by L Baures | Nov 28, 2017 | Automotive News
Photo: VW Media
Cars.com conducted a week-long challenge between SUV’s with 3-row seating for 2017. Expert judges and a ‘shopper’ drove the vehicles on the same route for a fair comparison. They compared interior quality, in-cabin storage, powertrain, ride quality, engine noise, visibility, value for money and multimedia.
2018 VW Atlas Photo: VW
The winner of the test is the all-new Volkswagen Atlas. The Atlas is a brand new vehicle that Volkswagen released this year. It’s available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) can seat up to 7 adults. Other vehicles included in the test were;
- Volkswagen Atlas
- Chevrolet Traverse
- Honda Pilot
- Toyota Highlander
The Chevrolet Traverse came 2nd in the challenge. A previous winner the Honda Pilot fell short this year falling to 3rd place. The Toyota Highlander comes in 4th.
Why the Volkswagen Atlas won
I have to agree with Cars.com judges on this one. It seems like took Volkswagen forever and a day to build a 3rd row SUV, so long I named it the Atlast. It was worth waiting for though, Volkswagen has done a great design job, by including all the latest technology and safety features. The design isn’t mind blowing (well the way the 2nd-row folds is) but its comfortable, functional, simple and it works.
The cars.com verdict is;
“Volkswagen’s new three-row SUV hits the mark with its refined driving manners, ample passenger and cargo space, and easy-to-use technology”.
My own personal favorites on the Atlas are the touchscreen and technology. AppleCarPlay and AndroidAuto with MirrorLink make connecting a smartphone easy to use. This gives drivers the ability to use apps from a smartphone such a messaging and music. The layout is super easy to navigate, fast at loading. Oh, and the screen is pretty. Did I even just say that about a screen? Ok yeh I did, it looks modern, clean and uncluttered. Brian Wong, Cars.com Los Angeles Bureau Chief also said, “sharp screen, intuitive menus, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay waiting in the wings if you prefer those interfaces”.
Car seat heaven
Another really awesome feature on the Atlas is the ability for the 2nd-row seats to fold forward even with a child seat in place. The 2nd row reclines, can slide 7.7″ as well as 3 sets of child seat latches in the 2nd row. This makes the Atlas a great family vehicle with easy child seat fitment. Anyone with children in car seats knows that car seat problems can be a headache, so this is a huge plus. The VW Atlas gets a 5-star safety rating is listed on the Car Seat Check Honor Roll.
A warranty that’ll make other car makers cry
Another reason the Volkswagen won by a good margin is that warranty offered is way longer than any other manufacturer. Most bumper to bumper warranties are about 3 years or 36,000 miles, whatever comes first. The VW Atlas has a 6 year, 72,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty!
For more information on the Volkswagen Atlas, check out our previous article here or contact Fremont Volkswagen of Casper.
Cars.com video
Denver Auto Show: VW Atlas
Do You Legally Have To Clear Snow Off Vehicles in Wyoming?
Wiesenfelder, Joe. “2017 Three-Row SUV Comparison – Cars.com Video.” Cars.com, Cars.com, 30 Oct. 2017, www.cars.com/videos/2017-three-row-suv-comparison—cars-com-5625939125001/.
Wiesenfelder, Joe. “What’s the Best 3-Row SUV for 2017? | News from Cars.com.” Cars.com, Cars.com, 30 Oct. 2017, www.cars.com/articles/whats-the-best-3-row-suv-for-2017-1420697442087/.
by L Baures | Nov 25, 2017 | Automotive News
Ford F-Series Truck
The Ford F-Series truck (F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 etc) picked up the award for ‘Hottest Truck’. “F-Series, the ultimate Swiss army knife of the aftermarket, is a proven favorite for customization into everything from tarmac-shredding drag racers to off-road monsters. America’s best-selling vehicle is now Hottest Truck seven out of eight times in the award’s history” quote Ford. Since 2010, Ford has won around 45% of the ‘Hottest Vehicle’ Awards at SEMA.
Speaking of customizable Ford pickups. Since our record-breaking tornadoes hear in Wyoming this year, I might be addicted to watching Tornado Hunters. Have you seen the Tornado Hunters truck? It’s a pretty awesome custom truck.
