Driven

Toyota Sequoia: Bigger, more capable than ever

        The '08 Toyota Sequoia is bigger, roomier and more powerful than ever now that it's platform provider, the Tundra pickup, has been upsized.

        It can carry eight people, tow a whopping 10,000 pounds, and its optional 5.7-liter V-8 puts out more than 400 foot-pounds of torque. Plenty of SUV, one might think, to move a college-graduate daughter out of her sorority house.

         Then again, "one'' has not met my daughter, who seems bewildered when I tell her one foot locker accommodated all my college stuff in the '70s. Don't get me wrong; the Sequoia is plenty capable and did what it was asked to do. It was just no match for my daughter. It took another one-and-a-half SUVs to get the job done.

        Loading the Sequoia, however, was a pleasure, with a wider cabin this year (wider and longer and taller than the previous generation) and fold-flat seats. Access is made easier with sliding second-row seats. Third-row seats recline and can be folded flat to open up the cargo area even more.

        Access from the rear is easier, too, with doors that open wider and require less effort to open.

        Perhaps even more than cargo capacities, the living room-like Sequoia is about carrying eight adults in luxurious manner. Seats are wider than last year and comfortable, with big armrests and plenty of legroom and headroom. Even adults can travel in the third row, where legroom is as good as the second row. The third row is among the most comfortable of all the SUVs. 

       For long hauls, an optional rear entertainment system keeps younger passengers occupied -- and quiet. And at least 16 cupholders, eight of them for extra-large cups. Don't know why so many -- bring drinks for your friends, I don't know.

        My back handled the trip easily -- with the welcome help of lumbar adjustment that is standard on all Sequoias.

        The Sequoia was introduced in 2000 but came up short with the competition when it came to power and cargo capacity. The second-generation Sequoia now easily keeps up with rivals like the Chevy Tahoe and Ford Expedition.

        The standard engine is the old 4.7-liter 276-hp V-8 but many looking for more power will opt for the 5.7-liter V-8 that's in the new Tundra pickup. It puts out 381 horses and a peak of 401 foot-pounds of torque.

   This big boy is actually more fuel-conscious since it has dual variable-valve timing. The two-wheel-drive is rated at 14 mpg city, 19 highway, and the 4x4 gets only one mpg less on both figures.

        Sequoia's ride can be described in one word: elegant. Its smooth, big car-like handling offers confident driving on the highway as well as on off-ramp curves. Steering is responsive and easy to the touch, even when negotiating a sharp turn (turning radius is an impressive 19 feet).

        Independent suspension in the front and rear contribute to the ride comfort, and an adjustable suspension system is available with the premium Platinum Edition.

        An electronically controlled six-speed transmission (with the 5.7-liter) takes it through the gears smoothly and effortlessly.

        Sequoia's base SR5 has plenty of decent features, like power windows and locks and eight-speaker sound system. But the Limited adds leather trim 10-way seats, roof rack and fog lamps. Move up to Platinum and you get the big engine and 20-inch wheels, memory seats and navigation system.

        If you truly need a big SUV with great hauling power, and can live with the price of gas these days, the Sequoia is an exceptional full-size SUV. With the comfort, ride and rear-seat entertainment system, passengers may just forget they're in an SUV.

       But if you have a college girl, better bring two.

       Entry price: $34,150

       Platinum Edition 4x4: $55,600

   

The hybrid privilege: Prime parking spots

   Tax breaks, incentives, HOV lanes. Hybrid owners have gotten the VIP treatment. Now RexCorp, a real estate developer on Long Island, N.Y., has joined some others in reserving prime parking spaces at its office buildings for hybrid cars, according to a recent story in Newsday.

   A RexCorp exec says it "sends the right message." Not everyone agrees, of course.

   Discrimination, some will yell. I have no gripe with rewarding the green-inclined. So long as RexCorp is ready to give the hybrids the boot when someone, some day, drives in with a plug-in electric.

   And then boot the plug-ins when the first fuel-cell cars arrive.

   What do you think? Hybrid owners deserve special attention?

Mini Cooper: For even more function, join the Clubman

        For those who like a little novelty with their transportation, there's the Mini Cooper. For those who like a lot of novelty, there is the new Mini Clubman wagon.

        Looking like a scrunched-down service van, the Clubman is loaded with Mini DNA, from its droopy front end to its monstrous center-mounted speedometer and airplane-like toggle switches for the lights and locks, windows and sunroof. But then you step to the rear and open its "barn doors'' -- first open the right, then the left. More convenient than the standard Mini hatchback? Nah, but more funky.

          If you think the Clubman looks familiar, you have a good memory. It was inspired by ancestors like the Austin Mini Countryman, Morris Mini Traveller and Mini Clubman Estate which were popular in the '60s and '70s. A classic family trait: the twin rear doors.

