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Quick Spin: 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye in “Smoke Show” gray

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody

Class: Large Car

Miles Driven: 209

Fuel Used: 16.6 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 12.6 mpg

Driving mix: 70% city, 30% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 12/21/15 (mpg city/highway/combined)

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B
Power and Performance	A+
Fit and Finish	B+
Fuel Economy	D-
Value	C-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	B
Tall Guy	A-

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	797-hp 6.2 liter
Engine Type	Supercharged V8
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	Rear-wheel drive

Fuel type: Premium gasoline

Base price: $69,995 (not including $1495 destination charge)

Options on test car: Customer Preferred Package 2BZ ($8600; includes Redeye instrument-panel badge, 220-mph primary speedometer, satin-black Dodge taillamp badge, Redeye decklid badge, satin-black Charger decklid badge, Redeye fender badges, Redeye grille badge, SRT Power Chiller), Carbon/Suede Interior Package ($1595), Navigation & Travel Group ($995), Black/Demonic Red seats ($295), 305/35ZR20 front and rear 3-season tires ($695), 20-inch x 11.0-inch Brass Monkey wheels ($1095), Gas Guzzler tax ($2100)

Price as tested: $86,865

Quick Hits

The great: Brawny muscle-car styling; super-sedan performance

The good: Spacious cabin and trunk; broad range of personalization options; competent handling for the size and heft

The not so good: Aged basic design; seriously thirsty for premium gas

More Charger price and availability information

CG Says:

Can you put a price on horsepower? Specifically, insane levels of it? If you’re Dodge, the answer is yes, and the figure is $107.50. That’s how much per pony you’ll pay to move up from a 717-horsepower Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody to a 797-horse Hellcat Redeye Widebody.

The Dodge Charger gets yet another horsepower infusion for 2021 in the form of the Hellcat Redeye Widebody model. The engine is plucked from the Charger’s Challenger coupe sibling, which added a Redeye trim level for 2019. Unlike the Challenger, the Charger Hellcat Redeye comes standard with the Widebody fender flares.

Introduced on the 2019 Challenger coupe, the Redeye package is extended to the Charger large sedan for 2021. It’s no surprise, considering that the two platform siblings have been wearing each other’s clothes during much of their long existence. Dodge claims this makes the Charger Hellcat Redeye the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan the world—“fastest” defined by a claimed top speed of 203 mph and “mass-produced” seemingly what sliver of the tens of thousands of ’21 Chargers will be Redeyes. (Calendar-year sales of Chargers from 2018 through 2020 averaged 84,862 according to figures reported in Automotive News.)

Test Drive: Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye

You won’t mistake it for a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz, but a good selection of upscale trim touches and comfort/convenience features give the Charger Hellcat Redeye an appealing luxury-sport ambiance.

The Redeye—with a starting price of $82,190 that includes delivery and Gas Guzzler Tax—is effectively created out of an $8600 package added to the Hellcat Widebody. In addition to the 80 extra horsepower, Redeyes incorporate the SRT Power Chiller (it diverts air-conditioning refrigerant from the cabin to a chiller unit linked to the supercharger heat exchangers), a 220-mph speedometer with red-tinged graphics, Redeye-specific identification inside and out, and satin-black “Dodge” and “Charger” badges on the decklid.

First Spin: Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye and Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack

The UConnect 4C infotainment system has a 8.4-inch touchscreen. “SRT Performance Pages” displays enable dialing in specific drive-mode and launch-control settings, and include helpful readouts for high-performance driving.

The gap in horsepower is what it is because the non-Redeye ’21 Hellcat gets a boost of 10 steeds to the 717 first made available for the limited-edition 2020 Charger Daytona Fiftieth Anniversary Edition. All Hellcats come with the Widebody 3.5-inch fender flares that clear room for 20×11-inch wheels in a number of available styles shod with 305/35ZR20 Pirelli P-Zero performance tires. Both ’Cats feature a newly designed performance hood with a functional induction scoop and dual heat-extraction vents.

