///M-Spec
Staff Emeritus
- 4,928
Christmas time is upon us again. And with that time of the year also comes that white fluffy stuff that slows commutes to a crawl and makes a simple trip to the grocery store a pain. Luckily, mid-winter also brings low APR rates on manufacturer subsidized loans and subvented lease rates.
These two conditions are conspiring to make us consider trading in our 2005 Nissan Murano SL FWD Touring for a fun, stylish but still practical AWD family car.
Our Mo' has been good to us. It is roomy, well built and nice to look at and drive. But we need an AWD replacement sooner or later... and she's been make noises about being ready to go back to a sedan. Thus, I've spent the last few weekends building cars on websites and kicking tires on dealer lots. I thought I would share my thoughts and shopping experiences, and invite any comments, debate, cheers or jeers on our final contestants.
This is not a traditional "what should I get?" thread. That's mostly because at the end of the day, my wife is going to pick what she likes and not even your humble narrator is going to budge her on it.
This is what weve tried so far. With the exception of the Murano AWD, these are all '08s. There will be an all new '09 Murano this spring and we will probably consider that as well. At the moment, we are also considering some cars that are 1-2 years old, but 3 years or more are out.
Without further ado, the candidates. So we are comparing apples to apples, the price below is the MSRP equipped as we want them, not base price. In all cases, cars are optioned with minimum All Wheel Drive, Xenon HID headlights, a moonroof, powered memory leather heated seats and sports package (if available). These are what I consider "must have" options. Bluetooth, harddrive music players and other geegaws are selected only if you have to buy into a package they belong to in order to get a must-have feature.
Infiniti G35x AWD (Premium and Sport Packages)
I've driven this car twice now and to put it bluntly, it rocks. The G really does deliver BMW level performance for less money. Handling is excellent and the VQ delivers great thrust. The interior is very agreeable and Nissan has some pretty good financing offers. My only lament is the bland exterior styling and sadly uninteresting color choices. In terms of blingin' it, the CTS has it covered by a country mile. But as much as I like the new Caddy, the G is the one I want in our driveway most.
CLIFFS NOTES: Ill take one in Lakeshore Slate.
Cadillac CTS4 (Performance Collection, Sunroof)
My wife is big on this car. She comes from a family of Caddy owners (her grandmother buys a brand new Deville (now DTS) every 3 years) and is pleased that they are finally making a car that she actually wants.
Some of you may have read my first drive impressions of this car. My wife and I went down to the local Cadillac dealer on Saturday where she drove one for the first time and I had my second turn at the wheel.
My second drive was quite a bit more revealing than my first, for several reasons: First, we drove a 263hp CTS RWD with the FE2 suspension (Performance Collection) back to back with the G35x AWD on the same roads. I also spent the last 2 days in a BMW 335i loaner car while my M Roadster was in for service and warranty work. This allowed me to really compare the CTS in light of it's primary rivals on the same roads.
After my second drive, I have to revise my opinion of the CTS. I will post an updated driving impression later this week. Ill just say that the CTS has a different character than either the Infiniti or the BMW, and plays its strengths very well. But that ultimate edge as a drivers car still goes to BMW, with the Infiniti a close second, by a hairs width.
CLIFFS NOTES: Trumped by the Infinti in the fun-to-drive dept, but gets revenge in the styling dept. Options add up fast on this car. Ill still happily take one.
Mazda CX-9 AWD Grand Touring
Now this is quite possibly the best handling 4500 lb. vehicle I've ever driven. If it had about 100 more hp, it would probably give Cayenne drivers a nasty surprise on a back road.
At first, it looks like a direct competitor to the Murano, except it's bigger, heavier and seats 7. The CX-7, on the other hand seems much closer to a Rogue than a Murano. It sounds to me like Mazda is following a strategy of straddling it's main rivals in size, if not price.
The interior materials are very good for the low 30k class and easily surpass the Murano in subjective quality. They have a upscale, premium feel and all the controls move with a delicate precision. In fact, everything is closer to the Infinti and Cadillac in look and feel. At $38k, the car is totally loaded with goodies and lacks only navigation (which we don't want anyway). The third row will come in very hand when we have out of town guests (and their children!).
