Becoming a Believer

January 26, 2015 by Jay

2015 Chevrolet Silverado

I have driven a compact pickup truck for the past 12 years. I swore at the thought of driving a full size every time I entered a parking lot or drove offroad. Then I got into the new Silverado. Bad idea. It doesn’t help that I have a budding business with growing haul loads or the fact the new Silverado gets just as good of gas mileage as my compact V6 pickup.

Seeing this truck for the first time you notice the third gens slightly square look especially on the fenders. It fits, I believe, very well with the new front end and makes this truck my favorite body style since the late 90s. The model we drove was very well equipped with the LTZ package, 20” chrome wheels, projector headlights, tow package, heated folding mirrors and just about every interior accoutrement available in the Chevrolet truck line.

The first thing I noticed climbing into the interior is the size. It’s huge. I could just about fit my luggage, a carry on, in the center console! Five adults could fit in the truck and be more than comfortable. It needs to be that big to fit all the options though. With growing up in the 90s, Chevrolet has always had a stigma in my mind of being cheap and overly plastic feeling on the interior. Not true anymore. The buttons and dials were well engineered and feel solid. Combined with the leather seats and sunroof it felt like a luxury vehicle, not a truck. The parking assist and rear view camera was super useful with me getting used to driving a truck with an 80” width and almost 20 foot length. The center of the dash also had an LCD info screen that would scroll through many of the features on the main head unit screen. It also displayed the rear camera view when the truck was in reverse. Parking never really was issue even though I tried to find a few empty spaces every time I parked it. Parking assist used the same vibrations in the driver seat as the lane departure system. The lane departure was already off when I got the truck and once I turned it on I realized why it was off. The heated and cooled seats were nice as well for pre and post surf warm ups. The cooling option though when used blew hot air on the rear passengers legs. One of the best features though in the interior was the power sliding rear window.

The Bluetooth music and phone sharing was easy to setup and once the initial sync was done, it would recognize and sync every time I got into the truck. When a text message was received it would show on the main head unit screen with the option of the system reading it aloud. The navigation system though seemed lacking. I am so accustomed to using my phone with Google to get directions that having to scroll through multiple screens to get to a point where I had to input an address was annoying. With Google I can type or speak the name of a place and Google will automatically navigate to that for me. I don’t have navigation in my daily driver but I guess I just assumed with technology today and this truck advertising 4G LTE connectivity this would have been possible.

This truck was equipped with the 5.3L Ecotec V8 mated to a 6 speed transmission and offered the usual 2WD and 4WD Hi and Lo ranges as well as an AWD mode. The sticker mentioned 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Seems pretty good for a full size V8 truck. It accomplishes those numbers with variable displacement technology which I was looking forward to trying out. One of the screens on the center dash info center would display whether the engine was in 4 cylinder or 8 cylinder mode while driving. When cruising with little throttle input or on cruise control the engine would subtly switch to 4 cylinders. There was a however a slight noticeable pause when you got on the gas while it was 4 cylinder mode and changed to 8 and downshifted but once all 8 cylinders were firing and you dropped to a lower gear the engine had a lot of power. 355 hp and 383 ft/lbs of torque according to the ratings. While I drove the truck in mixed highway and city, I was averaging 17.6 mpg, according to the onboard trip computer, which was average over the last 400 miles. I also had the truck in AWD mode the entire time. I never had a chance to get it somewhere I could try the 4WD system.

Driving this Silverado was unbelievably comfortable and made driving easy. It climbed passes on the 101 with ease. It cruised the 1 in stylish comfort. It was the cushiest vehicle I have hunted for surf in. Its 5.8 foot bed was ample amount of space for luggage that included 3 surfboards. Chevrolet seems to have really honed in all the design elements on both the exterior and interior making this an extremely desirable truck for many! They have me wanting one, that's for sure.

Feeling Like Josh Baskin...

November 04, 2014 by JT

2015 Mazda MX-5

I don't get it - I just don't. Josh Baskin played by Tom Hanks in Big said it best for me. I don't get it. The Mazda MX-5 or Miata... Well known by many as the hair dressers convertible, the midlife crisis mobile, and of course savior to the universe by every person who has ever written for Jalopnik.

