<b>Car review</b>: The Subaru evolution | fox13now.com |
- <b>Car review</b>: The Subaru evolution | fox13now.com
- <b>Car Review</b>: 2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo | Driving
- <b>Car Review</b>: 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR | Driving
| <b>Car review</b>: The Subaru evolution | fox13now.com Posted: 18 Oct 2014 12:01 PM PDT FOX 13's Car Guy Brian Champagne looks at the Subaru and how the vehicle has evolved throughout the years to its latest 2015 Outback model. Check out the full car review in the video above.  |
| <b>Car Review</b>: 2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo | Driving Posted: 16 Oct 2014 12:27 PM PDT Overview Three-door "coupe" has the looks, but not the driving dynamics to back it up It's been just over three years since Hyundai unveiled its Veloster, and yet it still looks as fresh as the day it debuted. While obviously related to the Accent and Elantra, the Veloster is the most extreme example of Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design ethos and one of the most original looking vehicles on the road today.  2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo For 2014, the Veloster is largely unchanged – all models now come with LED driving lights, a backup camera system and driver's blind spot mirror. Turbo models, such as this week's tester, and those equipped with the Tech package, boast heated steering wheels and power adjustable lumbar support. There was a lot of buzz surrounding the Veloster's arrival, and given its radical styling, many were anticipating the birth of a brand-new hot hatch to go up against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Mini Cooper S or Ford Focus ST. Count me among those who were disappointed by their initial test drive – while I liked the Veloster well enough, what I really wanted … was to love it. Not that there's anything wrong with it. On the contrary, the Veloster is a most agreeable little car, offering a lot of value, and decent fuel economy wrapped in a refreshingly creative design. But it was really hard for it to overcome the buildup preceding its arrival.  2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo "The Veloster was never meant to be a hot hatch," said Patrick Danielson of Hyundai Canada. Conceived as a playful, affordable coupe-slash-hatch to appeal to a younger demographic, the Veloster obviously resonated with the performance crowd, which, of course, immediately began clamouring for a high-performance version. At the time, Hyundai was loath to confirm whether a hot hatch Veloster was in the works. But during a visit to the company's Namyang Research and Development Centre in South Korea, a curious colleague and I wandered too close to a tarp-covered shape that we suspected was the rumoured-to-exist Turbo Veloster, unleashing an irate volley of Korean from the security guards. The Veloster Turbo did indeed receive an injection of power, bringing its output to 201 horsepower from 138, but it was essentially the same vehicle as the non-aspirated model. While the base suspension was perfectly adequate for trundling around town, it was overwhelmed by any "spirited" driving. There are no suspension upgrades on the Turbo for 2014 – for that you'll have to opt for the Turbo R-Spec, a stripped down version with specifically tuned suspension and steering, a B&M short shifter, and all the outlandish design cues a boy-racer's heart could desire. Turbos and base models have the same front strut, and rather archaic torsion beam rear axle setup – which limits its athleticism considerably. However, both the Turbo and R-Spec models now come with a torque vectoring control system called "Active Cornering Control"(ACC). Using the wheel-speed sensors and electronic stability control, ACC applies braking to the inside front wheel during hard cornering – driving the power to the outside front wheel for improved grip and quicker acceleration upon exit.  2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo With its bright copper sheet metal, my coupe-meets-hatchback tester is funky enough to appeal to a younger demographic, but not so outrageous that a more "mature" driver would feel ridiculous in it. Courtesy of a blacked-out, hexagonal grille, side skirts and unique rear diffuser, the Turbo projects a more aggressive attitude than the base Veloster. The playful design theme continues inside, with enough geometric shapes, splashes of colour, and technology to make a gamer feel right at home. Hyundai's a perfect example of what creative minds can do with budget materials. Although there's an abundance of cheap, hard plastics – there's no shortage of shapes and textures and, overall, the atmosphere is lively and fun. Of course, given its targeted demographic, the Veloster Turbo's cabin is packed with technology. Standard is a backup camera, touchscreen navigation, Bluetooth, USB input and iPod connectivity. There's an eight-speaker and a 450-watt sound system with a thumping subwoofer. Turbo-embroidered sports seats are quite supportive and comfortable, and the driver's seat is height adjustable.  2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo The signature, asymmetrical third door makes clambering in and out much easier for rear passengers, but the raked roofline does cut into their headroom space. For such a compact car, you can certainly stuff a lot of baggage into its rear boot. Cargo space is 440 litres, but that increases to 983 when the 60/40 split rear seats are dropped. While it's usually more engaging to operate a stick shift, rather than leaving it to an automatic transmission, swapping cogs on the Veloster Turbo really isn't all that fulfilling. The clutch take up is vague and the shifter itself lacks the satisfying snickery of a true driver's car. Without a modulated use of the gas pedal, the short first gear had me leaving stoplights with an embarrassing screech. But it certainly is forgiving. The neophyte driver will find this gearbox nearly impossible to stall.  2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Steering offers very little feedback, but is perfectly adequate for a little runabout. While the sporty body cladding and bright red Turbo badge scream "hot hatch", its rather pedestrian suspension, and transmission geared for frugality say otherwise. Drivers looking for genuine engagement would be better served by a Fiesta ST. However, the Veloster Turbo offers more features, and a lower price tag than competitors like the Mini Cooper S or Volkswagen GTI. Personally, I'd forgo the Turbo in favour of a six-speed base model with Tech Package, an equally pleasant little vehicle that's nearly $5,000 cheaper and easier on fuel.  2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo The Specs Type of Vehicle Three-door coupe/hatchback  2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo |
| <b>Car Review</b>: 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR | Driving Posted: 07 Oct 2014 02:21 PM PDT Overview Subcompact is great for city driving and offers great value  The Nissan Versa Note SR is a sporty little runabout perfect for the urban commute or exploring the countryside. The cost of fuel shows no sign of lowering, so many consumers are looking to get behind the wheel of smaller and more fuel-efficient automobiles to help relieve some of the financial burden. Unfortunately, as you slide down the automotive food chain you usually find the need to forgo many of the features you enjoyed in your larger vehicle as the diminutive size of the typical subcompact or city car makes it difficult to accommodate many extras. Nissan has always recognized the importance of small cars in the Canadian marketplace, and the company has had tremendous success with their Versa lineup of subcompact sedans and five-door hatchbacks. When it came time for the Versa to get a redesign in 2013, the company decided to market the hatchback with its own unique identity, and the Versa Note was born. Also read: Here are the 11 most affordable cars sold in Canada There are three models of the stylish hatchback available, but the Versa Note SR is the sportiest of the bunch. The SR has been packaged to appeal to young, urban residents looking for a small car with a little more flash and curb appeal. Members of this target audience can be rather finicky, so the marketing and product planning teams at Nissan had their work cut out for them. The Versa Note has been designed with the wheels stretched out to the corners to both maximize interior volume and provide functional stability. The tall roofline and aerodynamic wedge shape make the car appear much larger inside and out, but it is the car's city-friendly dimensions that make it such a perfect fit for crowded urban environments.  The bold colour on our tester was called Red Brick, and it was a $135 option due to the fact that it is a metallic pearl paint. Unfortunately, most small cars feature slab-sided bodywork bereft of any real styling flair or sense of style. The Versa Note SR on the other hand, sports a body that has obviously been designed to cheat the wind and appeal to the eye. The lines are enhanced by a unique SR grille, side skirts and a rear spoiler. The look is both sporty and graceful, and the shapes of every vent, lamp unit and trim piece used on the car work well together. The spacious interior will accommodate five people in a pinch, but four adults will find no trouble getting comfortable in the tidy cabin as head, leg and shoulder room is abundant in all seating positions. The design is very modern and far more upmarket than that in most of its contemporaries.  All the important controls and switchgear are within easy reach of the driver, and the thick-rimmed 3-spoke steering wheel features a host of secondary controls. The gauge cluster, switch gear and controls are all placed within reach of even the smallest hands, and visibility is excellent in all regards. Seating is supportive and not too firm, and the upholstery appears to be very durable. High contrast orange stitching and a bold stripe help give the SR's seats a custom look that is very attractive. The Versa Note SR will accommodate 532.4 litres of cargo with the seats in place, and an impressive 1,084 litres when the rear seats are folded down. This is enough to accommodate large hockey bags or a small pack of dogs. The Versa Note SR features the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine under the hood as the other Versa models, but with 109 horsepower and 107 foot-pounds of torque it had more than enough scoot to keep me entertained.  Stylish 16-inch Sport painted alloy wheels are fitted with performance all-season tires. Unlike lesser models of this car, the Note SR is not available with a manual transmission. However, the driving experience revealed that this car has a relatively wide power band, and the Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) helps guarantee that the driver will always have power readily on hand. I explored some back country roads as well as some rural highways in this car and never felt that the engine was overwhelmed. I was also really surprised to find that engine noise didn't seem to interrupt the serenity of the cabin, even during periods of hard acceleration. Nissan's engineers have done an excellent job of insulating the passenger cabin from outside noise. Handling is nimble and precise, as the Note SR's speed sensitive electric power steering helps give the driver the ability to point and squirt the car through traffic with ease. A tight turning circle and the fact that this car is small enough to park just about anywhere will help it gain a solid fan base with urban dwellers and commuters. The suspension adapted well to road irregularities and with the help of front and rear stabilizer bars, traction was maintained and the car responded very well. If you spend a large amount of your day on the road, then the last place you would want to be is behind the wheel of a stripped-down subcompact, so Nissan's product planners have made sure that the Versa Note SR is spacious enough to provide comfort, and equipped with enough features to keep you and your passengers entertained.  The compact gauge cluster relays lots of valuable information to the driver and proved easy to see day or night. The list of standard features on the SR is surprisingly long and includes many items that you usually have to spend big bucks for including a rear-view monitor, air conditioning, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the innovative NissanConnect infotainment system. Safety enhancements include advanced ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist, Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Control. A full complement of advanced airbags is on-board to protect your human cargo. If you are in the market for a compact car with a little more style and a high level of creature comforts, you would be making a big mistake if you fail to take a close look at the Nissan Versa Note SR, as this car represents one of the best values in the marketplace. The Specs |
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