Auto News 5

The Mazda 5 is getting old, but I remain a fan. This is a great vehicle for a small family that needs something bigger and more versatile than a sedan but doesn't want the expense and bulk of a minivan or a larger crossover. With comfortable seating for six spread among three rows, a carlike driving demeanor, and great visibility through its huge windshield, it's a very pleasant vehicle to drive. Yep, it's only got a four-cylinder engine. Nope, you don't need a V-6, which would only drive up the sticker price and lower the fuel economy which, at 21/27 mpg city/highway, is pretty good for a car that can haul six people, or four people and a lot of stuff.inline_mediumwraptextright26344289/reviews/editors_notebook/0912_2010_mazda5_touring0912_03_z+2010_mazda5_touring+rear_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Even as the miles wore on during two recent road trips, our Mazda 3 remained comfortable and engaging. During a Thanksgiving trip to Boston, assistant editor David Zenlea found the seats supportive over the long haul while the 3's chassis soaked up bumps and kept the drive lively. Having made the same trip two weeks earlier in our long-term BMW 7-series, Zenlea made the surprising assessment that the 3 was "significantly more enjoyable." His only gripe during the1600-mile drive was the navigation system that failed to warn him about standstill traffic near the Canadian border costing him hours and forcing him into a hotel for the night.inline_mediumwraptextright25452041/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/0912_2010_mazda3_s_sport_5_door_december_update0910_01_z+2010_mazda3_s_sport+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

The Tribeca is not aging well. It's loose and rattly and coarse and rough-riding. The boxer engine has sufficient power but doesn't sound great. The navigation system is positioned too far away from both the driver and the passenger. The interior is cramped for both front-seat and middle-seat passengers, not to mention the extremely cramped third-row seat. There is absolutely no driving joy to be had here, utility is severely compromised, and it's not pretty, so all you're left with are Subaru reliability and the benefits of standard all-wheel drive. These are nice things to have, but there are way too many other seven-passenger crossovers that have not only those attributes but also some performance, some crispness, some ride quality, and some visual pizzazz.inline_mediumwraptextright31486206/reviews/editors_notebook/0911_2010_subaru_tribeca_touring0911_17_z+2010_subaru_tribeca_touring+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

I was a bit shocked by the seats that look as if they were inspired by red pleather pants. It amazes me that car companies employ people who specialize in interior colors and materials and then deliver something like this. In addition to the fashion faux pas, these seats also look to be showing quite a bit of wear with just 9000 miles on the odometer.inline_mediumwraptextright26049494/reviews/editors_notebook/0911_2010_ford_fusion_sport_awd0911_09_z+2010_ford_fusion_sport_aWD+rear_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

The three volume German premium brands are about to introduce electric mobility from the top down - in new models like the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, the electric Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and the Audi E-tron. We got an early turn in the E-tron, which aims at the niche currently owned by the Tesla Roadster.inline_mediumwraptextright31379283/green/reviews/1001_audi_etron_plugin1001_01_z+audi_e-Tron+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue