Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover google doc

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover is no longer just a single models - it's Become an entire model line unto itself. Beyond the well-established 2-door and 4-door Golf hatchbacks, the Golf family Also includes the roomy Golf SportWagen, an electric eGolf and the performance-oriented GTI and Golf R. Redesigned last year, the Golf is the Reviews largest it has ever been, providing better rear-seat and cargo space and a smoother ride. What has not changed for VW's entry-level car is its affordable base price, a choice between gasoline and diesel engines and a long list of standard and available features. Not a VW fan? The Mazda3 has less horsepower but better fuel economy, while the Hyundai Elantra GT offers a better warranty and more standard features.

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover google doc

Despite a complete makeover last year, Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover line is instantly recognizable. While the two-box profile is the same, all the surfaces Appear to be highly tailored with crisp character lines that start at the base of the steeper hood and new narrow horizontal grille, the which is flanked by sharper headlight clusters. The distinctive C-pillar treatment recalls Golf Earlier generations, adding to the familiarity of the overall look. The car sits low to the ground and has a wide track, giving it a more muscular, purposeful appearance. The Golf R and e-Golf are 4-door only.
The VW Golf for 2016 offers European-inspired handling, safety and interior design, the which the make even the most basic Golf and upscale feel more polished than most domestic and Asian competitors. The diesel engine delivers impressive fuel economy and acceleration, while the GTI and Golf R will thrill driving enthusiasts.

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover google doc

If you prefer the safety of a trunk to the Golf's open cargo area, a VW Jetta or even the Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic will have to do. The Golf does not offer a diesel hybrid cars and many models now come close to the diesel's fuel economy.

Interior

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover google doc

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover gains a new MIB II infotainment audio system with VW Car-Net App-Connect technology. The system can support CarPlay Apple, Android Auto and MirrorLink. The Golf's Driver Assistance package adds adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitor, Lane Assist and Park Assist.

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover google doc

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover continues a tradition of having an upscale look to its interior, using high-quality materials, soft-touch surfaces and, on higher trims, piano-black accents. The cabin has generous shoulder room in both rows.

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover google doc

Cargo volume is 16.5 cubic feet below the parcel shelf and 22.8 cubic feet to the roof. Loading is made easy thanks to a low liftover in the rear hatch. The rear seat has a 60/40 split-folding rear back, expanding the load space to 52.7 cubic feet when lowered. There's plenty of front-seat storage in the center console and door panels.

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover google doc

Power

Volkswagen's Golf for 2016 offers a number of engines and trims, with the most popular being the 1.8-liter gasoline TSI and the 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel
Similar suspension setups delivering excellent driving dynamics without a harsh ride. Acceleration from the base engine is surprisingly strong, but it's the diesel's abundance of torque that makes it the Quicker of the two. The gas engine can be paired with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, the diesel with a six-speed manual or the DSG automatic. Those seeking better performance can opt for the 210-horsepower GTI, the which comes complete with sport seats, sport suspension and an available automatic DSG gearbox. The Golf R takes everything good about the GTI and ramps it up, with 292 horsepower and 4MOTION all-wheel drive that allow the R to sprint to 60 mph in less than five seconds.

Golf gasoline engines include a turbocharged 4-cylinder in 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter displacements. The 1.8-liter engine is available with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, while the GTI's 2.0-liter comes with a 6-speed manual transmission or, optionally, the 6-speed DSG automatic. The 292-horsepower 2.0-liter Golf R has all-wheel drive and new for 2016 a 6-speed manual along with an available DSG. The diesel-powered Golf is paired with a 6-speed manual or the optional DSG automatic transmission. Regular unleaded is recommended on the 1.8-liter TSI, while the 2.0-liter GTI and R require premium fuel. The e-Golf uses an electric engine and has an estimated range of 83 miles. It can recharge in about four hours on a 240-volt outlet and is compatible with DC fast-charging stations.

