Posts Tagged ‘Acura TSX’

Goldilocks never had it so hard.

At $27-$35 grand, the new Buick Regal has managed to squeeze itself between two very formidable bowls of porridge.

On one side of the table lies the premium sedan. These big four-doors, like the Ford Taurus, Chrysler 300, and Nissan Maxima, tend toward bold styling and powerful V6 or V8 engines.

On the other side lay small luxury cars, like the Acura TSX, Audi A3, and Volvo S40. These offer lighter fare: zippy handling, premium appointments, and an extra helping of cachet.

The Regal, with its generous size, stylish cabin, and thrifty engines, attempts to bridge these two segments. But with buyers so clearly divided, the risk is that this Buick may only appeal to a few picky eaters.

On the plus side, the Buick offers a whisper quiet cabin that makes highway miles evaporate around you. Grab hold of the Regal’s chunky steering wheel and you’ll swear that the silky smooth leather was stolen from a Lexus.

Entertainment and technology options abound, too, with a USB port for music, Bluetooth connectivity for phones, and optional sonar assist or backup camera for tight parking maneuvers. At night, the mood lighting glows a sophisticated phosphor blue.

The trunk is enormous, as well.  If you can’t fit a week’s worth of vacationing in there, I suggest you book passage on a cargo ship for your next adventure.

But given the Regal’s premium mission, I was disappointed to find such obvious cost-cutting inside the cabin. Many panels and buttons had rough, unfinished edges and the faux wood and aluminum appliques looked unconvincing in person.

At the Regal’s base price of $26,245, these trespasses would be entirely forgivable. But at the $29,980 that my optioned up CXL test car demanded, I felt somewhat cheated.

As if to make amends for the sticker shock, the Regal CXL comes powered by a modern 2.4-liter EcoTec four-cylinder engine that knocks out a frugal 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

Key to this miserly MPG is a 6-speed automatic transmission that allows the engine to sip regular unleaded while humming quietly near idle.

The transmission is eager to upshift, though, and it takes a determined right foot to elicit a downshift for faster acceleration.  And with only 182-horsepower on tap, you’ll need those lower gears frequently. Zero to sixty takes a leisurely nine seconds.

Blame all those heavy sound-deadening materials for the relaxed pace. The Regal may be as quiet as a library, but at 3,600 pounds it also weighs nearly as much as one.

Speed demons should opt for the Regal’s optional 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which boosts output to 220-horsepower at a $2,500 hit to your bottom line. Fuel economy remains respectable at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway.

Fortunately, the hushed cabin and thrifty base engine makes the Regal a great highway car. I found it a smooth and confident cruiser, though the “performance-tuned” suspension did hop a bit more than I’d prefer over expansion joints.

All things considered, the 2011 Regal falls into an interesting niche. It’s nicer than a mid-range family sedan, more affordable than a luxury car, and more efficient than a big four-door.

If there’s a problem to be found with this Buick, it’s that thirty grand opens up a lot of possibilities in today’s market. The Regal’s price invites you to make a lot of tough comparisons and only you can decide if this stealthy cruiser is too hot, too cold, or just right for your palate.

America, we’re told, loves to root for underdogs.  We rally for scrappy sports teams and relish a great comeback story.  Where else can a football team like the Saints lift the spirits of an entire city or an actor jump from rehab to an Iron Man movie premiere with such verve?

Maybe its a manifestation of the can-do spirit that built this country or maybe it’s because the feeling of triumph is so much greater when you have to work harder for it.  Whatever the reason may be, motoring America has got a new underdog to consider and it’s a midsize sedan called the Suzuki Kizashi.

Chances are that you haven’t heard of this car… or even this car company.  Suzuki has a formidable reputation when it comes to motorcycles but their vehicle lineup has been hit-or-miss for many years now.  The Kizashi is the company’s first modern product with true mainstream appeal.

Besides the dark horse brand, the Kizashi qualifies as an underdog because it boldly eschews the typical midsize sedan formula.  It’s appreciably smaller than the Accord/Camry crowd and much livelier, too.  Suzuki proudly compares the Kizashi to established premium sports sedans like the Acura TSX and Audi A4, citing the Kizashi’s nimble handling and high levels of luxury equipment (think: automatic windshield wipers, rearview camera, and push-button start).

It’s clear that Suzuki has high hopes for this scrappy sports sedan.  The available manual transmission is expensive to manufacture but certain to provoke interest from the enthusiast crowd.  Likewise, the available all-wheel drive system is there to ensure that the northeast market, already known for its enthusiastic adoption of fellow dark horse, Subaru, will get the Kizashi noticed.

What’s not clear is if Americans will be willing to take a chance on a brand they don’t know very well.  We’ll just have to see if the Kizashi’s many charms are enough to turn this underdog into a sales champion.

As the designated car guy in my circle of friends, it is my sworn duty to offer 24/7 support whenever someone needs help buying a new car.  I research cars, explain features, double-check market prices and personally accompany friends to the dealership whenever possible.

After supporting dozens of car purchases, I’ve come to an important realization: emotions always win.

Toss that specifications sheet and cancel your subscription to Consumer Reports because if you’re anything like my friends, you’re not going to listen to your head when it’s your turn to buy a new car.

My friend, Iris, is the poster-child for this phenomenon.  “I really like the Mini Cooper, but I need four-wheel drive for snowboarding in the winter and I also need to carry a surfboard or two inside,” she explained.  “I’m thinking about buying a Nissan Xterra or that Lexus SUV.”

We hit the ground running on Saturday and looked at twelve SUVs and crossovers, test-driving her favorite seven.  We kicked tires, calculated payments, and carefully examined cargo space.

Iris called me early the next morning.  “I know you’re going to hate me for this but I’ve decided to buy a Mini Cooper S.”

Between the anti-surfboard size and the summer tires, I knew that this was quite possibly the worst car for her needs.  But even though her change of heart was frustrating after a full day of dealership visits I could tell that she was grinning from ear to ear as she spoke.  “The Mini is a great car,” I sighed.  “You should definitely get it.”

Three years later, Iris still loves her Mini.  “I get 35 miles per gallon and my car is sooo much fun to drive!” she tells people.

And Iris isn’t the only one who took a last-minute left turn.

My neighbor, Pauline, complained of high fuel prices and was certain that she’d end up with a small car.  She ultimately bought a mid-sized Nissan Murano crossover because she loved the dark blue color and post-modern design.

An acquaintance, Lewis, was convinced that the super-efficient Toyota Prius was the best choice for his wife’s lengthy commute but purchased an Acura TSX because she fell in love with the interior.

A close friend and colleague, Trevor, had his pick of a super-discounted lease on a company vehicle but chose to spend thousands more on a Honda S2000 sports car because of the way it felt behind the wheel.

Are these people crazy?  Far from it.

I think that car-shopping is a lot like discovering a new friend.  It’s easy to find strangers with common interests but true friends are the ones who click on a much deeper level.  The same is true of cars.  They can all get you from A to B, but only a few can really move you on an emotional level.

So how will you know which car is the right car for you?  That’s easy: it’s the one that makes you smile.