The case for the compact pickup

As you can see from yesterday's post, there's talk that Suzuki might bring a small pickup to the U.S. market. Although it seems unlikely at this point they might just be onto something.

Let's see: Ford is getting rid of the most fuel efficient pickup on the market. It is also the smallest (or close to it). That means the smallest pickup one can buy on the U.S. market will be the Chevy Colorado, which gets 18/25 for MPGs. (Ranger gets 22/27), and isn’t that small at 192” long.

And let's face it: The Colorado isn't exactly "compact" at the aforementioned 192" long, with a 111.3" wheelbase, and a curb weight of 3,718 (4WD auto).

Remember when companies offered a compact pickup? The 1990 Ford Ranger, for example, weighed nearly 1,000 lbs. less than the current 2.9-liter Colorado, and was 16" shorter. Ford sold a ton of 'em. But, over time, like most vehicles, trucks kept getting larger, and larger, and heavier and heavier, while the fuel economy dropped. I'd argue there isn't a single "compact" pickup on the U.S. market anymore. Yes, some are smaller than others, but compact? Not in my eyes.

And, just like it used to be with small, subcompact cars, if there is nothing to choose from, then of course there's not going to be high sales. Remember 5-7 years ago when people said, "There's no market for subcompacts in the U.S."? Now look at the vast choices!

The current Ranger lineup, death being imminent, is still selling OK, especially considering it's about 2.5 billion years old in automotive design life. Ford sold 6,488 Rangers in July, ’11. That’s more than the:

-Flex
-Expedition
-Fiesta
-Crown Victoria
-Transit Connect
-All of the Lincoln models (nearly combined)

If Suzuki can come with a competitively priced, fuel efficient pickup that is smaller than the Colorado/GMC Canyon (and the current Equator), they might be able to bring in people who don’t need a full-size or mid-sized pickup. This would include people like me. I’d buy one of these in a heartbeat. I don’t haul large loads, pull heavy trailers, or stow tons of gear. But from time to time, I could really use a vehicle with a pickup bed, and I enjoy off roading. I, however, also want a vehicle that gets Ranger-like (or better) fuel economy.

Suzuki to offer a small pickup based on the Jimny?

According to Autoblog, Suzuki says it's considering offering a small pickup, possibly based on its next iteration of the subcompact Jimny 4x4, in the next few years.

The vehicle pictured above is the Suzuki X-HEAD concept, which first appeared in 2007. I would love to add a Jimny-based Suzuki 4x4 to my stable. In fact, assuming it was 1) offered with a manual tranmission 2) included at least a solid rear axle and 3) has a true 4WD system, I'd buy one as my next vehicle, so long as it retains its small proportions.

A lot of people went "head over heals" for the X-HEAD concept, now let's see if Suzuki can pull it off and actually sell something new and different enough to make some profit and make people turn to the brand in the U.S. market.
LINK
Suzuki considering offering (another) small pickup for U.S. (via Autoblog)

The $724,750 Fiat 500C

The Fiat 500 can be had for as little as $15,500, or as much as $724,750 if you have luxury gadget company Stuart Hughes make you one of their lavishly embellished customs.

The "Fiat 500C La Dolce Vita Gold and Diamonds 200hp," as it's officially called, was actually a one-off 500 Abarth convertible commissioned by an antonymous Chinese client, or so the story on the SH website goes. It's got gold. It's got diamonds. It's got ... teak. It's got ... uh ... a redesigned steering wheel and, well golly, new carpet. It also comes with a 24K gold and diamond iPad. Suddenly it seems like a bargain, no? And you thought the Aston Martin Cygnet was a premium subcompact.

Suzuki brings kei cars to U.S., sort of

To promote its Kizashi sedan, Suzuki is doing an East Coast swing. The company is setting up its Kizashi Kicks Road Show event at a number of venues in which people can pilot a number of Suzuki vehicles, including a JDM Suzuki Wagon R (above; one of my personal favorites) and a Suzuki Lapin (below left, another one of my favs), both of which are kei cars. Suzuki even brought out its X-Head concept from 2007. You can see a bunch more photos on Suzuki's Facebook page.

Official Scion iQ photos, links to first drives

By now, you've likley seen and/or read the first drives of the 2012 Scion iQ. While I haven't driven one yet, I thought I could at least share some of the official photos and links to some of those that got to attend the iQ launch event.

In addition, Toyota/Scion has announced the offical price starting at $15,995. This will net you an EPA estimated fuel economy of 36 city, 37 highway from the 94 horsepower 1.3-liter engine mated to the CVT; 11 airbags; standard Bluetooth connectivity; 16" wheels; and a host of other goodies.


