(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
The Nissan Rogue may go down in history as one of the most inaccurately named cars of all time. It's not mysterious. It's not particularly quick. It is relatively quiet, but you won't be catching anyone off guard in this tubby little CUV. Instead of delivering a vehicle that breaks from convention and actually "goes rogue," Nissan has given us a decidedly average, small, crossover SUV. No surprises here.
Almost everything about the Rogue can be described as good but not great, whether it's power and handling or styling and cabin tech. In fact, the only aspect of the Rogue that is mildly surprising is Nissan's decision slap a Garmin on the dash instead of using its OEM package for navigation duties.
The 2010 Nissan Cube uses strong styling to stand out in the crowded square-car segment.
(Credit: Liane Yvkoff)There's something different about the Nissan Cube, and it's not because it's square or has asymmetrical windows. I'm in the driver's seat, and I can't seem to adjust the rear-view mirror to fit the entire rear windshield. Is the mirror smaller than usual? Is the offset window throwing me off? Or am I just not used to driving a car with good rear visibility?
Large asymmetrical windows that wrap around the Cube are the vehicle's signature design feature.
(Credit: Liane Yvkoff)The feature of large asymmetrical windows is one of the Cube's differentiators in the crowded crossover SUV segment. Although they've been doing it for 10 years in Japan, Nissan is a relative latecomer to the box-on-wheels trend in the U.S. with the Scion xB and the Kia Soul already in the mix. To stand out in the square car market, the company seems to have made "quirkiness" their signature on the Cube. A byproduct of this design is that you finally have a car with a rear window big enough that short people can see out of.
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View the full review of the 2009 Toyota Venza AWD V-6.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET Networks)At first we found the 2009 Toyota Venza to be a bit off-putting, with its genre-bending form factor. After a week with the Venza AWD V-6, we're convinced that Toyota has hit upon an interesting sweet spot between SUV utility and sedan livability.
Once seated in its spacious cabin, we found even more to like about the Venza, including an impressive cabin tech package that features Bluetooth A2DP audio streaming and a clever center console cable-management system that had us all asking, "Why didn't I think of that?"
Make the jump to check out our full review of the 2009 Toyota Venza AWD V-6.
2010 Lexus RX 450h
(Credit: Lexus)Elsewhere, editor Wayne Cunningham has covered the new styling and cabin features of the 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h. So I'll comment on the drivetrain and chassis changes.
Let's just say that, at Lexus, "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection" is not merely advertising hype.
Lexus has obviously been doing something right with its RX, as the midsize luxury crossover is its most-popular vehicle, and the one that defines the midsize luxury crossover segment. But there was room for improvement in both the chassis and powertrain departments. The two previous generations had suspension tunings best-described as "middle-aged, middle-of-the-road American"--soft for comfort, and with plenty of body roll in even moderate cornering. Steering was a touch on the light side, too.
Maybe a generation growing up in sport-compacts is making a difference. Lexus does at least as much customer clinic research as anyone, and changes products accordingly. And the new RX has a much better suspension tuning than its forebears, for improved handling and a better driving experience with no reduction of comfort. The rear suspension change, from struts to double wishbones, may get some credit--as well as extra credit for less intrusion into the cargo area and so greater cabin space--but revisions in spring and shocks rates and careful matching of all suspension components and use of speed-sensitive electric power steering results in a vehicle that is as responsive as many a sports sedan, with very quick turn-in and minimal body roll even when requested to do an IS-F imitation. No, really! No harshness, no thumpiness, no fuss, no muss...and handling response is also a very important safety factor. The crash you can avoid is one you don't have.
Improvements in aerodynamics from the new styling and careful management of underbody airflow--those really aren't skid plates underneath the RX, that sheet metal is there for the same reason race cars don't have lumps hanging out underneath, air management--help reduce wind and road noise, and asphalt sheeting and plastic materials strategically placed and tuned to cancel out resonance at those spots help reduce road noise even more. Polyester felt fender liners eliminate pings from rocks thrown up into the wheel wells. Details, details...must be a Lexus.
And so the interior, in addition to being stylish, ergonomically wonderful, and comfortable, is also relaxingly quiet. The trackball-like controller for the navigation, information, and audio systems is the polar opposite of the counterintuitive devices found in German luxury cars. If you've ever used a computer mouse or trackball or video game controller, no explanation is necessary and no recourse to a 100-page manual.
