Subaru XV CrossTrek Hybrid

The Subaru XV CrossTrek Hybrid

Author: B.Keeler

A Capable Hybrid:

Hybrids are like fish oil and salads; very good for you, but what you actually want is steak and French fries. Nothing you really want to drive in, and if you needed any form of off-road capability, choices are even more limited. Subaru hopes to change that with its first ever hybrid.
At the 2013 New York International Auto Show, Subaru will unveil the Subaru XV Crosstrek hybrid, an affordable and very capable hybrid.
Lately, Subaru has been involved in several joint ventures with Toyota that is why the XV Crosstrek will use a Toyota’s hybrid drive system paired to the traditional Subaru boxer engine. Like the regular Crosstrek, all-wheel-drive will be standard.
Details are still fuzzy at this point but rumors are circulating about a diesel engine for the XV Crosstrek Hybrid and a possible manual transmission.
More information will be available after the unveiling later this week. If you want to learn more about the Subaru CrossTrek feel free to read our impressions of the standard version.

My Thoughts:
I really like the idea of this car. The hybrid SUV market is growing, but currently it is filled with incredibly expensive offerings like the Porsche Cayanne, Cadillac Escalade, Lexus RX450h, GMC Yukon, and the Chevrolet Tahoe. All of these are capable offerings but start way over the typical car buyer’s budget.

The Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid should change this and will bring an AWD hybrid to the masses. Based on the standard models price I would anticipate it to start at or just above the $30,000 mark. Granted, it is not priced like the Nissan Versa but well under its hybrid SUV competitors.

The other thing that I love about the Hybrid model is that will offer consumers a second wheel option over the standard car's black rims.

 

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala: The New Boulevard Cruiser

Author: B.Keeler

Once upon a time, the Chevrolet Impala was the vehicle you aspired to in the Chevrolet portfolio. In fact, last year Chevrolet sold over 169,000 Impalas that is an impressive number until you factor that roughly 70 percent of those were to fleet buyers.

The New 2014 Chevrolet Impala

A fleet buyer is someone like Enterprise-Rent-A-Car, Westing House or the government. .

Seeing that the Impala was becoming a joke in the large car segment Chevrolet took drastic action and completely redesigned the Impala for 2014. The new Impalas will hit dealer showrooms sometime in the next two months.

“Impala has a heritage of pushing the segment with bold designs, new technologies and premium features not typically found at its price point,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “The 2014 Impala’s combination of efficiency, refinement, infotainment choices and driving confidence will reset the benchmark in its segment and affirm its position as Chevrolet’s flagship sedan.”

The Power

Power for the new Impala will come from a choice of three different engines. On initial release, only one engine will be an available 3.6L V-6 engine.
By mid-model year, the new Impala will be available with a 2.5-liter In-line 4-cylinder engine, a first to my knowledge for an Impala. By the end of the year, an Impala Eco model will be out. The Eco model will feature General Motors’ 2. 4L In-line 4-cylinder with eAssist technology. To learn more about eAssist technology check out our feature from its initial release.

The Refinement
 

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala will be the most technologically and refined since the nameplates introduction in the 50s.

Interior of the new Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet has made the 4-cylinder Impala a much more pleasant place to be with standard BOSE active noise cancellation. The noise cancellation package will be optional on the 6-cylinder models.

Active noise cancellation uses microphones in the headliner to measure the amount of noise in the cabin. An on-board computer determines the wavelength of the noise. The Impala’s stereo than emits a counter wavelength to cancel the noise, which makes the interior quitter.

Technology is another strong point for the 2014 Impala. Standard is Chevrolet's, award winning, Mylink infotainment system, which allow for app streaming of Pandora or Sticher Internet radio services.



The Impala's in-dash storage bin
behind the Chevrolet Mylink Screen

 The 2014 Impala will also feature remote start with passive (keyless) entry and exit. For the first time, the Impala will feature keyless starting, that means you will never have to fish the key out of your pocket on chilly winter days.

Speaking of chilly winter days, Chevrolet has optimized the Impala for all climates. The 2014 Impala will feature dual-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and a heated steering. Making for a pleasant driving experience no matter what the temperature.

All-wheel-drive is not an option on the new Impala and currently Chevrolet has no plans to add it to the option list. If you want the surefootedness of AWD, you will need to shell out extra money for either the Buick LaCrosse or Cadillac XTS. Both of those sedans share the Impalas platform. 

 

The Safety

Should you ever crash your new Impala on those ice covered winter roads, you will be cocooned in 10 standard airbags. Aside for the normal front airbags the 2014 Impala will feature front occupant knee airbags and rear outboard side-impact airbags.

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala will also feature fully adaptive cruise control, which can break and accelerate the car as needed. This is the first time this type of cruise control will be offered on a Chevrolet.

Rear-view of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala

The new Impala like most of its competitive set will offer a plethora of diver aids, such as departure warning, side blind zone alert and forward collision alert.

Additionally, the Imapla will also come with a rear-view camera with guidelines to help drives maneuver the car into tight spots..

The Verdict

I like the new Impala, although I am not completely sold on the outside styling, which from certain angles makes the car look fat. It is a definite improvement over the last generation. The previous Impala made wonder bread seem exciting.

I like the fact that the new Impala comes with a Best Buy full of gizmos, but I do not like that AWD is not even optional.

If you are in the market for a full-size car, this is a definite contender. To read more about the new Impala check out the press release.