spider track package.
Here are the specifications for the ’15 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider:
The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata with top down at lakeside. (Bud Wells photos)
A more muscular and sporty exterior is a noticeable highlight for the redesigned Mazda MX-5 Miata convertible for 2016; of more consequence, though, is a 25 percent boost in fuel mileage.
The pleasure of testing a Grand Touring version of the new Miata was enhanced by performance from a short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission. The stick does upshifting or downshifting very quickly and smoothly. With its small size, the Miata probably seems faster than it might be from its 155-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It’s the same power as used in the popular Mazda3.
The rear-drive Miata has long been a favorite; it more closely than anything else took the places of the long-loved MGs and Triumphs of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
This review model displayed a soft top, which seems to better suit the looks of a Miata than does a hardtop. The black cloth looks good with the blue reflex (a new color for Mazda) exterior.
The Mazda does not offer a rearview camera, and with the soft top in place, it is difficult to see all areas to the rear. Of course, with the top down, the camera is of no great need. Regardless, the matter will soon be taken care of, for federal standards call for all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds to have backup cameras by mid-2018.
The top is easily dropped. Unhook a latch at the windshield header and push the cloth top down into the area behind the seatbacks, where one more good push latches it into the recessed area behind the small cabin space. The top fits down into the well behind the seats, preserving a precious 4 cubic feet of space in the trunk.
The new Miata sits low and has shed considerable weight, a couple hundred pounds, and now tips the scales at a fairly light 2,332 pounds. That adds to improved fuel mileage.
With the SkyActiv engine and lighter structure, the Miata carries an EPA rating of 27/34 miles per gallon, compared to 21/28 a year ago. My overall average in a 50/50 split of city/highway running was 31.8.
To enjoy a cup of coffee while driving the Miata, place it either between your legs or in one of two cupholders that sit between the seatbacks far behind the driver. To retrieve it from the cupholder, the driver must wrap the left arm around the body to the center between the seatbacks or lean forward and twist the right arm underhanded and fish for a grasp of the cup.
The Grand Touring trim pushed sticker price on the Miata to $31,015. This includes navigation with 7-inch display screen, Bose AM/FM/CD with nine speakers, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio, two USB ports and SiriusXM satellite radio.
Other niceties include heated leather-trimmed seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, push-button ignition, cruise control, trip computer, automatic air conditioning, blind-spot and lane-departure warning systems.
Here are the specifications for the ’16 Mazda Miata convertible:
Capacity 2-passenger
Wheelbase 90.9 inches
Length 154.1 inches
Width 68.3 inches
Height 48.8 inches
Curb Weight 2,332 pounds
Track 58.9 inches front, 59.17 rear
Ground Clearance 5.32 inches
Turn Circle 30.8 feet
Drivetrain Rear-wheel drive
Engine 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque 155/148
Transmission 6-speeed manual
Steering electric power-assist rack-and-pinion
Suspension double-wishbone front, multilink rear
Fuel mileage estimate 27/34
Fuel mileage average 31.5
Fuel Tank 11.89 gallons, premium unleaded
Wheels 17-inch
Tires Bridgestone Potenza 205/45R17
Cargo Volume 4.59 cubic feet
Warranty 3years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors Mini Roadster, Ford Mustang, Audi TT, Nissan 370Z, BMW Z4
Assembly Plant Hiroshima, Japan
Parts Content Japan 95%
Base Price of Lowest Model $24,915; Base Price of Review Model $30,065; Destination Charge $820; Sticker Price $31,015.
Crisp lines of the 2016 ATS sedan identify it as a Cadillac. (Bud Wells photo)
Powertrain enhancements are the keys for the 2016 Cadillac ATS in its reach for more market share against entry-level European luxury sedans.
A new 335-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine with stop-start technology and cylinder deactivation, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission (replacing the old 6-speed), have noticeably improved performance.
It is a smoother operation with the eight speeds, other than an occasional harshness in downshifts while braking, yet offers greater midrange thrust.
The new 3.6 is rated at 14 more horsepower than last year’s V-6. Optional engines for ’16 are a 202-hp, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and a 272-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder.
The shutdown of the V-6 engine at stoplights (with instant restart when pressure is eased on the brake pedal) and its ability to cruise on three cylinders instead of six has raised its EPA estimate to 20/30 miles per gallon from last year’s 19/28. Lots of in-city driving resulted in an overall average of 22.1 for my time with the ATS.
