Chevrolet Trailblazer 2005: The Weekly Driver ReviewWritten by James Raia
With addition of 5.3-liter, 325-horsepower V8 extended cab (EXT), eight Chevrolet Trailblazer models are on road in 2005. And as largest and most powerful Blazer available, new EXT has plenty to offer.It's comfortable and provides a confident drive. It offers vast cargo space, has an attractive two-tone interior, a well-designed console and boasts of plenty of impressive option packages. But sometimes subtle qualities or subtle deficiencies are more impressive or problematic than a vehicle's overt characteristics. So it is with new Blazer. While recently showing car to several friends, one sat in second row of seats. Surprisingly, his head easily hit roof. My friend is 6-foot-3, and while that's tall, he's not a giant by any stretch. "I've got a Scion and there's plenty of rear seat headroom," my friend commented. The quick analysis made a good point. As largest and most powerful Blazer available, shouldn't a 6-foot-3 person sit comfortably in middle of car's three rows? Conversely, an SUV hardly seems like a vehicle for a remarkable sound system. But Bose premium sound system available in Blazer's Sun, Sound and Entertainment Package is superior. The combination AM/FM stereo, six-disc changer, XM satellite radio and eight speakers are arguably finest music package I've experienced in any test car in past two years. Beyond a curious space limitation and a wondrous sound system options, Blazer offers an odd mixture. It's a well-designed SUV with plenty of space for family and cargo. It has adequate steering and handling, and it offers a quiet ride considering its status as a large SUV with 17-inch tires. Yet, Blazer falls short in other key areas. The vehicle's braking system seems uneven - fine in some circumstances, soft in other scenarios with far-too-long response time. The Blazer maneuvers well in traffic and its turning radius is surprisingly tight and efficient. But again, for each of vehicle's strengths, there's a weakness. The Blazer's fuel rating of 14 mpg (city) and 19 (hwy) is hardly impressive.
| | Mitsubishi Outlander 2005: The Weekly Driver ReviewWritten by James Raia
The 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander is least expensive of Japanese manufacturer's three sports utility vehicles. It's compact, nicely designed and offers more standard features than many SUVs nearly twice price.But Outlander faces a tough challenge. In a popular category that includes best-buy choices like Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, Outlander doesn't offer any outstanding qualities that could sway potential buyers. My test drive for week was new all-wheel drive limited edition Outlander. It joins previous LX and XLS models and features an impressive list of upgrades from previous models. All Outlanders offer a 4-cyclinder, 160-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine. With its standard automatic transmission, vehicle performs adequately in city driving. But it lacks acceleration for highway journeys, and it struggles on long inclines, even with only two adult front-seat passengers. Steering and handling are adequate and automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Mitsubishi's all-wheel drive system is a plus and it's reminiscent of AWD feature Subaru first offered. The Outlander limited edition includes 17-inch alloy wheels and four-wheel independent suspension. But such features don't ease tough go over city street speed bumps, even at slow speeds. In several other basic areas – front and rear-seat room, ride noise, interior materials and instrumentation function – Outlander is adequate. The gauges, for example, are simply designed and easy to use. But if average is best Mitsubishi can do, how can Outlander compete with heavy-hitters in compact SUV market segment?
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