Honda Fit – The Car Exam

Honda Fit – The Car Exam

2015 Honda Fit: Somewhat Better…But Far From Perfect

Good Grades: The styling on the 2015 Honda Fit is an improvement. It looks sleeker and more up-to-date. No longer available in Base/Sport Trims, they are designated as: LX, EX, EX-L, and EX-L/with Navigation. The new base model is the LX, which The Car Exam tested. It now packs 130 horsepower, 13 more than the 2013 model. It’s mated to a CVT automatic transmission, which gives the Fit all around better fuel economy in the city and on the highway (33 CITY 41 HWY, 2015 vs. 28 CITY 35 HWY, 2013). Braking and steering in the 2015 Honda Fit are also just fine. The interior quality is better than the 2009-13 Fit–it looks more upscale. The Magic Seats in the 2015 Honda Fit are still there, which is a great thing–and the load floor to the rear hatch is still nice and flat. Those qualities keep cargo hauling easier than every other car in its class. There’s an outside temperature gauge now, something sorely missing from the last generation Fit, and the USB auxiliary input is now exposed in a convenient place close to the driver.

 

Honda Fit – The Car Exam

Bad Grades: The 2015 Honda Fit comes up short in a number of areas: handling is not as crisp as it is in the 2013 model; it provides a softer ride, but cornering ability suffers. The 2009-13 feels like a taut and fun–the 2015 Fit doesn’t. The new Fit has more engine horsepower, but it still strains and it’s loud and booming, worse than the old Fit. What happened to the additional sound insulation, Honda? It’s inexcusable for the new Fit to be so noisy.

Honda Fit

The new Fit loses about 4 cubic feet in cargo room to help allow for more rear leg room, and it’s a noticeable trade-off. The Fit LX gets a stereo with a volume control knob–great–but every other trim has an odd touch control for the volume, and it works poorly. Most drivers will need to adjust the volume from the steering wheel to do it safely. What’s worse, Honda is using that same flawed volume control on more of its new cars–a very bad thing. The 2015 Fit also loses the top storage in the dash, which is too bad.

Honda Fit – The Car Exam

Final Grade: The Fit earns a “B” grade–there’s definitely much room for improvement. There are more than enough fixable flaws with the 2015 Fit to prevent it from earning a better grade. It’s better in some areas, but it can be a lot better in others. If you go with the Fit, know what you’re getting–take an extended test drive before you decide.

Honda Fit – The Car Exam

 

2015 Honda Fit LX (as tested, MSRP): $16,450.00

 

Dodge Challenger R/T – The Car Exam

Dodge Challenger (2015) R/T Scat Pack – Front

2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack: Super American Muscle

Plusses: 6.4 liters, 485 horsepower of pure Hemi V8 muscle–the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack model is so fast, it will have you asking yourself, “Do I need this much horsepower? Really?” You may not need it all the time, but if you need to merge onto the highway or pass another vehicle, you’ll answer “Heck yes!” with a huge grin on your face. The rapid acceleration will press you against your seat instantly. The eight-speed automatic transmission works seemlessly with the 6.4 liter V8 engine. The Challenger shares the same platform as the Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300, which means interior space is great for an American muscle these days (the Challenger even has a good amount of useable trunk space, although the lift-over is high). The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro aren’t even close in that department.

Dodge Challenger (2015) Front and Side View

2015 Challenger – Trunk

The seats are top notch and comfortable, both in front and in back; the revised dash is light years better than the one in the 2014 models, and the touchscreen infotainment system is great–seeing the performance information (horsepower, torque, etc.) displayed on the screen is a terrific idea, and it can even be entertaining for passengers. The performance suspension has a ride the is acceptable, which is quite a surprise. The Challenger Scat Pack even has some nifty safety features on board (forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a rear backup camera for good measure). The 2015 Dodge Challenger also has classic good looks going for it also–it’s the total package.