With a 4-inch shorter wheelbase and 9-inch shorter overall length than the Cadillac CTS, the ATS is in direct competition with the BMW 3 series, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Audi A4 and A3, and two new entries, the Acura ILX and Lexus RC sedan.
The Cadillac overall length of 182.8 inches compares with 182.5 for BMW, 180.7 for Mercedes, 185.1 for Audi A4, 181.9 for Acura and 184.4 for Lexus.
Ride comfort in the rear-wheel-drive ATS doesn’t quite measure up to the bigger Cadillacs; its handling, though, is superb, very crisp. Rear-seat legroom and cargo space are somewhat tight.
The trunk space is only 10.4 cubic feet. We pushed and squeezed a bit to fit four bags and a laptop into the Cad’s trunk for a recent drive to DIA and a flight to Seattle. Even the new Acura ILX, which is smaller in overall measurements, has more luggage room than that.
An updated Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system is easier to use; still the touch slide bar for audio volume is prone to difficulty in lowering or raising the sound by a degree. Navigation and Bluetooth streaming are well-done.
The ATS review model was not equipped with the optional all-wheel-drive system. A performance version, the ATS-V, is also available.
The ’16 ATS rear-drive sedan jumped in price from a base of $48,110 to a sticker of $55,430 with the addition of adaptive cruise control, head-up display, front and rear automatic braking, leather seating surfaces with sueded microfiber seatbacks, power sunroof, heated front seats and heated steering wheel.
Among standard items are magnetic ride control, Brembo performance brakes, 18-inch wheels, Bose surround sound, rainsense wipers and rearview camera.
Here are the specifications for the ’16 Cadillac ATS 3.6L Sedan:
Turbo and EyeSight are part of the 2016 Subaru Forester XT Touring crossover. (Bud Wells photo)
Give me a week in and out of a well-equipped Subaru and, it seems, I walk away from it with improved EyeSight.
The 2016 Forester 2.0XT Touring model, in a quartz blue pearl finish, was the subject of my attention.
It didn’t actually enhance my vision, I simply appreciated Subaru’s EyeSight Driver-Assist System, which maintains selected distance from the car out front, alerts driver of straying out of the driving lane, is capable of applying full braking force in emergencies, and can reduce power from the engine to minimize possible impacts.
While other makes warn of lane departures with buzzing, chiming, shudders in the steering wheel and nudges in the thighs, the Subarus flash “Lane Departure” on the screen in front of the driver and quietly chirp.
Two “eyes” peering out from the top of the windshield are cameras which aid in the effectiveness of the EyeSight.
It is but one of the upgrades for the Forester XT Touring model.
It also boasts a turbocharged engine mated to its continuously variable transmission (CVT), along with navigation, leather and panoramic moonroof. I’ve driven numerous Foresters over the years; this is the first at the $36,000 level.
I remember my first drive in a Forester, the 1998 model 18 years ago in June of 1997, to Georgetown. It was a week ahead of the showroom introduction of what then was a little sport ute. It was of 99-inch wheelbase and 175-inch overall length, with curb weight of 3,058 pounds.
Its boxer engine back then developed 165 horsepower, and I wrote, “Heading up I-70, the Forester is a middle-lane sport ute; in the left lane climbing toward Georgetown it risks getting run over by V-8-powered Grand Cherokees and Suburbans.”
Today it has grown some (5 inches longer and 600 pounds heavier) and is much stronger with a 250-hp turbocharged boxer engine.
The 2.0-liter direct-injected, intercooled, turboed engine offers a nice blend of smooth acceleration and CVT performance.
The symmetrical all-wheel-drive system lends reassurance for wintertime driving duties. And if the going gets really tough, the push of a button on the center console at any speed up to 13 miles an hour engages X-Mode, which increases traction by reducing wheelspin where needed and adding low-end torque. It remains effective until either the button is pushed again or speeds reach 25, when it automatically disengages. The Forester features a relatively short turn circle of 34 feet, 8 inches.
The Forester compact crossover, Subaru’s best seller, ranges in pricing from a base around $23,000 to the XT Touring’s $36,250.
Adding appeal to the review model are its optional sport-mode drive setting, dual-zone climate control, Subaru Starlink navigation and audio with Harman/Kardon amplifier and speakers, Bluetooth and rearview camera, leather seats (heated in front), power rear liftgate and push-button start.
Overall fuel mileage for the Forester was 23.5 miles per gallon.