1.8-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Golf, SportWagen)
170 horsepower @ 4,500 rpm
200 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city / highway fuel economy: 25/37 mpg (manual), 25/36 mpg (manual, SportWagen), 25/36 mpg (automatic), 25/35 mpg (automatic, SportWagen)
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (GTI)
210 horsepower @ 4,500 rpm
220 horsepower @ 4,700 (optional performance pack)
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city / highway fuel economy: 25/34 mpg (manual), 25/33 mpg (automatic)
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 diesel (TDI)
150 horsepower @ 3,500 rpm
236 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750 rpm
EPA city / highway fuel economy: 30/45 mpg (manual), 31/43 mpg (automatic)
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Golf R)
292 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800 rpm
EPA city / highway fuel economy: 22/31 mpg (manual), 23/30 mpg (automatic)
AC synchronous electric motors (e-Golf)
115 horsepower @ 3,000 rpm
199 lb-ft of torque @ 0 to 3.000 rpm
EPA-estimated range of per full charge: 83 Miles
EPA city / highway fuel economy equivalent: 126/105 MPGe

Volkswagen Golf R 2016 The Urban Crossover google doc

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2016 VW's Golf 2-door hatch is $ 19.315 Including destination charges, the which is competitive against Kia Forte, Ford Focus, Mazda3 and Subaru Impreza. The S models is $ 20.395 for a 2-door and $ 20.995 for the four-door. SE models start at $ 26.045 and the top-line SEL starts at $ 28.215. Diesel models add about $ 1,000. The sporty GTI starts at $ 25.815 and tops out at $ 33.550. The four-door Golf R starts around $ 38,000. , The e-Golf begins just over $ 36,000 before incentives and is available in California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. To make your best deal, check KBB's Fair Purchase Price, the which shows what others paid for Reviews their Golf. Traditionally, golfs growing niche to play on the side of the residuals Weaker field, Although values ​​for the diesel TDI and GTI trims growing niche to be much higher.

Toyota Hilux 2016 is a Higher Power

Toyota Hilux 2016 is a Higher Power google doc

Toyota's Hilux is a Higher and reliable twin-cab or single-cab ute / pickup, the which has dominated the segment for two Decades and is consistently one of Australia's top-selling cars.

It is Widely respected by buyers for its dual capabilities as a tough workhorse and tow-vehicle, as well as for its family-friendly space and versatility.

It is available with both 4x4 and 4x2 drivetrains and comes in a single, double or extra cab over a wide range of models: workmate, SR, SR5 and Black Limited Edition.

The Hilux comes in four engine configurations: a 2.7-liter VVT petrol, 2.4-liter diesel, 2.8-liter diesel and 4.0 liter V6 petrol, as well as a five-speed manual, six-speed manual and six-speed sports automatic.

Key features include driver and passenger airbags, traction control, electronic brake distribution, Bluetooth capabilities, as well as cruise control and two or six-speaker stereo. Up-spec models come with a list of premium features.

The 2.8-liter diesel has a rating of 3.5 tonne tow a braked trailer, 750kg, unbraked.

The Toyota Hilux has long had a reputation for being one of the toughest utes on the market, and with this, the eighth-generation models, the brand says it has made the unbreakable Hilux even more unbreakable.

Toyota Hilux 2016 is a Higher Power google doc

Toyota has spent six years and covered more than 650,000 kilometres around Australia in developing the all-new Hilux, and the company claims it has taken a step up from the top-selling models Replaces it.

Let's get one thing out of the way: Toyota's development team could have rested on their laurels and done as little as possible to get the updated models over the line - but they did not.

Toyota Hilux 2016 is a Higher Power google doc

Development started in 2009, and the company was part-way through the process when Newcomers like the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger / Mazda BT-50 meant the company tore up its plans and went back to the drawing board. That was 2011, and now Toyota reckons it has done everything needed to Ensure strong sales for the years to come.

Interior

Owners of the previous generation Hilux will barely recognise the fitout of the new models. Reworked from top to bottom, the interior borrows the best of Toyota's passenger car range, while still being work-rated.

