The 2015 NX crossover is an all-new addition to the Lexus stable. It aims to provide the popularity and appeal of the Lexus RX in a more compact package. Does it succeed? Roman takes this 300h AWD model for a test to see what’s what.
The NX Hybrid is powered by a combination of the 2.5L internal combustion engine and electric power for a total system output of 194 horsepower. Lexus does not list the torque, but says it’s capable of 9.1 second 0-60 MPH acceleration. Can Roman match it at about one mile above sea level?
2015 Lexus NX
The 300h AWD is rated at 33 MPG in the city and 32 MPG combined. The front wheel drive model uses it lighter weight (which is still 4,055 lbs) to get an impressive 35 MPG in the city. The AWD system adds about 130 pounds, but the acceleration is identical to the FWD model, according to Lexus.
The NX also comes with an all-new 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, but this is for another review.
It starts at $39,720 without destination for the FWD model. However, adding AWD and other options can bring the final price above $51,000 like it was on this tester.
Watch this fun TFLcar 0-60 mph review for all the details on the 2015 Lexus NX 300h AWD.
There is a lot to like about the 2015 Hyundai Genesis. It’s full of standard features that are optional on other luxury brands, it has an excellent 10-year/100,000 mile warranty, and it’s sexy as all get out.
However, with the yin comes the yang. There’s always something to not like on every car, and the Genesis is no different. The devil is in the details, and we often don’t get the chance to really get into the nitty gritty of a press car. Here we take a look at the top three detail likes and dislikes of the Genesis…in no particular order.
Dislike: Over the top lighting. With six separate LED lights on the taillights, the rear end certainly does make it’s presence known on the road. Additionally, there is a logo light spill from the side view mirror that just begs the question: Why?
Like: Quiet cabin. The inside of the Genesis is incredibly silent. Road and wind noise are virtually nonexistent.
Dislike: Multitude of nannies. Driving helpers are great if they work all the time, but the lane departure warning system did not function on a road with lane markers spread out a bit more than normal.
Like: Disabling multitude of nannies. Fortunately most nannies can be disabled easily for driver’s who don’t need them.
Dislike: Cupholder. The stabilizing mechanism in the cup holder pushes your beverage off kilter. (See “Devil is in the details” above.)
Like: Blue Link Voice Search. Speak your destination out loud and the computer will find it and input the address directly into the navigation system.
The 2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country is better than smoked herring in the white powder. This vehicle was built for snow and fairly rough terrain borrowing much of its underpinnings from the beefier Volvo XC60. It’s already proven itself on dirt and is a great touring vehicle on tarmac.
You can read about our press event adventure with 2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country (here).
Every once in a while, drivers do get exactly what they need. Volvo is known for wagons and the 2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country feels like a wagon built for skiers. A five-cylinder, turbocharged engine with an excellent all-wheel drive (AWD) system gives this European wagon excellent capabilities.
When Roman gets the wanderlust heading for deep snow and high altitudes, how will the 2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country prevail? Can the Volvo V60 Cross Country seduce Roman with its excellent seats and Swedish swagger? Watch the video and find out!
Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.
The SUV market is a crowded one. The Chevy Traverse, Mazda CX-9, and Ford Flex are all good choices for a 7 passenger hauler. But consumers would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn’t look at the 2015 Dodge Durango.
The Dodge Durango is a stylish SUV that hasn’t quite gotten the attention it deserves in this crowded segment. Our Limited test model came equipped with a 3.6L V6, good for 290 horsepower and 260 lb/ft of torque. Power goes to an AWD system via an 8-speed automatic transmission. EPA fuel ratings are 17 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined. My time in the Durango was mostly highway driving, and I averaged 22.6 mpg.
You may want to upgrade to the 5.7L V8 if you plan to do any decent off roading. The AWD system is swapped for 4WD with a two speed transfer case. Although the V8 option doesn’t include a lift, the 4WD does give you a low gear to get you up and over rocks and difficult terrain.
STATS
Starting Retail Price
As Tested Price
HP / Lb-Ft
2015 Dodge Durango Limited
$39,395
$45,665
290/260
EPA Rating MPG
As Tested MPG
Rating: BUY IT!
17/24 Combined 19
22.6
Standard equipment on the Limited trim include keyless entry and ignition, remote start, back up camera, rear parking assist, heated front seats, heated second row seats, heated steering wheel, driver and passenger power 4-way lumbar support, iPod integration, and an 8.4” touchscreen with the Uconnect infotainment system.
Our test Durango also came with a slew of optional equipment. The $2495 Premium Group adds 20” wheels, sunroof, navigation, and a 5 year satellite radio subscription.
