discharge lights, and a unique chrome grille, along with other items, it has to be considered a rival to other luxury 7-passenger vehicles.
One evening at the yogurt shop, a young couple stopped and asked us to have a look inside because they were so impressed with the Durango's redesign. We were thrilled to accommodate their request—after all, that's the reason we test drive these—to promote them! They had a lot of kids to haul and were very impressed with what they saw.
Engine options include the new 3.6L Pentastar (with the Mercedes W5A580 5-speed auto trans) and the 5.7L VVT Hemi(with the proven Chrysler 545RFE five-speed transmission). The 3.6 is rated at 290 hp @ 6,400 rpm; and 260 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm. Estimated EPA gas mileage is 16/23 (rear wheel drive) and 16/22 (all wheel drive). In our Hemi test vehicle, power is rated at 360 hp, and 390 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm; with up to 7,400 lb of trailer towing with rear wheel drive.
SEXY & LUXURIOUS SEDANS
The Jaguar XJL-Sheer Bliss! Our friends have gotten used to seeing us arrive in a different vehicle that we're test driving, and we've seen them ooh and aah over a lot of them, but the Jaguar XJL really made them drool! As our Facebook post read the week of the drive, “The Jaguar XLJ is beautiful and really makes a statement—from heated, cooled and massaging seats to suede interior roof panels to a ferocious acceleration that will rocket past almost anyone!!! …a thrill to drive and a must for anyone who wants to be the center of attention.”
Inspired by contemporary interior design, the all new XJL's long wheelbase gives it five inches of extra rear seat legroom; this alone reeks of limo-type luxury. Its list of rich specifications could take a whole page to describe; one of our favorites was the panoramic roof. We also liked the gear selection achieved by rotating a very cool machined metal knob that pops up out of the center console when you start the engine. An extensive palette of unique leather and veneer choices give the XJL owner a unique opportunity to personalize it so that the chance of anyone else arriving at The Ritz in anything too similar is unlikely.
The acceleration mentioned above comes from a 385 hp V8 engine that displaces 5.0 liters and puts out an amazing 380 lb-ft of torque, propelling the XJL to 60 mph in a claimed 5.4 seconds. That's pretty good for a vehicle that weighs over two tons (4,131 lbs)! It gets 15 MPG city and 22 highway, not too shabby for all its power and weight…and its buyer isn't going to be the type to count pennies at the pump anyway!
2012 Volvo S60s T5 ASR Delivers Good Looks and Assistance for the Distracted Driver
You could say that Volvo really under- stands and anticipates all the multi-tasking we are too often guilty of doing while driving. With all that Volvo does to help a driver avoid all different types of potential accidents through a series of warnings—and in some cases, braking, we need to
Car and Driver said in their review, “If the Optima were a farmer, its standard- equipment crop would be bountiful.” Like it's exterior, Optima's interior makes you think you're in a more expensive car. A ton of features are delivered at a price that undercuts most competitors, while it also offers things that others do not such as ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. Also standard on the base LX model are a dual exhaust with chrome tips; turn signals integrated into the mirror housings; a sound system with Sirius satellite radio and USB, auxiliary, and Bluetooth connectivity; a tilting and telescoping steering wheel; and power locks and windows. Our EX model added 17” wheels, fog lights, heated outside mirrors, body-color door handles, chrome accents, a rearview camera, push-button ignition, dual-zone climate control, and Kia's new Uvo vehicle-interface system developed with Microsoft.
With a 200-horsepower four-cylinder achieving an estimated 24 MPG city/34 mpg highway, a top five-star rating for overall safety performance and a lengthy warranty, we put this one on our list of vehicles we would consider purchasing in the future.
Vol 4 2011 GREATER DFW METROPLEX BUILDING SAVVY MAGAZINE 23
watch out if the Volvo driver ever steps foot in another type of car in case he has come to rely upon his efficient Swedish driving partner! In addition to top-notch crash-test protection, driving the 2012 Volvo S60s T5 ASR gave us a chance to test Volvo's Advanced Stability Control. The system not only provides power where it's needed for best stability in a new Sport Mode; it also helps aid stability in emergency maneuvers. Then there's adaptive cruise control, a collision warning system, Driver Alert Control, lane departure warning and a Pedestrian Detection system that will stop the car automatically if it senses an imminent collision with a walker.
While Volvo's safety reputation remains one of its primary selling features, Volvo's recent models compete with the best of its competitors in style, power and attitude. 2011's S60 was a dramatic redesign of the Swedish automaker's mid-size sedan, and the 2012 model is mostly unchanged with curvy sheet metal and contouring, that Volvo terms as a "double wave" stretching from the headlights to the taillights.
The S60 T5 comes with a 2.5-liter turbocharged in-line 5-cylinder engine. It makes 250 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Claimed fuel-efficiency is 20 mpg in city and 30 for highway, with a combined estimate of 23 mpg. The transmission is a 6-speed automatic with Geartronic manual control. Electronically controlled front-wheel drive is standard for all-weather tractability. There are two different suspension choices on the S60 T5. Our test model featured the standard Touring Chassis; it's the choice for those who want the most ride comfort, and it's been tuned to still be smooth and quiet on rougher surfaces. For those who want a slightly sportier feel without giving up much if any comfort, there's the optional Dynamic suspension, which includes up-rated shock absorbers and front and rear subframes.
Turn Heads for $27K with the KIA Optima
This one really took us by surprise. Everywhere we went, people did a double-take to see what kind of premium European looking vehicle this was. At first glance they may have thought it was a baby Maserati. I'm sure the KIA emblem was a surprise; seeing that it was an Optima caught them even more off-guard! The critics concur that the 2011 Optima transformed from “a nondescript car made for a rental fleet” to an eye-catching standout with substantial power and plenty of value.
SAVVY TRUCKS & TOYS By Steve & Beverly Smirnis
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