We’ve Been Waiting For In 2019, it was the Chevrolet Corvette factor has actually been dialed back, and intricate layers, giving them depth but that we were desperate to see, and the the result is a more sophisticated look for not too much jewelry. wait seemed interminable. This year a mature vehicle. it’s the opposite end of the vehicular Big, slabby sides are a challenge with spectrum that had us transfixed: The Escalade’s first foray into Sport offers a three-row full-size SUV. Effort was big daddy of bling, the 2021 Cadillac Esca- enough blacked-out features to differen- taken to add some slimming character lade, had us waiting, wondering, worrying tiate the model with tasteful restraint. lines, concave door sculpting, and a it might not live up to the hype. It would be easy to put an intimidating jaunty outline of the greenhouse with a grille on an already massive vehicle, but kick-up at the C-pillar. These measures The fifth-generation Escalade, on sale designers kept the proportions measured. were important, given that the vehicle this summer, has the future of the fran- As the grille and wheels grew, the Cadillac grew longer and taller—and this is the chise riding on its upsized 22-inch wheels. crest emblem was also upsized. Designers short-wheelbase version. We have yet to were cognizant that Escalade buyers like see the stretched Escalade ESV. It’s not easy styling a massive SUV, but a powerful-looking SUV, which in turn Cadillac has continued its “Y” branding makes them feel powerful driving it. But The best view might be the rear angle. strategy, where it offers both a luxury and consumers also wanted more sophisti- The Escalade keeps the familiar vertical a sport variant for each nameplate. cation in the evolution of the exterior taillights that have become a signature design. The headlights have simple yet for Cadillac, but the look is more The Luxury models have the expected contemporary and fresh. chrome and other bright bits, but the bling 48 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
2021 Cadillac Escalade I FIRST LOOK WORDS ALISA PRIDDLE THE INTERIOR OF THE NEW CADDY FLAGSHIP IS REVOLUTIONARY, AND THAT’S A GOOD THING An interior befitting of a Cadillac offers eight wood trims, intricate stitching, piping, ambient lighting, and an AKG audio system.
FIRST LOOK Only the windshield, roof panels, and materials and design choices. The Esca- 2021 Cadillac Escalade doors are shared with sister SUVs from lade restores some faith with the choice GMC and Chevrolet, and virtually no parts of eight wood trims, as well as intricate BASE PRICE $77,500-$102,000 (est) carry over from the previous model. cut-and-sew stitching and piping, ambient VEHICLE LAYOUT lighting, soft-closing doors, an air cleaner, Front-engine, There will be more than one power- refrigerator/freezer, and the introduction ENGINES RWD/4WD, 7-8-pass, train, but the Escalade will launch with of the industry’s first curved OLED screen 4-door SUV an updated version of the 6.2-liter V-8, (see sidebar). The interior was highly which already generates 420 hp and 460 influenced by the Escala sedan concept 6.2L/420-hp/460-lb- lb-ft. The active fuel management system shown at Pebble Beach in 2016. ft OHV 16-valve V-8; is replaced by the more efficient Dynamic 3.0L/277-hp/460-lb-ft Fuel Management. It also has variable The infotainment screen can be oper- DOHC 24-valve valve timing and engine stop/start. ated by touch or via a controller in the turbodiesel I-6 center console, for which the team worked The 277-hp, 460-lb-ft 3.0-liter Duramax hard to get the right weight, shape, and TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic I-6 turbodiesel will be added later in the feel. It feels robust and easy to use. When 5,650-6,350 lb (est) 2021 model year. Early plans to give the you use the touchscreen, the presentation CURB WEIGHT 120.9-134.1 in Escalade the 4.2-liter twin-turbocharged of the icons is horizontal, but when you 211.0 x 81.0-81.1 x Blackwing V-8 engine were shelved. use the knobs, the presentation changes to WHEELBASE 76.4-76.6 in Performance or V versions are expected a carousel to mimic the controller. 5.5-8.0 sec (MT est) to use a version of GM’s 6.2-liter super- LENGTH X WIDTH Not yet rated charged small-block V-8. Rear passengers enjoy 12.6-inch indi- X HEIGHT vidually controlled touchscreens mounted Summer 2020 All engines are paired with GM’s on the backs of the front seats. These can 0-60 MPH 10-speed automatic transmission with share entertainment with other screens paddles for manual gear selection and the or play unique content, and USB outlets EPA CITY/HWY/ smarts to downshift automatically when provide audio and video connections. COMB FUEL ECON going downhill. Passengers have an option to track the trip, so no more “Are we there yet?” ques- ON SALE IN U.S. The 2021 Escalade will offer enhanced tions. Conversely, passengers can find info Super Cruise soon after launch. The such as the nearest rest stop and send the Another first: an AKG audio surround hands-free driver assist system works on info to the driver to accept or decline. sound system exclusive to Cadillac in the 200,000 miles of mapped highways. It automotive space. The standard Studio views its surroundings with a new sensor system has 19 speakers; the Studio Refer- set, front camera module and 360-degree ence package upgrades to 36 speakers cameras, and long- and short-range radar, and surround 3-D audio. Speakers can be all reacting to lidar map data—as well as found in doors, the headliner, instrument a camera that monitors drivers to ensure panel, center console, headrests, and even their readiness to take control of the in the A-pillar with the airbags. vehicle if it becomes necessary suddenly. Better sensors, map info, and software are A cool feature is the ability to crank the designed to make the steering and speed tunes for the driver but turn down the control feel more natural. It has been volume for passengers. The speakers and further enhanced with lane change on microphones can also be used to enhance demand. Flip on the turn signal to initiate, conversations between rows. and the system will check the surround- ings and change lanes when it’s safe. Over many, many years, we’ve bled far too much ink criticizing GM’s interior 50 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
Improved communication will come in Big Screen, Big Tech a live camera image of the actual intersec- handy, given the more spacious interior. tion, exit ramp, etc., with arrows overlaid to The second row has a choice of a bench It’s Really Three Screens indicate where to turn. Mercedes has offered seat or captain’s chairs, which move and this in its higher-zoot models for a few years. fold easily at the tap of a lever for better The Escalade’s 38 inches of display access to the third row. That third row space gives you a lot to work with. Night vision This projects a thermally now has 34.9 inches of legroom—it grew Starting from the far left, there’s a enhanced view of what’s in front of the a full 10.4 inches—and occupants no 7.2-inch driver control touchscreen. vehicle, complete with colored boxes around longer sit with their knees in their chest. Centered behind the steering wheel is a pedestrians, animals, or other dangers. And behind the third row, the cargo 14.2-inch cluster display screen. Then to space has increased by 68 percent. the right of that is a 16.9-inch infotain- Blackest Black OLED pixels generate ment touchscreen (also manipulated by Much of this basking is courtesy of the a rotary controller). their own light, whereas most other current switch to a four-link independent rear TV/display screens employ a liquid crystal suspension, which gives the Escalade a High and Wide The broad horizontal to generate color while an LED positioned lower, flatter floor, as well as a smoother behind it generates the light. LCDs can block ride and better steering and handling. format and high placement of the three light pretty effectively, but the light source screens on the dash keeps the driver’s behind them tends to bleed through a bit, There are several suspension choices. attention up closer to the windshield, resulting in grayer blacks. The base suspension uses coil springs and the bright, high-contrast OLED with passive dampers. The first step up is technology means no sunshades are Thin to Win Because the single layer of to coil springs with the fourth generation needed. The thin-film technology allows of Magnetic Ride Control, with new a leather-wrapped binnacle with a OLED material mounts to a flexible plastic sensors that collect more precise data to backlit Cadillac crest on the back that’s substrate, the displays can easily conform adjust for every inch of the road. The top visible through the windshield. to virtually any shape that glass can be level is an air-spring adaptive suspension curved into. Likewise, there’s no technolog- with magnetic dampers. The ride height Four Cluster Display Modes ical restriction to a rectangular or square can be raised or lowered by up to 2 form factor—note the tapering corners at the inches, and it will dip three-quarters of The bottom left edge of the screen outboard edges. Frank Markus an inch for better aerodynamics. is permanently devoted to a linear tachometer display and the odometer; The limited-slip differential provides the bottom right edge shows a similar better traction control, sending torque linear fuel gauge and readouts for range to the wheel with the most traction, and remaining and gear selected. The main all-wheel drive is available on all models. area above displays: For trailering, nine camera views help you hitch and trailer like a pro, and Gauge view The normal program- there’s a trailering light test, trailer theft mable gauge cluster view typically alert, and an air pressure monitor. centers an analog-look speedometer, flanked on either side by displays of info Finally, Cadillac’s big dog is back, and like time, date, and temperature. now it’s hungry. Q Navigation map mode This offers multiple map views to choose from. Augmented reality When naviga- tion is active and a route instruction is coming up, the screen switches to depict New wave: 38 inches of curved OLED screen displays graphics sharper than your TV at home with blacker blacks and more vibrant colors.
