The 2011 Jeep Patriot ranks 20 out of 23 Affordable Compact SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 48 published reviews and test drives of the Jeep Patriot, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.The Jeep Patriotis an affordable off-road SUV. And, while reviewers say it’s one of the most comfortable off-roaders you can by, it still can’t compete with smoother-riding crossovers.

Compact SUV buyers are generally looking for comfortable and practical runabouts with a touch of go-anywhere capability. Reviewers say that the Jeep Patriot is just the opposite: a capable off-road SUV with a touch of practicality and comfort. While it’s an affordable off-road SUV, it’s just not as easy-to-live with as most compact SUV competition.

Jeep Patriot

However, Jeep Patriot that doesn’t stop some reviewers for recommending the Jeep Patriot for its great fuel economy and low base price. Plus, with updates for this year, its interior is improved, and there are some high-tech optional features. But, reviewers complain about its uncomfortable rear seats and short list of standard features. If you want to go off-road and don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Patriot makes sense. For buyers who want a comfortable in-town runner, it doesn’t.If you want something more comfortable than the Jeep Patriot, you’ll have to pay more and give up some off-roading ability to get it. The 2011 Kia Sportage is an affordable small SUV that trumps the Patriot when it comes to interior comfort and standard features. It starts at about $500 more than the Patriot, and while it lacks the Patriots classically-Jeep styling, reviewers say it’s a more well-rounded SUV.

You can gain some around-town comfort while keeping some rugged ability by going for the Subaru Forester. Reviewers like the Forester’s practical interior and great safety scores. While it is about $2,000 more than the Jeep Patriot, it has standard all-wheel drive. You have to pay about $1,500 extra on top of the Patriot’s base price to get a four-wheel drive model, so in the end, you only end up paying about $500 more for the Subaru.

Jeep Patriot

While the Jeep Patriot base model lacks standard features, you can get some pretty high-tech systems as options. Chrysler’s Uconnect voice command system is a stand-alone option on all models, and you can also get things like flip down tailgate speakers for outdoor parties. Reviewers say that, overall, the Jeep Patriot interior features work well, but they wish for more standards and nicer materials

Chevrolet Volt

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt ranks 3 out of 21 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 25 published reviews and test drives of the Chevrolet Volt, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
Car reviewers have been buzzing about the Volt ever since Chevrolet floated the idea of an extended-range electric vehicle. With plenty of test-drives under their belts, reviewers agree that the Chevrolet Volt which is the 2011 North American Car of the Year, exceeds their expectations.

Rarely have expectations been as high for a new car as they were for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Amid industry debate (“It’s an electric car!” “It’s a hybrid!” “It’s neither!”), Chevrolet rolled out the Volt. With the first test drives complete, most reviews agree with the Detroit News, who cuts through the debate and says, "I'll simply add my 2 cents: The Volt is a great car." Automotive journalists even went so far as to vote the Volt the 2011 North American Car of the Year.

Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt is neither a hybrid car nor an electric car. Chevrolet Volt calls it an extended range electric vehicle. What makes the Chevy Volt so unique is its powertrain: it has an electric motor that powers the car for the first 25 to 50 miles of driving. Then, with its batteries depleted, the Chevrolet Volt switches on a gasoline engine that acts as a generator, providing more electric power for the motor. With most Americans driving less than 50 miles a day, it’s possible that the majority of Volt owners will rarely hit the electric motor’s mileage cap. For those buyers, the Chevrolet Volt is largely an electric car.
But, unlike electric cars, which are limited by the charge carried in their batteries, the Chevrolet Volt has its backup generator – removing the issue of battery range and finding a place to charge. In essence, the Chevrolet Volt was designed to be an electric car on most days, but operates like a conventional car when it’s time for a road trip. The Volt is an intriguing solution to the challenges posed by purely electric cars.

Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet volt test drivers report that the Chevrolet Volt is easy to live with, cheap to charge (about 80 cents worth of electricity is all it take to get a full charge and about 50 miles of travel) and, unlike electric cars, worry-free when it comes to its range. Even better, the Chevrolet Volt, unlike most hybrids, is actually fun to drive, with ample power and sporty handling, even if the ride is occasionally unrefined.
The Volt isn’t for everyone, however. Like any one-of-a-kind item, it’s priced high for what’s essentially a mid-sized hatchback. The Chevrolet Volt MSRP is $41,000 – which is a lot for a Chevy. The net price drops when you factor in the federal government’s $7,500 plug-in car tax credit, but even after the credit, $33,500 may be a tough pill for most buyers to swallow, especially when the Chevrolet Volt next-closest competitor, the all-electric Nissan Leaf, can be had for $25,750 after the tax credit ($33,250 before tax credit).

Maserati Granturismo s

Maserati Granturismo s getting hotter out there. Barely one year after launching the new GranTurismo coupé, Maserati Granturismo s has unleashed the S version. This is the hair-on-fire model, equipped with the lunatic 4.7 litre V8 that Alfa Romeo uses in the stunning 8C Maserati Granturismo s coupé, albeit differently tuned. In the Maserati Granturismo s , it produces 433bhp, compared with the regular GT’s 400bhp.

Visually, the Maserati Granturismo s gains subtle side-skirts and a lip spoiler on the bootlid. Down below, the two oval exhausts are surrounded by a valance, which gives the tail an even more planted look. The overall effect – along with new 20in alloy wheels meant to evoke Maserati Granturismo s trademark trident – is to toughen up an already gorgeous form without making it look like a Halfords tack-on job.

Maserati Granturismo s

Maserati Granturismo s let’s start with that engine, which is just epic. Slide in behind the Maserati Granturismo s thick-rimmed steering wheel and slot the ignition key in – it’s good to see there’s no red-glowing start-button affectation going on here. Maserati Granturismo s after just one crank, the big V8 burbles gently into life with a low-key moan. If Maserati Granturismo s sounds a bit anticlimactic, the driver can fix it by prodding the “Sport” button on the instrument panel, which, thanks to pneumatic valves within the exhaust system, immediately transforms that gentle throat-clearing engine note into an angry, sharp-edged cackle with a “ragga-ragga-ragga” beat. If ever a V8 had an Italian accent, this one does.
Maserati Granturismo s noise at idle is a Hollywood soundtrack, the uncorked symphony is pure Bullitt meets Days of Thunder but with a dash of Italianate refinement.Maserati Granturismo s leaving Sport mode engaged and hammering the throttle provokes a rising, jagged snarl that snaps any pedestrian within 200 yards to attention, and even colleagues in following cars report a devastating wall of sound as the engine wails to its 7000rpm power peak. Lift off the throttle and you get a rolling thunder of

Maserati Granturismo s

A shame, that, because otherwise the Maserati Granturismo s is a supremely capable GT. The Maserati Granturismo s has a thicker rear antiroll bar than the regular model, uprated brakes, stiffer suspension and those larger wheels. Couple that with excellent weight distribution and you’ve got a coupé that has balance and poise through long bends, and enough agility to take on tricky, tight country roads. Body roll through corners is nicely contained, and the car keeps a close connection to terra firma over crests and dips.
The Maserati Granturismo s ride quality is surprisingly good, too, given the larger wheels and stiffer setup – it’s firm, but there is none of the nasty crashing through potholes and badly broken tarmac that I’d foreseen.
The cabin is a lovely place to spend time. Maserati Granturismo s driving position is fine, with an electric adjustment of steering wheel reach and tilt to fine-tune it. And the flappy paddles have been lengthened, especially at the top. The idea is that as you tackle a tight corner with lots of steering lock you can still grab a gearchange without moving your hands on the wheel.
There’s even room in the back for occasional adult passengers, although you wouldn’t want to be driving far. In the interests of better support for front-seat occupants – on account of the car’s more sporting brief – the seatbacks are quite firm. The support is good when you’re going hard but I did find them a bit too unyielding in longer runs.
Then there’s the price. The Maserati Granturismo s will cost £89,900 when it goes on sale here in September. That’s £21,150 more than the Porsche 911 Carrera S and £18,905 more than a Jaguar XKR. You’d need to beat up the options list heavily on either of those contenders to get anywhere close to the Maserati Granturismo s price tag. Even something as rarefied as the Aston Martin Vantage V8, which is arguably just as gorgeous as the Maserati, is a less expensive proposition than the S (admittedly, you could fix that by going crazy with the Aston’s long, long options list).
Maserati Granturismo s all of those competitors are extremely accomplished, and even if the Maserati Granturismo s gearbox isn’t an issue for potential customers, they might struggle to justify the extra spend. The GranTurismo is a gorgeous creation with a sensational engine, but are those two elements really worth an extra £20,000?

