2014 Fiat 500c Review

2014 Fiat 500c Review
2014 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Review
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Review

Posted: 02 Sep 2014 05:00 PM PDT

Sami Haj-Assaad Sep. 03, 2014 Photos by Sami Haj-Assaad

More often than not, convertibles make a big deal out of being sporty.

FAST FACTS

Engine: 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque.

Transmission: 5 speed manual

Fuel Economy: 31 mpg city and 40 mpg highway

Price: Starts at $20,795. $26,100 as tested

The MX-5 may have friendly styling, but its front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout and low seating position aren't for everyone.
What about the soon to be discontinued VW Eos? That too is a bit too "serious" thanks to its fast turbocharged four-cylinder engine, sharp dual-clutch transmission and stiff, European-tuned suspension.

For those looking for a more approachable drop-top, Fiat has the 500c. City-sized, the 500c makes a few compromises while offering an open-air experience and while the car isn't nearly perfect, it does have an endearing quality to it that can bring a smile to your face - so long as you're in the front two seats.

Sweet and Sour Interior

Yes, the 500c has rear seats, but no they're not usable by any stretch of the imagination. Instead focus on the comfy front seats, done up in a coffee - ahem - Cappuccino-esque shade of brown, which is eye-catching and gives an air of luxury to the cabin. These heated thrones are the highlight of the interior. Unfortunately, the rest of the interior uses cheap hard plastics and other bargain bin materials. One noteworthy issue was the "leather" steering wheel. Just a few thousand miles in, hand grime was already leaving it looking old and used.

The 500c manages to make up for the rough materials with personality. The large shifter with its huge knob is amusing, though it's unclear if that's intentional. Another interesting touch is the tach-within-the-speedo cluster design.

Laissez-Faire Driving Style

The way the 500c drives is as polarizing as the interior. Steering is loose and light with little engagement. The car also features a soft suspension setup that results in quite a bit of body roll with the slightest of maneuvers. At least the doughy suspension results in a car that is comfortable over bumps and manhole covers. For city drivers, this is ideal. The light steering allows the car to zip in and out of tight traffic and parking spaces with ease, even better than some other small cars like the Chevy Spark. With disc-brakes at all four-corners the 500c can also stop with purpose when it needs to.

The 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine is peppy and rev-happy, especially when the sport mode is enabled. Toggling that mode also gives the steering a bit more weight, adding some confidence and engagement. The five-speed manual transmission is sloppy though forgiving, with a long clutch pedal and engagement point. The drivetrain as a whole is good enough to get the car up to speed without much stress though passing on the highway requires some patience with just 101 HP on tap.

At least the car managed to be extremely fuel efficient. Despite a hectic week of testing in unfavorable traffic the little Fiat returned 36 MPG. Sadly, Fiat recommends 91-octane fuel, which will cost you a few dollars more per fill-up.

Of course, the c in 500c stands for convertible, so of course we need to talk about the open-air experience when driving the car. For starters, the cloth roof can act like a sunroof, being opened only partially allowing less air or sun into the cabin. Or you can open it all the way. However, driving with the roof open was unbearable. Wind buffeting at higher speeds was the biggest issue. Wind smacks the bunched up cloth and the warbling sound that accompanies is torture for your ears. You can slide the cloth roof further back, which reduces the buffeting effect a bit, although another issue arises when you do that.

When you open the roof completely, you lose all rear-ward visibility. It doesn't seem like a fair trade-off to get an open-air experience if you also get terrible wind noise and no way to see behind you. At least the pulling back the top doesn't impact trunk space, as the 500c has to make do with just 5.4 cubic-feet of storage, barely big enough for a weekly of grocery (maybe those rear seats are meant more for cargo storage than people carrying).

The Bright Spots

There's a balance though. The 500c can come with an impressive sound system that can help drown out the excess noises of the outside world. The Beats by Dre branded audio setup provides nice depth and volume and is easily one of the bright spots in this car.

