Motors

Word Has It
The new Forester is finding a sweet spot as the AWD cargo king among value-priced wagons that are easy to drive in town, across country, on snow and over dirt. A 2.5-liter, four-cylinder BOXER engine (the pistons lie flat, like on a Porsche) pumps out a respectable 170-hp, while returning a best-in-class 24 city/32 hwy mpg numbers. Pricing starts at $21,295 for the 2.5i model. A turbo-charged 2-liter engine with 224-hp starts at $29,995.

The Forester is the budget-minded off-road option to its beefier and costlier Outback wagon sibling. However, both share an admirable 8.7 inches of ground clearance (more than a Jeep Grand Cherokee). The Forester does one better than the Outback when it comes to visibility: Subaru enlarged the size of the windows and raised the seats to give passengers a commanding view of the passing scenery.

Final Word
The new 2014 Forester is a 30-mpg utility vehicle with a square cargo area and roomier rear seats that make it easy to load and unload gear, dogs and people. Buyers looking for the above features in a vehicle with AWD, highway mpg’s in the 30s, and a fun drive will find it in this Subaru.

Sources:
Car and Driver
Automobile Magazine
Edmunds.com
TFLCar.com
AutoWeek.com

Word Has It
The 2013 Jetta is a tale of two cars: the affordable and slightly larger sedans made in America, and the wagon and hybrid models made overseas, which feature a more European flair to their fit and finish. At the low end of the affordability scale, the American-made Jetta sedan starts at a phenomenal $16,720 for front-wheel drive powered by a 2-liter engine that returns EPA mpg of 24 city/34 hwy. At the high end sits the new Jetta Hybrid at $24,995 with its turbo-charged engine, seven-speed manu-matic transmission, performance-tuned suspension and EPA of 42 city/48 hwy. In between, sits VW’s best-selling turbo diesel version, the $23,055 TDI, which boasts 30 city/42 hwy numbers.

Within the Jetta lineup, the hybrid’s not the best performer or value — the TDI is quicker and the equally equipped SE model costs much less. However the hybrid’s a better option for city-driving Jetta lovers, while long-distance commuters should opt for TDI.

Final Word
While performance depends on which engine you opt for, the Jetta lineup shares better-than-average handling characteristics and competitive value across all vehicles.

Sources:
Edmunds.com
Road and Track
Automobile Magazine
TheTruthAboutCars.com

Word Has It
The love-it-or-hate-it boxy styling of the four-door xB wagon stands out in a city full of vehicles and makes for one of the roomiest cabins available in the compact-car segment. Powered by a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder gas engine, the front-wheel drive wagon is best suited to urban jaunts thanks to its power steering and a tight turning radius, which makes navigating parking lots, narrow alleys and parallel parking easy. Couple these features with the xB’s roomy, yet hard, rear seats and headroom, and it’s no stretch to see why some cities have enlisted the xB into taxi service. However its 22 city/28 hwy fuel economy, which was competitive five years ago, is considered mediocre today.

The latest iteration of the xB, introduced in 2008, features a rear seat that actually fits six footers, but still comes with the laundry list of upgrades and available accessories that have become a Scion hallmark. And interior cargo room totals a competitive 70 cubic feet with the rear seats down.

Final Word
The original “box car” is still a solid go-to choice for buyers looking for the cargo capacity of a wagon in a budget-priced vehicle ($17,555 base model, 5-speed manual). They’ll find that the Scion xB suits their practical needs, assuming they can fall in love with the xB’s polarizing boxy style and instrument cluster on the dash.

Sources:
The Car Connection
Edmunds.com
Kelley Blue Book
VroomGirls.com
TFLCar.com
Examiner.com

Word Has It
Even though it only packs 155-hp in its hyper-efficient SkyActive 4-cylinder engine, the four-door Mazda3 is a driving enthusiast’s choice for its nimble handling and crisp shifts with the 6-speed manual transmission. It won’t win any drag races, but for a $19,300 base price, it offers a driving experience that no hybrid matches (yet) while returning impressive fuel economy numbers of 27 city/39 hwy. Don’t be surprised to push 40-plus mpg on long-haul interstate runs. The price for the sporty handling and fuel economy is a serviceable, but not grand, cargo space of 42 cubic feet with the rear seats down.

The Mazda3 has always distinguished itself as a fun choice for drivers on a budget who value performance over fuel economy. But in 2012, the company installed their new SkyActive engine, which boosted mileage numbers to near-hybrid levels without needing to sacrifice space or add weight to store a hybrid engine’s battery.

Final Word
For less than $20,795, the Mazda3 with the SkyActive engine is arguably more fun to drive than any vehicle in its class or price range, especially one returning hybrid-like fuel economy.

Sources:
Auto Guide
Edmunds.com
Cars.com
The Car Connection
Kelley Blue Book

Word Has It
The squared-off Soul, with its top-line 2-liter, four-cylinder gas engine, pumps out a capable 164 horsepower. That’s enough oomph to make this four-door wagon/hatchback hybrid a relative hoot to drive — and it does it while returning combined city/highway mpg numbers of roughly 25. Where the Soul really shines is its front passenger room and visibility and rear passenger room. The slim cargo area isn’t truly functional until you fold the rear seats forward to create 53 cubic feet of room, which thanks to the tall ceiling is more functional than it first appears. Unlike other “box cars” that are compared to it, the Soul acquits itself well on twisting roads and at highway speeds.

As its name implies, the Soul is about style. Premium models get a distinctive hounds-tooth check upholstery and speakers ringed with lights that pulse with the beat. Underneath all that that bling are an equally sporty engine, chassis and transmission. New for 2013 is Bluetooth connectivity across all models.

Final Word
Rare is the vehicle that looks cool (or at least different), handles well at all speeds, returns decent fuel economy and can double as a pet hauler/cargo van in a pinch. Even more rare? Doing it for less than $20k. The Kia Soul does it all.

Sources:
Edmunds.com
TFLCar.com
Auto Blog
Auto Guide
Car and Driver