2009 Subaru Forester XT

Boxy and bright, the 2009 Subaru Forester offers a roomier cabin and turbo charged engine. In it’s third overhaul since 2003, the Forester is primed to compete with the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV-4.

Built on a hybrid wagon-sedan Impreza base, the Forester comes available in four models, the 2.5 X, 2.5 X Limited, 2.5 XT and 2.5 XT Limited. All come equipped with Subuaru’s symmetrical All Wheel Drive technology and a 2.5 Liter, four-cylinder engine. As the models progress, the engine gets beefier and at its maximum the XT generates 224 horsepower.

Notable in Subaru’s classically simple interiors is the panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control and heated front seats. Not known for its luxury accouterments, Subaru does a nice job of creating an upscale feel in the Forester XT, without abandoning its rugged roots.

The Forester XT retails for $26,195. Fuel economy comes in at 19MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. Five-star front and side crash ratings and all around good reviews for safety and reliability.

The last few Subarus I’ve reviewed have been somewhat disappointing, but the Forester was a refreshing return to what I expect from Subaru – a comfortable, well appointed yet simply styled vehicle with firm handling and a quiet ride.

By Emily West, Business Examiner

Mazda lives up to Zoom-Zoom mentality

By Hilary Reeves
Business Examiner Staff

I am terrified of manual transmissions.

I learned to drive in my mom’s Ford Taurus and my dad’s Ford F150, both automatics. There was no question that my first car, a 2003 Saturn Ion, would be an automatic. In fact, now that I think about it, I never officially learned how to drive a stick shift. I was forced into the know when my Saturn broke down several years ago and I had to drive my sister’s car for a week. I wasn’t what I would call a “natural.” So imagine my anxiety at seeing that my new test car – the 2009 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring – was a manual.
“No problem,” I thought. After all, the hardest part of driving a stick is moving forward from a dead stop. I figured I’d just never stop between downtown Tacoma and my house in West Seattle. And on my way into work, I’d just time it so I hit all green lights and didn’t have to stop on the hill.

Easy, right?

I got into the car and was immediately impressed by the black leather, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, satellite radio and “electroluminescent gages.”

So far, so good.

I actually started off pretty well, and by the end of the week was a stick-shift pro. I also gained a greater appreciation of the art of the “rolling stop,” and why it’s not nice to be constantly varying your driving speed. If the car behind you is a stick, I guarantee the curses are flying.

Once I’d re-mastered the basics, I started experiencing Zoom-Zoom. My racy-red Mazda 6 had the practicality of a family sedan and the fun-factor of a sports car. I was surprised to learn that the six-speed transmission controlled a horsepower of only 170. It felt much faster. Other exterior features include auto-dimming mirrors and automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Five-star safety ratings across the board and 29 highway miles per gallon make the Mazda 6 a steal at $29,440.

Maxima a reliable commuter, but missing the thrill factor

By Hilary Reeves
Business Examiner Staff

Touted as “the four-door sports car” the 2009 Nissan Maxima features a 3.5-liter V6 engine, a continuously variable transmission, an electronically controlled throttle and vehicle-speed-sensitive power steering.

Sounds impressive, but I was initially underwhelmed.

Exterior features include alloy wheels, a moon roof and UV-reducing solar glass, but you don’t appreciate the Maxima until you spend a few miles enjoying its leather-appointed seats, low-key styling and state-of-the art sound system with MP3 hook up. The Bose audio system even includes speed-sensitive audio control, a feature so subtle that it took me awhile to catch on. Once I did, I marveled at the technology.

I had driven the Maxima roundtrip between Seattle, where I live, and Tacoma, where I work, several times before I began to appreciate its commuter-car potential. While Nissan isn’t known for its luxury cars and the new Maxima is missing a bit of that initial “wow” factor, I could see myself driving it day after day, week after week.

The Maxima has a combined fuel economy of 22 miles per gallon, but its 20-gallon fuel tank took me through the entire week without a fill-up. It’s safety has yet to be rated. The 2009 Nissan Maxima totals $31,990.

Rugged SUV better on the trail

By Hilary Reeves
Business Examiner Staff

It’s hard not to be intimidated by an SUV with “off road” displayed predominately on the driver’s side door. “Unique seat fabric” meant to repel stains combined with roof rack rails and monster “rugged trail” tires sealed the deal: the 2009 Nissan Xterra is an SUV for the adventurous of spirit. I am not adventurous of spirit.






The most adventure I had when driving the Xterra was a jaunt to Mercer Island on Saturday morning to meet my friend for coffee. Not only did I have to park on the street because I wouldn’t fit in the compact parking spaces in Starbucks’ minuscule parking lot, but I endured my fair share of dirty looks from the island’s Prius-driving inhabitants.

