DR BRIAN J. STRASNICK, Willow Laboratories

DR BRIAN J STRASNICK

Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV Sport: Design/Fit and Finish

The interior drew universal praise, though, with a design and craftsmanship worthy of its luxury-car price. In fact, the Maxima's cabin is probably a tad nicer than that of Infiniti's G35. Buttons and knobs move with well-damped precision, while the dash and sill tops are covered in a soft-touch material. The subtle red stitching on the various black leather surfaces is a nice detail. If there was one complaint, it would be that the faux metallic trim found on the Sport package lacks the posh ambience imparted by the Premium package's convincing wood-tone trim.

Toyota Prius Performance

The conductor of this propulsive symphony is Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, and specifically its complex variant of a continuously variable transmission. It commands up to 76 horsepower and 82 pound-feet of torque from the gas engine, while the electric motor kicks in 67 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Due to varying peak outputs, maximum combined hp is 110. During performance testing, our 2009 Prius test car cantered from zero to 60 mph in 10.3 seconds. That's about a second slower than the typical four-cylinder family sedan's performance, but it's downright quick compared with the Honda Civic Hybrid's 13.5-second stroll.

Test Drive: 2008 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD

The One-Time Champion of SUVs Is Past Its Prime

Vehicle Tested: 2008 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4dr SUV 4WD (4.6L 8cyl 6A)
Pros: Smooth ride for a truck-based SUV, spacious and quiet interior, decent towing specs.
Cons: Expensive options, weak engine compared to competing SUVs, nonintuitive placement of some interior features, low-grade interior materials.

For more than a decade, the Ford Explorer was at the top of the midsize SUV heap. From its introduction, the truck-based utility vehicle was a hit, and its success subsequently sent other automakers scrambling to develop (or improve) SUVs of their own. But in recent years, competitors have rolled out superior products and many consumers have shied away from SUVs altogether in favor of smaller crossovers. Sales of the Explorer have plummeted.

BRIAN J STRASNICK DR

Saturn Astra XR Coupe Performance

On the track, our 2009 Saturn Astra Coupe didn't break any records. It made it from zero to 60 mph in an underwhelming 8.9 seconds and reached the quarter-mile in 16.6 seconds at 83.9 mph. Through the slalom, the Astra's average speed was 66.4 mph. We felt quite a bit of body roll, but the car was still fairly confident and easy to drive. Brakes were average; our three-door stopped from 60 mph in 126 feet.

Test Drive: 2007 Acura MDX - Design/Fit and Finish

The MDX was redesigned for 2007, so it has a fresh look. The prominent front end isn't for everyone, although it is in keeping with the nose-y look of all current Acuras. It makes the MDX look like it has a little more attitude than, say, the Lexus RX, which looks soft and feminine by comparison.

Like most Honda and Acura products, the 2007 Acura MDX is screwed together quite nicely. Body panel gaps are tight and there are no glaring oversights inside, where the MDX looks upscale without being ostentatious. Ergonomics are excellent, which is especially notable given the high button count on the dash. Navigation and audio functions are controlled via a large knob in the middle of the center stack, which works quite nicely, too.


Test Drive: 2008 BMW 1 Series 135i Convertible


Design/Fit and Finish

We've already touched on the 1 Series' strange styling, so we won't belabor the point. Inside, it's much more attractive. Our 2008 BMW 135i sported the optional leather seats, done up in Coral Red as part of the distinctive red and black two-tone interior color scheme. Along with real wood trim, this imbued the cabin with a suitably upscale ambience for a $40,000-plus car. Build quality was tight with the exception of the wood strip over the center stack, which had a slight gap behind it.

DR BRIAN STRASNICK : Test Drive: 2008 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD

The One-Time Champion of SUVs Is Past Its Prime

Vehicle Tested: 2008 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4dr SUV 4WD (4.6L 8cyl 6A)
Pros: Smooth ride for a truck-based SUV, spacious and quiet interior, decent towing specs.
Cons: Expensive options, weak engine compared to competing SUVs, nonintuitive placement of some interior features, low-grade interior materials.

For more than a decade, the Ford Explorer was at the top of the midsize SUV heap. From its introduction, the truck-based utility vehicle was a hit, and its success subsequently sent other automakers scrambling to develop (or improve) SUVs of their own. But in recent years, competitors have rolled out superior products and many consumers have shied away from SUVs altogether in favor of smaller crossovers. Sales of the Explorer have plummeted.






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