For $1195 buyers can choose the Safety/Security and Convenience Group for automatic HID headlight leveling, power tilt and telescoping steering column, and blind spot and cross path detection.
For an extra $995 consumers can get captains chairs for the second row. It brings your seating down to 6 people instead of 7, but the captains chairs are nearly as roomy and comfortable as the front seats, possibly eliminating any fights over who is riding shotgun. It’s money well spent.
The Blacktop Package costs $590 and adds some additional exterior touches such as gloss black Durango badges and dual rear exhaust with bright tips.
Visually the Durango is following Dodge current design themes. The front fascia echoes the same sinister look as the new Charger, and the rear has one of the most distinctive taillight signatures on the road today. The LEDs extend all the way across the width of the rear, curve around the brake lights, and swoop back to the other side. It’s an arresting sight on a dark desert highway to be sure.
The interior design language is present in the Durango as well. It’s a very comfortable place to spend a drive, especially in colder weather with the heated seats and steering wheel. The materials are high quality and soft touch surfaces abound. It certainly may surprise those who haven’t seen a Dodge in a while.
The Uconnect system is one of the best on the market today, featuring quick inputs and large buttons. Sure the 8.4″ touchscreen could be angled a bit towards the driver, but that hardly matteres when it delivered real time traffic and weather reports, satellite radio, and an easy to use navigation system.
On first glance the interface looks a little convoluted, but upon further examination, the screens are laid out intuitively and sub-menus are where one would expect them to be. Radio controls are on the back of the steering wheel, which allows for more functions on the front of the steering wheel, including the controls for the high resolution information display between the analog speedometer and tachometer in the gauge cluster.
The Durango does succumb to its competitors when it comes to cargo space. The second and third row seats fold flat and offer up 84.5 cubic feet of space, but competitors like the Mazda CX-9 yield up to 15 cubic feet more.
Behind the wheel the Durango offers a good, although not excellent ride. The optional 20” wheels bring out the rough in the road, and the steering skews toward the lighter side of effort. It’s great at low speeds, but the lightness remains even up at freeway speeds.
The V6 is not the quickest off the line, but after momentum picks up there is plenty of power for passing and merging. The 8-speed transmission can be shifted manually, for those who prefer to control their shifts, but the automatic does just fine on its own.
Although I was not able to test the towing capabilities, Dodge claims that when propertly equipped the Durango can tow 7400 pounds.
On the TFLcar scale of:
Buy it!
Lease it!
Rent it!
… or Forget it!
I give the 2015 Dodge Durango a Buy It!
The base price of the Limited trim is $39,395, but with our options and destination the grand total is $45,665. In the end, this reviewer was won over by the looks of the Durango, the Uconnect system, and the standard heated seats and steering wheel. The Mazda CX-9 is more fun to drive, but the Durango beats the Toyota Highlander in towing, and gets better fuel economy than the Ford Flex.
Check out the TFL Car review of the 2014 Durango R/T with the V8!
We have a video sneak peek of the 2016 Honda HR-V! Keep in mind people: the embargo for driving impressions, new technical information or any information gathered at the press event for the 2016 Honda HR-V goes until April 30th 2015. Still, we have a little bit of stuff to show you!
Honda rep while being videoed with the 2016 Honda HR-V
The reason automakers have embargos on information is to give all (or many) of the media outlets a chance to present their information to their readers/viewers at the same time. Sure, some unscrupulous periodicals find loopholes and get their fans the information early. Others have no need for an embargo as they are mighty and have millions of readers and blah, blah, blah…
In our case, as we are a video program first, we wanted you to get a whimsical first-look at the 2016 Honda HR-V, in action, on video.
In this 2016 Honda HR-V video, you will see the lovely palms of Miami and the utter adorableness of a baby alligator. You will witness a poor attempt at mimicking Tony Montana and a Lamborghini speed down a crowded Miami street.
That’s about it.
Oh, and you’ll see a bit of video showing the 2016 Honda HR-V too.
Enjoy!
Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.
Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and name will be omitted – leaving your initials or nickname, your preference.
From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can. We get thousands of emails and comments and feel that, as part of a tight-knit automotive community, having an open dialogue with you keeps things fresh and exciting.
The first question comes from a (soon to be) transplant to Michigan. He wants to know about our take on trucks for shorter people.
Q: Dear Nathan,
In the coming months I will be moving from the relatively warm Great Plains region to the frigid northern state of Michigan. Unaccustomed to driving in snow for more than a day or two, I was curious as to what to expect and what to drive. I am in the market for a new vehicle and want (very badly) to buy a truck.
