Hyundai Genesis First Review: The Cool Lux Alternative 2015

Hyundai has made it clear that it wants to compete with the likes of Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. The automaker has proved itself a worthy competitor in several automotive segments, successfully going upmarket without losing its sense of value, each new model improving on the one that came before it. The 2015 Genesis continues in the same way: The first generation of the sedan was very good, and the new car is even better

Crisp design inside and out

The 2015 sedan's styling is clean and conveys a strong sense of luxury. The exterior has attractive lines, and is much more understated than the crease-happy little-brother Sonata without looking boring. The Genesis' feel of modern elegance continues in the cabin, where the designers created a space that is attractive and uses quality materials including real wood and metal. The colors and textures match nicely. The comfortable 16-way power heated/cooled driver's seat is wrapped in soft leather. (Seat heaters are optional for rear passengers.) There are nice little touches, too, like power sunshades for the rear side windows and the rear window-and the rearmost one automatically lowers when you put the transmission in Reverse and raises back up when in Drive. The pleasantly quiet cabin is refined, yet doesn't look like it's designed with retirees in mind. This is an interior that would appeal to a young, affluent crowd

A bevy of tech features should also appeal to young, affluent buyers. The standard navigation system uses an 8-inch screen, yet step up to the premium system, and you're looking at a crisp 9.2-inch HD display. There are available Pandora, Aha Radio and (upcoming) Google Glass apps, HD Radio comes standard and the car is capable of serving as a wi-fi hotspot. As an added bonus, SiriusXM Travel Link is free for 3 years. The car's excellent Lexicon surround-sound systems use either 14 or 17 speakers. All of the infotainment can be accessed through an intuitive system similar to Audi's Multi-Media Interface with a knob and surrounding buttons

Two powertrain choices

Whether you opt for the 3.8-liter V6 or the 5.0-liter V8, there is no shortage of power. We drove both, starting our evaluation in the V8-powered Genesis. Acceleration response was very quick, yet the 8-speed automatic transmission's shifts were smooth and happened right when you would want them to. Of course, it should feel fast, considering the V8 puts out 420 horsepower. The other side of that coin is that fuel economy is 15 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway. We also drove the Genesis with the V6, and even though it didn't provide as much power as the V8, it still felt refined and gutsy. At 311 horsepower, the V6 doesn't penalize much in its output, yet the price is $13,500 less than the base V8. The V6 also provides much better fuel economy: as good as 18 mpg city, 29 highway for the rear-drive sedan, and 16/25 with all-wheel drive, which is offered for the first time in the Genesis, only with the V6

The 2015 Genesis uses a new Hyundai-designed platform that is stronger and more rigid than before. That, plus the improvements that were done to the suspension, make the car feel more agile. The driver has some say in how it rides-if you want a comfortable, compliant ride, you'll enjoy Eco or Normal modes. Want to tighten up the suspension? Switch to Sport mode

Invisible Touch

One of the new features of the 2015 Genesis is Lane Keep Assist. This system senses if the sedan is starting to drift out of the lane it's in, uses haptic feedback in the steering wheel to warn you if it senses drifting, and steers back into the lane if you don't correct your direction of travel. We found the system to intrude a bit on sections of moderately curvy road, and fought the steering. However, overall the system works well

Hyundai is known for packing their vehicles with value. In the case of the Genesis, that means a lot of equipment comes standard, such as navigation, hill hold, paddle shifters, rear-view camera, heated/cooled front seats, driver knee airbag, power-folding side mirrors and more, whether you get the V6 or V8. Its base price is $38,950; add $2500 for all-wheel drive ($41,450). The V8-powered Genesis starts at $52,450, but even fully loaded at around $57,000, that's still a bargain compared with Hyundai's target competitors. The Lexus GS starts at $48,610, then there's the Mercedes-Benz E350 ($52,805), Cadillac CTS ($46,025), BMW 5 Series ($50,425) and Audi A6 ($43,985), and all of them top out far north of $57,000. The Genesis may not have the same cachet as these cars, but it is certainly a viable alternative

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Honda Fit EXL First Review: One Size Fits All 2015

Small cars usually mean big compromises when it comes to balancing comfort, roominess, efficiency and sticker price. Since its introduction, the Honda Fit has been at the top of the list in offering an efficient package with an affordable MSRP that's also fun-to-drive. The 2015 Honda Fit EXL builds on that reputation by making the new model more substantial in looks, trim and equipment while offering better fuel economy at a price surprisingly close to the previous generation

The big enabler in Honda's ability to offer more without a huge bump in price is the shift in the car's production from Japan to a new plant in Mexico. The lower costs in both labor and transportation are at the heart of the big improvements on offer