The bubbly appearance is another positive in this car's corner. Although the 500 isn't as common as other small cars, it has great presence on the road thanks to its unique and cohesive design. The retro look works wonders here and the modern 500 is a fantastic homage to the original cinquecento. Add in the nice cloth roof, chrome bumper accents and side-view mirrors and it's clear that the 500c is a more special vehicle than the Chevrolet Spark or smart fortwo.

Starting at $20,795 the 500c is cheap for a convertible, but expensive for a city car. Despite being one of the cheapest open-air experiences available, the car should come with some luxuries as a pricey city car, so fortunately our "Lounge" trimmed tester included a detachable navigation screen and those comfy leather seats for $26,100.

The Verdict:

Every aspect of the 500c is a mix of ups and downs. Ultimately it's a fun car to drive around town in and has some real personality in terms of design. Although its drop top design is a gimmick that won't appeal to everyone, the 500 makes for an interesting, if compromised, convertible.

LOVE IT

Sound system
Comfy leather seats
Cute looks
Sport mode

LEAVE IT

Interior quality
Gutless engine
Pricey

2014 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Review

Posted: 01 Sep 2014 05:00 PM PDT

Stephen Elmer Sep. 02, 2014 Photos by Stephen Elmer

In what could be called reverse colonialism, an Indian company now owns one of the UK's most iconic automakers. Back when the sun never set on the empire, Britain developed massive amounts of industry in India, and one of the companies that benefitted the most was Tata Steel Limited, a subsidiary of the Tata Group. Fast forward to today and Tata just so happens to be the current owner of Jaguar Land Rover. See how things came full circle?

FAST FACTS

Engine: 5.0-liter Supercharged V8 makes 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque.

Fuel Economy: 14 MPG City, 19 MPG Highway, 16 MPG Combined.

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic.

Price: Base starts at $64,450. Priced at $83,010 as tested.

And while some would argue British treatment of its Indian "subjects" wasn't so kind, Tata has taken good care of Jaguar Land Rover, with both companies currently producing an excellent crop of vehicles with some new gems just over the horizon. The extensive use of aluminum in vehicles is one of the tenets of the new Jaguar Land Rover, and the new 2014 Range Rover Sport benefitted massively from the lightweight material.

Less Weight Means More Fun

In total, nearly 800 pounds were shaved from the RR Sport, bringing the curb weight of the 2014 model to 5092 pounds. And with motivation coming from a 5.0-liter V8 that puts out 510 hp and 461lb-ft of torque to all four wheels, this SUV jumps to speed with the sort of haste one doesn't expect from such a large vehicle. It feels easily on par, if not faster, than any AMG SUV. The official specs put the 0 to 60 mph time at 5.0 seconds flat. Better yet, the Range Rover Sport is more than just a straight line performer. When the road gets twisty, this SUV gets fun.

An air suspension system found standard on the Supercharged model allows the Range Rover to be switched into dynamic mode, stiffening it up considerably and accenting the power perfectly. Combine this feature with brake torque vectoring, active lean control and a dynamic active rear locking differential and there's a feeling of complete confidence, even when this British brute is hauling ass through a corner. In addition, the throttle becomes quite a bit more aggressive and the shifts from the eight-speed automatic are more immediate, while the exhuast note grows to a powerful growl. The steering tightens up nicely too, although the smooth nature of this cruiser means that feedback from the wheel still isn't at sports car levels. Still, the Sport moniker is most definitly justified now, thanks to the amazing handling this SUV offers.

Off-Road Ready

On the opposite end of dynamic mode, the air suspension also allows the Range Rover Sport to be a strong off-roader. Wheel travel is marked at 260 mm in the front and 272 mm at the rear, while maximum ground clearance sits at 278 mm. Thanks to full-time all-wheel drive and a dynamic terrain response system, this Range Rover seems equally adept off road as it does on. Fording streams and climbing on uneven, muddy terrain never leaves you doubting this SUV. A rotary dial complete with sand, snow and mud settings is also present, adapting all four wheels to best suit the terrain.

And maybe best of all, when you're not in full on race mode or climbing the cliffs, regular old 'Drive' is supremely comfortable, with very little road noise of any kind sneaking into the cabin. Fuel economy comes in at 14 MPG in the city, 19 on the highway and 16 MPG combined, which my test drive affirmed with a 17 MPG average at the end of a week.

