2009 Audi Q5 3.2 Quattro Review

Audi has always attracted the attention of car owners and enthusiasts for the right reason. Its sleek design combined with quality engine and superb performance has made Audi among the most anticipated manufacturers every year. In 2009, Audi didn't let the car community down with the 2009 Audi Q5. 3.2 Quatro.
From the outside, the Q5 provides an example of what crossover owners should look for on a CUV. The car comes with a beautiful silver rims with slightly visible interior for a sneak peak of its power. The body has a well combed design but not too much by using bumps on the side.
The car's engine is probably the most impressive from the vehicle. Coming with 6-cylinder 3.2 liter engine, the power of the Q5 is unmistakably noticeable. It's also fuel efficient in its category as it has been rated 24mpg in optimum conditions.

Control and maneuverability of Q5 is very good. You'll feel the car's roar as you push the car to the limit but you'll still feel safe on the inside. The Q5 really takes it seriously when it dubs itself as a "family car" as it will try to appease everyone in almost every road condition.
While the Q5 is a very impressive vehicle, it does have some downsides. Among them is the complicated buttons on the dashboard. There are too many buttons to press before you could reach your preferred FM station or simply to play music. Last but not the least, the car costs more than $50,000 on basic configuration.

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2010 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The 2010 Nissan 370z Nismo is not a car for everyone. It's a sports car that goes for specific enthusiasts of this type of vehicle which means the opinion in car community would certainly be divided. But apparently, Nissan doesn't care and it's a good thing because the 2010 Nissan 370Z Nismo is simply a car that pushes the limits of their driver - just what a sports car should be.

The controversy starts from the moment you lay your eyes on the vehicle. The bumpy front, combed roof and spoiler combination makes you want to think you're in a computer game. Add that fact that the 19-inch aluminum wheels, you've got yourself a very flashy sports car.

Inside, the car is simply for those who wanted speed. Coming in with black and red leather the car feels like - well, a sports car. The dashboard is dedicated for meters and an extra compartment for possible navigation system is included. Under the hood, the car is a souped up version of the 370z. The 3.70-liter VQ Engine bumps up the horsepower to 350 (18hp more) with torque at 276 lbs-feet (6lb-ft extra).

Last but not the least, the driving experience of 2010 Nissan 370Z Nismo is just simply amazing. The roar you experience in the vehicle simply tells their driver that the engine is not ok with regular speed. Coming with manual transmission, you'll be pushed to give more to the car as it will seem to constantly demand that your foot should be on the pedal. In short, the 2010 Nissan 370Z Nismo answers the call to what a sports car should be. Price starts at $39,130.

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2010 Acura TSX V6

Acura has made some startling changes on their line up for the past few years. Call it a "learning phase" for Honda's luxury line but they experienced a few missteps. The 2010 Acura TSX V6 is supposed to be the final product based on what they have learned in the past.

Even though with a revamp in some of its key functions, the latest version of TSX didn't have any significant change in the outside. There are only two changes that can be noticed in the new TSX compared to its 2009 sibling: the rear end was raised a little bit while the air intake in the front is now wider. The interior of the TSX V6 is a classic Honda dashboard which values simplicity.

You'll have the Honda seats which are impressive and standard dashboard for your multi-media.
As the name indicates, the latest iteration of TSX sports a V6, 3.5 liter engine. If this car was compared to its previous iterations, the torque was bumped up to nearly 50%. This fact presents good and bad news. The good news is that it will help you ride through the highway without any problem. The bad news is that steering with the new TSX could be a little bit challenging. The steering problem is even highlighted as it comes with automatic transmission and no 4-wheel drive option.
But the 2010 Acura TSX V6 is still competitive when it comes to price. Even with the technology upgrade, the 2010 TSX is expected to be priced no more than $39,000.

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2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon

The 2010 CTS Sportwagon is the first wagon from Cadillac to be shipped in the US. It took many years for Cadillac to muster a Cadillac in the US since the general reception of this type of vehicle is often frowned upon by US customers. There's no use selling something that you know won't be a hit. But after years of holding it in and favourable company conditions, Cadillac is ready to push the wagon to their US customers.