Shorter, yet roomier

The 5-door Fit retains its cute bug eye styling, but in a slightly larger package that adds a sweeping character line to the side. This line not only gives the car a sense of forward motion, but its deep draw also makes the flanks of the car less slab sided and more muscular, which is important in a car that rides on a 99.6-inch wheelbase and measures 160 inches overall. While the wheelbase has grown by 1.2 inches and width by 0.3 inches, overall length is actually 1.6-inches shorter. The all-new platform underneath the car not only takes advantage of the extra wheelbase, but also repositions the 50/50 split rear seat to help boost that row's legroom by nearly 5 inches

These new dimensions add to the feel of a more substantial vehicle. The front passengers have more elbow room and the rear seat offers the kind of space found in cars a class or two above. The 2015 Honda Fit also retains the previous model's center-mounted fuel tank, which pays huge dividends when it comes to hauling stuff. This allows for a low rear cargo deck and a folding rear seat as flexible as a circus contortionist. Fold the seat forward and the bottom cushion nests into the footwell allowing for a fold-flat cargo area. The bottom cushions can also be lifted up and secured against the seatback providing a tall load space behind the front seats and finally, the front seats can be reclined all the way back and form a bed with the rear seats for the so-called "Refresh" mode

New Engine, Better Fuel Economy

Using direct injection, the all-new Earth Dreams 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque (up 23 horsepower and 8 lb-ft) driving the front wheels. Honda offers a choice of a CVT (with paddle shift-controlled steps for a sporty driving experience) and a 6-speed manual transmission. The CVT delivers 33 mpg city, 41 highway and a combined 36 mpg on the EPA cycle, a boost of five mpg in city and combined and six mpg highway over the previous model, which was equipped with a conventional 5-speed automatic. The manual transmission is rated at 29 mpg city, 37 highway for a combined of 32. These gains are more modest at a respective two, four and three mpg

Along with the new powertrain, Honda redesigned the suspension with a new strut-type setup in the front and an H-bar torsion beam in the rear. The slightly wider track and new suspension reinforces the feel that this car is more substantial than the model it replaces. Steering is light, quick and responsive; the car exhibits little in the way of roll. Because of the longer wheelbase, the ride is compliant for a car with such a short overall length

Safety in a Small Package

Even though the Fit is Honda's entry level model, it offers a wide range of safety features including the Lane Watch system found on larger models that projects an image of the right side of the car in the center screen when the right turn signal is activated. The Fit also offers such features as a rearview camera, Hill Start Assist and a motion adaptive electric power steering that helps initiate turn-in in the proper direction when the vehicle stability assist detects oversteer or understeer

With Lane Watch and backup cameras come either a 5.5-inch standard screen or on upmarket EX and EXL models, a 7-inch touchscreen. The screen is nestled in a dash covered with soft-touch materials, which also extend to the door panels. The interior has an upscale aura not usually associated with cars in this class. The outgoing model features only two trim levels, base and Sport/Sport Navi, while the 2015 Honda Fit starts with an LX model, with EX, EXL and EXL with Navi. The LX includes such new features for the base car as a rearview camera, the 5.5-inch screen and automatic headlamps. Pricing starts at $15,525 for a manual LX (the CVT is $800 more), an increase of just $100 over the previous base model. The EX, which replaces the Sport trim, is only $225 more and starts at $17,435 for the manual and $18,235 for the CVT with added content that includes the 7-inch screen, more powerful engine, auto headlamps and review camera. The EXL model, which is only offered with the CVT is $19,800, while the EXL Navi is priced at $20,800, just slightly more than the previous Sport Navi, which cost $19,970

With the 2015 Fit, Honda has raised the bar in a segment that has some pretty tough competition in the Nissan Versa Note, Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2. It's no longer a question of settling for less, but rather settling for the best

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GMC Sierra All Terrain HD: Refined Off-Roader 2015

In case you wanted some off-road ruggedness with your 2015 GMC Sierra HD, the full-size heavy-duty truck is now available with the All Terrain package. Like its light-duty sibling with the same equipment, the Sierra All Terrain HD brings some unique styling cues and standard four-wheel drive. This new Sierra HD trim is available on both 2500 HD and 3500 HD double cab and crew cab SLE and SLT models. An electronically controlled transfer case is included as well as the Z71 off-road package which brings Rancho twin-tube shocks, hill descent control, and a skid plate