Ford Truck Weekend
Ford Focus RS
The Focus had previously won the Sport Compact award at SEMA with ST and RS packages in the lineup. This year the RS took the award for ‘Hottest Hatch’. “Ford has a long history of support and partnership with the aftermarket community, bringing increased options and products for consumers,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president, and CEO. “F-Series and Focus are just two of the most recent examples of the great vehicles Ford offers for personalization.”
The Focus RS is a 350 hp hatchback that has DRIFT MODE! They are tough to find (Fremont only has 2 in stock and production of this special car will sadly end in 2018). Ford also just announced that they will be releasing a drift stick for owners to add to the drift car. The performance hand brake approved by Ken Block, is electronically controlled. The fancy drift brake will available Dec 1st from Ford Performance Authorised Parts.
SEMA
SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show is one of the biggest car shows in the U.S. Its purpose includes showcasing the industries newest designs and ideas. The show includes; Collision Repair, Mobile Electronics and Technology, Restyling and Car Care, Tools and Equipment, Racing and Performance, Hot Rods, Restoration, Trucks, SUV’s and Off-Road, Tires, Wheels and more. The show is a trade-only event and not open to the public.
You might also like Raptor Assault or check out Fremont Customs for lifted and/or custom trucks and cars.
by L Baures | Nov 9, 2017 | Automotive News
Available this fall, the award-winning 2018 Chrysler Pacifica gets a sporty looking trim package. The Chrysler is the most awarded minivan for 2016 and 2017 so far. Now you can stand out from the crowd with a mean looking black package. Almost every piece of the car is blackened. Check it out.
Chrysler Pacifica S
The ‘S’ appearance package will trick out the vehicle with black accents on both interior and exterior. It’ll have;
Exterior appearance features
- Gloss black grill surround
- Headlamp eyebrow accents
- Daylight opening molding and rear valance molding
- Black 18″ wheels standard (20″ black wheels available as an optional extra)
- Black badging
- Roof rack in black as standard (optional on Touring Plus model)
Interior appearance features
- Black seats (with light diesel gray accents, ‘S’ logo and stitching)
- Piano black steering wheel accents
- “Anodized Ice Cave bezels on the instrument panel and door trim
- Overhead console is black
- Headliner is black
- Visors are black
- A-pillar trim and center console are also black
So, pretty much everything is black.
Availability
The ‘S’ appearance package is available to order from now on the 2018 model year. Manufacturers suggested retail price is $595 U.S. It can be added to the Pacifica Touring Plus, Pacifica Touring L, Pacifica Tour L Plus, and Pacifica Limited.
Awards
Just one of the most recent awards the Chrysler minivan won “Highest in its segment of the J.D. Power IQS”. IQS is Initial Quality Study. It also won, “Best New Family Car for 2017″ by Cars.com, and North American Utility Vehicle of The Year. It won “Best Buy Minivan” from Consumer Digest and Kelley Blue Book 2017, “Best Buy”.
The 2018 model year Pacifica gets AppleCarPlay and AndroidAuto with the upgraded Uconnect 4 systems.
Experience
During a press event, I got check out the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. 7 of us journalists piled into the minivan and took a trip to Estes Park for ice-cream. 3 average sized adults sat in the 3rd row (ok I might be a little bit smaller than average so I sat in the middle back seat). The middle two passengers played games on the back of the front headrests whilst the rest of us exchanged road trip stories. The car was extremely easy to get in and out of, it was comfortable and pleasant to ride in as a passenger.
If you’d like to check it out for yourself, click here to arrange a test drive.
by L Baures | Nov 1, 2017 | Automotive News, Vehicle Reviews
The Toyota 4Runner is a mid-sized SUV that is built similar to a pickup truck (body on frame) and has optional 3rd-row seating. The current generation (fifth) of 4Runners has been around since 2009. The vehicle hasn’t changed much over the years and sales are increasing. Toyota must be thinking, why change it if it works. I got to test out the 2017 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium. There are currently 6 trim levels available in the lineup;
4Runner trim level line-up
- SR5
- SR5 Premium
- TRD Off-Road
- TRD Off-Road Premium
- Limited
- TRD Pro
All the trim levels are available in 4X4 and 2X4 except the top of the line TRD Pro which is only available in 4X4.
Safety
The 4Runner has a crash test safety overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It gets 3 out of 5 stars for rollover and front passenger. For the side crash tests it gets full marks with 5 out of 5 stars for all the tests except ‘Overall Side Pole’ it gets 4.
Performance
Engine & Transmission
The 4.0 Litre DOHC V-6 engine puts out 270hp and 278lb ft of torque. You’re not going to win many drag races with this SUV but the power suffices for what it is. It has a 5-speed transmission, which is less than most, but the advantage of is less gear changes and taller gears. For it only being a 5-speed the transmission is actually fairly smooth at a gentle pace. To get it to change down you’ll have to firmly plant your foot on the accelerator.
Handling
Handling is ok. It’s not super soft and it’s not super hard, it’s somewhere in between closer to softer. There is some body roll and that’s to be expected, it’s a fairly high profile SUV. A slight forward lean is noticeable on braking. The model I was testing had “..Toyota’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) that allows extended wheel travel at slow speeds for greater off-road capability and stability”.
Off-Road
Off-road is where the 4Runner gets an advantage. It has a good old lever where you hear the clunks moving between transfer cases. I like this, it gives a sense of security. The 4Runner has 9.6″ of ground clearance (more than some pickup trucks) and a 26-degree departure angle. ‘A-TRAC’ (active traction control) and ‘Multi-Terrain Select’ are available. Torsen™ limited-slip center diff is also available is lockable. Crawl Control comes standard on the TRD model trim levels (TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and TRD Pro).
Crawl Control Demonstration
Toyota say that the crawl control can be used in extremely rough off-road road conditions. That may mean several different scenarios to people but I tested on a sandy hill as it was close by. Crawl control is sort of like an extremely slow cruise control. You set the speed and tt will maintain it without you having to touch the brake or accelerator.
To engage:
- Vehicle stopped
- Foot on the brake
- Shift to NEUTRAL
- Shift to 4LOW
- Put in FORWARD or REVERSE gear
- Select ON on the Crawl Control dial on the roof
- Select your speed between Low and High
- Foot off the brake and let the vehicle CRAWL!
Comfort / Entertainment
The 4Runner I had was not equipped with the 3rd row so I can’t comment on the space there. The 2nd row, however, has ample room for both children and adults to be comfortable. My particular car seats were easy to install, the latch system is very easy to get to. For kids, a universal tablet holder is available as an option ($99) that hooks onto the back of the front seats. Your own tablet can then be added to provide entertainment for children.
The buttons and knobs on the Toyota are big. Very big. So big that you can’t miss them. The fan speed, blower direction, and temperature knobs are almost the size of China. You’ll never have to search long for the right control again. The radio power knob is also large and easy to get to. The screen is a 6.1″ touchscreen that’s quick to load. It doesn’t have the latest technology such as AppleCarPlay or AndriodAuto yet but it’s easy to use. It works and there’s also a CD player.
Economy
The 4Runner’s fuel economy is EPA estimated at 17mpg in the city for the 4×4. 20mpg is estimated for the highway and a combined estimate at 18mpg. The 2×4 gets 1mpg more on the highway. Whilst I had the vehicle, I averaged 18.9mpg.
Dependability
According to the NHTSA, the 2017 4Runner has only had 2 recalls so far and 0 investigations. Toyota’s are known for their reliability.
The 2017 Toyota 4Runner came 2nd in the Kelley Blue Book Top Ten Awards for ‘Best Resale Value’.
Toyota Unveils 2019 TRD Pro’s
Review: 2017 RAV4
“Multi-Tool on Wheels: 2017 Toyota 4Runner Is the Everyday SUV That Lets You Explore When You Want, Where You Want | Toyota USA Newsroom.” Hub, Toyota, 5 Dec. 2016, pressroom.toyota.com/releases/2017-toyota-4runner-everday-suv-explore-where-when-you-want.htm.
by L Baures | Oct 25, 2017 | Automotive News
General Motors Plan All Electric Line-Up By 2023
General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra announced the future as “…zero crashers, zero emissions, and zero congestion”.
