No fancy names for my update this week. If you haven't already checked it out, you should go to autos.ca, they had some good articles this week on upcoming vehicles including the Chevy Orlando (looks like a squished caravan), Mazda CX-5 (looks like a Rav-4, CRV mix) and Kia Optima SX (cool looking car).
Subaru's new generation of Impreza's are out, touting the best fuel economy for an AWD in existence with 7.5 L/100 city and 5.5 L/100 km Highway. That's roughly twice as good as my Honda Pilot, actually probably a bit better than twice as good, and its an AWD. I actually like the look of the hatchback model, but the sedan looks boring in my opinion. As with all newly released vehicles the rates are up to 5.9% for 5 year purchase and 4 year leases. Last going off the 2011's were down to 0.9 % I think, so this would not be a good time to buy one, just wait until the spring. They are getting the increased fuel economy (30% better than the outgoing model) by lowering engine output to 148HP, adding a CVT transmission and making the vehicle a bit more aerodynamic and lighter. They are saying it actually gets a better 0-60 times than the outgoing model even with the significant loss of engine power. In any event you wouldn't buy one of these for the zoom-zoom factor but the fuel economy is fantastic for a AWD vehicle and it looks pretty good.
I don't understand why more companies don't make AWD sedan type vehicles or at least provide it as an option. If you want an affordable AWD vehicle you can either buy a Subaru anything or a Ford Fusion AWD. Nothing from Honda, Toyota (well a Matrix is AWD but not a sedan), GM, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia etc... All the luxury sedans come with this option and they sell far less vehicles than the mainstream would.
It might be due to the fact that the luxury automobiles are generally designed in climates where it actually snows, which I don't think it does much in Korea, Japan or the southern US. I asked on an auto forum websites why people would drive an AWD somewhere that it doesn't snow and they said it helps with traction in the rain..... how fast are they driving in the rain anyways??
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