FIRST-DRIVE LINKS
2012 Scion iQ (via Autoblog)
2012 Scion iQ first drive: Mighty mite (via cnet)
First Drive: Scion iQ (via Motor Trend)
First Drive: 2012 Scion iQ (via Automobile)

Review: 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC

The rapidly growing compact crossover segment includes vehicles like the Kia Sportage, Suzuki SX4, Ford Escape, Nissan Juke, and others, all of which get decent fuel economy, have versatile interiors, and have available all-wheel drive. Mitsubishi recently entered the segment with its 2011 Outlander Sport. The Outlander Sport is the smaller version of the company’s Outlander, which I’ve previously reviewed. So how does Mitsubishi’s entry compare to other compact crossovers?

To begin, the Outlander Sport has a unique, distinctive shape. It’s larger than the subcompact Suzuki SX4, but smaller than the Kia Sportage. Its front grille has the distinctive Mitsubishi look, which appears similar to the company’s iconic, high-performance Lancer Evolution sports sedan. I even had friends say it looks like an “Evo”— a smart move by Mitsubishi, hoping to capitalize on the Evo’s halo status. Admittedly, the Outlander Sport looks a bit like a taller, chunkier Evo. It is hard to get an idea of the vehicle’s size until you’re right up next to it. Although not the most forward or exciting exteriors, it is attractive.

The Outlander Sport’s interior feels larger than the exterior suggests. You sit high with a good view of the road; you don’t feel like you’re in a compact CUV. The interior is also similar to the Lancer and the standard Outlander—not bad thing. In fact, the interior is attractive with mostly high-quality materials. The Lancer I tested had flimsy climate control knobs. Fortunately, the Outlander Sport’s knobs felt more substantial. The cloth seats are heated and supportive. The rear seat was spacious with plenty of cargo space behind them. The seats fold down for lots of cargo carrying ability, too. There’s even a center pass-through for skis and longer loads. My test model came equipped with the panoramic glass roof with LED illumination. This huge glass pane was great on overcast days, but quickly heated up the cabin in the sun. Luckily, there’s a motorized cover that obscures the whole thing on sunny days, It’s still a nice feature, and it makes the interior feel airy when open.

One of my favorite accoutrements was the fantastic 710 watt, nine-speaker Rockford-Fosgate stereo, complete with earth-shaking 10” subwoofer. Bluntly, this is one of the loudest factory-installed systems you can get anywhere, and it sounds awesome. I couldn’t wait to get into this vehicle simply for the stereo. The Interface is straightforward and there are controls on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, too. Other interior goodies include trick height-adjustable HID headlights, cruise control, and easy-to-use Bluetooth system. The car has all the safety features and three-letter safety acronyms, too (ABS, ASC, AWC, etc.).

The Outlander Sport’s stereo may be powerful, but its engine doesn’t quite have the punch the Rockford-Fosgate subwoofer has. All Outlander Sports are powered by a 2.0-liter four cylinder making 148 horsepower. Most of these engines are mated to a CVT transmission with the ability to manually move things around via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters (a manual trans is available on front-drive models). Although the CVT helps fuel economy (24 city, 29 highway), it doesn’t do much for performance. When it comes time to put the pedal to the metal, the engine gets noisy, and there isn’t much thrust. Add in the all-wheel-drive powertrain’s weight, and it’s a lot of car to move with only 148 hp. (It’s the same horsepower as the lighter Suzuki SX4, which weighs 300 lbs. less—and 28 horsepower less than Kia’s Sportage.) Speaking of all-wheel drive, the selectable All-Wheel Control has a dial to put the car in two-wheel, all-wheel, or all-wheel lock, which is for deeper snow, sand, or mud.

There isn’t a whole lot of Sport in the Outlander Sport’s engine/transmission, and that carries over to the suspension, which is more at home cruising the highways that cutting in and out of the twisties. Part of this comes from the slow, numb steering. The suspension tuning is comfortable, but not terribly sporty. None of this is “bad,” just not entertaining.

These days, there are many ways to get “a lot of car for the money.” The Outalnder Sport, however, is exemplary. My test model came in at just $25,575. That includes a great stereo, all-wheel drive, a CVT transmission, panoramic roof, Bluetooth connectivity, 18” wheels/tires, an above-average interior, and nearly 30 MPG on the highway. At that price, it had me forgetting about the lack of thrust and vanilla handling. In fact, it’s nearly $2,000 less than a comparable Kia Sportage. And let’s face it, 29 MPG is a nice feature in a versatile crossover vehicle.

