2012 Nissan Juke – Cool In A Can

May 7th, 2012 · · Nissan No comments - Tags: ,

Some people think the 2012 Nissan Juke boasts innovative styling like no other car on the road, while others may be intimidated by its unique and unconventional design. One thing’s for sure though — drivers who get behind the wheel to discover what the Juke can really do end up loving this one-of-a-kind vehicle. In case you need convincing, here are five reasons why you should jump into the driver’s seat of this unique hatchback:

5 Reasons To Buy A Nissan Juke

1.    Distinctive looks – With sloping roof lines, attractive curves, and sleek sheet metal, the 2012 Nissan Juke will make sure that you stand out on the road, and we think that’s decidedly a good thing in a world full of pretenders.
2.    Plenty of kick – True, this is a small hatchback, but you’ll feel like you’re driving a sports car when you feel the Juke jump after you put your foot down on the gas pedal. The only engine available with the 2012 Juke is a turbocharged 1.4L inline-4 that’s capable of 188 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. You have the option of either a continuously variable automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. Oh, and did we mention that it can go from zero to sixty mph in a mere 7.3 seconds? That makes it one of the quicker performers in its class.
3.    Optional all-wheel drive – What are you going to do when the roads are slippery? Unlike most other small hatchbacks, you won’t have to be so concerned when driving conditions are rough thanks to the Juke’s optional AWD.


4.    More options – This four-door hatchback gives you the choice of four different trim levels. The base model gives you 17-inch wheels, keyless entry, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker audio system with a CD player and auxiliary input. Some of the standout options on other trim levels include keyless ignition, satellite radio, a Navigation package, Sport Accessory package, and Chrome package to customize your Juke to your exact specifications.
5.    It will save you money – The 2012 Nissan Juke is a steal given its base price of only $19,990, but it’ll save you some cash when you fill up, too: when equipped with front-wheel drive and the continuously variable automatic transmission, this unique hatchback is capable of up to 27 mpg city/32 mpg highway.

It’s hard to believe that some people would dismiss the 2012 Juke because of its bold styling, but that’s a big part of why we love it, and we’re confident that it will win over skeptics who give it a chance.

5 Reasons To Love The 2012 Toyota Camry

May 7th, 2012 · · Toyota No comments - Tags: ,

The 2012 Toyota Camry is well-known among enthusiasts of midsize sedans, but what about the rest of us? Certainly, once you’ve been behind the wheel of this peppy little car, you’ll fall in love. Here are five reasons why you should be driving the 2012 Toyota Camry — we promise you won’t regret it.

1. Improvement year after year – Edmunds.com notes that “The 2012 Toyota Camry has been improved in almost every detail,” which has once again made it “a top choice for a midsize sedan.” We agree, and it certainly bodes well that Toyota has shown a willingness to listen to their customers by improving on a design that many believed to be perfectly adequate already. With the Camry, you never have to settle for just adequate.

2. Impressive powertrain options – The 2012 Toyota Camry will give you a choice of two different engines: a 2.5L four-cylinder that’s capable of 178 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque, or a 268-hp 3.5L V6 that produces 248 lb-ft of torque. Either way, you’ll have plenty of power for your day-to-day driving tasks. The only relevant question is: just how much do you want?

3. Performance – The Camry’s power manifests itself in a couple of important ways. For one thing, the four-cylinder engine is capable of accelerating from zero to sixty mph in just 8.1 seconds, which makes the 2012 Camry one of the quickest four-cylinder midsize sedan models available. Second, when equipped with the four-cylinder engine, the 2012 Camry is capable of achieving 25 mpg city/35 mpg highway/28 mpg combined, meaning that you can take advantage of significant savings at the pump when you’re driving a Camry.

4. Safety – The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2012 Camry the highest possible score in frontal-offset, side-impact, and roof-strength tests, while it also earned a five-star rating in government crash tests. Need we say more?

5. Value – With a starting price of only $21,955, you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck, especially when you consider that the base 2012 Camry boasts Bluetooth, a six-speaker CD audio system, and air condition among its standard features. Of course, with four available trim levels, you can get plenty of comfort and convenience features if you’re willing to put up a little more cash. Either way, it’s a fantastic price for a fantastic car.

 

5 Reasons To Love The 2012 Honda Civic

May 7th, 2012 · · Honda No comments - Tags: ,

If you’re in the market for a great compact car, then you’ve surely given the 2012 Honda Civic at least a passing glance. Well, we’re here to tell you that you should consider it a strong contender for your next vehicle purchase. Here are five fantastic reasons to choose the 2012 Honda Civic over competing compact cars.

1. Options galore – The standard 2012 Honda Civic gives you a choice of four different trim levels that, predictably, feature an impressive array of comfort and convenience options. However, the options are much greater than that, and not just because it’s available as either a sedan or a coupe. Aside from the standard Civic, there are four other options. There’s the fuel efficient HF sedan which boasts design features specifically designed to increase fuel-efficiency, though drivers who want a bit more bang for their gasoline buck will look to the Civic Hybrid model. There’s also the Civic Natural Gas, which operates entirely on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Maybe you want something sportier? The Honda Civic Si, available in both sedan and coupe body styles, will give you plenty of jump.

