MPG-o-Matic 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO Review Summary: The 2011 Chevy Cruze ECO sedan is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in General Motors 2011 lineup, outside of the extended-range electric Chevy Volt. When equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, the Cruze ECO is capable of gas mileage that rivals many of the current hybrid cars on the market. The combination of a tiny turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, advanced aerodynamics, and an optimized manual gear set (with overdrive) deliver excellent real-world fuel economy, at a very attractive price point.
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2011 Suzuki Kizashi AWD Review
MPG-o-Matic 2011 Suzuki Kizashi SE AWD Review Summary: The all-wheel-drive (AWD) version of the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi just might be the most attractively designed affordable sedan on the market for folks with a sense of style and the need to deal with adverse weather conditions. Although the Kizashi is clearly intended to appeal to those who appreciate a sporting ride, the Kizashi AWD is exclusively fitted with a CVT.
2011 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost Review
MPG-o-Matic 2011 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost Review Summary:
The 2011 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost takes the big American luxury car to a new level. Although it lags behind the European turbo-diesels when it comes to fuel economy, the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine provides a remarkable rush of power and a glimpse of what’s to come. It’s time to bid adieu to the V8-powered luxury barge. The MKT EcoBoost is nothing less than an executive jet on wheels, with a luxurious ride for six or seven.
2012 Ford Focus First Drive
Los Angeles, CA – The 2012 Focus is a very important car for Ford. If fuel prices once again return to north of $4 per gallon as many predict, having a front-runner in the competitive compact segment is critical to the company’s continued success.
The new design has a very bold look with what Ford describes as its “kinetic design language” in both hatchback and sedan form. The five door is the most visually striking, with a high level of design detail all the way to the rear of the car. The new Focus is not a car that will be mistaken for anything else on the market today. While it’s not in your face aggressive, you won’t blend into the background like you might in a Corolla or Civic. The part of the design that seems to draw the most love-it-or-hate-it reaction is the trapezoidal front grille. Although the grille does give the car a catfish snout of sorts, it allows the aggressive lines to flow through the design.
2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Review
MPG-o-Matic 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Review Summary: Though purists may be hard-pressed to call it a true sports car, the two-seat Honda CR-Z is the sportiest hybrid to hit the road in 2011. With a heritage that includes the Honda CR-X Si pocket rocket and ground-breaking Insight hybrid, the CR-Z has a twisty path to follow. While it’s not as fast as the CR-X Si nor as remarkably fuel-efficient as the original Insight, the CR-Z hybrid is an entertaining ride when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. If you like to run through the gears and must have a hybrid, the CR-Z is the only game in town.