2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Pickup – All-American Hemi Muscle! – The Car Exam

2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Pickup – The Car Exam

2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Pickup: Hemi Muscle! – The Car Exam

Good Grades: This crew cab pickup truck has gobs of horsepower: 395 hp and 410 ft. lbs. of torque, and it can tow up to 10,600 pounds. Step on the gas even a bit too hard, and you’ll light up the rear tires something fierce–wow! The engine/transmission combo works well together. It accelerates very quickly, and passing attempts won’t be too difficult speed-wise. The brakes work nicely, too. There is a good amount of interior room (and storage space) in this truck, although the back seats don’t seem quite as roomy as you’d figure they would be. The styling is classic Ram, which makes you think of 18 wheelers when you look at one. The front seats are indeed comfortable, though, the gauges are easy to read, and interior materials quality is good. The stereo system sounds great, and the view out from the driver’s seat is good. A nice touch: the power-sliding rear window–every pickup truck should have that.

2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Pickup – Hemi Muscle! – The Car Exam

2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Pickup – Hemi Muscle! – The Car Exam

Bad Grades: Fuel economy, as you would expect, is poor. EPA city mileage is rated at 15 mpg, and it seems that’s the best Consumer and Car Exam could do round trip with mixed city and highway driving. The Ram drives too much like a car, which is to say the ride is too softly sprung, and changing lanes or turning corners results into some white knuckle moments. Also, the UConnect Stereo system seem more difficult to deal with on the Ram for some reason. Finally, the dial knob automatic transmission shifter/selector seems totally out of place on this truck.

2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Pickup – The Car Exam

2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Pickup – Hemi Muscle! – The Car Exam

2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Pickup – Hemi Muscle! – The Car Exam

Final Grade: B/B+ The Ram 1500 Big Horn model is a good, multipurpose, luxurious, fast, powerful, workhorse of a truck. Its previously mentioned shortcomings are the only things holding it back from getting an “A” grade from The Car Exam.

MSRP: $46,215

©2008-2016 Consumer and Car Exam and T.C.E. No use of any material from this website is allowed without the permission of Consumer and Car Exam and T.C.E.

twitter.com/thecarexam

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

©2008-2016 T.C.E. and Consumer and Car Exam. No material from this site may be used without permission of T.C.E. and Consumer and Car Exam

 

Ford Fiesta – Extended Test – The Car Exam

Ford Fiesta – Consumer and Car Exam

2015 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback Extended Test – The Car Exam

Good Grades: The Fiesta is a good transportation car–it gets decent fuel economy (28 CITY, 36 HWY–mileage seemed to vary wildly on the first leg of The Car Exam’s extended test-it was mostly downhill, and highway mileage was worse going than it was returning up some very hilly roads), engine power is somewhat adequate (120 horsepower, and 112 lb. ft. of torque)–the six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission works generally well with the engine, but the 2015 Fiesta is no speedster. If it were not for the sixth speed in the transmission, the acceleration would be much worse. Passing attempts take some pre-thought, which is a bummer-you want instant power, not delayed power. The brakes work just fine, it handles corners confidently, the ride is acceptable (not too harsh, not too soft) and the driver’s seat is comfortable. The seats work well for long trips, just like the one The Car Exam took with the 2015 Ford Fiesta. It feels like a solidly-built car–it doesn’t feel cheap and tinny. The Aston-Martin-like front end styling Ford has adopted on many of its vehicles in recent years works especially well here on the Fiesta, as it does on the Fusion and the Focus. Also, the blind spot mirrors are a nice and welcome safety touch on the Fiesta-all cars should have them.

Ford Fiesta – Consumer and Car Exam

Ford Fiesta – Consumer and Car Exam

Ford Fiesta – Consumer and Car Exam

Bad Grades: There is no rear leg room in the back seats (entry and exit into the back seats is also difficult); the cargo capacity–even with the rear seats folded town is terrible (the photos provided show exactly that-many other cars in its class are far roomier), the stereo is complex and has far too many buttons (very small buttons–forget trying to adjust the stereo properly when you’re driving-if you want it done right, it isn’t going to happen with the puzzle of buttons. Please, simplify this, Ford!) and it isn’t easy to use at all (which is too bad, because it sounds good), rear visibility is subpar, and watch your head when getting into the front and back seats–it’s easy to hit your head on the roof–and it hurts!

