2009-10 VW Jetta TDI (diesel) Review

Its not new anymore, but its still a great car.

While it is an older generation Jetta, it has the same engine and transmission of the newer ones.

So to get a whole bunch of stuff out of the way, yes this is the previous generation of the Jetta. This generation was introduced 1/2 through 2005 as an 06 model and it was using the then previous generation Jetta's TDI engine. New emission rules for North America were put into place in 2007 which meant that this engine did not meet the standards and could no longer be sold. VW finally brought a new engine to North America for the 2009 year. However, this generation of the Jetta was soon to be replaced, so that engine only stayed in this body for 2 years and then was put into the new generation. It also came with a new optional transmission which I have previously talked about, the DSG automated manual. Unfortunately this engine and transmission took a bit longer to find their way into the VW Golf. Getting back to the point, why would I talk about an old model if this blog is about new models? I just said why, besides the looks, it is very similar to the new one mechanically, which is what really matters. So lets take a look:

Different Styles:

This previous style of Jetta TDI was available in a 4 door sedan and a wagon. This review will only be covering the 2.0L 4 cylinder TDI Clean Diesel engine with the DSG automated manual engine. For more info about this transmission see the link to a previous review below.

Styling and Comfort Impressions: 

This generation of the Jetta is noticeably smaller than the current one. Its more rounded and compact looking, so it actually fits into the compact segment. Just like the current generation, it looks relatively plain compared to others in the class. The chrome center piece in the front does look quite nice though. There is not much else to say about the outside of it, its just plain and the windows are nice and large.

Once you get inside the looks don't get much better. This car is an extreme example of when the lighter colour option on the inside needs to be picked. Overall the interior is very plain and boring. Straight lines everywhere, lots of hard plastics and lots of dark colours. The upside is that everything is laid out very logically and it is all easy to use and reach when driving. Here, take a look:

Besides the looks though, it is a very comfortable car to sit in. The seats are firm enough for long road trips ( where the diesel really shines) but are still padded nicely with enough support for going around corners fast. The back seat has a good amount of legroom and headroom as well. I do fit behind myself comfortably. One thing that I particularly like about this generation of the Jetta is that the rear seats get their own set of air vents from the center armrest. Something they took out of the newer generation, which is a pity. This generation of the Jetta TDI also comes with one of my favorite features basically standard, heated front seats, and not just on and off settings, but they are variable by about 4 levels. The sound system isn't the best as it is an older car, but its not particularly bad. The trunk is decently large and has a nice center pass through for long skinny items while 2 people are still sitting in the back seat. 

Driving Impressions:

If you want some quick info about diesel engines, their main difference with gas engines and a bit of info about the DSG transmission VW has, here is a link to my review of the 2011-14 Jetta TDI:

2011-14 Jetta TDI Review

One interesting thing about this older generation Jetta from the new one is that even though it is smaller, it weighs a bit more ( about 100 lbs). However, this doesn't really effect performance much. What does effect performance is the older suspension. While it does use the same engine and transmission, you can easily tell it is an older car. There is less soundproofing so the diesel clatter can be slightly heard while inside the car, while in the new one its almost quiet. It seems to have a little bit of turbo lag which is sometimes a bit of a shock, but Im sure one could get used to it quite quickly. It is a bit more rough on uneven roads than the newer one but overall it is very comfy in the city and on the highway. There is a bit more road and wind noise due to slightly less insulation than the newer Jetta, but its not enough to make it unpleasant. 
It is smaller than the current Jetta which means parking lots and tight streets are easier to navigate.  

Overall:

Its hard to not compare this Jetta TDI to the current one, but each one has its advantages and disadvantages. While the current one may be larger, more comfortable, and look better on the inside; the older one is better in smaller places, looks smart, just as economical, and it is much easier to find one at a very reasonable price. I would say if you are looking for a second car, or want an introductory car into the diesel world, this older generation of the Jetta is the better pick as you get many of the same features of the new one, but at a much better price. And of course, since diesel engines last much longer than gas ones, you will have less to worry about when looking at used ones for longevity. 

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for this trim level): --

FWD

MPG (approx*): 30 city, 40 highway ( these figures have been proven to be very easy to beat)

Cargo room (approx*): 16 CuFt

Length: 179''

Width: 70''

Tank Size (gal): 14.5

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 507

Average used price with 100,000KM or less: $13,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Enjoy!