Dodge Challenger – Dash and Front Seats

Challenger Dash 1

Challenger Dash 2

Minuses: You’ll pay dearly at the gas pump for all that horsepower–the Challenger’s poor fuel economy won’t win any awards for frugalness (E.P.A. rated 14 mpg city, 23 mpg highway). The huge blind spots from the rear “C” pillars hamper visibility. It also make rear seat passengers feel claustrophobic, in spite of the spacious rear seat.

2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack

Final Grade: if you can afford the mid-$40,000 price of the 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack (Consumer and Car Exam’s tester model), then go for it. This car will most likely become a collectible classic in the future. Do you need to buy the more expensive, Dodge Challenger SRT 392 model–or the even more expensive 707 hp Hemi Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat? No! The Scat Pack Challenger will do the job with no problem. The updated and improved Dodge Challenger is a fantastic piece of American muscle, and a thrill ride driving enthusiasts should experience at least once–actually, as many times as they possibly can. Even if some consumers can’t spend (or don’t want to) the extra cash for the Scat Pack Challenger, they still have the 5.7 liter, 375 hp, Hemi V8 R/T and 3.6 liter, 305 hp Pentastar V6 SXT models to choose from–decisions, decisions…

The Car Exam’s Grade: a strong “A” grade

Dodge Challenger (2015) – R/T and Base Models

Dodge Challenger (2015) Rear

Toyota Corolla LE Extended Test – The Car Exam

Toyota Corolla

Plusses: The 2014 Toyota Corolla LE has far more rear seat room than the 2014 model it replaced; it almost feels cavernous. Back seat passengers will be happy. It’s also clear to see why Toyota went with the CVT transmission now–it utilizes the power from the 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engine far better and more efficiently, making it accelerate faster (especially up long grades in the mountains) and also making the Corolla more fuel efficient (too bad the base models are still stuck with the outdated 4-speed automatic transmission). It’s not perfect, but the CVT Transmission does it’s job very well.

The Corolla LE has a soft, comfortable ride, soaks up bumps well and while it isn’t made for twisty roads and sharp handling, the suspension is acceptable, as are the brakes. The sounds system is good–a bit tedious to operate, though, and the back up camera is a nice touch, just be very careful not to over-calculate how close you are to another vehicle or object, because the camera’s lines on the screen seem a bit off, measurement-wise.

Minuses: the large, annoying, cinder block-styled dashboard is annoying and claustrophobic. It hurts outward visibility, as does the high rear deck lid. Speaking of which, the truck opening is too narrow, a common problem on most sedans these days, unfortunately. The rear seat headrests are not removable, which is inexcusable. If you have no rear seat passengers, and the driver wishes to remove the rear headrests for better visibility (which the driver would be happy to have, because the high position of the truck cuts rearward visibility out of the back window), then you’re out of luck. Toyota didn’t do this with at least the two previous generations of the Corolla, but it does now–and it feels like a cheap touch–not good, Toyota). Interior materials are better than the 2013 Corolla, but too much cheap plastic still remains.

Final Grade: that annoying dashboard, along with some other minor issues prompts The Car Exam to give the 2014 Corolla LE a “B” grade: if Toyota gets rid of that horribly annoying dashboard, the Corolla would have earn a top “A” grade for sure, because there’s a lot to like about the 2014-2015 Corollas.

Kia Sedona Quick Test – The Car Exam

Kia Sedona

Good Grades: the Sedona has nice styling (inside and out); this easily blows away every other Kia Sedona minivan built before this one. Kia has made terrific strides over the years in every phase of its operations, and this 2015 Sedona shows just how far Kia has come–even in the last 10 years. The 2015 Sedona has a cavernous, comfortable interior, decent braking/handling, a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission, fair mpg (18 city, 24 hwy), and nice safety features help the Sedona shine.

