Tag Archives: Luxury Vehicles

Quick Spin: 2021 BMW 330e

admin • April 17, 2021

2021 BMW 330e Sedan in Alpine White

2021 BMW 330e Sedan

Class: Premium Compact Car

Miles driven: 157

Fuel used: 4.2 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 37.4 mpg

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B
Power and Performance	B
Fit and Finish	A
Fuel Economy	B
Value	C+

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	B-
Tall Guy	B-

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	288-hp 2.0-liter
Engine Type	Turbo 4-cyl plug-in hybrid
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	RWD

Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 75 MPGe/28 mpg (city/highway combined)

Fuel type: Premium gas recommended

Base price: $44,550 (not including $995 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Cognac Vernasca Leather ($1450), Dynamic Handling Package ($1400), Drivers Assistance Pro Package ($1700), M Sport Package ($3800), Parking Assistance Package ($700), Executive Package ($2600), Active Driving Assistant Pro ($1700), ambient lighting ($250), wireless device charging ($500)

Price as tested: $59,645

More 3-Series price and availability information

Quick Hits

The great: Satisfying acceleration with laudable fuel economy and pure EV capability for short trips; nimble handling; nicely finished interior

The good: Broad range of available technology features

The not so good: Powertrain behavior is sometimes non-linear; hybrid system’s hardware steals a significant amount of trunk space

CG Says:

In recent years the BMW 3-Series has seen its coupe and convertible spun off into a separate series and its station wagon discontinued, but the premium-compact sedan that remains still presents variety to those shopping in the class. That grows in 2021 with the return of plug-in-hybrid 330e models.

The 330e plug-in hybrid is a new addition to the BMW 3-Series lineup for 2021.

Consumer Guide editors got to sample a rear-wheel-drive 330e, which starts at $45,545 with delivery. Its key distinction from other seventh-generation 3s they have driven—a 2019 330i and a ’20 M340i, both equipped with xDrive all-wheel drive—is its gas/electric powerplant. The 330e joins a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine to an electric motor for system outputs of 288 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque—gains of 33 horsepower and 16 lb-ft over the 330i’s gas four, and 41 more horsepower than the previous-generation plug-in.

Test Drive: 2021 Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 PHEV

Like other 3-Series models, the 330e’s cabin boasts upscale materials and excellent assembly quality. The Executive Package adds features such as a heated steering wheel, heated seats, keyless entry, and a head-up display.

There’s also more all-electric range for the 330e. Fed by a 12-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, it can run for 22 miles without the internal-combustion engine kicking in, though that figure falls to 20 miles for the 330e xDrive. The prior plug-in promised just 14 miles of such range.

From its selectable drive modes, the 330e automatically starts off operating in a traditional manner that fluctuates between gas and electric power, transitions that it makes with extreme subtlety. An “Electric” mode turns the car into a pure EV (and will keep it one at speeds up to 87 mph) and activates more aggressive regenerative braking to help stave off battery depletion. In either of these electric-first modes the 330e is an alert and able performer in city driving, though we noticed that when using the selectable brake-hold function at full stops there was some jerkiness when getting going again. For spicier driving flavor, “Sport” is necessary. This switches off the electrics to let the 181-horsepower fossil-fueler fully take over. In Sport, the 8-speed automatic transmission found in almost all current 3-Series models holds its ranges a little longer and then shifts a little more crisply.

Quick Spin: 2020 Lexus LS 500h

The center console houses the infotainment control knob, electronic parking brake switch, engine start/stop button, and drive-mode selector buttons. The wide infotainment screen features clear graphics and helpful displays.

One additional—and new—trick up Sport’s sleeve is “XtraBoost,” which injects a further 40 horses for up to 10 seconds under full acceleration. That’s what gives the car its manufacturer-claimed 5.6-second 0-to-60-mph clocking—which is the same time BMW reports for a rear-drive 330i. Contrary to many other AWD BMWs, the 330e xDrive is actually said to be slower to 60 at a claimed 5.7 seconds.

As for fuel economy, it is the availability of electric power to take some of the load off the gas engine that makes the 330e somewhat frugal. The EPA combined estimate for the hybrid’s gas engine is 28 mpg, which is 2 mpg less than the 330i that has a more-powerful 2.0-liter four but is 479 pounds lighter; some CG testers’ gas use was worse than that. The rear-drive 330e has a 75 MPGe rating, while the xDrive hybrid is projected for 67 MPGe. Put that together with the slower 0-to-60 time and the slight reduction in all-electric driving range and it’s hard to imagine justifying to anyone but the most bad-weather-traction-obsessed driver the extra $2000 a 330e xDrive costs.

Quick Spin: 2020 Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription

There’s respectable space for the driver and front-seat passenger on comfortable, supportive seats, but the rear seat is a bit cramped in terms of both headroom and legroom for adults–which is not uncommon for the premium compact car class.

Despite tipping the scales at 4039 pounds, the 330e still handles and corners quite well, especially in Sport mode. The Dynamic Handling Package option on the test car included variable sport steering and adaptive M suspension that gave it a firm but not punitive ride feel and sharper, less-boosted steering in the Sport setting. Braking action under regeneration is better than in the great majority of hybrids.

Test Drive: Land Rover Range Rover Sport Plug-in Hybrid

The charge port is located on the driver’s side front fender. A 120V Level 1 charging cable (with carrying case) is included.

Two other things that separate the 330e from the 330i are the instrument panel and the trunk. The hybrid’s instrument cluster fills the same 8.8-inch space, but it displays things like electric-motor output, charge status, and driving ranges. In Sport, a tachometer replaces the EV readout on the right side. With the hybrid battery located under the rear seat, the fuel tank (at a reduced 10.6 gallons) is relocated above the rear axle. This requires the trunk floor to rise over the tank. Thus, the 330e has 13.2 cubic feet of cargo room, 29 percent less than gas-engine 3s. The back portion of the hybrid’s trunk floor can be set so that it forms a flat load floor throughout, or it can drop down to free up additional overall cargo space. A couple’s weekly groceries, packaged in numerous smaller bags, pretty much filled the trunk. In the hybrid the 40/20/40 split rear seats retract at a level below the trunk-floor height.

Test Drive: Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e

The 330e is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor for a total output of 288 horsepower. Our test vehicle was equipped with 19-inch M wheels on Pirelli tires.

Room and amenities in the test car were like those in similarly equipped 3-Series cars we’ve driven, and we’ll direct you there for those details. The hybrids cost $3300 more than comparable 330i sedans, but they are eligible for one-time federal tax credits of up to $5836, and perhaps other state and local programs.

Quick Spin: Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid

The 330e brings better fuel economy and short-trip pure-EV functionality to BMW’s laudable compact sport sedan, but an initial purchase-price premium and compromised powertrain smoothness and linearity come along for the ride.

Listen to the very entertaining Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

2021 BMW 330e Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images)

Meet the 2021 Consumer Guide Best Buys

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on April 16, 2021.

Cheap Wheels: 1990-1996 Infiniti Q45

admin • April 1, 2021

1990 Infiniti Q45

by Don Sikora

Note: The following story was excerpted from the April 2020 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine.

Nissan’s Infiniti luxury brand made its debut more than 30 years ago at the 1989 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The first dealers opened the following November, selling just two models. The M30 coupe was based on the Japanese-market Nissan Leopard, but Infiniti’s star was the larger and all-new Q45 sedan.

1990-1996 Infiniti Q45

As introduced, the Q45 was a rear-drive four-door sedan with a wheelbase that spanned 113.4 inches, was 199.8 inches long overall, and started for around $38,000. Infiniti was a new brand and, free from tradition, designers decided to go their own way. A press release from Infiniti’s 25th anniversary described the Q45’s appearance on its Detroit debut: “[W]hat caused the most interest . . . was what was missing—no traditional oversized front grille, no forest of exotic wood trim in the interior.”

A large Infiniti badge defined the Q45’s face. It was a bright-metal decoration that Car and Driver opined was “gross” and “looks like a cross between a paper doily and a state trooper’s badge.” Ouch. Beyond the controversial front, the exterior design was quite clean, maybe to the point of being plain.

The interior was nicely finished, but C/D wasn’t completely convinced of its appearance. It noted the lack of wood and chrome trim, and wondered if subtle differences in color and texture were intentional or not. The magazine also advised that leather upholstery was standard, though wool cloth was a no-cost option.

Q45’s powertrain mated a 4.5-liter V8 with a four-speed automatic transmission. The 32-valve dohc engine was all aluminum, and included port fuel injection and intake valves with variable timing. It was rated at 278 horsepower and 292 pound-feet of torque. C/D mentioned that among contemporary luxury sedans, only the V12 in the BMW 750iL had a higher horsepower rating. Consumer Guide^® described the powertrain as quiet, silky, and smooth. Editors liked Q45’s overall refinement and lively acceleration. Observed fuel economy of 16.6 mpg on premium unleaded was not as impressive, though.

Infiniti tweaked the original Q45 over its run. In 1991, traction control and what reportedly was the world’s first production active-suspension system joined the options list. Starting in 1992, cars with active suspension were dubbed Q45A. Interiors lost two-tone coloring in 1993. The ’94 Q45 went on sale in spring 1993, and it had a restyled front end that added a traditional chrome grille and fog lamps. Interiors were upgraded with softer leather, wood trim, and additional safety features including a passenger-side air bag. Significantly, both of the items Infiniti had touted as not being on the original car were now in place. To our eyes, the revised front end was not an improvement.