That said, the SUV isn’t that big, as far as SUVs go. It’s taller than the standard SUV, but it’s trim. I never noticed Xterras on the road until I started driving one. Now that I’m familiar with their distinct shape, I see them everywhere and realize the extent of their popularity.

Besides the textured cloth seats, the Xterra’s interior features cruise control, and auto-dimming mirror power everything, keyless entry and even XM radio. The the Xterra features many standard comforts, there was really nothing that stood out about the SUV’s interior.

A 4-liter, V6 engine is good for 261 horses; the Xterra’s mechanics include many stabilizing and suspension-design features. On a scale from one to five, five being the highest, the Xterra scored four safety stars in frontal crash test arena, but just three starts in rollover test, perhaps because it is so rectangular and top-heavy.

MSRP for the Xterra is $29,340, but gas is expected to cost $2,470 every year with just 17 combined miles to the gallon.

In short, the Xterra is meant for drivers want to leave the open road, but want to listen to satellite radio while they’re doing it. A functional, if lackluster, combination of strength and comfort – not necessarily conducive to commuting or driving about town. However, the Xterra’s off-road capabilities do come in handy when you’re parking and you have to jump a curb.

Flashy new TL draws the eye, soothes the soul

By Hilary Reeves
Business Examiner Staff

All I wanted to do was program the welcome screen to greet me by name. Two hours and hundreds of pages of owner’s manual later, I was no closer to replacing the anonymous “Driver 1” with “Hilary.” Normally, a needlessly complex center console might irritate me, but, as I was behind the wheel of the 2009 Acura TL, I just smiled and snuggled a little lower into my cozy leather seat.





Like all new Acuras nowadays, the TL’s interior is reminicent of the womb in terms of wrap-around comfort. My TL, equipped with a tech package, featured a navigation system with voice recognition, real-time traffic and weather reports, the ability to schedule service appointments from inside the car, a rear-view camera and my beloved XM radio and heated seats. Though technically a push-start, the TL requires the driver to insert the remote entry device into a slot near the start button – particularly helpful for me, who has a tendency of dropping push-start entry fobs into the passenger seat and then can’t find it when I need to lock the car.



I had looked forward to driving the TL for many weeks and it didn’t disappoint, but I wasn’t prepared for the positive reaction I got around town.

I think it was the color that got people’s attention. Named “Mayan Bronze Metallic,” the color was a cross between chocolate brown and dark cherry. My father-in-law passed me in his BMW 5 Series on my way to work the first day I drove the TL and he was the first to say “great color.” Then there was the guy in the parking lot of Commencement Bay Coffee Company, the guy at a gas station in North Tacoma and the woman who sat smoking outside my favorite Greek restaurant. They all had one thing to say: “I’ve never seen that color. Great-looking car.”
And that was just the first day.



I got a lot of attention for the TL’s exterior stylings, but I was also surprised at the car’s versatility. My husband drives a BMW and it’s about as useful in inclement weather as a fork in a soup kitchen.

The TL has automatic all wheel drive, and is very powerful, with 305 horsepower and a 3.7-liter, V6 engine.

The car averages 20 miles per gallon. For $42,235, I’d take the Acura TL over a BMW or Mercedes any day.

Kia Borrego EX 4x4

By Emily West
Business Examiner
Kia introduced the mid-sized Borrego SUV in 2008, adding depth to the company's line of smart and accessible vehicles.

While 2008 seemed like a strange time for a manufacturer to introduce a large-model vehicle, the gamble may have paid off as gas prices have begun to level off from their recent peaks. The Borrego is significantly larger than the Kia Sorrento, the compact crossover introduced in 2003, and answers what call there is for an SUV with more heft and capacity. The Borrego is a foot longer than the Sorrento to accommodate a third row of seating, bringing its passenger load to seven.

The rear seats are equipped with Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), adding safety features to the already well-equipped Borrego. Dual front airbags, three-row side curtain airbags and front seat mounted side airbags are in place in the event that the Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), tire pressure monitoring and other safety controls don’t keep driver and passengers out of harm’s way.

Creature comforts are plentiful in the Borrego when equipped with the Premium and Luxury packages. Premium packages run $1,800 and include both interior and exterior benefits- sunroof, 18 in alloy wheels, rear A/C with full controls, and an Infinity 10-speaker sound system. Add on the Luxury package for another $1,500 and the Borrego is outfitted with first and second row leather seats, heated front seats and memory controls for steering, mirrors and driver’s seat. The Kia Navigation system adds another $1,500 to the price tag, but is one of the best I’ve run across. The system allows you to modify searches while in motion, has a very easy to use interface and a clear, well- positioned screen. With a base price at just under $30,000, a fully loaded Borrego is available for about $36,000.