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FIRST TEST/TRACK TEST I 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S In 2004, Elon Musk—his pockets full of Watts would be driving the Taycan Turbo But in the other category—the ways in PayPal profits—walked into the offices S—Stuttgart’s four-door, four-seat coun- which they’re different—they’re starkly of AC Propulsion in the L.A. suburb terattack against Tesla’s recurring, gauche different. These days, the Model S’ front of San Dimas with some questions. habit of crashing the private soirées of motor is basically the Model 3’s perma- Among them was whether they’d Europe’s gasoline-combusting elite. But nent-magnet rear motor (part of what convert his Porsche 911 Turbo into an Stuttgart appears to have taken careful defines the latest Raven architecture). electric car. He was willing to pay a pretty notes on this Silicon Valley upstart. Its rear one is the slightly less efficient penny (reportedly $250,000) for it. But The Taycan Turbo S traces the Model S’ inductive type—but it offers the neat trick Alan Cocconi, AC’s live-wire founder, said (probably unavoidable) broad-brush blue- of being de-energizable (defeatable) so it sorry, no thanks. So Tom Gage, Cocconi’s print: dual motors—one front, another can freewheel during light-load cruising, (likely bewildered) business partner, in back—all-wheel drive, a battery floor, making it more efficient. referred Musk to a promising EV startup ludicrous performance (that’s Lächerlich In contrast, both of the Porsche’s motors they both knew of. in German), a frunk up front, all envel- (a combined 750 hp) feature permanent And that, kids, is (approximately) oped in a slick, fuselage skin. magnets, so the rear motor’s decoupling where the Tesla saga began. Would Tesla The Taycan’s panoramic, fixed glass (in efficient Range mode) is mechanical, exist today if Elon had simply gotten his roof imitates the Tesla’s copper color and moreover, bundled with a two-speed damn electric 911 from Cocconi? when sprinkled with rain (due to the transmission to improve both low- and Now Elon can finally drive an electric same UV-reflective layer). And traveling high-speed performance. Tesla tried that Porsche Turbo S, and at a billionaire’s- Taycans are mainly replenished by a with its original Roadster a decade ago; the bargain price of $186,350. (Our tester respectable knockoff of Tesla’s Super- struggle to tame the gearshift’s hammering charger oases—the fast-expanding Elec- trify America network. rings up at $205,360.) But it would be LMÄCOHDERELICHdreadfuloptics,becausetheWizardof 56 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
WORDS KIM REYNOLDS PHOTOS WILLIAM WALKER MAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 57
FIRST TEST/TRACK TEST Porsche driver Patrick Long (right) waits as the Taycan has its tires swapped and is festooned with cameras and antennas for our impromptu lapping. torque hit nearly put the fledgling auto- feels a little soft (it’s a by-wire system), but perfectly hidden by the steering wheel rim. maker out of business. this is a 5,109-pound car—that’s seven baby The side mirror controls are more easily grand pianos—that Walton already proved reached by a rear passenger; the critical I’ll save the details of our dragstrip test can be halted in 103 feet from 60 mph. Its rear glass is an oblong porthole, and the for Chris Walton (see page 62). My impres- 16.5-inch front and 16.1-inch rear carbon- panoramic roof provides a vista of clouds sions from the sideline: The Taycan sits ceramic discs are automobiledom’s version and birds and whatever else is up there you eerily silent, like the first atom bomb at of an aircraft carrier’s arrester wires. shouldn’t be looking at. T-minus one before detonating at Trinity. Walton abruptly releases the brake. The As I enter the turn, despite the Taycan’s As our exclusive day of Taycan testing tires are clearly spasming with incip- nicely balanced weight distribution, a wound down, the Porsche PR rep asked, ient wheelspin as the car disappears— quick steering twist warps the tires’ side- “Oh, I forgot to mention that we have the shrinking, shrinking, puff … gone. walls into 1.02 g’s of seven-piano under- infield road course rented. Patrick Long is steer. Exiting, it walks the tail around at a available for rides. Interested?” On to the figure eight. The Porsche very sassy angle. engineer said I might be better off with He might as well have asked if we wanted stability and traction control left on, but Before we delve into the Taycan’s inner to reverse global warming. I thumbed the button on the instrument self, here’s a potpourri of overall obser- display’s right side anyway to defeat it. vations. Numerology: It’s 98 percent of In a few short minutes, I twisted toward The Model S’ system can’t be deactivated; a Panamera GTS’ length but 109 percent Long from the passenger seat as he accel- the Model 3’s Track mode behaves exactly of its weight, yet it already hits 60 mph in erated flat-out—I barely had time to shout the opposite—it’s almost monkey-dance the time it takes the Panamera to reach greetings to the incongruently free-spirited exuberant. I was curious to feel the 50. I think the Taycan’s design tilts too Porsche’s naked, unembellished handling. understated for a 2.4-second car with the At speed on Auto Club (California) legendary “Turbo S” on its rump. And Speedway’s infield road course. At 81 mph, I spot my secret crack in the the battery pack is impressively large (93 asphalt (shh) and stab the brake pedal. It kW-hr), giving what it sacrifices to provide holes for the rear passengers’ feet. Then there’s the synthesized drivetrain sound, a techno mix of the motor’s actual soundprint. In Sport mode it’s the whoosh of a high-speed elevator headed for the 77th floor; switch to Sport+, and you’ll check the mirror for Lord Voldemort. Let’s check the surprising list of ergonomic quirks: The shifter toggle is 58 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S and shaggy-haired lone American driver POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS for the otherwise buttoned-down German car company. DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front/rear motor, AWD MOTOR TYPE AC permanent-magnet electric motors What we all want to know is how Long POWER (SAE NET) 750 combined hp alters his driving style to accommodate the TORQUE (SAE NET) 774 combined lb-ft Taycan’s power and weight. Lapping our MAX MOTOR SPEED 16,000 rpm nearby figure-eight course earlier, I didn’t WEIGHT TO POWER 6.8 lb/hp change anything—I drove as I always do, TRANSMISSION Front 1-speed automatic; rear 2-speed automatic but I could feel its tendencies. AXLE/FINAL DRIVE RATIO Front 8.05:1/8.05:1; Rear 8.16:1/15.6:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR In the twisting part of the Fontana Control arms, air springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, course’s infield, Long slams over the curbs air springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar … tha-whump! We bounce hard; the Taycan is tough. Hanging on through the esses, the STEERING RATIO 9.3:1-14.2:1 weight is obvious; direction changes are TURNS LOCK TO LOCK sharp, but not the scalpel cuts of a mid- BRAKES, F; R 2.5 engine car with its concentrated drivetrain. 16.5-in vented, drilled 2-pc carbon-ceramic disc; Squashed low in the car, the battery 16.1-in vented, drilled 2-pc carbon-ceramic, ABS and its heft are helpful because weight transfer diminishes overall cornering grip WHEELS, F; R 9.5 x 21-in; 11.5 x 21-in forged aluminum due to tire grip’s nonlinearity with load. TIRES, F; R 265/35R21 101Y; 305/30R21 104Y Pirelli P Zero NF0 Elect But because the weight is spread out like a pancake, it increases the polar inertia DIMENSIONS 114.2 in (even more so in skateboard-platform WHEELBASE 66.5/65.2 in EVs). That’s bad through these infield TRACK, F/R 195.4 x 77.4 x 54.3 in esses, where repeated swiveling around LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT 34.1 ft its axis requires extra energy and eats TURNING CIRCLE 5,109 lb away tire grip that’s better used for lateral CURB WEIGHT 49/51% acceleration (though the lightning-quick WEIGHT DIST, F/R 4 response of electric AWD is very efficient SEATING CAPACITY 38.2/36.8 in with what remains). That could be why HEADROOM, F/R 41.8/32.2 in Long is blasting over the curbs. LEGROOM, F/R 56.4/53.2 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 2.8 front; 12.9 rear cu ft “How are you driving this car differ- CARGO VOLUME ently?” I ask as we touch 139 mph on a TEST DATA short straight. “This is the fastest I’ve ever been here,” Long says, then he’s on the ACCELERATION TO MPH brakes—regeneration be damned. The giant carbon discs are shedding heat like 0-30 1.0 sec four smokestacks as we arc into the corner. 0-40 1.4 “The acceleration on exit is so great that 0-50 1.9 I’m modifying the line to get into the power 0-60 2.4 as soon as possible.” This makes sense. 0-70 3.1 0-80 3.9 That night, I drove north through the 0-90 4.8 desert out to Barstow, windows down, 0-100 5.9 heater on full blast to quickly exhaust the 0-100-0 9.8 battery before I clocked its recharge time PASSING, 45-65 MPH 1.1 at a 350-kW Electrify America charger. It QUARTER MILE 10.5 sec @ 130.7 mph thumped over bumps with Porsche’s usual BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 103 ft solidity. Lifting the accelerator brings LATERAL ACCELERATION 1.02 g (avg) either “sailing” (no drivetrain resistance) MT FIGURE EIGHT 23.6 sec @ 0.87 g (avg) or a regen rate that’s too wispy for one-foot canyoning. A third, heavier rate is needed. CONSUMER INFO $186,350 BASE PRICE $205,360 At 75 mph, I scanned across the Taycan’s PRICE AS TESTED Yes/Yes slick, colorful starship display panels. STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL 8: Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee Listened to the motor’s sampled siren. And AIRBAGS 4 years/50,000 miles wondered: Are you really a Porsche? Do BASIC WARRANTY 4 years/50,000 miles you have passion? Do you hold true to the POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 4 years/50,000 miles Porsche heritage? Here lies the Taycan’s ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 8 years/80,000 miles central question. BATTERY 94 kW-hr BATTERY CAPACITY 67/68/68 mpg-e Stuttgart’s turn to insert Porsche DNA EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 192 mi into the cool, sterile electric car has EPA TOTAL RANGE 50/50 kW-hr/100 miles sparked life; in many ways, it’s better- ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 0.00 lb/mile (at vehicle) driving than any gasoline Panamera. The CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 120-/240-volt AC & 400-/800-volt DC electricity Taycan also answers the question: What is RECOMMENDED FUEL 17 min/27 min the Porsche we need for a livable planet? Q FROM 20-MI RANGE, L3 (150 KW) CHARGE TIME TO ADD 100/150 MI FROM 20-MI RANGE, L3 (350 KW) 11 min/19 min CHARGE TIME TO ADD 100/150 MI MAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 59
FIRST TEST/TRACK TEST I 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S WE TEST THE BATTERY RANGE of Porsche’s electric sedan after its poor showing in government tests Porsche encounters bad press about as The Turbo S’ 192-mile range can’t be Reynolds and road test analyst Alan Lau often as the Dalai Lama does. About shrugged off with, “Well, the Taycan’s all explore the Taycan’s settings. The backup the roughest things ever get is looking about performance anyway, not range.” camera’s view is wildly distorted. too lucky after winning Le Mans (for the 19th Would you buy a 911 Turbo S that stuttered time) in 2017. to a stop after 192 miles? The population of Emissions Analytics’ laboratory PEMS fast charging stations is growing, but they’re instrumentation measures the quantity of So when the EPA released battery range still sparse. And if anything, their multiminute exhaust gas, and by analyzing a sample, numbers for the 2020 Taycan—201 miles for charge times (including the best of them) it can determine CO and CO2 percent- the Turbo and 192 for the Turbo S—it was argue for even greater EV ranges than gas ages and hence how much fuel is being Porsche’s engineering equivalent of the cars, so you wait at them less often. combusted. Of course, with an EV, that’s Titanic hitting the iceberg. zero. The analyzer still came along for the But is the Taycan’s range really 201 and ride as a GPS and OBD2 data-logger, letting Naturally, the Tesla community gloated. 192 miles? Porsche commissioned a test by us record the battery’s vital state of charge The Taycan appears to be Europe’s EV strike independent testing firm AMCI, which came at higher resolution. The car was loaded three after Jaguar and Audi swung and up with distances 37 percent (275 miles) to the standard 400 pounds and climate missed with the I-Pace’s (optimistic) 234 and 45 percent (278 miles) greater over a control set to 72 (though the A/C failed). miles and the E-Tron’s 204. Meanwhile, the mixed city/highway course, with city speeds Then Jesus Flores—the solar system’s most Model S Long Range Plus carries a claimed capped by its posted limits, highway ones experienced mileage-testing driver—whirred 390-mile range—nearly double the miles. no more than 5 over, climate control in Eco away on the 88-mile loop of highway and mode, and the cars measured until they city segments to monitor repeatability (and So what happens when a third party—say, lapsed into limp mode. allow for data-cleaning). MotorTrend—goes outside the EPA’s test cycle and performs its own instrumented Our pal Dan Edmunds drove a Taycan Here are our city, highway, and combined range test on the Taycan? Turbo on a more urban-oriented route (in ranges for the 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S: Range mode, cabin at 72 degrees, and Dan as the single occupant) that projected 287.2 • Normal mode (one loop): 240/274/254 miles. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a competitor of ours projected 209 miles city/highway/combined miles from lapping a giant oval at 75 mph. • Range mode (two loops): 243/269/254 Now it’s our turn, and we do it with proper instrumentation. We enlisted our partner in city/highway/combined miles mileage testing, Emissions Analytics, who Switching to Range mode dithers the has conducted 726 tests over its standard- balance of city and highway a little, while ized L.A. course. It’s the largest real-world combined is right down the middle between mileage-measuring program in the U.S. the high and low gutter balls to either (This test was completed with Continental side. Compared to the repeatability of our ProContact RX tires.) acceleration and figure-eight testing, it’s remarkable how squishy EV ranges can be, For consistent weight, all of Emissions Analytics exhaust- depending on how you test them. measuring test gear came along for the ride, though Recharging at Electrify America’s fast (obviously) only some of it was operating. Below, driver chargers doesn’t let you doze or settle into Jesus Flores takes on our top-secret, 88-mile test course. a book like the old days—the Turbo S added 100 miles in 17 minutes at a 150-kW unit (seeing a peak of 138) and 11 minutes at a super-powerful 350-kW charger (peaking at 261). Wait times for 150 miles were 27 and 19 minutes, respectively. But it’s long enough to declare the Taycan’s range makes the grade by a hair— my personal cutoff for acceptability is 250 miles of actual range. It’s comparable to the Bolt’s and Hyundai Kona EV’s. And those two don’t hit 60 mph in 2.4 seconds. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what’s my range before I stall? 254. Kim Reynolds 60 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
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FIRST TEST/TRACK TEST The Porsche Taycan Turbo S Launches Into Our Record Books It isn’t often we set records at the drag- Launching the Taycan Turbo S is the the same weight as a Jeep Gladiator strip, but we did when we tested the same as any other modern Porsche: Rubicon) was already traveling 4.3 mph and all-electric all-wheel-drive 2020 Porsche Select Sport+, stability/traction control achieving 1.0 g in longitudinal acceleration. Taycan Turbo S. By a mere 0.04 second, it can be on or defeated, press the brake I was experiencing free fall, as if stepping off became the quickest (in time) and fastest (in pedal firmly, press the accelerator to the ledge of a building—but horizontally. speed) battery-powered electric vehicle in the floor, then release the brakes. BAM! MotorTrend’s history of testing. In fact, after 0.8 second, in less distance than the car’s own length, the Taycan was In the process, it became the third- traveling 19.6 mph and reaching its peak quickest Porsche and 12th-quickest of any longitudinal acceleration of 1.11 g. Like vehicle from MotorTrend’s decades of quar- Superman swooping down to save falling ter-mile instrumented testing of production Lois Lane, it was exceeding the gravitational cars. It even bumped a (991.2) 911 Turbo S force of a free fall. That 1.0g-plus sensation down a notch. How quick and how fast? was sustained all the way up to 40.3 mph, where it began to slowly wane. Even when The Taycan’s 94-kW-hr lithium-ion battery it reached 60 mph in a near-record 2.4 pack must be at least 75 percent charged, seconds (and less than eight car lengths), and its temperature should read at least the Taycan Turbo S was still pulling 0.75 g. 80 degrees F in the instrument panel. Selecting the Sport Plus drive mode ensures It’s been my honor—and thrill, really—to have launch mode is available, which ups the been the dragstrip test driver for 11 of the motors’ combined output from 616 to 750 quickest cars on our Top 15 list. By the 0–30- hp (but torque remains unchanged at 774 mph times—how we gauge how well a car lb-ft). Acceleration did not vary measurably launches—the list shows they fall within 0.6 if the traction and stability controls were second of one another (0.9 to 1.5 sec overall). engaged or in performance mode, but my best run had traction control disabled. What’s interesting is that each McLaren (there are four in this group) launched like One-tenth of a second (0.1) after releasing a McLaren: a little soft at first, then they its brakes, the 5,109-pound Taycan (about accelerate like an NHRA Super Street Class car, which would require aftermarket axles and a rollcage with an altered floorpan.
Yet these McLarens are street-legal cars. The same holds true with Ferraris because they are also rear-wheel drive. But all-wheel drive further changes this acceleration equation. Just ask the video operators who have ridden along on occasion. On the first run, I always warn them, “Put your head and camera against the head restraint. You’ll thank me in about a half-second.” The response is always the same: “Holy guacamole, you weren’t kidding!” OK, maybe a bit more industrial language, but this is a family show. Including the Taycan Turbo S, there are now Photo: Dennis Ardel eight AWD cars on the list. The “slowest” to 30 mph, in 1.23 seconds, are the quad-turbo Surf and snowboard in the same day with 16-cylinder Bugatti Veyron 16.4 and Porsche a single charge and an electric Porsche 918 Spyder. The rest leap off the line like a cat seeing a cucumber (trust me, look up It’s called the California Double: surf range, which says this car will go 192 miles the videos). and snowboard in the same day. But on a full charge. If you drive like the EPA. what if we could make it the California Our 911 Turbo S pointed its frunk to the Trifecta and throw in a great drive, too? I don’t. The Taycan is fitted with Conti- heavens and even did a teeny wheelie after Let’s make it a challenge, even, and do it nental all-season tires, not the ultra- I had softened the dampers for better rear in a California-approved electric sports sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s, so it weight transfer. By contrast, the Taycan car, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. (probably) won’t get stuck in the snow. was unusual in that it remained eerily flat on The Contis don’t grip as hard, and they launches, with virtually no weight transfer. The Double is every Silicon Beach early complain a lot, but I’m still able to race up retiree’s dream: Surf at dawn at El Porto the mountain like I’m driving a Porsche. This really heightens the sensation of the then swing by the house in Manhattan Taycan’s acceleration, as your body senses Beach and exchange the surfboard and It comes at a price. By the time I’m the seat back with the same force as your wetsuit for the snowboard and beanie. done snowboarding, my battery is down weight. This is truly unusual—especially Dried and ready, zip up the interstate to to 24 percent and my range just 42 miles. because your surroundings are otherwise the bottom of Angeles Crest Highway. No matter, it’s all downhill from here. quiet. One sense (hearing) is diminished, From there, it’s 33 miles of glorious moun- and the other (touch) is heightened. tain road to the base of the lifts. Total Letting the car coast as much as distance from the beach: 66 miles. possible, which is still enough to break All four P Zeros were scrambling for the speed limit without trying, my battery traction—on the brink of wheelspin—and From beach house to surf break, it’s 5.5 stabilizes at 21 percent, and my range the Taycan was literally dancing and miles, so by the time I make it back home actually goes up to 64 miles once I’m bucking under its own power. It reached to swap boards, my estimated range has back to the interstate. Halfway home, the point where I needed to make steering dropped from 239 to 226 miles, and my I’m out of the foothills, my range up to 70 corrections to keep the car pointed straight battery is down to 94 percent. miles, and I’ve had the heat and then the during those first 1.7 seconds. At about A/C going the whole time. 2.5 seconds, I could barely detect the 1–2 Cruising up the interstate at L.A.’s gear change happening at the rear motor, standard pace of 80 mph with the A/C Pulling into the driveway, my battery guessing at 63 mph. on, my range is down to 193 miles and the is down to just 13 percent, but I still have battery to 80 percent when I reach the 51 miles of range left. I’ve driven 154 miles It’s interesting that our three quickest foothills and begin my ascent toward the from sea level to the top of a 7,000- quarter-milers are, to this day, hybrid- Crest. No matter, it’s only 64 miles each foot mountain and back, I’ve driven it electric hypercars, but the previous way from the house to the lifts at Mount hard, and the car still thinks it’ll beat its battery-electric vehicle record holder Waterman, well within the Taycan’s EPA EPA-estimated range. Trifecta complete. was the Tesla Model S P100D (aka “Plood”) Ludicrous+ with its 10.51-second pass at Scott Evans 125.0 mph. The Taycan Turbo S, carrying 218 pounds more curb weight, did not reach You can fit a longboard in a Taycan if you 30 or 60 mph as quickly as the Model S, but drop the rear seats and scoot the front seat because of its rear two-speed transmission up, leaving just enough room for a passenger. and higher combined output, it did reach 100 mph 0.12 second earlier. It also crossed Photo: Jade Nelson the 1,320-foot finish line 0.04 second sooner going a significant 5.7 mph faster with a 10.47-second, 130.7-mph pass. Congratulations, Porsche, on your slim victory. If the Teslarati are correct, though, a 2020 model year over-the-air firmware update to the newest Tesla Model S Perfor- mance Raven might have something to say about that. Chris Walton MAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 63
WORDS MIGUEL CORTINA As a child in Mexico City, I grew up tax” on imported pickups) for keeping The Suzuki Swift’s chunky design might not surrounded by VW Beetles and many of these global models off U.S. soil. be for everyone, but its punchy engine and Nissan Tsurus blaring a brunette handling chops will delight. Shakira’s early work. Whether During my recent trip to Mexico iconic green-painted taxis or City, I had the chance to drive six cars hills surrounding Mexico City or simply privately owned cars, those two that haven’t made it stateside. From cruising on flat terrain, the Swift Sport is models played a big role in the lives of the wallet-friendly Dodge Neon to the honest and happy to keep going. Mexican families. And like with the near-luxury Peugeot 3008 SUV, Mexicans budding Latin pop star, few in the U.S. even have access to a range of creative options The curvy highways seemed to be knew they existed. barred to Americans. where the Swift was most comfortable, leaning into the turns yet exhibiting little Back then, the Mexican car market Suzuki abandoned the U.S. car market body roll. But its torsion-beam suspen- wasn’t known for cool cars. But over the in 2012 (though it still sells motorcycles, sion kept the rear a bit loose, especially past two decades, as new automakers have ATVs, and marine engines here), and the over pavement in poor condition. entered the country and participated in Swift Sport is one reason we wish it had its vibrant economy by building assembly stuck around. plants, youthful and distinct vehicles have begun to populate the streets. Backed by a 1.4-liter turbo-four engine, this small hot hatch takes to winding I’m not talking about cheap, small cars, roads with attitude. The engine, which either, but fun, inspiring, thrilling enthu- comes mated to a six-speed manual, siast models. Today, the Mexican market produces only 138 hp, but its 170 lb-ft of is full of surprises. From the 290-hp Seat torque makes the car feel punchy and León Cupra hatchback to the subcompact fun. Step on the gas, and you’ll see the Suzuki Swift Sport with its revvy four-cyl- rpm climb quickly, and its short-throw inder turbo, dozens of delicious treats transmission helps give this front-driver unavailable to American shoppers exist a measure of sportiness. south of the border. On the highway, this hatch feels eager Blame stricter safety regulations, costly to deliver. Whether you’re climbing the emissions compliance laws, and big competition (not to mention the “chicken 64 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