Mazda gave me the opportunity to road test the infamous MX-5 for the weekend. My excitement was super high and that's because I've never even sat in one before. I've seen them at track days, heard how great they are, and also chuckled a bit when I see the right or wrong person driving one. Whatever my perceptions were though, I threw them out and got myself excited. The top of the line model was waiting for me - Grand Touring, six speed manual, Spicy Mocha leather interior, power hard top, Xenon headlights, Bilstein Shocks, limited slip diff - Pretty much everything that I would want on the MX-5 if I were to purchase one. As I started to drive this vehicle though, my excitement wore off quicker than I thought it would.

Exterior

The MX-5 has always had a quirky look to it in my opinion, somewhat Mini Cooperish but not as ugly. When this model came out back in 2005, Mazda said everything was new or radically different. That's fine - I remember thinking back then how much better it looked and also how it sort of grew up in the third generation. If we are going by looks alone, I feel it still is solid and useful. The flared wheel arches are so cool and the fascia update from 2013 looks quick sitting still. The panel gaps are a bit big by today's standards, but those sort of things aren't on my priority list for a car like this. With the power hard top, this MX-5 did the job for me in the looks department. We all know the new model is coming in 2016, but for this departing style, it really still looks fine and not out of date. Mazda has done a nice job keeping it fresh with subtle tweaks over the past decade.

Interior

Getting inside one of these things for the first time, I was somewhat surprised. I didn't myself struggling to climb in and out, it felt pretty much like a normal sports car. The main issues I found resides back in 2005. This interior feels dated, and I'm not talking about the seats, they were solid and supportive with nice leather surfaces. The radio, controls, dash, and everything else looked ten years old. For me, it hasn't aged well - I know that the new model is coming, so why waste the money refreshing an outgoing unit? Some of the pieces though... I feel like they were dated in 2005 when they were brand new. The wiper stalk, the radio screen, the Bluetooth system, and even the door lock buttons. I seriously felt like I was in a late 90s Nissan. Another item that was surprising was the sound once inside. This is supposed to be a minimalist vehicle, but with the top and windows up it really felt like sitting in a 2004 Jeep Wrangler with the plastic oem hard top. It's that sitting inside an Igloo cooler feeling you only know if you've driven a Jeep. The keyless ignition was interesting too, because you can tell they've just adapted keyless to an existing regular key slot. You still turn the ignition on the column, but the key remains in your pocket. Just kind of weird without a push button start. One final gripe... How does anybody over 5'6" fit in this thing? I fit fine for the most part, but my knees kept hitting the steering wheel whenever I would touch the brakes, and this was after adjusting the seat and steering wheel twenty times looking for a remedy. The drivers area was cramped I guess you could say, for me being 6'0''. So I get this part of it, you aren't buying an MX-5 for comfort or features. The features do exist, but they are dated and ready for a change. I do feel though that in 2005, this interior just barely squeaked by. For the amount of money this little guy costs though, I really would be disappointed if I bought this brand new in 2015.