Performance Madness! 10 Classic Muscle Car Ads

Appropriately enough, the Charger Hellcat Redeye’s snarling-cat fender badges have a red eye to let sharp-eyed viewers know there’s 797 hp under the hood.

With 707 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm, the Charger Redeye sloughs off its nearly 4600-pound curb weight for instant, rumbly action. Launch Control to manage tire slip, Launch Assist to tamp down wheel hop, and Line Lock to brake the front wheels while the rears are free to do a tire-heating burnout are included for the benefit of drivers thinking of drag racing the family car. (Dodge cites 0-to-60-mph acceleration of 3.6 seconds and quarter-mile capability of 10.6 seconds.) The transmission is an 8-speed automatic with quick-responding paddle shifters.

In overall look and layout, the 2021 Charger is much the same as it has been since the nameplate’s last freshening for 2015. Adding the Redeye is just the latest trick Dodge has pulled from its bag full of them to keep the big fellow on enthusiasts’ radar.

First Spin: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

It’s a predictable formula, but it appears to be working for Dodge: Throw more horsepower at it, and give it big, meaty tires and brawny-looking fender flares. The basic Dodge Charger platform is quite long in the tooth, but it continues to deliver one-of-a-kind muscle-car attitude and, in top-line Hellcat Redeye trim, truly blistering performance.

Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images)

Test Drive: 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on June 28, 2021.

Toyota Priuses Head-to-Head: Prime vs AWD-e

2021 Toyota Prius Prime Limited (left) vs 2021 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e

With hybrid vehicles of all sorts now commonplace in the American new-vehicle market, the Toyota Prius doesn’t get the respect (or sales numbers) it once did. These days, most major manufacturers offer numerous hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or both—and increasingly, these hybrids are versions of regular-line vehicles, not stand-alone, hybrid-only models. The majority are also SUVs—the type of everyday family vehicle American buyers are choosing in greater numbers than 4-door sedans of any stripe.

Still, the Prius has a lot to offer, in addition to the obvious benefits of its standout fuel economy. Considering its compact-car footprint, it provides respectable room for adults in both the front and rear seats, and its hatchback-sedan layout improves its cargo-hauling versatility over a traditional 4-door sedan. In any of its forms, the Prius is no performance machine. The suspension and steering are set up for everyday commuting, not enthusiastic cornering. Acceleration is a bit tepid compared to the average new vehicle, particularly in highway driving. But as an around-town commuter, it keeps up with the flow of traffic just fine—thanks in part to the immediate response of its electric motor(s).

And, the Prius comes in multiple flavors that make it more attractive to buyers with specific wants and needs. The current generation of the Prius debuted for 2016, and the Prius Prime plug-in-hybrid version was added for 2017. All-wheel-drive Prius “AWD-e” models followed for 2019.

The larger battery in Prius Prime models enables them to offer an estimated 25 miles of pure-electric driving—enough range for gas-free daily commuting for many Americans. And when its plug-in battery charge is used up, the Prime simply switches to normal gas/electric-hybrid operation like other Priuses. So, long road trips are no problem—no range anxiety or concerns about finding a charging station.

The Prius AWD-e models add an electric motor to power the rear wheels, to deliver improved traction in slippery and/or snowy conditions—just the ticket for eco-conscious buyers in cold-weather or high-altitude climes. The motor always powers the rear wheels when accelerating from a stop up to 6 mph, then disengages unless wheel slip is detected, in which case it powers them up to 43 mph. This allows for a “boost” at launch while shutting off the motor when it’s not needed in order to improve fuel economy.

We tested both a Prius Prime Limited and a Prius XLE AWD-e and decided to line them up head-to-head to see how they compare. Check out our pics below, as well as our observed fuel economy, optional-equipment lists, and report-card info on our two test cars.