No, it’s not going to win many races, but the Outlander Sport has a lot going for it, so long as you don’t need tons of power or razor-sharp handling. If you do appreciate good fuel economy, solid build quality, and a comfortable interior, take a look at Mitsubishi’s smallest CUV.

Follow Up: Road Race Motorsports-built Suzuki SX4 turbo Beast project

We recently showed you the turbocharged Suzuki SX4 from Road Race Motorsports nicknamed "Beast." Here's an updated photo of the car, complete with Compmotive TH17 wheels. That is one nice looking SX4, and I love the wheel choice, too.

LINKS
ROAD/RACE SX4 Beast Project (ClubSX4.com)
Road Race Motorsports

Review: 2011 Honda Fit Sport with Navigation

Great handling, exacting build quality, and an interior that multitasks extremely well has made the Honda Fit Sport a darling of the automotive media since it debuted in North America in 2007. The car got a complete redesign in 2009, and for 2011, the Fit gets standard stability control, keyless entry, cruise control, and iPod integration, but it maintains the core attributes the automotive press (and buyers) love. Before this review, I’d spent little time with the small Honda hatchback. But after a full week with the Fit, I can see why the car earns so much praise. It’s an impressive overall package, but does come at a slightly steeper price compared to some of its competitors.

The Fit Sport’s exterior is indeed sporting thanks to its aero kit, 16” alloy wheels, and steeply raked windshield. It creates a distinctive look allowing it to stand out in the growing small car class. The Sport package also includes exterior amenities such as fog lamps and a rear spoiler. I thought the Alabaster Silver Metallic paint was a great color for the car.

While the Fit Sport’s exterior is great, the interior is the big story. The Fit is arguably one of the most versatile cars on the U.S. market, thanks in part to its “Magic Seats.” Like many other rear seats, they’ll fold 60/40 and can fold flat. But the Magic Seats allow the seatbacks remain upright while the bottoms will fold upward, allowing a large area on the floor behind the front seats. The seat bottoms also have storage inside of them. Fold the seats flat, and the cargo area is cavernous, since the floor is low and the ceiling is high—lots of room to pack vertically. Even with the seats in the upright and locked position, there’s ample space behind the rear seats.

Up front, there are two comfortable, well-bolstered sport seats. The dashboard features and array of organically styled shapes and plenty of places to put stuff, such as in the upper and lower passenger’s gloveboxes, and good-sized pockets in the doors. Very practical.

This Fit Sport with Navigation has the off-the-shelf Honda stereo/Navigation unit. I find the system clunky to use and the display looks like it’s out of a 16-bit video game. If you want to insert a CD, press a button, and a motorized screen folds open. I can’t help but wonder if that mechanized stereo/navigation unit will still work after 10 or 15 years. The good news is the six-speaker, 160 watt stereo is on par with other cars in its class, and it has controls on the wheel. The navigation has voice recognition as well, but no Bluetooth connectivity. The climate control system is operated using easy-to-use knobs—something I prefer over complicated push-button systems.

Driving this Fit is a joy. Although I prefer a manual transmission, the Fit’s five-speed automatic shifts quickly and smoothly. The wheel-mounted paddles let you change gears yourself, and they’re some of the best I’ve used in any car: There’s virtually no lag between the time you press the shift paddle and the time the transmission does the work.

All Fits come with a 117 horsepower 1.6-liter SOHC engine with i-VTEC, Honda’s famous variable valve timing (and lift) feature. Power is ample, and throttle response is exceptional—even sports car like. The engine is nosier than I thought it’d be, but not intrusive. Fuel economy is rated at 27 city, 33 highway with either the five-speed automatic or manual transmission, which puts the Fit in the bottom half of the subcompact segment.

The Fit Sport, which gets a rear stabilizer bar and bigger standard wheels and tires, is one of the best-handling subcompacts out there. Steering is quick, handling is precise with excellent weight, and grip is impressive, even with the fairly narrow 185/55/16 Bridgestone tires. The Fit is truly fun to drive, especially in the corners; handling precision is exemplary. Whether cruising or cornering, there were no rattles, squeaks, or vibrations to speak of. It feels rock solid—a typical Honda trait even in the company’s smallest cars.