Driving

The point of owning an MX-5. The drive. Everyone who is anyone raves about this thing. The Miata fixes everything and is the answer to every problem known to man including immigration, universal healthcare, ISIS, Ebola, and of course feeling old. This is where Josh Baskin comes in again... I really don't get it. I have owned multiple LS engine vehicles, driven many varieties of sports cars, participated in track events and even done some time in the dirt off road. Personally, I feel that I somewhat know what I'm doing and my experience in driving is up there. For this thing though, it flat out was not enough. Right off the rip, I tried to do some spirited driving, banging through the gears, stuff anyone in an MX-5 would do. My initial impressions had me to loving it. The shifts were smooth, it made a fun noise, and it loved to rev. Then I looked at the speedometer.... After all that work of shifting through multiple gears, I felt like I had to split the atom to get the MX-5 up to 40mph. Shifting, clutching, over and over - and the thing just didn't move. I get that this doesn't have an LS7 under the hood, but I've driven Mini Coopers that felt quicker and torquer than this. I will concede to the fact that we didn't have it on a track - maybe all the heavens and stars would align if we were to take it to the natural habitat. For daily driving though, it took so much effort to get it anywhere I wanted it to go. The ride was as rough as a vehicle with full urethane suspension. Even on tight turning off/on ramps and around random corners, the thing just made me feel like... I wish I was going faster. For me, the excitement was missing if that makes sense. I guess it just didn't wow me like I thought it would. You could say I'm doing it wrong, or maybe that I just don't get it. I seriously don't have any issues handling 400hp around a track. I really find the MX-5 be a little juvenile, safe, and even wimpy. I would trust this with a brand new driver because it's no faster than an ultra safe low buck Subaru. You can have your excitement on the track with the MX-5, I'm sure of that. I just know it will be nearly half as slow compared to something that actually has some power, and that includes a V6 Malibu. Can that be fun? Yes of course - But I can seriously think of about 10 cars, new and used, that I would enjoy so much more on a track and daily driving. The biggest problem is... All 10 cost less than the MX-5.

The legendary Mazda MX-5 exhaust note.

Not For Me

I can respect any car, for any person and any style of driving. If a red Kia is your thing, great, go for it. I'm sure it will be a great car for you and you'll have so much fun driving it. The Miata though always gave me this impression that it'd be fun and exciting, before this review. There had to be a reason people bought them and why the interwebs love it. Power sliding at 15mph and taching out an engine and not going anywhere though... isn't my idea of fun. I would much rather feel raw power and torque, actually propelling the car to stupid fast unsafe speeds instead of buzzing by in a car that is slower than something my grandma drives. That is me though. Maybe that sort of thing is enjoyable and exciting to you if you are coming from that red Kia I mentioned earlier. Coming from what I have seen and driven though, this thing was really underwhelming and in all seriousness, I couldn't wait to get out of it.

Filling Up The Garage

October 06, 2014 by JT

Chevrolet has quite the vehicle on their hands with the 2015 Suburban. This SUV is big in every single way. Big size, big weight, big wheels and big price. Before I go any further, the price has to be noted. This 2015 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ 2WD stickers in at $68,885. Now to say that is expensive is an understatement. Before you get all excited though, we need to look at why this SUV costs that much, and also if the Suburban is worth it.

The Suburban has been around since the 1930s and has been used for almost anything. Family hauling, presidential detail, off-road monsters and even school buses - We really have seen the Suburban do it all. Enter 2014 and the twelfth generation of the ultimate American hauler. Our tester model is the loaded out, top of the line LTZ version with literally almost every option possible. When you sit inside the Suburban, it is very similar to the GMC Sierra we tested awhile back. The dash layout is very similar, the seats feel about the same and you have an almost identical set of controls. On the exterior end, Chevrolet gave the Suburban it's own unique look which I can summarize in one word - Clean. Everything is sharp and clean with tight body lines and chiseled features. I feel like I'm describing Derek Zoolander here... Either way though, you have a massive SUV that manages to look somewhat masculine and classy all at the same time. The Suburban and all of the GM full size SUVs have managed to sharpen their looks and almost ruin the previous generation in the styling category.

Exterior

The Suburban is all new. The look has changed to a unique Chevrolet exclusive design, way different than the GMC or Cadillac. As I stated above, it is very chiseled and the front grille design is super clean and classy looking. Having upgraded 22" wheels helps the look as well, not sure if they are worth nearly $900, but it does improve on what is already a solid looking SUV. The back hatch has this new trick wiper that is hidden, and only is visible when in use. This is a nice feature that spruces up the Suburban and makes it more grownup. The doors close with a solid thunk and the rear hatch being powered is a nice touch as well. Inside, you can actually adjust how high the hatch will power up, basically so you don't hit your garage ceiling one day. I really do like the look and evolution of this vehicle though. Chevrolet has improved yet again in gap tightness, material quality, and innovation. The Tahoe wears the same front end, which isn't a bad thing. Two potential issues you may find though - The front end is amazingly low. Around 8" from ground to lower air dam, which around here would equal a nice snow plow. The second issue, once again were the side steps. Just like on the Sierra, they were in an awkward spot for everybody I asked to try them out. Too close to the door openings and also in the way when you decided to bypass them. I've heard rumors of an off-road Z-71 version coming soon, so maybe these couple issues will be dealt with for that trim line.