Toyota Hilux 2016 is a Higher Power google doc

From the 7.0-inch touchscreen to the upper cooled glovebox, the Hilux feels more like an SUV, but the dash and doors are still finished in hard wearing, knock-resistant plastics, so there's little fear you'll tear or split anything.

Premium cloth seats and a carpeted floor add a little comfort (you'll find the same seat fabric in the Fortuner). Seat travel is generous enough to a accommodate drivers of all shapes and sizes, plus the steering wheel reach and rake adjustment features.

There's more room in the rear, stacks of head room, and more than enough knee room for anyone up to the six-foot mark. Grab handles on the B-pillars aid entry, while the rear seat base can be flipped up to fit more gear in.

Toyota Hilux 2016 is a Higher Power google doc

As for the touchscreen, while it's nice in theory plenty of utes spend choked Reviews their life in a layer of grime - gritty hands and plastic touchscreens are not a perfect solution in our opinion.

At the business end of the tub offers 1569mm length, 1645mm of width and a depth of 481mm making it larger than before in all directions. The tailgate persists with a two-latch fastener (unlike the SR5) making it a two hand operation, while a header Sturdy frame and built-in rope-rails are all part of the SR package.

Toyota Auris Hybrid 2016 The Crossover Sport

Toyota Auris Hybrid  2016 The The Crossover Sport google doc

The 2016 Toyota Auris Hybrid has been unveiled at this years Geneva Motor Show. The Toyota company will release a new addition to its hatchback lineup, the which is already reaching the point where it is in need of a refreshment. The new Auris hybrid is ready for the tough competition in this class, with totally new features and design improvements.

If you’re a company car user, the Hybrid is now even cheaper in terms of benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax thanks to a cut in CO2 emissions, to just 79g/km. It’s also available on all trim levels, not just the top-spec cars as before. If you mainly drive in town it makes sense, using its electric motor more often to give decent fuel economy and quiet progress. However, out of town when it needs the petrol engine to add some oomph, it’s a bit of a drag.

Toyota Auris Hybrid  2016 The Crossover Sport google doc

Try to overtake or climb up a hill and the CVT automatic gearbox sends the engine spinning up to high revs, causing the pedals and the steering wheel to buzz in the process, meaning it will struggle to match a diesel for low-down shove and real-world economy.

All of which makes the new 1.6-litre diesel engine better suited to those that cover lots of miles on faster roads. That said, it isn’t as clean or frugal as a Nissan Pulsar or Seat Leon diesel, and it’s a little lacklustre to drive. It starts to pull from 1500rpm but doesn’t really get going until 2000rpm. By 3000rpm it’s sounding a bit boomy and unrefined and also sends unwanted vibrations through to the controls.

Toyota Auris Hybrid  2016 The Crossover Sport google doc

For the best all-round experience the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol is the one to go for. It’s got enough low-end shove to mean it works in town as well as on the motorway, but best of all it’s as smooth as the Pulsar’s 1.2 petrol and equally happy to rev. While it won’t match the diesel for fuel economy or emissions, it’s not far off it – at least on paper - and it's cheaper to buy.

Toyota's fettling with the Auris’s suspension and steering has made it better to drive, if still a little lacklustre next to its rivals. You’ll have more fun in a Leon if you’re a spirited driver, but the Auris corners well enough for most people’s needs - too much body roll in corners is one notable gripe, though.

Although the steering feels a touch too light around the straight-ahead, the software tweaks mean it provides more confidence-inspiring weight as you add lock and it’s pretty direct, too.The ride’s also smoother over the majority of surfaces. It fidgets over rippled surfaces and thuds over deeply recessed manhole covers, but it's comfortable the rest of the time.

Toyota Auris Hybrid  2016 The Crossover Sport google doc

It was pouring with rain when we drove the car in Belgium, which made it difficult to assess whether the increased sound deadening has made much of a difference to the car’s refinement. From what we could ascertain there’s still a noticeable amount of wind noise at speed and road noise over rough roads, so it’s unlikely to challenge the decidedly hushed Pulsar for cabin refinement.

