We know we give you guys a lot of OUR opinions on new car models but we thought we?d change it up a little bit this week and get the opinions of a few other automotive journalists. We compiled a list of 6 questions that we thought would get some interesting insights into some of this years highlights and letdowns.
- What Midsize car has raised the bar this year in terms of power/performance, fuel efficiency and price? Why?
- What vehicle has been the biggest letdown in 2013? Why?
- In your opinion, which 2013 vehicle gives you the most bang for your buck?
- Is hybrid technology finally entering the mainstream? What brands are front-runners in clean-tech?
- Do you think Insurance Telematic Technology, such as Ajusto, will be embraced by consumers or is it an invasion of privacy?
- What new launch are you most excited by for 2014?
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Stephen Elmer
News Editor of AutoGuide.com
1. Mazda6. The base engine in Mazda6 isn?t the most powerful, but it is suited to the car well. The SkyActiv-D diesel engine coming to 6 is the real big story, and is sure to deliver a solid package. Fuel efficiency in the 6 actually delivers, as my time with the car returned 7.8L-100km. The 6 even undercuts the Ford Fusion by just a little but, making it the most attractive package. Plus, it?s sexy!
2.?Ford Fusion. The gorgeous styling promises a much better package than what is delivered. While the torquey turbo motors feel good, they don?t live up to their fuel consumption ratings, usually falling very short. Also, the handling is lackluster, and my test car had some panel fitment issues, and plastic bits falling off.
3.?Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai and Kia have become known for having tons of features available for a considerable amount less than their rival, and they deliver. While driving dynamics may fall behind, interior features are plentiful.
4.?Hybrids are constantly improving, and are viable option for many consumers. It depends on what kind of driving you do, but hybrids?definitely?have advantages in certain situations. Toyota still rules the hybrid world in my book, consistently delivering?decent?Prius sales.
5.?I feel as though Ajusto it too intrusive, and may have?implications?beyond insurance in the future. The general public will take a long time to accept the program, simply because most are uneducated about it.
6.?The 2014 Toyota Tundra. Though when it was revealed we found out that the powertrains are staying the same, Toyota is known for building a solid pickup. It will be interesting to see if this Japanese Half-Ton can put up a legitimate fight for the big three.
James Davidson
Editor at WheelsOnEdge.com
1. Well this is an easy one for me. The 2014 Mazda6 in my opinion is the best looking mid-size in its class. Has great fuel numbers and you get some pretty impressive standard features for the price.
2.?I would have say the small Chevrolet products ie Spark and Sonic. They just seem to be cheaply made, have no road feel and most importantly, not very comfortable.
3.?My girlfriend was recently in the market for a new small fuel efficient car and I told her the best bet is a small Hyundai product like the Accent or Elantra. You get great fuel numbers and some impressive standard features such as heated seats and Bluetooth, two great features for living in Canada.
4.?I think people are becoming more receptive to Hybrid technology every year. They?re finding out you can still have performance while saving on gas and the technology gets better each and every year. It also helps that manufactures are using hybrid technology in their racing programs. A few years ago I would have said Toyota, but North American brands have really stepped up their game with the Focus Electric, Volt and C-max.
5.?I have no say on this topic.
6.?With diesel engines on their way back up I would have to say I?m looking forward to the Mazda diesel launch.
James Bergeron
Writer at Autos.ca
1. I feel the Ford Fusion offers consumers with everything they need in terms of performance and fuel efficiency with the multiple engine choices (2.5L/ecoboost / hybrid and plugin!) as well as a technologically advanced interior and features consumers are demanding.
2.?No contest here the outdated Chrysler 200 is most likely the worst new car buy that can be had in Canada today. ?The entire vehicle feels outdated and outclassed, the chassis is frightening to drive. ?Although the engine is powerful it is too much for the chassis causing all kinds of handling problems.
3.?Since you haven?t defined a category here I?m going to have to say the Ford Mustang GT ? it is one of the best handling cars made today, offers a powerful V8 engine and tons of features all for under 35 grand.
