Honda Civic, Toyota Rav4 and Camry Review Sneak Peeks! – The Car Exam

Honda Civic, Toyota Rav4 And Camry Review Sneak Peeks! – The Car Exam

Honda Civic

2016 Honda Civic: If you can get past the exterior styling (some people love it, some don’t), then you’re in for a pleasant surprise. This is one terrific car…

Toyota Rav4

2016 Toyota Rav4: Updated, nicer-looking, and one competent SUV–one of the best small SUV’s on the market…

Toyota Camry

2016 Toyota Camry: Always reliable, smooth, and now a bit more fun to drive. Look for these reviews coming up soon on Consumer and Car Exam!

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2016 Nissan Versa – The Car Exam

2016 Nissan Versa SV – The Car Exam

2016 Nissan Versa SV Review – A good powertrain in need of a better car – The Car Exam

Drive the 2016 Nissan Versa SV Sedan long enough, and you’ll learn exactly what the plusses and minuses about the car as a package, are. Without further delay, here they are:

2016 Nissan Versa SV – The Car Exam

Plusses: The powertrain in the Versa SV is surprisingly peppy and smooth. 109 hp., 107 ft. lbs. of torque, 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engine feels more powerful and refined than the numbers suggest. Driving it up steep hills, for instance, is surprisingly effortless. The CVT Transmission takes excellent advantage of the engine’s power, and you quickly understand why a CVT trumps a conventional five or six speed automatic transmission. Acceleration is decent, as well. The lumbar support in the front seats is very good, rear seat room and head room are impressive, and trunk room is also more than acceptable. Braking and ride quality in the Versa SV Sedan are also adequate. Fuel economy is also respectable (31 mpg city, 40 mpg highway).

2016 Nissan Versa SV – The Car Exam

2016 Nissan Versa SV – The Car Exam

Minuses: That where the plusses end: The rest of the Versa is lacking, and had the rest of the car been as good as the powertrain, it would be a winner. It isn’t. Other than acceleration and power, the Versa is not fun to drive–at all. Handling is sloppy, the driving position isn’t the greatest, the stereo system stinks, the interior plastics are subpar, and the overall styling exercise is awkward at best. It wants to be a Sentra or Altima in spirit, but it doesn’t deliver. This body style has been on the market for about five years now, and while it is much better than the Versa Sedan that came before it style-wise, it still looks out of proportion.

2016 Nissan Versa SV – The Car Exam

Final Grade: if Nissan put the Versa’s powertrain in a number of small cars that aren’t Nissan, it could make them better–but it’s in the Versa SL Sedan, so it’s left without the proper vehicle that would help it shine and stand out against the competition. The 2016 Nissan Versa SV can only muster up a grade of C/C-. That’s too bad, because with some more effort, this Nissan could be so much better than it is now.

Base MSRP for the 2016 Nissan Vera SV: $15,580

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Dodge Journey – The Car Exam Extended Test

Dodge Journey – Consumer and Car Exam

Dodge Journey – The Car Exam Extended Test

Dodge Journey – front – Consumer and Car Exam

The 2016 Dodge Journey SXT is a mixed bag of sorts; it has some good attributes, yet it also has some that truly make it less of a CUV than it ultimately could be. First: the good points…

Dodge Journey – rear – Consumer and Car Exam

…The 2016 Dodge Journey’s 3.6L, 283 hp V6 engine pulls strong and fast–it’s no slouch, even pulling such a heavy vehicle. Cornering on mountains roads yields no noticeable body roll at all, and the dash layout, for the most part is good. The UConnect Stereo system takes some getting used to, especially with some of the controls on the backside of the steering wheel, but the sound coming from it is terrific. The overall ride is also good; the suspension soaks up most bumps and imperfections with ease, without feeling too firm or too soft–a nice feat in such a vehicle. The six-speed automatic transmission works smoothly with the V6, never feeling unsettled at all. The second row of rear seats
are relatively comfortable, and have a good of amount of legroom for passengers. Rear passengers also have their own climate control buttons, a nice touch. Overall, the quality of the interior materials seem very good.

Dodge Journey – rear seats – Consumer and Car Exam

Dodge Journey – 3.6L V6 – Consumer and Car Exam

Now for the not-so-good aspects of the 2016 Dodge Journey: The driver’s seatback is horribly uncomfortable. The non-adjustable seat bolster protrudes out too far, as does the headrest. While the part of the seat where your bottom goes seems just fine, the rest of the seat is terrible, and makes for poor posture when sitting up as straight as possible.

Dodge Journey – front seats – Consumer and Car Exam

The braking is just okay…not horribly bad, not great, but just okay. The blind spots in the rears are bothersome, just as side rearview mirror on the driver’s side seems shaped just a bit too tall and square. The Car Exam had issues with the windshield wipers coming on during engaging of the turn signals, a definite annoyance. For some reason, the design in that regard is very poor. The climate control system, while good, could be much simpler to operate. It’s too complicated (except for the on/off control) to operate at a glance easily, so great care must be taken.