Interior

Like I said previously, the interior is super similar to the Sierra we drove months back. The seating felt identical and the dash layout was the same as well. Beyond the driver and passenger seating areas though, everything was new and fresh. During this road test, I couldn't help but want to be chauffeured around in the Suburban and not driving myself. The back seats in row two were captain styled which offered plenty of leg room and comfort. Sitting in the second row you have access to heated reclining seats, your own HVAC controls, ipod hookups, and of course your own cup holders. If necessary, this row of seats can flip forward and also fold flat. The third row of seats offered a bench style that of course wasn't as spacious as the captains chairs. Headrests were adjustable and the leather seating surfaces were nicely done. These seats also fold completely flat if necessary, and if you want, all of the seats in row two and three can be flattened with the push of a button in the cargo area. Back in the cargo space, you have a flip up floor that can store small flat items or also manage your bigger stuff with removable dividers. Overall, I can honestly say this interior is very nice and quality was a top priority. To me though, it still has the feeling of a truck with leather if that makes sense. I was surprised to find that the carpet had spots where you could easily flip up and see painted sheet metal. I know most people won't be looking around that closely, but for me when you're paying this much for a vehicle, I don't want it to feel like I'm in an upgraded pickup in certain areas. The truck carryover will be there no matter what, that is understood. Chevrolet really did a nice job on this interior though; all of the small touches and amenities do not go unnoticed.

Infotainment

The Suburban has the Chevrolet MyLink system which has always been a favorite of Hoagies Garage. The system keeps getting better and smoother, I really hope they don't go crazy with new features and just continue tweaking the current setup. The only welcome addition would be to include as an option, Apple CarPlay. This is apparently coming to Chevrolet vehicles in the future, but preferably I'd like to see the MyLink system stay, just make CarPlay appear when you plug in an iOS device. A couple features that were new to us though, made the experience even better. Just like the new CTS, this vehicle had the hidden storage/USB setup behind the radio screen. This is so slick to store an iPod or something along those lines back there and just forget about it. This system also has the add-on entertainment setup with two 9" screens that flip out of the ceiling. These allow you to control and view pretty much anything, this includes: DVD, Blu-Ray, A/V Input, SD Cards, and iDevices. Our tester model had the wireless headphones for passengers and also a handy gamepad style remote for the system. You can hear me ramble about the system and give my opinions below:

Driving

The time spent in the Suburban offered up a few surprises. Comfort and size are the two words I best can use to describe how this vehicle drives. Laminated glass and lots of insulation make the ride super quiet, clocking in at 65db cruising at highway speed. Compare that to the previous generation Suburban that was almost 70db or a Porsche Cayenne Turbo clocking in at 65db as well. Chevrolet really has tightened everything down and upped the quality in so many areas. A wider track, new body mounts, magnetic ride control, and numerous chassis/frame modifications to give a firm and smoother ride. The power is delivered from a 5.3L V8 producing 355hp with the possibility of 23mpg on the highway. Braking is amazingly solid for a vehicle this size, that is thanks to an array of changes for the new generation. While driving this around, the size is a factor during the first couple days. Once you get used to it though, everything seems to come together. Keep in mind, this is a purpose built hauler and it will not accelerate or handle like a performance SUV. The V8 has enough power for highway merging and after those first couple days, the size won't even be noticed. I really did get used to the Suburban and felt comfortable driving it after just a little bit of practice. The suspension and frame tweaks were noticeable as well, offering a firm and comfortable ride that was actually relaxing. Fuel economy was what you'd expect. The Suburban is equipped with a six speed automatic, cylinder deactivation, and that low ground clearance. The window sticker states 16mpg city and 23mpg highway. I was unable to ever obtain 23mpg on the highway, but averaged around 17mpg during our road tests. I do question the logic of owning this vehicle with only 2WD though. Being in Ohio, I guarantee this big guy would have loads of trouble in a decent sized snowfall. 4WD is a $3,000 extra, but in this area it would be a required option. One of the better and more surprising options I found though, is the Adaptive Cruise Control. It is discussed in the movie below:

Overall

The Suburban is an interesting thing to summarize. For myself personally, it really is too big. I don't need seating for seven and cargo room for moving half my house. There are people out there though, that need enough space to haul the whole family each day. When driving this around, I spoke to die hard full size SUV drivers. These are the people who have used one of these for twenty years and can't see themselves driving anything else. When I think about the vehicle as a whole though, you do get tons for your money. Even the price per pound is an insane value compared to say a BMW sedan or new Stingray. The Suburban is built for a purpose and Chevrolet knows there will always be a crowd that wants one. When you think back to how awful the full size SUVs of old used to be, this vehicle is a revolution. You never see old Suburbans driving around or the sold out Ford Expeditions of the early 2000s, they just don't seem to exist anymore because they have all rotted away or broken down beyond repair. With this generation Suburban though, I feel Chevrolet has something different on their hands. They have crossed over into that area of world class vehicles in yet another segment, this time the full size SUV. Before you ever sit in one of these, look up all the features on Chevrolet.com - What you will read sounds nothing like a Suburban from years past. The features on paper and the experience you get while riding or driving this turn out to be something totally different. For me, that was the best part. Like I said earlier, everything about the Suburban is big. After spending a week driving it though, I found the biggest thing to be how much of a surprise it was. Nice job Chevrolet, thanks for surprising me.

Big Blue Thunder

August 06, 2014 by JT

Technical gadgetry and raw power. The two seem like they never belonged together. You had your IBM computer nerds and then your hot rodders. Two separate groups that never would have met, nor would they have wanted to meet. Gearheads and programmers have slowly come together in perfect harmony. The 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport is the latest rendition of what happens when you combine speed, power, turbos, gigabytes, electronics, and touch screens. We spent an entire week learning just what this vehicle is all about and have found it to be one of the most impressive vehicles to visit the garage so far...

The front end looks perfect from any angle.

Design

The excitement level building to this review has been unmatched. Even though I am a V-Series V8 high torque kind of person, I still found myself curious as to how what I've heard about this vehicle was possible. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a striking Opulent Blue Metallic paint scheme that exploded when exposed to the Florida sun. The Cadillac design improves with each new model and when you compare this to the first gen CTS, you'd be amazed just how easily it is trumped by this. The front fascia is aggressive with massive gaping holes and openings. Cadillac used just the right amount of Chrome to let everyone know what you're rolling with, and the grille mounted emblem is there just in case you like flaunting what you own. LEDs are so slick on this front end and also placed perfectly. The creases shooting up the hood make the CTS look like it's going at speed just sitting still. Our week with the V turned heads and prompted conversations. Whenever that happens, the questions people ask are always entertaining to field. Either way though, the fact that people notice you in this thing tells you something. GM did an amazing job on the styling to catch the eye and make people wonder. Once again though, and I know this has been beat to death, the rear end... Just like the new Impala and Ford Fusion, the '14 CTS needs more back there. With a front end like this one, you have to keep the momentum going somehow back there. I'm sure the designer can defend all the lines and shapes easily, but for me it just needs more. Aluminum pieces are used randomly to save weight, which is the big thing with cars nowadays. Saving weight because we are gaining weight in government mandates and technology growth. I'm going to say this vehicle has a few hundred pounds of just wiring run throughout, so the aluminum doors are quite useful and necessary.