Simply put, driving the Range Rover, whether it be on the highway in the city or through the mud, is exceptional. Moving inside, a gorgeous interior greets you, though my tester did have one frustrating problem that overshadowed many of the positives found in the SUV.

Elegant Interior, Frustrating Issues

British vehicles have never been known for having the best electronics and here's one more story to perpetuate the stereotype. The mirror adjustment in our RR Sport seemed to have a mind of its own. Sometimes it would work, and sometimes it wouldn't. In a brand new car that takes such a large chunk of your bank account away, a problem like this shouldn't occur. A quick internet search turned up no results, so this appears to be an isolated issue.

Old clunky electronics also power the vehicle's infotainment system, which, unlike the Range Rover itself, is never in a hurry. Lag torments you as you try and navigate the screens quickly.

Once you have finally reached your media of choice, everything else about this interior is marvellous. The quality is great, the design is elegant, and the overall feeling is one of simple luxury, with simple smooth surfaces found all around.

That simplistic feel of the interior design flows straight through to the outside. Nothing is ostentatious about the Range Rover, it looks both regal and reserved. Compared to the full size Range Rover, the Sport gets a great swept back flowing roofline that helps to give it a muscular and athletic appearance.

Pricing for the Range Rover Sport starts at $64,450 when powered by a V6 engine in SE trim, but our Supercharged version with a few options came in at just over $83,000. That is actually quite a bit cheaper than the Mercedes ML63 AMG, which goes for about $98,000. From BMW, we have the X5 M, which also sells for over $90,000, once again making the Range Rover Sport seem like a bargain, although both of its German competitors are a bit faster. On the flip side, the Range Rover is undercut by the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, nicely optioned units of which sell for $72,400.

That American competitor definitely feels like it can keep up with the Range Rover on the street, but when the pavement ends the RR Sport has the clear advantage, and that goes for the German competition as well.

The Verdict

The reinvention of Jaguar Land Rover since its days of Ford ownership is well underway, and products like the new Range Rover Sport prove it. A smooth ride when you're with the family, a raucous hooligan when you want to have fun and a mountain goat on the trails when you want to go exploring. This may just be one of the best one-size fits all vehicles around.

LOVE IT

Powertrain
Interior elegance
Dynamic mode

LEAVE IT

Mirror control glitch
Clunky infotainment

2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Review

Posted: 28 Aug 2014 05:00 PM PDT

Mike Schlee Aug. 29, 2014 Photos by Mike Schlee and Volkswagen

Volkswagen is climbing aboard the EV (electric vehicle) train with the introduction of the 2015 e-Golf. On sale for several months now in Europe, America will get its first taste of the production version of the all-electric Golf this November when it hits dealers in a few select EV friendly markets.

FAST FACTS

Engine: Electric Motor with 115 HP and 199 lb-ft of torque.

Transmission: Single-speed direct drive automatic.

Fuel economy: 105 MPGe.

Price: 2015 Volkswagen s-Golf SEL Premium starts at $36,265 after destination charges.

As the name implies, the e-Golf ditches the regular Golf's assortment of gasoline and diesel engines for an electric motor. Developing 115 HP and 199 lb-ft of torque, the e-Golf is the least powerful version of the Volkswagen hatchback, but does make the second most amount of torque. Power is still fed to the front wheels, but now through a single-speed, direct-drive automatic transmission.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Volkswagen Golf Review

Volkswagen claims the electric Golf can achieve a 0-60 MPH sprint in just over 10 seconds, with a top speed of 87 mph. That is slower than the 1.8T or 2.0 TDI Golf, but still plenty quick for an EV or dedicated Hybrid. Like a lot of EVs, the Golf feels much quicker than it is thanks to all that instant torque. Step on the throttle hard and there is a noticeable kick as all 199 lb-ft of torque suddenly thrust the car forward. Power does taper off as the motor's rpms build, but acceleration up to highway speeds is more than acceptable.