J.K.

2011-15 Chevrolet Cruze Review

The Chevy Cruze is a "global car" with high expectations

Is it good or is it just another rent-a-car Cobalt?

In short, yes, its quite good, for the Cobalt's successor. Chevy is really trying to market all their cars as "global" which I guess in some way they are. Its good to see that car manufacturers are realizing that car standards should be the same for all countries. So this car is sold almost the exact same in many countries around the world, except a  few engine differences. It is supposed to be a small family sedan that works for everyone. The Chevy Cruze came to North America ( specifically the USA and Canada) in 2011. It doesn't look that bad, but its not particularly exciting either. Take a look:

Different Styles:

The Chevy Cruze globally comes as a 4 door sedan, 5 door hatchback, and a wagon. However, for the North American market it only comes as the 4 door sedan. It does however come in a variety of engine choices and trims. It has a 1.8L 4 cylinder, a 1.4L turbo 4 (both the same as the Chevy Sonic), and starting in 2013 a 2.0L 4 cylinder diesel was added. They all come with either a 6 speed manual or 6 speed auto transmissions. I will cover both the 1.8 and 1.4 engines. I have not had a chance to try the diesel engine but I have heard from my sources that its ok, not the best, but ok. It also comes in an "Eco" model that uses skinnier tires and has some cool airflow tricks and weight savings. 

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

Up front, I don't like it. Its too stubby looking and unless you get the higher trim levels with fog lamps and ground kits it just looks too plain. The sides, also quite plain, but good sized windows. This is in no way a small car, it fits in the upper end of the compact class. I will compliment the different wheel styles you can get on the Cruze, they all look pretty good and seem to fit well on it. Finally we get to the back of the car. I actually quite like the rear of the Cruze, its simple, not trying to be super sporty but you can get added bits that fit well on the upper trims and there is something about the chrome bar that adds just a touch of class. Chrome makes cars look better ( new Honda Civic...). My overall impression of the outside is that its nicer than the Cobalt, but that its still very plain compared to other cars in the class. It sorta looks like it wouldn't be a bad rent-a-car... well, I guess the Cobalt's legend lives on! You can get it in a nice variety of colours though.

Lets get to the inside; in short, its much better. This car must have the most interior colour choices on the market besides a custom designed car. It has 4 different cloth colours and 3 different leather colours to choose from, here are some:

And more...

The front dash and center console of the Cruze is a fantastic piece of futuristic art. It has a great combo of shiny plastics, "metal" pieces, and the different colour panels. These colour combos look great, with any being a good pick except maybe the grey on grey. I also like how no matter what trim level and multimedia package you get, it still has plenty of buttons so you don't have to worry about using the touch screen while driving. The windows are decently large and visibility is somewhat good, but I always got the feeling that the rear view mirror was too small. 

The seats are very comfy and somewhat sporty so they are very supportive. However, due to the sporty bucket styling of the seats, larger people will feel maybe a bit too snug while driving. Even though this is one of the largest compact cars in the class, it felt somewhat cramped while upfront. The seats have enough movement in them that anyone should be able to find a comfortable driving position. The back seat is pretty good as well, I did notice that while the seats were nice and wide for 3 people, there was not a lot of legroom for myself sitting behind myself. My knees were touching the seat in front and there was not a lot of space for my feet, but it wasn't super uncomfortable. 

The trunk is large and has one of the largest pass through to the back seats when folded down in the class. Finally, the stereo, like in most Chevy cars now, seems to be quite good. Its loud and clear and in the upper trims you can get a good number of speakers. 

A nice thing that the Cruze does that may put it into the running for many people is the fact that you can have just about every possible feature you can think of in a car of this size and price, especially like heated seats, large screen multimedia units, back up camera, Bluetooth, and more.

Driving Impressions:

The Chevy Cruze is a car that has to try to appeal to many different types of people, and it sorta does, I guess. It needs to be economical, it needs to be budget friendly, it needs to be easy to look after, a small family car, and not be as bad as the Cobalt. So lets start with the 1.8L engine that you get in the base models. It is definitely the quieter of the two main engines in both the city and on the highway. And that is about the only reason why anyone would get the 1.8L engine in this, maybe its a bit cheaper but trust me, get the 1.4L Turbo. They both have about the same amount of HP, but the 1.4L has more torque, which means it is going to feel more perky in the city. Both engines sorta run out of steam on the highway but the 1.4 feels a bit stronger. It also seems to be a bit louder than the 1.8. 

