Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2014 Mazda6: Introduction]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/2014-mazda6-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/2014-mazda6-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/2014-mazda6-long-term-introduction/#commentsFiled under: , ,

An Extended Stay With The Sexy Six

2014 Mazda6

The new-for-2014 Mazda6 sedan is more than just a pretty face. For Mazda, it marks the company's best effort yet at competing in the highly competitive midsize sedan segment, all the while staying true to the brand's core value of offering high levels of driver involvement above all. We certainly came away impressed after our first drive of the sleek Six in France last fall, and we knew right from the start that this would be a car we'd want to spend a lot of time with back here at home.

So with that in mind, the folks at Mazda graciously agreed to loan us the fully loaded Soul Red tester you see here for a one-year stay in the Autoblog long-term garage. Because of how important this car is to the segment, and to Mazda as a brand, we know there's going to be a lot to talk about it over the next 12 months. Right now, though, allow us to introduce you to the newest member of our long-term family.

Continue reading 2014 Mazda6: Introduction

2014 Mazda6: Introduction originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 mazda mazda62014 mazda6ablongtermablongterm-mazda6featuredlong-termlongtermmazdamazda mazda6mazda6Thu, 30 May 2013 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20584698/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/30/2014-mazda6-long-term-introduction/20584698/article-detail.xml 20584698 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/01-2014-mazda6-lt-1369671254_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/01-2014-mazda6-lt-1369671254.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: March 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-march-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-march-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-march-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Much of my time spent with the Veloster Turbo was under gray skies dumping inches of snow.

Make sure to follow our more frequent long-term updates on the official Autoblog Facebook page.

Our 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo spent the most days in March (and many in February) with me, so I'll be handling its long-term update report this month. The time of year is important to note, as much of my time spent with the Veloster Turbo was under gray skies dumping inches of snow on Northeast Ohio. So not only were the roads prohibiting much fun from being had behind the wheel, but the constant freeze-thaw cycle of this area left the roads a mine field of uneven pavement, cracked concrete and pot holes.

First, let's talk about the Veloster Turbo's engine. The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder puts down 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque... on paper. In the cold climes of Clevelandia, however, it often seemed like the engine was down on power, at least until it ran long enough to have toasty warm internals. As I work from home, however, many of my trips with the Veloster Turbo were short jaunts, errands and drive-bys that didn't afford the engine much warm-up time. As such, I felt like I never experienced the engine's full reserve of power, and am eager to see if my colleagues note the warmer weather alters this experience for the better.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: March 2013

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: March 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai veloster turboablongtermhyundaihyundai velosterhyundai veloster turboFri, 05 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20530671/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/05/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-march-2013/20530671/article-detail.xml 20530671 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: February 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/25/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-february-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/25/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-february-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/25/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-february-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

2013 Hyundai Veloster TurboI just couldn't bring myself to lead this post with the image you see on the right. The winter months have not been kind to our matte gray 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, and since you can't just run the thing through your local car wash, our oddly shaped little hatchback has spent more days dirty than clean. It breaks my fleet manager heart to see one of our test cars covered in schmutz so frequently, but let's be honest - the last thing anyone wants to do when it's 12 degrees Fahrenheit outside is play with a hose and spend a good amount of time hand-washing a car.

Moral of the story: If you live in a cold-weather state where you expect to get regular doses of the white stuff, matte paint probably isn't for you. Not to worry, though, as the Veloster Turbo is offered in plenty of pretty, car wash-friendly colors.

We'll have a lot more to talk about regarding the Veloster's cleanability in forthcoming updates, and we're even planning a trip to the Dr. Beasley's office - the company that created the special matte paint detailing kit for the Hyundai - to have their experts show us how it's done. For now, let's spend some time talking about what we've learned about the turbocharged hatch during its honeymoon phase here in the Autoblog Garage.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: February 2013

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: February 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai veloster turboablongtermablongterm-velosterfeaturedhyundaivelosterveloster turboMon, 25 Feb 2013 14:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20467952/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/25/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-february-2013/20467952/article-detail.xml 20467952 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/003-long-term-2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/003-long-term-2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Introduction]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term-introduction/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

The Hyundai Veloster is indeed an automotive oddball, and that's part of the reason why we're so drawn to it. Even in base form, the Veloster is a cleverly packaged little wonder that's bursting with personality, and with the added grunt and visual aggression of the Turbo model, there's a lot to talk about.

Despite not really fitting into any one specific vehicle segment (unless you dump it into the all-too-vague "compact" class), the Veloster Turbo looks really good on paper, to say nothing of how it looks on the street. It's certainly a head-turner, and we're intrigued by the overall package of an oddly shaped three-door (or four-door?) with some forced induction motivation.

We've had a lot to say about the weird little Hyundai in the past, and we don't see the conversations about this car ending anytime soon. Thus, we've welcomed a matte gray example into the Autoblog long-term garage for one year of testing. This should definitely be interesting.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Introduction

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Introduction originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai veloster turboablongtermablongterm-velosterfeaturedhyundailongtermvelosterveloster turboMon, 28 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20440050/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/28/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term-introduction/20440050/article-detail.xml 20440050 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/001-long-term-2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo628opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/001-long-term-2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo628opt.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Nissan Pathfinder: Introduction]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/2013-nissan-pathfinder-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/2013-nissan-pathfinder-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/2013-nissan-pathfinder-long-term-introduction/#commentsFiled under: , ,



This ain't your daddy's Pathfinder. And that's exactly why we're welcoming one into the Autoblog long-term garage.

With the launch of the all-new 2013 Pathfinder, Nissan has ditched the trucky, body-on-frame architecture of the previous model for something substantially more refined and efficient, yet the automaker says this is still a capable machine. It's a move Nissan has used before (the second-generation Pathfinder, sold from 1996 to 2004, used unibody construction), but because of just how darn popular three-row crossovers are these days, the timing sure seems right for Nissan to, well, find a new path again.

Think about it: Ford made this exact move with the Explorer when its all-new model was introduced for 2011, and that vehicle has been a huge success for the Blue Oval, dominating the segment in terms of volume. Nissan is hoping to capture that same sort of magic - and make up a good deal of market share in the process - with this more-soft-road-than-off-road Pathfinder.

Does it work? Our brief stint behind the wheel of a 2013 model out in California gave us high hopes. But to really see if the three-row crossover-minded formula works behind that Pathfinder badge, we're embarking on a year-long test with the Smyrna, Tennessee-built Platinum 4x4 seen here.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan Pathfinder: Introduction

2013 Nissan Pathfinder: Introduction originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan pathfinderablongtermablongterm-pathfinderfeaturedlong termlong-termnissanpathfinderTue, 08 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20416329/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/08/2013-nissan-pathfinder-long-term-introduction/20416329/article-detail.xml 20416329 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/2013-nissan-pathfinder-lt---01-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/2013-nissan-pathfinder-lt---01-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Wrap-Up [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-wrap-up-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-wrap-up-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-wrap-up-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

She Ain't What She Used To Be



Truth be told, we never had any intention of spending a full year with Volkswagen's sixth-generation Jetta. We were enjoying many a happy trail with our 2010 TDI Cup Street Edition - a car that won us over with its excellent mix of sport and efficiency. It was, perhaps, the best model to come out of the Jetta's fifth generation, and we were glad to have it, especially after we first met the controversially redesigned 2011 model that wasn't exactly garnering rave reviews.

But then the TDI Cup Street met a very tragic and mysterious demise. (We still miss you, Heidi.)

To ease our pain, Volkswagen offered up the chance to spend one year with the 2011 Jetta TDI you see here. Sure, it uses the same torquey 2.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-four as the old Jetta, but nearly everything else had been changed... and not necessarily for the better.

So how would a full year with the new Jetta TDI stack up after we had eight lovely months of diesel motoring with Frou Cup Street? Would we still love it like the old model, or would we simply end the year with a resounding... "Meh?"

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Wrap-Up [w/video]

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Wrap-Up [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 volkswagen jetta tdiablongtermablongterm-jettafeaturedjettajetta tdilong-termlongtermtdivolkswagenvwFri, 13 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20225295/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-wrap-up-w-video/20225295/article-detail.xml 20225295 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/10-long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/10-long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/2011-mini-countryman-june-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/2011-mini-countryman-june-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/2011-mini-countryman-june-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2011 Mini Countryman

When you've been test-driving nearly every new vehicle on the market for as long as I have, you get to the point where you mostly know what to expect. Not that I or most other veteran car reviewers make up our minds about new products before we drive them, but certainly we formulate theories to go about testing once a new car lands in our driveway. More often than not, our experiments confirm our hypotheses. This can be a great triumph or a crushing let-down, but rarely does a vehicle manage to be both so completely as the Mini Countryman.

I expected the jumbo, four-door Countryman to be overkill.

In advance of my stint with our long-termer, I fully expected to be disappointed by its size. I am one of those people who can go on the road for a week with a small duffel bag, and as such, have never found the limitations of the tiny Mini hardtop particularly challenging. The Mini Clubman solved my only problem with the hardtop by affording me a bit more room for my daughter. Thus, I expected the jumbo, four-door Countryman to be overkill.

But if I had a reasonable expectation that the larger size and heavier curb weight would render the Countryman considerably less fun to drive, I also figured that I'd love it anyway. After all, it's a Mini, and I have yet to meet one that didn't charm me with its aesthetics and minimalist focus on driving.

Quite surprisingly, neither of these assumptions proved correct.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012

2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 mini cooper s countryman all42011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymancountrymanfeaturedlong-termminiWed, 27 Jun 2012 12:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20265870/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/27/2011-mini-countryman-june-2012/20265870/article-detail.xml 20265870 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/countryman628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/countryman628.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: May 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/07/2011-mini-countryman-may-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/07/2011-mini-countryman-may-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/07/2011-mini-countryman-may-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2011 Mini Countryman - AB long term car - profile against sunset

Our long-term 2011 Mini Countryman is nearing the end of its year-long stay in the Autoblog Garage, the past six months of which have been spent bouncing back and forth between the various Detroit-based team members (and Cleveland - we mustn't forget about Herr Neff). And while we've all had plenty of time behind the wheel of the biggest Mini, this is one car that always seems to be in high demand, whether its for long road trips or just because we all really like driving the thing.

With the odometer nearing the 20,000-mile mark, I must commend the Countryman for how well it's held up over the past ten months of use. I recently spent a few days in it for a quick jaunt across Michigan, and aside from surface detritus like dust on the IP and an occasional french fry found under the driver's seat, the interior doesn't seem to really show any signs of aging - something we couldn't say about our recently departed long-term Hyundai Equus after only six months of service. There are no rattles or creaks to speak of and the various fabrics and plastics used throughout the cabin look as good as they did on Day One. Then again, we expect nothing less considering our Mini's $38,000 price tag.

The one constant complaint from literally every single person who drives the car is how harsh it rides on the road.

The one constant complaint from literally every single person who drives the car is how harsh it rides on the road, Detroit's horrific street surfaces aside. It's not entirely the fault of our car's optional sport suspension, though - we think it all comes down to its awful run-flat summer tires. The whole car will jolt as you coast over even the most minute of pavement irregularities, and it gets to be very, very annoying. I truly miss the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 winter tires that were fitted to the car during the cold months. Yes, the 18-inch Pirelli Cinturato P7 run-flats offer better grip on dry roads, especially when driving the Countryman enthusiastically, but the rubber compound of those Blizzaks was so much more pleasant for everyday driving scenarios.

Brake dust also continues to be an issue, and it makes me wish we had opted for one of the darker alloy wheel choices when ordering our car. (I suppose I'm the one to blame, since you readers picked this Mini in our initial poll, and the car you see here is the one I had configured.) But still, even after just a week of driving, the front wheels become coated in black soot, and even a run through a car wash won't completely do the trick in removing the grossness.

But these are simple fixes. Get yourself a proper set of summer (or all-season) tires and the ride quality will surely improve. And if you build a Countryman with one of the dark alloy wheel options, there are plenty of lighter body colors that look really sharp with contrasting black accents. Even so, these quibbles with our long-term tester won't steer me away from spending more time with the Mini before it leaves, and judging from all the requests from other staffers eager to get another stint behind the wheel, they haven't upset too many of my fellow editors, either.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: May 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman

April was a busy month for the long-term 2011 Mini Countryman, with over 2,500 miles added to the odometer and a heaping helping of people and things passing through its doors. When I picked up the Countryman, I was impressed by the fact that all four of its winter tires were neatly stowed behind the front seats. However, the biggest of Mini models didn't fare so well when the rear seats were occupied.

Mini CountrymanOn a shopping day with the kids, a relatively small amount of goods proved to be far too much for the Countryman's diminutive trunk. As a result, I had no choice but to disperse boxes at the feet of my wife and kids, which was a decidedly unpopular move (don't let the smiles fool you). The kids didn't love the lack of roominess, but I can assure you that my 2,500 miles were mostly enjoyable.