        The "Club' can accommodate five; entry to the rear seat is made easier by a right-side mini door, hinged at the back. Rear-seaters enjoy about three inches more legroom than the regular Mini (after all, it's nine inches longer and an inch taller). Still, the back seat is merely bearable, not quite roomy enough to be called comfortable.

        Inside, front doors are adorned with distinguishing features like oval indents and half-moon shaped handles. From the outside, I found the door handles required more effort than they should.

        Two-tone seats can be part leather, part fabric, as if one had decided to upgrade but just couldn't go all the way. But seats are plenty supportive and comfortable.

        Mini raised the rear cargo area to offer a flat area when the rear seats are folded down. It's about nine cubic feet bigger than regular Mini. And there is a hidden storage compartment under the rear floor to tuck some things away when at the mall.

        Touchable surfaces felt like good quality, but sun visors had a surprisingly flimsy feel. A novel instrument panel has a gas gauge with 10 tiny lights, each representing a tenth of a tank, that go out one at a time as you consume.

        A sunroof keeps things bright inside, but maybe sometimes you want to turn off the bright. Well, the sunroof has a manual shade but no solid closure to block out the sun completely, and that means taking more warmth than you wish here in South Florida.

        Options abound to make every Clubman unique: any combination of four interior colors, interior trims like English Oak and glossy Black Piano paint. Twelve body colors are available and the Clubman even has a brown exterior color reserved exclusively for it: Hot Chocolate.      

        Out on the road, the Clubman feels solid and stable, but it also is a rather rough ride -- especially with the sport package and its stiffer springs and shocks and run-flat tires. 

        Its 1.6-liter engine with twin-scroll turbocharger and variable valve timing has plenty of pep. In zero-to-60 tests, it gets beat by its kin, the Mini Cooper S, but not enough for many to notice. The Clubman gets it done in 7.2 seconds, versus 6.9.

        With 177 foot-pounds of torque, it's not exactly overloaded. Yet it performs all around the tach dial and it never feels underpowered.

        And its six-speed tranny upshifts quickly for a sporty feel.

        Fuel economy is comparable to the smaller Mini, rated at 23 mpg city and 32 highway, and that's pretty accurate as I managed mid-20s combined. Assisting in the economy with all manual gearboxes is an "auto start stop'' option which shuts down the engine every time you come to a stop, shift into neutral and take your foot off the clutch. To restart, press the clutch pedal again.

       The sportier Club also gets performance safety features like electronic brake force distribution and stability control.

       The Clubman will hit you up for another $2,500 over the regular Mini and, considering its similar performance and features, that's worth a second thought. But if your pal down the street has the other one and you want a little more room and just as much fun, join the Club.

MSRP: $19,950 - $23,450

   

Score another for the gas misers

   The evidence continues to pour in that soaring gas prices are steering consumers to more fuel-efficient cars.

   According to the latest www.kbb.com study, skyrocketing gas prices are strongly impacting the types of vehicles shoppers are considering, causing many to look for more fuel-efficient models. They're also putting off purchases.

   Some 63 percent are even thinking about a hybrid, a high figure though far fewer will actually go through with such a purchase.

   Meanwhile, CarMax's latest financial report showed first-quarter performance slipped. No surprise there. But, more interesting, wholesale prices for SUVs plummeted nearly 25 percent. That, says CEO Tom Folliard, is around four times the normal depreciation over the quarter.

   "This is the most rapid depreciation of any vehicle segment that we have experienced in our 15 years," said Folliard.

   Telling statements. Buy accordingly.

   Might want to set aside time Monday night for a new show that takes a comedic look at ‘‘101 Cars You Must Drive."

    The show, on Speed Channel, is based on the book, 365 Cars You Must Drive, by Motor Trend executive editor Matt Stone and auto journalist John Matras.

   Alonzo Bodden, winner of Last Comic Standing 3, hosts the show, which starts at 9 p.m. A one-time jet mechanic, Bodden takes a lighthearted look at an amazing array of cars that most can only dream of driving some day.

   Bodden says he is particularly amused at the old AMC cars. "I laughed at anything from AMC. The Pacer. The Eagle," he said. "AMC used to be pretty creative, to put it nicely."

   For more information, clips and downloads, check out speedtv.com
   

Jaguar XF delivers you to a new, special place

         When chief designer Ian Callum set out to create the 2009 Jaguar XF, he knew the stakes were high. He wasn't merely tweaking a previous theme; he was creating a new face for a proud company, a car that would pave the way for the future of Jaguar.

         By that measure, I'd say the XF is a resounding success. Jaguar calls it "the beginning of a new era." It's a good start, for sure.

