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First Drive: 2009 Ford Escape, more of almost everything

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Crossover, Ford, First Drive

2009 Ford Escape - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2008 redesign of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner wasn't the clean-sheet redesign Ford would like people to believe. In fact, only the parts visible to the naked eye were "all new." Aside from the body and interior, the working bits that make the badge-engineered duo go were almost entirely carried over from the 2007 models. Fortunately for Ford, that oversight didn't seem to hurt sales, which increased by about ten-percent over their predecessors in a market that's down overall. For 2009, all the hardware under the skin has been either replaced or significantly refreshed. And that's a good thing.

The old 2.3-liter four-pot has been superseded by a 2.5-liter unit, while the classic 3.0-liter Duratec V6 gets a major overhaul. Both engines receive a substantial boost in power and an all new six-speed gearbox to transmit it to the wheels. The driver's working environment also becomes a more pleasant place thanks to structural improvements to the body and Ford's next-generation navigation system with Sirius Travel Link. We got a chance to play with all of the 2009 Escape variants on a rainy spring morning, so read on after the jump for our impressions.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Ford Escape

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First Drive: 2009 Ford Escape, more of almost everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2009 Honda Pilot

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:47:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Honda, First Drive

2009 Honda Pilot - Click above for high-res image gallery

When the new 2009 Honda Pilot turned up as a concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January, most observers were decidedly underwhelmed. Unlike many other recent crossovers, notably the GM Lambdas, Honda chose to go with a decidedly more utilitarian look for the second-generation Pilot. As Honda officials explained when we gathered for a preview drive of the 2009 Pilot, they wanted to retain the "Utility" in CUV and a big part of that involved maximizing the useful interior volume within the Pilot's relatively modest exterior dimensions. That means a boxy shape that provides room for up to eight (at least as defined by the seat-belts) inside.

While the Pilot won't be challenging the Buick Enclave or Mazda CX-9 for style points, it isn't too painful on the eyes. It's more a case of being almost invisible. The greenhouse is actually strongly reminiscent of the first generation Jeep Liberty, only longer. In spite of the rather barn like shape, it's actually more aerodynamic than the original Pilot, resulting in substantially less wind noise. In fact, the Pilot has a whole range of improvements that reduce noise, which we'll explore a bit later. There are also some things that might be considered a step backwards. Read on after the jump to learn about our first drive in the new Pilot.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Honda Pilot

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First Drive: 2009 Honda Pilot originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2009 BMW X6 xDrive35i and xDrive50i

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Crossover, BMW, First Drive

2009 BMW X6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

I must be missing the gene that makes high-riding vehicles appealing to so many other people. As a car enthusiast and an engineer, I can certainly appreciate the performance that companies like BMW and Infiniti have managed to wrangle from vehicles like the X6 and the EX35. But there is absolutely nothing in the new 2009 BMW X6 that couldn't be done better in a vehicle with a normal car-like ride height. After all, who is going off-roading in one of these? The best explanation I could get out of BMW officials for the existence of the X6 is that many drivers like that commanding view of their surroundings that the elevated altitude provides.

According to BMW, the X6 is designed to provide stylish coupe looks with the high performance people expect of a BMW and the utility of an SUV. As is so often the case, vehicles that try to fit too many categories at once end up not fitting any of them very well. It's not all bad news for the new X6, though. While it's not my cup of tea, there are undoubtedly some who will love this beast. Read on after the jump to find out if the X6 is something you might want in your garage.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 BMW X6

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 BMW X6 xDrive35i and xDrive50i

First Drive: 2009 BMW X6 xDrive35i and xDrive50i originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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