Car Reviws |
| 2011 Audi Q7 3.0T S line, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 08 Mar 2011 06:11 AM PST  The supercharged V6 in the Audi Q7 is rated at 333 hp.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This big cruiser was OK in the snow. Not bad, but perhaps not as great as I thought, not as unstoppable. I'm thinking some or much of that is down to the perhaps over-eager traction-control system, which seems to cut power quickly. So if you get in some deep snow like I did this morning, the system feels like it wants to shut down and basically start over. The good news is it's a good-looking ute, the interior is simply stunning and beautifully built, it's an ultraquiet drive, and the seats are fantastic. Good steering, too. The not such good news is that the thing weighs almost as much as a Chevrolet Suburban and feels like it sometimes, lumbering a bit when pushed (that was last night on dry roads). The supercharged six offers decent power, no more, no less. EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: This may be my least favorite model in the Audi lineup. Why? It's big, heavy, slow and outfitted with what seems like seriously lesser equipment than that in the new A8. Yes, the A8 is the all-new flagship, but the contrast with this interior seems like night and day. The MMI mounted low and in the center seems hard to access without looking away from the road for too long, the automatic temperature control seemed to take forever to figure out how to combat cold temps, and the seating position seemed hard to get just right. Drive quality is dull, most likely a direct result of combining a smaller-displacement, supercharged V6 and an eight-speed transmission into a 5,400-pound hulk. Acceleration from a dead stop is solid, but the car is a dog in the critical 25-to-70-mph "punch it" range needed to grab a spot in the fast lane when you've gotten stuck behind the slowpokes. Transmission reaction is slow, so it seems as if there's a three-count before the power kicks in to scoot the car to speed. Anything more than a one-count means you have to abort the mission and stay stuck in the slow lane. The car feels kind of heavy overall, while the ride on the S line model is tuned to sporty--which in a big SUV usually means overly taut. It can be a bumpy ride in the Q7 as a result. I like most Audis, but this one doesn't ring the bell for me. NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: It's been some time since I lumbered around in a Q7, and I like its luxury demeanor and handsome looks inside and out. But it really doesn't drive particularly like an Audi. It's heavy, as noted by others, and it has a slow first step as the power seems to lag when you want to hammer the throttle--or even push forward. The supercharged six is decent, but this is a bit of a hulk when it comes to acceleration. As Bob notes, the powertrain doesn't seem to work in harmony as it does on nearly every other model in the Audi range. The good news is this is a fantastic luxury cruiser. It's quiet and well isolated inside with pleasing, contemporary cabin finishings. Just a hint of the outside world creeps in, which makes for a serene commute. Or vent the windows, tip the top and let some air in with the radio up. Temps hit 50 degrees in Detroit one winter morning, which was all I needed for some breezy driving. The sound system is great, and when I turned onto my first main road on the way into work to the strains of "Thunder Road," I was quiet mellow. The steering is light but nice for a ute this big. The seats are extremely comfortable and supportive, and they heat up quickly to fend of the chill. I love the headlights. They're not as good as the distinctive curves of newer-styled Audis, but they're pretty classy nonetheless. I like the sheetmetal. Audi does a solid job of crafting a distinctive, somewhat sporty-looking SUV with grace. Still, the drive character is a bit middling for my taste, though it's tough to live up to the LeMans-bred standards of the rest of the Audi portfolio. This Q7 is above average for the segment, but boring for the brand. 2011 Audi Q7 3.0T S line Base Price: $59,775 As-Tested Price: $60,275 Drivetrain: 3.0-liter supercharged V6; AWD, eight-speed automatic Output: 333 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 325 lb-ft @ 2,900 rpm Curb Weight: 5,412 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 18/16.7 mpg Options: Cold-weather package including heated rear seats, heated four-spoke steering wheel ($500) |
| 2011 Nissan Quest SL, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 07 Mar 2011 08:34 AM PST       
EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: I would dismiss the Quest in any discussion about minivans simply because of the CVT. The way it allows for the engine to rev practically to redline as you gain speed just drives me crazy. I still haven't driven a vehicle with a CVT that I really liked. Other than that little thing, the Quest is actually a fine minivan. It looks good, and the steering is actually pretty quick, although the suspension is nice and soft. It has all the stuff minivans need today to compete: dual power-sliding doors, cupholders all over the place and a decent entertainment system. In the snow and on the slippery freeway this morning, the traction control was constantly flashing. My guess is that snow tires would help its winter-weather disposition immensely, as conversely, the ABS was active quite a bit as well. Nissan has done a good job in reshaping the Quest for the market, but it is going up against some rather stiff competition. Dodge, Toyota and Honda all have more established, and in my opinion, better minivans on the market today. There is nothing in the Quest--save for my desire to buy a Nissan--that would divert my drive to one of the other dealerships if I were minivan shopping. EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Yup, it's a minivan alright. And an OK one at that, though I agree that the CVT is a bummer. I do like the exterior and interior for the most part. There's really not much you can do with a basic box, and this looks as good as the rest, I suppose, including interior quality--it's basically on par with the competition. The seats are comfy, and the driving position is good. As for the driving, as I noted, this is a minivan, and it drives like one, with a soft suspension, The Quest's structure felt solid and it's quiet on the road. Back to that CVT for a sec: I don't like the way it saps power, nor do I like the way the engine sounds moany and groany under power with a CVT. COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO-WRIGHT: This is one big minivan! It's like a giant box on wheels. The shape does set it apart from other minivans on the road. But, if you need to buy a minivan, do you really want it to be any bigger than it already is? As others mentioned, this minivan drives just like the ones I've driven from Chrysler, Dodge and Volkswagen--which are the same van. The brakes are solid, and the engine, even when paired with the CVT, provides enough power to get the thing moving. But you're not going to win any races. The interior of this Quest has a very familiar layout, with all of the HVAC/audio/etc. controls easily at hand. The sliding doors are very convenient, even though I didn't haul around any other people or things. I also liked that the buttons for the side doors was just to the left of the steering wheel on the dash. Convenient. I didn't like the console between the two second-row seats, though. It seems to me that space could be used for easier access to the third row, but that's just me. Also, there wasn't a whole lot of cargo space behind the third row, but I guess if you knocked down those seats, you'd be able to haul more stuff. 2011 Nissan Quest SL Base Price: $35,150 As-Tested Price: $35,920 Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V6; FWD, continuously variable transmission Output: 260 hp @ 5,200 rpm, 240 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm Curb Weight: 4,480 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 20/19.1 mpg Options: Protection package including rear bumper protector, family travel kit, child seat protector ($340); roof rail cross bars ($250); floor mats ($180) |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Car Reviws To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment