Pricing: 2010 Acura ZDX

Acura has announced a starting price of $45,495 for the new ZDX four-door luxury crossover. The sleek, new MDX-based car will be available in three trim packages: base, Technology Package ($49,995) and Advanced Package ($56,045). All models come standard with all-wheel drive and a 300-hp, 3.7-liter V6 engine. EPA mileage is estimated at 16/23 city/highway.

Standard features on the base model include a panoramic glass roof, concealed rear door handles, and leather accents on the dash, center console, and door panels. The Technology Package adds a navigation system with voice recognition, real-time traffic and weather, a full display screen, and multi-view rear camera. Also included is an upgraded audio system with a built-in hard drive to store up to 3,500 songs; a GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system; and keyless entry with push-button start.

The Advance Package adds a blind-spot information system, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance system, Integrated Dynamic System (IDS)--which offers a Comfort and Sport setting--and heated leather front seats.

We recently took a ride in the new ZDX and found that style has trumped utility. The fit and finish is first rate, the exterior attractive, and there are a number of interesting features, but the low roof, close quarters, and poor access will have limited appeal even to the targeted affluent empty nesters.

All models include $810 for destination and handling. The ZDX will hit dealerships on Dec. 15th.

Read our first impression on the Acura ZDX, and visit the ZDX model overview page.

—Liza Barth

Survey: SUVs are top choice as consumers consider their next vehicle purchase

Over half of Consumer Reports online subscribers plan to buy or have recently purchased a new vehicle, and SUVs are the number-one pick for those still considering which vehicle type to buy, according to a recent survey. The popularity of SUVs signals a return to larger, versatile vehicles, despite the steep prices at the pump last year that led to a surge in small car sales. These findings are from a recent survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center that included more than 2,000 interviews of ConsumerReports.org subscribers.

Survey respondents who recently bought sport/utilities, or anticipated buying one, had several reasons for why they considered SUVs to have unique benefits and advantages over other vehicle types. Space, convenience, and perceived safety are three examples cited by at least a third of CRO subscribers.

Leading reasons to purchase an SUV

63 percent said they need extra cargo space
59 percent said they like to sit up high and see over other cars
51 percent said they need all-wheel drive to handle bad weather
41 percent said the SUV's versatility is worth the lower gas mileage
37 percent said they feel safer in a SUV
31 percent said they don't like the image of minivans
27 percent said they need room to carry more than five people

SUVs can range in size and price, and all of the reasons listed above show why they appeal to various types of drivers. (See our in-depth SUV buying advice and Ratings.) 

It should be noted, however, that because of their taller height, SUVs as a class are not as nimble as passenger cars and have a greater rollover risk in emergency handling maneuvers. Also, their added weight compromises fuel economy. For these reasons, and more, a station wagon or minivan are worthwhile alternatives.

Station wagons--like a Subaru Outback--and even some hatchbacks combine the cargo-carrying flexibility of a small or midsized SUV with the comfort, fuel economy, handling, and performance that can rival a sedan. Even a small hatchback such as the Honda Fit can provide a lot of cargo room for its size. Also, all-wheel drive is not limited to SUVs. An increasing number of cars are offering AWD.

Read our wagon buying advice and ratings, available to online subscribers.

—Maggie Shader with the Consumer Reports National Research Center

Just In: Volkswagen GTI

“Meet the all-new 2010 GTI” proclaimed the opening page on VW’s Web site when we were researching our recent purchase. Maybe it’s déjà vu all over again, but like our 2010 Golf, an awful lot seems familiar here.

A 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine? Check. Available DSG automated manual transmission (ours has the six-speed stick)? Check. Two- or four-door? Yep. Plaid cloth sports seats? You bet--they’re retrotastic.

Not everything is the same. The new car is lower and tauter. This time around we also opted for the four-door version. This one also has a set of wheels that look like a chopping tool from my Cuisinart food processor shod with Pirelli P-Zero all-season tires. Our GTI stickered for $27,504 with a sunroof, those 18-inch alloys, bi-xenon headlights, winter mats (safely put in the cargo area for now), and Bluetooth.

We really enjoyed driving our last GTI so hopefully that remains the same here, as well.

—Tom Mutchler

See our blog Tales of our Volkswagen GTI--car buying made easy.

