New Car Review: 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS




The 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS.

Regular TireKicker readers may have noticed that, by and large, we refrain from profanity in these reviews. The reason is simple...I started reading car magazines at age 7, they brought me a lot of pleasure and entertainment, and my parents sure as @#$%! wouldn't have allowed it if there was a lot of (or any) bad language in those pages.

But the Porsche Cayenne GTS tests my resolve. I feel like saying a whole lot of bad words for a whole lot of different reasons.

Take the existence of such a thing as a Porsche SUV for beginners. That has elicited more than one or two profanity-laced outbursts from Porsche purists.

Then there's the fact that the Cayenne is now, after several seasons, far and away the best-selling Porsche. That's worth an expletive or two.

Fold in that Porsche has not only made it sell, but made it work...and has made the Cayenne every bit a performance machine, and one could be excused for an off-color word uttered in a tone of admiration.

Well, the GTS is all those things....and then more. In fact, more more piled on top of more.

I'll explain:

First of all, we're talking about 420 horsepower and 369 pounds per foot of torque...a big boost from the 300 horsepower of the base Cayenne. It pulls like a freight train, runs like a thoroughbred (0-60 happens in 5.4 seconds) and has an unshakable feeling of solidity and stability. It's simply a magnificent beast, if a somewhat thirsty one (though 15 city and 21 highway beats a lot of lesser-powered SUVs fuel economy estimates).

We're also talking about a base price of $82,050...a sizable leap from the $48,850 that gets you the entry-level Cayenne. What do you get for your money besides power? Quite a lot. An 8-speed Tiptronic transmission, amazing brakes (helps to be able to stop, too), 20-inch wheels, leather, audio, Bluetooth...the works.

Ah, but Porsche did not stop there with our tester. They added options.

$41,215 worth of options.

That's right. Very nearly the cost of a base Cayenne was added to the Cayenne GTS in the form of options.

I've driven 100 cars or more a year for the past 15 years. Probably 25 of them Porsches. And Porsche is notorious for its option pricing. But this....this is a first. How'd they do it? Well, the Classic Silver Metallic paint was $790, a bump up to 21-inch Cayenne Special Edition Wheels added  $2,605.

And the rest? Inside the car.



2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS interior.

As wonderful as the Cayenne GTS interior is, you can add the GTS interior package for $3,655. Auto dimming inside and outside rearview mirrors and a memory package add $420. The light comfort package with memory is $250. The sport chrono package is $270. Getting SiriusXM and HD radio into that already killer audio system takes $1,120...the same price as adding thermo and noise insulated glass with privacy glass.

Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC for short) is $3,510. A trailer hitch (without ball, as the window sticker notes) adds $650.

I have never seen a Cayenne tow anything. Doesn't mean it can't be done and won't someday come in handy. Just saying I've never actually seen it.

PTV Plus (Porsche Torque Vectoring, which improves steering response and precision) is $1,490. The tester had a SportDesign steering wheel rim. That costs $290. The Panorama roof system (basically a full-length of the car sunroof...or darn close) was $660. The Cargo Management System $590.

Heated front and rear seats...$1,050.

Porsche Entry & Drive (keyless entry and ignition)...$1,090.

Another interior package (ours had lime green seatbelts and accents)...$3,450.

Porsche Communication Management with Nav: $3,675. A rear-view camera with park assist front and rear adds $1,750. Lane Change Assist, $850. Adaptive cruise control (keeps a safe distance between you and the car in front of you)...$2,490.

And then the highest-priced of the options...the Burmester High End Surround Sound System. This is a German custom audio manufacturer. Here's the most salient paragraph about the system from the Porsche website:

The system has 16 amplifier channels with a total output of more than 1,000 watts, 16 loudspeakers including an active subwoofer with 300-watt class D amplifier, a total diaphragm surface area of more than 2,400 cm², and a frequency response of 30 Hz to 20 kHz.

Gotta say, it sounded great. But then, a $5,690 audio system kinda should.

If you've lost track on our way to $41,215 worth of options.....we're not there yet.

One column over from "Options" on the window sticker is "Exclusive Options". And ours had the aforementioned 21-inch wheels as well as extended LED comfort lighting ($845), a painted car key ($335), an aluminum gear selector ($495) and stainless steel doorsill guards ($1,100).

With $975 destination charge, the bottom line becomes a breathtaking $123,265.

The amazing thing (besides the fact that you can add that much in options), is that you haven't even bought the ultimate Cayenne here. The Cayenne Turbo has 500 horsepower and starts at $108,750. The Cayenne Turbo S has 550 horsepower and begins at $146,000. And I'm sure there's a few dozen grand in options that can be added to that, as well.

Porsche's not in the habit of building cars they can't sell. The existence of this car means there's a market for SUVs between $100,00 and $200,000 in this country. And it's hard to argue with success.

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New Car Review: 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek




The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

I have only one complaint about the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

The one they sent me was painted the same shade as Walter White's Pontiac Aztek.

