 ? THE KINGSTON WHIG-STANDARDthewhigREVIEWVOLKSWAGENJetta goes long way with diesel option/2QUICK LOOKSUBARU XV CROSSTEKDead-ringer for the current Impreza hatchback/3BUICKVERANOAppeals to young and old/5PREVIEW2013 LEXUS EXNine models available/7GADGETSREPAIR SCRATCHESDupont scratch repair/8ON TRACKSUZUKI KIZASHISecond year taking on the industry big guns/9WHO'S INSIDEMERCEDES-BENZ 2 REVELL FORD 3 KINGSTON HONDA 3 AUTOHOUSE 4 VAN HERPT 5 KINGSTON DODGE 6 EDWARDS FORD 8 COVER 9 JACK CASSELMAN 9 MERCEDES-BENZ 10 COVER 11 TAYLOR CADILLAC 12CMYKVolkswagenGolf GTI interior is eye-catching4 NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nissan celebrates its 20th anniversary in Canada with the launch of the fifth-generation Altima midsize sedan, the most innovative version since the sedan's introduction in September 1992. Available with 2.5-litre fourcylinder or 3.5L VQ six-cylinder engine paired with Nissan's next-gen Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), the new Altima is slightly larger than its predecessor and the base 2.5 is one of the lightest vehicles in its segment at 1,410 kilograms. The CVT has been painstakingly redesigned to contribute to a 40% improvement in fuel economy, which Nissan claims is 38 U.S. mpg (6.2 L/100km) and best fuel economy in this segment. Other factors that contribute are better aerodynamics, a 32-kg reduction in weight, improved tire rolling resistance, engine improvements, a smart alternator and electric power steering. As for innovation, this Altima boasts several segment firsts, including blind spot assist, lane departure warning and moving object detection systems, active understeer control (AUC), advanced drive assist display as well as tire pressure monitoring system. AUC makes it easier for the driver to turn by imperceptibly applying the brakes to the inside front wheel in dynamic cornering situations. The safety systems utilize the rear-view camera and other sensors to warn the driver of potential danger; and, all these goodies led Nissan to create the aforementioned drive assist display - a four-inch colour LCD digital instrument cluster that relays all kinds of useful vehicle information - even on the base model. Remote start is standard, as are remote keyless entry with pushbutton start, Bluetooth streaming audio, six airbags, vehicle stability control, cruise control, AUC and drive assist display. Air conditioning is not available on the 2.5 base, though it is on the base 3.5 SV, which starts at $29,698 and includes 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, rear-view monitor, dual zone automatic A/C with rear vents, moon roof and NissanConnect for hands-free text messaging, iPod connectivity and XM Satellite radio on the 2.5 SV and up. My pre-production 2.5 SV tester does not have the sunroof that will be standard on this trim when vehicles start arriving in late June 2012 with a $26,998 MSRP. Nissan is taking pre-orders for the 2013 Altima with an additional one year complete warranty at no charge until June 30. The comfy and supportive NASA-inspired "zero gravity" bucket seats are standard on all models along with split-folding rear seats. Heated leather seating is included with the 2.5 SL and both 3.5 SV and SL trims, but is not offered on the 2.5 base, S or SV. The standard cloth material is nice though, with a terry cloth feel to the door panel and sliding centre console. A tilt/telescoping steering wheel with on-board control (most models) affords plenty of seating positions for drivers tall and short. The rear seat offers plenty of head and leg room for three adult passengers to sit comfortably. Speaking of comfort, the cabin is both spacious and quiet Thursday, June 14, 2012 Editor Jan Murphy * 613-544-5000 ext. 109 * jan.murphy@sunmedia.caCadillac XTSFull-size luxury sedan7COVER STORY:2013 Nissan AltimaNissan gets vertical lift from AltimaShaun KeenanFIRST DRIVETEST DRIVE:2012 Jeep Wrangler UnlimitedJOE DUARTE QMI Agency Everywhere I go in the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, people in other Wranglers wave at me. You know that little flick of the fingers usually seen between motorcyclists heading off in different directions as they pass each other? Yeah, that. It must be some kind of brotherhood - some solidarity thing that connects us by some unspoken bond - forever linked because of the vehicle we drive. I wish they'd stop it. After all, it's not as if I'm a member of the family. I'm just visiting - just crashing on the couch for a week until I move on to the next person's couch. SHAUN KEENAN QMI Agency Available with four-cylinder or V6 engine paired with Nissan's next-generation continuously variable transmission, the 2013 Nissan Altima is slightly larger than its predecessor and one of the lightest vehicles in its segment. I wonder if people in Toyota Corollas would think me weird if I start waving to them as I pass by - "you and me, bro! We got