2011 Lemon Aid Large Cars

Large cars offer abundant cabin space and big trunks, but can be cumbersome to drive in the city. Big engines deliver relaxed performance and good fuel economy on the open road, but fuel mileage can plummet in town. The size and weight of cars in this segment offer enhanced occupant protection.

The big news in this segment for 2011 is the renewal of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. While not all new, they have been re-bodied, and the mainstream V6 models feature a new engine.

What’s new
Standard ESC. A USB port is added to five-seater models. Revised radios. A navigation system is standard on the Super trim variant.

Comments
The Lucerne’s body and cabin look modern, but the structure that lies underneath debuted in 1995. Good exterior panel fit and paintwork. The cabin design is conservative, tasteful, and carefully assembled using attractive components. Comfortable seating. The 2936 mm (115.6 inch) wheelbase allows for generous legroom front and rear. Big trunk. Engine choices include a 227 horsepower 3.9L V6 and a 4.6L V8 that produces 292 horsepower. Power reaches the front wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission regardless of engine choice. Reports in the automotive press note that the Lucerne is a large, pampering, quiet touring car that provides a smooth ride and confident, non-sporting handling. Made in the United States.

Reliability
Not rated, insufficient data. Unproven 3.9L V6. The Lucerne’s complex electronic systems make the purchase of a GM extended warranty advisable should you plan to keep your car past the four year/80,000 km bumper to bumper warranty. A GM dealer recommended by the APA will provide a discount on the warranty if it is bought in conjunction with the new car. Expensive factory replacement parts.

Pricing
The CXL is the best value of the Lucerne lineup, especially if you want leather seating. The CXL 1SB upgrade lacks value and Super package pricing is delusional. Though down on power compared to a Toyota Avalon, a CXL compares well on pricing. However, the Lucerne will suffer from rapid depreciation. GM is offering leasing on Buicks once again but lease monthlies are too high when compared to finance payments to make leasing attractive. Despite its near geriatric status, Lucerne sales increased 25 percent last year.

Safety
Seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags are standard. Rated Good in the IIHS frontal impact test, Acceptable in the IIHS side impact test and Marginal in the rear impact test. Not rated for rollover. Standard ABS and ESC.

What’s new
Re-skinned bodies and new cabins over the existing platform. All-wheel drive is restricted to the V8 engine.

Comments
Except for a more heavily raked windshield and smoother surface detailing, the updated 300 is much as before. The dashboard, featuring large, crisp, artistically-lit gauges, a prominent central section containing a large touch screen, easy-to-manipulate HVAC and radio controls, and smoothly contoured, soft-touch matte-finished materials, is a big improvement over the old 300. Comfortable seats front and rear are allied to good cabin space. The new Dodge Charger looks more changed than the 300, including an indented scallop on the doors that references those on the 1968 Charger. The Dodge has its own dashboard that contains a large binnacle housing conventional gauges and a touch screen. Like the 300, cabin materials are a big improvement on what they replace. The standard 292 horsepower (42 more than the old 3.5L) 3.6L V6 can be supplemented by a 5.7L V8. Transmission is via a five-speed automatic transmission regardless of which engine powers the car. Made in Canada.

Reliability
Not rated, new model with a redesigned body, cabin and V6 engine. The purchase of an extended warranty from Chrysler is expensive, but is strongly recommended if you plan to keep the car past the bumper to bumper warranty. Three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Pricing.
300: Upgrading from the Touring to the Limited trim level is an exceptional bargain, as is the Luxury group option. The V8 300C is priced $2000 higher than a similarly equipped V6 Limited with the Luxury group, a big change from the massive supplement charged for V8 power in 2010. All-wheel drive is a $2000 option on the V8 300C only. Charger: Moving up from the SE to the SXT and from there to the SXT Plus represents acceptable value. The V8, a $2000 option on the Chrysler, costs $4000 extra on the Dodge. All-wheel drive is a $2000 option only on the V8-engined R/T. Prices for the 300 are $2000 higher than for the Charger at the bottom and top of the model ranges. Similarly equipped, an all-wheel drive 300C is nearly $6000 cheaper than a Ford Taurus SHO all-wheel drive. Combined sales of the two cars built on this platform receded about 20 percent last year.

Safety
Standard seat-mounted side and side-curtain airbags. The 300 was a Top Safety Pick, rated Good in the IIHS frontal, side, rear and rollover tests. Standard ABS and ESC.

What’s new
Standard engine block heater and new colours are about it for the Taurus for 2011.

Performance
Strong, smooth performance from the normally aspirated V6. Slick-shifting, responsive automatic transmission. The turbocharged V6 in the SHO furnishes blistering, linear acceleration but is heavy on fuel. Good handling. Precise, nicely weighted steering. Smooth, quiet ride. Progressive braking despite mushy pedal feel. Poor visibility, especially for reversing. The swept-back dashboard is a dramatic piece of architecture. It houses a big, clear set of gauges, but the multitude of buttons for the climate and audio controls make their workings hard to fathom. Fit, finish and materials are all very good. Despite its vast exterior size, Taurus cabin space is disappointing, with barely more space available than in the smaller Fusion. Low-mounted front seats restrict toe space for rear seat passengers. Weak air conditioning.

