This year’s auto show was great. Not because of the cars, but because Nora had such strong opinions about everything. I feared she would be like Lisa – Lisa is not a car person – but she wasn’t.
Nora did well to let me know what cars were and weren’t acceptable. It’s kind of important, given that she’ll be spending time in whatever vehicle we choose to buy, if we buy, and might end up driving one of them one day.
This is not to say we’re buying a car anytime soon. I just want something that’s a little safer, with better side and rear impact scores, especially now that Nora and future sibling will be saddled up against the doors.
Without further ado…
Winners
Honda Odyssey: the mothership of all minivans. Honda practically made history by releasing the first iteration of minivan with its foldaway seat. They keep tweaking the formula, and it just keeps getting better and better. The Odyssey, for its size, is low slung and has all four wheels pinned at the furthest corners, and ground clearance is minimal. This gives it the ability to aggressively maneuver in hazardous conditions and have the get-up-and-go that other minivans lack.
Mazda 6: Fantastic sedan. I love it over the Accord and Camry mostly because the styling suits me.
Hyundai Genesis: The world laughed when Hyundai said they’d release a luxury car. Who is laughing now? This car was a show stopper. You can pick up the 4.2L at only $32K and the 5L at $45K. Mercedes and BMW have cars that easily double that price. And! it has the best warranty in America. Instant win.
Jetta Sportwagen: If I could’ve bought it then and there, I would. It’s the perfect storm of a car – available in a diesel, excellent gas mileage, excellent safety features, and a panoramic sunroof from the factory. The S model, as configured for my tastes, tops out at $21K… but jumps to $26K for the diesel. Still, all members of our party loved it.
Dark horses which I fell in love with
Mazda CX-7: Yeah, I know, it’s an SUV. But the styling (interior/exterior) really resonated with me. And Nora. This was the first car she wanted to sit in (and sit, and play, and sit, and play). Even Lisa had to admit it was my kind of car.
Hyundai Entourage: Another Hyundai? Indeed. This Odyssey clone hits all the right notes and comes packaged with Sienna/Odyssey features at a much lower price (we’re talking between $3-$6K). And then there’s the warranty.
Scion xB: I was down on this vehicle, but I realized that in certain colors it’s nice, and in other colors it’s ugly. It’s just a matter of picking the right colors. They sourced the 2.4L out of the Camry/tC, increased the trunk space and reduced the drag coefficient. I’m solidly behind this vehicle, though, unlike the Jetta s/w, Lisa is not.
Dark horses that disappointed
Toyota Venza: No specific complaints about the vehicle except for the price tag. Lately, Toyota has gone the GM route, charging a lot of money with little in return. Why is this vehicle $32K? It’s not a Lexus, it’s not a hybrid, and nothing really screams ‘this is special!’
VW Routan: We went directly from the Odyssey to the Routan, and nothing can possibly set you up for more disappointment than that methodology. The Routan is clearly out of the Odyssey’s league, yet they ask for Odyssey money. The interior is cheaply designed, flimsy, uninspired and dare I say it, ugly.
Honda Element: They got rid of the ‘hosability’ of the vehicle. I suppose it’s not that big of a selling point, but as a practical matter I’ve done that once to the company vehicle. It’s a very easy way to clean a car.
Nora and I with the Entourage. Four thumbs up!
For reference, my cousin is 5’10″. It looks big, but it’s still a small car. I like it a lot, especially with the wheels they have on it.
Nora commandeered the Odyssey. She showed us how the car works. No, seriously. She showed us where the six disc changer was.
VW Jetta Sportwagen. Instant win! We loved it.
After two minutes in the Routan we both jumped ship as quickly as possible.
Lisa found the Cadillac Escalade EXT to be the vehicle of her dreams. I liked it in spite of myself, too.
Nora loved the Outback. I liked it too. Lisa’s mom owned one once, and it was insanely fun to drive.
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One Comment
I did NOT love that truck… look at the pained expression on my face! I’m only smiling because it was demanded of me.
Yuck.