In the front, there’s a decent driving position, led by comfortable seats that have plenty of fore and aft movement and with height adjustment, too. If you are tall the stunted rearward travel from the height- and reach-adjustable steering wheel is the only real limiting factor.

Visibility all-round is okay rather than great. Thick windscreen pillars get in the way of your view forwards and the thick rear pillars limit the view over your shoulder. The instrument dials are clear though, and the new 4.2in TFT screen in the binnacle offers a useful array of driver info.

Toyota Auris Hybrid  2016 The Crossover Sport google doc

The majority of the cabin’s upper surfaces are finished in soft-touch materials that feel good, but the overall effect is still rather drab. The dashboard has particularly slab-like styling, which, on the majority of models, is finished in fifty shades of black. On non-hybrid models the heated front seat switches – where fitted - are hidden away behind a cheap-feeling plastic door above the gear lever; it’s an ergonomic oddity in what’s otherwise a pretty user-friendly layout.

At the centre of the dash is the new Touch 2 7in infotainment screen. This is standard on all but the entry-level Active models and on Business Edition versions and above it includes sat-nav as well. The screen is large and clear but it’s sometimes sluggish to respond to commands, at least compared with some of the best systems out there.

In the rear, space is tight by class standards and someway short of the decidedly roomy Nissan Pulsar. Leg room is the main issue, but head room is also tight with the panoramic glass roof fitted.

Toyota Auris Hybrid  2016 The Crossover Sport google doc

In hatchback guise, the boot isn’t as big as its rivals either but does come with a false floor for additional storage. This also allows for a completely flat load bay when you drop the 60/40 folding rear seats down.

The Sports Tourer estate has a much bigger and very well designed load bay. There’s even more under-floor capacity, additional storage bins, a minimal load lip and convenient levers by the tailgate to drop the spring-loaded rear seats in one simple action.

Equipment levels on the Auris are generally similar to its rivals and you can now opt for a Safety Sense package (on all but the entry-level trim). This offers lane assist, automatic high-beam headlights, a road sign assist and a pre-collision alert and avoidance system.

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv google doc

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv with a premium price. Offered alongside the brand's more mainstream models, the Touareg is really more of a rival to models with luxury badges.

The Touareg isn't just the most expensive and luxurious model VW sells in the U.S.. It's also the larger of two sport-utility vehicles in the company's lineup, and its basic underpinnings are shared with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne.

After a 2015 refresh, the 2016 Touareg drops its Hybrid model and adds an Automatic Post-Collision Braking system that automatically applies the brakes after a crash to help prevent further damage. Regular-grade fuel is now acceptable for the gasoline V-6, and VW has shuffled some equipment as well. The base model loses some features but also drops in price by $2,000. The Lux and Executive models add 14-way power-adjustable ventilated front seats, and the Executive gets a suite of safety features that includes VW's Area View exterior camera system, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Braking.

Although the Touareg got more of a road focus with its last redesign, it remains relatively rugged. The goal then was to give it broader appeal—though the price remains a hangup, and VW's new three-row SUV expected next year will close the market gap, with more value and a lower price. The exterior styling is elegant, with less of a butch appearance. A slightly wider body, and somewhat longer wheelbase and length give the design more of a conventional crossover-wagon look (and functionally, more space), while the interior layout has a more upright orientation compared to other family crossovers.

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv google doc

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv used to be grossly overweight, but with its last redesign VW made it lighter overall, and better-detailed inside. Astoundingly—through the use of advanced materials and techniques—it engineered about 450 pounds out of the vehicle, gaining up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency. It still offers way more truck-like ability than most other crossovers do, and more off-road and towing ability than most shoppers are likely to need. Think of that as a plus or a minus, depending on priorities.

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv google doc

The Touareg is still no crisp handler—few crossovers are, really—but it's as nimble and responsive as many of its rivals. The weight reduction is easily felt from one generation to the next, and the Touareg's steering is nicely weighted, with a calibration that's more suited to cruising down the highway than mixing it up in the twisties. Ride quality is quite good, but the high seating position accentuates smaller motions and choppy pavement.

