Click on the photo for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Saab 9-3 convertible
The crew at AutoCar in jolly old England recently had a first crack at the updated 2008 Saab 9-3 and they’ve published their initial impressions. They mainly got to play with the flex-fuel 2.0L turbo four, which will probably be the base engine when the new Saab arrives on our shores. In Europe, the 9-3 will also be available with the 2.8L turbo V-6 and a twin turbo 1.8L diesel. Unfortunately, we probably won’t get the diesel here.
The Brits were also impressed by the new XWD all-wheel-drive system that uses a combination of the latest Haldex center differential and an electronic limited slip differential in the rear axle to instantly distribute the drive torque away from slipping wheels to the ones that have grip in a smooth, seamless transition. Check out the rest of AutoCars driving impressions here.
[Source: AutoCar]
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The 2012 Mazda5 is a minivan that doesn’t really act like a minivan. With a sporty ride, polarizing exterior styling and a smaller size, Mazda seems to listening to what turns people off in minivans and addressing or eliminating those aspects altogether.
The Mazda5 is technically a subcompact crossover, but we like to think of it as a mini minivan.
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MSRP: $19,345 – $24,025
Average AOL Autos Best Deal Price (Base):$17,958
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-2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine
-157-hp, 163 lb-ft of torque
-Six-speed manual transmission or five-speed automatic transmission
-21 mpg City/28 mpg Hwy
-Built in Changchun, China
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Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Volkswagen Routan, Nissan Quest, Dodge Grand Caravan
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Michael: The driving dynamics are great on this vehicle especially for a minivan. I often felt like I was simply driving a larger Mazda3, which is impressive considering that the Mazda3 is one of the best driving sedans available. It may not have the biggest engine, but it’s a smaller vehicle (lighter than many mid-size sedans) that you can throw around pretty well.
Autoblog: If you stow the third row seats, you’re rewarded with 44.4 cubic feet of cargo-swallowing space. Further, with both second- and third-row seats flattened, there’s enough storage capacity to haul as much cargo as the Mazda 5’s independent rear multi-link suspension can handle.
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Michael: I thought that the sound system was pretty bad. I’m a stickler for good audio in a car and the Mazda5’s speakers just didn’t get the job done.
Autoblog: While the redesign of the 5’s dash looks like a step in the right direction, hard plastics remain. Sure, we would have loved soft-touch materials, but with a starting price under $20,000, we weren’t expecting plush expanses.
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The Mazda5 has done a great job of breaking the mold of the conventional minivan. As a great combination of value and functionality, take a good hard look at this vehicle if you are looking for a family/cargo hauler before you pony up the cash for one of its more expensive competitors.
AOL Autos Score:
(4/5)
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