LIMITS DELICIOUS FORBIDDEN FRUIT IS HIDING SOUTH OF THE BORDER The interior is dominated by a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The lack of a volume knob reminded me of the pre-refresh Hondas, but thankfully the D-shaped leath- er-wrapped steering wheel does have volume controls. Up front, the red trim on the door panels, center console, and dashboard matches the red stitching and “Sport” embroidery on the seats. Once you start driving, you’ll notice the lack of an armrest and proper center console. The Swift is only 153.1 inches long, about 7 inches shorter than a Kia Rio hatchback, so there’s just enough space for four adults. The low headroom in the rear could be a problem for tall passen- gers, but legroom was just enough for my 6-foot frame. Overall, the Suzuki Swift Sport is a fun subcompact hatch that offers an enter- taining driving experience for a low price. That we don’t have anything close to it here makes us miss Suzuki on this side of the border. It’s back! Well, not really. The Dodge The Dodge Neon’s small touchscreen lacks update much of its equipment before its Neon is technically a rebadged Fiat Tipo, any kind of smartphone compatibility, arrival—thus driving up the price from and it arrived in the Mexican market unfortunately; the list of both standard its $16,600 starting sticker (per current in 2016. Although there were rumors it and optional features is limited. exchange rates) in Mexico. But as FCA could make it to the U.S., those rumors has walked away from sedans, especially died once the Big Three abandoned The Neon’s transmission shifted compact ones as seen with the rapid exit sedans in America. But in Mexico, where smoothly and mostly at the correct rpm, of the Dodge Dart/Chrysler 200, don’t the sedan segment is big and healthy, a heroically working with the down-on- expect to see the Neon back on American car like the Neon works well. power engine, though downshifts were soil unless it has Mexican plates. ponderous. Its spacious cabin and affordability are its biggest assets, but it would be much Body roll was pronounced on twisty nicer if it came with a more powerful roads, but the suspension capably engine. We sampled the 1.6-liter E-torQ absorbed the rough pavement. The quiet that develops 110 hp and 112 lb-ft, the ride was unexpected in this price range. punchier of the two available mills. That’s simply not enough juice for Because the Neon is an economy car, driving in the city. Nestled in a valley in its list of amenities isn’t very attractive. the center of the country, Mexico City The 5.0-inch touchscreen with Uconnect stands at over 7,300 feet elevation, and is pretty basic, and it lacks any kind the Neon was a victim of the altitude; it of smartphone compatibility. A four- struggled every time I went uphill. speaker audio system is as much as you’ll get for your music. And because rearview The six-speed automatic only helped a cameras aren’t mandatory in Mexico, the little under manual mode, but the lack of medium-spec Neon we drove came only power was evident from the beginning. with rear parking sensors. Had the Neon made its way back into the U.S. market, FCA would have had to MAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 65
FEATURE The pictures don’t do justice to the Peugeot 3008. Its refined lines and bold stance differentiate it from other SUVs on the road. Peugeot is coming back to the U.S. market, and its newest models are a sign of what the company has done to improve its reliability and brand identity since the bad old days. The 3008 is a compact SUV that slides between a Toyota C-HR and RAV4 in terms of size, and the upscale design and sharp interior of our GT Line tester had us wondering whether this was a traditional SUV or a luxury crossover. The City is Honda’s entry-level sedan products in Latin America are regarded engine and transmission. The 1.5-liter in Mexico. Developed specifically for as a bit more upscale than those from naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine emerging markets, the City’s combina- other non-luxury automakers, it’s not produces 118 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque, tion of a spacious interior, an affordable uncommon to see a City on the streets of and a CVT sends power to the front price, and Honda’s great reputation has Mexico’s capital. wheels. Although the City isn’t notable made it quite popular south of the border. for its quick ride or sharp handling, Although the Japanese automaker’s The subcompact City shares its plat- it was easy to drive in an urban area form with the Fit but uses a different 66 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
The 3008 GT Line ups the game with its near- luxury cabin and a digital gauge cluster that offers different graphics per the driver’s mood. Sit in the driver’s seat, and you’ll feel We sampled the top-spec GT Line deliver more spirited driving. On curvy this Peugeot was designed with a sport 3008. It’s powered by a 163-hp, 177-lb-ft roads, its low profile contributed to its appeal in mind. The flat-top and -bottom 1.6-liter turbo gas engine mated to a low body roll, but I wish its handling steering wheel could have come from the six-speed auto, and although Peugeot were better, and some of the bumps Ford GT, and its infotainment controls, says the 3008 can go from 0 to 62 mph in were quickly felt inside the cabin. influenced by aviation switches, add to 9.9 seconds, it felt quicker than that. the sporty ambiance. With Americans buying SUVs quicker Its engine feels peppy, especially when than Bad Bunny’s latest single, it makes Then there’s the all-digital instrument trying to pass slower-moving vehicles. sense for Peugeot to bring the 3008 panel with graphics that can be tailored The transmission takes a while to down- stateside as one of its first models. The from sportier to more traditional. And shift, but in Sport mode, the throttle, size, packaging, and design should be the quilted leather seats and premium gearbox, and steering settings change to attractive to American buyers. cloth found on the door panels and dash- board up the Pug’s game. Later this year, a new generation of the Honda City, which will boast an updated design and better cabin tech, will make its way to Mexico. as congested as Mexico City. The City of technology amenities, this Honda the entry-car market space, there’s zero reminded me of the previous-gen Civic, comes with a push-start button, auto- chance the City will ever make it north which did its job well but wasn’t particu- matic climate control, and a rearview of the border. larly known for its performance. camera, something not common in entry-level cars in Mexico. But for those in Mexico and other The sixth-gen City has been on sale emerging markets who want the space since 2014, so some of its technology is With the Civic being such a strong and reliability of a Honda, this City outdated. It did receive a face-lift in 2017, player in the U.S. and the Fit holding delivers the basics at an affordable price. but it still uses Honda’s old infotainment system, which lacks Apple CarPlay, MAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 67 Android Auto, and a volume knob. Nonetheless, the City delivers great packaging and interior space; rear legroom and headroom are ample for tall passengers, and there’s still plenty of cargo room. Despite its relative lack
FEATURE I Cars of Mexico Based on the same platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Seat Tarraco features a modern front end and crisp lines for a far superior exterior design. The Spanish brand Seat (part of the VW the front-drive Tarraco produces 148 hp mode does help a bit, but it still didn’t hydra) has recently been making hot and 184 lb-ft of torque and comes mated feel sufficient. news, particularly with the new subbrand to a six-speed DSG gearbox. Although Cupra, focusing on performance- we’ve enjoyed this engine in the Golf, it Those looking to buy a compact oriented models. feels too small for the Tarraco. crossover in Mexico might be satisfied with its styling, standard equipment, and We drove Seat’s mainstream version With only 148 horsepower under pricing. I drove the top-trim Xcellence, of the VW Tiguan—the new three-row my command, the seven-seat SUV had which came sporting premium cloth Tarraco, which arrived in Mexico in 2019 trouble gaining speed, and even when I seats with suede inserts, an 8.0-inch and whose sharp styling has made it a used the paddle shifters, it didn’t shine touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and popular alternative. when trying to pass slower vehicles. Android Auto, a 360-degree camera The terrain management system allows view, and a three-zone climate control Propelled by the same 1.4-liter turbo- the driver to choose from Eco, Normal, system—something you don’t often see four engine as in the Volkswagen Golf, Sport, and Individual drive modes; Sport in Mexican-spec cars. The Amarok has been in Volkswagen’s Amarok competes against the Toyota U.S., it’s unlikely we’ll see this Amarok lineup since 2010, but the truck has Hilux, Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, and stateside. always stayed away from the U.S. due Mitsubishi L200. The body-on-frame to the “chicken tax” tariff on imported pickup was conceived under VW’s The Amarok Dune 4x4 is powered by pickups signed by President Lyndon Commercial Vehicles division, and espe- a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder mill Johnson in 1963. cially as the automaker is considering that produces 138 hp and a gutsy 251 lb-ft building the Tanoak and selling it in the of torque and comes mated to a six-speed A popular truck in South America, the manual transmission. Although this trim 68 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
With a panoramic roof and three-zone climate control, the Seat Tarraco has been getting attention for its value and available features. The exterior is quite appealing; I prefer it over the Tiguan’s. The LED daytime running lights and hoodline give it a distinctive look, as do its smaller grille and new front fascia. Strategically priced just below the Tiguan, the Tarraco is a good alterna- tive for those seeking ample space and convenience features. It needs more power, but as crossovers gain popu- larity, the Tarraco is a strong addition for the Seat brand. Now, if only I’d had time to drive a León or Ateca Cupra … The popular off-roader is offered in fancier trims, but the Dune 4x4 variant we tested felt more like a work truck. includes black alloy wheels and a touch- every other unladen truck, the Amarok seat back is quite upright, which is screen compatible with Apple CarPlay felt bouncy when driving on city streets reminiscent of the two-door Ranger XL and Android Auto, its black plastic front and highways, so a little weight in the bed we had at Truck of the Year. fascia and pale interior make it feel more wouldn’t hurt. like a work truck. The Amarok has proven to be a As befits a work truck, the cabin is popular truck globally, and with VW You might think 138 hp is meager pretty plain with hard plastics every- and Ford forming a joint venture to power for a truck of this size, and you’d where and a steering wheel devoid of produce a midsize truck for us Yanks, be right. The Amarok feels quite slow buttons. The crew cab provides decent we could see a VW-badged truck in the when driven on the highway and strug- space for rear passengers, but the rear U.S. sooner than later. Q gled to pass slower vehicles, but it did feel torquey. The manual transmission helps, and I found myself downshifting quite a bit when climbing the hills that surround the west part of the city. Like almost MAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 69