Eight-speed automatic transmissions and full-time four-wheel drive are the building blocks in the powertrain department, while under the hood there are two engine choices. Base versions get a conventional gasoline V-6, a 3.6-liter, 280-horsepower narrow-angle V-6 (VR6) that is plenty quick for most needs.

The clean-diesel 3.0-liter V-6 TDI has been our favorite of the lineup, with its strong torque output (407 pound-feet) and confident feel for towing (up to 7,700 pounds) or highway cruising. It delivers 29 mpg on the highway.

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv google doc

Functionally, the Touareg's high seating position affords a good view out ahead. The front seats are excellent, but the rather tall and very wide center console tends to make the front area feel more confining than it needs to be. There's space for five, and the adult-sized rear bench can slide fore and aft through six inches of travel. You won't find a third-row seat like the one in Audi's longer Q7, but cargo space is quite good in the Touareg, with a power-folding arrangement that yields a fully flat cargo floor.

In all, the cabin appointments feel more in line with luxury rivals than the frugal set. It's in sync with the other VW models in design, yet it's appointed with nicely finished materials that share more in common with Audi in look and feel.

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv google doc

he Touareg continues to score well in IIHS testing, Although it still has not been crashed by the NHTSA.

The 2016 Touareg offers a long list of standard features, though some shoppers MIGHT find that it's not quite in lockstep with the luxury price. Standard equipment in the base Sport models includes 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon adaptive front lighting, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, touchscreen radio, and power-adjustable front seats. The top-end Executive models adds such features as premium audio, rear-obstacle detection, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and starting, heated rear seats, an impressive 620-watt Dynaudio premium sound system, and a navigation system with upgraded display and built-in music storage.

The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Family Suv google doc

Volkswagen's Touareg crossover is being given a few minor tweaks equipment for 2016. More important, Reviews those changes accompany a Hefty, roughly $ 2,000 price reduction across the Touareg line-up. With a new base price of $ 42,705- $ 2,090 less than before-the Touareg still is not the bargain hunter's choice Among mid-size two-row SUVs with a luxurious bent (we're looking 'at you, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Murano , and Ford Edge), but the reduced MSRP is welcome Nonetheless. Oh, and the salesproofTouareg Hybrid is good.

Even priced higher than the competition, the Touareg justifies the spend, feeling particularly subject to luxurious and upscale Compared with alternates such as the Ford Edge or Nissan Murano, even if the gap has narrowed with Reviews those two crossovers' recent redesigns. Happily, the VW's $ 2,000 price cut comes with no significant reduction in the content-in fact, there's a bit more. Lux models now include 14-way power seats with built-in ventilation. The Executive trim levels add Reviews those same seats, as well as a power-adjustable steering column, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Both offer a new 21-inch wheel option. And finally, park distance control is added to the Driver Assistance package on Touareg Sport with the tech package.

BMW X3 Luxury Crossovers 2016

BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 google doc

 BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 are being introduced apace, with strong-selling models like the Lexus NX and the Lincoln MKC claiming large slices of a pie once carved up almost exclusively by Acura, BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. But there’s still goodness to be found among the older guard, particularly BMW’s X3., the BMW X3 first showed up in U.S. showrooms with six-cylinder engines, manual and automatic transmissions, and an advanced all-wheel-drive system that used input from stability control to determine where to route power. It also featured a relatively small interior with inexpensive-looking trim and had a very firm ride.

BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 google doc

In almost every model year of that first generation, BMW tweaked the X3's looks or hardware. In 2007, the engines were updated, and ride and steering were revised, while the cockpit was refurbished with better materials—a noticeable improvement all around. Toward the end of its first generation, BMW dropped all engine variants save for the 260-horsepower, 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine. A brisk performer, the X3 remained responsive and eager.
BMW introduced its second-generation X3—the current model—for the 2011 model year. In its first redo, the X3 slightly grew and also improved its handling and ride, with options such as selectable steering modes and adaptive suspension. At launch, BMW offered two versions of its ubiquitous 3.0-liter inline-six—a normally aspirated version making 240 hp and a turbocharged, 300-hp variant. Both were paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission and a version of BMW's familiar xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 google doc

The current BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 styling has adopted some of the latest BMW curves, though in this iteration it's a much happier mix than in some of the early examples of this design theme—the 7-Series and 6-Series of the early 2000s, to be specific. The X3's upgraded interior brought new clarity and richer materials front and center.

BMW now offers a choice of three engines in the X3. The base setup is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, available with either rear- (sDrive28i) or all-wheel (xDrive28i) drive. A 2.0-liter turbodiesel xDrive28d costs just a bit more and makes all-wheel drive standard while improving greatly on fuel economy. The top engine is a turbocharged in-line six in the xDrive35i. All are paired with an eight-speed automatic that was introduced at the beginning of this generation.

BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 google doc

With carlike ride and handling, and 0-60 mph times of 5.3 seconds on the top model, today's X3 sits atop the luxury-crossover class in almost every regard. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given it favorable marks: it's scored a "Good" rating in every crash test, including a "Superior" rating, when optionally equipped, for frontal crash avoidance. The X3 is a past Top Safety Pick, but because the car hasn't been rated in the notoriously hard small overlap crash test, the IIHS hasn't yet returned the honor. And entertainment's finally on the menu: the options list includes an excellent navigation system, iPod integration, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and a big panoramic sunroof.

BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 google doc

The X3 was mostly carry-over for 2012. The 2013 model year marked a major turning point for the X3, as the base in-line six was dropped in favor of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with nearly identical power ratings to the outgoing six and improved highway fuel economy. Then 2015 marked the introduction of a rear-wheel drive "base" sDrive28i, as well as a new xDrive28d turbo-diesel model.

BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 google doc

To keep things fresh, the 2015 X3 received exterior and interior design tweaks, including a new grille, a new headlight design, and some cabin trim updates. The X3 also received BMW's latest iDrive controller, which incorporates a touch pad, as well as some newly optional active-safety features. BMW also launched a coupe-SUV version of the X3, dubbed X4, for the 2015 model year. Like the X6 is to the X5, the X4 is a more stylish but less practical take on the traditionally styled X3.
For 2016, a new Enhanced USB and Bluetooth connectivity kit bring mobile-office capability, Bluetooth sync for a second phone, and voice control for contacts and music. And X3 xDrive35i models get the Harman Kardon surround sound system.
The X3 is likely to get a new six-cylinder engine soon, as BMW has begun replacing the N55 engine with a new single-turbo B58 six making 320 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. It could arrive for the crossover as soon as the 2016 model year.

BMW X3  Luxury Crossovers 2016 google doc

Price
Speaking of price, the X3 isn’t cheap. While the rear-drive sDrive28i and its turbocharged four-cylinder engine ring in around $40K, the 35i starts at $46,025 and goes up from there—our example rang in at $54,325. While the $950 Cold Weather pack (heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, headlamp washers) and $550 red paint seem like reasonable charges, the $3150 Technology (navigation, head-up display, BMW Apps and other connectivity functions) and $2200 Premium packages (leather, proximity entry and start, adjustable lumbar support, satellite radio) come across as gouging to us; we’d likely leave at least one of those boxes unchecked. The balance of the as-tested price can be chalked up to the $950 Driver Assistance bundle (rearview camera, parking sensors) and $500 Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity.
It turns out the old guard can still do good, and if you can’t bear the thought of driving an actual station wagon instead of a station wagon on stilts—and can deal with BMW’s uninspiring interior design—the X3 remains a fine choice in a fiercely competitive segment. Just watch it with the options.

Cadillac Escalade 2016 This is SUV

Cadillac Escalade 2016 This is SUV google doc

Cadillac Escalade 2016  of General Motors' SUVs, and that is no small thing. It's quieter than in the past, it's smoother, it's more attractive, and it's more fully equipped, just like GM's other upgraded SUVs and the pickup trucks that spawned them. Of all of them, the Escalade has the most substantial standard powertrain, cabin, and technology upgrades, as well as some truly swanky touches.

