Nicholas Maronese
Editor-in-Chief
The Porsche screeched to a halt, dipping its hood deep down into the pavement and throwing my head forward so fast my nose nearly touched the dashboard.
Stopping like that – from 80 km/h to zero in mere seconds – can give you a serious case of whiplash.
But it’s all in a day’s work for automotive journalists like Canadian Auto Dealer’s Gerry Malloy. Malloy was showing me the brakes on the new Cayenne Turbo SUV as part of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) “Consumer Tips and Tactics.” The Sept. 21 tutorial gave mainstream media a look at how AJAC puts new cars through the paces.
The National Post’s Howard J. Elmer gave me a tour of the skidpad – the large area of pavement used for testing cars I’d be coursing through – and then set me loose on the plethora of 2011 model cars AJAC had assembled.
I instinctively had to check out the boxy Scion xB, new to Canada this fall. Toyota’s Scion brand is aimed squarely at a younger youth demographic; at a starting price near $18,000 Cdn, it may just fall within the price range of some students, too.
The xB’s looks are polarizing – it’s been nicknamed “The Toaster” for its rectilinear shape – but it’s got a lot of other things going for it. It’s four-cylinder isn’t uppity, but it gets it moving; it’s not nimble, but it’s not stiff, either. While I personally wasn’t keen on the Scion’s appearance, it was satisfying to drive.
The 2011 Ford Fiesta, though, was more than satisfying. The four-door hatchback I tested was cute but sporty looking, and was wrapped in an attractive, electrifying Blue Flame Metallic paint to boot. And while the Fiesta’s inline-four engine is smaller than the Scion’s, punching the pedal was a lot more fun.
I nearly got the Ford to skid around some corners, but the steering was generally tight and responsive. The simple layout of the dash and the superb finish of the interior were what I liked best, though; no more cheap plastic in here.
The hatchback starts at $16,800 Cdn, and the sedan at $13,000 Cdn – a little easier on the pocket.
The Mazda2, like the Fiesta, was cute and colourful – I loved the Spirited Green hue on it – and surprisingly roomy inside. The two-tone fabric and red piping on the seats made the inside pop. It handled a little better than the Ford, but wasn’t any more fun for it. The Mazda was just as exotic and fresh as the Fiesta, but the overall fit and finish felt a little duller. These two four-door hatchbacks are very close competitors, and both are quite reasonably priced.
Volkswagen’s new Jetta is also aggressively priced for students (the 2011 model starts at $15,875), but was a lot less fun. The inside was attractive and well put together, but it didn’t stand out in any way; same goes for the performance. While it’s a good-looking car, it’s not particularly eye-catching. Contrasted with the Mazda2 and Fiesta, it was, boring.
Unfortunately, the four-cylinder I found the most fun breaks the $20,000 mark, putting it out of reach of most student budgets. For those who can afford it, though, the Honda CR-Z is a blast. This hybrid handled gorgeously – it was quick and super-reactive – and with over 120 horsepower, packed plenty of go for a little two-door. The interior is well-designed, and the soft blue halo around the gauges was attractive; some of the controls, however, were counter-intuitive.
I was a little turned off by its face, but I think it’s something I could learn to love. While I’m not a big fan of Honda, the sporty CR-Z got me rethinking the brand.
When it comes to new student- priced rides, I’d put the Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta at the top, but they were all good drives, generally. If you’re looking for a new car, give these four a test drive.
But if you’re going to try the 80 to zero trick, watch your nose. Whiplash is a bitch.