Changes were few after the facelift. For ’95 there was a new alloy-wheel design. In what proved to be the final model year for the first-generation Q45, the ’96s received a revised V-8 engine that made do without variable valve timing. In addition, the pricey Q45A was discontinued.

Q45 specs and year-by-year changes

Pros:

Refined and speedy luxury sedan.
Q45 options like Super HICAS rear-wheel steering and an active suspension
are rare technologies in cheap-wheelers.

Cons:

The original front-end design was polarizing when new.
Consumer Guide^® noted passenger and cargo space weren’t as roomy as
expected for a car of the Q’s size.

Final Drive:

The original Infiniti Q45 was well executed, but it’s difficult to argue that its more traditionally styled rival, the Lexus LS400, wasn’t a greater commercial success. We think the Q45’s cheap-wheels sweet spot is a 1991 to ’93 model with the original styling and traction control.

Listen to the very entertaining Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

infiniti Q45

Review Flashback! 1990 Infiniti Q45

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on April 1, 2021.

Quick Spin: 2021 Lexus RC 350 F Sport

admin • March 25, 2021

2021 Lexus RC 350 F Sport AWD in Infrared metallic red

2021 Lexus RC 350 F Sport AWD

Class: Premium Sporty/Performance Car

Miles driven: 265

Fuel used: 13.7 gallons

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B-
Power and Performance	B-
Fit and Finish	B+
Fuel Economy	B-
Value	B

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	B-
Tall Guy	C-

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	311-hp 3.5L
Engine Type	V6
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	AWD

Real-world fuel economy: 19.3 mpg

Driving mix: 80% city, 20% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 19/26/22 (city/highway combined)

Fuel type: Premium gas recommended

Base price: $51,130 (not including $1025 destination charge)

Options on test car: triple-beam LED headlamps ($1160), Mark Levinson 17-speaker 835-watt premium surround-sound audio system ($1080), Intuitive Parking Assist ($500), premium paint ($595), power moonroof ($1100)

Price as tested: $56,590

Quick Hits

The great: Acceleration; ride/handling combination

The good: Visibility; interior appointments

The not so good: Infotainment/climate controls; rear-seat room; cabin storage

More RC price and availability information

CG Says:

Is the Lexus RC 350 F Sport a sporting car that wants to be luxurious or a luxury car trying to be sporty?

The RC product line—turbo 4-cylinder 300, V6 350, and V8 F—is part of Consumer Guide’s premium sporty/performance-car class. The sole body style continues to be that of a tidy sport coupe on a 107.5-inch wheelbase. A roofline that touches down a few inches short of the end of the decklid keeps it from being a true fastback, but that’s an academic distinction that’s hard to keep in mind when you’re looking through the backlight via the rearview mirror—or riding in a rear seat.

Even with a coating of road salt and grime thanks to Chicagoland’s merciless winter roads, the RC’s styling turns heads.

Clearly, then, the RC 350 F Sport comes in the right wrapper for a hot car. It’s just that the goods inside seem to dial down the temperature.

CG’s test car was an all-wheel-drive 350 F Sport, which for 2021 has a starting price of $52,155 including delivery. Standard equipment consists of features like Lexus Safety System + driving aids, rear-obstacle detection, Enform telematics and apps, Apple CarPlay and newly added Android Auto smartphone compatibility, power-adjustable 10-way driver’s seat and 8-way passenger seat, NuLuxe leatherette upholstery, automatic dual-zone climate control, push-button starting, and touchpad-controlled Lexus Multimedia System with a 7-inch color display screen and 10-speaker audio.

Test Drive: 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost

The RC’s interior is nicely assembled from high-quality materials and has a sporty, upscale look and feel. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, but the low-slung roofline means headroom is stingy for tall occupants.

The things that turn a base RC 350 into an F Sport mostly check off appearance and convenience boxes. The more-stoutly bolstered front sport seats are heated and ventilated, and there’s a memory-settings function for the driver’s seat, exterior mirrors, and tilt/telescoping steering wheel. The steering and shift knob are wrapped in perforated leather. The interior sports dark-gray “Streamline” trim and aluminum-face pedals; the exterior shows a distinct grille surface, 19-inch alloy wheels, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Nods to performance are confined to an expanded line of drive modes including “Sport S,” “Sport S+,” and “Custom,” as well as an F SPORT–tuned fully independent suspension with electronically adjustable shock absorbers.

Test Drive: 2020 Nissan 370Z NISMO

There’s a so-so 10.4 cu. ft. of cargo volume in the RC’s trunk, but the space is nicely finished, and the trunk-lid hinges are covered so they don’t crush cargo.