Another nice thing about the 1.4L Turbo is that it does not need special gas. Overall driving dynamics are not bad for the Cruze. It feels composed in the city and around corners ( as much as an economy car should), especially when you upgrade to larger wheels and sporty suspension; actually it gets a bit too rough. It turns tight which is great for parking lots and small streets. It has decent visibility but it could be better. It is a smooth car that I wouldn't mind traveling long distances in and with the nice large trunk road trips with some buds is an option. There doesn't seem to be much wind or road noise, the most noise comes from the engines so that is nice once you are cruising (pun intended) down the road. 

Overall:

If you are looking for a somewhat large compact car that is and does just a little bit of everything somewhat well ( sporty, economical, comfy, good looking) but nothing extremely well, then the Chevy Cruze is the car for you. With the huge available list of optional features this car can really become quite an attractive choice. It is a bit heavier and larger than other compacts and others definitely look better on the outside, but few can match the futuristic look on the inside. With three engine choices and a variety of colours the car can be made to fit anyone. Just remember that this is a Chevrolet, so resale value isn't the best (which is good for used car shoppers) and reliability may be spotty down the road. So just check to make sure everything seems right when you test drive one.

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $23,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*):1.8L (1.4L Turbo) 26 (26) city, 36 (38) highway

Cargo room (approx*): 15 CuFt

Length: 181"

Width: 71''

Tank Size (gal): 15.6

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 483

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $12,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links:
Chevy Canada

Chevy USA

Enjoy!

P.S. I would like to note that any prices I put up for a new car is usually with tax included.

J.K.

Busy Week

Hi Internet. Sorry for the lack of post yesterday. Iv had a really busy week and I will not be able to do a post this weekend as well.

I have been super busy with work, job applications, interviews, and testing cars for future posts. To try to make up for this week and the weekend, I will try to post next Tuesday, Thursday and next weekend.

Thank you for continued visits!

J.K.

2012-15 Toyota Prius C (Hybrid) Review

Prius's smaller sibling is the most fuel efficient car ( non plug-in) on the roads.

It may not exactly be "budget" but the fuel efficiency may make up for it...

The hybrid Prius family grew in the last few years to include the larger Prius V, the Prius Plug-In, and also the smaller ( and less expensive) Prius C. The Prius C was added to the Prii ( Toyota's plural form of Prius) family in 2012 for North America. It offers better fuel efficiency than the regular Prius in the city and is actually less expensive than it. It also offers much less technology and features than the Prius to keep the price down, to some, this may be a good thing, to others a huge drawback. Take a look:

Different Styles:

The Toyota Prius C only comes as a 5 door hybrid hatchback. It is based off the Yaris platform so it is quite a bit smaller than the regular Prius. It comes with a 1.5L 4 cylinder engine mated to an electric motor. Even thought the gas engine produces about 73 hp and the electric about 60 hp, total power is rated at 99 hp. This is about 1/3 less power than the regular Prius. It only has a CVT transmission.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

It tries to copy the overall styling of the regular Prius in the front and back and does a pretty good job. However, due to the shorter length of the car it doesn't have the same sloping rear hatch as the Prius. This to me is a good thing. I have never really liked the look of the Prius. Yes, it did get better with its 2010 update but the overall design on the outside looked too long. The Prius C however, looks like a normal hatchback at first glance. With closer inspection you can tell the differences that make it a hybrid, such as skinnier tires, more of a sloped rear roof than other hatchbacks, and a front windshield that is almost perfectly in line with the slope of the hood. The windows seem decently large except for the back hatch which has a tiny strip for a window and a wiper that clears no more area than a small dinner plate. Overall though, for a small city looking car, its not that bad at all, and you can get it in a bunch of fun colours including orange, a golden yellow and a cool blueish- grey / green called "summer rain".