I got a huge kick out of the Countryman's spirited handling, even though I didn't find our long-termer to have the same go-kart-like demeanor of its smaller siblings. The good news, however, was that I was able to average 26 miles per gallon during my month with the Mini, with a high of 30 mpg and a very entertaining low of just over 20 mpg. But don't blame the Countryman for that 20 mpg number - that tank of gas was all about exploring the performance limits of our smallest long-term loaner. And even so, my own average fuel economy is higher than the dismal numbers that Editor Ewing brought up in last month's update.

One thing I didn't like about the Countryman was a sometimes jarring ride, which we've attributed, in part, to the dreaded run-flat tires. The throttle was also a bit odd, as the first few degrees of pedal travel felt a bit dead. It took a few days to get used to it, and it helps to always drive in Sport mode.

The Countryman did require a non-scheduled trip to the dealership during its month in my hands. After just a few days with the car, I noticed that the fan kicked on at full blast every time I turned on the car. I didn't think much of it at first, until I came back outside one day and discovered that the fan was still on after about 10 minutes of the vehicle being turned off. The 'check engine' light illuminated the very next day, so off to Motor City Mini we went. As it turned out, the engine's thermometer was on the fritz, and the dealer replaced the part under warranty. That one issue aside, we've enjoyed nearly 15,000 miles of carefree Mini motoring.

Our Mini will spend the month of May shuffling between a number of staffers, with a few road trips planned as warmer weather starts to grace southeast Michigan. Stay tuned to see how the Countryman fares.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: April 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 May 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymancountrymanfeaturedlong-termminiMon, 07 May 2012 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20230630/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/07/2011-mini-countryman-april-2012/20230630/article-detail.xml 20230630 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/02-mini-countryman-long-term_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/02-mini-countryman-long-term.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: March 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/2011-mini-countryman-march-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/2011-mini-countryman-march-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/2011-mini-countryman-march-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2011 Mini Countryman

When our friends at The Tire Rack told us they'd be sending over a set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 tires mounted on 17-inch Sport Edition alloy wheels for our long-term Mini Countryman, our minds were immediately filled with images of the little blue hatchback bounding along snowy roads with razor-sharp precision and confidence. Instead, editors Neff, Paukert and myself can literally count on one hand the number of times we actually had to drive the Mini on snowy/slushy roads. So much for winter tire/all-wheel-drive snowy playtime.

To say that we've had an unusually mild winter here in the Midwest is truly an understatement (note: we are absolutely not complaining). In mid-March, we saw record-high temperatures in the mid-80s. As Neff said in last month's update, seriously, what the hell is going on?

So rather than wear down the tread on our Blizzaks even further, we took the Countryman over to Motor City Mini once again to have its stock Pirelli Cinturato 18-inch wheels and run-flat (boo!) tires put back on. Perfect timing, too, since the car was just about to roll over the 12,000-mile mark, meaning its first scheduled maintenance was due. The oil was changed, fluids were topped off and all of the other mechanical elements inspected, and thus, our Mini is now prepped and ready for spring and summer in The D. We griped about the harshness of the run-flat tires combined with our optional sport suspension already, so we'll spare you another round of grumbling. If there's one thing we'll miss about the winter tires, it's the smoother - albeit, slightly louder - ride.

Our observed fuel economy numbers are falling short of what the EPA suggests.

With 12,000 miles now under our belts, the Countryman is plenty broken in. But after a quick math session with the car's logbook, it seems our observed fuel economy numbers are falling short of what the EPA suggests. I'll personally admit to driving the Mini more aggressively than most consumers likely will (hey, this thing is seriously fun to throw around), but even so, the fact that our observed fuel economy is only 24.9 miles per gallon is indeed questionable. The EPA rates the 2011 Cooper S Countryman All4 at 26/32 mpg city/highway and 28 mpg combined when fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, and our best recorded fuel economy is only a dismal 29.3 mpg. Either I'm not the only one with a heavy right foot or something is off here. We'll definitely be keeping a close watch over this as time progresses.

