Ford Flex SUV

Ford Flex SUV

Predictions are very high for this 2009 Ford Flex. This is a vehicle that is completing the crossover move akin to the one that was made by the first that the Explorer did when the SUV boom got underway or what happened to the Sedans when the Taurus onslaught ensued.

Ford Flex is oriented towards a family setting. It is long and wide, longer than even a full-size SUV, and wider than the longest minibus ever. Ford insists that the 2009 Flex is not a replacement to minivans, although it is being built in the same place where the defunct minivan was being made.

This model is available in front-wheel drive. What a marvel! The family's needs have been served after all. When mum or dad is on the wheel, he or she is not going to be branded a soccer mania.

The Flex story is that of style upon style. This is a vehicle that gives you more in the form of style than any other model that the company has manufactured in modern times. This model has a small hint of Range rover and panel wagon at the same time. The door of the flex is not a suicide one. This is the main difference between this model and others of the same category.

The rear doors don't slide like those of minivans. They are the swing variety. The truth is that these doors are longer than those of any other vehicle in production. Raised rocker panels that are often found in many SUVs have been eliminated by this model. A second-row option in the form of a best-in-class legroom is what this model promises instead.

The second-row seats tumble over in a stylish fashion in order to give way for third row passengers. Do you have so much cargo that even overwhelms you? This model is always up for the challenge. What with third row chairs that can be spread on the floor in order to give way for your load? Nothing in the market can come close to beating that.

Leather upholstery is part of this Ford Flex design. The engineering marvel of this marvel is yet to be highlighted: This is the quietest SUV model in the market today. The materials used to make it are all sound-deadening in nature. So your ride is smooth and easy with Ford Flex than it has ever been before.

Ford Fusion SUV

Ford Fusion SUV

Soccer mom's unite! But not around this list. The need for versatility moves the average soccer mom from the typical minivan to an SUV or truck. Gas prices coupled with the growing concern for our environment, top the list of concerns for the average American consumer. For this reason, fact based research is a consumer's best friend when looking into a major purchase. If you are looking for fuel efficiency, this list will help you avoid the worst gas guzzlers. ConsumerReports.org bases the following rankings on real-world fuel economy tests and all vehicles are automatic transmission unless otherwise noted. In addition Consumer Reports includes the most fuel efficient vehicles in comparison to the top gas guzzlers.

Worst mpg list: Ford F-250 Lariat (diesel) 10 mpg Hummer H2 11 Cadillac Escalade 13 Chevrolet Avalanche LT (5.3) 13 Honda Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ 13 Ford Expedition EL Eddie Bauer 13 Jeep Commander Limited (5.7) 13 Lincoln Navigator Ultimate 13 Nissan Armada LE 13 Nissan Titan SE 13. Best mpg list: Toyota Prius 44 mpg Smart ForTwo Passion 39 Honda Insight EX 38 Volkswagen Golf TDI (manual) 38 Civic Hybrid 37 Ford Fusion Hybrid 34 Scion xD (manual) 34 Toyota Camry Hybrid 34 Honda Fit Sport (manual) 33 Mini Cooper (manual) 33mpg.

Take note that the Ford F-250 is a diesel, and although it has the worst gas mileage, diesel is cheaper than regular unleaded fuel when oil prices are down. In direct comparison, the Toyota Prius offers a whopping 44mpg, but no towing capacity an minimized seating. Consumer Reports also states that the average minivan gets between 17 and 19mpg, with the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey top the list at 19mpg. The majority of fuel efficient vehicles are small to medium cars, therefore the typical family of four needs a larger vehicle. Add into that the soccer, football, baseball, hockey equipment, the top ranking fuel efficient cars just don't cut it. The mass production of cross overs, hybrid SUV's, and wagons leave the consumer with a multitude of fuel efficient choices. Depending on your transportation needs, this list can help you avoid those high dollar gas guzzlers, and help you purchase a more well rounded vehicle for your family.

Sources:
Consumers Union of the US, "Best Overall Fuel Economy", Consumer's Report Magazine, April 2010.
Gordon Communications, "Consumer Reports: Gas Mileage of SUV's, CUV's, Wagons, Minivans, and Pickups", The Auto Channel February 8, 2007

Ford Edge SUV

Ford Edge SUV

While the quality gap between automakers is shrinking seemingly by the day, thanks to surveys done by magazines like Consumer Reports we can see that it is still true that the Asian automakers routinely build the highest quality automobiles.

