Dodge Durango
VERSATILITY
Base Price: $28,995
Base Price: $28,995
The promise of the modern SUV is having a vehicle that can take you—and your gear and family—anywhere. It's not every day that you pack in all the kids, hitch up a camper trailer and trundle down a gnarly trail to a secluded spot, but it's nice to know you've got the option. The Durango is a vehicle that provides nearly limitless opportunities. It seats seven in a cleanly designed interior, can tow up to 7400 pounds and has the mechanical hardware—a robust center differential rather than a light-duty clutch pack—to traverse terrain that would humble most sport utes. During a recent seven-SUV torture test on a Michigan sand dune, we used the Durango to tow out the other SUVs that got beached.
But the Durango is not simply a talented off-roader. There's no on-road penalty for its capabilities. It drives with a sharpness that belies its 2½ tons and its commodious interior. On the highway, drivers can luxuriate in the rich materials, throne-like seats and an abundance of available features, including a 360-hp V8 and adaptive cruise control. If you skip that V8, which is a wise move considering how well the 290-hp V6 performs, the Durango returns decent fuel economy. We averaged 20 mpg during our test. Plus the Durango is wrapped in a clean and attractive body. This is one vehicle that really can do it all.
2012 BMW 1M Coupe
Fun To Drive
Base Price: $47,010
Sometimes personality trumps style—just ask us about the BMW 1M. It's the least expensive of BMW's mighty high-po M cars and also the least pretty. The flared fenders and gaping mouth tacked onto the base 1 Series make it even chunkier, not sleek and lithe like a typical sports car. But we still clutch the keys like a toddler with a lollipop. There's a surplus of performance—a turbocharged 335-hp straight-six engine, mammoth tires and brakes, and stiffer suspension—but speed is not the main thrill. The other subjective measures, such as perfectly linear brake action, steering that feels hard-wired to your brain, delicate road signals communicated through the seat, and the creamy six-speed manual transmission, all combine for a dynamic delight. And it's those traits that separate simply fast cars from the truly rewarding ones. The 1M is simultaneously ferocious and controllable, a machine that doesn't neuter the driver with safe but boring handling. It nudges you to explore that outer edge of speed and control, and then brings you safely back. After a day or so behind the wheel, it's all too easy to believe the fantasy that you're fit for the Monaco Grand Prix. The 1M is not a car that simply gets you from place to place; instead it seduces you into taking the long route to your destination just so you can exercise its talents a little longer.
Base Price: $47,010
Sometimes personality trumps style—just ask us about the BMW 1M. It's the least expensive of BMW's mighty high-po M cars and also the least pretty. The flared fenders and gaping mouth tacked onto the base 1 Series make it even chunkier, not sleek and lithe like a typical sports car. But we still clutch the keys like a toddler with a lollipop. There's a surplus of performance—a turbocharged 335-hp straight-six engine, mammoth tires and brakes, and stiffer suspension—but speed is not the main thrill. The other subjective measures, such as perfectly linear brake action, steering that feels hard-wired to your brain, delicate road signals communicated through the seat, and the creamy six-speed manual transmission, all combine for a dynamic delight. And it's those traits that separate simply fast cars from the truly rewarding ones. The 1M is simultaneously ferocious and controllable, a machine that doesn't neuter the driver with safe but boring handling. It nudges you to explore that outer edge of speed and control, and then brings you safely back. After a day or so behind the wheel, it's all too easy to believe the fantasy that you're fit for the Monaco Grand Prix. The 1M is not a car that simply gets you from place to place; instead it seduces you into taking the long route to your destination just so you can exercise its talents a little longer.
2012 Jeep Wrangler
Off-Road Ability
Base Price: $22,045
Base Price: $22,045
The constant struggle for Jeep is civilizing the Wrangler without killing its off-road prowess. After all, no matter how capable it may be on the Rubicon Trail, a scant few customers are willing to endure a choppy on-road ride or an interior racket that sounds like a snare drum in an oilcan. In the past 18 months, the Wrangler has nearly been upended. The designers ditched the granite-hard interior for one with softer materials and gentler curves. They redesigned and thickened the soft top to reduce wind noise. A more powerful and efficient driveline replaced the ancient 3.8-liter V6 and four-speed automatic. The new Wrangler, which is available with two or four doors, is the most livable ever. And it still has the steep approach and departure angles, stout running gear and hardware—skidplates and locking differentials—that make it the most capable off-roader available. Many vehicles can take you to remote locations, but you're most likely to make it back home in a Wrangler.
