Design-wise, the new model is undoubtedly a step forward, but things look good inside as well. Consumer Reports’ Tom Mutchler appreciated the improved interior, which on the range-topping SL model features leather upholstery. The new car has practical advantages as well, such as the improvement in rear visibility and the rear camera offered as standard.
The 2014 Rogue also brings an optional third row of seats and is the only compact SUV to offer one besides the Mitsubishi Outlander - which in Consumer Reports’ view doesn’t count as a serious competitor. However, the third row of seats is not available on the range-topping SL model, as Nissan worries it could get into Pathfinder territory. I don’t know about you, but I find it rather strange to limit the sales potential of a model just because it might steal customers from a larger, more expensive vehicle.
Check out the publication's first impressions of the all-new Rogue in the video posted below.
By Dan Mihalascu
Consumer Reports has had a go in the very latest version, equipped with the popular 5.7-liter V8 engine, and while they did appreciate it for its undeniable qualities, they did concede that it is lagging behind the times, especially in the refinement department, where the Ram 1500 and GM rivals have no trouble being better.
Speaking of qualities, it’s still touted as being the most reliable vehicle in its size class. There’s also the new interior to mention, though while it looks more modern than before, it’s still not as visually appealing as that of the Chevy Silverado, for instance.
So, if you can live with the below-standards refinement and excessive use of chrome on the exterior and want to do zero to sixty in 6.7 seconds with the largest V8 equipped, and have a lot of stuff to haul, then the Tundra is for you. Scroll down and check out the video posted after the virtual jump.
By Andrei Nedelea
“Honestly, we don't take this lightly, but virtually every vehicle now in the family sedan category has been tested and the only one that has gotten a 'poor' is the Camry," said Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “At this point, we don't feel we can continue to recommend people buy a Camry when there's other good choices out there that do better on the test,” he added.
Last year, the IIHS included crashes that involve only a front corner of a vehicle in its tests. Consumer Reports waited to see how the entire industry was affected by the test before adjusting its buyer recommendations. Traditionally, the magazine does not recommend consumers to buy a car that gets poor crash test results.
The Camry was the third best-selling vehicle in the U.S. through September, behind two full-size pickup trucks. Sales were up 1.3 percent from the same period last year to 318,990 cars.
Toyota says it has made changes to the Camry to improve its performance in the crash tests and IIHS is planning to retest the car in December.
By Dan Mihalascu
Story References: Consumer Reports via Reuters
However, I’ve noticed that with Consumer Reports reviews, a new perspective is brought forth, on cars we already knew, by highlighting qualities or flaws that may have been (repeatedly) overlooked by others.
It may be down to the way they test the cars, or just their attitude towards them, but for instance, their freshly-uploaded quick takes for the Fiat 500L, Nissan Versa Note and Infiniti Q50 stand separately from the mainstream. According to them, the Note leaves the impression of being the best all-round car of the trio, despite at first glance seeming to be the least desirable…
The Infiniti is penalized for its vague steering that can get an optional steer-by-wire system, which makes things even worse in that respect. The Fiat wins points on style and space, but its automatic gearbox is dimwitted and the limited choice of engines (only one available) further hurts what is otherwise an enticing package for families.
Check out the videos for all three cars, below.
By Andrei Nedelea
It employs the use of high quality materials and a pleasing design that follows the same styling guidelines as the exterior (I'd call it consistent), and the only thing the reviewer found to be Chrysler-esque was the infotainment unit. Its start logo and boot-up sequence say the system is made “by Maserati,” even though it isn’t; other than that, you apparently get to experience something bespoke.
That, after all, is the reason why you’d go for a Trident-badged sedan, over a Lexus or BMW – the look, the exclusivity of the badge, the noise, the handling and the power. All those boxes are checked, as per all the reviews we’ve seen, but on top of that, since Maserati needs to impress regular car buyers too with this more mainstream vehicle, it also needs to exhibit fewer of the reliability problems commonly associated with premium Italian marques. I guess that's something that only time will tell.
By Andrei Nedelea
Extra points were also awarded for its new CVT gearbox which helps improve economy, though it’s clearly not going to be the transmission of choice for the small percentage of Corolla buyers who also want to enjoy the experience of driving – there’s a six-speed manual on offer too, which can be had in S Plus trim that comes with stiffer suspension, sportier exterior styling and bigger rims.
One area prospective buyers of this model should be aware of is the fact that the car did not get the maximum safety rating from the IIHS, failing to impress in the small overlap test. On the other hand, across the pond, Euro NCAP rated it as one of the safest of the batch they most recently tested…
By Andrei Nedelea
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