According to J.D. Power, not many good things came out the Chrysler/Cerebrus merger or the Chrysler/Daimler merger either. No other automaker has more models at the bottom of the heap so here's to hoping the Chrysler/Fiat merger goes a bit more smoothly.

While Ford and Hyundai/Kia have seen their quality rankings skyrocket as of late, it still takes a while for these gains to show themselves in long term reliability studies. That isn't to say we won't see a Hyundai Sonata or Ford Fusion in this quality study but for now Honda and Toyota still rule the roost. Although it is nice to see the Lincoln MKX (a Ford Edge in drag) taking the top spot for luxury SUVs.

The big surprise here is the fact that not a single European automaker is represented in the "most reliable" category. Sure, their midsize SUVs are very well represented in the "least reliable" category so apparently Continental coach builders like Volvo and VW are much better suited to building cars.

As follows are the most and least reliable SUVs, Cars and Wagon/Minivans according to Consumer Reports. Happy car shopping and don't say you haven't been warned!

Most Reliable:

Small Car—Scion xD

Family Car—Toyota Prius

Luxury Car—Infiniti M35

Sporty Car/Convertible—Lexus SC (Note: This is, in fact, the most reliable vehicle in the United States)

Wagons/Minivans—Toyota Venza

Small SUV—Honda Element, Toyota RAV4

Midsize SUV—Honda Pilot

Large SUV—Toyota Sequoia

Luxury SUV—Lincoln MKX

Least Reliable:

Small Car—Nisan Versa Sedan (Note: Oddly enough this ranking only stands for the Versa four door sedan and not the hatchback. Apparently the two vehicles are built in different assembly plants to wildly different standards. While that doesn't speak very highly of Nissan, it does tell you that it's still okay to buy the much better looking hatch.)

Family Car—Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring

Luxury Car—Jaguar XF

Sporty Car/Convertible—Chrysler Sebring Convertible (Note: The least reliable vehicle in the United States. By a long shot.)

Wagons/Minivans—Chrysler Town & Country

Small SUVs—Saturn Vue, Kia Sportage

Midsize SUV—Land Rover LR3, Mercedes R-Class, VW Touareg, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Volvo XC90, Hummer H3

Large SUVs—Nissan Armada, Infiniti QX56, Lincoln Navigator

Pickup Trucks—Nissan Titan, Dodge Dakota (4wd)

Source: Consumer Reports

Ford Escape SUV

Ford Escape SUV

The new Ford Focus is due out at the end of next year. It will be the first all new Focus in nearly a decade and many avid fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival. But its not the Focus that is drawing all of the attention. Many people show more interest in the electric version of the Focus that is slated to reach our market by 2012. The Focus BEV, short for battery electric vehicle, uses an advanced power train and relies on electric power for its motivation.

Currently, the Focus BEV is in prototype form and testing is underway. There have been several reviews and test drives posted so far and driving impressions will be listed later on in this article.

Ford has drawn praise from its current lineup of hybrid vehicles. The Ford Fusion Hybrid and its twin the Mercury Milan Hybrid achieve exceptional gas mileage and provide strong performance at a modest price. Further, the Escape Hybrid is one of the best selling SUV hybrids on the market and its power train was selected by Wards Auto as one of the 10 Best Engines of 2009. It comes as no surprise as Ford takes it one step further with the new Focus BEV.

Differences between hybrids and BEV are numerous. Hybrids employ a typical gasoline engine with electric motors that are powered by battery systems. The batteries are charged through regenerative braking and the gasoline engine usage. BEVs on the other hand do not employ a gasoline engine. They rely on electric motors and large battery packs for motivation. The system is charged by being plugged into an electrical outlet. Many have a range of about 100 miles between charges and do not use a drop of gas to operate.

Now back to the Focus BEV. The Focus BEV operates solely on battery and electric power. Specifics about range could change before production, but it is expected to deliver 100 miles on a single charge. Several prototype test drives have been conducted and nearly every reviewers has walked away thoroughly impressed. Some points of interest from the test drive include nearly silent operation, a seamless supply of power upon acceleration, more than ample acceleration capability, and impressive driving dynamics. Reviewers were thoroughly impressed with the build quality and stated that the vehicle appeared to be production ready in nearly every way.

At this time, the prototypes still wear the old Focus exterior, but have the drive train of the 2012 Focus BEV underneath.

Electric vehicles provide endless efficiency provided you can find a place to charge it up when the batteries become depleted. Most commuters do not travel over 100 miles in a day and the Focus BEV could make your commute a commute that doesn't require one single drop of gas.