You’ll pay more, of course, for the added functionality of either the powertrain or the plug-in-hybrid powertrains—and the latter commands the larger price premium. Our Prime test vehicle was about $3600 more than our AWD-e tester, but most of that gap is attributed to the up-level equipment of the Prime’s top-line Limited trim (a trim level that the AWD-e does not offer). Though the equipment levels don’t line up exactly, the base-price gap drops to about $1100 when comparing the Prime and AWD-e LE models (the base trim level for both) and just $425 when comparing XLE models.

Test Drive: 2020 Toyota Prius Limited

Prime vs AWD-e

The Prius Prime gets a slightly more aggressive look via quad LED headlights and a blacked-out, inset front-fascia design.

Test Drive: 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring

The Prius Prime’s rear end styling is a bit swoopier as well. It’s highlighted by an unusual compound-curve rear window (which thankfully doesn’t affect the view astern) and a sleek-looking full-width taillight arrangement.

Quick Spin: 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE

Both the Prime and regular Prius models have an unusual vertical “mini-window” beneath the main rear window. This provides a bit of extra rear visibility, but the large crossbar splitting the view can be disorienting.

First Spin: 2021 Toyota Camry

Not much different here, in terms of visuals or horsepower. Both the Prime and the AWD-e have the same 121-hp 4-cylinder hybrid powertrain, but the Prime feels a bit zippier overall.

Test Drive: 2021 Toyota Venza XLE

A vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen is standard equipment on Prius Prime XLE and Limited models, but it’s unavailable on the Prius AWD-e. The plus-size screen is able to display multiple readouts—such as the navigation-system map and hybrid power-flow readings—at the same time, a nice feature.

Quick Spin: 2021 BMW 330e

Here’s a subtle but significant downside to the Prius Prime—in order provide space for the larger battery pack, the Prime’s rear cargo floor is raised by a couple inches over the non-plug-in Prius versions. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it reduces the Prime’s cargo capacity more than you might think—there’s 19.8 cubic feet of room behind the rear seats, compared to 27.4 cubic feet in the AWD-e (which offers the same cargo capacity as the front-wheel-drive Prius). That can be the difference between a large box or other cargo item fitting, or not fitting.

Test Drive: 2021 Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 PHEV

2021 Toyota Prius Prime Limited

2021 Toyota Prius Prime Limited in Blue Magnetism

Class: Compact Car

Miles driven: 229

Fuel used: 2.3 gallons

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B-
Power and Performance	C+
Fit and Finish	B+
Fuel Economy	A+
Value	A-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	B-
Tall Guy	B

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	121-hp 1.8-liter
Engine Type	4-cylinder plug-in hybrid
Transmission	CVT automatic
Drive Wheels	front

Real-world fuel economy: 99.5 mpg

Driving mix: 70% city, 30% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 54 mpg/133 MPGe (both in combined city/hwy driving)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $34,000 (not including $995 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Carpet mat package ($259), door edge guards ($125), rear bumper applique ($79), illuminated door sills ($299)

Price as tested: $35,757

Quick Hits

The great: Outstanding fuel economy with pure-electric capability on short trips

The good: Around-town throttle response, ride quality, cargo space and versatility, relatively affordable pricing

The not so good: Not all drivers like unconventional control layout, limited highway-speed merging and passing power, larger battery compromises cargo-hauling capacity

More Prius price and availability information

2021 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e

2021 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e in Magnetic Gray Metallic

Class: Compact Car

Miles driven: 442

Fuel used: 8.8 gallons

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B-
Power and Performance	C+
Fit and Finish	B
Fuel Economy	A+
Value	A-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	B-
Tall Guy	B

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	121-hp 1.8-liter
Engine Type	4-cylinder hybrid
Transmission	CVT automatic
Drive Wheels	AWD

Real-world fuel economy: 50.2 mpg

Driving mix: 55% city, 45% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 51/47/49 (mpg city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $29,575 (not including $995 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Advanced Technology Package ($800), carpet floor mats/carpet cargo mat ($259), door edge guards ($125), rear bumper applique ($69), cargo net ($49), illuminated door sills ($299)

Price as tested: $32,171

Quick Hits

The great: Outstanding fuel economy with all-weather traction of all-wheel drive

The good: Around-town throttle response, ride quality, cargo space and versatility

The not so good: Not all drivers like unconventional control layout, limited highway-speed merging and passing power

Follow Damon on Twitter

Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

2021 Prime vs AWD-e Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images)

Prime vs AWD-e

5 Ways Hybrids are Different

Prime vs AWD-e

Written by: Damon Bell on June 23, 2021.

