Saturn Astra XR Coupe: Function

Naturally, one of the motivating factors for buying a compact hatchback over a traditional coupe is cargo capacity. And although the Astra's 12 cubic feet of luggage room falls short of the Rabbit's 15 cubes, the Astra still has plenty of space. With the rear seats in place, we were able to fit a large suitcase and a stroller in the trunk, and with the cargo shelf removed, we had additional space to pile a little more stuff on top. Rear-seat space is adequate for a child safety seat, and ingress — even with car seat in hand — is relatively easy for a two-door. When the rear 60/40-split seats are down (which look more like 70/30), it opens the Astra up to nearly 45 cubic feet of space.

Articles Ryan Binkley: Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD Performance

Our 2008 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD tester came equipped with a 4.6-liter V8 engine good for 292 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. Although this is adequate power for hauling people and a moderate amount of cargo, the combination of the Explorer's motor and six-speed automatic transmission is a bit underwhelming, especially compared to other SUVs in the segment. Both the V8 versions of the Nissan Pathfinder and the new Kia Borrego, for example, make more than 300 hp. Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew Performance

With a 7,000-pound trailer lashed behind each of them, we ran all four on a hilly 2.5-mile loop. The others might've been stronger sprinters out of the blocks, but the F-150 felt the most composed overall. When it was time to go to work, the Ford just put its shoulder into it and got the job done in fine fashion. Where the F-150 felt steady as a rock and almost made you forget you were towing during the descending and curved portions of the loop, the Tundra made you more aware that there was something big and heavy being pulled behind you. The Chevy and Dodge split the difference in terms of towing feel, but the Silverado's engine got very noisy on the uphill climb, and felt like it was working overtime. The Ram's wider gear spacing had its engine pulling hard off the mark but then losing its legs a bit when hit with the uphill climb. (News Ryan Binkley - Thursday 13 November 2008)

Ryan Binkley : Volkswagen Tiguan Performance

Skid pad performance was solid, with the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan managing 0.80g, a figure that places it at the forefront of its class. Still, keeping the VW on a constant arc at a constant speed proved challenging for our test driver, due to the fact that power delivery from the turbocharged engine was prone to surge. When experienced on the slalom, the Tiguan was dogged by somewhat imprecise steering feedback and long suspension travel. Ultimately, however, our driver found a way to finesse these tendencies, and the Tiguan emerged as one of the quickest CUVs, running through the cones at 63.9 mph. Contact Ryan Binkley Honda Fit Base Performance

The only power plant available on any 2008 Honda Fit is a 109-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that accelerates the little hatchback from zero to 60 mph in a modest 11.4 seconds. The five-speed automatic transmission with manual mode in our test car put power to the front wheels and upshifted and downshifted smoothly on its own. However, when in manual mode, the shifter only allows the driver to choose 3rd gear, which isn't useful except when engine braking on steep grades and when you need a sudden blast of midrange acceleration. The rev-happy VTEC engine, while feeling peppy, was raspy at high revs and droned noisily at highway speeds. The EPA rates the Fit automatic at 27/34/30 mpg city/highway/combined. (Saturday 23 February 2008 : Ryan Binkley Blog)

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