Reliability
Not rated, insufficient data. There were few complaints about the previous model that used many of the same mechanical elements, but this might be partially attributed the small number of cars sold. The turbocharged engine is unproven. Three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Comments
The Taurus is available with either a normally-aspirated V6 with 263 horsepower or a 365 horsepower turbocharged V6. All-wheel drive, optional on the normally-aspirated Taurus SEL, is standard on the Limited and SHO variants.

Pricing
Overpriced SEL and Limited trim upgrades. Comparably equipped, an SEL is nearly $3000 cheaper than a Limited. All-wheel drive, standard on the SHO and Limited, is a $2500 option on the SEL. About $4000 of the $7200 SHO package is attributable to the ECO Boost engine. An all-wheel drive Chrysler 300C is priced nearly $6000 less than a similarly-equipped Taurus SHO. Taurus sales doubled last year.

Safety
Standard seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags. The Taurus was a Top Safety Pick, rated Good in the IIHS frontal, side, rear and rollover tests. Standard ABS and ESC on both cars.

What’s new
Nothing of note.

Performance
Hooked to a smooth and responsive five-speed automatic transmission, the Crosstour’s 3.5L V6 accelerates with great verve. With a carefully developed ride-handling balance, communicative steering and firm, reassuring brakes, the Crosstour is one of the nicest driving affordable big cars available. If the Crosstour has a fault, it is that the sloping roofline, small side windows and high tail combine to limit outward visibility.

The Crosstour’s massive exterior conceals a roomy, versatile cabin with comfortable seats front and rear. The dashboard, plucked whole from the Accord sedan, is an over-scaled piece festooned with literally dozens of buttons, especially on navigation equipped cars. Clear, concise instrumentation. The cargo space is rendered less spacious than it could be by intrusive rear suspension towers, a sloping roofline, and a high trunk floor which restricts the vertical height available for stowage below the window line.

Reliability
Predicted above average reliability like the Accord it is based on. Three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, with 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain.

Pricing
Only one version, a lavishly equipped V6 Crosstour, is offered. All-wheel drive and a navigation system (priced at $2000 each) are the only two options available. Honda’s decision not to sell a full model range, including a base cloth-upholstered four-cylinder variant, is puzzling, and has doomed the model in Canada. The best-selling version of the Toyota Venza (the Crosstour’s direct competitor) is the all-wheel drive four-cylinder that sells for just under $31,000. The all-wheel drive Accord Crosstour sells for about $400 more than a Venza all-wheel drive V6 Premium. Excellent lease offers. The Crosstour is more expensive to lease or finance than the Venza. Crosstour sales were 90 percent lower than those for the Toyota Venza last year.

Safety
Standard seat-mounted and side-curtain airbags. The Crosstour was rated Good in the IIHS front, side and rear tests and Marginal in the rollover test. Standard ABS and ESC.

What’s new
2.7L AWD Touring Package. Revised option packages.

Performance
The Venza’s big four is quick and smooth, and is the choice of most Venza buyers. The powerful V6 accelerates with alacrity but lacks the sonic qualities expected from an engine with such impressive specifications. Noise from a variety of sources are in excess of what is expected from a car in this segment. The six-speed automatic transmission upshifts smoothly, but downshifts reluctantly. With a flinty ride over short, sharp bumps (courtesy of 19 and 20 inch wheels) and a lack of composure when roads get twisty, the Venza’s suspension delivers the worst of both worlds. Big, clear instruments. Controls for the heating and audio system look odd at first but are a snap to use once you are used to them. The vast centre console can hold a massive amount of detritus, all accessed via a number of very cleverly conceived lids. With a low floor, a tall roof and big doors, the Venza is very easy to get in and out of. Once in, occupants rest on supportive seats and enjoy abundant space. Some cheap looking cabin materials and poor assembly are letdowns. Cargo space, while wide and long, is very shallow below the window line, severely limiting cargo capacity.

Reliability
Not rated, insufficient data. Very good reliability is predicted. Some recent new Toyotas have developed problems in the year after they were launched. Three year/60,000 km bumper to bumper warranty, 5 years/100,000 km on the powertrain. Replacement and winter tires to fit the Venza’s 19 and 20 inch wheels will be very expensive.

Comments
The Venza, Toyota's Camry-based hatchback, has the same wheelbase and overall length as the Camry, but is 85 mm (3.34 inches) wider and 160 mm (6.29 inches) taller than its sedan showroom companion. The Venza is a five-seater so as to not conflict with the Highlander built on the same set of components. Power is produced by either a 187 horsepower 2.7L four or a 3.5L V6 with 268 horsepower. The sole transmission is a six-speed automatic. Made in the United States.

Pricing
Toyota charges only $1450 for all-wheel drive on the Venza. The Premium and Touring packages are very good value. The JBL package balances price and content exactly. The Venza all-wheel drive V6 Premium sells for about $400 less than an all-wheel drive Accord Crosstour. Excellent lease deals. Lease and finance payments for the Venza are less than those for the Honda Accord Crosstour. With around 13,000 sold last year, the Venza has been a huge success for Toyota.

Safety
Seat-mounted side and side-curtain airbags are standard. The Venza was a Top Safety Pick, rated Good in the IIHS frontal, side, rear and rollover tests. Standard ABS and ESC.