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The 2009 BMW X3

December 31st, 2008 by Justin

For those that love European engineered vehicles, one of the brands to look at is of course BMW. BMW offers plenty of power, performance and usually understated luxury in its vehicles, but for those that love the thrill of driving, it’s tough to beat the BMW ride. BMW has a very formidable line up that ranges from roadsters to coupes, to sedans to an SUV, however one vehicle that is making waves is the BMW X3. While most would characterize the X3 as just another SUV, you would be wrong. The X3 is actually an SAV. What is an SAV?, it’s a sport activity vehicle made for all road capability and utility but offering plenty of car like performance- pretty much it is a fancy way for saying the X3 is a crossover.

Lots of Power and Performance
The X3 offers decent power, but much less than you would have expected from a sport activity vehicle. The engine is actually the X5’s lower trim engine- a 3.0 liter I-6 that offers about 260 horsepower. To make matters worse, with this smaller 6 cylinder engine, the fuel efficiency could be much better. You only get about 16 mpg in the city. Mated to this engine is either a 6 speed manual transmission or a 6 speed automatic with Steptronic manual shift. Add to this vehicle quality amenities perfect for driver and family, 17 inch wheels, a panoramic moonroof, some stability control and a roll over sensor and a nicely done dash and you got a well rounded vehicle.

It should also be noted that there are some basic changes for the 2009 model, mostly just minimal, but it does add XDrive and some new badging making the vehicle stand out a little more. The X3 is a little pricey at about $40K. However, for those that love everything BMW, this car definitely deserves a look.

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BMW Succeeds Again with the X5

December 31st, 2008 by Justin

If you love the BMW name plate and are looking to buy an SUV, the one for you is simply the BMW X5. There are plenty of choices available for those looking for lots of styling, luxury, power and exceptional performance, however BMW has done it again and continues to create the now legendary X5 even better every year. This year is no exception and you will be pleased with the plenty of choices available for the engines and trim levels. And while the X5 is not cheap, for those that are very picky about what kind of SUV they drive, the BMW offers plenty of taste and individuality.

Under the Hood of the X5
One of the things that many will like about the X5 is the choice of engines available. While many enjoy the most performance possible, others realize, especially if they have kids in the car that they only need enough. The X5 offers 2 engines, a 3.0 liter I-6 that produces a healthy 260 horsepower and a larger engine- a 4.8 liter V8 that produces 350 horsepower. With 2 engines come two different trims, however both trims offer great features, plenty of safety and interior amenities. Both trims also share the mated 6 speed automatic transmission. This transmission comes with the Steptronic manual shift mode and XDrive which is an intelligent all wheel drive system from BMW.

Add in anti lock brakes, seating capacity for seven passengers, wood trim and leather upholstery and plenty of great amenities for the family and the X5 becomes a very capable off road vehicle or family transporter. The price for the X5 is a little steep ranging from about $47K to $53K and with fuel efficiency below 22 mpg, it can be quite expensive to own and operate.

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BMW 535 Sport Wagon for Families

December 31st, 2008 by Justin

While you might not think of BMW as a family car- usually due to fact that many Type A personalities tend to choose BMW for its power and performance over how much space it offers. But BMW does make exceptionally safe and practical vehicles and one of them is the BMW 535 Sport Wagon. If you grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, you remember what a station wagon is and it definitely is not sporty, however as times have changed the BMW 535 has styled its Sport wagon nicely giving it plenty of room and capability for the entire family.

There’s Plenty to Like on the BMW 535 Sport Wagon
For starters, there is plenty to like about BMW’s Sport Wagon. With a very nice engine, which is much more powerful than your mother’s station wagon, the BMW definitely offers exceptional performance and power. The engine is a 3.0 liter I-6 that produces a whopping 300 horses of power. The vehicle comes either as a rear wheel drive or 4×4 all wheel drive perfect for off road and all weather capability. Mated to the engine is a nicely done six speed manual transmission (I guess for moms in Germany and Europe) or for Americans an optional 6 speed automatic transmission with Steptronic shifting. On one trim level you can also get your racing thrills with steering wheel mounted paddle shifting.

Add to the mix 17 inch wheels, plenty of airbags and safety equipment, a nicely done interior with dual zone climate control, active micro filtration and plenty of audio video for the kids and you pretty much have the perfect family vehicle without opting for a larger SUV. The 535 Sport Wagon lists from $51K to $55K.

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Audi Q7: An SUV with a Twist

December 31st, 2008 by Justin

Audi has always delighted those serious on performance and European styling and in recent years there have been plenty of models that not only attracts Audi’s general European customer base, but the US as well. While SUV’s have been a mainstay for close to two decades, the Audi Q7 continues to innovate and grab many drivers attention with their SUV vehicle. The Q7 continues to be an SUV that many are interested in and especially those that want Euro styling, lots of performance and plenty of capability.

The Q7, Nice Looks and Great Performance
The Audi Q7 is currently in its third model year and it is placed squarely and respectably right in the middle of the luxury SUV market. It should be noted that the Q7 offers 3 different trim models and two available engines. Both engines are satisfying and the larger engine definitely offers plenty of power for even the most discriminating 4×4 drivers. The engines available include a 3.6 liter V6 engine that is semi fuel efficient and delivers a decent 280 horsepower. The larger engine available is on the higher trim models and offers a 4.2 liter V8 that produces 350 horsepower.

The Interior and Exterior
Since the Audi Q7 is a luxury vehicle, expect trendy styling and plenty of exterior and interior amenities. For instance, the interior boasts room for 5 or room for 7 depending on the trim, dual zone climate control, heated seats and 18 inch wheels for the lower trim, 20 inch wheels for the higher trim model. Also there are plenty of other convenience luxuries which make driving not only fun, but comfortable. The price for the Q7 ranges from $40K to $55K. Fuel efficiency is rated from as low as 13 mpg in the city to 20 mpg on the highway.

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The 2009 Buick Enclave

December 31st, 2008 by Justin

With GM on the ropes, it might not be that much longer that some of the notorious brands under the GM nameplate go the way of the Do-Do bird, but that is what it looks to be in the next few years. However, for those that have always liked the styling, reliability and functionality of the Buick name, there are a few vehicles that they make that are definitely worth owning. One of them is their 4×4 SUV that is not only full of capability, but also offers nice styling.

Buick Enclave - 2009 (Concept)

The Engine of the Buick Enclave
New for the 2009 model is a nice, more powerful engine that is not only quite capable in this SUV, but also a little more efficient for those that require this SUV to commute and transport the family around town. The engine is a 3.6 liter V6 that offers a lot of horsepower – 288. It should also be noted that mated to this engine is a six speed automatic transmission that offers comfortable gear shifting and some fuel efficiency. There are 2 trim levels for the Buick Enclave, they are the CX and the CXL, both offer the same engine and even come with front wheel drive or all wheel drive transmissions.

Inside the Buick Enclave
If you are looking for plenty of seating capacity, the Buick Enclave seats up to 8 people and while it offers two bucket seats for the front, the extra two rows can come in slightly different configurations. If you have bought a Buick before, you probably already know that the ride is quite nice and comfortable. The Buick Enclave continues this tradition and offers a pleasant ride, good performance and of course the higher seating that many that buy SUV’s love. The Enclave sells for about $32K to $40K and delivers a respectable 24 mpg on the highway.

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