Here are the specifications for the ’16 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring:
Capacity 5-passenger
Wheelbase 103.9 inches
Length 180.9 inches
Width 70.7 inches
Height 68.2 inches
Curb Weight 3,651 pounds
Track 60.9 inches front, 61.1 rear
Ground Clearance 8.7 inches
Turn Circle 34.8 feet
Drivetrain Symmetrical all-wheel-drive
Engine 2.0-liter turbo boxer 4-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque 250/258
Transmission continuously variable
Steering electric power-assist
Suspension strut front, double wishbone rear
Fuel mileage estimate 23/28
Fuel mileage average 23.5
Fuel Tank 15.9 gallons, premium unleaded
Wheels 18-inch
Tires Bridgestone Dueler 225/55R18
Cargo Volume 31.5 cubic feet
Warranty 3years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Jeep Cherokee, Chevrolet Equinox
Assembly Plant Ota, Gunma, Japan
Parts Content Japan 85%
Base Price of Lowest Model $22,395; Base Price of Review Model $33,795; Destination Charge $850; Sticker Price $36,250.
Bentley’s first SUV, the luxurious Bentayga, is unveiled in Denver. (Jan Wells photos)
The shapely 2016 Fiat 500X, finished in Italian rosso (red), carried us south toward the city one evening last week. From somewhat of a pug nose and two bulging eyes (headlights) in front, the little hatchback slopes out nicely at the rear with a spoiler and big rectangular taillights.
The 500X and its sister car Jeep Renegade, both built in Melfi, Italy, are entries in the emerging subcompact SUV crossover category.
The 2016 Fiat 500X joins subcompact crossover market.
The Fiat, with wheelbase of only 101 inches, picked its way through Denver rush-hour traffic to East County Line Road, up a short, steep hill where we were surrounded by four young men ready to valet park it. A special event was at hand and bright lights shined from Bentley of Denver, where soon to be unveiled was the world’s most luxurious SUV, the Bentley Bentayga.
“This is not a Bentley,” I told the valet crew of the 500X. They seemed amused; Jan seemed embarrassed.
The Fiat front-wheel-drive model proved a great handler in the 65-mile drive to Bentley and back home later that night, and a twist of a dial to sport mode improved performance from its 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. While in normal mode it cruises 50 miles per hour in 7th gear, in sport mode at 50 it remains in 5th gear, with stiffer steering and more aggressive shifts.
Too bad, I thought, that Fiat execs would send a front-drive 500X here, rather than an all-wheel drive. This, of course, is AWD country and when you consider that last month the Jeep Renegade outsold the Fiat by a 7-to-1 margin (7,924 to 1,133), an AWD review it seems might help bring the 500X to a more competitive level.
Contrasting the reasonably priced Fiat 500X ($25,300) was the unveiled Bentley Bentayga, which will begin at $229,100 and go up from there. The Bentayga, expected to go on sale in January, boasts a 600-hp 12-cylinder engine, with permanent four-wheel drive.
Bentley’s introduction of the Bentayga will open the doors into the ultraluxury SUV market, to be followed by several other makers. Lamborghini has pegged 2018 as its launch year for an impressive SUV, and Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, Maserati and Jaguar all have plans to join the SUV market.
Aleks Vekselberg, left, owner of Bentley of Denver, in the showroom with Rod Buscher, longtime Colorado auto dealer. Buscher and John Elway were partners in car dealerships in Denver 20 to 25 years ago.
Prior to the unveiling, I was introduced by Rod Buscher, longtime Colorado auto dealer, to 27-year-old Aleks Vekselberg, who last year bought the Denver Bentley, Ferrari and Lotus dealerships from Bill Stewart. Vekselberg, who three years ago was a student at Yale University, also bought the Ferrari of Philadelphia store about the same time as the Denver purchases. He is based out of New York.
Vekselberg’s father, Viktor Vekselberg, has been called the richest man in Russia, with estimated worth of $18 billion, much of it made in oil and gas investments.
The beautiful Bentley Bentayga, built in Crewe, England, featured magnificent leather and hand-crafted stitching. Its performance claims include 187 miles per hour and 4.1-second 0-to-60 time.
“The Bentayga is pushing the boundaries of what an SUV can represent,” said Aleks Vekselberg following its unveiling. “While nothing can take away from the Bentayga’s status as a pioneer in the ultraluxury SUV sector, I think the car also represents an important turning point that will usher Bentley into a new era.”