So, it looks good on the outside, what about the inside? Well, its not that bad actually. Is it as futuristic and high tech like the Prius? No, but that's ok, as it has a more logical layout of controls. The materials used are a bit boring and cheap looking, including the seats, but they use different shades and tones that make it look modern. Remember, Toyota was essentially trying to make it's hybrid technology more accessible to the masses, so to bring the price down, quality and quantity would have to drop somewhere. But to me, for a subcompact car it looks pretty good inside. However, for a subcompact it is still pretty expensive, so do you get what you pay for or not? That's for you to decide. Obviously if you go up the trim levels it starts to look better. Take a look for yourself:

The seats are relatively comfortable, maybe a bit on the hard side. This may be one of the only times where I think the white / grey / black interior looks better than what a beige or tan colour scheme could. The front console is logically laid out and the shifter is set up like a normal one instead of the Prius's ridiculous knob with odd positions. For those of you who know how the Prius drives you will be happy to know that the Prius C does not have the annoying back up beep. There are available options that get you heated seats and an upgraded media unit. One thing that I have never really liked about the Prius line up and the Yaris as well is the only digital, and center mounted dash layout. I like the more traditional 2 dial layout or at least make the screen in front of the driver rather than making them look to the side. The back seat has adequate space for 2 adults in terms of head and leg room. One major complaint I have is the rear seat head restraints, they are huge! Combined with the ridiculously small rear window and you get extremely poor rear view visibility. Apparently in the higher trim levels you can get head restraints that lay more level with the seat back, but come on, its just pitiful.

Finally, as you can see, the cargo space for a vehicle this small is actually not that bad. And when you fold down the seats it is quite large. The opening is also very wide, low, and square allowing large objects to easily be put in.

Driving Impressions:

If you have driven the recent Toyota Yaris, then this is very similar. It actually uses the same gas engine but of course it has the electrical engine as well. Lets get Toyota's complicated hybrid power train explained first:

• its called "Hybrid Synergy Drive"
• its considered a Full Hybrid System. This means that it can run in electric only, both, or gas engine only.
• it is a much more complicated system than the comparable Honda hybrids ( meaning more things that could break)

So, how does it drive? Well it is very quiet when you turn it on. If you have a full battery (indicated on the multi-info screen on the dash) you can press the EV button and put it into electric only mode. With this on, you can drive around your neighborhood without using a drop of fuel, but only under certain circumstances. Normally you cant go any faster than about 20 mph so about 35 km/h. So even around the neighborhood to stay in electric only mode using the button, you cant go any faster than a creep. If you press the Eco button, this controls all the acceleration, transmission, power and even the climate control to make everything more efficient. It also has the surprising ability to let the car run in electric only mode at slightly higher speeds and for slightly farther than the EV button. Its odd but it just seems to work that way. No matter what the specs say, the EV button and mode just doesn't really work well in most circumstances. But keep it in the Eco mode and you can benefit from the electric functionality of this small car. While driving in Eco mode the car is quite sluggish from a stop and the regenerative braking is quite grippy. Ah, that reminds me, who needs a brake pedal anymore when you can just shift the car into the "B" slot on the shifter. This essentially means the regenerative braking is boosted so much that the car will slow down significantly without even touching the pedal. This also fills up the battery much faster. 

And finally the normal driving mode. Well that's just what it is normal. If you drive it in Eco mode a lot and then put it into normal, it may seen "sporty" but its not. Its not that bad around the city as it is quiet and small so it can fit just about anywhere. The suspension is somewhat "sporty" meaning that it is a bit on the rough side.  Get it on the highway and you start to feel the lack of power, and the skinny tires means it gets pushed around by changes in road surface easily and should not be taken around corners fast. The engine also starts to sound a bit rough when accelerating. 

Its actually very similar to a normal subcompact in how it drives.

Overall:

While the Prius C may not exactly be a "budget car" it is definitely less expensive than most other super fuel efficient cars ( like hybrids) and a lot more practical (and better looking). It has nice subcompact looks on the outside and an interior that fits well in the subcompact class. It drives well, is decently comfortable on well kept roads  and it will make sure you are seeing less money being wasted at the gas pump. I would recommend this car to small families that already have a larger sedan, van, or SUV but need another car, or to someone who lives in the city and wont be seeing much highway travel as its small engine and size actually make its city fuel economy better than on the wide open highways. 

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $23,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*): 53 city, 46 highway

Cargo room (approx*): 17/50 CuFt

Length: 157"

Width: 67''

Tank Size (gal): 9.5

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 475

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $19,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links:
Toyota Canada

Toyota USA

Enjoy!

J.K.

2011-15 Hyundai Accent Review

Hyundai is on a roll with its new lineup

The small Hyundai Accent definitely rises above its subcompact class with a great value for the car you get.