The Borrego’s 3.8 liter, V-6 engine was powerful and very responsive. Fuel economy is rated at 16 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway. The turning radius is impressive for its size and in general the Borrego was very maneuverable in tight spaces. It’s standard back up warning system alerted me if I was dangerously close to anything, but it was not equipped with a back up camera.

The Kia Borrego was solid and had the feel of being far more “finished” than similar SUVs in its class. It was attractive both inside and out, and left a favorable impression of the automaker’s ability to serve the SUV market.

Lackluster 2009 Pontiac G8 relies on its power, price

By Hilary Reeves
Business Examiner Staff

For awhile, General Motors was teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, and the company’s new 2009 Pontiac G8 Sedan might, in part, explain why.

True, General Motors is the brawn behind many exceptional vehicles. I bought my very first car, a Saturn Ion, in 2003 and it’s still going strong. But, unlike the Ion, Pontiac’s newest sedan has been marketed as a power-packed sedan with an impressive safety package.

In reality, “the most powerful sedan available in the U.S. for under $30,000” is powerful, but something on is missing. I did notice that I could take Tacoma’s intimidating hills with nary an automatic shift – something I appreciate, as I’m constantly waiting for my Saturn to kick in to a higher gear and worrying that I might not make it to the top – but it really wasn’t enough to impress me. My friend Mike, who sells vintage cars for a living, perhaps said it best: “There’s really nothing exceptional about it.”

The RWD Pontiac G8 is a large sedan, featuring a 3.6 liter V6 engine controlled by a five-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include power windows, mirrors and locks, 18-inch aluminum wheels, four-wheel independent sport-tuned suspension, OnStar and, my personal favorite, XM Satellite Radio. It's interior consule is remarkably easy to understand, and the radio was easy to program – something I always appreciate.

Though the sedan’s safety features are impressive – six airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, battery run-down protection, a tire-pressure monitor and the Stabilitrack electronic stability system – the G8 has not been rated by the government for frontal crash, side crash or rollover risk.

Coming in at $27,995 and averaging 20 miles per gallon, the G8 may be a good fit for sedan-lovers who aren’t concerned about luxury features, who want a solid car that doesn’t look as if it was designed for the under-five crowd and an engine they can tell their friends about. It’s about the only thing worth a brag.

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara: the sedan-driver's SUV

By Hilary Reeves
Business Examiner Staff

While I experienced a brief spurt of love watching the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara V6 XSport 4WD pull into the parking lot of my office, it took several days of road-testing for me to appreciate the small crossover SUV’s utilitarian interior styling.

The Grand Vitara is offered in four versions: Base, Premium, XSport and Luxury. Its exterior is sporty and fun. Mine came in a metallic cobalt color; compact lines and a newly designed front grille and bumper added to its modern look. The interior, however, took some getting used to.

A built-in ladder frame and suspension independent to each wheel contributes to the SUV’s safety and makes it a legitimate off-road vehicle, though I never had the occasion to drive if off the road.

Perhaps the most touted feature of the new Grand Vitara is its more powerful, “greener” four-cylinder engine and four-mode full-time four-wheel-drive system.

The five-person seating capacity allowed for an airy feel, but the modular dash and center consule made me feel like I was in a race against Mario and Luigi.

I was the princess, of course.

Then there was the SmartPass keyless start. I’m, of course, well versed in vehicles that require the insertion of a key into the ignition in order to start, and I’ve heard of cars that only require the push of a button, but I wasn’t prepared for the “push and turn” nature of the Grand Vitara’s ignition.

I spent five minutes trying to somehow insert the SUV’s keyless entry device that was given to me into the suspiciously normal-looking ignition.

Interior features you can brag about to your friends include a power moonroof, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, eight-speaker audio system with subwoofer and center channel speaker and door-mounted courtesy lights. A cargo net stretched across a back end perfect for toting gear.

I’ll say this: it is fun to drive, and I was sad to give it up. It’s small enough that I didn’t feel like I was driving a boat, but powerful and sporty enough that I didn’t feel like I was driving the average compact sedan. The XSport’s more than 20 miles per gallon and price tag of less than $30,000 make it an attainable option for those who appreciate a small, but sturdy SUV.

Acura-lovers won't be disappointed by the new RL

By Hilary Reeves
Business Examiner Staff

It’s no secret that I think Acura makes a nice car. While generally less flashy then its competition in the luxury sedan market – the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class – the second-generation 2009 Acura RL has all the amenities and none of the pretension.