The only feature that raised my eyebrows is the center instrument cluster. The Grand Touring model gives you a high-tech looking electroluminescent gauge cluster, and it glows in an absolutely bizarre shades of orange, hot pink over purple like a radioactive Slurpie machine. It's strangely incongruous with the rest of the business-class interior... like meeting a suburban soccer mom with nose piercing and spiked blue hair.
CLIFFS NOTES: 0.0% APR financing gives ole Two-and-a-half-Tons-of-Fun a fighting chance.
Volvo XC70 (Premium and Climate Packages)
In stark contrast to the funky, offbeat Mazda is the stoic Swede. I think Volvo has finally given up trying to do "Sport" and instead is concentrating on what it does best: practical, safe and conservative. This car is the equivalent of getting your date home by 10PM on prom night.
The XC70 is solid, well built and has an absolutely lovely interior. My tester had Sandstone Beige leather and it is one of the yummiest looking I've ever seen. The seats, steering wheel and upper dash is covered in a light creamy beige roughly the color of a Lindt's white chocolate bar. It looks so damn good, I almost leaned over to lick the steering wheel. Almost.
At night, the dash glows an icy blue. There is even a sort of spot-light that shines down on the gauges from the cluster lining. Different and cool. Everything is hushed and easy. The way it goes down the road is very Lexus.
Unfortunately, if the ride is inspired by Lexus, the spongy handling is definitely 1970s Detroit. The steering is accurate and body control is good. But the suspension travel is loooooong and roll motions are downright nautical in feel. The XC70 will take set and let you manhandle it into a corner, but does so in the same deeply unenthusiastic way that cats swim.
CLIFFS NOTES: The Good - A great place to be. The Bad As long as you drive straight ahead.
BMW 328xi Sport Wagon (Sport Package, Bi-xenons, Leather, Heated seats, Seat Mem.)
It was decided early on that the E90 sedan was simply too small for our needs. The added versatility of the E91 wagon kept it from getting cut. It is also the only car on our list I haven't driven yet because I don't have to; it's a 3 series and I know them well enough to write volumes about them (and I have).
People who have never driven a 3-series before sometimes wonder what the fuss is all about. Certainly on paper at least, the 328 doesnt look like anything special. Its way down on power, de-contented of premium gizmos that are costly to put back on and a little tight in the back seat.
But all you need to do is start one up and drive 100 feet down the road. One degree of steering wheel travel turns into instantaneous action and imparts a feeling of total precision and control; but it somehow delivers this without dartiness or rock hard springs and solid bushings. Youll either get it or you wont. Its okay if you dont. Theres a nice quiet, comfortable and supremely well-built Lexus for you down the street. But for those of us who get it, it doesnt get much better than this.
But because rear seat accommodations and trunk space is a big consideration, we may well pass on the 328xi wagon, since every car but the Audi is bigger. If we need fun, there's always the Z4.
CLIFFS NOTES: I like BMWs. Theres a shock.
Audi A4 Avant 3.2 quattro (Cold Weather and Convenience Packages)
This is the swan song for the B7, itself a mild rework of the PL46 B6. The B8 is only a few short months away, so that means I've had some pretty sweet deals waved in my face on this car. Very slightly smaller than the E91 inside, the Avant hangs on by the skin of its teeth, mostly because my local dealers are scrambling to give these cars away before the B8 arrives.
I sampled a car several weeks ago. Unfortunately, the only Avant on their lot at the time and it was a 2.0T with Tiptronic and the base suspension. The 200 hp motor saddled with the extra weight of the Avant body, quattro drivetrain and slushbox seriously sapped it's power and as a result, the car felt a little lazy. While the suspension soaked up any trouble the road had to offer, the steering was mostly oblivious to what the front wheels were doing and cornering was a leisurely affair.
It was however, meticulously assembled, appointed and built, with class leading subjective quality on all the primary controls and switch gear. As with the BMW, the rear seats are a little tight and the front seats seem a little too close together for a long trip.
Still, the great deals floating around on this car means I owe it a second drive with a 6 speed, sports suspension and the FSI 3.2. If I can find one, that is.
CLIFFS NOTES: The good Irreproachable design and interior build quality. Handsome inside and out. Good value compared to the Bimmer. The bad Smallish; Not a precision tool for spirited driving.