Drivetrains of both the gasoline V6 RX 350 and gasoline-electric hybrid RX 450h have been upgraded. The 350 gets a bit more power out of its namesake 3.5-liter engine--five more horsepower and seven more pound-feet of torque--but that now goes through a six-speed automatic transmission. Lower first- and second-gear ratios improve acceleration, while closer third through sixth ratios and a higher overdrive in sixth improve driving characteristics and fuel economy. It's quiet and comfortable on the road, as expected. But when the road gets challenging or there is a need to change direction quickly, the new RX just follows orders, with no excessive roll or resistance to directional change.
More impressive was the RX 400h with the newest version of the Lexus Hybrid Drive. It's handling was, if anything, even better than the 350's, despite an extra 300 pounds of mass. The previous RX Hybrid had sometimes inconsistent and nonlinear throttle response resulting from changes in power mode. There was a noticeable jolt when the gas engine came on after being stopped at a light or in traffic, and the addition of electric motor assist during acceleration sometimes provided more power than anticipated by throttle movement. None of this was serious, or even as bad as the non-response of an old precomputer era "slushbox" automatic or long-lag turbo from the '80s, but it did preclude the Hybrid from being a true driver's vehicle.
Not any more. Because the thumps and jolts are gone. If anything, the Hybrid is smoother than its gasoline-only sibling. And noticeably more powerful as well as more fuel-efficient. X amount of pedal travel gets y amount of acceleration, consistently. No surprises.
What's changed? If the basics of the Lexus/Toyota hybrid system are the same, all details are next-generation and mostly lighter, smaller, and more efficient.
The engine is a derivative of the 3.5-liter V6 in the RX 350, but it runs on the Atkinson cycle (like the Toyota Prius), not the Otto cycle of the old RX 400h. That's more efficient, and further efficiencies come from new exhaust gas recirculation and exhaust heat recovery systems that allow quicker warmup and eliminate the need for fuel enrichment to cool the catalytic converter. The heat recovery system allows the engine to be shut off sooner after a cold start, and more often, too.
An improved flywheel damper is the secret to the smoothness of mode transitions in the system. A two-step torque-absorbing mechanism reduces shocks from engine start-up to a negligible amount and is the chief contributor to the RX 450h's driveline refinement.
Power for the hybrid is up, from a combined 268 to a combined 295 horsepower. That bests the RX 350's 275. Both come in front- or all-wheel-drive form, but AWD systems are different. That on the RX 350 is a new electronically activated on-demand system that is lighter and more efficient than previous mechanical systems. As before, the AWD hybrid uses a separate rear motor-generator unit to provide power to the rear wheels when needed.
The RX 350 goes on sale in February, with the hybrid following a couple of months later. Prices have not been announced at the time of writing. Expect to see the enhancements to the hybrid system in upcoming Toyota and Lexus hybrids as well.
Click image to view more photos of the 2009 Toyota Venza preview.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET Car Tech)Toyota invited us out to preview its new for 2009 Venza. Billing the Venza as "car-optimized," Toyota downright refuses to call it a wagon or a crossover. Curiously, Toyota expects the Venza to be compared with the Ford Edge, Mazda CX-7, and Nissan Murano, all of which are crossovers. They say you're judged by the caliber of your enemies, so I guess that makes the Venza a crossover as well.
Whatever you call it, the Venza is an interesting vehicle. It rides almost like a Camry, but with carrying capabilities that are just shy of the Highlander. Sedan/wagon-like proportions and big 20-inch wheels help hide some of the visual mass, but--there's no getting around it--the Venza is a big vehicle. Don't believe me? Ask the entry model's 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine.
Outputting 182 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque, the four-cylinder engine feels underpowered for pulling the 5,000 pound Venza around town. The step-up 3.5-liter V-6's 268 ponies and 246 pound-feet of twist feel much better suited for motivational duties.
The Toyota Venza's interior features leather seats, wood trim, and textured plastic surfaces.