FIRST DRIVE I BMW M235i As much as we hope the average sold outside of China. Make no mistake, consumer, upon stepping into a rear-drive car for the first time, will though: This platform (unlike the UKL1 experience an epiphany regarding the thrill of properly tuned vehicle derivative) has been a crossover-SUV dynamics, it’s a fantasy. platform from day one. A decade ago, then-BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer told us 80 percent of 1 Series What do you get when you build a owners believed their cars were front- wheel drive. He pitched it as a good thing, sport sedan out of a crossover? A sedan seeing an easy path to introducing front- drive products in the future. Well, here that drives like a sporty crossover. Think we are: the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. X2, but with a trunk. It’s quick around a Specifically, the 2020 BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe. The xDrive compo- corner and has plenty of power, but it feels nent of that long name is critical, as every 2 Series Gran Coupe shipped to like driving a simulation of a sport sedan. the U.S., be it an entry 228i or this sporty M-improved car, will be all-wheel drive. People who’ve never bought a sport sedan Primarily, though, the transversely mounted engine will power the front before, the exact kind of people who might wheels, with the rear axle disconnected until it’s needed. be looking to get into a new BMW for the It’s a familiar design, one you’ll recog- first time, will think it’s very quick and nize from BMW- and Mini-branded crossovers. Indeed, the 2 Series Gran handles very well. BMW engineers say they’ve gone to Coupe is just the second sedan built on the UKL2 architecture and the only one Sure, it does, but it’s an artificial feeling. tremendous effort to ensure the car A facsimile of performance. It’s a half-day doesn’t feel like a routine front-drive high-performance driving experience, hatchback and have even coaxed the not racing school. It’s safe and sane, not all-wheel-drive system into drifting in just Roman candles. the right conditions. PART SEDAN, PART Those conditions are not to be found CROSSOVER, PART on public roads, where the M235i Gran Coupe either just grips or, if you try to M CAR, THE NEW 2 carry real speed into a tight corner, under- SERIES GRAN COUPE steers until you go back to throttle. It’s counterintuitive, but that’s how you drive TRIES TO DO A LOT a modern performance all-wheel-drive WITH A LITTLE system. All that weight in the nose is going to fight a change in direction, but power and grip distributed correctly via the stan- dard Torsen limited-slip front differential and brake-actuated rear torque vectoring can pull the car through a corner. WORDS SCOTT EVANS 70 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
FIRST DRIVE It certainly has power. At 301 horse- BMW continues to update its iDrive 2020 BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe power and 332 lb-ft of torque, it’s the infotainment system, which is too layered most powerful four-cylinder engine now. Still, it boasts over-the-air updates BASE PRICE $46,495 BMW makes. The company says the and the ability to buy software features— M235i xDrive Gran Coupe will hit 60 such as automatic high-beams—through VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, mph from a standstill in 4.6 seconds the system long after you’ve left the lot. 5-pass, 4-door sedan using launch control. Shunting as much Even better, BMW no longer charges for as half the engine’s output to the rear axle Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; those ENGINE 2.0L/301-hp/332-lb-ft prevents torque steer, aiding the illusion are now standard. As a cherry on top, the turbocharged DOHC of rear-drive dynamics. optional head-up display will show navi- 16-valve I-4 gation instructions from your connected Comfort driving mode does betray phone, not just from the built-in system. TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic noticeable turbo lag at low engine speeds, so if you’re not brake torquing or using A sedan built on a crossover platform CURB WEIGHT 3,600 lb (mfr) launch control, there’s going to be a and styled like a crossover is going to moment’s hesitation and a surge when struggle with its identity, but you know WHEELBASE 105.1 in you just mash the throttle. Sport mode what? That’s fine. Most people don’t use LxWxH 178.5 x 70.9 x 55.9 in tightens everything a bit too much for the rear seats very often, and no one buys 0-60 MPH 4.6 sec (mfr est) everyday driving, but slotting the shifter a sedan to haul furniture. Most people into its S position is a nice compromise. don’t track their daily driver, either. EPA CITY/HWY/COMB 23/32/26 mpg Sport mode and S position combined are FUEL ECON for when you really want to drive like turn The M235i xDrive Gran Coupe will signals were never invented. make the average driver feel like a hero ENERGY CONSUMPTION, 147/105 kW-hr/ while keeping them out of too much As a plain sedan, the 2 Series Gran trouble. Is it an M product the way the CITY/HWY 100 miles Coupe is likewise compromised. The M2 Competition Coupe is? Not at all, but rear doors have the smallest aperture of look how many of those BMW sells. The CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.74 lb/mile any door hinged at the front, making it people who want the full-on M car will a squeeze to get in and out. There’s just buy it. This is for all the other people who ON SALE IN U.S. Currently enough room for an average-sized adult want a fast daily. They’ll love it. Q in the back seat if the front passengers are average in height and the rear passengers This ain’t your ordinary turbo-four engine. don’t move their heads out of the carve- It’s the most powerful one BMW makes. outs in the ceiling. The rear driver-side passenger sits on one of the buckles for the deployable center seat belt, which won’t see much use owing to lack of space. Further back, the short trunklid is more mail slot than parcel dump. One full-size suitcase will fit, and you can probably cram some smaller bags around it. Blame the serious case of “X6 butt,” coupled with the decision to keep it a traditional trunk and not a hatchback like the larger 4 Series. For something trying hard not to be a crossover, there’s an awful lot of crossover styling in it, from that back end all the way up to the familiar X2’s nose. The interior is quiet and comfortable—even the optional sport seats. BMW clearly prioritized front-seat comfort, as those passengers get the lion’s share of available interior space.
FIRST DRIVE I 2020 Cadillac CT5-V Ibelieve I can be forgiven for my negative Riding on the second generation of Identically sized and vehicle-specific preconceived notions going into this GM’s game-changing Alpha platform— Michelin PS4S rubber wraps all four drive. See, at our annual Car of the Year called simply Alpha 2—the CT5-V is wheels, clocking in at 245/40ZR19. An brouhaha, we drove the non-V version stuffed to its funny-looking C-pillar with all-season tire is available, but as a Cali- of the CT5. We did not like it. It was one all sorts of go-fast GM parts. The 3.0-liter fornian I say, “Who cares?” For the first of the first cars we culled, and one that led twin-turbo V-6 makes 360 horsepower time ever a Cadillac V product is available to almost every judge muttering a version and 405 lb-ft of torque. A performance with AWD, but the fine folks at Cadillac of, “What is Cadillac thinking?” iteration of the 10-speed automatic are quick to point out that they’re talking codeveloped by GM and Ford is the only AWD for bad weather (whatever that is), It’s not like we’re Cadillac haters, gearbox for now, though don’t act too not as a performance enhancer. As such, either. When the CTS—one of the cars shocked if a six-speed manual shows up Cadillac claims the CT5-V will hit 60 mph the CT5 replaces—was new in 2014, we for model year 2021. The fourth genera- in 4.6 seconds, with the AWD version named it our Car of the Year. But when it tion of MagneRide handles damping at all coming in a touch slower. came to the CT5, among the many things four corners. Brembos do the braking via we dinged it for were its “overworked the same brake-by-wire system found on Add this all up, and the CT5-V is turbo-four engine” and “lackluster driving the new mid-engine Corvette. Traction now Cadillac’s midgrade performance dynamics.” Surely the upcoming V version control is handled by GM’s PTM system— car (think Audi S4, BMW M340i, and would be the CT5’s savior? We could be that’s short for Performance Traction Mercedes-AMG C 43). And a more forgiven for thinking, “No.” Management. GM’s fiendishly effective powerful, unnamed range topper is eLSD electromechanical locking differen- coming. Will that future car (I’m guessing tial puts the power down out back. it will be called something like CT5-V Max) have the 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 WORDS JONNY LIEBERMAN 72 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
and 10-speed auto powertrain combo Quad exhaust tips and a unique diffuser help distinguish that powers the Chevy Camaro ZL1? the Cadillac CT5-V’s rear end from the base model. Yeah. I’d guess power levels at around 650 hp and 650 lb-ft, just like the big Really, it’s the CT5-V’s healthy torque 2020 Cadillac CT5-V Camaros. curve that makes it feel so good, espe- cially when coupled with the 10-speed PRICE $48,690-$51,290 Prices start at $48,690 for the auto’s closely spaced gears. It’s OK for rear-drive CT5-V and $51,290 for the an auto (you can skip manual mode and LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD/ all-wheel driver. Insanely, Super Cruise— its reluctance to downshift). Even with AWD, 5-pass, 4-door Cadillac’s game-changing, best-in- a stick, that 6,000-rpm redline would sedan business, hands-free, sorta-autonomous be low. Still, acceleration is strong, and driving mode—isn’t available on the thanks to all sorts of deceitful wizardry ENGINE 3.0L/360-hp/405-lb- 2020 models. However, the 2021 CT5-V from the speakers, it sounds good, too. ft twin-turbo DOHC is coming sooner than you think, and it Yes, some of what you’re hearing is fake. 24-valve V-6 will have it. It’s such a great technology I’m too old to be outraged. that I recommend waiting. TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic I’m not too old to recognize a great CURB WEIGHT 3,850-3,950 lb (est) Now we drive. The big difference performance car when I drive one. between a normal car and a performance Powerful enough, priced great, and WHEELBASE 116.0 in car (especially a real performance car) stacked with world-class perfor- is found during a corner. In a regular car mance parts and a chassis that’s best LXWXH 193.8 x 74.1 x 57.2 in you worry about the turn you’re in. With in segment, the CT5-V will take on a performance car, because it handles and beat whatever the Japanese and 0-60 MPH 4.6-4.8 sec (mfr est) so damn well, you worry about the next German competition can throw at it. Q corner coming at you. I am happy, stoked, EPA FUEL ECON 17-18/25-26/20-21 mpg elated, and surprised to tell you that the CT5-V is squarely in the latter camp. ENERGY CONSUMPTION, 187-198/210-222 This thing drives fabulously. Again, my CITY/HWY kW-hr/100 miles surprise is simply due to how under- whelmed we were with the base CT5. CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.93-0.98 lb/mile From behind the wheel, you would have a difficult time believing the V version ON SALE Currently is in any way related to the standard car. We’re talking vast differences in every way a car performs. To break it down, the engine is sweet. Its 360 horsepower is plenty (though why not 100 more?), especially because the CT5-V is relatively light. We haven’t weighed one, but we have weighed the four-cylinder CT5: 3,693 pounds. Figure another 100 or 150 pounds for the V model. OK, “light” is the wrong word, but (probably) less than the 3,875-pound Mercedes-AMG C 43. In our Car of the Year testing, we liked the MAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 73 CT5’s carbon-fiber trim pieces but felt the interior was otherwise uninspiring. The CT5-V has done little to change that point of view.