All RC 350s are powered by a 311-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, and those with the full-time AWD system pair it with a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Standing-start acceleration and highway cruising, while lively, aren’t exceptional in sporty-car terms. Ride is firm but never harsh in “Normal” mode. Dialing up to Sport S+ firms up steering resistance and stiffens the suspension to reduce body lean, with the effect that passengers will feel a little more grit in the ride, but the car’s overall reflexes remain more relaxed than those of true performance coupes. EPA fuel-mileage estimates of 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 combined were more or less borne out in our testing. Note that the rear-drive 350 F Sport, which starts for $1610 less than the test car, comes with an 8-speed automatic and slightly larger-diameter front disc brakes, and can be ordered with rear-wheel steering and a Torsen limited-slip rear differential not available on the all-wheeler.

First Spin: 2021 Lexus IS

RC 350s are powered by a 311-hp 3.5-liter V6. Rear-wheel drive models get an 8-speed automatic transmission, and AWD models like our test car have a 6-speed automatic. F Sports come standard with 19-inch alloy wheels.

Most of what’s new for the ’21 RCs are Black Line Special Edition 300 and 350 F Sports and a Fuji Speedway Edition for the 472-horse RC F. Otherwise, the general package is what it has been since the RC’s 2015 debut. Front-seat occupants sit low but enjoy decent head- and legroom. In back there is room for a pair of smaller-stature folks, providing those in front of them don’t need to track all the way back. Soft-touch materials are readily apparent around the cabin. The only fly in the ointment in terms of controls is the infotainment system’s remote touchpad controller on the console. For personal storage, the console box isn’t terribly deep and the glove box is similarly modest, but there are long pockets in both doors. A flat, wide trunk has enough space for luggage for two on a short trip—or a week’s worth of their groceries.

The five options that pushed the final price of our test car to $56,590 only furthered its luxury level. The RC 350 F Sport is pleasant to drive. Is it truly sporty? No. But it is a Lexus.

Test Drive: 2020 Cadillac CT4-V

The basic Lexus RC is starting to feel a bit long in the tooth these days, but it continues to offer a unique mix of dramatic styling, classy cabin trimmings, and a grand-touring-coupe driving personality.

Listen to the very entertaining Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

2021 Lexus RC 350 F Sport Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images)

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on March 24, 2021.

Test Drive Gallery: 2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve

admin • February 4, 2021

2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve AWD in Silver Radiance Metallic

2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve AWD

Class: Premium Midsize Crossover SUV

Miles driven: 174

Fuel used: 9.8 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 17.7

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B+
Power and Performance	B+
Fit and Finish	A-
Fuel Economy	C
Value	B-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A
Tall Guy	A

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	400-hp 3.0-liter
Engine Type	twin-turbo V6
Transmission	10-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	AWD

Driving mix: 45% city, 55% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 17/24/20 (city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $58,700 (not including $1095 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Equipment Group 202A ($11,625; includes Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 Plus Package, panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, 22-inch machined alloy wheels, Luxury Package, Class IV Trailer Tow Package, and Illumination Package), Convenience Package ($2200), Dynamic Handling Package ($3000) Full Rear Console (no charge), equipment group savings (-$1500)

Price as tested: $75,120

Quick Hits

The great: Robust acceleration; lavishly finished interior

The good: Lots of advanced comfort and convenience features; distinctive luxury personality

The not so good: Mediocre fuel economy; steep pricing; driver’s seating position feels odd to some testers

More Aviator price and availability information

CG Says:

An all-new Aviator 3-row midsize SUV re-debuted in Lincoln’s model lineup for 2020. We say “re-debuted” because Lincoln also sold an Aviator SUV from 2003 to 2005. As the previous model did, the new Aviator shares its basic platform with the Ford Explorer (which itself was redesigned for 2020). This time around, the Aviator took the place of the discontinued MKT in Lincoln’s product roster, as part of the brand’s move away from its three-letter “MK” model-naming convention.

You can check out our full road test of a 2020 Aviator Reserve AWD here. The test vehicle pictured here is nearly identical to our previous tester, but our driving mix this time around included more highway driving. This improved our fuel economy slightly, but our average was still a bit below the EPA estimates.

Though its pricing is quite steep, there’s lots we like about the Lincoln Aviator. There’s abundant and varied personal-item storage around the cabin; pockets in all doors are big and contain bottle holders, and with the optional rear console, there are two console cubbies in the truck, both deep. A big hidden space resides under the cargo floor in back.

There’s good headroom and legroom in the front and middle rows of this 3-row SUV, and the ample glass area makes for an airy cabin and good driver sightlines. The Sync 3 infotainment system is easy to use and program (aided by actual external tuning and volume knobs), and the 400-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 moves the Aviator with quiet authority.

These positive traits carry over essentially unaltered for 2021. The ’21 Aviator sees only minor tweaks to standard-equipment levels, as well as a couple new wheel designs, new paint colors, and a Monochromatic Reserve Appearance Package.

More Lincoln news and reviews