In the next month, associate editor Chris Shunk will put the Countryman to use as a family hauler, so we'll get a better idea of just how kid-and-cargo-friendly the four-passenger interior really is. Stay tuned.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: March 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 mini cooper s countryman2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymancounrymanfeaturedlong-termlongtermminiThu, 29 Mar 2012 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20200087/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/29/2011-mini-countryman-march-2012/20200087/article-detail.xml 20200087 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mini628-1333035713_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mini628-1333035713.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: February 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/08/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-february-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/08/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-february-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/08/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-february-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI interior

Two months with our long-term 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is enough for me to know that history will not look back kindly on this generation of VW's long-running compact sedan. As has been covered, rather exhaustively I might add, the 2011 refresh of the Jetta brought with it a significant reduction in interior fit, finish and overall quality. Sadly, the more time you spend in the Jetta, the more its interior bits and pieces wear on your senses, as does the dour black color palette.

Perhaps the interior deficiencies of the 2011 Jetta wouldn't be so noteworthy if Volkswagen hadn't set such a heady precedent in past models, offering an upscale alternative to its competitors at a slightly higher price. As you're likely aware, VW's latest strategy puts its products on an equal footing with more mainstream brands while boasting a highly competitive price. Based on the brand's recent profit margins and record sales, the plan is working to perfection.

We hate to harp on the point, but have to wonder if moving downmarket will have long-lasting repercussions with diehard VW fans.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: February 2012

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: February 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 volkswagen jetta2011 volkswagen jetta tdiablongtermablongterm-jettafeaturedjettajetta tdilong termvolkswagenThu, 08 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20189296/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/08/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-february-2012/20189296/article-detail.xml 20189296 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi-interior-2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi-interior-2.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: February 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/2011-mini-countryman-february-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/2011-mini-countryman-february-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/2011-mini-countryman-february-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Autoblog Long-Term Mini Countryman

I regret to inform you that despite what the image above indicates, Autoblog's long-term Mini Countryman will again be passing hands without having been thoroughly tested in the type of inclement weather for which it's been prepared. While we thought there was no way it would escape a February in Cleveland without slogging through weeks of snowfall, our Countryman's Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 winter tires only met the cold stuff once, and then for only a day or two before everything melted. As I write this monthly recap on Leap Day, February 29, the temperature outside is 60 degrees and the sunshine is reflecting off my computer screen and into my eyes. What the hell is going on?

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: February 2012

2011 Mini Countryman: February 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymancountrymanfeaturedminimini connectedThu, 01 Mar 2012 16:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20183056/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/01/2011-mini-countryman-february-2012/20183056/article-detail.xml 20183056 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mini-countryman-longterm-snow2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mini-countryman-longterm-snow2.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: January 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-mini-countryman-january-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-mini-countryman-january-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-mini-countryman-january-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Literally two days after my last update about our long-term Mini Countryman, I found myself trudging through a snowstorm at 30 miles per hour on Interstate 94 along Michigan's west coast. I guess Mother Nature had heard my cries about not being able to test our Mini in the snow, and decided to reward me with super slippery roads and poor visibility for two and a half hours straight. Lovely.

Mile after mile, the Mini dutifully carried on while I watched large SUVs and a host of mid-size sedans slide off into the ditches on either side of I-94. I've lived in southeast Michigan my entire life, and I know how to drive in the slushy, slick stuff, but there's nothing quite like the combination of all-wheel drive and proper winter tires for times like this - it not only helps with driver confidence, but makes the whole process of safely navigating through a snowstorm much less fatiguing. Mini's All4 all-wheel-drive system made sure power was being sent to exactly which wheels needed it most, and our car's Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 winter tires provided by the folks at Tire Rack kept the rollers from slipping during acceleration or skidding during braking.

After using the Mini to schlep many an Autoblog staff member to and from various Detroit Auto Show happenings, I handed the Countryman off to executive editor Chris Paukert, who turned it back over praising the All4 system and snow tires' handling on split-mu surfaces - even with the driver's side tires on wet asphalt and the passenger-side wheels trudging through ice and slush, the Mini remained confident and steady despite times when traction coefficients differed at every corner.