          And that's obvious from the first glance of this cat, the first time you step in and a pulsating start button beckons you to push. And when you accept that challenge, start the engine and witness the rotary shift changer -- an industry first -- rise from the center console. Simultaneously, AC vent covers rise like Broadway curtains.

         You know you are in a new and special place.

          Its exterior is striking, with a low nose accented by a mesh grille and a sweeping roof line that looks like it has evoked engineering smiles in the wind tunnels (drag coefficient is 0.29 and wind noise is nearly nonexistent).

        The hood lines, coupled with the headlamp cluster that sweeps around to the fenders, create create a look that is second to none in automotive design. One thing lacking for ornament lovers like myself: the leaping Jaguar on the hood.

          XF's athletic stance tempts you to step inside and hit the road. Jaguar, after all, is about blending sharp looks and sporty performance. Acceleration is typically Jaguar (the car and the cat): quiet speed, ready to pounce.  And it delivers with an available 420-hp supercharged V-8 that can sprint from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, says Jaguar. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

         The normally-aspirated version of this 4.2-liter engine gets 300 horses and reaches 60 mph in 6.2 seconds.

         EPA mileage is mid-teens around town and mid-20s on the highway, but give up on those figures if you plan to have fun.

         Steering is not BMW-like, but offers good feedback through sharp turns and lane changes. Steering adapts to conditions -- it's more sensitive for slowdown and parking situations. Twenty-inch wheels armed with Pirellis grip the road with assurance.

         Optional shifting is done with steering-wheel paddles, more of a plaything than anything else. One reason is that XF's six-speed transmission -- same one as in the XK -- has the new shift-by-wire technology which adapts to road and driving conditions. Shifting, really, is so precise and smooth that you simply won't want the paddles.

         This is a car that practically drives itself. As it approached the car in front, the adaptive cruise control immediately decelerated to keep a safe distance between us.

         Changing lanes? The lane-warning on the side-view mirror flashes and there's beeping as well to let you know the time is not right for that lane change. The system works.

         XF's long 114,5-inch wheelbase, bigger than its counterparts in the luxury sport-sedan segment, means more roominess inside. Plenty of room up front, but even in the rear six-footers are not having to touch the ceiling with 37.6 inches of headroom.

         The leather seats, dash and doors are soft and elegant. Real-wood trim comes in Satin American or Burl Walnut or Rich Oak and is all over the place -- more than in any Jag since the MkII in the '60s, says Jaguar.

         Even the headliner is done in a new weave known as Morzine.    

         Stash CDs in the center console, where there also is an auxiliary power port. One of the cupholders can handle the 44-ounce big-gulp cups (small cupholders are still a deal breaker for my wife).

         Audio, climate and navigation are operated by touch-screen. Very nice: no mouse or dials to mess with.

         The XF is an engineering marvel. Beyond the adaptive cruise and lane-changing warning, onboard computer controls safety functions like electronic brake assist, traction control that uses both engine and brakes, stability control and even a system to control understeer.   

         The XF offers a glimpse into Jaguar's future. The company, along with designer Callum, have dumped their hearts and souls into this Jaguar of Jaguars. I find little to dispute that they are on the right track with the XF.

   Base price: $49,975

   XF Premium Luxury: $63,125 (with adaptive cruise, lane-warning system and satellite
radio)
   

Mini lovers unite in Homestead

   Own a Mini Cooper? Or just an enthusiast? Hundreds of people like you will celebrate the spirit of the brand with two days of food and fun this weekend at Homestead Miami Speedway.

   Mini Takes the States 2008 (MTTS 2008) festival revs up Saturday and Sunday and is open to everyone.

   Festival highlights at the speedway include: an autocross, go-cart racing, rock climbing, a fun zone, free massages by Playboy Energy girls, a mountain bike stunt show, a car wash and a live musical performance by Michelle Branch, Grammy winner and platinum-selling artist.

   Here's what you need to know:

   WHEN: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Sunday

   WHERE: Homestead Miami Speedway, One Speedway Boulevard, Homestead

   HOW MUCH: $20 for advance online registration at minitakesthestates.com ($30 for on-site registrants)

   

Jeep Liberty: A new direction from cute

        The daughter's verdict is in on the more boxy, rugged-looking all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty: Guilty, of roughing up that cute, bug-eyed Liberty that females across the nation adore.

        Tired of the rugged hand-me-down Grand Cherokee she was driving, she got into a Liberty two years ago and never looked back. She loves it.

         Jeep designers admit they were taken by surprise at all the attention from the fonder sex when the Liberty was introduced as a 2002 model. The Liberty enjoyed success but Jeep folks wanted the boys to get in on the action, too.

        But hold on, girls. There's a lot to like about the new Liberty, which is a very close relative to the Dodge Nitro.