Ford Fiesta – Consumer and Car Exam

Ford Fiesta – Dash – Consumer and Car Exam

Ford Fiesta – rear seats- Consumer and Car Exam

Final Grade: The 2015 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback (even though it’s a very nice-looking car-one of the best looking in its class) needs a well-conceived redesign to get it right–it only earns a “C” grade. Ford is building better cars than before, but the Fiesta has too many crucial and functional shortcomings–and those flaws make it much less competitive than other subcompact cars in its class. The Fiesta should be due for a total redesign soon, and hopefully Ford will make the Fiesta worthy of an “A” grade. It has the ability to do as such, and with some careful and intuitive thought, Ford can redo the Fiesta successfully.

Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta – Consumer and Car Exam

Ford Fiesta

2015 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback Base Price (as tested): $15,595

Palomar Observatory – Palomar Mountain Road Trip – The Car Exam

Palomar Observatory – The Car Exam

 

Will you happen to be in Southern California for an upcoming trip, and you want a unique place to visit (and you’re a stargazer, too)? Try the Palomar Observatory in Palomar Mountain, California (South of Los Angeles and Riverside County; East of Yuma, Arizona). Nestled over 5600 feet high in the mountains away from city lights, this historic Caltech-owned observatory boasts the 200 inch Hale Telescope, once the world’s largest telescope. Go inside of the telescope, and you will see the inner-workings of the telescope along with displays about the history of the telescope, and the impact it has had on the world of astronomy and science. Take the Public Guided Tour (April – October) if you wish and pay $5.00 ($3.00 for children 5-12 years old), or make it an adventure and explore it yourself for free.

 
If you have more time during your trip, pay a visit to Palomar Mountain State Park, and go hiking if you wish. You can go hiking on one of its trails, go camping or even fishing (mountain bikes and dogs are not allowed on the trails, just so you know that ahead of time). If it’s as beautiful and scenic as the rest of the mountain, visitors will not be disappointed during their trek to Palomar Mountain State Park (address: 19952 State Park Rd. Palomar CA 92060). Go there and the nearby observatory, and you may be in for a fun day in Southern California. Obviously, it’s best to go when the weather is warm, so keep them on your list of places to visit. See their websites for directions, operating times, fees, and other visitor information.

–The Car Exam

 

Palomar Observatory – Close up – The Car Exam

 

 

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

 

Ford Fiesta – The Car Exam

Ford Fiesta – The Car Exam

Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback Quick Test

Good Grades: The Fiesta is a good transportation car–it gets decent fuel economy (28 CITY, 36 HWY), engine power is adequate (120 horsepower, and 112 lb. ft. of torque)–the six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission works generally well with the engine, the brakes work fine, it handles corners confidently, the ride is acceptable (not too harsh, not too soft) and the driver’s seat is comfortable. It feels like a solidly-built car–it doesn’t feel cheap and tinny. The Aston-Martin-like front end styling Ford has adopted on many of its vehicles in recent years works especially well here on the Fiesta, as it does on the Fusion and the Focus.

Ford Fiesta – The Car Exam

Bad Grades: There is no rear leg room in the back seats (entry and exit into the back seats is also difficult); the cargo capacity–even with the rear seats folded town is terrible (many other cars in its class are far roomier), the stereo is complex and has far too many buttons (very small buttons) and it isn’t easy to use at all (which is too bad, because it sounds good), rear visibility is subpar, and watch your head when getting into the front and back seats–it’s easy to hit your head on the roof–and it hurts!

 

Final Grade: The Fiesta (even though it’s a very nice-looking car) needs a well-conceived redesign to get it right–it only earns a “C” grade. Ford is building better cars than before, but the Fiesta has too many crucial and functional shortcomings–and those flaws make it much less competitive than other subcompact cars in its class.