2012 Infiniti M Hybrid
Luxury
Base Price: $53,700
We expected the Infiniti M Hybrid to save fuel. What we didn't expect was how effectively the electric motor would spice up the driving experience. The Infiniti's 67-hp electric motor complements the 3.5-liter V6 with nearly 200 lb-ft of instantaneous electric torque at liftoff. This hybrid zings, bolting to 60 mph in a little over 5 seconds.
Yet speed is not the sole goal of a luxury car. "Luxury" is loosely defined as something you don't need but want anyway. And the extra performance of the hybrid system has only increased our desire for this sedan. The gas—electric powertrain is nearly transparent in its operation. At speeds of up to 62 mph it can silently draw on the lithium-ion battery pack and electrically glide for more than a mile. The brakes—which have the tough task of integrating the standard hydraulic system with energy regeneration—feel, well, normal. Plus, the system delivers 29 combined EPA mpg, a 28 percent improvement over the nonhybrid M. During one drive, we used the Eco Pedal feature (it coaches efficient driving with gas-pedal feedback) and got over 30.
We still admire this car for its sweeping exterior, posh and nearly silent interior, engaging driving experience, reasonable price and the range of optional high-tech features (our favorite is the Lane Departure Prevention system, which brakes a single wheel to automatically keep the car in its lane). The hybrid system makes the case for the M even stronger.
Base Price: $53,700
We expected the Infiniti M Hybrid to save fuel. What we didn't expect was how effectively the electric motor would spice up the driving experience. The Infiniti's 67-hp electric motor complements the 3.5-liter V6 with nearly 200 lb-ft of instantaneous electric torque at liftoff. This hybrid zings, bolting to 60 mph in a little over 5 seconds.
Yet speed is not the sole goal of a luxury car. "Luxury" is loosely defined as something you don't need but want anyway. And the extra performance of the hybrid system has only increased our desire for this sedan. The gas—electric powertrain is nearly transparent in its operation. At speeds of up to 62 mph it can silently draw on the lithium-ion battery pack and electrically glide for more than a mile. The brakes—which have the tough task of integrating the standard hydraulic system with energy regeneration—feel, well, normal. Plus, the system delivers 29 combined EPA mpg, a 28 percent improvement over the nonhybrid M. During one drive, we used the Eco Pedal feature (it coaches efficient driving with gas-pedal feedback) and got over 30.
We still admire this car for its sweeping exterior, posh and nearly silent interior, engaging driving experience, reasonable price and the range of optional high-tech features (our favorite is the Lane Departure Prevention system, which brakes a single wheel to automatically keep the car in its lane). The hybrid system makes the case for the M even stronger.
2012 Mustang Boss 302
Performance
Base Price: $40,955
10 Reasons Why the Ford Mustang Boss 302 is the Bomb
The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is the kind of fully realized, perfectly crafted performance car that comes along only once a decade. Here, 10 reasons why we can't stop thinking about it.
1. The History Is Inescapable
The C-stripe graphics and cue-ball shifter; legendary Trans Am racing names like Bud Moore, Parnelli Jones and Kar Kraft were all connected to the Boss. It gives you chills.
2. It Sings
Side-exit exhausts with removable sound baffles are standard. They make a crackly, intoxicating howl just 3 feet beneath your ears.
3. It's Got Seats of Power
The no-cost-option Recaro sport seats feel every bit as mission critical as the naturally aspirated 444-hp 7500-rpm 5.0-liter V8 under the hood.
4. 7500 rpm
Yes, you read that right. And when the rev limiter hits, the engine is still pulling. Hard.
5. Engine Awe
Consider how amazing that redline is for a big V8. While you're at it, ponder the Boss's race-engine-inspired short-runner intake manifold, which mates to ported cylinder heads.
6. It Defies Gravity
The oiling system is capable of withstanding cornering loads greater than 1.0 g's. In other words, Ford wants you to hit a racetrack, mount some sticky tires and put the smack down.
7. It Makes You a Better Driver
The Boss's chassis—forgiving, capable and offering seemingly endless traction and grip—has a way of smoothing out even the most idiotic inputs and making you look like a genius. And who doesn't want to look like a genius?
8. Unlockable Content
The optional red-colored TracKey lets you tap more aggressive fuel-injection mapping and a lumpy, old-school, big-valve-overlap idle. More chills.
9. It's a Tinkertoy
Five-way adjustable dampers are standard—you can soften the car for the street or stiffen it for the track with just 5 minutes and a screwdriver.
10. $40,995, 4.3 seconds to 60 mph, and a 12.8-second quarter-mile time.
Base Price: $40,955
10 Reasons Why the Ford Mustang Boss 302 is the Bomb
The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is the kind of fully realized, perfectly crafted performance car that comes along only once a decade. Here, 10 reasons why we can't stop thinking about it.