ACURA RDX Updates on our long-term fleet MT base Atlas V6 with FWD will Already racking up the miles, set you back $36,490. the Telluride is proving to be a comfortable companion on The S trim gets a few all-day photo scouting trips. upgrades from the LX. On the inside we get a powered ARRIVAL: 2020 Kia Telluride S V6 and heated driver’s seat, LED interior lamps, and a leather- EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ Three rows of comfortable wrapped shift knob. The most 20/26/23 mpg seating: Check. V-6 engine important upgrades are found feeding power through an on the outside and include “This isn’t the fanciest Telluride Kia eight-speed automatic: Check. 20-inch wheels, a more premi- offers, but even the lower trims come Front-drive: Unfortunately, um-looking front grille insert, packed with value.” William Walker check. With an MSRP of a sunroof, dual exhaust tips, $36,015, our Telluride S V6 and satin chrome–finished Base price $35,085 As tested $36,015 actually comes in $2,250 less exterior trim pieces. than the $38,265 commanded A ny readers unfortu- my opinion changed for by the outgoing Atlas. With It’s not that the LX version nate enough to have the better after the steering the spec charts aligning so is a bad-looking vehicle, but followed my disap- issue was remedied, it wasn’t well, this year should be full of the added touches that come pointing year with our long- enough to leave me with a comparisons between my old along on the S trim make it term 2018 Volkswagen Atlas positive outlook from my year dog and the new pup. look even better. Likewise, know it was a complicated with the supersized VW. Starting one step up from the jumping all the way up to the one. A cavernous, comfort- bottom LX trim, our Telluride top-dog SX trim continues able interior and gutsy V-6 Say hello to the newest S started at an impressive the visual improvements were not enough to overcome member of the MotorTrend $35,085. For comparison, the with slick black-finished the deficiencies in driving long-term fleet, our 2020 SUV wheels, dual sunroofs, and dynamics and a persistent of the Year, the Kia Telluride. LED headlamps and foglights. steering problem. Although Whether it’s battling all the Alas, we will continue to be new or significantly changed envious of those who forked SUVs during this year’s Of over the additional $7,500 The Year event or playing one for the coolest version of the on one against the Hyundai Telluride. Palisade during a comparison test, the Telluride has thus Our Everlasting Silver far been victorious. I’m just Telluride S is powered by hoping it will be the salve to a 3.8-liter V-6 making 291 help heal the wounds of frus- horsepower and 262 lb-ft, and tration left by the Atlas. it sends all that power through an eight-speed transmission On paper, the Telluride and to the front wheels. Does all Atlas look pretty similar. of the power going through the front wheels result in any torque steer? Yes, it does. Also, 74 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
BMW X2 CHRYSLER GENESIS G70 HONDA UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE ARRIVAL PACIFICA INSIGHT HYUNDAI JEEP KIA SOUL KIA TELLURIDE KONA WRANGLER MAZDA3 NISSAN RAM SUBARU TOYOTA VOLKSWAGEN VOLVO S60 VOLVO KICKS 1500 LARAMIE ASCENT RAV4 ATLAS UPDATE XC60 UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE Our S trim doesn’t get the 10.3-inch 2020 Kia Soul screen and fancy dash of the EX and SX, but it’s still a nice place to be. in Sport mode, it will light captain’s chairs with a 60/40 Service life: up the front tires if you give split-folding bench seat. 2 mo/3,784 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 26.7 mpg it too much throttle from a The captain’s chairs have a standstill, or so I have been premium look and makes “The Soul doesn’t scream ‘I made it,’ told. Sure, a little more torque access to the third-row easier, but I still like the COTY finalist enough would be great, and I’d prefer but a bench is more useful, to stunt on them haters.” Robin Trajano to have the optional AWD, and my dog hammock only but overall the engine and works with a bench. Getting Avg CO2 0.73 lb/mi Energy cons 125 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved transmission are really well us to that reasonable $36,015 problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0 matched to the chassis. price tag, we added carpeted Base price $23,685 As-tested $25,755 EPA City/Hwy/Comb The Telluride is a pleasure floormats, a cargo cover, a Fuel Econ 27/33/30 mpg Real MPG 23.5/36.2/27.9 mpg to drive. During our SUV of cargo tray, and an auto-dim- the Year evaluation, many ming rearview mirror with I started off my year in the trim kinda gives off Range of this year’s judges sang its a HomeLink garage door 2020 Kia Soul EX with a Rover Sport vibes. praises for comfort, quietness, opener and compass. lot of feelings. Sadness, and refinement compared to confusion, and a little bit of Finally, it has a lot of cargo the rest of the class. My first With the Telluride starting hope. After some time with it, room with the second row impression is that when it off strong with an SUV of I’ve learned a few things about folded—62.2 cubic feet, almost comes to ride and handling, the Year and a Big Test win, it that I like and some things I an exact match for my old the Telluride is in a different I have reason to hope that don’t. Let’s start with former. BMW X3’s 62.7 cubes. league than the Atlas. my year with the three-row Looking around from the Kia should be pleasant. Things I Like The IVT (Intelligent Things I Don’t Like Lots of NVH, comfortable black Sofino Maintaining much of Variable Transmission) is intel- especially under hard accel- leatherette driver’s seat, the the utility offered by the ligently tuned. It uses the little eration. The noise that fills the Telluride’s interior is pretty gargantuan VW Atlas but in available power to make the cabin when you mash the gas nice. We opted for the $100 a more refined package, the car feel peppier in real-world pedal makes it clear you’re eight-seater option, which Telluride is already giving me situations. This is a pleasant driving an economy car. replaces the second-row a more positive outlook for surprise because in my experi- the 12 months to come. ence, other CVTs feel like they It only has 24.2 cubic feet suck the life out of engines. The of cargo volume with the 2020 Kia Telluride S V6 Vehicle Layout Front-engine, FWD, Soul is still slow off the line, but second-row seats up; if you’re 8-pass, 4-door SUV Engine 3.8L/291-hp/262-lb-ft DOHC once you’re moving, it responds transporting much stuff at 24-valve V-6 Transmission 8-speed automatic quickly to throttle changes. once, you’ll need to fold the Wheelbase 114.2 in 0-60 MPH 7.2 sec (est) Energy Consumption, seats down to make room. City/Hwy 169/130 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions 0.87 lb/mile Kia’s infotainment system is intuitive and responsive, and it The small cargo opening Height 68.9” has features you really use. For makes it hard to shoot out example, it tells you what wiper of the hatch, and there's no setting you’re in so you don’t sunroof to shoot out of. But have to squint behind the wheel these are very specific prob- in the dark to try to read the lems for photographers. wiper stalk. The short wheelbase paired The exterior styling is sharp with the lower-profile 18-inch and stands out in the oversatu- wheels and tires make for a rated subcompact segment. I’m choppy ride. And I want more glad Kia decided to retain the power. Give me the turbo! Soul’s boxy figure. The GT-Line These early impressions may change as I get to know the Soul more. Stay tuned. Width 78.3” Length 196.9” MAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 75
MT GARAGE The Toyota RAV4 thankfully doesn’t rely on a 2019 Toyota RAV4 touchscreen for everything. Its buttons and knobs have a satisfying rubbery feel. Service life: 3 mo/6,781 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 26.9 “It may be an SUV for the masses, but the RAV4 definitely has its quirks.” Kelly Lin Avg CO2 0.72 lb/mi Energy cons 125 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0 Base price $29,945 As-tested $31,509 EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ 25/33/28 mpg Real MPG 24.2/39.1/29.2 mpg city/hwy/comb W e’ve doled out makes it easy to toggle to just The cargo area isn’t as big as a touchscreen on our XLE tester plenty of praise the right temperature. Under- CR-V’s, but it’s still spacious. isn’t a multicolor display, only and criticism to the neath the climate controls is a featuring blue and white, and RAV4 in previous reviews. We’ve handy slot for your phone. Most Inevitably, there are a few it’s a bit slow to respond. commended its sharp styling important, our XLE tester has features that can use improve- and spacious second row but cozy fabric seats. Neither too ment. The power tailgate If you’re playing media from lamented its coarse engine and soft nor too firm, they keep us is slow to open and close your device, we hope it’s not transmission. Now that we’ve comfortable for a few hours of compared with other vehicles, an Android. Android Auto is spent a few months in the small driving at a time. which gets a little annoying not available on 2019 models, crossover, we can nitpick some when you’re loading your gear but Toyota remedied this error of the finer details. When it’s time to take a road in a hurry. The standard 7.0-inch for 2020, making the feature trip, the RAV4 offers plenty of standard. Sometimes, pressing a room for your gear in the trunk, physical button is better than though it’s not as spacious as And although we appre- fiddling around with a touch- the Honda CR-V’s cargo bay. ciate the RAV4’s interior screen. We like the physical On a road trip to Reno, Nevada, design, with its clean layout HVAC knobs on the RAV4 not photography director Brian and eye-catching dash- only because they’re large Vance was able to fit luggage board stitching, the doors but also because they have a for four in the cargo area, plus are uncomfortable to close grippy, rubbery surface that a portable crib and stroller. because of the slanted angle of the handles. 2018 Nissan Kicks When you need space for odds and ends, the Nissan Kicks has it. Service life: Nissan claims the Kicks has 8 mo/14,991 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 30.2 mpg 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place and “Nissan’s subcompact Kicks crossover 53.1 cubic feet with the 60/40 passed my practicality test, but not split-folding rear bench down. with flying colors.” Stefan Ogbac Respectable, but those dimen- sions don’t take into account the Avg CO2 0.64 lb/mi Energy cons 112 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved lip between the cargo floor and problems None Maintenance cost $190.05 (2-oil change, the seat back, which prevents inspection, tire rotation) Normal-wear cost $0 you from laying long or large items flat across. You can remedy Base price $21,635 As-tested $23,000 EPA City/Hwy/Comb the situation slightly by getting the two-level accessory floor, but Fuel Econ 31/36/33 mpg Real MPG 28.7/39.8/32.8 mpg you still need to deal with the angled seat backs. I love Ikea. If I need something for my house, I go there first To get the 57.0-inch-long shelf package in, I had to move the before exploring other options because 99 percent of the driver’s seat forward slightly. The wide hatch provided more time, Ikea has a solution for my home needs. Plus, I can chow wiggle room to maneuver bulky furniture, and the low liftover down on some tasty meatballs and smoked salmon before I height meant I didn’t have to strain my back as I was loading peruse the showroom in search of my next piece of stylish (and it in. The Kicks’ tall greenhouse makes transporting tall affordable) Swedish furniture. When the time came for a new objects or stacking suitcases a cinch with the rear seats folded. shelf, I brought along our long-term 2018 Nissan Kicks assess its If all seats are taken, however, the rear window’s angle limits how practicality chops. high you can stack your bags and boxes. 76 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020 For its size, the Nissan Kicks has a spacious interior, but its packaging could use some improvement. Competitors like the Kia Soul and conventional hatch- backs like the Volkswagen Golf have superior cabin packaging with generous underfloor storage, flat load floors, and fewer intrusions, giving you more flexibility for hauling your wares. In the Kicks, you need to get a little creative when carrying oversized or odd-shaped items.