Interior

When you sit down and close the door, this is when you fully realize you are in a Cadillac. The whisper quiet interior is filled to the brim with goodies. Piano Black surrounds the Cadillac CUE system, which is short for Cadillac User Experience. This system has been plagued with bugs and issues that we have heard about through the grapevine. During the week though, we found it to be very user friendly and mostly bug free. The system is very similar to the GMC Intellilink we reviewed a few months back. Below the touchscreen is a touch style setup for the HVAC controls. These all have a small vibrate feel each time you press one, but they aren't actual buttons like you'd be used to on something else. I'm still on the fence with this type of setup, it took me a number of days to get the feel and accurately press what I wanted. The neat part about this section of the dash though - you press a button (another touch pad), and the entire panel of buttons raise up to reveal a hidden compartment with USB port. Very clever and an awesome way to hide your iPhone or whatever else needs to be out of sight. The platinum leather seating is nice and solid, providing adequate bolstering and comfort for the driver and passengers. The thick steering wheel was amazing, with magnesium paddle shifters and a very clever button/switch layout that helps you navigate the secondary screen between the gauges. One thing kept happening with the touch style controls in the center stack; the seat heater button kept getting touched without knowing it. Well, it was realized when the seat warmed up in the 90+ degree Florida heat. The cooled seats needed a higher fan speed though. On the highest setting, we couldn't feel much of anything.

The Drive

Driving the Vsport was interesting and full of surprises. When I see 400 or more horsepower, I'm expecting big things. The idea though, that Cadillac managed to wrangle this out of a six cylinder is just crazy to me. They achieved this with twin turbos, direct injection, and a very short air path from the turbos to the single throttle body. All of this power is mostly available from 2500rpm to 5500rpm. The throttle body is mounted on top and the turbos are actually smaller than most. This was all done to eliminate lag and give you power on demand almost all the time. The torque numbers are there, which is usually what I love on a performance vehicle. 430lb-ft is serious, but I didn't quite feel that if I'm thinking back to the neck snapping acceleration. This thing is quick and will get moving in a major hurry, but there is a reason this is the V-Sport and not the V-Series. It does have the feeling of quickness, but the acceleration isn't violent like an LS engine would be. The crazy clever V6 is mounted to an 8-speed automatic, no manual option is available. There are numerous driver modes which are adjusted through a switch on the center console and the center gauge readout tells you which you have selected. Tour and Track modes were two of the most fun options, which changed shift firmness, suspension settings, steering feel, and even the exhaust note. Track mode was by far the most enjoyable, although not the most comfortable for people in the back seat. I absolutely loved the exhaust note on wide open throttle, it seriously sounded exotic and made me forget that it wasn't a big V8 under the hood. Cadillac made the exhaust note more prominent through microphones and speakers, basically the actual sound is somehow piped into the car. However they did it though, it sounded absolutely perfect. The cornering and handling on the V-Sport is basically like glue. No matter how fast we would take a turn, this four door sedan was planted and solid. Oversteer was nonexistent when throttling through turns and basically it would corner as hard as you could pull the steering wheel. Simply amazing for a big four door sedan that in all reality was reserved for Sunday cruises twenty years ago. All of the steering dynamics are courtesy of ZF, which is normally on our favorite German vehicles. On the more normal side of driving, the CTS is comfortable and functional. Magnetic shocks adjust the firmness on the fly and also based on which driver mode you are in. Four passengers fit very easily, parking was simple, and cruising along had a certain feel of prestige to it. This is one of the newest Caddy's you can buy, and when you park anywhere chances are you won't see another one, especially another V-Sport.

Huge Brembo Brakes and sticky Pirelli Tires keep the V-Sport in check.

