After being announced with great fanfare a year ago, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF has arrived for the 2017 model year. With its retractable roof that takes only 13 seconds to go down and its sporty design, lovers of small, peppy, fun cars can rejoice.
It comes in three trim levels: Club, Grand Touring and Launch Edition.The MX-5 RF has an exotic appearance that makes it stand out from the crowd. With body lines that convey motion and fluidity, the hardtop design is evocative of European sports cars that cost a pretty penny more. The rear features circular taillights and a dual-exhaust tip and the front end has stylish LED headlights.
A sport-tuned suspension, power side mirrors, rear spoiler and 17-inch aluminum wheels are standard. Optional on the Grand Touring is a softer suspension and adaptive headlights. Other options include sporty side and rear skirts, Brembo brakes and unique 17-inch alloy wheels are also available.The power plant of the MX-5 RF is 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 155 horsepower and is linked to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Fuel economy for the manual version is rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway. The automatic is rated at 26 and 35.The MX-5 RF comes standard with an upscale cloth interior with contrast stitching and Alcantara trim. The center console has a Mazda Connect multimedia system that includes a 4.6-inch display, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port and a Bose premium audio system. Optional is a navigation system. Other options include air conditioning, power windows/locks, remote keyless entry, push-button start, cruise control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Leather-trim upholstery, heated seats and automatic climate control are also offered.
Please note, though, that this car is designed for people who are, at most, about 5 ft. 10 in. If you are taller than that, you have no business driving this car. At 6 ft. 6 in., we struggled mightily to get in and fit in and drive comfortably.
The MX-5 RF is priced starting at around $32,000 and ranging to about $34,500.
For a small, sporty car that stands out, the MX-5 RF is worth a look.
Comfort and understated styling define the 2017 Lexus ES 350. This mid-size luxury sedan offers a smooth, quiet ride with acceleration that is surprisingly powerful.
Exterior highlights on the ES 350 are subtle, mainly focused on the spindle grille that is found throughout the Lexus lineup. There are LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof and dual exhaust tips that are all standard exterior features.
With room for five passengers, the interior has attractive leather seating with wood grain accents on the steering wheel and dash. And it's pretty roomy; you wouldn't feel guilty about asking an adult to sit in the back seat.
The ES 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 268 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive. Fuel economy is rated at 21 mpg city, 31 highway.
For convenience, there is the Lexus Enform Remote system, that allows you to have smartphone control over many of the car's functions. It enables you to start the car remotely, lock and unlock doors, locate where it is parked and check fuel levels.
Driving dynamics are surprisingly more sporty than you might expect. Acceleration is pretty rapid, and handling is at least adequate, if not a notch or two above.
Pricing on the ES 350 is planted solidly in the low $40,000 range.
For comfort, subtle styling and a smooth ride, it's hard to beat the ES 350.
The 2017 Kia Sportage has been redesigned, giving it a longer wheelbase and an overall extension in body length, along with appearance changes to the front end. The result is a sportier-looking Sportage that is still practical and drives well.
This compact SUV gains 1.2 inches on its wheelbase, to 105.1-inches, with body length gaining 1.6 inches to 176.4 inches. The headlights have been redesigned and now sit higher on the hood, and new air vents have been added to the front. Exterior options include a trailer hitch receiver, heated side mirrors, turn signal indicators, a power moonroof, a power liftgate and fog lights.
There are three trim levels: LX, EX and SX Turbo. The first two models are powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 181 horsepower. It is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. The SX Turbo trim has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 240 horsepower (237 with AWD). Fuel economy for the 2.4-liter/FWD model is an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 29 highway. With AWD, the rating dips to 21 and 25. The turbocharged 2.0-liter/FWD model is rated at 21 and 26. That rating drops to 20 and 23 mpg with AWD. The interior features a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, with maximum rear cargo capacity of 30.7 cubic feet. The center console features a standard audio system, which includes a 5-inch touchscreen, CD/MP3 playback, Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio, and a USB port. It can be upgraded to a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen, an integrated navigation system, satellite radio, Android Auto compatibility (and later, Apple CarPlay), and a Harmon Kardon premium audio system. Standard features include air conditioning, power windows/locks, remote keyless entry, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Leather-trim seats, power/heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, an automatic dimming mirror and LED interior lighting are also available.The Sportage starts at around $24,000 and ranges to a little over $35,000.
For a compact SUV that offers versatility and cool styling, the Sportage is making its mark in a competitive segment of the vehicle market.
The 2017 Toyota Tundra offers power, functionality and the ability to get the job done, putting it in a competitive position in the hotly contested pickup truck market.
This half-ton full-size pickup comes in three cab configurations, three cargo bed lengths and with a choice of 4.6- or 5.7-liter gas V-8 engines and rear- or four-wheel drive. Available body styles are a two-door regular cab, four-door double cab with conventional rear doors and four-door CrewMax with larger rear doors and a roomier rear seat. The latter model was our tester.
Bed lengths are 5.6, 6.6 and 8 feet.
As a new feature for 2017, all Limited trim models gain standard power front bucket seats.
The Tundra's standard engine is a 4.6-liter V-8 that makes 310 horsepower. Optional is a 5.7-liter V-8 that makes 381 horsepower.
A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, with rear-wheel drive also standard, but four-wheel drive optional.
For work on the farm or in other rather rugged off-road settings, the TRD off-road package is available.
Fuel economy with big thirsty engines like this isn't terrific, but you wouldn't reasonably expect it to be. The 4.6-liter V-8 is rated at 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and the 5.7-liter is rated at 13 and 15. That pain at the pump is only slightly eased by the fact that even though you'll spend a fair amount on gas, if you opt for the 38-gallon tank you can limit the frequency with which you'll have to go fill up.
The interior of the Tundra is roomy, especially if you opt for the CrewMax. And the interior can be decked out with some nice luxury touches that include leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats.
The Tundra starts at around $31,000 and tops out at a little over $50,000.
The pickup truck market is hypercompetitive these days, with sales continuing to increase in the recent years since the economic downturn. There are lots of great choices on the market, and the Tundra can certainly be considered among them.
The 2017 Mazda3 is as sporty a compact car as you'll find. Its fun-to-drive dynamics, cool styling and good fuel efficiency make it an excellent choice.
It is available as a a four-door compact sedan or a five-door compact hatchback, which is what we tested. It comes in four trim levels: Sport, Touring, Touring 2.5 and Grand Touring.For this model year, it gets a slightly wider front fascia and more rounded out grille with larger headlights. The hatchback also has a redesigned lower rear bumper. All of these touches help it retain an aggressive, sporty look. The standard engine in the Mazda3 is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that makes 155 horsepower. The Touring 2.5 and Grand Touring models come with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 185 horsepower. Both engines are linked to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The engines use Mazda's SKYACTIV-G direct injection fuel system for better fuel economy. Gas mileage varies with the Mazda3 depending on the engine or whether it is a sedan or hatch, but the best performance comes with the 2.0-liter six-speed automatic transmission or 2.5-liter automatic, rated at 28 mpg city, 37 highway.Mazda has added G-Vectoring Control, which allows for smoother driving dynamics when braking, turning, and accelerating, to all Mazda3s. They also include standard safety features such as a backup camera and a tire pressure monitoring system. The optional iACTIVSENSE Safety Package includes lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, Smart Brake Support and traffic sign recognition. Also available is a blindspot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert.
The Mazda3 starts at around $19,000 and ranges to nearly $28,000.
With great driving dynamics, solid fuel economy and sporty looks, it is one of the best compact cars on the market.
