By Kevin Miller

Autosavant’s Editor Chris Haak is a big proponent of minivans. If you need proof, just read any of his reviews of three-row crossover vehicles; nearly all of them state that a crossover is a compromised choice when compared to a minivan. That being said, the Miller household recently made the determination that our 2004 Volvo V70R was not cut-out for soccer carpooling duties (thanks to car seat requirements), so it was time to shop for something with a few more seatbelts. Mrs. Miller is “minivan averse,” which led us to a shopping list full of three-row crossovers.

Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

I’m a huge fan of big European five-door cars, which were once somewhat common in the US (think Merkur Scorpio, Saab 9000, and Sterling 827i). The segment, which offered luxury-sport-sedan performance and styling with the practicality of a wagon has been nonexistent in the US since the Saab 9000 was put out to pasture in the late 1990s, but the segment is making a big-dollar comeback with cars like the BMW 5-series Gran Turismo and even the Porsche Panamera. Audi’s A7 is the latest entry, though the A7 moniker demonstrates that Audi is pitching the car as a 4-door coupe rather than a 5-door sedan. Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

From an engineering perspective, Chevrolet’s Volt is a technological tour de force that both highlights GM’s commitment to technology, and their engineering muscle as a global organization. It is able to travel around 35 miles on full charge, and nearly 300 more using its onboard ICE “range extender” to make electricity.  While our Editor-in-Chief separately spent five days in another Chevrolet Volt, I had two days in one in which I was able to experience some of the ups and downs of EV ownership.

Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

In January of this year, Chrysler Brand CEO Olivier Francois channeled Eminem on Chrysler’s stage at Cobo hall when he introduced the new 300; the rap didn’t roll off of his tongue and I found it painful to watch. When the new 300 rolled out onto the stage, I was not that excited; it looked to me like just another big fat 300. After a quick peek, I lost interest and explored other stands in Detroit. Eminem meme not withstanding,  I think I should have been paying better attention to Francois that day in Detroit.

Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

“Comfy Throne, Cushy Ride.” Those are my first logbook phrases written about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and they summed up my experience with the latest generation of Jeep’s flagship SUV. Entirely new for 2011, the Grand Cherokee benefits from Chrysler’s improved interior materials and design, lending the big truck a luxurious feel. That luxury is backed up by heated leather seats, infotainment system with navigation system and awesome sound, and an air suspension which gives a velvety ride as well as increasing ground clearance for off-roading.

Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

Europe is often romanticized by Americans; the old plazas and hidden passageways seemingly behind every corner on The Continent contain hidden surprises and untold treasure. The same can be said about European cars, the stylish, unattainable fruit, forbidden to American consumers by European importers. While both European cities and cars often meet or surpass such expectations, they can sometimes turn out to be not quite as idyllic as expected. Audi’s A5 is the latest European treasure that falls just shy of meeting elevated expectations.

Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

Washing my own car in my driveway is a truly a favorite hobby of mine. Quality time with the hose, sponge and car is among my favorite ways to spend a sunny day. Unfortunately, because of environmental concerns, an increasing number of jurisdictions are introducing regulations prohibiting individuals washing cars in their own driveways. At a recent Earth Day event in my Seattle-area suburb, the city government had a table dedicated to environmentally-friendly car washing, informing citizens that if water from car washing finds its way into the storm drain, the washer is in violation of an environmental law, as the storm drains empty directly into the state’s scenic Puget Sound.

The city was offering either a voucher for a free car wash, or a free eight-ounce bottle of Griot’s Garage Spray-On Car Wash ($6.99 retail at the Griot’s Garage Website). Being familiar with many other Griot’s Garage car care products, I eagerly took the free sample. As soon as I got home, I broke out my microfiber cloths and went to work on my wife’s decade-old black Saab 9-5 sedan, which hadn’t been washed for about 6 weeks of use in rainy Seattle weather. Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

In today’s US marketplace, there are two different types of products available from Volkswagen. On one hand is the US-only, de-contented Jetta and NMS/Passat, engineered to exclude rich features and increase sales volumes. On the other hand are vehicles like the new Touareg. Following in the footsteps of the first-generation Touareg and the Phaeton sedan, the new Touareg Hybrid is incredibly high-tech and feature-rich; that fact is reflected on the window sticker.

The Hybrid is at the top of the Touareg trim levels, boasting 380 HP with a starting price north of $60k. All three Touareg versions feature Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and 8-speed automatic transmissions. Not available in the US is the European model’s 4XMotion system which includes a low-range transfer case and height-adjustable air suspension; instead, all US-bound Touareg models have a rotary switch to select “ON ROAD” or “OFF ROAD” terrain settings. The Touareg Hybrid also has a button marked “E-Mode” which selects more efficient driving characteristics; it dulls throttle response and shift points for the sake of efficiency and allows the SUV to operate exclusively on electricity at low speeds.

Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

At first blush, Nissan may seem like a typical Japanese automaker. Looking from a different angle, though, shows Nissan offering vehicles in a few segments where no other automakers do. Nissan’s Cube redefined the JDM box in North America. The Versa proved to be a spacious and versatile car, decidedly affordable with a value-leader version offered at $9999.

Nissan’s latest left-field entry is the Juke. Dubbed a “Bold Urban Sport Cross” by Nissan’s marketing group, the Juke is the size of a compact hatchback, but rides on a taller suspension than other compacts, to give it a compact-meets-SUV flavor. SUV attributes include wheelarch cladding, all-wheel drive. Compact attributes include a minuscule trunk inside of the hatchback, incredibly tight turning radius which makes the Juke incredibly easy to park. Continue Reading

By Kevin Miller

Now that the 2011 Geneva Auto Show has ended, Saab decided that instead of putting their cars from the show onto a truck and shipping them straight back to Sweden, they could instead host a series of events around Switzerland to show off their full line. Advertised by flyers handed out at the show (as well as marketing materials sent to current Saab owners), the event kicked off Tuesday night in the Swiss town of Rothrist. Staying just ten minutes from Rothrist on a visit to Switzerland, and being totally Saab crazy, I had to be there.

The event was hosted not at a Saab dealership, but instead at an events venue called Stilhaus. The parking lot was packed a lot of Saab vehicles, several of them wearing Hirsch Performance badges. Upon approaching the Stilhaus in Rothrist, there were visible inflatable pylons decorated with the I ♥ Saab logo. Near the entrance, a selection of beautifully kept classic Saabs, owned by SAABclub Switzerland member, was on display. Beyond those, a red carpet was literally rolled out to welcome guests.

Continue Reading