2019 Hyundai Kona Service life: 5 mo/5,491 miles • Avg Fuel Econ: 23.6 mpg “As long as you’re not moving to a new home every few months or running a furniture delivery service from your garage, the Kona offers versatile space in a small package.” Jesse Bishop Avg CO2 0.82 lb/mi Energy cons 140 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0 Base price $29,880 As-tested $30,005 EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ 26/29/27 mpg Real MPG 25.3/36.3/29.2 mpg H yundai says the Kona SUV CR-V outclassed my 2019 Hyundai is “smart on space.” In prior Kona. No surprise there; it has almost 60 updates, we’ve confirmed it has percent more total cargo volume, albeit a surprising amount of versatility for its without a flat load floor. Small, smart size. Recently, though, my wife and I put packaging is often better than simply it through its toughest test: moving an big. But when you just have to get things entire apartment. moved as quickly as possible, size does matter. Not that I would expect anyone When we signed a lease on a new to buy a Kona for regular use as a moving home only 1.5 miles away from our vehicle, but if, say, you need something current apartment, we thought it would that can pull double duty as personal be a good idea to just move all our city transportation and a delivery vehicle stuff ourselves and not rent a moving for your furniture restoration side hustle, van. The Kona should be able to handle you’d be wise to look at other options. almost everything we have except the mattress, right? The back seats fold flat, One more point in the Kona’s favor, creating an impressive 45.8 cubic feet of against both the old CR-V and the new cargo space, and on visual inspection, it Ram 1500 (admittedly a competitive appeared the cargo opening was large set no one will ever shop): its backup enough to accommodate most things. camera. When you’re packing boxes to the roof, you’re going to have quite a few At first, I thought that initial assump- blind spots. All new cars sold in the U.S. tion would prove correct. We had a few are required to have backup cameras, larger pieces of furniture that would but all cameras are not created equal. require a truck—our long-term Ram 1500 When blind creeping out of a driveway, handled that, though an actual moving a camera with a wide view gives you a van would’ve been more convenient—but bit more time to hit the brakes if a car is for smaller furniture and boxes, the Kona coming up in your box-filled blind spot. seemed sufficient. But as we transported load after load, we realized the stacks of I found the Kona’s camera worked stuff in the old apartment didn’t seem to better in this regard than the Ram’s, be getting much smaller. though that likely depends on the exact nature of your load and the specific blind After a few days of watching the pile spots you’re navigating. My wife’s CR-V, dwindle slower than desired, we realized on the other hand, predates manda- the Kona’s limitations. Sure, it’s smart tory cameras by a decade. We have on space—for single trips. But when you an aftermarket unit from Pioneer that have a lot to move, it doesn’t matter how generally gets the job done, but it pales smartly 45.8 cubic feet are packaged. in comparison to the OEM offerings from Sometimes you simply need more space, Hyundai and Ram. and in this respect, my wife’s 2008 Honda
MT GARAGE Real wood trim is always a nice touch, and the Volvo S60’s 2019 Volvo S60 interior doesn’t disappoint. Service life: 5 mo/9,752 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 24.2 mpg “Volvo’s On Call app has some nice features, but it failed me when a check engine light came on.” Miguel Cortina Avg CO2 0.80 lb/mi Energy cons 140 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0 Base price $40,300 As-tested $50,630 EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ 21/32/25 mpg Real MPG 18.9/30.7/22.9 mpg A s technology becomes every morning at 7:00 a.m., for tion. You can also see other more accessible, new example, your Volvo can be at important stats like interior phone apps like Volvo your desired interior tempera- temperature and fuel level. On Call let us connect even ture every morning. I’ve found closer with our vehicles. The this feature to be convenient as your address, and using a Maintenance Just as we were app is free for the first four during the hot summer months. Volvo digital key, the driver can approaching 10,000 miles, the years, and I tried it out for a Although you can’t set timers open your trunk to deliver the check engine light came on. few months in my S60. Here are for remote start, you can start package. I haven't used this What was weird is that neither a few things I like and dislike. the engine remotely up to 15 feature yet, but I plan to before the infotainment system nor minutes before you get in; this our S60 goes back this summer. Volvo On Call said anything A/C Controls and Remote helps keep the cabin nice and about it. Volvo On Call has a Start Even when you’re thou- cool (or warm) when you’re Location Through Volvo On Call, Maintenance tab, and even sands of miles away from your about to get going. you can see your car’s location when the check engine light Volvo, you can turn on the A/C while it’s parked. If you forget was on, the app said everything or start the engine through Lock or Unlock Doors This may to lock your car, the app will let was good. A visit to the dealer the app. With Volvo On Call, seem like a normal feature, but you know via a push notifica- revealed the S60 needed a you can set up to eight timers it also allows Amazon to deliver replacement of the evaporation for temperature controls, so if to your car. With in-car deliv- pipes; the dealer replaced them you plan to leave your house eries, you can use your Volvo in about two hours at no cost. 2019 Subaru Ascent One area that has not been an issue is enough interior space for the many tasks our Subaru Ascent has performed. Service life: In other travels, a fast 13 mo/19,043 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 21.0 mpg and furious rock hit the windshield, and the crack “Fingers crossed our Ascent can spread immediately. Turns make it to the finish line with no out, getting a new wind- more dealership visits.” Alisa Priddle shield for a 2019 Ascent isn’t easy. The vehicle is new Avg CO2 0.92 lb/mi Energy cons 160 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved enough that the windshield problems None Maintenance cost $0 (oil change, inspection, had to come from the tire rotation) Normal-wear cost $0 Base price $39,970 dealer, especially because As-tested $43,551 EPA Fuel Econ 20/26/22 mpg ours is equipped with the EyeSight driver assist safety system. The dealer needs the VIN to ascertain which of four windshields W e have had a few mishaps. The Subaru Ascent was you have, and failure to use a genuine Subaru windshield could in New York last year, and City Parking NYC returned result in EyeSight not working properly. Aftermarket glass could it with fresh white paint scraped along the rear door block or distort the camera, preventing EyeSight from accu- and back haunches. After months of waiting for the company to rately measuring objects around it. Once the new windshield is acknowledge its responsibility, we were asked to submit repair installed, a Subaru dealer must inspect and recalibrate EyeSight quotes. They came in at $1,540 and $2,800. The buck has stopped to ensure it’s compatible with the new glass. there, as City Parking dragged its feet before paying for a chunk Chatter in the Ascent forums suggests as long as the cameras of the repair costs. If we weren’t MotorTrend, we wonder if they’d aren’t moved during installation, a recalibration isn’t necessary. have coughed up a cent. We played it safe and got the windshield installed through the dealer. Cost: $865.74, which we’re not calling “normal wear.” On a positive note: We’ve had no tire issues since we got the nail puncture fixed. And the front strut has stopped making that grunching sound as the nose dips upon braking. Maybe the car really did just need a longer break-in period than most. At more than 19,000 miles, the Ascent is averaging 21.0 mpg. It started strong at 22.4 mpg but has been on a downward trajectory since. It has made a lot of trips north, towed a trailer, launched a boat, gone off-roading, and continues to perform yeoman’s service for those in the Detroit bureau. 78 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
2019 Jeep Wrangler Service life: 6 mo/15,718 mi • Avg Fuel Econ: 17.2 mpg “Stock Jeep Wranglers are rarer than hen’s teeth, so I’ve raided the Mopar catalog for some parts.” Christian Seabaugh Avg CO2 1.13 lb/mi Energy cons 198 kW-hr/100 mi Unresolved Preferred Axle Packs problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0 Base price $43,040 As-tested $57,110 EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ Centric Premium Rotors + Posi Quiet Pads 22/24/22 mpg Real MPG 21.4/26.0/23.2 mpg M otorTrend’s 2019 SUV of the Year is Anecdotally, I’ve found our Wrangler’s Select Sport Axle Packs* roughly halfway through its year fuel efficiency has varied considerably with us, and it’s settled nicely into depending on conditions and circum- Select Sport Drilled/Slotted Rotors its day-to-day life of commuting during stance. In Los Angeles traffic, at speeds the week and exploring on the weekends. under 55 mph, the Jeep regularly returns + Street Select Pads *For Street Use Only Since our last update, we’ve ordered 17 to 20 mpg, as indicated by the trip a handful of Mopar accessories for our computer. Highway mileage varies wildly. Truck and SUV Pads Wrangler. We’ve also finally tested it at the I’ve seen everything from an indicated track and on our fuel economy loop. 14 mpg in moderate winds while driving Increased stopping power up and down California’s I-5 on vacation while towing, hauling or Test Day Jeeps—or at least Wranglers—are at the 70 mph speed limit to an indi- when using larger than hardly known for lightning performance, cated 23 mpg on a calm, cool summer’s stock wheel and but our Wrangler Rubicon nevertheless morning across CA-14. tire packages. performed admirably at the test track. Sporting an eTorque 2.0-liter mild hybrid Mopar Accessories Jeep sent a slew of More to see at turbocharged I-4 with 270 hp and 295 accessories, including a tailgate table www.tirerack.com/stoptech lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed ($225), MOLLE bags ($145), front and automatic, it ran from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 rear grab handles ($39 per pair), first seconds and through the quarter mile in aid ($115) and roadside safety ($116) kits, 16.0 seconds at 83.1 mph. That makes it all-weather floormats ($165), door sill about 0.4 second quicker to 60 and 0.2 guards ($75), and a cargo tray ($129). quicker in the quarter than a 2018 eTorque Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon we tested. I’ve installed the grab handles and Interestingly, our long-term Jeep is about MOLLE bags. The bags clip to the back 11 pounds heavier than that Wrangler; of the front passenger seats and hold we’re guessing the extra mileage on our small odds and ends that might other- long-termer has improved performance. wise find themselves bouncing around the cabin. They somewhat impede rear In the equally important braking legroom, though, so I remove them and and handling tests, our Wrangler also reinstall them as needed. outbraked and outhandled that 2018 Wrangler. Our Jeep needed 137 feet for The grab handles are more useful. our 60–0 emergency stop test, and it These install onto the Wrangler’s Sport lapped the figure eight in 29.3 seconds at Bar (rollcage to you and me) with a 0.55 g average. simple T25 Torx bit and a handheld impact driver. All in all, the entire process Real MPG Results Soon after test day, the took 15 minutes, and I must say that so Emissions Analytics team hooked its test far, the extra handles are great to have gear to our Jeep to see how it measures while off-roading. up to its EPA 22/24/22 mpg city/highway/ combined rating. It returned from testing As for the tailgate table, installation with a 21.4/26.0/23.2 Real MPG result, a requires a bit of drilling, so I’ll save that slight improvement on the EPA's numbers. installation for a future update. FAST FREE SHIPPING on All Orders Over $50 www.tirerack.com/freeshipping 888-372-8473 ©2020 Tire Rack