This Fit Sport with Navigation was priced at $19,990. That includes the $750 destination charge. This is on the higher end of the scale for the class. However, buyers opting for the Fit will be rewarded with outstanding build quality, excellent handling, and an extremely versatile interior. The Fit shouldn’t be overlooked if shopping for a subcompact. It definitely “fits” at the top of the subcompact list. And you thought you’d make it through this review without a Fit pun ...

2012 UK Yaris video

I'll admit: I wasn't a huge fan of the next-generation Yaris when I first saw it. And in fact, I'm still not blown away by its exterior. However, this video, which I found over at KarFarm.com (and yes, I supply content there from time to time), has given me a second thought of the car's design. I actually kind of dig it. Maybe it's because I'm actually seeing it in motion. As usual, I'll reserve final judgement until I can see one in the flesh. But until then, perhaps I've been slightly swayed. Be sure to check out KarFarm's post, which includes some attractive interior photos, too.

LINKS
The all-new Toyota Yaris

Don't forget to click the +1 button

Hey all. For what it's worth, I added the Google +1 button in the upper left-hand corner of the site. If you've got a Google account be sure to recommend this site buy clicking the +1 button.

- Andy

July Oregon Toyota Owners Club (OTOC) meet

Here are photos from the second Oregon Toyota Owners Club (OTOC) meeting. We nearly doubled the attendance from the June event, and hope to double it again in August. Speaking of, the next meet will be at 7:00pm on Wednesday, August 10. Same location:

Wendy's/Kmart parking lot
7663 SW Nyberg Rd.
Tualatin, OR 97062

Last night, there was everything from a 1970s Corolla (oldest) to my 2007 Yaris (newest). Lots of '80s Celicas and Supras; a couple of Cressidas (including a wagon and a 7M-GE powered sedan with a 5-speed), two MR2s, a Corona wagon, and more. Here are pics from the event.

Road Race Motorsports tunes the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Road Race Motorsports has been turning out some unique tuner vehicles lately. The most recent creation is the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Turbo. Coincidentally, I happen to be in the midst of writing a review on the stock 2011 Outlander Sport, so that makes this announcement even more timely.

RRM has given this compact crossover some added stopping, going, and cornering abilities. The power boost comes from the addition of a Mitsubishi turbocharger, Tial wastegate, intercooler, and custom engine management on the existing 4B11 Mitsubishi engine. RRM is able to crank out an additional 100 horsepower and 83 ft./lbs. of torque. For comparison, the stock Outlander Sport makes 148 horsepower and 145 ft./lbs. or torque. FYI, this is the front-wheel drive model equipped with a manual transmission.

Handling and braking are both improved thanks to Eibach springs and StopTech four-piston, full-floating brake system. Other handling goodies include 19" wheels wrapped in Yokohama tires.
RRM says, "We call it the Juke Killer! It has everything that category of car has and more. Performance will well eclipse that of the Juke in every category. We hope to see the reaction of press and the public."
This car was built in partnership with Mitsubishi Motors North America, and will be ready for media to test drive in the near future.

2012 Versa priced at under $11,000

Nissan announced that the new Versa sedan will be able to be had for less than $11,000. ($10,990, to be exact). This will net you a Versa S with a 1.6-liter, 109 hp engine with a five-speed trans. This combo will yeild an EPA average of 27 city, 36 highway (slightly higher with the optional CVT). Nissan is touting the next-gen Versa as the "Big small car." For example, Nissan says the new Versa will have more leg room than a BMW 5-series.

Nissan has referred to the exterior styling as "upscale." I refer to it as "eh." Although it's not my cup-o-tea, potential buyers may see that $11K price tag and come out in droves.
LINK
2012 Nissan Versa (Nissan USA)

What's the smallest car you've taken on a long road trip?

I just got done reading a thread on Yarisworld about a person who drove from New Jersey to Alaska and back in a Toyota Yaris. Yes, a Yaris. According to the poster, it was 16 days, 10,400 miles, $3,100 in gas and hotels. That's pretty impressive, especially since the journey was done in a car as small as a Yaris.

Personally, the smallest road-trip vehicle for me was a 2009 Suzuki SX4 that my wife and I drove from Oregon to Wisconsin and back. But that pales in comparison to the 10,000+ roadtrip done by the Yaris driver.

What's smallest car you've taken on a long road trip?

In the driveway: 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

In the driveway this week is the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The smaller version of the Mitsubishi Outlander (as reviewed by yours truly in September), the Outlander Sport is a bit bigger than a Suzuki SX4, but smaller than a Kia Sportage.