Tales of our Volkswagen GTI - Car buying made easy

We are often asked about how we go about the business of anonymously buying more than 70 cars, trucks, and SUVs every year. (Learn how we test cars.) Most of our test vehicles are bought by the engineers and support staff who work at our Connecticut test track. Though I’m with the headquarters staff in New York, I recently volunteered to act as a secret shopper for the test program, partly out of curiosity, partly because it takes a lot of buyers to anonymously buy so many cars, and partly just to have better answers at neighborhood barbecues. 

My two-pronged plan: First, try to follow our own buying advice and second, try to make the process as painless as possible. Unlike a typical new-car buyer, I didn’t need to read up on what my car was worth in trade or get financing advice, because I wasn’t trading and I’d be paying by check. Nor did I have to determine the right car for my needs, or what options to choose – all I had to do was buy the assigned car.
The good news was that the car in question has long been a personal favorite--the Volkswagen GTI, recently freshened for 2010.

I started by doing what we recommend all car buyers do and determined the list price of the car and options, and the dealer cost for each. That information was readily available through our recently enhanced Cars Best Deals Plus services. (Learn about Consumer Reports Cars Best Deals Plus.) 

While online, I sent an e-mail from my personal account to three dealers in my area. I was very exact, listing the specific model year, trim line, options packages, and first and second color choices. You should do the same if you choose this contact method, because it saves lots of time, phone calls, and extra e-mails.

Two of the three dealers sent an automated e-mail within minutes, thanking me and saying someone would follow up shortly. A sales consultant at the first of those wrote within an hour to introduce herself and confirm the car, options, and color. She also said she’d get back to me shortly with a price and did so an hour later. The price, a bit below sticker, was acceptable. Dealer number two responded several hours later, with a quote on a 2009 GTI instead of a 2010. It took number two another full day to respond to my follow-up e-mail where I reiterated that I wanted a 2010 GTI. A day later, he wrote back saying GTIs were hard to find, and would I please say exactly what I wanted.

Another e-mail or two with dealer number one and a car was located and on its way from another dealer. It was ready and waiting at the appointed time. No fuss, no muss. And the price she had quoted was what I paid. I did have to confess the day of the pickup that the car was actually being purchased by Consumer Reports as a test car, making her re-do some of the paperwork, but she took it well. All in a day’s work.

Admittedly, your own car buying experience is likely to be more complicated than mine was. Most buyers have a trade-in and must finance at least a part of the new car. I could also didn’t need to test drive several contenders to help make my choice, but any car buyer should plan to spend at least 30 minutes behind the wheel of any car you buy—and a few other considered models for comparison.

On the other hand, as a private buyer you can take advantage of some tools not always available to us. We often need to buy brand new models within days of their first arrival at dealerships, in order to start testing right away. That often minimizes a dealer’s willingness to grant a big discount, although our shoppers always try to grab the best deal they can. If you can wait a few months, you’re better off. And if you can wait until the end of the month you’ve chosen, dealers will often be more willing to negotiate because they have quotas to fill. We also have to buy many cars generously equipped, so we can see if the latest gadgets are worth the money. You might be able to meet your needs while passing up the leather upholstery, rear DVD player, fancy sound system, or other extras.

One thing I learned from my experience is that if I ever buy a new car again, I’ll at least get the process started using the Internet. It’s a real time saver. Shopping online is much more convenient than driving from dealer to dealer, and it can help determine which dealers you might want to work with, and which aren’t worth your time.

I still haven’t heard from dealer number three.

—Jim Travers  

Read our car-buying advice and get the bottom line price on new cars.

First Impression: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Starting in 1991, Honda Accord wagons began to roam American roads, but these practical cars disappeared from our market after just a few years. The rising popularity of SUVs, fueled by the emergence of “crossovers” based on car platforms, saw wagon-minded customers move to Honda’s CR-V and Pilot, as well as dozens of competitors. Now, history is about to repeat itself with import wagon-like vehicles making a revival, even if their sloping styling isn’t as practical as the Accord and Toyota Camry wagons of yore. Think of the Accord Tourer as Honda’s answer to the Toyota Venza.
 