Dodge Journey – dash – Consumer and Car Exam

The 3rd row of rear seats are not meant for adults–at all. They are far too small and cramped. The rear load floor is also somewhat high for a vehicle that sits as high as the Journey does, but at least it folds flat, along with the 2nd row of seats. Fuel economy wasn’t the greatest in the Journey, as it really seemed to drink up the fuel (at least when it wasn’t going downhill). 16 to 18 mpg seemed to be the norm in the 2016 Dodge Journey. The steering seems to be over-boosted a bit too much, taking some of the fun factor away from the driving experience.

Dodge Journey – 3rd row seats – Consumer and Car Exam

Dodge Journey – rear cargo area – Consumer and Car Exam

Finally, while Consumer and Car Exam was on its extended road test, only one other Journey was spotted in almost 400 miles of driving–yikes. It’s not a very popular or high-selling vehicle, and sadly, Consumer and Car Exam sees why. Along with its other flaws, the 2016 Journey doesn’t really standout style-wise, either. Don’t even try parking it in tight spots–it’s very difficult to do so.

Dodge Journey – Consumer and Car Exam

The Car Exam’s final grade for the 2016 Dodge Journey is a “C” grade. The Journey could be so much better, but it’s not. The Journey may not be in the Dodge lineup very much longer, and it’s a shame FCA couldn’t have made the entire package more appealing to consumers.

2016 Dodge Journey SXT Starting M.S.R.P.: $24,895

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Chevrolet Impala – The Car Exam Review

Chevrolet Impala – Consumer and Car Exam

2016 Chevrolet Impala – An Impressive American Sedan – Consumer and Car Exam

Chevrolet Impala – Consumer and Car Exam

Good grades: the 2016 Chevrolet Impala has impressive styling, both inside and out. Its sleek, modern, beautiful styling no longer says “rental car special.” Interior room, ergonomics, and comfort are cavernous. The quality of materials in the Impala are not cheap and flimsy like GM cars of the 1990’s–they’re very nice, and the seats in the Chevy Impala–both front and rear–are very comfortable with lots of room for passengers to stretch out and relax. The trunk is also extremely large, with enough room to gobble up plenty of gear on a long road trip. The stereo system in the 2016 Chevy Impala also sounds fantastic. Even if you don’t use it, you are treated to a nice, quiet ride.

Engine power on the 305 hp, 264 lb-ft. of torque, 3.6L V6 engine is strong and well tuned for the six-speed automatic transmission, and the overall driving dynamics (as well as the build quality) do not disappoint. Braking and handling are also exceptional on the Impala.

Chevrolet Impala – Consumer and Car Exam

Bad Grades: there’s very little to complain about here: the rear blind spots might be too much for some, especially shorter adults; also, the starting price of the Impala may be a bit much for some prospective shoppers: the 2LT trim has a starting MSRP of $30,435, while a base Impala starts at $27,095. The price goes up even more from there, and there are many people not wanting to spent that kind of cash on an Impala.

Chevrolet Impala – Consumer and Car Exam

Chevrolet Impala – Consumer and Car Exam

Final Grade: The Car Exam gives the 2016 Chevrolet Impala a solid “A” grade. It’s one of the best-driving and impressive American sedans Consumer and Car Exam has ever tested, and it’s a job well-done by Chevy and GM. If reliability is just as impressive, GM has a real winner on its hands.

2016 Chevrolet Impala – Consumer and Car Exam

All reviews, photos and stories ©2008-2016 Consumer and Car Exam and T.C.E. No material from this site may used without the permission of Consumer and Car Exam and T.C.E.

Kia Soul – 2016 – Consumer and Car Exam

Kia Soul – Consumer and Car Exam

2016 Kia Soul – A Consumer and Car Exam Preview: Does it have soul?

The 2016 Kia Soul is an admirable part of the small CUV segment of cars that include the Scion iM, the Honda Fit, and more. The Soul had been around for quite awhile now, and it has proven its worth. Consumer and Car Exam did an extended test, but for now here’s a brief synopsis of Consumer and Car Exam’s findings:

Kia Soul – Consumer and Car Exam

Kia Soul – Rear – Consumer and Car Exam

The 2016 Kia Soul is a good car for long distance highway cruising–if you bring your own lumbar support along. It basically has none, and if you have a bad back, this could potentially be a big problem. Other than that, ergonomics seem pretty decent, the sound system is okay (the touch screen is a bit small, but the backup camera is very welcome for added safety) and interior room is good. There’s a large blind spot in the rear, so exercise caution when changing lanes. The ride soaks up bumps in the road very well–it’s not too soft, and not too firm.

Kia Soul – dash and front seats

Acceleration is adequate–it’s not a hot rod by any stretch of the imagination, but it gets the job done. Fuel economy disappoints, though: Consumer and Car Exam could average no better than 24 mpg in mostly highway driving. Driving conditions could influence fuel economy, though. Overall, the 2016 Kia Soul seems like a good, solid option for those drivers seeking a hatchback with acceptable interior space and decent engine horsepower.

Kia Soul – engine

Also, the 2016 Kia Soul had another nice surprise: a spare tire! What??? A spare tire? That’s right–an actual spare tire, not a fix-it kit. Consumer and Car Exam will add its extended test later for a more detailed look at the 2016 Kia Soul.

Kia Soul – spare tire!