2. Safety – The 2012 Honda Civic Sedan earned a perfect five-star rating in government crash tests, in addition to the highest possible rating in frontal-offset, side-impact, and roof-strength tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

3. Comfortable interior – The 2012 Civic’s interior hasn’t changed much from its predecessors — why fix something that’s not broken? The cabin is actually more spacious, offering enhanced elbow and shoulder room, while the trunk has also expanded to 12.5 cubic feet in the Civic Sedan, a figure that drops to 11.7 cubic feet in the Civic Coupe and 10.7 cubic feet in the Hybrid. The Natural Gas model features the smallest trunk by virtue of its larger fuel tank.

4. Fuel economy – The standard 2012 Civic Sedan features a 1.8L four-cylinder engine that, when equipped with a manual transmission, is capable of up to 28 mpg city/36 mpg highway, a figure that jumps to 29 mpg city/41 mpg highway in the HF model and an astonishing 44 mpg city/44 mpg highway in the Civic Hybrid.

5. Value – It’s not just about saving money at the pump. The cost of entry for the base model of the 2012 Honda Civic is only $15,755, making this compact car a great deal for all types of drivers.

With so much value packed into so many different Civic options, drivers are sure to find the right model for them at their local Honda dealer.

 

 

2012 Kia Optima – Midsized Style

May 7th, 2012 · · Kia No comments - Tags: ,

Kia’s midsize sedan has been a strong seller, and with a starting price of only $19,500, it’s easy to see why. Critics and consumers have praised the 2012 Kia Optima for a variety of reasons, but, aside from the price, what are the top selling points? We’d like to take the occasion to count down the top five reasons that you should be behind the wheel of a 2012 Optima.

1. Options – With the 2012 Optima, you’ll get your choice of five different trim levels: LX, EX, EX Turbo, SX, and Hybrid. You’ll find plenty of features to love in the base model, including full power accessories, Bluetooth, air conditioning, and an audio system that includes a CD player, satellite radio, and auxiliary inputs. If you’re willing to fork out some extra cash, you can get high-end options like a rearview camera, a navigation system, dual-zone climate control, and an eight-speaker Infinity audio system.

2. Performance – The standard powertrain for the LX and EX models of the 2012 Optima features a 2.4L four-cylinder engine that’s capable of 200 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, and it’s capable of going from zero to sixty miles per hour in just 8.9 second. The best part, though, is the fuel economy: 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway. It only gets better when you take a look at the hybrid edition.

3. A hybrid option – The new Optima is great with a standard powertrain, but the hybrid trim will give you up to 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway, making this a great choice for drivers who want to save money at the gas pump.

4. Safety – With features like anti-lock disc brakes, traction and stability control, and comprehensive airbag coverage, it’s no surprise that the 2012 Kia Optima has earned a five-star rating in government crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety agrees, giving it the top rating of “good” in frontal-offset, side-impact, and roof-strength tests.

5. Comfort – The 2012 Optima’s cabin is spacious, affording drivers and passengers alike ample head and legroom. With 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space — and 9.9 cubic feet in the hybrid model —you’ll have room to carry plenty of cargo in addition to your passengers.

Convinced yet? The 2012 Kia Optima has proven itself as one of the best midsize sedans on the market, and we’re confident that anyone who spends time behind the wheel will agree.

 

 

Best Features Of The 2012 Nissan Sentra

April 15th, 2012 · · Nissan No comments - Tags: , , ,

I recently bought a Sentra. I had to downgrade from a Maxima (yeah heartbroken) because my new day job requires a lot of driving. In addition, with grass prices topping $4 per gallon in Chicago and my company only reimbursing $.19 per business mile, something had to give.

So I trekked down to my favorite Nissan dealer in Schererville, IN and test drove a Sentra. Now, some have given it bad reviews this year due to the fact that is hasn’t had an update in several years, but I still think this little gem has tons of advantages over it’s class competitors from Ford, Chevy and Toyota.

Before I give you my top 4 “LIKES” of the Sentra, here is a video overview for you:

4 Great Things About Sentra

Sleak Lines – you can never go wrong with the look of the Sentra. It’s sleak and smooth and the headlights are pretty darn cool. I also think the spoiler on the rear deck fits well and gives the Sentra a race look that adds class. Mine is Aspen white which gives it a “company” look – which is what I use it for anyway!

Interior Room – The front leg room is really about the same as my Maxima from what I can tell. Now, I’m only 5’8″ tall, but still, I can tell that there is good leg room in the front. In the rear, not too bad either really. (but I never sit back there anyway :) )

Here are the official particulars: Interior dimensions: 40.6 in. front headroom, 37.3 in. rear headroom, 54.1 in. front hip room, 53.0 in. rear hip room, 42.4 in. front leg room, 34.5 in. rear leg room, 56.9 in. front shoulder room, 55.1 in. rear shoulder room and 97.7 cu ft. interior volume

Good Pickup – It’s only a 4-cylinder, but the 140 HP engine is pretty sweet on pickup. I drive a lot on the highways of Chicago and I have no trouble passing on the toll road.

Smooth Ride – I have been driving NISSAN vehicles for many years. I’ve owned a Murano and Maxima most recently, and my very first car was a Datsun 210 stationwagon (banana yellow).. and I can tell you that EVERY Nissan “has a little Maxima in it.” The Sentra is no exception and rides and handles like a dream – with a hint of swagger.

I highly recommend the Sentra for anyone looking to ride with a bit of style at a low price point. I get right about 30 mpg so far with half and half highway/city driving. What do you guys think?