The Countryman now resides in Cleveland, Ohio, where it will be under Editor-in-Chief John Neff's care for the next month. We haven't had any snow to speak of since sending the Mini to Ohio, but I'm sure if Neff complains enough, Mother Nature will reward him with a big ol' lake-effect dumping to the Lake Erie coast so he can see just how good our All4/Blizzak combo is.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: January 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 mini cooper s countryman2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymancooper s countrymancountrymanfeaturedlong-termminiTue, 07 Feb 2012 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20165319/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/07/2011-mini-countryman-january-2012/20165319/article-detail.xml 20165319 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/photo-1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/photo-1.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: January 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-january-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-january-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-january-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus

January was not a busy month for our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus. It did ferry one of our editors between auto company cocktail hours and dinners during the week of the Detroit Auto Show, but for the latter half of the month it wasn't driven all that much. But that's good news, because our Equus spent quite a bit of time at LaFontaine Hyundai, in Dearborn, Michigan, receiving a long-awaited repair to the driver's seat.

As we wind down its year in the Autoblog fleet, we also saw fit to address some cosmetic damage to the front fascia and have our 22,500-mile service completed. While the service was free, the "minor" scrape on the lower corner of the bumper skirt set us back some $669.25. Our time with the Equus ends in just a few weeks, which means we'll only have limited time to enjoy the now-comfortable seat. This has been one of our biggest issues with the car, and to have it finally fixed after all this time is so wonderful that some editors are grumbling that they won't have the chance to get back in the car again.

We do wish, however, that the seat bottom wasn't made to look even more worn by the contrast of the brand new seat back. At least we don't have to look at it while we drive around enjoying the comfort of the now-working back massager.

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: January 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 hyundai equus2011 hyundai equus ultimateablongtermablongterm-equusequusequus ultimatehyundailong term equuslong term garageTue, 07 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20165393/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/07/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-january-2012/20165393/article-detail.xml 20165393 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/equus-seat-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/equus-seat-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: January 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-january-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-january-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-january-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Stellar fuel efficiency is still the name of the game when it comes to our long-term Volkswagen Jetta TDI, as it's averaging well over its EPA-estimated 30 city and 42 highway miles per gallon in our hands. In fact, with a deft throttle foot, it's not terribly difficult to crest the 50-mpg plateau on long, steady-state trips.

The oil-burning steed recently made the trek from Southern California to the Phoenix, Arizona area so that our resident photographer, Drew Phillips, could make sure we got all the right shots as we lead-footed our way around the Bondurant circuit with the Chevy Camaro ZL1.

Parking the Jetta TDI next to the Camaro ZL1 was an interesting exercise - it's hard to imagine two vehicles more diametrically opposed than these. And, needless to say, moving directly from 580 supercharged horsepower in the ZL1 to just 140 horses in the VW took a bit of right-foot recalibration.

The good news is that, with 236 pound-feet of torque on tap, the Jetta TDI is fun to drive in its own right. Short-shifting the six-speed manual gearbox to keep the diesel mill in its sweet spot produces the most satisfying experience in the Jetta, and it allows you to feel the rush of torque as the turbocharger gets a hold of the spent diesel fumes, pushing your body into the seatback.

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: January 2012

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: January 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After spending the first half of December up in the San Fernando Vallery with Drew Phillips, our long-term Jetta TDI made its way back into my care for a holiday road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Old Blue saw some great American icons on the trip, such as Alcatraz, Muir Woods, Sonoma Valley and the Golden Gate Bridge. Come to think of it, the Jetta and I have seen a lot of the country's splendor together. After all, my last run with the Volkswagen involved driving it 2,000 miles from Detroit to LA.

Since that long road trip in the Jetta this past summer, the interior seems to be more broken-in, though it isn't showing any noticeable signs of wear. That said, it still isn't a very pleasant place to be. I didn't love it on my cross-country journey a few months ago, and while it's more comfortable now that more butts have been in the driver's seat, there simply isn't anything to rave about.

Fuel economy, however, is as great as ever - I commonly see numbers over 40 mpg. The car's much-disliked gearbox is still tricky, and we broke a sweat trying not to stall while starting out on some of those steep San Francisco hills (especially when cars were behind us). But with some serious concentration, we managed with minimal problems.

All-in-all, the Jetta TDI continues to get the job done, though never quite in the refined manner that we're looking for. I've put thousands of miles on this Jetta TDI myself, but have yet to completely bond with it.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: December 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 volkswagen jetta tdiablongtermablongterm-jettafeaturedjettajetta tdilong-termvolkswagenvwFri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20141751/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-december-2011/20141751/article-detail.xml 20141751 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/08-long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/08-long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: December 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-december-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-december-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-december-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As the newest member of the Autoblog crew, I got to take my first turn in the long-term Equus just before the holidays. But rather than the early Christmas present I expected it to be, two weeks behind the wheel felt more like hazing the new guy.