Initial impressions are that you get a lot for your $25,000 including a panoramic roof, Bluetooth, heated seats, and AWD. However, the 2.0-liter engine's power is a bit on the lower side. It is quite comfortable, although the steering ratio feels a bit slow. I love the 700+ watt Rockford Fosgate stereo, though.

Full review coming soon.

Review: 2011 Kia Sportage EX AWD

Let’s face it: Some people need something larger than a subcompact car. Many people looking to upsize from a small car choose a small crossover vehicle—a segment with many choices including Honda’s CR-V, Toyota’s RAV4, Subaru’s Forester, Ford’s Escape, and the new-for-2011 Kia Sportage.

Kia is now one of the fastest growing car companies in the U.S., and it is turning out some world-class vehicles. Case in point, the Korean automaker’s recently redesigned Sportage compact crossover. Now in its third generation, Sportage has grown up, been refined, and gotten a healthy dose of styling and, well, sport. A far cry from the first generation model, which “sported” a 94 horsepower engine, body-on-frame construction, and part-time four-wheel drive, the ’11 Sportage is poised to be strong competitor in the crowded crossover segment. Complete with all-wheel drive, a six-speed transmission, and a downright attractive exterior, the Sportage has come into its own.

 

Speaking of exteriors, I found the new Sportage’s appearance fantastic. It’s a sleek, modern, attractive take on the CUV. There are LED “eyebrows” in the headlamps, great-looking taillights, and distinctive 18” alloy wheels. Dare I say it’s somewhat sexy?

That attractive package continues onto the interior. My loaded test model, an EX trim level with AWD, had heated leather front seats (including an air-conditioned driver’s seat which was fantastic), a great sounding stereo and intuitive navigation system, easy-to-pair Bluetooth connectivity, an air-conditioned glovebox, dual moonroofs, and a fine set of gauges with trip computer. The overall interior design, like the exterior, is modern, forward, and sophisticated.

There is plenty of space in this compact CUV. Both front and rear seats offer ample legroom, and storage is plentiful. The rear seats, of course, fold down to accommodate larger loads. In my semi-weekly trip to Coscto, the Sportage easily gobbled up everything I bought, with plenty of room to spare.

Driving the Sportage was a pleasant surprise. I only say it’s a surprise because I spent a short time in the car at the NWAPA’s Mudfest event in late 2010. I remember it being somewhat pokey. For whatever reason, the car didn’t feel sluggish at all this time around. In fact, the 176 horsepower 2.4-liter DOHC engine with variable valve timing, felt like it had ample power. (A 260 horsepower turbocarged engine is also available if you want to really put the “sport” in Sportage ). Mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting abilities, this Kia is quiet, responsive, and rode nicely whether driving around town or cruising the highway.

My test model had the DynaMax full-time all-wheel drive system with a center lock feature for deep snow, sand, etc. In addition, it also has a hill descent mode, which automatically limits downhill speed by applying the brakes when needed. I tried this out in some of the hillier areas of Portland, and it worked very well. Handling is surprisingly nimble, too thanks in part to the large 18” tires, taught suspension, and all-wheel drive.

Kia has really done an excellent job with the latest Sportage, adding great amounts of nearly everything you’d want in a CUV. In fact, while I had the car for a week, I kept trying to find something I just didn’t like about it. There really wasn’t anything. EPA fuel economy is rated 21 city, 28 highway, which is dead-nuts on par with its competition.

The Sportage EX AWD review vehicle I had stickers for $29,990 including destination. While years ago, it might have seemed crazy to pay $30K for a Kia, nowadays, you’re getting a lot of vehicle for your money. Plus, you’re getting the company’s 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and 5 year/60,000 bumper-to-bumper warranty.

If you’re looking to upsize from your smaller vehicle, but not looking to go too big, the Kia Sportage CUV might just fit the bill. If you’re looking for a compact CUV, this model should definitely be on your shopping list.

Oregon Toyota Club Owners Meet

Like Toyotas? Live in Oregon? You should hit up the Oregon Toyota Owners Club (OTOC). We had our first meeting on June 14. About 10 cars showed up, everything from 1970s Celicas to new Scions. Check out some pics I shot from the event. We're hoping for a lot more cars this time around!

FYI, the next meet will be at 7:00pm at the Wendy's parking lot off of Nyberg Road in Tualitin, OR. You can find all the info on the next OTOC meet in the Oregon forum of the Puget Sound Toyota Owners Club forum. Again, that's 7:00pm at:

7663 SW Nyberg Rd.
Tualatin, OR 97062

It'd be great to see some of you there!