1. The History Is Inescapable
The C-stripe graphics and cue-ball shifter; legendary Trans Am racing names like Bud Moore, Parnelli Jones and Kar Kraft were all connected to the Boss. It gives you chills.
2. It Sings
Side-exit exhausts with removable sound baffles are standard. They make a crackly, intoxicating howl just 3 feet beneath your ears.
3. It's Got Seats of Power
The no-cost-option Recaro sport seats feel every bit as mission critical as the naturally aspirated 444-hp 7500-rpm 5.0-liter V8 under the hood.
4. 7500 rpm
Yes, you read that right. And when the rev limiter hits, the engine is still pulling. Hard.
5. Engine Awe
Consider how amazing that redline is for a big V8. While you're at it, ponder the Boss's race-engine-inspired short-runner intake manifold, which mates to ported cylinder heads.
6. It Defies Gravity
The oiling system is capable of withstanding cornering loads greater than 1.0 g's. In other words, Ford wants you to hit a racetrack, mount some sticky tires and put the smack down.
7. It Makes You a Better Driver
The Boss's chassis—forgiving, capable and offering seemingly endless traction and grip—has a way of smoothing out even the most idiotic inputs and making you look like a genius. And who doesn't want to look like a genius?
8. Unlockable Content
The optional red-colored TracKey lets you tap more aggressive fuel-injection mapping and a lumpy, old-school, big-valve-overlap idle. More chills.
9. It's a Tinkertoy
Five-way adjustable dampers are standard—you can soften the car for the street or stiffen it for the track with just 5 minutes and a screwdriver.
10. $40,995, 4.3 seconds to 60 mph, and a 12.8-second quarter-mile time.
2012 Audi A7
Design
Base Price: $59,250
We don't simply drive cars, we sing about them. "Mustang Sally," anyone? That intoxicating emotional pull comes from many aspects, but let's face it, our desire starts with the design. Audi's A7 debuted with an exterior that elicits stares. Since it's tough to point out exactly why the A7 captures the eye, we deferred to an expert to explain the finer points.
"The new A7 embodies what good car design professes to achieve: solid proportions, silky lines and a little surprise to feed our curiosity. The A7 does all of this with a beautiful touch that satisfies both sedan and sport enthusiasts."—Mark West, Chair, Transportation Design College for Creative Studies Detroit
Grille
"The grille is a brand signature for Audi. The angle of this grille has a rake to it, giving the front end an aggressive appearance. Same goes for the lights and the sweep of the break line in the fender. You have aggression in the front of the car and aggression in the back."
Fender
"The tight break line in the shulder begins in the fender. it comes from under the headlamp and travels up over the wheel well more dramatically than in previous Audis. It gives the proportions of the car on the front end more definition, more presence."
Side
"There is a lot of definition and volume in the body around the wheels and through the doors. Consumers get a sense of how well-built and solid the car is based on this visual weight. This is very important in making the car feel like it's an Audi."
Shoulder
"The car's shoulder—the curvature of the body side and the area that transitions into the greenhouse—is right above the door handle. Audi has always had a strong shoulder in all of their cars, but this is a little bit tighter than we've seen in the past."
Front and Rear Lamps
"Audi is a pioneer in light technology. Their LED components give a sense of precision, not only in the way the light is styled but also when the light is on. It is much more defined when lit."
Roofline Lamps
"The roofline drops straight to the rear lip of the vehicle, making the car rear-biased. Traditionally, Audi makes their cars cab-forward. The A7's lines make it appear faster and more dynamic."
Rear Lip Lamps
"Audi has never really had a defined rear lip like they do in the A7. It's a nice crisp line. Look how Audi has tucked the rear lamp right up to the lip. It helps define the rear edge of the car. They've basically created a picture frame with that rear deck line and made a conscious decision to keep everything within that frame."
Wood Grain Lamps
"The A7 has an application of Audi's new wood grain. They stack multiple layers of weed and use the cross section rather than just the face of a single surface. It's absolutely exquisite and kind of breaks the mold of what wood grain is."
Base Price: $59,250
We don't simply drive cars, we sing about them. "Mustang Sally," anyone? That intoxicating emotional pull comes from many aspects, but let's face it, our desire starts with the design. Audi's A7 debuted with an exterior that elicits stares. Since it's tough to point out exactly why the A7 captures the eye, we deferred to an expert to explain the finer points.