The Hyundai Accent was actually redesigned in 2011 with their new sedan. However, the old 3-door hatchback was still sold in North America for one more year before the new 5-door hatchback was available. So for the sake of consistency, I will review the new model when both were available in the same year. Both the new sedan and hatchback are essentially the same car expect for the back, so I will review both at the same time. The Accent is keeping up with the new Elantra and Sonata with its overall design and features available. Lets take a look at both the sedan and hatchback:

Different Styles:

The Hyundai Accent comes as either a sedan or a 5 door hatchback. They both only come with a 1.6L 4 cylinder engine and either a 6 speed manual or 6 speed auto transmission. There are no sport versions or "eco" versions. There are different trims but they just add different features and options.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

Give a hand to Hyundai for making even their smallest and most economy minded car still look good. The styling on the outside seems to take many ques from the fantastic looking Elantra and Sonata. It is not trying to look like anything that its not, there are no sharp edges to look sporty or huge tires. It has nice curved and flowing lines that make it look just a little more upscale with large lights that flow with the rest of the body. The front is not too blunt or too pointy, once again just a good compromise for a small economy car that is trying to please everyone. The windows are a little small and the rear trunk is quite high which give it a bit of a squished look. The only difference between the sedan and the hatchback is of course the hatch and a slightly higher roof line in the back of the hatch. The rear window is small in the hatchback but it does add small windows behind the rear seat ones so there are not huge rear pillars in the way. I would say this may be the one time where the sedan actually has the better rear view visibility.
Time to go inside, I have said it once, and ill say it again, Hyundai has done a very good job with incorporating similar and very stylish looks to the inside of all the new cars in their lineup, the Accent is no acceptation.
Take a look:

OK, its official, I have a bias against cars with all grey / black interiors. But I have a good reason, they just get so hot in any sort of direct sunlight. I also get hot really easily so its a bad combo. There, its out there, so every time I say I like the lighter colored interior just take it with a grain of salt. With that being said, this is a nice looking interior up front, I would go as far as saying better than the Elantra and here's why:

• Better placement of air vents ( the middle ones are actually larger than the Elantra's as well)
• Less, and simpler controls ( this is an economy car, maybe people don't want all that added fluff...)
• All of the controls, and glove box, are at a more reasonable height
• No touch screen multimedia ( when Im driving I want to be able to easily and quickly push the button I want, not go through a bunch of screens)
• Its a much less expensive car for the same great style

The seats are comfortable and available heated seats are once again a nice touch for a car in this class. The back has noticeably less room than the Elantra, but I still fit behind myself so good job to the Accent. Its hard not to compare the Accent to the Elantra as they are very similar cars in almost every aspect. They both come in sedan or hatchback form, they both have great looks, they both are reasonably priced, and both come with similar features. The trunk is an adequate size for the size of the car. I haven't said it before so I will say it now, If you are looking at a car in the subcompact class or even smaller, you really should only be looking for hatchbacks as they will have at least a decent amount of cargo room, they also have the benefit of being slightly shorter than their sedan twin.

I also must give a hand to the designers of the Accent, to keep as much visibly as possible from such a small car they tried to make the rear head restraints less noticeable when not in use by having them lay more flush with the seat back than in other cars. (not as much as the Fit does though...)

Driving Impressions:

The Hyundai Accent is definitely not sporty, like not even a little bit. If you have any more than just one person in it, the engine struggles to get you up to speed, at any speed. It is not necessarily loud or rough but you can hear and feel it working hard with not much results. They maybe should have geared the transmission to have a little better acceleration rather than fuel efficiency, but I guess most people buying a small economy car like this are not looking for sporty performance. So, if there is only person in the car, it has enough power to get up to speed in and around the city, not so much on the highway but it is not dangerously slow. Like the Kia Rio the Accent also has an active Eco button that once pressed dumbs down the acceleration and shifts up faster for fuel economy. It has small tires that don't do much for handling, and combined with its somewhat soft and comfy suspension, It leans in the corners, but once again, its not a sport car. It turns very tight though which is nice for parking and small streets. The seats are comfortable and overall visibility is adequate, the rear windows are small in both the sedan and hatchback. The drive is overall quiet with not too much wind or road noise. 

Overall:

This is a very nice small car. It has stylish looks and a decent amount of passenger and cargo room (hatchback) for its small dimensions. It has easy to use controls. Visibility is not perfect, but not horrible. The only major downfall is its weak engine, especially with anymore than one person in the car. It can be found at a decent price new or used so this could be a great first car that is fuel efficient, easy to maintain, and parents wont have to worry about it being raced or driven hard, because it just would never win. 