I really figured that color was something the studio made up to telegraph just how dull and drab ol' Walt's life was before he, you know, started cooking meth and killing people.

But, no. Subaru will sell you an XV Crosstrek in pretty much that same color. They call it "Desert Khaki". There are 7 other colors and you're free to make your own choice. I wouldn't pick "Desert Khaki", but if I were in the market, a Subaru XV Crosstrek would definitely be on my list.

As we've noted before, Subaru excels at the basics. Solid, reliable vehicles endowed with full-time four-wheel drive for not much money.

The XV we tested was the Premium model, which in this case, is the base model (the Limited is the step up). It starts at $21,995 with a 5-speed manual. Switch to a Continuously Variable Transmission like our tester and it jumps by a grand to $22.995.

For that, you get a nifty little crossover that has a raised suspension, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, 17-inch alloy wheels, larger fuel tank and brakes (compared to the Impreza wagon on which it's based), and...with the CVT, one that gets an estimated 25 miles per gallon city, 33 highway (which our week of mixed driving suggests is entirely realistic).



The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek interior.

Subaru keeps the interior choices simple. You're looking at it...black cloth. Comfortable and easy to clean. Probably long-wearing too. Included in the standard features, dark tint privacy glass, heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer.

While we're on winter stuff, there's been a remarkable cold snap at TireKicker World Headquarters in Arizona....and the Subaru's heater was a godsend. 2 minutes tops and hot air was ours (this is not a given...two Lexuses we've had recently have needed 10 minutes before any discernable heat was generated).

You also get two 12 volt power outlets, an outside temperature gauge with road surface freeze indicator, and an audio system with Bluetooth, iPod control capability, USB and auxilary jacks and six speakers. The only other niggle: Whoever wrote the warning that appears on-screen when Bluetooth and your cell phone fail to connect doesn't speak English as a first language. I meant to write it down or snap a picture of it and neglected to. But you'll get the idea, and it will remind you where Subaru comes from.

The only option on the tester was the Moonroof and Navigation package for $2,000...so with$795 for destination and delivery charges, the bottom line wound up $25,790. That's not a bad price at all. Skip the Moonroof and Nav and you're at $23,790....for a spacious yet small crossover SUV with both bad weather and light off-road capabilities that gets 33 miles per gallon on the highway. In our book, that pegs the value meter.

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New Car Review: 2013 Nissan Juke SL




The 2013 Nissan Juke.

About a year and a half ago, we did our first review of the Nissan Juke. Bottom line was it was a ball to drive and spacious for people, useful for their things.

But I could never get my brain wrapped around the styling.

Well, I still can't.

But a second week in a Juke...this one a six-speed manual as opposed to the Continuously Variable Transmission in the first car. And now I think I understand the Juke a lot more.



What we have here are the makings of a first-class rally car. That 16-valve turbocharged 1.6 liter four was surprisingly quick and responsive (with 188 horsepower and 177 pounds per foot of torque, not really a surprise) with the CVT, but the six-speed manual lets you maximize the power delivery.

You can call this a crossover...but the fact of the matter is, Nissan needs to start a rally team tomorrow and go hunting Subarus.

The cost of all this fun? Well, that's another plus for the Juke. Base is a nice, round $24,000. which gets you front wheel drive, power front and rear disc brakes, 17 inch alloy wheels, antilock brakes, vehicle dynamic control, electric brake force distribution, and tire pressure monitoring.




2013 Nissan Juke interior.

Inside, automatic air conditioning, a 6-way adjustable driver's seat (the front seats are leather-appointed and heated), a leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, power door locks, a power sliding moonroof, push-button ignition, an AM/FM/CD/USB/SiriusXM Rockford Fosgate ecoPUNCH Premium Audio System, a 5-inch color touch-screen display with satnav and SiriusXM NavTraffic, a rear monitor and Bluetooth.

Let me repeat. That's all standard for $24,000. And it flies when you punch it and the EPA says it gets 25 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway.

It's getting hard to say no when I lay all the facts out like that. Our tester added three options (carpeted floor mats and cargo mat for $180, a center armrest for $245 and a Sport Package featuring a rear roof spoiler, 17-inch gunmetal alloy wheels and stainless steel exhaust finisher for $1,350.)...bringing the total with $780 in destination charges to $26,555.

I just continue to struggle with the styling, which, as I said in the first Juke review, reminds me of the Datsun F-10. But I'll tell you this...if the Juke were gorgeous, it'd be one of my favorite cars. As it is, once behind the wheel, I've got no complaints.

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New Car Review: 2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Turbo





The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Turbo.

There are only so many ways to package and design a modern small car. That accounts for there being a bit of a resemblance between the all-new, American-built Chevrolet Sonic and the car it replaced, the unloved Korean import Chevrolet Aveo. The second-gen Aveo was so vastly improved over the first-gen that I gave it a largely favorable review. Two and a half years later, it's become clear that was more of a reflection of how bad the early Aveo was than anything else.