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Review Flashback: Luxury Sedans of 1973 (Comparison Test)

All things are relative. While no one would expect any of the vehicles featured below to shine in terms of braking performance, the Editors of Consumer Guide called out the Chrysler Imperial for its dubious stopping ability. And that’s just one of the many insights buried in the test report below.

Consumer Guide: ’73 Auto Test

This comparison test appeared in the Consumer Guide: ’73 Auto Test magazine, which hit newsstands in June of that year. Featured below are:

Cadillac Sedan de Ville
Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
Lincoln Continental
Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL

Of these, the Mercedes is sort of the odd man out. The 300 SEL evaluated here was considerably smaller, lighter, and vastly more expensive than the other vehicles reviewed. That said, the Benz justified its staggering price with a first-place finish in the comparison, earning praise for its impressive ride and handling, among other things. It did not score well for power, however. Even though the 300 SEL boasted the most horsepower of the four cars tested, it provided the least amount of torque… and be it 1973 or 2021, Americans like their torque.

If you recall having spent time with one or more of these rolling tributes to vehicular indulgence, tell us about it. The place to leave comments is down below.

More Review Flashback! fun

Review Flashback: Luxury Sedans of 1973

Luxury Sedans of 1973

Review Flashback! 2004 Chrysler 300M

Luxury Sedans of 1973 – Cadillac de Ville

Review Flashback! 1974 Dodge Monaco

Luxury Sedans of 1973 – Chrysler Imperial LeBaron

Review Flashback! 2004 Mercury Marauder

Luxury Sedans of 1973 – Lincoln Continental

Review Flashback! 2005 Buick Park Avenue

Luxury Sedans of 1973 – Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL

Review Flashback! 2005 Pontiac Bonneville

Luxury Sedans of 1973 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL

Review Flashback! 2011 Lincoln Town Car

1973 Luxury Sedans Specs

Review Flashback! 2002 Cadillac Eldorado

1973 Luxury Sedans Ratings

Review Flashback! 2002 Lincoln Blackwood

Prices – 1973 Cadillac de Ville

Review Flashback! 1982 Imperial

Prices – 1973 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron

Review Flashback! 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado

Prices – 1973 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron

Review Flashback! 1997 Cadillac Catera

Prices – 1973 Lincoln Continental

Review Flashback! 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora

Prices – 1973 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL

Listen to the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

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The Luxury Sedans of 1973 Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images)

Review Flashback! The Premium Coupes of 1988

Written by: Tom Appel on February 2, 2021.

Test Drive: 2021 Acura TLX

2021 Acura TLX SH-AWD Advance in Fathom Blue Pearl

2021 Acura TLX AWD with Advance Package

Class: Premium Midsize Car

Miles driven: 180

Fuel used: 8.9 gallons

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B+
Power and Performance	B
Fit and Finish	A
Fuel Economy	B-
Value	A-

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	B
Tall Guy	B

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	272-hp 2.0L
Engine Type	Turbo 4-cyl
Transmission	10-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	All-wheel drive

Real-world fuel economy: 20.2 mpg

Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 21/29/24 (city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Premium gas recommended

Base price: $48,300 (not including $1025 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: None

Price as tested: $49,325

More Acura price and availability information

Quick Hits

The great: Classy, distinctive interior trimmings; nicely balanced ride and handling; generous list of comfort and technology features

The good: Respectable power from turbo 4-cylinder engine; smooth 10-speed transmission

The not so good: Rear-seat space is just OK; not as customizable as most class rivals

John Biel:

The Acura TLX is all new for 2021 and it is, Acura will have you know, its own car. No slicked-up treatment of a concurrent Honda, the premium midsize sedan is built on a body-and-chassis architecture that is exclusive to the brand. It does borrow a powerteam from the RDX premium compact SUV, but that represents a complete change from what powered the previous-generation TLX.