"The new A7 embodies what good car design professes to achieve: solid proportions, silky lines and a little surprise to feed our curiosity. The A7 does all of this with a beautiful touch that satisfies both sedan and sport enthusiasts."—Mark West, Chair, Transportation Design College for Creative Studies Detroit
Grille
"The grille is a brand signature for Audi. The angle of this grille has a rake to it, giving the front end an aggressive appearance. Same goes for the lights and the sweep of the break line in the fender. You have aggression in the front of the car and aggression in the back."
Fender
"The tight break line in the shulder begins in the fender. it comes from under the headlamp and travels up over the wheel well more dramatically than in previous Audis. It gives the proportions of the car on the front end more definition, more presence."
Side
"There is a lot of definition and volume in the body around the wheels and through the doors. Consumers get a sense of how well-built and solid the car is based on this visual weight. This is very important in making the car feel like it's an Audi."
Shoulder
"The car's shoulder—the curvature of the body side and the area that transitions into the greenhouse—is right above the door handle. Audi has always had a strong shoulder in all of their cars, but this is a little bit tighter than we've seen in the past."
Front and Rear Lamps
"Audi is a pioneer in light technology. Their LED components give a sense of precision, not only in the way the light is styled but also when the light is on. It is much more defined when lit."
Roofline Lamps
"The roofline drops straight to the rear lip of the vehicle, making the car rear-biased. Traditionally, Audi makes their cars cab-forward. The A7's lines make it appear faster and more dynamic."
Rear Lip Lamps
"Audi has never really had a defined rear lip like they do in the A7. It's a nice crisp line. Look how Audi has tucked the rear lamp right up to the lip. It helps define the rear edge of the car. They've basically created a picture frame with that rear deck line and made a conscious decision to keep everything within that frame."
Wood Grain Lamps
"The A7 has an application of Audi's new wood grain. They stack multiple layers of weed and use the cross section rather than just the face of a single surface. It's absolutely exquisite and kind of breaks the mold of what wood grain is."
2012 Hyundai Accent GLS
Value
Base Price: $12,445
Value is about more than just a price tag. While its $12,445 base MSRP puts the new Accent GLS about $1500 above the also-new Nissan Versa, the Hyundai doesn't feel or behave like a cheap car. Start with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder, the first engine in this category that uses efficient direct fuel injection. There's a healthy 138 hp and an optional six-speed automatic transmission that comes with a manual-shift mode. The Accent also sports Hyundai's latest sharp styling theme, and the car's interior volume of more than 103 cubic feet puts it above the subcompact competition. Thanks to a wheelbase that's 3 inches longer than before, it rides better and has a more comfortable cabin and spacious cargo hold (there's additional room in the hatchback version, but it's a bit pricier). With handsome interior trim and a long list of features, the new Accent is one of very few small, affordable cars that we'd happily take on a cross-country drive. A lot of car for the money, in other words, and we call that a great value.
Base Price: $12,445
Value is about more than just a price tag. While its $12,445 base MSRP puts the new Accent GLS about $1500 above the also-new Nissan Versa, the Hyundai doesn't feel or behave like a cheap car. Start with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder, the first engine in this category that uses efficient direct fuel injection. There's a healthy 138 hp and an optional six-speed automatic transmission that comes with a manual-shift mode. The Accent also sports Hyundai's latest sharp styling theme, and the car's interior volume of more than 103 cubic feet puts it above the subcompact competition. Thanks to a wheelbase that's 3 inches longer than before, it rides better and has a more comfortable cabin and spacious cargo hold (there's additional room in the hatchback version, but it's a bit pricier). With handsome interior trim and a long list of features, the new Accent is one of very few small, affordable cars that we'd happily take on a cross-country drive. A lot of car for the money, in other words, and we call that a great value.
2012 VW Passat TDI
Fuel Efficiency
Base Price: $26,795
There's not much of Europe left in the new Volkswagen Passat. The car has been enlarged and softened for American tastes and it's even built here in a brand-new factory in Tennessee. This American-only Passat, however, is also the only midsize sedan offered with the engine favored by Europeans: a diesel. Turbocharged for greater efficiency, VW's 2.0-liter diesel produces a measly 140 peak horsepower—but what's important is the 236 lb-ft of torque generated at just 1500 rpm. That makes the Passat TDI feel punchy and entertaining, rather than sluggishly boring. But the big wows come from its mileage numbers. Equipped with either the six-speed manual or automatic transmission, the TDI returns 31 EPA city mpg and an astonishing 43 highway mpg. In other words, the Passat gets better fuel economy than cars two classes smaller, yet it starts at a reasonable $26,795 and has more rear legroom than the Ford Taurus. The diesel's open-road efficiency is matched to an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, so the Passat can travel some 800 miles between fill-ups. Try to make your bladder last.