The Chevy Sonic is a completely different story.



In the Sonic, Chevrolet has managed to build a relevant small car in the USA. One that can, with a straight face, be compared to its direct competitors in the marketplace (Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and, to some extent, the Fiat 500).





Rear view of the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Turbo.

First of all, we're talking about the 5-door here. Chevy hasn't sent a 4-door sedan over yet, and our guess is that there's a significant difference in character and capability. The 5-door's starting price is $900 higher than the 4-door, at $14,765.

The first thing you want to do, and thankfully you have this option in all three trim levels, is to check the option box that gets you the 1.4 liter Ecotec Turbo engine. It's 138 horsepower, 148 pounds per foot of torque, and with the 5-speed manual transmission, it's fairly fun to drive. I say "fairly" because even Chevy is being honest that in this case, "fun" and "fast" aren't necessarily joined at the hip. They claim 0-60 in 8.2.  Not bad, but not killer.

Where the Sonic shines is in the gas mileage. An EPA estimated 29 city/40 highway.

Popping for the LTZ model like our tester hikes the base price to $17,235, and gets you 17" aluminum wheels (a jump up from the standard 15s),  heated leatherette front seats, cruise control, fog lamps, and an upgraded audio system with auxilary, USB and Bluetooth capability. Don't want to shift it yourself? We'd try to talk you into it, but if you have to have an automatic, $18,235 gets you a six-speed with paddle shifters.




The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Turbo interior.

Inside, it's a world away from the Aveo's penalty box accomodations and looks like the same design team that's given us the Malibu and Cruze interiors may have had a hand in this project as well. Not only does it look good, it's comfortable over the course of a day at the wheel and the high-roofline design of the 5-door means even six-footers like yours truly never feel cramped.

With the turbo engine ($700 well spent), the Orange Metallic paint ($195) and destination charge ($760), the bottom line on the Sonic LTZ Turbo 5-door we drove was $18,890. That is a chunk of change for the smallest car Chevy currently sells, but it's less than the Ford Fiesta and there's $5,000 between this and a loaded Cruze. We also drove an automatic version of the LTZ Turbo. A tiny bit less fun, but less of a downer than we expected. It also gets credit for maintaining that 29 city/40 highway fuel economy estimate. Bottom line on that tester was $18,585.

Whether it's your next car is your call. But regardless, Chevy has to be given enormous credit for building a small car this good, this competitive, and doing it on their home soil rather than importing the cheapest car they could find from elsewhere.

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New Car Review: 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL



The 2013 Nissan Altima.

This is, by all accounts, a watershed year for the family sedan. There's a new Ford Fusion, a new Chevy Malibu, a new Honda Accord, and a new Mazda 6.

Haven't driven any of them yet (Malibu and Accord are due at TireKicker World Headquarters soon).

Sure hope they brought their A game, though. Because there's also a new Nissan Altima. And.......damn (let Will Smith sue).

Now, regular TireKicker readers will recall that we've always thought the Altima was a better car than its sales figures (which aren't bad) indicated.

But this.....



Let's get to the important stuff. The price has gone up. A 2.5 SL now has a base price of $28,050. The one we drove a shade over a year ago was $5,590 less. But the gas mileage has positively pole-vaulted. The old one's EPA estimate for city driving was 22. The '13 shows 27. The highway estimate jumps from 32 to 38...and although people are suing other carmakers for inflated mileage figures, our week in the Altima says those numbers are absolutely achievable.

The money didn't all go to fuel economy. The 2.5 SL is now an extremely well-equipped machine. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, active understeer control, anti-lock brakes, traction control, vehicle dynamic control, tire pressure monitoring, electronic brake force distribution, a vehicle security system, fog lights, LED taillights, heated outside mirrors and exhaust finishers.

True story: We had people look at us and say "Nice car".  That usually happens tens of thousands of dollars up the ladder. But the new styling resonates with people (whichever car mag said it looked like a Camry stung by bees needs to have its eyes checked)...and it looks especially rich in dark colors, like the Metallic Slate ours was wearing.

The 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL interior.

The bigger base price buys you a nicer environment in which to do your driving, too. The interior is a huge leap from last year's, with Advance Drive-Assist display, 8-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, leather appointed seats, premium interior trim, a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, a 9-speaker BOSE premium audio system, a 5-inch color display, USB, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, dual-zone climate control, rear seat A/C vents and a moonroof.

Again, all standard. Which makes that $28,050 seem like the bargain it is.

Options? our car had two...floor and trunk mats for $165 and the Technology Package (replacing the 5-inch color display with a 7-inch featuring navigation, blind spot warning, lane departure warning and moving object detection for $1,090. With $790 destination charges, the Altima rang in at $30,105.

It drives well, looks good, has all the creature comforts, just hits $30K and gets 27 in town and 38 on the highway.  Until and unless the other new family sedans can top it, there's a new favorite family sedan down TireKicker way.

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