MT GARAGE Verdict: 2018 BMW X3 M40i “When you need SPECS Options Premium ($2,950: heated choppier and, as per a previous update, to make a quick steering wheel/front seats, navigation hindered performance. The Premium and exit, the BMW X3 w/ real-time traffic, head-up display, Executive packages include features I used M40i is a great remote services); Executive ($2,550: auto on a daily basis and made things like the way to get away parking assist, gesture control, 12.3-in head-up display a must for me in every car in style.” digital instrument cluster, Vernasca now. The 360-degree camera system made leather upholstery, F/R parking sensors, parking anywhere a breeze. Another must Robin Trajano surround-view cameras); 21 x 8.5-in front is the ventilated seats, $350 option. and 21 x 9.5-in rear M double-spoke Base price $55,295 As tested $68,670 wheels w/ 245/40R21 front, 275/35R21 The X3 is also easy on the eyes. rear run-flat performance tires); adaptive Proportions are just right, and adaptive Service life: 12 mo/30,800 mi cruise w/ stop ($1,200); active driving full LED headlights and LED foglights Avg Econ/CO2 19.9 mpg/0.97 lb/mi assist ($900: front collision warning with give it presence at night. The hockey low-speed collision mitigation, rear stick–patterned puddle lights are also a T he day I’ve been dreading has finally cross-traffic warning, daytime pedestrian luxurious touch. After a year I still look at come. BMW wants its X3 M40i protection, speed limit info, blind-spot it with desire and admiration, sometimes back, and I’m beyond bummed. warning, lane departure warning); looking back as I walk away, especially Even after approximately 12 months and Harman Kardon surround audio ($875); when the sun hits the must-have Phytonic 30,800 miles, I was still excited to start up adaptive M suspension ($700); Phytonic Blue paint, a $550 option, just right. the burly B58 and take it for a quick trip to Blue paint ($550); wireless charging tray, the grocery store or across the state. When 3G Wi-Fi hot spot, enhanced USB, and My favorite aspect of our X3 has to be did a year become so short? Bluetooth ($500); ventilated front seats the drivetrain. Like the MkV Supra with ($350); Apple CarPlay ($300); rear window which it shares an engine, it feels like it’s Time flies when you’re having fun and side shades ($350) packing more than the listed 355 hp. You’ll piling on miles, and I’ve thoroughly gotten Problem Areas Front suspension tension surprise unsuspecting RT Chargers and to know the X3’s characteristics, both struts, sunroof drain Challengers off the line and shame V-6 positive and negative. Maintenance Cost $0 (4-oil change; Mustangs, Camaros, and STIs all day. 3-inspection; 2-in-cabin filter; air filter) The ZF-supplied eight-speed is also one Normal-Wear Cost $1,920 (Front brake of the best in the business. It somehow pads and rotors, replacement tires) manages to ratchet off fast shifts like a 3-Year Residual Value* $49,900 (73%) dual-clutch, yet it’s smooth and buttery Recalls None when left in Comfort mode. I—and other staffers—didn’t hesitate to smash the right *IntelliChoice data; assumes 42,000 miles pedal, which is reflected in our observed at the end of three years Let’s start with the good stuff. I spend a lot of time on the road, and the X3 made it quite pleasant. The Bluetooth-connected Apple CarPlay connects instantly and reliably and allows me to start streaming music or podcasts through the optional Harman Kardon system. Seats are comfy, and the cabin feels airy and spacious. The ride is compliant enough in Comfort mode, though I would forgo the $1,900 21-inch rollers. They made the ride 80 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
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MT GARAGE 2018 BMW X3 M40i DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD ENGINE TYPE Turbocharged I-6, alum block/head VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DISPLACEMENT 182.9 cu in/2,998cc COMPRESSION RATIO 11.0:1 POWER (SAE NET) 355 hp @ 5,500 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 369 lb-ft @ 1,520 rpm REDLINE 7,000 rpm WEIGHT TO POWER 12.1 lb/hp TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic AXLE/FINAL DRIVE RATIO 3.39:1/2.17:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Struts, coil springs, adj 19.9 mpg average. That comes in well us around $1,800, plus installation. So shocks, anti-roll bar; below the EPA’s estimate of 23 mpg the one-year normal-wear cost you could multilink, coil springs, combined. I don’t fault the car but instead expect yourself is somewhere around adj shocks, anti-roll bar blame myself and other lead-footed $2,000, depending on how quickly you’d staffers for the lower than expected wear out the tires and how much you’d STEERING RATIO 16.8:1 mileage. Can you blame us for our lack of spend on replacements. self-control? Keep in mind, gas is free for TURNS LOCK TO LOCK 2.5 us. I know, life is rough. The X3 also retains its value pretty well for a luxury vehicle. According to BRAKES, F; R 13.7-in vented disc; 13.5- Our time with the X3 M Lite, as I like to IntelliChoice estimates, the 2018 X3 will in vented disc, ABS call it, hasn’t been without blemishes. The be worth 51.1 percent of its original value sunroof started leaking into my lap when in five years. For perspective, the industry WHEELS 8.5 x 21-in; 9.5 x 21-in, I took it through an automated car wash, average is 47.8 percent, and a 2018 BMW forged aluminum and the front suspension developed a 340i xDrive comes in at 45.8 percent. At creaking noise. Both occurred pretty early the lower end, a Nissan Leaf SV is at 26.79 TIRES 245/40R21 100Y; 275/ into our loan, and the sunroof leak was percent after five years. IntelliChoice 35R21 103Y Bridgestone remedied after a couple trips to the dealer, gives the 2018 BMW X3 M40i sedan an Alenza 001* RFT thankfully covered under warranty. The above-average value rating and estimates creaking was never resolved. a $57,795 five-year cost of ownership. A DIMENSIONS 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 43 was given a Other than that, the car has been pretty poor value rating, with a $66,770 five-year WHEELBASE 112.8 in hassle-free. The interior has held up well cost of ownership. In general, luxury against the battery of camera gear thrown vehicles don’t retain their value, but if you TRACK, F/R 63.0/63.6 in into it, and we avoided any damage to the really need the clout, the X3 won’t torture exterior. All maintenance was free thanks your wallet as much as others. LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT 186.1 x 74.7 x 66.0 in to BMW’s Ultimate Care program, which covers basic maintenance for the first I will thoroughly miss my best long- GROUND CLEARANCE 8.0 in three years or 36,000 miles. That’s stan- termer yet. Although its reliability is still dard on all 2017 and newer BMWs. We questionable, the X3 has proven to be a APPROACH/DEPART ANGLE 25.7/22.6 deg took it in for routine service four times, multitalented beast. It packs impressive and each time we were given a loaner. performance yet it is practical, comfort- TURNING CIRCLE 39.7 ft able, and packed with useful tech as Although maintenance cost totaled optioned. The X3 is long gone by now, CURB WEIGHT 4,282 lb a whopping $0, we did change out the and although it wasn’t without flaws, I’m wheels and tires for an aftermarket set left crying Drake tears reminiscing about WEIGHT DIST, F/R 50/50% provided by Tire Rack. If it weren’t for it during my commute home in my new Tire Rack comping our tab, a replacement long-termer, the Kia Soul. Q TOWING CAPACITY 4,400 lb set of Pirelli P Zero RFTs would’ve cost SEATING CAPACITY 5 HEADROOM, F/R 40.0/38.5 in LEGROOM, F/R 40.3/36.4 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 57.6/56.0 in CARGO VOLUME BEH 62.6/28.7 cu ft 1ST/2ND TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30/0-40 1.8/2.6 sec 0-50/0-60 3.6/4.8 0-70/0-80 6.2/7.9 0-90/0-100 9.9/12.3 0-100-0 16.6 PASSING, 45-65 MPH 2.4 QUARTER MILE 13.4 sec @ 103.7 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 112 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.85 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 25.9 sec @ 0.72 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,500 rpm CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $55,295 PRICE AS TESTED $68,670 STABILITY/TRACTION Yes/Yes CONTROL AIRBAGS 8: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee BASIC WARRANTY 4 years/50,000 miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 4 years/50,000 miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 4 years/Unlimited miles FUEL CAPACITY 17.2 gal EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 20/27/23 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 169/125 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.86 lb/mile RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded premium 82 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
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NEWS I OPINION I GOSSIP I STUFF Angus MacKenzie The Big Picture General Motors: The Incredible Shrinking Automaker Daimler may have invented the automobile, and Ford inept leadership. It survived, thanks to an injection of may have invented the automobile factory, but billions of dollars from the federal government that at General Motors invented the modern automobile one stage saw some 60 percent of the company owned company. When GM was founded in 1908, there by the U.S. taxpayer. And although GM paid back every were 253 automakers in the United States, all with cent it was obligated to pay to the Treasury, it has never entrepreneurs and engineers, dollar-men and dreamers, really recovered. In the decade since, the company that vying to make their fortunes with a technology that was was once the very definition of the power and strength going to change the world. and wealth of American capitalism has become the incredible shrinking automaker. Henry Ford was the Bill Gates of the era, quick to grasp the potential of democratizing automobility. But Last year GM sold 7.7 million vehicles worldwide, GM’s Alfred Sloan was in many ways the era’s Steve Jobs, less than the 8.4 million retailed in the recession- intuitively understanding that adding form to function weary year of 2010 and well down from the 10 million made the automobile more than mere transport, that it it sold in red-hot 2016. GM is now merely the world’s could transform need into desire. fourth-largest automaker in terms of sales, well behind Volkswagen Group, Toyota, and the Renault–Nissan– GM didn’t just pioneer the automotive design studio. Mitsubishi alliance. Part of that is because GM lost Opel’s It also pioneered the electric self-starter and automatic sales contribution when that company was sold to PSA transmission, two innovations that helped make the Group in 2017, but there are deeper issues. automobile even more accessible. GM did the funda- mental scientific research that led to the development GM’s net revenues are little changed from a decade of the catalytic converter and the airbag. It ago—$137.2 billion versus $135.6 billion— was experimenting with electric vehicles and though, to be fair, the lengthy United Auto- autonomous drive systems before Elon Musk mobile Workers strike last year is estimated was even born. It helped design and engineer the to have cost the company $2.6 billion. Net only car to have ever been driven on the moon. income has improved over the decade, up from $5.6 billion in 2010 to $6.6 billion now. For almost 80 years, GM bestrode the auto- But it’s less than half the 2016 result, when motive landscape like a colossus, making and GM’s global sales were 30 percent higher. selling more cars than any other automaker in The recent announcement that GM is the world. It held the top spot on the Fortune 500 list for more than three decades, and when GM to shut down its Australian design, engineering, and CEO Charles “Engine Charlie” Wilson said in 1953 that sales operations in 2021—and retire the iconic Holden he thought what was good for the country was good for brand—continues the string of cutbacks, closures, and General Motors—and, more famously, vice versa—it was asset disposals over the past 10 years. simply accepted as fact. GM bean counters can no doubt give chapter and verse No more. on why all this shrinkage makes good business sense; the GM crashed into bankruptcy on June 1, 2009, the fact that the company lost $20 billion over 20 years in global financial crisis dealing a mortal blow to a company Europe, for example, suggests it was time to quit. (Yet weakened by years of institutionalized arrogance and PSA’s Carlos Tavares managed to get the business to turn a profit a year after he took the helm, so you have to wonder what the problem really was.) General Motors once stood as an But ponder this: Of the 7.7 million vehicles GM made ambitious leader last year, almost 84 percent were sold in North America in the automotive and China. Once the automaker to the world, GM is now landscape, almost entirely dependent on just two markets. And even embodied by, in its home market, GM is slipping: In booming 2004, among others, GM’s U.S. market share was 26 percent. Fifteen years Harley Earl, shown later, it barely scrapes 18. And in China, GM’s sales fell here with his 15 percent last year. Firebird I, Firebird II, and Firebird III. GM largely has itself to blame, of course. But it’s still But the GM that sad to see the easy confidence and vaulting ambition enabled his kind of that enabled Harley Earl’s rocket-age styling, Ed Cole’s iconic leadership small-block V-8, Zora Arkus-Duntov’s Corvette, and a no longer exists. thousand other exciting products and innovations that transformed the automotive age is no more. Q 86 MOTORTREND.COM MAY 2020
We’re not in the habit of bragging. But thousands of U.S. - based Kia employees worked beyond measure to ensure the Telluride could handle just about anything. So it’s only appropriate to honor their effort, by sharing some pretty epic news—Telluride has been named MotorTrend’s 2020 SUV of the Year® and 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year™. Learn more about the Telluride at kia.com/telluride.
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