The sporty, sophisticated dashboard design is a TLX strong point. Sleek wood accents, satin-finish metal trim elements, and classy ambient nighttime lighting help provide a convincingly high-end ambiance.

TLXs come in four states of trim: base, with Technology Package, A-Spec, and with Advance Package. All are available with a choice of front-wheel drive or Acura’s “Super Handling All-Wheel Drive” (SH-AWD), the latter at a $2000 premium. A higher-performance all-wheel-only Type S was slated for a spring ’21 launch. Consumer Guide editors sampled an Advance with SH-AWD, a car that starts at $49,325 with delivery.

Test Drive: 2020 Cadillac CT4-V

The TLX’s front row is spacious, and the seats are comfortable and supportive. The True Touchpad infotainment interface benefits from an ergonomically placed wrist-rest pad, but using the system requires acclimation and practice–and we’d also recommend getting a quick tutorial from your Acura dealer.

Wider by 2.2 inches and lower by 0.5 inch than its predecessor, the TLX is restyled with a longer dash-to-axle span to conjure up the look of a rear-drive sport sedan in what’s fundamentally a transverse-engine front-drive car. It is fronted by a wider interpretation of Acura’s “Diamond Pentagon” grille and “JewelEye” LED headlights. The hood, front fenders, and front bumper are part of the new model’s extensive complement of aluminum parts.

Quick Spin: 2020 Lexus ES 300h Ultra Luxury

The front seats are adjusted all the way back in this photo, but even with them set further forward, the TLX’s rear seat is a bit cramped for tall passengers.

Underneath the skin is a body structure that has been made 50 percent more rigid overall and benefits from front and rear underfloor braces. The front suspension changes to double wishbones from MacPherson struts. In the latest version of SH-AWD, torque makes a speedier front-to-rear transfer when necessary, with up to 70 percent of all available twist available to the rear axle. The TLX Advance features standard adaptive damping in which a continuously adjustable valve in each damper raises or lowers fluid pressure based on sensor data, altering fluid flow rates within the tubes and softening or stiffening damping force as road conditions change.

An “Integrated Dynamics System”—Acura’s term for “Comfort, “Normal,” “Sport,” and new configurable “Individual” drive modes—influences things like throttle response, shift points, steering resistance, and damping. There’s subtle difference in driving feel between Comfort and Normal modes, but Sport brings out a clearer change in steering and suspension characteristics—though we wouldn’t go as far as calling the limit of the adaptive damping “race car-stiff” as Acura claims. The car rides quite well, even in Sport, and there’s enough steering feedback for drivers to feel sufficiently in touch with the road below. Handling is good, even in quick corners.

The 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine generates 272 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 1600-4500 rpm. That’s a little less horsepower than was available from the 3.5-liter V6 in the 2020 TLX Advance, but almost 5 percent more faster-acting torque. The engine is satisfyingly powerful for the vast majority of driving needs with the able assistance of the utterly smooth 10-speed automatic transmission. Sport brings out a clear change in shift points, delaying them to squeeze extra power from each range. The exhaust report can be a little bratty under acceleration, and in those moments undercuts the Acura premium-brand image. TLXs with SH-AWD are rated by the EPA at 21 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 24 combined. When this driver topped off after 64.6 miles, with 48 percent city-style operation, he saw 21.9 mpg.