 

Ford Fiesta – The Car Exam

 

2015 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback Base Price (as tested): $15,595

 

SUV – Truck –  Auto Exam and News ©2008-2015 The Car Exam and C&CE

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

Ford Mustang Convertible (2014) – Ford’s Fifth Generation Pony Car Sendoff: An Extended Test

2014 Ford Mustang

Good Grades: Horsepower. Lots of Horsepower. Don’t let the base V6 engine fool you: the 305 horsepower, 3.7 liter V6 can get up and go. The 305 horsepower was needed on various occasions, and it didn’t disappoint. Sure, it may not have the 430-plus horsepower that the current Mustang GT has, but it holds its own very nicely. The 6-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and works well with the V6. There was a bit of hesitation when the transmission was put in reverse, which may have been an anomaly with the test vehicle.

Ford Mustang – Consumer and Car Exam

Ford Mustang – 3.7 liter V6

The four-wheel disc brakes stop quickly; there is a lot of front end nosedive, but considering the heavy weight of the car and soft suspension, it’s understandable. There is lots of front leg room; if a short driver or passenger is up in the front, then rear passengers do have a bit of legroom to work with–not much–but it won’t be adequate for long trips, though. The front seats, while generally comfortable, also become tiresome on long trips.

The 2014 Ford Mustang base model tested had a good bit of good standard features going for it–most buyers wouldn’t need to check very many option boxes. The styling of the 5th generation Mustang is decidedly retro, but it evolved during the course of its nine-year run, and Ford did a good job of moving it along.

Ford Mustang – Consumer and Car Exam

Bad Grades: The soft suspension–the base Mustang’s suspension is too soft. While it handles speed bumps and some road imperfections well, it makes tight cornering far less confident. It isn’t as bad as the 4th generation Mustang’s sloppy base model suspension, but it still isn’t ideal. Don’t expect to have any fun driving the 2014 base model Mustang around twisty roads–it will inspire fear more than anything.

The ancient rear live axle suspension doesn’t help cornering either–hit almost any road imperfection when you’re turning a corner, and the rear end will feel like it’s skating on ice. Thankfully, Ford gave all 2015 Mustangs independent rear suspensions, a welcome and long overdue change.

Ford Mustang – Consumer and Car Exam

The speakers in the base Mustang sound sub-par–the base is nowhere near as strong as it should be in a car that costs way over $20,000. There are also too many small buttons used to control stereo (and HVAC) controls. You need to be able change the controls quickly at a glance, and that’s a challenge in the 2014 Mustang. Was this improved in the 2015 Mustang? A review of the 2015 Mustang will help determine that.

Ford Mustang – Stereo/HVAC controls

Fuel economy is okay on the highway (up to 27 mpg was averaged on the highway during the test), but the city mpg isn’t so great, unfortunately. Combined highway and city mpg hovered around 23 mpg–sometimes more, sometimes less. Finally, please, Ford–give both front seats power adjustments, especially for height–entry and exit ease is important for any car. Also, the convertible roof has large blind spots, but it’s a convertible and that can’t be avoided.

Ford Mustang

Final Grade: The 2014 Mustang base model convertible earns a solid “B” grade. It is a decent sendoff for America’s original pony car. While not a perfect driver’s car, it’s a nice car for cruising the town in style. If you need better everything in your Mustang (except fuel economy), go for the Mustang GT. The 2015 Mustang may improve on that formula; time (and an all-new road test) will tell…

Ford Mustang – Consumer and Car Exam

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 Optima SX Limited – 2015 – The Car Exam Quick Test

 

Kia Optima – 2015

Plusses: The 2015 Kia Optima SX Limited is a nice, well-balanced car. The Optima’s ride is near-perfect, the interior is comfortable (and roomy), interior materials feel upscale, and the dash design is superb. The 2.0 liter, Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), 274 horsepower, turbocharged four cylinder engine is powerful, slick, and very smooth–no turbo lag was detected at all–this is the smoothest turbocharged engine The Car Exam Has ever tested. Braking feels good as well.

2015 Kia Optima – Dash

This fully-loaded test model had navigation, rear camera, blindspot detection and much more; the safety features on the Optima are impressive. 34 mpg on the highway also impresses, and the six-speed automatic transmission will not disappoint most drivers.

2015 Kia Optima

Minuses: Only one: The c-pillar design on the roof creates a blindspot (and the high trunk blocks your rearward view), but the blindspot detection can help compensate for that.

2015 Kia Optima

Final Grade: This is one of the best all-around, mid-sized sedans on the market today–and most worthy of The Car Exam’s Final Grade of “A+”…Well done, Kia–well done.

2015 Kia Optima