Completely redesigned last year with generous improvements to refinement, technology and comfort, the 2016 Cadillac Escalade continues to embody the spirit of tasteful excess. It's built for people who want everything—utility, luxury, and capability—and Escalade buyers will find all of that in a undeniably stylish package.

While the Escalade's new lines are crisp and sophisticated, it's the full LED lighting that creates the most effective drama, front and rear, from the vertically stacked elements on the nose to the rear taillights that soar up to the roof and illuminate the Cadillac logo.

Cadillac Escalade 2016 This is SUV google doc

Escalades used to suffer from subpar interior design, fit, and finish, but no more. Cut-and-sewn upholstery trims out the cabin, with leather and suede tucking neatly next to wood trim with a stunning open-pore treatment. From the front seats—which are heated and cooled as standard—the centerpiece of the dashboard is Cadillac's tablet-like CUE touchscreen system, which can be activated by voice, capacitive touch and swipe gestures. The driver faces a 12.3-inch display with a cluster of digital gauges that can be configured in one of four themes. Offered as an option is a head-up display that projects selected information over the hood.

The sole engine is a 6.2-liter V-8 that produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. It pairs well with a six-speed automatic transmission to reach 60 mph in around six seconds according to Cadillac. That performance doesn't hurt efficiency—with features like direct injection and cylinder shutoff, the V-8 now earns EPA ratings as high as 17 mpg combined.

Cadillac Escalade 2016 This is SUV google doc

As in previous generations, the 2016 Escalade comes in rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions. With running gear derived from that of GM's full-size pickup truck line, it's one of few large luxury SUVs with a solid rear axle. But Magnetic Ride Control is now standard, and the suspension tracks and damps better than the last Escalade, better than much of the competition. Four-wheel drive is an option, and has a quasi-all-wheel-drive mode. Towing capacity continues to impress with ratings from 7,900 to 8,300 pounds.

Interior space is slightly down from previous iterations, but the Escalade has never been so comfortable. The standard model is 204 inches long, and the extended Escalade ESV stretches all the way to 224 inches—or almost 19 feet—long.

Cadillac Escalade 2016 This is SUV google doc

Second- and third-row seats fold with the touch of a button, and though the cargo floor is somewhat higher than in previous Escalades, it's at a waist-height level that makes it easier to load and unload heavier items. There's over 15 cubic feet of space behind the third row, a capacity that more than doubles on the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV. 

Base prices rose substantially with last year's redesign, but have leveled off for 2016. A standard Escalade starts at right around $74,000 and a fully decked ESV Platinum model will range in the mid-$90,000s.

Safety equipment includes an innovative front-center airbag that protects front-seat occupants thrown toward the center of the Escalade in a side-impact collision. Automatic braking is optional; it uses short-range radar and ultrasonic sensors to warn drivers of quickly approaching obstacles before—finally—applying the brakes.

Cadillac Escalade 2016 This is SUV google doc

Luxury and Premium trim levels include standard blind-spot monitors. A package of driver-awareness features includes forward-collision warnings, lane-departure warnings, and a safety-alert seat system--which vibrates to warn the driver of a possible accident threat on one side of the vehicle or the other. Beyond that, the Drive Assist bundle adds fully adaptive cruise control, collision preparation, automatic seat-belt tightening, and front and rear automatic braking.

As well as the head-up display for the driver, other options include a rear entertainment system that plays Blu-Ray discs--on a single 9-inch screen that descends from the roof on the standard Escalade, and on two separate 9-inch screens on the longer ESV model.

Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent suv

 Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv google doc

Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv  have been out of fashion as often as they've been in vogue. With gas prices low again, they're back on the A-list.

