Ford Mustang – Summer American Muscle Car Series! The Car Exam

2014 Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang – Summer Car Exam Summer American Muscle Car Series – The Car Exam

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 – The 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 – The 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. 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. Meanwhile, the current Mustang continues to add to the storied legend of the Ford Mustang (see immediate photos below) with stronger V8 engines, the return of the Shelby GT 350, a more than adequate V6 option, and the return of the four cylinder option with a powerful Eco Boost engine. This pony definitely continues to gallop into the future of Ford.

Ford Mustang – The Car Exam

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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

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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

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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

Kia Optima – 2015 Extended Test Revisited – Consumer and Car Exam

2015 Kia Optima

2015 Kia Optima SX and LX…revisiting one of Consumer and Car Exam’s most popular reviews

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. Cloth materials in the base Optima LX are acceptable, as well. 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 Consumer and Car Exam Has ever tested. Braking feels good as well. The brakes also stop promptly in the Optima LX.

The non-turbo engine in our recent extended test base model Optima accelerated very well, too; it puts out a strong 192 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration is not lacking in either model tested. The trunk is large—cavernous, and it can hold a lot of items. The base suspension on the Optima LX is softer, so it doesn’t handle with the same vigor as the sport-tuned suspension on the SX Limited. Nevertheless, the base LX suspension does a great job of soaking up bumps in the road—it definitely serves its purpose for typical driving here.

2015 Kia Optima

This fully-loaded test model had navigation, rear camera, blind spot 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; however, there is another caveat about rearward visibility in the upcoming minuses section…The stereo in the Kia Optima LX also has a good sound, with very strong bass tones to spice up the sound if you want to.

2015 Kia Optima

Minuses: The c-pillar design on the roof creates a blind spot, but the blind spot detection system can help compensate for that. Now, the other rearward visibility caveat: the high rear deck lid (and steeply-sloping rear window) makes rear visibility difficult; on the extended test base model Optima LX recently driven, two of the three rear headrests had to be removed to improve the rearward view. The high deck lid could be a problem for short drivers. Any kind of moderately-spirited driving means poor gas mileage (at least in the base LX, fuel economy tanks badly), so one needs to be careful when driving the Optima.

2015 Kia Optima

Final Grade: This is one of the best all-around, mid-sized sedans on the market today–and most worthy of Consumer and Car Exam’s final grade of “A/A+”…Well done, Kia–well done, and the all-new 2016 Kia Optima will hopefully be a winner, too.

2015 Kia Optima

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!

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!

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