Other features like the CornerStep rear bumper, EZ lift and lower tailgate (which also locks), and upper tie-downs are also included on the off-road oriented Sierra All Terrain HD. StabiliTrak with trailer sway control is also standard. Inside, carbon fiber accents separate the Sierra All Terrain HD from the rest of the lineup and in case that's not enough, the "All Terrain" logo is emblazoned on the instrument cluster. For Sierra All Terrain HD owners with an iPhone running on iOS 6 or iOS 7, Siri Eyes Free can read incoming text messages

Turbodiesel an option

Under the hood, the General's 6.0-liter gas engine is standard but the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine is also available. Other features like integrated cruise control, auto grade braking, and diesel exhaust braking help reduce brake wear on grades. The 2015 GMC Sierra All Terrain HD also utilizes enhanced airflow, which helps the engine to maintain power even while under duress and high temperatures. Standard safety features include forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and front and rear park assist

Like every GMC vehicle, the 2015 Sierra All Terrain HD comes with two years of scheduled maintenance, which includes diesel exhaust fluid refills, a three-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Expect to see the 2015 Sierra All Terrain HD enter showrooms later this summer

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GMC Canyon Pickup revealed in Detroit 2015

Reestablishing its maker's presence in the mid-size pickup truck segment, the 2015 GMC Canyon made its world debut in Detroit

Available in both Extended Cab and Crew Cab configurations -- the latter with either a 5'2" bed or the 6'2" unit found on the Extended Cab -- the Canyon's differentiation process starts with its visual profile. Save for the roof panel, it shares virtually no sheet metal with the Colorado and incorporates bolder, GMC signature cues seen on the full-size Sierra and Sierra HD pickups into its fascias and aluminum power-dome hood as well as to the front and rear quarters. Even the Canyon's tailgate stamping is unique. Key boasting points include standard projector beam headlamps set off with C-shaped LED running lights, aero-enhancing active shutters on its prominent grille, a CornerStep rear bumper and a selection of 16-/17-/18-inch alloy wheels

Other notable Canyon standard exterior touches include two-tier bed loading capability with four stationary and 13 reconfigurable tie-downs along with bed rail/tailgate protectors while options range from a factory spray-in bed liner and a fitted tool box to a custom tonneau cover and a torsion-bar-assisted EZ Lift-and-Lower locking tailgate. The Canyon lineup will include base, SLE and SLT trim grades plus a dedicated All-Terrain Package on the SLE that brings unique exterior bits as well as bespoke suspension tuning and 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires

Like its exterior, the well-finished, well-appointed cabin of the Canyon also embraces the step-up mentality. Highlights here include an abundance of Sierra-like soft-touch surfaces and real aluminum trim on SLE and SLT variants as well as inlaid doors with triple seals to help ensure the Canyon snares quietest-in-class honors. Seating for five is standard in all Canyon variants, as is leather upholstery and heated front buckets on the SLTs. However, GMC plans to offer Extended Cab Canyons with a rear-seat delete for those who'd rather ditch its modestly-scaled rear perch for some genuinely usable inside stow space

Among the Canyon's coolest new features are an 8.0-inch color IntelliLink multimedia system with advanced navigation, GM's latest OnStar with just-announced 4GE LTE connectivity and Wi-Fi hot spot, Siri Eyes Free Mode capability for the iPhone set and an ever-expanding range of apps than can be downloaded from the GMC AppShop. The Canyon also will offer a new Teen Driver feature that operates through IntelliLink and allows parents to preset things like maximum vehicle speed and radio volume plus access a data log that records various max-acceleration and ABS braking events

Two engines will be available at the start for 2015, both featuring direct injection and variable valve timing. Standard motivator is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that makes a segment-best estimated 193 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque while a 302-horse/3.5-liter V6 that develops 270 lb-ft of peak twist will be optional. The former can be backed by a 6-speed manual in the base, Extended Cab rear-drive Canyon, but all other models will come with a 6-speed automatic transmission. GMC expects that formula will let this newcomer earn segment-leading projected payload (1,400-1,450 lb) and tow (6,700 lb) ratings while also netting top fuel economy marks. There's more good news on the horizon, as the Canyon's engine lineup will expand for 2016 with the arrival of an even more capable and more fuel-efficient 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel

Rear-drive or 4-wheel drive, the 2015 GMC Canyon is underpinned by a scaled-down/purpose-tweaked version of the fully-boxed perimeter frame and suspension elements introduced on the full-size Sierra. In addition to highly efficient electric power steering, the standard kit includes StabiliTrak with rollover mitigation circuitry, hill-start assist and trailer sway control plus 4-wheel disc brakes with long-lasting Duralife rotors. In addition to an optional auto-locking rear differential, the Canyon's available AutoTrac 4-wheel drive setup features an electronically controlled dual-range transfer case that also can automatically apply traction to the front wheels anytime it senses slippage at the rear axle. In addition to six standard airbags, the GMC Canyon will offer two segment-first safety options, Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning

Production of the 2015 GMC Canyon will start this fall in GM's Wentzville, Missouri, assembly plant. Pricing and final specs will be announced closer to the actual on-sale date

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Ford F-150 debuts in Detroit 2015

One of the most anticipated debuts at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show has finally happened and it comes in the form of the 2015 Ford F-150.  Right off the bat, we can now confirm that the latest F-150 is comprised of a high-strength steel frame and a high-strength aluminum-alloy body, which helps shave off 700 pounds compared to the out-going model. Besides the weight-saving materials, an available 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost engine bows for the first time, confirming what we already had been expecting. This new engine, along with the rest of the 2015 F-150 lineup, went through more than 10 million miles of testing and even ran in the 2013 Baja 1000

Starting with the most important change, Ford hasn't come out and said exactly what type of aluminum the 2015 F-150 will consist of but it did say it is similar to that found on a military HUMVEE, commercial transportation and other various aerospace applications. The F-150's signature fully boxed ladder frame consists of new high-strength steel and is stronger and lighter than the one it's replacing. This new steel frame is rated up to 70,000 psi, which is stronger than some competitors' heavy-duty truck frames.  In all, eight through-welded crossmembers beef up stiffness and staggered rear outboard shocks bolster stability. Ford claims that the 2015 F-150 is the strongest and most durable model to ever be introduced and was tested under a variety of conditions, including crisscrossing the United States while towing a trailer through desert valleys and over high-altitude mountain passes. As mentioned above, Ford even went as far to test the 2015 F-150 and its new 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine by entering a disguised truck into the Baja 1000, which it completed, and then engineers drove it home

In all, four engines are set to be offered in the new F-150, including the new turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost engine that features auto start-stop technology. This start-stop technology only shuts the engine off when you're not towing anything or not in four-wheel drive. Ford promises this new engine will offer power similar to that of a mid-range V8. The outgoing 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V6 has been downsized slightly to 3.5-liters, while the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine will return as expected. The 5.0-liter V8 engine is now the biggest engine offered in the F-150's portfolio as the 6.2-liter V8 sails off into the sunset.  All four engine choices are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. On 2015 F-150s equipped with an EcoBoost engine, Active Grille Shutters, which stay open when the engine requires extra cooling, will be a standard feature. These same shutters will automatically close in an effort to reduce aerodynamic drag when cruising at highway speeds

Design-wise, it's immediately obvious when looking at the 2015 Ford F-150 that the nose reflects the Atlas Concept very closely, giving the Blue Oval's latest variation of its light-duty pick-up a chiseled look. The LED headlight and tail lamp design also shares similar styling cues from that of the Atlas Concept.  The next-gen tailgate step makes its debut on the latest F-150 along with other new features like a 360-degree camera view, integrated loading ramps in the bed, 400-watt power outlets in the cab and a remote tailgate release

Inside, the 2015 F-150 features some styling cues that were first seen in the Atlas Concept at the Detroit Auto Show last year. The steering wheel is one of the more notable features that made the jump from the Atlas Concept to the production version of the 2015 F-150. A new 8-inch touchscreen sits in the middle of the dashboard and allows drivers to customize the home screen with apps they expect to use often. Big buttons and controls are easy to operate even when wearing gloves, and various storage spaces positioned through-out the F-150's cabin can accommodate the usual job-site staples like cell phones, drinks and laptops. In the Super and Crew cab configurations, rear under-seat storage provides a spot to store valuables away from prying eyes. Other new features include second-row inflatable seat belts, Curve Control that regulates four-wheel braking when entering a corner too quickly, adaptive cruise control, Lane-Keeping System, Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, trailer hitch assist and a smart trailer tow module

When it goes on sale late this year, five primary trim levels will be available: XL, XLT, Lariat, Platinum and King Ranch. Those who like chrome can opt for the chrome appearance package on the XL, XLT and Lariat trim levels, while the FX4 off-road package can be added to most four-wheel-drive models. The FX4 off-road package includes an electronic locking rear axle, skid plates and off-road tuned shocks

The 2015 Ford F-150 will continue to be assembled at the Blue Oval's truck facility in Dearborn, Michigan, and its Kansas City assembly facility in Claycomo, Missouri. Pricing and fuel figures are expected to be made available closer to the 2015 F-150's sale date

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