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for this trim level): $18,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*): 27 city, 37 highway

Cargo room (approx*): 14 (21/47) CuFt

Length: 172'' (162")

Width: 67'' (67")

Tank Size (gal): 11.4

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 364

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $12,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links:
Hyundai Canada

Hyundai USA

Enjoy!

Sorry for the late post, but I have had a busy few days and didn't get a chance to write.

J.K.

2009-14 Honda Fit Review

The "Fit" truly is a fitting name for this little car.

This car has so much going for it, except one thing...

The Honda Fit was one of the first modern cars to truly give you a small package with a huge interior feel when it first came to North America. Redesigned in 2009 the second generation Fit looks a little sportier than before with more curved edges and an overall better look on the outside. However, the inside seemed to not fare so well. While it still retained it's legendary passenger and cargo space, the quality and look of the materials stayed essentially the same, cheap feeling and cheap looking. A new 2015 model has revised everything, hopefully it will help. But lets take a look at the 09-14 for now:

Different Styles:

The Honda Fit only comes in one body style, 5 door hatchback. To be more specific, the Fit really should be called a "tall hatchback / wagon" due to its tall and skinny looks. It comes with a 1.5L 117 hp engine with either a 5 speed manual or 5 speed auto transmission. In 2013 an all electric version called the Fit EV was made available in very limited quantities in the USA. It comes in 3 different trims that just add different features to the inside and out.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

The first generation Fit wasn't the best looking car, very boxy with wheels that looked too small. It almost looked like it could easily be flipped over. This second generation Fit looks quite a bit better from the outside. It has curved edges and a more sloping and flowing shape front to back. This change in design apparently made the overall cargo space drop about 1 square foot. It has very large windows that , from the outside make it seem relatively small ( which it is) but from the inside these large windows provide essentially the best visibility in the subcompact class. In any seat, it feels as though you can see all around you. I will hand it to Honda, they did a very good job making this car extremely practical and functional. Due to its high roof line no matter where you sit you will have plenty of headroom. It also allows for upright sitting meaning legroom is great as well. However, the seat bottoms in the front and rear are a little short, not too much of an issue unless you have super long legs, then you might feel a lack of support. 

Now, for a bit of bad news, the front dash, console area, and overall features. I know this is supposed to be an inexpensive car, but this is just pathetic. The materials are hard, everything is grey and it all just looks so cheap together. 

Take a look:

The radio is not the best either, just not enough speakers and not loud enough.

But now for the best part of the inside, the cargo capacity. To put it simply, whatever needs to be put in there will fit. The back seat can fold and flip in such a variety of ways its crazy. Honda calls it their "magic seat" and that name definitely "Fits". It has 4 main 'modes', all seats in place, back seats folded down for 'utility mode', back seats folded up for 'tall mode', and finally the back seats and front passenger seat folded down to make 'long mode'. Its hard to describe so its best to show it in pictures:

Another great thing about the Fit that I don't understand why other cars don't all do is have rear seat head restraints that can lay almost completely flat with the rest of the seat, allowing for great rear visibility.

Driving Impressions:

The Honda Fit is decently comfortable to drive or ride along in. It has a good mix of sporty handling and comfort. The engine does feel a little under powered and it is relatively loud under hard acceleration. While all the controls look and feel cheap, they are set out in a logical way and are an easy to reach location. With those large windows visibility while driving is fantastic in every direction. It handles well and due to its small dimensions and it is extremely easy to park. There is not much else to say about how the Fit drives. Besides the engine, its quiet in the city and with minor wind and road noise on the highway. The auto trans is smooth and with optional paddle shifters it can be fun. 

Overall:

This is another car I like when there doesn't seem to be many reasons why I should (compared to other cars in the class). It doesn't have a lot of power, the engine is loud and rough under hard acceleration, it has a cheap looking interior, and besides there being plenty of head and leg room, the seats are not that supportive. But I can see the appeal that this car would have to many people, as it currently does. It has great visibility, is extremely practical, its fuel efficient, and easy/ fun to drive. Also, I think I like it because I can push this car to where I can find its limits. So, if you want a very practical car that can do and move just about anything, while being at a reasonable price, the Honda Fit is for you. But if you are looking for a car that has at least a bit of styling inside or nice options, this is not the car for you as it is just cheap looking , plain and simple. Apparently the new 2015 Fit will look much better on the inside, but it will be much easier to find a used one up to 2014 for a more reasonable price.