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi launched in India on 2nd February 2011. This car will be known for its bigger and better version of Maruti SX4. This sedan is more solid and tough as compare to other models of Maruti in India. Maruti Suzuki Kizashi is available in 2.4 litre DOHC petrol engine that will generate the power of 178 PS at 6500 rpm and 230 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.

The engine is more responsive and quicker with its 4 cylinder and 16 valve. It will be available in 4 wheel drive options that can be switched on and off by push button. The interior quality of Kizashi is best in its segment and elegant dashboard will impress the most.Maruti Suzuki Kizashi is very comfortable for both passenger and drivers with huge leg and head space.

Ride and handling of this car is excellent, this machine will rule the road as speedometer touches the 3 digits marks in no time. No doubt front grille of Maruti Suzuki Kizashi is similar to the Swift and stylish tail-light will give the sporty look to this sedan.Maruti Suzuki Kizashi will compete against Honda City, Skoda Laura and Volkswagen Jetta. This price looks at higher end for the Maruti brand cars but the final verdict will come after testing of Maruti Suzuki Kizashi in Indian roads. Kizashi will be the open the door for Maruti Suzuki Kizashi in luxury car segment.
This luxury sedan comes with maximum speed of 2.5 kmph for automatic transmission and 215 kmph for manual transmission. It is loaded with some advance features like ESP (electronic stability program), cruise control, Anti-lock braking system and EBD. The most attracting feature is it’s 10 way seat adjustment.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi The displacement of the Maruti Suzuki Kizashi is 2400cc with 4 cylinders. People who love luxury, comfort and features of the cars will sure try to buy this brand. Maruti has maintained the credibility among the people and versatile of its brands. The features like tilt steering, Front Ventilated, Rear Disk brakes, electrical driver seat adjustment and remote central locking will attract the customers and gives a beauty for the car.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Interiors are cleverly packed. The dashboard is elegantly designed. It is a five-seater. People who love luxury, comfort and features of the cars will sure try to buy this brand. The company has maintained the credibility among the people. It is spacious so customers need not to worry about leg room and head room. The features like tilt steering, Front Ventilated, Rear Disk brakes, electrical driver seat adjustment and remote central locking will attract the customers and gives a beauty for the car. The earlier brands of Maruti Suzuki Kizashi do not have much features comparing Maruti Suzuki Kizashi. It stands at the Top when it comes to luxury with its family cars.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi comes with extraordinary exteriors. It looks very much similar to Maruti Swift. The sporty tail and head lamp makes the car beautiful. It is an open the door for the company in luxury car segment. The fog and head lamps are neatly designed which meets typical Indian taste. The front grill looks nice. It has the company’s logo right at the center of the face which makes the car perfect.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi Ride and handling of this car is excellent, this machine will rule the road as speedometer touches the 3 digits marks in no time. No doubt front grille of Maruti Suzuki Kizashi is similar to the Swift and stylish tail-light will give the sporty look to this sedan. Maruti Suzuki Kizashi engine is more reactive and speedy with its 4 cylinder and 16 valves. This luxury sedan can generate utmost speed of 2.5 kmph for automatic transmission and 215 kmph for manual transmissions.