4.?Toyota is still king of the Hybrids, now offering a full Prius lineup from small car to family wagon. ?As well as the Highlander and Camry offerings Toyota is offering the most Hybrid selection by far. ?Is hybrid tech finally entering mainstream? ?I think so ? the number of Hybrids I see on the road in just the past two years has grown exponentially and it seems that most consumers have gotten over the initial ?batteries will break? phobia.
5.?Tough question and it really depends on the individual. ?My wife actually asked me a few weeks ago to get a quote from a company using one of these devices, because we don?t typically drive far or often and when we do we rarely exceed posted speeds etc. ?I think for those that have nothing to hide this technology can be great as long as a few?indiscretions?do not put you onto the black list. ?I have a feeling though it will take a long time for the public to embrace this technology.
6.?The new 2014 Mazda3 sure looks exciting!
Marc Bouchard
Editor in Chief at AutoGo.ca
1. The Honda Accord, without a doubt. They took a good-but-boring car and turned it into a real efficient and even fun-to-drive (the coupe, not he sedan) midsize Japanese car. The Accord is now to the level of performance that you expect from a family car, with a fuel consumption lower than most of it?s competitors. Mechanically, it has evolved into a modern, small size engine that suits perfectly the personality of the car. The styling might be the only less-powerful aspect of the car, as it is still a little too quiet.
2.?The Toyota Rav4. Not that it?s a bad SUV (or is it even an SUV?) but they changed it so little. Yes, the hatch door now opens the right way and yes, the look is a lot more modern. But the RAV4 gets the same engine, the same transmission, and the same lack of inspirational driving. Not a bad SUV, but we were expecting SO much more!
3.?Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra must be the All stars in this category. They came equipped with a long list of standard stuff, some useful and some less, but nevertheless, they are a good drive for a more then reasonable price tag. Styling, engine, everything seems to be just right, at a price that is surprisingly low. A good mention also for the Mazda6, a nice looking midsize affordable sedan available with a long list of standards features.
4.?No matter what the other thinks, Toyota still is the leader in green technology, mostly with the Prius family (I can?t help hearing the wonderful jingle that goes with the Prius name whenever I talk about hybrid). They offer a wider range of model, became really fuel-efficient and mostly more and more affordable. Mainstream, maybe not yet, but at least hybrids, and plug-in hybrids, are not part of the buying list of lots of young couples who considers a new cars. The future looks also green for Ford who has shown a few promising vehicles. As for all-electric cars, they are and will continue to be niche cars. The Nissan Leaf is nice, but you need to drive it with some many compromises (not to mention the short driving range) that it will not hit the top list for years to come.
5.?It is, in my mind, invasion of privacy. So are cookies on Internet, or any other electronic transactions we make. Will consumers go for this technology? Yes, if you can prove that it will save them money without too much effort. So far, the economy is far less impressive than the impression you have that you are a lousy driver whenever you look at your results. I consider myself a regular driver, and after one month of Ajusto, I still see no rebate. Will I keep it? No, for sure. I?m willing to give away my privacy (I already do most of the time), but it has to give me some rewards!
6.?Mazda6 diesel is probably the car I look the most forward to drive. Why? Because I am a huge fan of diesel car: I love the low fuel consumption and the low-end torque that those engine provides. And since the Mazda6 is one of my favorite with the new model, it?s hard to believe that the diesel version will be a deception. A good note also for the Toyota Corolla: the car is so popular they can?t afford to change it completely, but I hope they gave it a little more spice!
Conclusion
As you can, there are some similarities as well as some distinct differences in the opinions of these automotive experts. For example, it seems that the 2014 Mazda?s are gaining a lot of attention while everyone above had a different opinion on the make and model that rose the bar this year.
What do you guys think? Agree or disagree with the opinions above?
Source: http://www.carpages.ca/blog/2013/07/09/auto-experts-weigh-in-2013-automotive-highlights-letdowns/
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