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for this trim level): $21,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*): 27 city, 35 highway

Cargo room (approx*): 21/57 CuFt

Length: 162''

Width: 67''

Tank Size (gal): 10.6

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 328

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $14,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links:
Honda Canada

Honda USA

Enjoy!

J.K.

2011-14 VW Jetta TDI (Diesel) Review

VW's Jetta has really grown up.

The diesel is pretty expensive for a "budget car" but I will explain how its worth it.

VW's two "small" cars the Jetta and the Golf ( Rabbit for a short time) are extremely popular cars, especially their diesel counterparts (In most of the world). The Jetta and Golf have always been very similar vehicles, but they do have enough differences that I will split up the reviews. Focusing on the Jetta TDI for this review, it has come along way from being a small noisy car to essentially a midsize sedan with plenty of room, features, and a classy design inside and out. It was redesigned in 2010, so lets take a look:

Different Styles:

The Jetta comes in sedan form and wagon form. I will only be covering the sedan form as the wagon is quite a large car. There is the normal Jetta which, up until 2014, had a 2.5L 5 cylinder engine, but due to poor fuel economy it was replaced with a 1.8L 4 cylinder turbo engine. The normal Jetta also has a 2.0L engine available. These engines have either a 5 speed manual or 6 speed auto transmission. Next is the Jetta TDI Clean Diesel ( usually called just the Jetta TDI or diesel) with a 2.0L 4 cylinder turbo engine. This comes with either a 6 speed manual or 6 speed DSG auto transmission. ( I will explain the DSG later) Starting in 2013 there was a Jetta Turbo Hybrid added to the lineup with a 1.4L 4 cylinder turbo mated with a 27 hp electric motor with a 7 speed DSG auto trans. Finally there is the Jetta GLI with a 2.0L turbo engine and either a 6 speed manual or a 6 speed DSG auto transmissions. 

Even though the normal Jetta is quite a bit less expensive than the TDI, I am covering the TDI as it offers superior fuel economy and can be found used at a reasonable price.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

First off, lets get it out in the open, this car is quite a bit larger than almost every other car I will be reviewing for the economy/ budget minded. Most of those cars are subcompacts and compacts, this is technically a compact, but it should be considered a mid-size sedan. This difference in size means it also falls in an odd spot in both the compact class and the midsize class, as it's facts and figures seem to be closer to the mid-size class, but they claim it competes against other compacts, which to me seems a bit unfair. 

Getting past that, this car is a great looking sedan. To most it might look a bit boring from the outside, it doesn't have a lot of super edgy lines and parts, its more of a straight-lined flowing design ( once again looking at mid-size sedans). It is also relatively boxy which gives it a larger, more luxurious look. It has large windows, an upright looking cabin, and a relatively low trunk lid, all giving it the impression of being large and roomy, which it is.

On to the interior. I've said it already, but this is a large car. Up front you have lots of head and leg room and the large windows offer great visibility. In the back its the same story, it has some of most legroom Iv even seen in a non luxury car. The radio is very good and in the TDI models the radio automatically is upgraded to the better media option. Unfortunately no matter how good the radio is and how much room you have, you will always feel like you got the short end of the stick when you look at the dashboard and center console. Its close to what I think happened with the new Subaru Impreza, they did a great job redesigning the engine and the car on the outside, but once they got to the finishing touches, they just ran out of budget. To me, for how expensive this car is, you should be getting a much fancier looking interior with high grade soft touch materials, but you don't. Its a lot of hard black plastic. This car more than others I feel really is helped by the optional lighter colour interior. 

Take a look:

Now, Im not saying the interior is bad in any way, its actually quite functional and has a good layout and design. But some more flowing curved lines and different materials would definitely be at home in a car of this price. A nice feature though is standard heated seats when you go diesel!

One other compaint I have about the Jetta (all Jettas) is that I have been told by salesmen and other searches that if the battery dies, you cannot get into the trunk. Here's why; the trunk opens either from an electronic button from inside the car or on the key fob ( same as most cars) but here's the double whammy, the back seats fold down from a lever inside the trunk and there is no key spot to open the trunk from the outside. So, in the very real circumstance that your battery dies enough to the point that electronics dont even turn on or work in your car, and you have your jump cables in the trunk, your screwed. Plain and simple, there is no way to get into the trunk to get them besides physically taking the back seat apart. This, even though not a very common occurrence is just plain stupid in my eyes. But, if you can get into the trunk, it is quite large with a large pass through to the back seat.