Kia Sedona

Kia Sedona Limited

Bad Grades: For some reason, the 2015 Kia Sedona fells a bit slow and underpowered. Having driven a Kia Optima before this, the Sedona felt like it could have used at least an extra 15 horsepower. It doesn’t feel like it’s packing a 3.3 liter, DOHC 24-valve, 276 hp V6 under the hood. The 248 lbs. ft. of torque feels taxed, too. The Limited model The Car Exam tested was north of $40,000, which is pricey for a minivan–potential buyers may wisely choose to opt for an L or LX model (the “L” starts at $26,000, while the LX starts at $28,300).

Kia Sedona

Final Grade: The Car Exam gives the 2015 Kia Sedona Limited a solid “B” grade. The Sedona, in spite of its flaws, is yet another impressive effort from Kia. The Sedona can easily give Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Dodge and Chrysler some tough competition, and look very good doing it.

Kia Sedona Limited

Kia Sedona Review Coming Soon

Kia Sedona

Consumer and Car Exam’s review of the 2015 Kia Sedona is coming soon! How does it drive? Stay tuned to Consumer and Car Exam to find out! More Car and Food reviews are coming up, as well!

The Ford Ranger U.S. customers can’t get! – The Car Exam

Ford Ranger

Ford may have abandoned the Ranger compact pickup in the U.S. after the 2011 model year (it was more profitable for Ford to make money on the full size F Series pickups here); people wanting a smaller pickup now are left with the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon siblings, the Toyota Tacoma or the Nissan Frontier to choose from. However, many other countries got a brand new Ranger–leaving U.S. customers out in the cold.

Ford Ranger (rear)

The Car Exam/Consumer and Car Exam recently spotted one from Mexico in the Southwestern U.S. It’s larger than the last one built here, but still smaller than the current F Series pickup sold here (and in Mexico). According to the Ford of Mexico website, it is only sold as a crew cab with a 2.5 liter, 164 HP four cylinder engine (http://www.ford.mx/camiones/ranger/precios). A 2.2L, 125 HP I4 TDCi diesel engine is also available.

Ford Ranger

The Ranger is available in XL, XLT and Limited trim levels. The base XL gasoline model starts at $285,500 pesos, or $18,189.57 US dollars. It’s too bad we can’t get it here in the US–it’s a decent looking truck, the base price is adequate, and people wanting a smaller truck would buy it.

Ford Ranger

Kia Forte LX – 2015 Extended Test

Kia Forte LX

Kia Forte LX – 2015 Extended Test – Consumer and Car Exam

Plusses: Comfortable seats (front and rear), front and rear leg room is excellent, a comfortable ride–the suspension soaks up most bumps easily; the interior ergonomics are on target–the radio and H/VAC controls are close to the driver and easy to read. The gauges are easy to read as well. The Forte has good trunk room. The stereo has good sound overall, and once you learn how to navigate it and play mp3/wma files, it is quite simple to use.

Kia Forte – Dash

Also, the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine has good low end power, the six-speed transmission shifts smoothly, and the brakes do a good job of stopping the Forte without hassle. The sun visors actually work–both for the windshield and the side windows–they are long and just the right length, unlike a lot of cars today. The exterior styling isn’t ground-breaking, but it doesn’t offend. It’s a decent looking car.

Minuses: The Kia’s acceleration seems to lag at higher speeds; by comparison, the 2014 Toyota Corolla tested just before the Forte did a far better job–with less horsepower. The CVT in the Corolla takes better advantage of its engine’s power band than the Kia’s engine/transmission combo. It required more shifting climbing steep grades than the Corolla, which handles that task with precision. The high rear deck lid cuts some rearward visibility, but the visibility out of the other windows in the car is just fine.

The soft suspension makes for a comfortable ride, but it isn’t sporty enough to go around twisty roads vigorously. In other words, it doesn’t feel “athletic.” Fuel economy is acceptable; slower driving is rewarded with better gas mileage. If you have a lead foot, it will drink gas as fast a thirsty dog drinks cool water on a hot summer day. It read color of the stereo display is a somewhat of a turn-off, just as they are in the Kia Soul and other Kia models.

