Best and worst used picks of the year
Stars and duds, according to this year’s Wheels reviews
This year may be remembered for the Nobel Peace Prize going to history’s youngest recipient, plunging oil prices and a grumpy cat that raked in an eight-figure salary by monetizing the Internet.
Our best and worst used-vehicle picks might seem trivial by comparison — unless you’re one of the many consumers looking for reliable second-hand wheels.
We’ve pulled together the most surprising finds from our weekly usedcar reviews this year, some to be embraced and a few to be avoided.
THE GOOD
2011-13 Mazda 2. The cute-as-a-button Mazda 2 wasn’t a big seller even when gas was $1.35 per litre, although those who bought one rave about the 2’s elegantly simple design, urban utility and cheap-to-keep nature. Available solely as a five-door hatchback, its front-wheel-drive platform was shared with Ford’s Fiesta.
Unlike the Fiesta, the 2 was free of frills such as sunroofs and telescoping steering wheels. In fact, Mazda’s weight-obsessed engineers made the centre armrest a grudging afterthought. Its 1.5-L DOHC four cylinder engine produced just 100 horsepower; then again, the wee hatchback weighs108 kg less than a Honda Fit.
Britain’s Car magazine called the 2 the “coolest supermini” with a great chassis. Given its gadget-free cabin and uncomplicated five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions, the Mazda 2 harks back to pioneer times. For some, that’s a good thing. 2010-13 Kia Forte Kia’s tag line rings true for Forte owners who continue to be surprised by this compact car’s crisp styling, roomy interior, quiet ride, eager engine and boatload of features. The Forte took the shape of a four-door sedan and two-door “Koup;” a five-door hatchback debuted for 2011.
Two different engines powered the Forte: base LX and EX models got a 156-hp, 2.0-L four-cylinder tied to a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic; SX models came with a 173-hp, 2.4-L four and a six-speed manual or five-speed slushbox.
The somewhat plasticky cabin was loaded with standard gear including Bluetooth phone connectivity, satellite radio, four-wheel disc brakes, stability control, front-side and curtain airbags and active front head restraints. The Forte earned the top score of “Good” in IIHS crash tests. Owners boast this solid car makes a solid buy. 2007-11 Toyota Camry Hybrid Gas-electric hybrids have been around for years now, yet the predicted failed-battery apocalypse hasn’t materialized. Consider the mid-size Toyota Camry Hybrid, a quality car that was made extraordinarily good when boosted with Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. Just ask a cabbie.
Its 2.4-L DOHC four-cylinder engine works through a continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmission in concert with an electric motor. Tuned for economy, the Atkinson-cycle gas engine made 147 hp, while the AC motor churned out another 40 horses for 187 hp in total. With a balloon foot, the Hybrid could attain 50 km/h on electric power alone.
Seemingly powered by good intentions, the Camry Hybrid could sprint to 97 km/h in 7.6 seconds — a full second quicker than a regular fourcylinder Camry. Owners report an average 41 mpg (6.9 L/100 km) in mixed driving, but less in frigid weather.
THE BAD
2011-13 Ford Fiesta While Mazda took a vow of poverty when it designed the subcompact 2, Ford’s platform mate — the Fiesta sedan and hatchback — wowed shoppers with its well-appointed cabin. Unexpected features included an acoustic windshield, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and capless fuel filler.
The instrument panel was inspired by a cellphone keypad, while softtouch materials graced the dash and door panels. The front seats were roomy with good support, but the rear bench was astonishingly claustrophobic. A 120-hp, 1.6-L DOHC four cylinder worked through a five- speed manual transmission or dualclutch sequential gearbox that imitated a six-speed automatic.
That fancy automatic is the Fiesta’s Achilles heel. It frustrated many drivers with its jerky shifts, slippage and outright mechanical failure. The transmission has received software updates, but some owners have reported ongoing issues regardless. Conversely, Mazda stuck with a fourspeed automatic. 2009-13 Chevrolet Traverse General Motors replaced its creaky minivans with crossover sport-utes that offered much of the practicality of its departed vans. The Chevrolet Traverse could swallow seven or eight occupants, depending on the seat configuration.
Built on the rigid Lambda unibody platform, base Traverse models were front-wheel-driven, with all-wheel drive optional.
Propulsion was provided by a 3.6-L DOHC V6 fortified with direct injection, making 281 hp channelled through a six-speed automatic transmission. The weighty Traverse had great highway manners, but at the cost of fuel efficiency: 12.5 litres/100 km was significantly more than GM’s minivans needed.
Mechanically, power-steering pumps can fail or work intermittently, causing some drivers to panic when the steering wheel becomes difficult to turn. The timing chain can reportedly stretch, tripping engine-warning lamps and causing driveability issues, and the automatic transmission may develop faults. 2006-11 Honda Civic Hybrid Honda’s hybrids haven’t captured buyers’ attention the way Toyota’s have; a case in point is the hybrid version of Canada’s favourite automobile. The second-generation Civic Hybrid re- ceived the same Jetsons styling, enhanced safety features and snazzy interior as the redesigned 2006 Civic.
Yet the Hybrid made do with the previous 1.3-L SOHC four banger making 93 hp, mated to a more powerful 20-hp electric motor. It wasn’t enough oomph to coax the Civic from a standstill under electric power alone. The CVT automatic transmission soldiered on, while the manual gearbox was retired.
Problems? Turns out Honda’s battery packs are not always durable. Reportedly almost one in five 2009model-year Civic Hybrids have had their batteries replaced — a troubling statistic.
Engineers recalibrated the software to reduce the hybrid’s reliance on the battery, but the fix hurt fuel economy. There are better hybrids around.
THE UGLY
2011-13 Jeep Grand Cherokee Mercedes-Benz may have divorced Chrysler, but the relationship produced the handsome fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. By adopting Mercedes’ stout M-Class unibody platform, the Grand Cherokee gained an independent rear suspension and optional “Selec-Terrain” allwheel drive. A 13-cm wheelbase stretch finally made the GC feel grand inside. Base models got a new 3.6-L DOHC Pentastar V6, good for 290 hp, while higher trims offered Chrysler’s storied 5.7-L Hemi V8. A multi-displacement system allowed the 360hp V8 to toggle between eight cylinders and four to save fuel. Posh appointments and Mercedes-like refinement added to the GC’s appeal.
Still, owners grumble the big Jeep breaks down too frequently for such an expensive vehicle. A faulty TIPM can introduce starting problems, stalling at speed, dead batteries and alternators, and other electrical quirks. The air suspension system can fail, the steering shaft may require replacement, and other faults make this Jeep a poor second-hand buy.
Mark Toljagic is a frequent contributor to Wheels. Email toljagic@ca.inter.net to tell us about your ownership experience with these models: Ford Transit Connect, Toyota Sequoia and Honda Accord Crosstour. For more Toronto Star automotive coverage, go to thestar.com/ autos. To reach Wheels editor Norris McDonald: nmcdonald@thestar.ca