M
These two conditions are conspiring to make us consider trading in our 2005 Nissan Murano SL FWD Touring for a fun, stylish but still practical AWD family car.
Our Mo' has been good to us. It is roomy, well built and nice to look at and drive. But we need an AWD replacement sooner or later... and she's been make noises about being ready to go back to a sedan. Thus, I've spent the last few weekends building cars on websites and kicking tires on dealer lots. I thought I would share my thoughts and shopping experiences, and invite any comments, debate, cheers or jeers on our final contestants.
This is not a traditional "what should I get?" thread. That's mostly because at the end of the day, my wife is going to pick what she likes and not even your humble narrator is going to budge her on it.
This is what weve tried so far. With the exception of the Murano AWD, these are all '08s. There will be an all new '09 Murano this spring and we will probably consider that as well. At the moment, we are also considering some cars that are 1-2 years old, but 3 years or more are out.
Without further ado, the candidates. So we are comparing apples to apples, the price below is the MSRP equipped as we want them, not base price. In all cases, cars are optioned with minimum All Wheel Drive, Xenon HID headlights, a moonroof, powered memory leather heated seats and sports package (if available). These are what I consider "must have" options. Bluetooth, harddrive music players and other geegaws are selected only if you have to buy into a package they belong to in order to get a must-have feature.
Infiniti G35x AWD (Premium and Sport Packages)
I've driven this car twice now and to put it bluntly, it rocks. The G really does deliver BMW level performance for less money. Handling is excellent and the VQ delivers great thrust. The interior is very agreeable and Nissan has some pretty good financing offers. My only lament is the bland exterior styling and sadly uninteresting color choices. In terms of blingin' it, the CTS has it covered by a country mile. But as much as I like the new Caddy, the G is the one I want in our driveway most.
CLIFFS NOTES: Ill take one in Lakeshore Slate.
Cadillac CTS4 (Performance Collection, Sunroof)
My wife is big on this car. She comes from a family of Caddy owners (her grandmother buys a brand new Deville (now DTS) every 3 years) and is pleased that they are finally making a car that she actually wants.
Some of you may have read my first drive impressions of this car. My wife and I went down to the local Cadillac dealer on Saturday where she drove one for the first time and I had my second turn at the wheel.
My second drive was quite a bit more revealing than my first, for several reasons: First, we drove a 263hp CTS RWD with the FE2 suspension (Performance Collection) back to back with the G35x AWD on the same roads. I also spent the last 2 days in a BMW 335i loaner car while my M Roadster was in for service and warranty work. This allowed me to really compare the CTS in light of it's primary rivals on the same roads.
After my second drive, I have to revise my opinion of the CTS. I will post an updated driving impression later this week. Ill just say that the CTS has a different character than either the Infiniti or the BMW, and plays its strengths very well. But that ultimate edge as a drivers car still goes to BMW, with the Infiniti a close second, by a hairs width.
CLIFFS NOTES: Trumped by the Infinti in the fun-to-drive dept, but gets revenge in the styling dept. Options add up fast on this car. Ill still happily take one.
Mazda CX-9 AWD Grand Touring
Now this is quite possibly the best handling 4500 lb. vehicle I've ever driven. If it had about 100 more hp, it would probably give Cayenne drivers a nasty surprise on a back road.
At first, it looks like a direct competitor to the Murano, except it's bigger, heavier and seats 7. The CX-7, on the other hand seems much closer to a Rogue than a Murano. It sounds to me like Mazda is following a strategy of straddling it's main rivals in size, if not price.
The interior materials are very good for the low 30k class and easily surpass the Murano in subjective quality. They have a upscale, premium feel and all the controls move with a delicate precision. In fact, everything is closer to the Infinti and Cadillac in look and feel. At $38k, the car is totally loaded with goodies and lacks only navigation (which we don't want anyway). The third row will come in very hand when we have out of town guests (and their children!).
The only feature that raised my eyebrows is the center instrument cluster. The Grand Touring model gives you a high-tech looking electroluminescent gauge cluster, and it glows in an absolutely bizarre shades of orange, hot pink over purple like a radioactive Slurpie machine. It's strangely incongruous with the rest of the business-class interior... like meeting a suburban soccer mom with nose piercing and spiked blue hair.