Honda will return to the hatchback/wagon market this fall with several new model variants, including the Accord Crosstour. In addition, Acura is introducing a ZDX model derived from the MDX platform, and the luxury brand has recently announced it will also offer a TSX wagon (a wagon version of the Accord sold elsewhere in the world, called the Accord Tourer).
 
The front- or all-wheel-drive Crosstour will come only with a 271-hp, 3.5-liter V6 mated to a five-speed automatic. Three trim lines are available: base EX, EX-L, and EX-L Navi. All-wheel drive will be optional on the EX-L and EX-L Navi, making this the first Accord model to offer AWD.
 
The Accord Crosstour has created Internet buzz as due to its polarizing styling. We’ll leave that to you to debate. More importantly, we recently spent a day behind the wheel of the Crosstour, and we found the beauty is on the inside—with a familiar, Accord cabin with added versatility. However, the added functionality doesn’t rival a true wagon.
  
Behind the wheel
Unsurprisingly, the driving experience is much like the sedan, though I found the additional rear mass evident at times. The standard automatic has two “sporty” new features: gear-hold based on lateral G forces and rpm rev-matching when downshifting. The Crosstour feels, to me, far less sporty than the Accord sedan or coupe, cars where this technology might be more appreciated.
 
According to Honda, fuel economy according to the EPA is 18 city, 27 highway, for the front-wheel-drive Crosstour, while the AWD version will be slightly worse at 17 city, 25 highway.
 
Inside, the cabin is very much standard Accord fare, and any owner switching from an Accord coupe or sedan to the Crosstour will feel at home. The cargo area is roomy, measuring 55.7 inches at its widest point. A nifty feature, the carpeted floor lids can be flipped over to expose a hard plastic surface that is good for transporting dirty items. Underneath the panels is a removable 1.9 cubic-foot cargo box with two handles, making it easy to carry some items from the vehicle. 

The 60/40-split rear seats can be folded from the cargo area using one-touch levers, but when the seats are folded the narrowest point of the cargo area—just 31 inches across—becomes readily evident. While the Crosstour isn’t designed to carry sheets of plywood, this narrow area is something buyers should be aware of.
 
When the Crosstour goes on sale on November 20th, the base front-wheel drive EX model will start at $29,670. The Crosstour EX-L will have an MSRP of $32,570, which grows to $34,770 for the Navi version. All-wheel drive versions start at $34,020, with the Navi-equipped ones starting at $36,220.
 
—Jon Linkov

Video: Diesel comparison - BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen

For buyers looking for a fuel efficient car, diesels provide an alternative to hybrids. Popular in Europe for years, more diesels are making their way to the U.S. market.

Modern diesels escape many of the liabilities of earlier designs. They are quieter, burn cleaner, and have much improved acceleration. Fuel economy is considerably improved over gasoline-powered versions.

But buying a diesel usually means paying more up front. Finding a diesel pump isn't quite as easy as locating gasoline, and diesel fuel prices recently have fluctuated widely. Except for Volkswagen, diesel vehicle availability is also limited to high-price luxury brands.

In this video, we take a look at four diesels—Mercedes-Benz GL320 Bluetec, BMW 335d, BMW X5, and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI—and their pros and cons.

—Tom Mutchler

Test complete: Nissan Cube

The Cube is a funky-looking box on wheels with a youthful appeal as noted with Nissan’s marketing tag line of “mobile device.” The car is a fun runabout with a variety of personalization options such as colorful interior lighting, shag dash topper (which has no practical function), interior hooks and pouches, and custom exterior accents. But, don’t judge a book solely by its cover.
 
The Cube is practical with a great deal of space, easy access, and good fuel economy, returning 28 mpg overall. However, handling is lackluster, acceleration slow, braking longish, and exterior noise pronounced. While the interior has some whimsical aspects, the fit and finish is cheap. Antilock brakes, stability control and six air bags come standard.
 
The Cube is similar in theme and price to other small boxy wagons, such as the Kia Soul and Scion xB, but trails them both in our tests. However, with a starting price just below $14,000, impressive space, good fuel economy, and standard safety features, this car has distinct appeal.
 
Learn more about the Cube in our model overview where you will find our full road test, specs, pricing, safety data, and more.

—Liza Barth

2009 Frankfurt Motor Show: 2010 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

BMW brought a pre-production 5 Series Gran Turismo to the annual International Motor Press Association (IMPA) event at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, some days before its official Frankfurt debut this week.
 