Now, I'm a big fan of the Hyundai Genesis sedan, and I had ridden in an Equus before and found its backseat extremely comfortable, so I was excited to pick up this limousine-like Hyundai from the AOL Autos office in suburban Detroit. I truly wanted to like the car. But by the time I had completed the 55-mile freeway drive back to my house in Ann Arbor, I had already soured. Or to be more accurate, decided that our Equus was broken.

I had been warned about our car's out-of-control lumbar support on the driver's seat and was prepared for an uncomfortable experience, but the Equus proved more painful than I had expected. The problem wasn't just an extreme amount of lumbar support, but that the seat was poking me right in the kidney - reason one to call the dealer.

But that wasn't all...

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: December 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: December 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 hyundai equus2011 hyundai equus ultimateablongtermablongterm-equusequusequus ultimatehyundailong term equuslong term garageWed, 04 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20139256/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-december-2011/20139256/article-detail.xml 20139256 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/long-term-2011-hyundai-equus-opt-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/long-term-2011-hyundai-equus-opt-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/2011-mini-countryman-december-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/2011-mini-countryman-december-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/2011-mini-countryman-december-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,



As much as I detest the winter months here in Detroit, the truth is, I'm kind of bummed that we've only seen about a half-inch of snow so far this season. In fact, I was happy that our most recent snowfall actually started to stick to the parking lot across the street from my loft, simply so I could capture this photo of our long-term Mini Countryman with some powder on the ground. Two hours after I took this picture, it had all melted. Sigh.

So why, if I hate winter so much, do I wish there was snow outside my door? I'm extremely eager to see how our Countryman - now riding on winter tires - will fare in the slushy, wintry sludge. A proper set of snow shoes, relatively short wheelbase, decent ground clearance and all-wheel drive are a perfect combination for winter prowess, and darnit, I want to go play.

Still, in the three weeks that the Countryman has been under my watch here in Detroit, I've learned a lot about the big Mini since my first stint behind the wheel way back in August 2010.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymanall4countrymanfeaturedlong-termminimotor city miniFri, 30 Dec 2011 15:12:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20137289/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/30/2011-mini-countryman-december-2011/20137289/article-detail.xml 20137289 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/countryman628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/countryman628.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/2011-mini-countryman-november-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/2011-mini-countryman-november-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/2011-mini-countryman-november-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



After spending September in the San Francisco bay area with Senior Editor Damon Lavrinc, our long-term 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 moved to southern California during the month of October to serve our esteemed photographer, Drew Phillips. In early November, I handed Drew the keys to our long-term 2011 Jetta TDI and stole the Countryman from his driveway. He hasn't seen it since.

I like the standard Cooper S hardtop. It is fun to toss the little 2,668-pound two-door around and it delivers decent fuel economy. However, after four weeks of living with this maxi-Mini four-door (a whopping 540 pounds heavier), I have come to the conclusion that bigger isn't necessarily better - there is simply too much sugar in this Mini's sweetly flavored drink.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 mini cooper s countryman2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymanall4cooper s countrymancountrymanfeaturedlong-termminiFri, 02 Dec 2011 12:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20118776/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/02/2011-mini-countryman-november-2011/20118776/article-detail.xml 20118776 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/countryman20-1322804676_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/countryman20-1322804676.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: November 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-november-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-november-2011/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-november-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



I'll be honest - I don't love our 2011 Hyundai Equus. It's a perfectly fine luxury sedan, but as a daily driver, it has about as much personality as the new sofa I bought last month. Autoblog Editor-in-Chief John Neff, on the other hand, is quite fond of our long-termer, and in my conversations with him, the vast majority of his praise was concentrated around the Hyundai's behavior on really long road trips - something that, even after our team collectively put nearly 20,000 miles on the car, I had yet to experience, aside from a few quick jaunts between Detroit and Chicago.

Earlier this month, I needed to make a trip from Detroit to southern Illinois and back - 1,200 miles in total that would be covered over two 9.5-hour stints. And since my route would only take me along the hardly scenic, decidedly boring interstates of the midwest (looking at you, I-75, I-70 and I-57), this was clearly a job for the Equus.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: November 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: November 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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