Naturally, as the king of the pricing hill (at least until the Type S arrives), the Advance has the best of the standard equipment offered in the vehicle line. That includes things like a power moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats, wireless charging, 17-speaker Acura/ELS premium audio, satellite radio, navigation, dual-zone climate control, Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone compatibility, AcuraLink connected services, 7-inch information display in the instrument cluster, collision mitigation and pedestrian detection with emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitors. Traffic-sign recognition and traffic-jam assist are newly standard for TLXs, too.

Test Drive: 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Lusso

The TLX’s trunk space–13.5 cubic feet–is on par with most class rivals.

Beyond that, the Advance stands out from other models with the adaptive dampers, Pewter Gray Metallic machine finish for its 19-inch alloy wheels, LED puddle lights, power-folding exterior mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and windshield-wiper deicer. Inside are sport seats with perforated Milano premium leather; 16-way power front seats with power adjustments for lumbar support, thigh extension, and side bolsters; heated steering wheel and rear seats; open-pore wood trim on the console and door panels; head-up warning; surround-view camera system; and a 10.5-Inch head-up instrument display.

An airy, open-feeling cabin provides great driver vision. Attractive and plush front seats are decidedly comfortable. There’s plenty of head- and legroom in front; rear legroom is good but not outstanding, and headroom isn’t as good for tall folks. The big driveline hump rules out a third adult passenger in back. Door tops are thinly padded, but there’s lots of soft-surface material in other places.

I didn’t lose my mind trying to figure out how to input radio presets with the help of the “True Touchpad Interface.” This device is a bit more accurate than something like the late Lexus system—there’s no dragging a fingertip or manipulating a mouse across the active control area while trying to drive—but I still found myself sometimes wondering why a spot on the 10.2-inch display screen was not activating in response to where I thought I was touching the console pad. A padded handrest does a good job of keeping errant mitts from contacting the touchpad and unintentionally changing stations or screen views.

Meet the 2021 Consumer Guide Best Buys

The TLX’s turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder puts out a healthy 272 horsepower. A high-performance Type S model is set to join the TLX lineup in spring 2021; it will be powered by a 355-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. TLXs with all-wheel drive and the Advance Package come standard with 19-inch alloy wheels on Michelin Primacy all-season tires.

Cabin storage options are varied and usefully sized. Trunk capacity of 13.5 cubic feet is a slight decrease from before. The flat floor narrows quite a bit between the wheel houses. Rear 60/40 seats fold flat, with a smooth transition from trunk floor to retracted seats, but a bulkhead at the threshold constricts the opening somewhat. There’s some hidden storage in a foam organizer under the floor.

The TLX has a record of being Acura’s best-selling sedan. By being its own car for 2021, it should remain a car lots of people will want to own.

Indulgence Madness! A Gallery of Eighties Personal Luxury Car Ads

The redesigned-for-2021 TLX wears familiar Acura styling themes, but applies them to striking new long-hood/short-deck body proportions. In addition to its distinctive design, the new TLX offers athletic driving manners, a very nicely finished cabin, and a generous list of tech-forward features–it continues as a Consumer Guide Best Buy this year.

(Click below for enlarged images)

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2021 Acura TLX Gallery

2021 Acura TLX

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on December 11, 2020.

Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast, Episode 36: Cars of 1940, 2021 Ford F-150

Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Whether you drive a car, need a car, or just occasionally bum a ride with friends, you’ve come to the right place. Join the editors of Consumer Guide Automotive as they break down everything that’s going on in the auto world. New-car reviews, shopping tips, driving green, electric cars, classic cars, and plenty of great guests. This is the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast.

Episode: 36

Broadcast date: July 5, 2020

Guest: John Biel

Cars of 1940, 2021 Ford F-150

Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Ford’s recent unveiling of the redesigned 2021 F-150 pickup and the truck’s many new features. Next, we talk about our test-drive experiences with the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the August 2020 issue, including an overview of the cars of 1940 and a retrospective on the 1978-80 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on unusual vehicle co-branding tie-ins, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a first-look article on the 2021 Kia K5 midsize sedan.

The Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast is broadcast every Sunday on Chicago’s WCPT AM 820 at 1:00 PM CST.

Discussed this week:

First Look: 2021 Ford F-150

2021 F-150 PowerBoost Details

2021 F-150 Trim Levels in Photos

First Look: 2021 Kia K5

Quick Spin: 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 AT4

Forgotten Concept: Lincoln Sentinel

Subscribe to Collectible Automobile Magazine

More Consumer Guide Test Drives

Follow the crew:

The CG Daily Drive Blog

Car Stuff Facebook Page

Consumer Guide on Twitter

Drive, She Said (Jill’s blog)

Tom on the radio:

Tom on the Nick Digilio Show

Tom on Green Sense Radio

Tom on the Stan Milam Show

Cars of 1940

: Jill Ciminillo

: Damon Bell

: Tom Appel

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on July 3, 2020.

First Look: 2021 Kia K5

2021 Kia K5

Kia unveiled an all-new version of its mainline midsize sedan today, and with it a new model name. “Out” is the Optima nameplate, replaced by a badge that Kia uses for this car in global markets: K5. “In” is dramatic new styling, available all-wheel drive, a choice of two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, and fresh technology features.

2021 Kia K5

The 2021 Kia K5 is built on an all-new “N3” platform, which is a bit lower, wider, and longer in both wheelbase and overall length than the previous-generation Optima’s architecture. Kia says the N3 platform is stronger and quieter too.

2021 Kia K5

Kia says the K5’s striking exterior design incorporates DNA from its high-performance Stinger hatchback sedan, while expanding the brand’s future design language. Highlights of the new look include a “shark-skin” mesh grille, daytime running lights and taillights with a “heartbeat” shape inspired by an EKG pulse monitor, a gloss black applique on the rear trunk that emphasizes the fastback-esque profile, and a striking chrome accent strip that flows from the tops of the side windows to the forward edge of the trunk lid. The interior design is similarly sporty, with a cockpit-like horizontal layout, aircraft-style shift lever, and available flat-bottom steering wheel.

First Look: 2021 Ford F-150

The base engine, which comes in LX, LXS, GT-Line, and EX models, is a turbo 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Optional on LXS and GT-Line is all-wheel drive in place of the standard front-wheel drive. The AWD system (the first offered in Kia’s midsize sedan) comes with a snow mode for better all-weather performance.

Test Drive: 2019 Kia Optima SX Turbo

The performance-oriented K5 GT gets a turbo 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 290 horsepower and is paired with a new dual-clutch 8-speed transmission; Kia claims a 0-60-mph time of 5.8 seconds. The GT also gets a sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels on Pirelli P-Zero tires, and a Sport + setting on the drive-mode control system.

The Kia Drive Wise suite of safety features is standard on all K5s. Available technology features include natural-language voice-command software, wireless smartphone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, hands-free Smart Trunk, remote engine start, Bose 12-speaker sound system, and a 10.25-inch high-resolution touchscreen in place of the standard 8-inch touchscreen.

The 2021 Kia K5 is built in Kia’s West Point, Georgia, assembly facility alongside the Telluride midsize SUV. The K5 goes on sale this summer, with GT and all-wheel-drive versions following later in the fall.

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2021 Kia K5

CG Says:

Domestic manufacturers may be turning away from traditional sedans as of late, but import brands are remaining committed to this declining, but still vital, market segment. Kia’s press presentation for the K5 noted that there were 1.5 million midsize cars sold in America last year. With crossover SUVs taking over as the default family vehicles of choice, we’ve seen the latest iterations of traditional midsize sedans get more style-forward and performance-focused. The 2021 Kia K5 is in keeping with that trend. The K5 shares is basic architecture with the redesigned-for-2020 Hyundai Sonata, but there are significant differences in powertrain/feature availability between the two, and the interior and exterior styling is likewise completely different. The K5 strikes us as the sportier, more driver-oriented choice.