CLIFFS NOTES: 0.0% APR financing gives ole Two-and-a-half-Tons-of-Fun a fighting chance.
Volvo XC70 (Premium and Climate Packages)
In stark contrast to the funky, offbeat Mazda is the stoic Swede. I think Volvo has finally given up trying to do "Sport" and instead is concentrating on what it does best: practical, safe and conservative. This car is the equivalent of getting your date home by 10PM on prom night.
The XC70 is solid, well built and has an absolutely lovely interior. My tester had Sandstone Beige leather and it is one of the yummiest looking I've ever seen. The seats, steering wheel and upper dash is covered in a light creamy beige roughly the color of a Lindt's white chocolate bar. It looks so damn good, I almost leaned over to lick the steering wheel. Almost.
At night, the dash glows an icy blue. There is even a sort of spot-light that shines down on the gauges from the cluster lining. Different and cool. Everything is hushed and easy. The way it goes down the road is very Lexus.
Unfortunately, if the ride is inspired by Lexus, the spongy handling is definitely 1970s Detroit. The steering is accurate and body control is good. But the suspension travel is loooooong and roll motions are downright nautical in feel. The XC70 will take set and let you manhandle it into a corner, but does so in the same deeply unenthusiastic way that cats swim.
CLIFFS NOTES: The Good - A great place to be. The Bad As long as you drive straight ahead.
BMW 328xi Sport Wagon (Sport Package, Bi-xenons, Leather, Heated seats, Seat Mem.)
It was decided early on that the E90 sedan was simply too small for our needs. The added versatility of the E91 wagon kept it from getting cut. It is also the only car on our list I haven't driven yet because I don't have to; it's a 3 series and I know them well enough to write volumes about them (and I have).
People who have never driven a 3-series before sometimes wonder what the fuss is all about. Certainly on paper at least, the 328 doesnt look like anything special. Its way down on power, de-contented of premium gizmos that are costly to put back on and a little tight in the back seat.
But all you need to do is start one up and drive 100 feet down the road. One degree of steering wheel travel turns into instantaneous action and imparts a feeling of total precision and control; but it somehow delivers this without dartiness or rock hard springs and solid bushings. Youll either get it or you wont. Its okay if you dont. Theres a nice quiet, comfortable and supremely well-built Lexus for you down the street. But for those of us who get it, it doesnt get much better than this.
But because rear seat accommodations and trunk space is a big consideration, we may well pass on the 328xi wagon, since every car but the Audi is bigger. If we need fun, there's always the Z4.
CLIFFS NOTES: I like BMWs. Theres a shock.
Audi A4 Avant 3.2 quattro (Cold Weather and Convenience Packages)
This is the swan song for the B7, itself a mild rework of the PL46 B6. The B8 is only a few short months away, so that means I've had some pretty sweet deals waved in my face on this car. Very slightly smaller than the E91 inside, the Avant hangs on by the skin of its teeth, mostly because my local dealers are scrambling to give these cars away before the B8 arrives.
I sampled a car several weeks ago. Unfortunately, the only Avant on their lot at the time and it was a 2.0T with Tiptronic and the base suspension. The 200 hp motor saddled with the extra weight of the Avant body, quattro drivetrain and slushbox seriously sapped it's power and as a result, the car felt a little lazy. While the suspension soaked up any trouble the road had to offer, the steering was mostly oblivious to what the front wheels were doing and cornering was a leisurely affair.
It was however, meticulously assembled, appointed and built, with class leading subjective quality on all the primary controls and switch gear. As with the BMW, the rear seats are a little tight and the front seats seem a little too close together for a long trip.
Still, the great deals floating around on this car means I owe it a second drive with a 6 speed, sports suspension and the FSI 3.2. If I can find one, that is.
CLIFFS NOTES: The good Irreproachable design and interior build quality. Handsome inside and out. Good value compared to the Bimmer. The bad Smallish; Not a precision tool for spirited driving.
M
If I buy a TL, I'll take a Sport Package... If I buy a 4,500 lbs. ute, I'm not gonna bother.
), but the EX looks terrible. The side profile is particularly bad – the nose looks about forty feet too long. The interior is brilliant though (literally and figuratively).