Tech

Aside from the raw power this vehicle offers when you want it, you will find the CTS loaded with technical goodies. When we first started driving, it was a little bit of an overload. The drivers seat was vibrating, the seat heaters accidentally came on, and connecting to OnStar was a chore. Basically, these new techy vehicles are kind of difficult to just jump in and go with. They take a certain amount of time to setup and configure. Our seat was vibrating because the parking garage had lines painted on the ground, so therefore the Cadillac thought we had fallen asleep at the wheel and were veering left of center. A couple of setting changes fixed the issues and most of the driver aides were turned off. One that I found very interesting was the collision avoidance system. When you aren't paying attention, your seat will vibrate and a bright red LED light will flash on the windshield. This was pretty impressive and the list of safety aides is massive with the CTS. Most of them I really have no interest in trying out during a road test. We did take a minute to learn about the automatic parking and I will say they've done it. Basically you hit the parallel park button next to the CUE, and then you drive slowly and search for a space. Actually, the CTS looks for the space. Once a spot of the correct size is located, the dash screen tells you to put the car in reverse and let off the brake. Basically, the system is handling the steering and you do the rest. I was pretty creeped out though watching the steering wheel go nuts and then magically parking itself.

The CUE system is almost identical to the GMC Intellilink setup we tested awhile back. The system has allegedly been full of bug and issues, but we didn't see much of that. I do wish it was a little zippier and quicker to react when something is selected. The home screens had many holes or blank spots. Reminded me of a cheap Toyota where you can tell there might be buttons there if only you spent a little bit more money on your car. Lots of icons seemed to be missing, but maybe this is for updates or other expansions. On these GM systems though, I'm finding they have a tough time using any audio that isn't preferred. Basically if I want to use an app on my phone that isn't integrated into the touch screen, you have to really work at it to get it going. The system wants to automatically revert back to the native iPhone music player each time. Another item on the wishlist I suppose. Overall though, the system worked much better than expected and I was massively impressed with the sound quality and Bose setup.

Overall

When looking for a performance vehicle, Cadillac is one that wouldn't come to mind 10 years ago. Now they are one of the best and in more ways than just performance. This car truly does feel world class in build quality and style. Cadillac Shield is included with this vehicle. That means you are given a six year, 30k mile warranty and also four years of full maintenance. Your free Onstar is also good for one year, instead of six months like a standard GM vehicle. The reason I'm telling you all of this is very simple: this car is kind of scary. The V-Sport is not scary because it has 400+ horsepower or because it will do 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. This car is scary because of the technical aspects involved. I have full faith that Cadillac has put together an amazing product and I can attest to that from the time I spent. This vehicle is absolutely amazing and well appointed. While driving it though, I constantly found myself thinking what could go wrong? How much would this cup holder cost if it broke? What would my service bill be if the exhaust microphones failed? I know as a reviewer and writer these things should not get in the way of my opinions, and they honestly don't. The V-Sport is GM and Cadillac at their absolute best. The Germans have something to be scared about and for those who think you can't have fun in a four door sedan, go drive this. Your opinions will be changed each time you press the start button. With the amazing performance of this car though, I now find myself wondering: What could Cadillac possibly have coming with the next generation V-Series?

Quick Take: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

June 10, 2014 by JT

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has had an interesting life. For years it was the vehicle of choice for everybody. The SUV craze to me was basically kicked off by the Grand Cherokee and it really seemed to set the standard in the early 90s. Rumor has it, the Grand was actually supposed to replace the original Cherokee back in the late 90s, but the XJ didn't get killed off until 2001. Over the years though, we have seen four generations of the Grand Cherokee. Changes and restyling have occurred with each passing model. For awhile there, it felt like Jeep/Chrysler were going to be put to the curb when the crisis hit the auto industry. Currently though, Jeep is back and better than ever. Quality and styling seem to be their main goal and with this 2014 Grand Cherokee, I will simply say my mind was blown.

The current generation WK2 Grand Cherokee arrived in 2010. The skeptics were silenced and we were all treated to a non-plasticy upscale winner. Well for 2014, a refresh was in order which brought many improvements. The model we were able to experience is the 2014 Summit Edition. If you are a box checker, this is what would arrive on the truck at your local dealership. The only model higher up the food chain is the SRT, which is reserved for the ultra-high performance street driving only crowd. Keep in mind too, the Summit edition will still take over $50,000 out of your wallet, so this is basically the most expensive, off-road capable Grand Cherokee money can buy.