The 1931 W.O. Bentley 4.8-liter LeMans, owned by Kurt Furger of Conifer, was a side attraction to the Bentley Bentayga unveiling.
The Fiat 500X which carried Jan and me to the Bentley gathering was the Trekking model and included heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch wheels, remote start, Sirius satellite radio with integrated voice command with Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and leather-wrapped shift knob. Its audio display screen is smalll, and it has no navigation or rearview camera; those are optional.
The seats are of very durable cloth material. With second-row seats in place, cargo space amounts to 18.5 cubic feet. There is no spare tire; an air inflation kit is provided.
The 500X averaged 26.9 miles per gallon of fuel.
Other versions of the 500X are the low-end Pop, Easy, Lounge and Trekking Plus.
The 500X and Jeep Renegade compete with the new Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax.
Dozens of eventgoers climbed in and out and around the new Bentley Bentayga.
In the face of the continued dwindling minivan market in the U.S., Honda Odyssey sales have held steady this year, boosted most recently by introduction of a new SE model for 2016.
The value-based SE trim features a DVD rear-seat entertainment system with a 9-inch display screen and HondaVac, a built-in vacuum cleaner in the cargo area with hose that stretches throughout the van to clean up after the kids.
Sticker price on the ’16 Odyssey SE I drove recently was $34,255 and included also push-button start, trizone automatic climate control, dual power sliding side doors and AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio touchscreen with Bluetooth, USB and Pandora internet radio interface.
The Odyssey is 202.9 inches long. Barely edging it out in overall length are the Chrysler Town & Country and the Dodge Grand Caravan, each at 203 inches. A bit shorter than the Odyssey are the Kia Sedona at 201 inches and the Toyota Sienna at 200.2 inches.
These five models make up the bulk of minivan sales, which continue to slide against the deluge of new crossover offerings. The minivan market may fall below 500,000 sales this year; it traditionally generated well over a million sales yearly until recent years.
Once inside the new Odyssey, in spite of its disjointed exterior appearance at the rear quarters it all fits together nicely and provides plenty of accommodation.
The variable cylinder management of its 248-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-Tec V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission help it attain relatively high fuel-mileage readings on highway drives. Though it earned a 19/28 miles-per-gallon estimate, we averaged 21.7 mpg in overall driving. On flat highway cruises the engine cuts back to use of only three cylinders. The Odyssey’s dash-mounted shifter is short and easy to grip.
The screen used for the rearview camera also, when the right-turn signal is engaged provides a nice view along the right side of the van for added safety.
The beige finish of the cloth seats falls short in the level of attractiveness. Easy-to-use power controls for opening and closing of side doors are positioned on the dash at the left of the driver, in the key fob and at the doors. Controls for the rear heat are above the sliding door on the passenger side.
The Odyssey opens up 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats. Only the Toyota Sienna tops that, barely, among minivans. The third row will fold flat into the cargo area behind, but the second row seats, which are relatively heavy, must be removed for opening up more cargo space.
The SE level falls between the EX and EX-L models for the Odyssey.
Here are the specifications for the ’16 Honda Odyssey SE minivan:
The 2016 Hyundai Tucson Sport AWD atop Tennessee Pass. (Bud Wells photos)
“Is it snappy,” someone asked of the 2016 Acura ILX sedan. No, not really, kind of average.
Snazzy, though, it is, with its sharply styled front end. It shapes up somewhat along the lines of the crisply finished Cadillac ATS, a competitor of the ILX. Both have distinctively designed grilles.
Jan and I drove the new Acura to Sterling the first weekend of this month for the 60th reunion of the Sterling High School Class of ’55 – a Friday night gathering at the Plainsmen Grille and Saturday night at the Ramada Inn.
Of more consequence, however, was delivery to me of the highly touted 2016 Hyundai Tucson Sport AWD, which took us earlier this week to the higher country for a four-day visit to Vail.
An indirect route home lent credence to the capabilities of the new Tucson; to Leadville, Buena Vista, Fairplay, down U.S. 285 to Denver and on to Greeley.
The twists and turns and climbs on U.S. 24 from Minturn, over Tennessee Pass and on to Leadville, are better testing roadways than anything offered via the shorter I-70 route home.
The Tucson’s small 175-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and this source provides power for climbing the hills with no hesitation. A more responsive Sport mode eliminates a bit of turbo lag noticed in Normal mode, and, if economy is of prime concern, an Eco mode slows down shifts and torque. Smoothest operation overall, though, is in Normal mode. A button will lock the system in four-wheel drive.