Driving Impressions:

lets start by talking about a few quick points that make diesels different and better than gas engines:

• More torque. Torque is that feeling of getting pushed into the back of your seat from a stop light. Essentially torque = acceleration ( at lower speeds) and towing capacity. HP = higher top speeds and acceleration at high speeds
• This can all be had with a smaller engine. Usually diesel engines are about 1/3 smaller than their gas counterparts
• More room for turbos, which aid their lower HP
• Better fuel economy. I'm not going to go into too much detail, but diesel cars, with the same size tank as their gas counterparts, can easily go 1/3 farther on one tank. This is also due to a lower RPM than gas cars, especially on the highway. 
• Diesels don't use spark plugs. Diesel combustion happens under pressure, so there is less need for electrical parts. 
• This need for added pressure also means that diesel engines are built tougher and usually will last up to 500,000 KM without major work needing to be done ( as long as proper maintenance has been happening). While gas engines usually don't last much longer than 300,000 KM without major work needing to be done.
• In most places diesel is cheaper than gas, making these engines double as good, saving on fuel and money.

Now that those points are taken care of, how does the Jetta TDI drive? Quite nicely. It is smooth, quiet, and not much noise comes from the road or engine. When standing outside next to the car running you can hear a noticeable difference between the diesel and a gas engine, but its not enough to be bothersome. Under hard acceleration the diesel does make a bit more noise than a comparable gas engine but once on the highway ( where these engines excel) it is very quiet and revs much lower than a comparable gas engine. The DSG auto transmission is essentially like 2 transmissions put together, one has the odd number gears and the other has the even number, with clutch plates in between them. The result is a much faster gear change than a normal auto. * it does not have the third pedal like in manuals, this IS an auto trans.* A word of caution, this auto trans has a "sport mode" selected by putting the gear lever into "S". This sharpens the gear changes and makes the transmission change gears in a way that helps with acceleration rather than fuel efficiency ( what the normal drive mode does). The best way for me to describe the way the car drives in sport mode is "twitchy". It really wants to go when you even touch the pedal and downshifts faster when you take it off. If you are not used to this or are not expecting it, you may lose a bit of control over the car, don't use sport mode while in a parking lot! Now, on the highway or in the city, using sport mode would certainly be fun as it will make zipping into empty lane spaces much easier and more confident.

While in normal drive mode, some people might notice a bit of what is called "turbo lag". Since the diesels have much less HP than gas engines, they need help making up for it, that's where the turbo comes in. But turbos work in such a way that the faster the engine is running, the more effective a turbo is, as it uses the exhaust gases to turn a fan that in turn forces more air into the fuel / air mix, making more power. When going from a stop in a gas engine, the car predictably moves forward depending on how far you are pushing your foot into the floor, with the diesels and this occasional turbo lag, there may be a second where you are telling the car to go and it doesn't really feel like it is, then it lurches forward because the turbo kicks in. It may get some getting used to, but as long as you aren't trying to fly off the line at a stop light, you should almost never notice it. 

Overall:

It might sound like I was tearing into this car a bit, and I guess in a way I am. As being new to diesels myself It took a bit to get used to the differences between them and the more widely used gas engines. But after getting to know more about diesels I am growing to love them more and more and its a shame that here in North America we only have so few to choose from. The Jetta TDI is a roomy, comfortable car to drive that looks nice, and gets great fuel efficiency. It has a few minor things that seem a bit odd which is why I would much rather choose its slightly smaller brother, the VW Golf TDI, which I will review later. But for someone looking for a solid, roomy car that will last them a very long time, the Jetta TDI is a great option, if you have the budget. Take a good look for used ones with less than 120,000 KMs on them and you should find some at a reasonable price. 

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $24,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*): 31 city, 41 highway ( these figures have been proven to be very easy to beat)

Cargo room (approx*): 15 CuFt

Length: 182''

Width: 70''

Tank Size (gal): 14.5

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 507

Average used price with 100,000KM or less: $16,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links:
VW USA
VW Canada

Enjoy!

J.K.