Final Grade: it earns a solid “A-/B+” grade. The 2015 Kia Forte LX is a good commuter car that will work just a nicely as a long road trip car. The Car Exam’s extended test of the Forte was a good one–it was a solid feeling, comfortable car. It put many other compact (and mid-sized cars) to shame. The only thing missing was a sunroof, which can be had on higher-end Forte models. It lacks the “herky-jerky” transmission found in the Ford Focus, and the “cinder block in-your-face” dashboard found in the Toyota Corolla.

Kia Forte

If the Forte is reliable, then it will be money well-spent by consumers choosing to purchase it. If it were more fun to drive, and the engine had better high end acceleration, it would score even higher. The Kia Forte is just as good as its platform mate, the Hyundai Elantra, and worth consideration to buy for anyone looking for an affordable sedan (or even hatchback–the Forte 5).

Kia Forte – 2015

Kia Forte

Chevrolet Colorado Quick Test – The Car Exam

Chevrolet Colorado

Chevy Colorado

Plusses: The 2014 Chevrolet Colorado is a modern-looking pickup truck; the exterior has clean styling, the interior has easy to use controls and an easy to read instrument cluster, the optional 305 hp, 3.6 liter V6 engine (mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission) has adequate acceleration, good braking, adequate fuel economy for a truck (26 mpg highway for the V6, and 27 mpg on the highway for the 2.5 liter, 200 hp 4 cylinder engine), and for people who want a pickup smaller than a full-size truck, they have another viable option.

Chevrolet Colorado

Chevy Colorado – Dash

Chevy Colorado – Mid-Cluster

Minuses: The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Consumer and Car Exam tested rode very harshly–you could feel every imperfection in the road, the interior material quality didn’t impress, the seats didn’t feel especially comfortable, and regardless of the model–extended cab or crew cab, back seat passengers will be cramped.

Chevy Colorado interior 1

Chevy Colorado – interior 2

The Car Exam expected more from the Colorado, especially with all of the accolades is has received this year. Also, the Colorado can get pricey, and a fully-loaded 4×4 model shouldn’t come in well above $30,000. The days of a cheap, affordable new small truck far under $20,000 are long gone, sadly.

Coming soon: the 2015 Chevy Colorado Quick Test and more

2015 Chevrolet Colorado

Coming soon: the 2015 Chevy Colorado Quick Test; the 2014 Corolla revisited, and new food reviews…See them soon on The Car Exam!

Kia K 900 Quick Test: A Modern Day Luxury Cruiser

2015 Kia K 900

Plusses: The 2015 Kia K 900 has a soft (but not overly soft like a Cadillac from the 1970’s) ride, comfy for long, highway cruising; the 420 horsepower V8 accelerates with vigor, but you won’t mistake it for the optional 485 horsepower Hemi V8 in a Dodge Challenger. The eight-speed automatic transmission works smoothly with the 5.0 liter V8 engine, and the brakes work very well. The K 900 has a plethora safety features on board. There is lots of rear seat room, and the seat comfort for the driver and all passengers is impressive. Also, the interior materials are nice, ergonomics and gauges are good, and the exterior styling looks very good as well.

Kia K 900

Minuses: Almost $70,000 for a Kia? That’s what a fully-loaded K 900 will cost you. Will its resale value hold up over time? Not likely. It would be nice if it had sportier handling, or at least a model with more spirited handling around corners and twisty roads. The K 900 has the potential to be much more.

href=”https://thecarexam.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_4700.jpg”> Kia K 900[/caption]

Final Grade: The Kia K 900 earns an “A-“/”B+” grade–it’s that close. This is another solid effort from Kia, even though it may not sell in as large volumes as some its competition from Lexus, Mercedes Benz, etc. If you want to spend less money to get a competitive product, then take a closer look at the Kia K 900. If the K 900 proves itself in quality and reliability, then that will help establish a good reputation for it, something Kia can certainly build upon.

2015 Kia K 900

Kia K 900

Base MSRP (Premium Model): $54,500

Base MSRP (Luxury Model): $59,500