The new model rides more quietly than previous versions, handling is impressive and body motion has been reduced, with excellent grip on the mountain curves. A month ago, I drove one of the first ’16 Tucsons near Tabernash in the company of Lori Scholz, public relations manager for Hyundai, and Trevor Lai, manager of product planning, and within 2 minutes I could tell the Hyundai was of longer wheelbase and improved structure. Even with that, turning radius is a relatively short 35 feet.
Liftgate on new Hyundai Tucson raises high to reveal roomier cargo area.
A big plus, also, with the new one is its cargo capacity has been expanded to 31 cubic feet, compared with 25.7 for last year’s Tucson. The 2016 model, built in Korea, is 3 inches longer than last year, 1.2 inches longer in wheelbase and 1.1 inches wider. It competes in the compact SUV market against such standouts as the Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Cherokee and Subaru Forester.
A hexagonal grille adorns the front end, but the nose is so blunt it lacks attraction. What saves the front view are the 30-inch-long angular headlights. The review model is finished in a chocolate color, very pretty, which Hyundai has labeled “mojave sand.” It looked good sitting out front of Doc’s Eat & Drink barbecue stop in Leadville.
Walk behind the Tucson with the key fob in pocket, stop for a couple seconds, the large taillights flash and the power liftgate opens. When opened, the uppermost edge of the liftgate is 80 inches high.
The wide cargo area extends to the regular cabin portion of the interior, with roominess in both front and rear seating areas. “It’s just fine,” said realtor friend Ted King, 6-foot-5, of front-passenger seat headroom while enroute to Kenny’s Steakhouse in Greeley. A hard-plastic appearance and feel of the dashboard area detract from an otherwise bright, comfortable interior.
We logged 450 miles in our four-day run to Vail and back, and averaged 26.9 miles per gallon, with an EPA estimate of 24/28. A Tucson I drove two years ago, with a 2.4-liter normally aspirated 4-cylinder, carried an EPA rating of 20/25.
The Tucson Sport’s price tag is a reasonable $28,570, lowered some by the fact there was no navigation installed. That’s about all it lacked, for it as equipped with rearview camera, heated front cloth seats, USB port, Bluetooth, satellite radio, the power liftgate, 19-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry and push-button start.
The Sport model is just below the Limited in pricing. Cheaper versions of the Tucson are SE and Eco.
2016 ACURA ILX
The 2016 Acura ILX is luxury compact sedan.
The ’16 Acura ILX is in its fourth year as a front-wheel-drive luxury compact sedan.
Its 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine, connected to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, develops 201 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. Its small, inconspicuous paddleshifters are likable; they’re easy to handle and don’t get in the way of normal use of the steering wheel.
It excelled in fuel mileage, averaging 32.6 mpg in its drive to Sterling and back. The reunion was for all persons who attended or graduated from Sterling High 50 years ago or more. Keeping watch over the “kids” as master of ceremonies was Jim Weatherill, a ’62 grad and former superintendent of schools of Littleton.
Front grille on Acura ILX is crisp, like that of a Cadillac ATS.
The Acura, like several Honda models, uses a dual set of infotainment screens at its dash, one over the other. They’re somewhat distracting.
With voice-recognition navigation, multiview rear camera, active cruise, lane-keeping assist, leather sport seats, power moonroof and jewel-eye LED headlights, the ILX’s sticker price reached $33,820.
Here are the specifications for the ’16 Hyundai Tucson Sport AWD:
Capacity 5-passenger
Wheelbase 105.1 inches
Length 176.2 inches
Width 72.8 inches
Height 64.8 inches
Curb Weight 3,505 pounds
Track 63.1 inches front, 63.6 rear
Ground Clearance 6.4 inches
Turn Circle 34.9 feet
Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
Engine 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque 175/195
Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
Steering electric power-assist
Suspension strut front, multilink rear
Fuel mileage estimate 24/28
Fuel mileage average 26.9
Fuel Tank 16.4 gallons, unleaded regular
Wheels 19-inch
Tires Hankook Kinergy 245/45R19
Cargo Volume 31 cubic feet
Warranty 5years/60,000 miles basic, 10/100,000 powertrain
Competitors Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Forester
Assembly Plant Ulsan, Korea
Parts Content Korea 93%
Base Price of Lowest Model $22,700; Base Price of Review Model $27,550; Destination Charge $895; Sticker Price $28,570.