Driving

When you price one of these out and look up what you get, the options list isn't that large. When I say isn't that large though, I am meaning options for you to decide on. For the most part, all of the amazing features this Jeep is loaded with pretty much come standard on the Summit. This particular Jeep is upgraded to the Hemi V8 engine, which is almost a necessity if you are already spending this much. The V8 upgrade allows you to tow more and also helps the driver forget you are moving around nearly 5,000lbs of Jeep. New for 2014 is the 8-Speed automatic transmission. This is the ZF transmission that is finding its way into so many vehicles, and that is a good thing. Eight gears help this Jeep achieve around 21mpg on the highway. When you consider the weight and power output, that is a step in the right direction. The ride is smooth and quiet, nothing truck like whatsoever. Our tester model was equipped with the Quadra-Lift air suspension. This is a very neat system which can raise up to a maximum of 10.7" and is also clever enough to lower itself at highway speeds to make the Grand Cherokee slippery and more aerodynamic. Being brand new and under warranty, everything works great with the system. I do wonder though as this vehicle ages, how well the system will hold up. Apparently, it's filled with Nitrogen that is operating at over 220psi at all times...

The optional 5.7 Liter Hemi V8 - Equipped with an 8-Speed automatic gearbox

Interior

For me, this was the most amazing part of this SUV. I've owned a number of Jeeps and found the experiences to be adequate and even entertaining with what the factory settled on. The interiors of past Jeep products was never the main reason to own one though. The Summit edition is a game changer. Jeep has decided not to play games and go all out starting in 2014. The glaring feature is the 8.4" UConnect touchscreen system. The entire dashboard is basically built around this massive screen that controls almost every comfort and entertainment aspect of the Jeep. You can control the audio, heating/cooling, seat heating/cooling, navigation, your phone, and numerous other features. The system is tied into 19 high quality Harmon/Kardon surround sound speakers which really deliver theater like sound. Looking up, we see suede trimmed pillars and a suede headliner that all surround the massive CommandView sunroof. The interior is also treated to a fully customizable 7" digital gauge package which looks amazing. You can view what your suspension is doing in an off-road setting with a slick looking 3D picture or monitor your mpg's while driving down the highway. Little touches seem to be everywhere from the rechargeable flashlight built-in to the cargo area to the illuminated cup holders up front. Jeep has taken the Grand Cherokee to Land Rover like levels with the Summit package. Open Pore wood trim and stitching that seems to be visible everywhere make this vehicle feel world class. When sitting inside, you really get the feeling your $50k wasn't wasted.

Styling

The Jeep Grand Cherokee really retains that off-road stance it has had for years, but at the same time you can tell it has some mall parking lot manners. The LED surrounded bi-xenon HID headlights give the front end a more grown up look. Those headlights are adaptive too, which means they basically follow the steering wheel around turns and curves. Neat stuff when you consider you are buying a vehicle that almost didn't exist a few years ago. The Grand Cherokee really does look the part now of being the top of the line model Jeep is offering. They have tightened up all the body gaps, the paint looks well done, and the doors all close with that solid thunk sound you didn't used to get on a Jeep. As we've said with all of our reviews, the world of automobiles has taken a massive turn towards the positive. Manufacturers seem to understand that customers are demanding quality and luxury features. The Grand Cherokee has been refined over and over, but this is clearly the best one yet.

End of the Trail

When you think Jeep, most people will go back to that old black and white footage of General Patton sitting in a Willys. Some people will think back to riding around in a Grand Wagoneer as a kid. Whatever Jeep you think of or remember, the fact remains the same that they are one of the most American car makers we have. Even though they are owned by Fiat now, these cars are some of the best that the US has to offer. Chrysler and Jeep have turned it around in the past few years and the Summit Edition Grand Cherokee is proof. Most of these will never see anything other than pavement, and that is fine. The same story comes from Land Rover, BMW, Porsche and Volvo. These are all almost too nice to scratch and beat up on a trail. Nowadays though, when you come up with a list of luxury SUVs that are well built, have amazing features and also can off-road if necessary - You have to put the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit near the top.

Quadra-Lift Suspension

Lowest Level

Quadra-Lift Suspension

Tallest Setting