The exterior of the car – though redesigned with a more prominent grille and sleeker lines – doesn’t give way to the luxury of its interior.

Leather seats, power everything and a navigation system that calls up real-time traffic and weather data round out a 3.7 liter V6 engine controlled by a five-speed automatic transmission. My favorite interior feature, aside from my beloved XM Satellite Radio, is the steeling wheel. Made of real wood, the wheel is easily gripped and eminently “steer-able.”

The RL comes in three trim levels. The first includes a 10-speaker sound system, the XM radio and keyless entry. A technology package can be added and includes the nav system, a rearview camera, GPS and real wood interior trim. The third level, called CMBS/ACC, includes collision mitigating braking system (it flashes a ’brake’ warning at you when you’re about to hit something), something called “adaptive cruise control” and tire technology that keeps you from getting a flat tire.

“RL represents the very best we have to offer in terms of engineering, technology, performance, luxury and safety,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of sales for Acura in a February release. “It’s designed for a new generation of performance-luxury buyers looking to travel more quickly, more efficiently and more connected to the world around them.”

Fuel efficiency is somewhat lacking, averaging 18 miles per gallon, but the safety is tops. A full five stars in front, side and rollover tests.

Drawbacks to the RL? The price, for one. The 2009 Acura RL with Technology and CMBS/ACC Packages I tested boasted an MSRP of $53,700. But what can I say? Luxury doesn’t come cheap.
I also noted that the RL’s interior is almost identical to the MDX’s, giving it a bit of a cookie-cutter feel. On the other hand, Acura-lovers the world over probably appreciate the consistency.

Finally, I had problems with the keyless entry system. Having never owned a car with a “clicker,” I physically check whether a car is locked after I hit the “lock” keystroke. The problem with the RL is that the door automatically unlocks as soon as the driver’s hand comes near the handle. I would hit the button, once to lock the car and once to hear the beep, and then try to check it. It unlocked itself as soon as I got close. However, if I only hit the lock button once, it could sometimes pull the handle without it unlocking itself. In brief, you pretty much just have to trust that the car is locked. At $54,000, you probably don’t want to lose it.

2009 Acura MDX

A coworker of mine was very excited when she learned I was reviewing the 2009 Acura MDX. “It’s my favorite,” she said. While I wouldn’t go so far as to call it my favorite, the MDX – equipped with sport and entertainment packages – makes for a smooth ride.

I didn’t grow up with sport utility vehicles. The biggest car my parents ever owned was my mom’s mint-green, 1982 Chevrolet Caprice Classic. We nicknamed her “Gert.” The closest I ever came to riding in a larger vehicle was the summer my parents rented a Dodge Caravan for a car trip to San Diego.

I remember sitting across the Caravan’s third-row seats, secure in the fact that I was far enough away from the front seat to listen to my Walkman at full volume without getting yelled at. It seemed like a mile.

The MDX might be considered midsize to those used to the girth of modern-day vehicles, but for people new to the SUV game, it can feel like you’re maneuvering a small powerboat, complete with top-deck seating for seven. At times, I was afraid the MDX’s wide berth wouldn’t fit on the roads or in the parking stalls of my neighborhood in West Seattle.

That said, the MDX is pure luxury. Its wide, spacious cabin is bedtime option the next time you don't want to crash on the lumpy mattress in your in-laws spare bedroom, though I recommend that only small children try to fit themselves into the third row of seats. Third-row leg room makes an airplane's coach cabin look like a dream come true.

A five-speed automatic transmission controls a powerful 300-hp, 3.7-liter V6 engine.
Features include driver and passenger front and side airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, vehicle stability assistance and anti-lock brakes. A tire-pressure monitoring system and remote entry feature also listed as sport amenities.

Interior features include heated leather seats, a navigation system with rearview camera, a DVD rear entertainment system with wireless headsets, real-time traffic reports, XM Satellite Radio, and power windows and seats. A moonroof, fog lights and heated power door mirrors complete the package.

The MDX earns 15 miles per gallon in the city and 20 on the highway – not great, but certainly not the worst gas mileage for a vehicle its size. My $50 fill-up lasted through five round-trip commutes between Tacoma and Seattle.

With five-star front- and side-crash ratings and a four-star rollover rating, the MDX is a safe as driving it feels.

The 2009 Acura MDX with Sport and Entertainment packages will cost you a cool $48,690 MSRP. Midsize SUV- or Acura-lovers will appreciate the MDX’s luxurious stability. Those used to a smaller ride might find this SUV a little harder to handle.

Article by Hilary Reeves, Business Examiner associate editor