Fortunately, the first wagon of Cadillac for the US offers something remarkable for the consumer. The beautiful body design featuring a combed roof and 19-inch wheels can easily entice anyone. The only downside of the design is the usability in the rear. Since it’s combed to the back, the wagon doesn't offer a lot of space especially if your baggage would require taller space.

Under the hood, the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon is not perfect but good enough. The wagon features 3.6 liter, V6 engine which can give the car the boost it needs. While the engine looks great, the engine requires extra boost in order to improve maneuverability. This means you have to increase the speed a little bit to experience easy movement.
Inside, the wagon is looks great. What's impressive is the wagon doesn't have a lot of buttons and wires that you have to consider when connecting your gadgets or the navigation system. On the downside, the legroom on the front is a little bit short as the area for your gadgets and entertainment takes up the room. But this is a very small inconvenience and for the price of $40,655, the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon is a steal.

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2009 Volkswagen CC Sport

The 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport is a four-door coupe, which tries to grab a good market share in this highly competitive category. The market for the four door coupe is relatively scarce since it targets a family who wants to spend a little bit on luxury along with convenience.

But the 2009 CC Sport is something that will not be forgotten for a very long time. Volkswagen has actually created something highly competitive that could persuade those shopping for a brand new coupe. In fact, if you're looking for a mid-range car, you might want to spend some extra money to get this fine model from Volkswagen.

A testimony that the 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport is "aggressive" in the four-door coupe is its price. The CC Sport is only $27,100 as its base price. This price range is more affordable compared to other four-door coupes since many are currently priced at $28,000 or more. Its mileage is even impressive as the car registers at 31mpg.

The engine is not your drag racing machine but should be more than enough for a pleasant drive. The base price comes with a 2.0 VVT engine which could muster up to 200 horsepower. You can also upgrade to 4 wheel drive for additional price but the six speed manual transmission family car can live with the standard engine. Of course, the Volkswagen interior is no less amazing as it offers considerable space with the dashboard highly visible to everyone.

The 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport is a highly competitive four door coupe. The feel of manual transmission with highly responsive engine makes it a perfect family and/or business vehicle.

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2010 Mazdaspeed3

The idea of Mazda in getting customers to buy their cars is simple: listen to what they want and deliver them to the best of their ability. In recent years, they have revealed their ability to adapt to the demands by releasing pocket and driver friendly cars such as the iconic Mazda MX-5 and the CX-7.
It's no wonder then that the latest iteration of the Japanese car maker is always about the customers. The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is the improved version of Mazda3 as it has upgraded some of its components inside and out.

Of course, no car is perfect and the Mazdaspeed3 is no exception. Even though the car will ultimately make you want to buy one, the design of the car is less than stellar. The Mazda3 looks gorgeous compared to its later sibling. The extended wing may have helped in its maneuverability and the front air pocket has a role in keeping the engine at its optimum level but it just doesn't look good in the new Mazda.
But under the hood, the car reveals its power. The 2.3 litre engine can help you squeeze 263-horsepower. They were also smart in adding torque control to avoid that problem caused by too much torque during turns.
The most impressive part of the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is its price and adaptability on the road. Testing the car on the speedway is actually quite a drag (because of the torque) but drive the car on real road and you'll realize why this car at $24,000 can be considered a great deal.

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2010 BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition

It's not yet in the US but the model has been confirmed to reach the country anytime soon after the car’s unveiling in the Frankfurt Motor Show (September 2009). The 2010 BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition is actually a little bit mouthful to say but it's a small tradeoff on what it can do to your driving experience. Among them is the claim that it can go for 57.4mpg - a very impressive feat from a premium car manufacturer.
The secret: diesel engine. The 2010 BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition will stray from gasoline and use the less expensive diesel. With impressive fuel efficiency, you can be assured that you'll get the best from this car on the road. Thanks to its 2-liter, four cylinder engine, the new compact from BMW will never have to require as much fuel as its predecessors.