The Navigator may have kicked off the BUV (blingy utility vehicle) trend, but it's since been eclipsed by Range Rover, GL-Class, and Escalade. That should change, since the 2015 update to the Navigator blessed it with a new look and new power that puts it easily on par with those American-made luxury SUVs, if not the British-built one.

The Navigator now has a fresh injection of life thanks to twin wings on its grille and twin turbos under its hood, but does it still feel like the 72-ounce steak of Lincolns? And is it enough to tackle the new, fully redesigned Escalade? In both cases, the answer is yes.

The refurbished Navigator boasts great power and new technology. In styling, it's more than ready for a redo. The Navigator still carries the standard for a strain of American luxury that pairs big grilles and big towing numbers with big pricetags, enticing athletes and rappers and ranchers and everyone in between.

 Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv google doc

And yet, it looks more dated and restrained than most of its competition. The grille's slimmer, its wings split like those on the Lincoln MKZ sedan and refactored along with the hood for a less showy, still imposing presence. The Navigator's LED accent lighting squares off its headlamps, linking it subtly with the Land Rover Range Rover, and LEDs work with cutlines to lower the rear end visually. But the basic shape is nearly a decade old, and though it pays off with excellent outward vision, it doesn't telegraph how vital the Navigator now feels.

Inside, the Navigator's twin-binnacle dash wears a new leather-wrapped dash with twin-stitched seams. A big touchscreen now dominates the center stack, but it hasn't elbowed out buttons and knobs entirely; they're all over the dash and the steering wheel, while another reconfigurable LCD screen tucks into the gauge pod. It's a scaled-up restatement of the shapes Lincoln used in the MKZ before it went dramatically aero in 2013.

 Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv google doc

In terms of interior space, the Navigator is essentially unchanged. Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv  Expedition and other SUVs in this class, the Navigator is offered in both standard and extended-wheelbase editions. The Navigator sits at 207.4 inches long; the Navigator L adds 14.9 inches of overall length for a total of 222.3 inches, while doling out an additional 24.9 cubic feet of cargo space. Standard-wheelbase models have 103.3 cubic feet of interior space; long-wheelbase versions have 128.2 cubic feet. Power-fold capability means the third row can be quickly and easily stowed when not in use.

 Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv google doc

The Navigator's body-on-frame construction hasn't changed, but its drivetrain and suspension have. The former 5.4-liter V-8 has been put to the curb; in its place, the Navigator elects for a fantastic twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 that's been in the F-150 trucks for the past few years. Here it makes 380 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque -- more than in other applications, such as the Ford F-150 -- and Lincoln claims it offers the best towing numbers in the class. It's a gutsy performer and works with the steering and suspension to evaporate long stretches of road, even some curvy ones. Rear-drive models are available, though we fearlessly predict four-wheel-drive models will account for most Navigator sales, since the fuel economy penalty is a rounding error for vehicles such as this one.

 Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv google doc

Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv  handled reasonably well for its size, but its independent suspension feels better with the continuous damping system that's optional on rear-wheel-drive models and standard with 4WD or the big 22-inch wheels. Unfortunately it's a big price jump to opt into packages that feature the new system. Four-wheel-drive models additionally include hill start assist plus Hill Descent Control. Across the model line, the Lincoln Navigator includes push-button start, the MyLincoln Touch interface, blind-spot monitors with cross-traffic alert, and a new LED-backlit instrument cluster.

 Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv google doc

The Navigator has suffered from a lack of infotainment and safety features, languishing while other Fords have prospered in the electronic era. That's changed now with the installation of MyLincoln Touch, which uses voice or touch or steering-wheel controls to operate phone, climate, navigation, and audio functions. It's standard, along with a rearview camera and three rows of leather-trimmed seats. The options list for the Navigator lineup includes a power moonroof, InVision headrest-mounted DVD entertainment system, dark-finished 20-inch alloys, or 22-inch polished aluminum wheels -- and new top-of-the-line 'Reserve' models add hand-wrapped leather for the dash, a rich-looking Ziricote wood interior, and 22-inch wheels, as well as the adaptive suspension.

 Lincoln Navigator 2016 excellent  suv google doc