 The 5 passenger Lexus RX Hybrid AWD gets its power from a less stressed 3.3 liter V6, that will run on regular unleaded and deliver better city driving economy than freeway. That's pretty impressive for a 4,365 lb vehicle that can still accellerate 0 - 60 in 7.3 seconds. The hybrid comes with a CVT; constantly variable transmission.. MSRP for the RX 400H hybrid AWD is listed at $43,480 |
Standard Features:
- 268 system hp w/3.3 liter, 4 cam, 24 valve, V6 engine, with 10.8 to 1 compression!
- Front and rear high-output, permanent-magnet electric motors
- Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission
- 4 wheel disc brakes w/ ABS, Brake Assist and EBD
- 17-in six-spoke aluminum alloy wheels w/ 225/65 SR17 tires
- 106.9 inch wheelbase, 4,365 lbs
- Electronic traction and stability controls
- Cruise control
- Dual zone climate control
- Tire pressure monitors
- 40/20/40 reclining/sliding rear seat
- Fog lamps
- Rear window wiper and power mirrors
- 10-way control power seats for driver and 8 way front passenger
- 8 Speaker Sound System with in-dash, single-feed, six-disc CD auto-changer
- Fuel Usage: 91 Octane or better, yielding 26 mpg city/24 mpg highway
|
 The Mercedes M Class is ONLY available with AWD. It comes in 4 flavors for 2008, ranging from the base 268 hp ML350, to the ML320 turbo diesel, the powerful ML550 V8, to the insane ML63 AMG, which pushes 503 handbuilt hp through a 7 speed automatic transmission. Yippie kayeyee! You can play Roy Rodgers in the ML350 for $44,000. |
Standard Features:
- 268hp 3.5 Liter DOHC 24-valve V-6.
- 7-speed automatic w/4Matic AWD incl. Electronic Traction System
- 4,705 lbs. on a 114.7 inch wheelbase
- Front- and second-row power windows with one-touch express-up/down.
- 4-way (tilt/telescoping) manually adjustable steering column.
- Electronic cruise control.
- Dual-zone climate control with Electrostatic dust and pollen filter.
- 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat. Driver's adjustable lumbar support
- 19 x 8 spoked wheels with 255/50 R19, all-season tires
- 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS and Brake Assist
- Dual heated power mirrors.
- Electrically heated rear window with auto-shutoff based on time, speed, and temperature.
- Hydraulically assisted tailgate closing feature.
- Black protective-coated roof rails (with 220-lb roof load capacity).
- Halogen head lamps and front foglamps. Single red rear foglamp in left taillamp.
- 8 Speaker Sound System
- Fuel Usage: 91 Octane or better, yielding 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway
|
 For 2008, the Porsche Cayenne is really only available 1 way. But like Mercedes, Porsche has made each engine option a different model. The base Cayenne gets the 290hp 3.6 motor, the Cayenne S gets the 385hp 4.8 liter 8cylinder engine, and the Turbo gets the blown 500hp version of the 4.8 liter engine. The base Cayenne starts at
$43,400 |
Standard Features:
- 290hp 3.6 Liter DOHC V6
- 6 Speed Manual Transmission
- AWD with Porsche Traction Management for foul weather traction
- Power, heated front seats, 12-way adjustable
- Leather trimmed 3 spoke multi-function steering wheel with manual reach and height adjustment, and integrated audio and Tiptronic S shift controls.
- Climate control with integrated carbon filter.
- H7 Halogen headlights with manual leveling function.
- Front and rear fog lamps.
- 4,784 lbs on a 112.4" wheelbase
- Heated, electrically adjustable outside mirrors.
- Cruise Control
- 17 inch alloy wheels w/ 235/65ZR17 tires
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
- ABS brakes, w/ 6 piston front and 4 piston rear calipers
- AM/FM/CD includes 12 speakers
- Seats 5 with storage behind the 60/40 split folding rear bench
- Fuel Usage: 91 Octane, yielding 14 mpg city/ 20 mpg highway
|
 The 2009 Audi Q7 crossover is a neat car too. The Q7 seats 5, but can be upgraded to a 7 passenger configuration. It is available in a variety of powerplant and trim options, from the standard 280hp 3.6 to the 350hp 4.2 Prestige version. Planned for release in the spring of 2009 is a TDI (clean) diesel powerplant version capable of towing 6,000 lbs and still exceeding 30mpg highway. This may be the better "green" option, with recent revelations that California's mandated Flex-fuel vehicles have been almost exclusively fuelled by gasoline, at enormous cost both in purchase price, and economy, since the flex-fuelers were larger and less efficient than the vehicles they replaced. Prices for the Standard Q7 3.6 start at $43.500. |
Standard Features:
- 280hp 3.6 Liter High Compression V6
- 6-speed Tiptronic automatic; no manual transmission option.
- 5,080 lbs on a long 118.2 inch wheelbase
- 6 piston front, 4 piston rear dics brakes; better than many performance cars!