        Performance is improved both on road and off, and it's more stable, too, with a wider track. Liberty grows two inches longer and an inch wider, which translates to more legroom in the rear seat and more than three more inches of trunk. And the trunk now has a four-inch-deep waterproof storage bin under the floor.

        Oh, and if you're struggling between Wrangler and Liberty because you like the open top, consider that the Liberty has introduced its unique Sky Slider canvas roof that opens fully, accordian-like, for open-air driving. It can be moved to full front, full rear or something in between with the flip of a switch.

        So get over the fact that Jeep gave Liberty a more chiseled design and a tougher stance. It still gets the signature seven-slot grille. The boxy bugger also gets a new rear: No more spare tire back there and no more swinging tailgate. Now there's a liftgate and it has a window that can be flipped open without the gate by a button or the key fob.

        Standard is the 3.7-liter V-6 that produces 210 hp and 5,200 rpm at 235 foot-pounds of torque. Fuel economy is said to be improved; Expect somewhere in the mid-teen around town, low 20s on the open road.

        Tow capacity is now at 5,000 pounds.

        For those heading off-road, there are two four-wheel-drive systems. The better one is the Selec-Trac II full-time system. It has an 4WD Auto mode that takes care of business automatically in any kind of conditions, redirecting torque to the axle that can make the best use of it. The Command Trac is a part-time system. Both have low-range gearing for off-roading.

        Optional is a hill-descent system that inches you down a steep slope without having to touch the brakes.

        Seats are comfortable and supportive, and flat-folding front seats are available. The Limited model offers the opportunity for two-tone colors on the seats.
But both the Limited and the Sport models offer both four-wheel-drive systems and choice of four-speed automatic or six-speed manual trannys.

        The instrument cluster has four gauges with white on black graphics. The center console bin is not big but does have a handy top-mounted tray.

        And the once-cute ute has some new features, like remote start rain-sensing wipers, and memory seats.

        Safety features include ABS, traction and stability control systems and available side-curtain air bags.

        Yes, it is less original, a virtual clone of the Nitro. And it is more rugged looking. But, c'mon, girls. It is also more capable, has some interesting new features, and did I mention it costs slightly less than last year's bug-eyed creature?

Base Price (Sport): $21,650
Limited: $25,175

   

At $4.20 a gallon, size does matter

   Ford marketing chief Jim Farley said it all in a conference call Tuesday: "We've never seen $4.20 gas. It's just a sign of the times."

   That remark came as it was announced that cars made by Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. outsold Ford Motor Co.'s F-Series pickups in the U.S. last month -- first time in more than 15 years any car has topped the truck in sales. The Civic was the best-selling model in the U.S. for the first time.

   People are thinking small. GM, the largest U.S. automaker, also said Tuesday that it will close four truck plants, build more small cars, and may even drop its monster Hummer. The company's May sales fell 28 percent, including a 37 percent plunge for pickups, SUVs and vans, according to a Bloomberg report.

   The Hummer, the commercial version of the military's Hum-Vee, will not be missed by many. It is unnecessarily wide and heavy, except perhaps for the H3, and more times than not it is abused as merely a status symbol or commuter.

   But here's an interesting piece of advice from the latest Consumer Reports: While going small makes more sense, don't rush into a small car. If the timing is wrong, going smaller could actually cost you more.

   The logic is this: If your car is less than five years old and not paid off, the depreciation hit you'll take will cost more than what you're saving in fuel costs.

   Check out the details in CR's July issue. While you're at it, take a peek at their top choice among five small sedans tested. I'll give you a hint: It's not Japanese.

They're cool, and they're under $18,000

   Looking for a cool car but have to keep it under $18,000?

   Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com not long ago came out with its 2008 list -- a very reliable list, I might add -- of the "top 10 cool cars'' under 18 grand.

   So here they are, in no particular order (and when you're done here, check out other top-10 lists at kbb.com):

   -- Ford Focus ($15,280): Cheapest car with SYNC music and phone system

   -- Honda Fit ($14,585): Sportiest driving in an econocar

   -- Jeep Patriot ($16,055: Classic look, cool mix of SUV and car

   -- Mazda3 ($17,230): Responsive, quick and stylish

   -- Mitsubishi Lancer ($14,615: Rally-inspired looks, lots of options

   -- 2009 Pontiac Vibe ($15,895): More powerful, lower price. Any questions?

   -- Scion xB ($16,270): Larger, cool features and still a noncomformist

   -- Subaru Impreza: ($17,640): Capable with all-wheel-drive, 170 horses

   -- Suzuki SX4 ($15,395): Still least expensive all-wheel-drive in America

   -- Volkswagen Rabbit ($16,250): Comfortable ride plus sharp handling

     Now tell me, did the miss one?