that fuel-efficiency thing happening!" But then it occurs to me that maybe those are sympathetic waves, from people who know the misery and inconvenience of driving one of the most legendary off-road names on city streets. Wranglers are hard to get into; they're a pain to ride in; they have probably the worst ride of anything outside your father-built soap-box derby racer ... What's not to love and wave cheerily about, right? Let's start with teeny tiny doors that barely offer enough space to crawl through. Take into account the vehicle's 10.5-inch ground clearance and it becomes quite the hurdle even for adults. Add in the tubular side-steps and it becomes more like trying to clear the water jump in a steeplechase race. Then you factor in that the doors don't open very wide and don't stay open (if you're on even a slight incline). I had to resort to carrying one of those wood wedges just to make it easier to get into the vehicle with a couple large coffees, and to keep the door off me when I was unloading my computer and lunch bags from the back seat at work. Getting stuff into the cargo area was equally annoying, thanks to the folded up soft top mechanism that basically cuts the access hole in half (and it's even worse when thanks to "class above" material and sound-deadening efforts like a thicker, woven headliner. The 2.5-litre engine is said to provide best-in-class acceleration, however, Nissan can't hide the fact the 2.5 and CVT combination sounds like a Sasquatch mating call. Once the vehicle is up to a comfortable cruising speed and the revs die down, it's surprisingly tranquil with virtually no wind or road noise. The electronic hydraulic-assisted steering is linear, direct and provides good feedback. Improved body rigidity and independent front and multilink rear suspensions with improved toe angle and camber control grant a predictable ride. The AUC is quite transparent; body roll is kept in check quite well thanks to anti-torque rods you try to load up bulky items, like a bag of soccer balls). Understandably, a Wrangler owner will remove one or the other top according to the season and needs. The rear seats fold down completely flat (in a 60/40 split) leaving just enough of a gap for oranges to scoot into, once they escape their grocery bag captors. Putting the seats down and up is not a one-hand task, either, especially when the gap to the front seats is reduced - the headrests sort of slip back as the seat goes down, so sometimes they catch on the contour of the front seatback when you're trying to pull the seat back up. There is a comfortable centre position on the slab-like bench, but you'll want to limit it to small- and enhanced engine mount technology. The 3.5 SL delivers a totally different feel and sound. The 3.5-litre V6's powerband is more robust and less whiny thanks to 258 lb.-ft. of torque that peaks at 4,400 rpm. Though I have no official figures, it feels quicker from zero-to-100 km/h (compared to the 2.5) and certainly offers better 80-to-100 km/h performance. Paddle shifters with a manual shift mode, nine-speaker Bose premium audio, eight-way power adjustable driver seat, perforated leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, LED tails and folding mirrors with integrated turn signals all make it feel even more like the pricier Maxima. shaun@keenink.comJeep Wrangler attracts the rugged off-roady typesYear End Clearout- last chance to save on 2011 models!LEXUS OF KINGSTON lexusofkingston.ca * 1917 Bath Road, Kingston (613) 634-5555 * 1-888-313-9138 er passengers, since there's no head-rest in that position. The seats themselves are generously padded for long-term comfort, and the upholstery seems durable enough, but they can't take the edge out of the traditionally jittery ride (it's something that's not uncommon among off-road machines, but it's no less annoying on a daily basis over even mildly broken pavement). About the only saving grace to my weekly trek is the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, which grants the power you'd expect in a Jeep and the excellent economy you don't. The latter is helped by a six speed manual, when you get used to it. joe.duarte@sunmedia.caSALE$43,995SALE$36,995MSRP $48,700 + $1,995 freight & handling, +100 A/C tax, +$30.40 tire tax. Plus hst and license. plus tax & license plus tax & license2011IS 350 AWD2011IS 250 AWDIncludes moon roof and navigation package. #137visit RevellFordLincoln.com visit RevellFordLincoln.com Toll Free 1-(888)-789-6239 Road 38, Verona, Ont. Open: Mon. to Thurs. 9am -7pm; Fri. 9am -5:30 pm NOW OPEN SATURDAYS Mario Crevier TerryGibson Dan Gibbs Jr. Bob Ungar John Greenwood Nathan Revell Rupert Storms MSRP $41,700 + $1,995 freight & handling, + $100 A/C tax, +$30.40 tire tax, Plus hst and licenseIncludes leather and moon roof package. #246SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 3
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