The 5 GT is an odd creature: neither a sedan nor a wagon and too wide and long to visually register as a hatchback. But call it a hatchback anyway. Porsche gets away with that classification for the Panamera, right? It joins a new emerging vehicle breed to soon be joined by the Acura ZDX and Honda Crosstour.
 
BMW says the 5 GT shares most of its essentials with the 7 Series. Given the width of the car and the nearly identical dash layout, that seems credible. BMW folks also whisper that the GT also hints at the look of the next 5 Series, due here around the summer of 2010, but the 5 sedan will have a smaller footprint.
 
The idea behind the 5 GT is to combine first-class luxury with a high level of functionality. For instance, you can discretely open just the bottom half of the two-piece rear hatch, or lift the whole gate, as in a traditional hatchback. The base model will seat five; more luxurious versions will seat only four. The base engine for the United States is likely to be the 300-hp twin-turbo in-line six cylinder. Although the 5 GT is rear-drive only, it will be priced roughly on par with the X6. Figure at least $60,000 to start.

The 5 GT goes on sale in December 2009. 

—Gabe Shenhar

Ode to the Outback

The new 2010 Subaru Outback is an impressive combination of utility and efficiency. But what makes it so efficient is also what makes it rather annoying to me: its continuously variable transmission.

I recently spent four days with my family in the Outback on a 1,200 mile trip from our home in Connecticut to Niagara Falls and back. (It was beautiful and we had a great time. Thanks for asking!) We invited my mother along for the trip, since she has never seen the falls. At 5 ft. 10, she is a tall woman, and would be relegated to the back seat with our pre-teen daughter for most if not all of the trip.

First the good news: Mom really appreciated the extra 4 inches of leg room in the back. I own an older Legacy GT wagon (the same body as the Outback without the extra ground clearance) and know from experience she would not have been happy in the back seat of my car even for a much shorter trip. The cargo area swallowed all our luggage, plus the inevitable souvenirs with everything below the window level. If I had taken my Legacy wagon, I was considering installing a cargo box. Plus the new car was much quieter than my old one, especially with the engine turning a mere 2400 rpm at about 70. Finally, and best of all, even with all this added space, and driving pretty quickly, we got 28 mpg on the trip.

Now the bad news: while our four-cylinder Outback Limited is fast enough, when you push it hard, the CVT spins up the engine and leaves it hanging at high rpm until you let off the gas. And the Subaru boxer isn’t happy or pleasant at high revs. It’s coarse and loud. And every twitch of your right foot immediately and loudly announces your speedy intentions to your passengers and other drivers. In the old car, with stepped gears in either the automatic or manual transmission, the engine’s noise wasn’t so objectionable, because it didn’t stay revved up as long. This is not damning the Outback in particular. As with many CVT equipped four-cylinder cars, they work well in a relaxed, leisurely drive but can be grating. More so given how quiet and refined the rest of the car is.

So the Outback presents a dilemma: Should you like it for its efficient utility and overall refinement? Or be annoyed by the accentuated engine noise due to the CVT? In the end it’s a personal choice. 90 or 95 percent of the time, the Outback is great--except when merging or climbing a hill. For me, that’s not enough to write off the Outback. But it’s enough to make me consider paying the penalty in price and fuel economy to step up to the six-cylinder and its "normal" five-speed automatic.

—Eric Evarts

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Honda has revealed more info and photos of the upcoming 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour. Based on the Accord sedan, the Crosstour hatchback will leverage the Accord’s performance and handling, presumably sharing powertrains and car-like road manners with the sedan. However, it will offer a higher seating position akin to the "command seating" position common to SUVs.

The design is aerodynamic, sporty, and functional, concealing a cargo area that can hold larger items that couldn’t fit in a typical Accord. The Crosstour will be positioned above the Accord, so expect pricing to start in the upper $20s and extend into the $30s. It will complete most directly with the Toyota Venza wagon that went on sale last year. (The Crosstour should not be confused with the upcoming Acura ZDX shown at the 2009 New York International Auto Show, which may look similar in photos but is derived from the MDX SUV.)

Further details including pricing will be revealed closer to production.

The Crosstour will be at dealerships in October.

—Liza Barth