(Credit: Toyota)Inside, the Venza can be equipped with Toyota's sixth-generation DVD navigation system with voice command, Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming from supported A2DP devices, satellite radio with XM NavTraffic, and a powerful 13-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system that sounds fantastic. The Venza features the requisite 10 cup holders and a clever piece of vehicle interior design that we hope to see more of in future vehicles: cable management.
The Venza's center console features three pockets for MP3 players or cell phones with pass-throughs for routing audio or charging cables to the 12V power or aux-input hidden deep in the console. It's a really neat way to keep the interior from looking like a wiry mess, while keeping the devices visible.
Click through to view more photos and driving impressions of the 2009 Toyota Venza.
Read the full 2009 Honda CR-V review.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)The external aesthetic of the 2009 Honda CR-V mixes the Honda Civic's space-age design with the face and bulk of a bulldog. Although you may never catch us calling the CR-V attractive, its looks aren't offensive. More importantly, spend some time behind the wheel and you'll see that the CR-V manages to combine the sporty ride and handling of a small sedan with the utility of a small SUV while making few, if any, compromises.
In its EX-L with Nav trim level, the CR-V has an extra trick up its sleeve in the form of a DVD-based GPS navigation system with a fantastic voice-recognition system. Tell the CR-V where you want to go and it'll take you there. Tell it to change to audio source and it happens. Granted, it's not quite that simple--there are a few commands to be learned--but the system is surprisingly easy to use.
The trouble with the CR-V is that, while the tech present in the cabin is well executed, there are a few key features--ahem, Bluetooth--that are missing.
Read the full 2009 Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD review.At the 2008 Paris auto show, BMW unveiled its new crossover SUV for the 1-series, the BMW X1. But does the world really need another BMW crossover?
Mini reveals its new Mini Crossover concept at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Its biggest vehicle yet, the Crossover's existence indicates that Mini is at least interested in getting into the CUV market. But is bigger always better?
Have you seen the Volt for real--and will the EPA clobber it? The next Mini could be a crossover, Mercedes gets electric religion, and we romp in the Lancer Evo MR!
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SHOW NOTES
• That's the Volt? 'Production' photos leak.
• EPA may botch the Volt's MPG rating
(Credit:
BMW/Mini)
The magic number for Mini's concept CUV (crossover utility vehicle) is four. Its new Mini's fourth body variant follows the Cooper, the Convertible, and the Clubman. It has four doors, four-wheel drive, four bucket seats, and is about 4 meters long. Perhaps this recurrence of the number four is a coincidence, or perhaps it's the work of an obsessive-compulsive Mini engineer. Whatever the case, Mini has revealed the first round of photos of its new Mini Crossover Concept, set to debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October.
The Crossover Concept packs SUV proportions into a vehicle that's only slightly longer than Mini's Clubman, but it doesn't stop there. Mini attempts to give the crossover some SUV cred by equipping it with an all-wheel-drive system.
The Center Globe literally rolls all of the cabin tech into one ball.
(Credit: BMW/Mini)On the inside, the Crossover Concept remains, well, conceptual. Front and center on the dash is by far the most interesting feature, the Center Globe interface that integrates entertainment, communication, navigation, and vehicle functions. The Globe is controlled by its touch-sensitive surface, a trackball on the steering wheel, buttons, and slide controls in its lower section.
The driver also uses the Center Globe to start/stop the vehicle. Instead of a key, the Crossover is equipped with a keyball that's inserted into an opening at the top of the Globe. The keyball then rolls down the center of the Globe and is finally depressed to start the vehicle. To stop the vehicle, the driver presses the Keyball, which then rolls back to the opening where it can be removed.
To call the Crossover Concept's door configuration "unconventional" would be an understatement. Mini claims the Crossover has four doors, but we count five or at least four and a half. The front two doors and the rear passenger side door are of the conventional front hinged assortment. Then things get interesting. The rear driver's side is a half door that slides toward the back of the vehicle on rails like those on a van. The rear hatch has a retractable, frameless window and swings open on a double hinge. The Crossover is just a scissor door and a gullwing short of being a rolling museum of car door tech!
Our guess is that the Center Globe won't make it to production and that the funky door setup will be toned down. The keyball system sounds like an unnecessary complication of the simple act of starting the car, but we'll see how it works when the concept is revealed this October in Paris.
On every side, the Crossover concept has a different door configuration.
(Credit: BMW/Mini)