- Folding second-row rear seat; optional 3rd row
- Dual-stage front airbags with occupant sensing for passenger side
- 18" alloy wheels w/235/60 R18 all-season tires
- Front seats with 12-way power driver's side adjustment (including 4-way lumbar) and passenger side manual height adjustment
- Electronic cruise control with coast, resume and acceleration features
- Dual Zone climate control
- Heated exterior mirrors and headlight washers
- Front and rear foglights
- 180 watt, 10 speaker audio system with a 6 CD changer
- Advanced anti-theft vehicle alarm system
- Fuel Usage: 91 Octane, yielding 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway
|
 The 5 passenger Infiniti FX series still has 2 AWD options available. The V6 FX35; upgunned to 303hp, or the 390hp FX50 (which adds nearly $15,000 to the FX35 list price). Both get mated to a 7 speed automatic transmission. Subtle changes this year reduced the FX's drag coefficient by about 5%, and added additional wheelbase. The FX is equipped with the Vehicle Dynamic Control (which people like me can disable). If you tried hard enough, I bet you could run up the FX50's sticker price to push $100,000. Prices for the FX35 start at $43,600 |
Standard Features:
- 303hp 3.5-liter aluminum V6 engine
- 7 speed automatic transmission - no manual option
- 4,299 lbs on a 113.6-inch wheelbase; actually shorter than the M35
- BIG 4 wheel disc brakes
- 5-spoke, 18 x 8.0-inch alloy wheels with 265/60R18V all-season performance tires
- ATTESA E-TS All-Wheel Drive automatically shifts from AWD to rear-wheel drive, or anything in between, depending on driving conditions
- Dual-zone Automatic Temperature Control system w/microfiltration and charcoal cabin filter
- Rear-seat heater ducts under front seats
- 8-way power driver’s seat, w/2-way power lumbar support
- 8-way power front-passenger’s seat
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
- 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, includes remote fold-down releases in cargo area
- Power sliding glass moonroof w/1-touch auto-open/close, tilt feature and sliding sunshade
- 11-speaker Bose® Premium Audio system w/Burr-Brown DAC, AM/FM/CD with MP3 playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS) and In-dash, single-feed 6-disc CD autochanger
- Cruise control with steering wheel-mounted switches and audio controls
- HID headlights, front fog lights, and LED tail lights
- Rear window intermittent wiper and defroster with timer
- Electric liftgate closure assist
- Vehicle Immobilizer System
- Fuel Usage: 91 Octane, yielding 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway
|
 The Cadillac SRX is based on the same platform as the CTS and STS sedans. . Named Car and Driver's Best Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle 3 years in a row, the SRX is obviously hard to beat. It gets a lot of praise for its car like handling, making it ideal for buyers who are looking for their first SUV and aren't used to wheeling a big heavy truck. Prices for the 255hp V6 SRX w/AWD start at
$44,045 |
Standard Features:
- 3.6L 255 hp V6 Engine
- 4,320 lbs. on a 113.4" wheelbase
- 5-speed electronically controlled automatic with Driver Shift Control
- 3 row, 7 passenger seating (kids only in row 3)
- Second row 60/40 split-bench, adjustable
- 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system and brake assist
- All-Speed Traction Control
- 17 in. x 7.5 in. cast aluminum wheels with P235/65R17 front, P255/60R17 rear; H-rated tires
- AM/FM stereo with CD player, RDS, and Bose 8-speaker system
- Dual-zone automatic with individual climate settings for driver and right-front passenger
- Electronic cruise control
- Driver's front bucket seat includes 8-way power seat adjuster and articulating head restraints
- Leather-wrapped with Tilt-Wheel steering column. Includes audio and HVAC controls
- Fuel Usage: 87 Octane, yielding 14 mpg city, 21 mpg highway
|
 The Mercedes R Class crossover is called a Sport Tourer by Mercedes. It can seat 6 adults, and for '08 is only available in 2 versions. The 268hp R350 (3.5 liter), or the R320 CDI Turbo Diesel. The R500 and the firebreathing 503 hp R63 AMG are history. After backing out the $825 destination fees, the R350 starts at $44,600 |
Standard Features:
- 268hp 3.5 Liter DOHC 24-valve V-6.
- 7-speed automatic w/4Matic AWD incl. Electronic Traction System
- 4,938 lbs on probably the longest wheelbase we cover; 126.6"
- Electronic Stability Program
- 18 x 8 inch Alloy Wheels w/ 255/55 R18, all-season tires
- Dual-circuit power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes w/ABS
- Rain-sensing wipers.
- Rear-window wiper with washer.
- Electrically heated rear window with auto-shutoff based on time, speed, and temperature.
- Halogen headlamps and front foglamps. Single red rear foglamp in left taillamp.
- Dual power mirrors that are automatically heated
- Automatic antitheft alarm system with towaway protection and remote panic feature
- Electronic cruise control
- Dual-zone automatic climate control with Electrostatic dust and pollen filter
- 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support
- 8-speaker AM/FM stereo/weatherband radio, single-CD player
- Fuel Usage: 91 Octane, yielding 15 mpg city/19 mpg highway
|