We’re not quite sold on Kia’s decision to ashcan the Optima name in favor of K5. Though the change better aligns with Kia’s global presence with this car, there was nothing wrong with the Optima name, and alphanumeric monikers have had a spotty success rate in the U.S. market. Names aside, the K5 strikes us as a winner overall.

First Look: 2021 Nissan Rogue

2021 Kia K5

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Written by: Damon Bell on June 30, 2020.

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First Look: 2021 Lexus IS

2021 Lexus IS

The COVID-19 pandemic may have put the kibosh on traditional auto shows for the near future, but automakers still have new and redesigned products poised to hit the market, and those manufacturers are increasingly turning to the Internet to debut their soon-to-arrive new vehicles. Today there were two online unveilings, in fact—Nissan took the wraps off its redesigned 2021 Rogue compact SUV this morning, and this evening Lexus debuted a revamped version of its rear-drive-based compact sport sedan via a Facebook Live webcast.

2021 Lexus IS

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The 2021 Lexus IS soldiers on its existing platform, but gets freshened styling, increased structural rigidity, updated suspension components, and some new tech features. Save for minor increases of a little over an inch in overall length and width, and a fractional decrease in height, the car’s dimensions are unchanged. The new bodywork sports crisper lines all around, a dramatic full-width taillight, and slimmer headlights that integrate the signature checkmark-shaped daytime running lights, which were previously separate. Chassis updates were aimed at reducing unsprung weight, and include 20-percent-lighter coil springs and forged-aluminum A-arms in place of the previous steel units.

2021 Lexus IS

The IS’s powertrains and model-naming structure carry over from the 2020 model. The rear-drive IS 300 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the all-wheel-drive IS 300 gets a 260-hp 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 6-speed automatic. The IS 350 is powered by a 311-hp version of the same 3.5-liter V6, paired with an 8-speed automatic in rear-drive form and a 6-speed automatic with AWD.

The performance-oriented F Sport trim level will now be available only on the IS 350; it had previously been offered on the IS 300 as well. F Sports get unique bodywork elements such as a front bumper with functional aerodynamic enhancements, distinctive grille, rear bumper, rear lip spoiler and rocker-panel moldings. Other F Sport exclusives include 19-inch wheels, cool-air intake with sound generator, sport pedals, and F Sport exhaust and diffuser.

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2021 Lexus IS

A Dynamic Handling Package for F Sport models adds a Torsen limited-slip differential, Adaptive Variable Suspension, unique carbon-fiber rear spoiler and rearview mirror caps, and a unique BBS-brand 19-inch wheel. (Eighteen-inch wheels replace the previous 17s on non-F-Sport IS models.)

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2021 Lexus IS

The interior is freshened with trim updates and a new infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, as well an available 10.3-inch touchscreen. The available Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System is upgraded from 17 speakers from 15, and gets a substantial boost in wattage—to 1800 watts from 835. The Lexus Safety System+ suite of active safety features is upgraded to version 2.5, which means it gets enhanced radar and camera capabilities, and an updated adaptive cruise control system that can accelerate automatically when the turn signal is activated to overtake a vehicle moving slower than the preset speed.

The 2021 Lexus IS is scheduled to go on sale late this fall. Pricing info will be released closer to that time; we expect those numbers to stay close to the 2020 IS’s base-MSRP range of $39,000-$45,000.

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2021 Lexus IS

CG Says:

Hmmm. Not a whole lot new here, but perhaps that’s to be expected. Premium compact sport sedans aren’t the hottest category in the market right now, so it makes sense that Lexus would take a conservative approach to the IS’s re-do. The IS’s basic platform dates back to the 2014 model year, and the 3.5-liter V6 goes back even further. Even though it doesn’t bring any substantial revisions, the 2021 revamp should keep the IS fresh in Lexus’s lineup for at least a couple more years.

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2021 Lexus IS

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2021 Lexus IS

Written by: Damon Bell on June 15, 2020.