Car
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2009 Mazda 6 is a front-wheel-drive midsize sedan. There are seven trim levels: i SV, i Sport, i Touring, i Grand Touring, s Sport, s Touring and s Grand Touring. Models with the i prefix come with the four-cylinder engine, while models with the s prefix come with the V6.
The value leader i SV comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, a manually height-adjustable driver seat, full power accessories, a six-speaker CD stereo system with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, air-conditioning and a tilt/telescoping steering column. The i Sport adds cruise control, an auxiliary input jack and keyless entry. The i Touring model steps up the feature content with 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a trip computer, a power driver seat, keyless ignition/entry, electroluminescent gauges, black patterned accent pieces and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The i Grand Touring model adds xenon headlights, heated leather seats with a memory function for the driver seat, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming mirrors and an auditory blind-spot monitoring system.
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Interior Design and Special Features
The 2009 Nissan Maxima features design and craftsmanship worthy of its luxury-car price. In fact, the Maxima's cabin -- in Premium and Sport guise -- is probably a tad nicer than that of Infiniti's G35. Buttons and knobs move with well-damped precision, while the dash and door sill tops are covered in a soft-touch material. The many buttons and knobs for audio controls, climate controls and the available navigation system are well-placed and well-spaced so each function is easy to find, whether you've gotten into the car for the first or 101st time.
The dual-zone automatic climate controls are a model of simplicity, while the stereo can be controlled via dedicated buttons or (with the Technology Package) a multipurpose control knob placed below the 7-inch display screen. With that package also comes the best solution for in-car iPod control we've seen to date. Plugged into the USB port beneath the center console bin, an iPod is completely controlled via the multipurpose knob, steering-wheel-mounted toggle switch and LCD screen menus that nicely mimic the iPod's actual controls.
Space inside the Maxima is quite good, with a comfy driver seat that provides an excellent range of adjustment. The available rear bucket seats make the middle seat practically useless, but they are very comfortable. The trunk can hold 14.3 cubic feet of stuff that enters through a wide opening.
Cars reviews
Car: 2008 Acura TSX Overview
Introduction
"The last one was better."
For some reason, car enthusiasts love throwing this out when it comes to a redesigned model. It's an unusual (and often faulty) way of showing off supposed automotive acumen; an offshoot of the "they don't build 'em like they used to" attitude. Having said that, the 2009 Acura TSX may not be worse than its predecessor, but we're not sure it's improved.
The TSX basics remain. Acura's entry-level model is a front-wheel-drive sedan with a high-revving four-cylinder engine, taut handling, a spacious cabin and class-leading feature content. Some thought Acura would use the turbocharged engine from its RDX, a small SUV, this time around, but instead it chose to just slightly revise the normally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-4 to produce a bit more low- and midrange power -- a decision that could prove to be a potential liability. With 201 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, output is certainly adequate and now more useful in everyday driving, but shoppers keen on spicy acceleration will find more to like from turbocharged or V6-powered competitors. Given that the fuel economy is also only a hair better than the related (and heavier) Honda Accord's 268-hp V6, it seems Acura missed the opportunity to get a jump on competitor vehicles that provide similar power and fuel economy to the TSX.
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