Base Price: $26,795
There's not much of Europe left in the new Volkswagen Passat. The car has been enlarged and softened for American tastes and it's even built here in a brand-new factory in Tennessee. This American-only Passat, however, is also the only midsize sedan offered with the engine favored by Europeans: a diesel. Turbocharged for greater efficiency, VW's 2.0-liter diesel produces a measly 140 peak horsepower—but what's important is the 236 lb-ft of torque generated at just 1500 rpm. That makes the Passat TDI feel punchy and entertaining, rather than sluggishly boring. But the big wows come from its mileage numbers. Equipped with either the six-speed manual or automatic transmission, the TDI returns 31 EPA city mpg and an astonishing 43 highway mpg. In other words, the Passat gets better fuel economy than cars two classes smaller, yet it starts at a reasonable $26,795 and has more rear legroom than the Ford Taurus. The diesel's open-road efficiency is matched to an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, so the Passat can travel some 800 miles between fill-ups. Try to make your bladder last.
2012 Nissan NV
Workhorse
Base Price: $24,950
Nissan's new NV full-size van (offered in three weight ratings: base 1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD) brings fresh and handy ideas to the rarely changed van segment. Nissan started with a passenger cabin more like that of a pickup truck for additional room and easier access—both to the cab and underhood. Stout, durable hinges let the cargo doors swing back beside the body (243 degrees, with a stop at 90 degrees to prevent them from swinging wildly out into traffic). A tall-body version accommodates walk-through access for tradesmen or taller cargo; a standard-height one suits those who need their 20-foot-long vans to fit under overhead garage doors. Add a best-in-class turning circle of 45.2 feet, plenty of threaded holes in the interior that make mounting racks a snap, and a relatively subdued interior, and it's a tool that doesn't feel like work to use.
Base Price: $24,950
Nissan's new NV full-size van (offered in three weight ratings: base 1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD) brings fresh and handy ideas to the rarely changed van segment. Nissan started with a passenger cabin more like that of a pickup truck for additional room and easier access—both to the cab and underhood. Stout, durable hinges let the cargo doors swing back beside the body (243 degrees, with a stop at 90 degrees to prevent them from swinging wildly out into traffic). A tall-body version accommodates walk-through access for tradesmen or taller cargo; a standard-height one suits those who need their 20-foot-long vans to fit under overhead garage doors. Add a best-in-class turning circle of 45.2 feet, plenty of threaded holes in the interior that make mounting racks a snap, and a relatively subdued interior, and it's a tool that doesn't feel like work to use.
Mazda Skyactiv Engines
Technical Innovation
Mazda's new SkyActiv gasoline engine is a perfect example of small and creative improvements combining for a significant efficiency gain. Take, for example, the motor's compression ratio, which at 13:1 is about 20 percent higher than that of most other engines. Higher compression means the engine gets more work out of each combustion event, but it also increases the risk that the air—fuel mixture will auto ignite, a harmful condition known as detonation. To reduce that risk, Mazda employed direct fuel injection and an elaborate exhaust header with equal-length pipes running from the cylinder head to the catalyst. Both reduce heat—the fuel cools as it evaporates and the header scavenges the hot exhaust gases. There's also a new twist on the variable valve timing mechanism. The intake cam's actuator can rotate 180 degrees—40 is typical. So when full engine power isn't needed, the computer can leave the intake valves open during a portion of the compression stroke, which reduces the amount of air—and thus fuel—consumed by the engine. All these features, plus careful attention to reducing friction and weight, yielded a normally aspirated 2.0-liter engine that produces 158 hp and should return 40 mpg when it debuts in the Mazda3 next year.
Mazda's new SkyActiv gasoline engine is a perfect example of small and creative improvements combining for a significant efficiency gain. Take, for example, the motor's compression ratio, which at 13:1 is about 20 percent higher than that of most other engines. Higher compression means the engine gets more work out of each combustion event, but it also increases the risk that the air—fuel mixture will auto ignite, a harmful condition known as detonation. To reduce that risk, Mazda employed direct fuel injection and an elaborate exhaust header with equal-length pipes running from the cylinder head to the catalyst. Both reduce heat—the fuel cools as it evaporates and the header scavenges the hot exhaust gases. There's also a new twist on the variable valve timing mechanism. The intake cam's actuator can rotate 180 degrees—40 is typical. So when full engine power isn't needed, the computer can leave the intake valves open during a portion of the compression stroke, which reduces the amount of air—and thus fuel—consumed by the engine. All these features, plus careful attention to reducing friction and weight, yielded a normally aspirated 2.0-liter engine that produces 158 hp and should return 40 mpg when it debuts in the Mazda3 next year.
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