My current vehicle is a Chevy Impala, which in snowy conditions does quite well. A truck (and a proper 4×4) would be even better and would allow me to do more than just commute to work every day.
The problem is that I am only 5 ft 5 inches tall and though I am no stranger to driving big trucks, I have a hard time with the idea of driving a modern full size truck with their gigantic proportions. However, I cannot bring myself to consider a smaller, midsize truck as the current crop of vehicles, even the new Colorado, just don’t appeal to me (a truck should have a proper front bench seat).
Is there a full size truck that you and Roman have tested that “feels” smaller to drive than others?
Thanks for the help,
R.R.
A: That’s a great question and I have a few ideas. In Colorado, I have a friend who’s a contractor. He knows a thing or two about snow, tuff trucks and he’s about 5’4.” He seems exceedingly pleased with the Toyota Tundra. He’s not the only one – there are quite a few people, under six-feet, who seem to like the cab-forward-like setup the Toyota Tundra has.
All of the big trucks have merit, but the Toyota Tundra has a fairly short hood and it’s pretty easy to find a comfortable driving position. The proportions are huge, but no bigger than the competition. Windows and mirrors are a good size and the headlights can be manually adjusted. Even for “She-who-must-be-obeyed” – who’s about your height, had no problem comfortably driving the 2013 Tundra – which is about the same as the current model.
This is definitely a good pick; however, I also recommend a good set of winter tires for your ride. It’s worth the expense, especially if you are somewhat green on the white powder. Four-wheel drive is almost useless if you can’t stop. A good set of winter rubber will make your ride a smart bet.
I’m pretty sure you can order one with a bench seat too!
Hope that helps!
N
2015 Honda CR-V
There are a few viewers who ask about automobile defects. Usually we leave these questions alone. TFL cannot quantify alleged defects as we do not have the resources to collect and verify the information.
Q: Hi TFLCAR, I buy a honda crv 2015 and I’ve read many problems with the cvt transmission and a vibration that has the car when in drive and come to a stop sign. Could you explain why this happens?? Thanks TFLCAR.CRV
A: TFL cannot verify any of this information. It’s reported that, every once in a while, when some of the new Honda CR-Vs come to a stop, some can vibrate uncomfortably. There are many theories out there regarding the cause of this possible vibration. Engine Controls Management (ECM) system, high pressure fuel pump, low idle, engine mounts – you name it.
Unfortunately, I have no data about this possible defect. I cannot comment about something I have no real information about. No, this problem never occurred with our test vehicles. I have no personal experience with this purported defect either.
If you are having a problem, I suggest contacting Honda.
Honda customer service is: (800) 999-1009
Hope that helps.
N
—
2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
This email comes from someone who is conflicted about their Jeep choice.
Q: Hello,
I have been wondering and going back and forth between different Jeep models. So I mainly want a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon either 2door or 4door with Manual Trans. ok now Jeep throws out the Renegade which seems to be more Cherokee, Compass, Patriot area of Jeep capabilities (correct me if Im wrong). I love the look of those other Jeeps however I have never been a Grand Cherokee or Cherokee guy I a Have always wanted to own a Jeep wrangler Rubicon.
So I’m really not understanding why im questioning it or asking you guys but I live in the Wrangler to whatever you want and with the Rubicon and the Dyna 44’s and the abilities of bigger wheels lifts etc etc anyways any I over thinking all of this and trying to make one of the non Wrangler ones fit where is really shouldn’t?
I may sound like I’m rambling however I don’t know why Jeep has the Patriot, Compass, and Cherokee and the Renegade not to say anything is wrong with them but when I think of Jeep I think of the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee and the Old Boxy Cherokee. I figure you will just say so over thinking it and just go with the Wrangler Rubicon are all the others mainly for just the bad weather or general light off roading camping class as the Wrangler Rubicon is the same however you also can climb a mountain with it. lol I just don’t know why they make so many different ones to confuse us new to the Jeep world folks also I did say I wanted a Wrangler Rubicon what are your thoughts on the 2door vs the 4door.
Thanks again sorry for the repeating and rambling I usually like to talk to people via face to face or over the phone I don’t like typing up stuff to much any ways thanks again hope to hear from you soon.
J.M.
Monona, WI
A: You are totally correct! There are so many Jeeps to choose from, the pool is deep indeed. Now, keep in mind that the Compass and Patriot are being phased out and Jeep is tight-lipped about a possible replacement.