Smooth, Linear Power

When not setting 0-60 MPH times, power delivery is linear and smooth. This is not an EV that drives like the accelerator pedal is connected to an on/off switch. Throttle modulation directly reflects power deliver. There are no peaks, valleys or hesitations from driver input to motor response.

Co-developed with Panasonic, the e-Golf's battery is said to fully recharge in roughly 20 hours using a standard 110-volt household outlet. Install a 240-volt charging "wallbox" and charge times drop to less than four hours. For chagrining on the run, the e-Golf is able to use SAE standard DC fast chargers that can recharge the battery pack to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes.

Three Modes of Efficiency

Once charged up, the e-Golf should be good for 70-90 miles of range or the equivalent of 105 MPGe, depending on driving style. For those who want to maximize their range, there are two driving modes tailored for efficiency. Rather than just limit throttle and reduce power-draw from the HVAC system, these two modes significantly alter the e-Golf's performance.
In "Eco" mode, power is reduced to 94 horsepower and 162 lb-ft, of torque. Top speed is now only 72 mph and 0-60 MPH times drop to roughly 13 seconds. Take things a step further to "Eco+" mode and power drops further to 74 hp and 129 lb-ft, with the top speed now just 56 mph. Experimenting with the different modes, we could definitely feel a near debilitating power reduction in Eco+ mode, but found Eco mode is still usable for normal driving.

For those who do have range anxiety, if the e-Golf runs out of juice within 100 miles of an owner's home, Volkswagen will pick the car up, drop it off at a charger and pay to get the owner home – no questions asked. Talk about customer service!

Smooth, smooth brakes

The regenerative braking system is available with three levels of force; D1, D2, and D3. Volkswagen has really nailed the braking dynamics of this EV. In D1, the least aggressive regenerative braking set-up, they behave like any regular car's brakes. There isn't that initial overly aggressive brake-bite that plagues some other EV/hybrids and braking force directly reflects the amount of pressure being applied to the pedal. Even D3, which is very aggressive at slowing the car down, it's still progressive and not jerky.

Complementing the great brakes is quite possibly the best feature of the e-Golf, the suspension. The e-Golf rides very smoothly, is composed on undulating surfaces and absorbs bumps. It's better sorted out from a ride comfort standpoint than the Nissan Leaf or Ford Focus EV, most likely due to the great 2015 Golf architecture.

To keep the e-Golf as versatile as its fuel burning siblings, Volkswagen fit the battery pack wholly within the chassis architecture of the car. This means passenger space is not affected at all. Just like regular Golfs, the e-Golf offers rear seat passengers 35.6-inches of legroom and can swallow 22.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the back seats.

Subtle Changes, Mature Looks

The rest of the car's interior is similar to other Golfs, minus a few details. The tachometer has been replaced by a power usage display that includes battery life and available power output. Blue accented trim is found throughout the cabin including the stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shifter.

The e-Golf comes in only one trim, SEL Premium, starting at $36,265 after destination charges. That price includes items like touchscreen navigation, a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control and LED headlights.

This marks the first application of LED headlights for a Volkswagen product in North America. The rest of the e-Golf's exterior features a few subtle revisions such as C-shaped LED daytime running lights in the front bumper, blue accents in the grille and headlights, unique badges and flush16-inch aluminum wheels. The overall look doesn't go overboard and scream to the world "I'm an electric car" the way some others do. We like the mature styling of the e-Golf and hope it's a trend for future EVs.

The Verdict

The e-Golf does a great job impersonating a regular Golf. It feels like driving a Golf TDI, minus the diesel noise. . . or driving range. The differences from the diesel Golf TDI to this electric version aren't any further apart than the differences between a gasoline Golf 1.8T and the TDI. Volkswagen set out to build a Golf EV that didn't compromise at all from the core values of the model and succeeded, minus the unavoidable limitations in driving range. It's unfortunate so few will ever get to experience this limited availability, niche vehicle.

LOVE IT

Comfort
Smooth power delivery
Great suspension setup
No interior compromises

LEAVE IT

Car Reviews

Wednesday, 3 September 2014