Of course, don't expect that this car will outrun other BMW models. However, the fuel efficient compact only requires 8.2 seconds to reach 100kph. The top speed is also limited to 225kph but when you're on the road, you really don't need too much power and the top speed is more than enough to outrun others in regular road conditions.
Of course, there is always the inherent downside of diesel engines. The US is not very familiar with this type of engine which means help could be difficult to find. But with the name BMW on the engine, you'll get the assurance that the engine has been optimized to last long before it will seek maintenance.

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Audi 2010 S4

Audi S4 is the latest sedan offered by the European manufacturer to its American customers. It's not a highly anticipated sedan like its A4 predecessor but Audi has upgraded some of its specs to make it a highly competitive vehicle in its category.
The 2010 S4 emphasizes power. With 3.0 Liter V6 engine, the car can reach 60mph in just 4.9 seconds. The engine is actually a lot less than the S4 (which was a V-8) but the current version is supercharged to produce up to 333 horsepower which pushes your car to top speed before you know it.

The amazing part of the new S4 is its fuel efficiency. With 18mpg in a city road, it easy beats other popular cars in its category. Other popular cars in its category can't even keep up. For example, the BMW 335i and Mercedes-Benz C350 have 17mpg in the same road conditions. These cars are even not as powerful as the 2010 S4 because it doesn't have the same horsepower.

The only factor that might hold back customers to consider this form of sedan is its price. Basic set-up for the sedan is $45,900 minus delivery which means you might have to cough up an additional $900 or more. The price will also give you six-speed manual transmission and an upgrade to dual transmission will cost you an additional $1,400.
The Audi 2010 S4 is a little bit on the expensive side. However, its fuel efficiency can make this car a better choice in the long run.

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2010 Kia Soul

Designing a box type sport vehicles is usually challenging for car manufacturers. Case in point: Scion xB and Honda Element. The concept of the car is not that bad but the design should make you think twice if you're looking for something that can impress and perform.
Apparently, the 2010 Kia Soul Sport has learned a lot from its competitors. The Korean manufacturer was able to come up with a relatively better designed box sports car. Instead of a strict box idea that did not work for Scion xB and Honda Element, Kia Soul Sport has some curves on the side.
As expected, the interior of the Kia Soul is very impressive. There is enough legroom for the passenger and the driver. The control panel even comes with impressive features such as Bluetooth and USB Docks. Sirius Satellite Radio coupled with 6-speaker system will make everyone inside have an audio experience rarely found in this type of vehicle. The only problem with the interior is the limited cargo space which was sacrificed for the legroom.
The downside of the 2010 Kia Soul Sport is its engine and controls. What you'll get is 2.0Liter 4-cylinder engine. This type of engine only gives you 142 horsepower which means you might have some trouble when you’re dealing with heavy loads. It's only limited to 5-speed (manual) and the higher gears are relatively slower to react. But it's not a car that you wanted to race so you’ll never experience the trouble of losing control while on the road.
In terms of safety, the car comes with the highest rating. For sturdiness, Kia offers 5 year or 60,000-mile warranty. And the price is only $18,000 complete with gadgets mentioned.

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2010 Volvo XC60 Review

Volvo is placing their bets on their latest crossover. The 2010 Volvo XC60 is one of the manufacturer's "saviors" considering it's currently having a hard time earning and even finding a buyer. It's a tough year for the European manufacturer which is why they're coming out with something that can help them get out of the sales slump.
The XC60 is a good looking and well priced vehicle. The complete package will cost you no more than $50,000 and that already includes all the entertainment system and monitoring options in your vehicle. Staying true to its brand, Volvo is still one of the best manufacturers when it comes to safety.

Under the hood, the XC60 can compete with the currently popular crossovers. It comes with 3.0-engine which can give up 281 horsepower under certain conditions. It's relatively heavier (4,174 lbs) but the engine power should be able to handle the challenge of pushing a heavy vehicle.

The notable feature of the XC60 is the handling. The six speed auto transmission is very responsive that you should be able to experience gear changes even in demanding conditions. The complete package also comes with manual transmission conversion which increases control on the crossover.

Now for some bad news: the default navigation system of XC60 is one of the worst in the industry. It's not a touch screen system and you have to use a joystick far from the system which makes handling on the navigation system very difficult. But with its price and options, you can change the navigation system for less than $300 and have a great crossover vehicle.

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