General Motors outlined an all-electric path to zero emissions with at least 20 new all-electric vehicles by 2023.
Vice president of General Motors, Mark Ruess says, “Although that future won’t happen overnight, GM is committed to driving increased usage and acceptance of electric vehicles through no-compromise solutions that meet our customers’ needs.” By 2023, they are planning on launching at least another 20 all-electric vehicles. These will be based on the learnings of the Chevrolet Bolt EV, which is Chevy’s all-electric vehicle that was named 2017 Car of the Year by MotorTrend.
GM confirms it’s moving away from hybrids to focus on all-electric.
For 2019 GM confirmed that it was ceasing production of the Chevy Volt, to focus on all-electric and self-driving cars.
As part of this move, GM also confirmed the closure of factories including Lordstown Assembly in Warren, Ohio; Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly in Michigan and Oshawa Assembly in Ontario, Canada.
It also plans to close transmission plants in White Marsh, Maryland, and Warren, Michigan.
GM Announces 300 million Investment for An American Made Electric Car
General Motors announced it would invest $300 million and create 400 jobs to build a new electric car in Michigan, CEO Mary Barra announced on Friday.
What about trucks?
General motors teased in their article about a new concept platform called SURUS which stands for Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure. The vehicle will be based on a heavy-duty truck frame powered by fuel cell technology. The vehicle will be four-wheel steer and driven by two electric motors. GM also stated that “SURUS could be used as a delivery vehicle, truck or even an ambulance — all emissions-free.” This is all they said, and no photos were added, but as soon we find any more information on this, we will let you know.
According to Trucks.com, Kenworth is also working on a hydrogen fuel cell class 8 drayage truck. Kenworth expects to launch it by the end of the year. Toyota is also working on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, “Toyota believes that hydrogen fuel cell technology has tremendous potential to become the powertrain of the future,” said TMNA Executive Vice President Bob Carter”. They currently have a vehicle called the Mirai, which is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
Infrastructure
For this task to even be remotely possible, there needs to be an infrastructure to support it. Given that in Wyoming, it’s still possible to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere because there aren’t any gas stations, there’s a lot of work to do in at least this State. Meanwhile, compared to other States, Wyoming is just getting started at this. Find out more about hybrids and electric charging stations in Wyoming in our previous article here. There are currently only 40 hydrogen refueling stations in the entire United States; incidentally, most of them are in California.
Would you drive an all-electric or hydrogen fuel cell powered car/truck?
General Motors mentioned in their statement about driving usage and acceptance. It seems they might have a lot of work to do on the acceptance part here in Wyoming anyway. After a quick research post on Facebook, I asked my friends if they would drive an all-electric car or pickup truck. One person said they are eagerly awaiting theirs. Brian Connely of Casper, WY noted,”…If it had a range of 100 miles or so, I could use it as a daily commuter back and forth to work w/ a stop at the grocery store, etc. I want to retrofit an old Toyota 4X4 P/U to electric”. However, the majority said, no. 65% of the replies I got said no. 29% said yes, and the rest said they would drive one but not own one. Several people voiced concerns over the range of the vehicles at the moment in WY makes it difficult with the lack of charging stations. Kim Garrett said, “No, too many miles between outlets…I don’t want to be left high and dry on hwy 220 or 487 in a storm”.
Would you?
Let us know you’re thoughts. Comment below or on our Facebook post.
Toyota Reveals AWD Prius
Kelly, Kevin, and Elizabeth Winter. “GM Outlines All-Electric Path to Zero Emissions.”Media.gm.com, General Motors, 2 Oct. 2017,
by L Baures | Oct 19, 2017 | Automotive News, Vehicle Reviews
A battle of luxury large SUVs: Lincoln Navigator and Lexus LX570
I had the luxury (pun intended) of my first ever press loan vehicle being an AWD Lexus LX570. Although I was very excited, I knew this was going to be tough to write about the 2017 Lincoln Navigator Vs 2017 Lexus LX 570. The Lexus I had comes in priced at just over $97k. So I keep asking myself, is this SUV really worth almost 100 grand. What other vehicles can be compared? Well technically a Lincoln Navigator is in the same class, it’s a luxury vehicle, it’s an SUV, and it has a third row.
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