I believe the Jeep stable will soon consist of the Renegade, Cherokee, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and something bigger to haul more people – soon. I think that’s as far as they’ll go for now.
Still, it’s no surprise you’re feeling confused with all of the choices.
Here’s Roman and my simple way to look at buying a Wrangler:
Us: “Are you going off road – for real?”
You: “Yes”
Us: “Great! Get a Wrangler.”
On the other hand…
Us: “Are you going off road?”
You: “Not really. Maybe camping or skiing.”
Us: “Okay. Look at the rest of the fleet.”
Hope that helps!
N
—
2016 Kia Sportage prototype (by S.O)
This last question comes from a fan who wants to know about confrontations when we film prototypes.
Q: Hi Nathan,
What will the prototype drivers do to you if they catch you photographing their cars?
You always seem very worried that you’re going to be caught!
Thanks.
B.
A: Good question.
Keep in mind: we are not disobeying any laws when we hunt prototypes. Once they are on public roads, they are fair game. Still, some test drivers get a bit miffed when they are assaulted by a ton of clicking cameras.
I was once a test driver, and it’s happened to me.
My worry is: we don’t want to upset the driver(s) and have them do something ill-advised. We’re not out there to piss them off. We just want some snaps of what they’re driving – nothing more.
Now, if someone is trying to get into the vehicle or follow it into a restricted testing area, that’s a big “no-no” and the law can be notified. We cannot touch a car, in any way. We cannot force the driver of the vehicle to alter his or her path. We always avoid confrontations. We have to be safe.
The life of a test driver is filled with long, tedious hours behind the wheel while gathering data. In many cases, they have to adhere to a specific route again and again. Having a car full of journalists pulling alongside for a few snaps is a minor irritant for most, but some overreact.
When a driver tries to grab our gear, drive dangerously or – worse – we back off. These are rare occurrences and we rarely make them this irate. We’re usually pretty passive when we shoot photos and video of prototypes. Most of the drivers understand that nearly every Joe has a camera-phone and can freely shoot photos of them.
Our equipment is slightly better than an average phone.
Thanks for the question!
Cheers,
N
Got a question for Nathan? Drop him a line at: asknathan@tflcar.com
And for more fun, check out the Hyundai Sonata Turbo’s 0 to 60 run!
Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.
[Montreal, QC Canada] What are the differences between a rear-wheel based AWD and front-wheel based AWD systems? This is the question this Part 2 of the snow track review is trying to answer. Please also take a look at the Part 1 of this test. The test vehicle is the all-new Jeep Renegade Trailhawk. It uses a Jeep Active Drive Low 4×4 system that powers the front wheels when cruising on dry pavement and is also able to transfer the power back when required.
It has a terrain management system with selection between Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock. You can leave the system in Auto mode and let it determine how to gain the most traction. However, you can also choose the specialized setting to suit the environment and your mood. Take a look at the video to see what mean by “suit your mood”. Of course, the Trailhawk model also allows you to lock the differential and go into 4WD low gear for slow speed off-roading.
Watch this test track video to find out all the details.
Andre Smirnov
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been writing and reporting at TFL since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or simply ‘going for a drive’.
The 2015 Dodge Durango is a stylish SUV that hasn’t quite gotten the attention it deserves in this crowded segment. Our Limited test model came equipped with a 3.6L V6, good for 290 horsepower and 260 lb/ft of torque. Power goes to an AWD system via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
If you plan to do any decent off roading, you may want to upgrade to the 5.7L V8, as the AWD system is swapped for 4WD with a two speed transfer case. Although the V8 option doesn’t include a lift, the 4WD does give you a low gear to get you up and over rocks and difficult terrain.
The Dodge interior design language is present in the Durango, but one of the high points is the infotainment screen. Uconnect is one of the best systems on the market today, featuring quick inputs and large buttons. Sure the 8.4″ touchscreen could be angled a bit towards the driver, but that hardly mattered when it delivered real time traffic and weather reports.
On first glance the interface looks a little convoluted, but upon further examination, the screens are laid out intuitively and sub-menus are where one would expect them to be. Radio controls are on the back of the steering wheel, which allows for more functions on the front, including the controls for the high resolution information display between the analog speedometer and tachometer in the gauge cluster.
Look for a full review coming soon, but in the meantime, check out the 2014 Durango drag race with the Range Rover Sport.
Roman just bought one of the most hated modern Land Rovers to prove a point: Even this SUV doesn't suck! Or maybe it does...that's what we're going to find out in our latest project series.
The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback stakes a claim as one of the most efficient and practical cars for the money — but just how good is it on a 1,200-mile road trip?
