drive magazine: july issue

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THE 2016 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER REVIWED

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Daniel Bulgarelli: Editor-in-Chief

Kyle Edward: Founder

Eric Stafford: Editor

Aaron Starnes: Editor

Brett Davies: Editor

Andre Evans: Editor

Calvin Sherwood: Technical Writer

Neal Anderson: Designer

OUR STAFF.

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COTM: 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser ...................4

Review: 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport .... 10

Review: 2016 Kia Soul EV .............................. 12

News: 2017 Audi A4 .......................................... 14

Review: 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo .......... 18

Review: 2016 Toyota Prius ................................ 20

Letter from the Editor ...................................... 24

TABLE OFCONTENTS

JULY 2016

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

NEWS: 2017 AUDI A4

HYUNDAI VELOSTER

TOYOTA PRIUS

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER

KIA SOUL

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C A R O F T H E M O N T H

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SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AND RUNNING2016 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

BY ANDRE EVANS

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Toyota is arguably the world’s leading au-tomotive company. On top of that it had some of the most iconic vehicles through the years. The 2000GT put the world on notice in the late 60’s for its beauti-ful form. In the 80’s the MR2 and AE86 brought affordable rear wheel drive fun to all. In the 90’s they released the Supra, car that has been immortalized for its insane performance and amazing motor, the 2JZ. In the late 2010’s they released one of the best sounding cars off all time with the LFA and its whal-ing V10 that destroyed the Nürburgring. All of those successes are owed to the original Toyota icon. It has been in production since 1951, none other than the Land Cruiser or the Rando-kuruza as it’s known in its homeland. Fast forward 65 years, its current iteration the J200 and you will see this legend has come a long way. With a MSRP of $83,825 it is firmly the most expensive vehicle in Toyota’s lineup. No worries though, you get what you pay for. Toyota offers no packages on the Land Cruiser just a handful of add-on accessories, meaning its fully loaded. So when you spec yours out, there are two decisions to make: the colors of the exterior and interior. When it comes to exterior color options, there are currently 6 to choose from: Midnight Black Metallic, Blizzard Pearl, Classic Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metal-lic, Blue Onyx Pearl, and Brandywine Mica. When it comes to the interior options, the Semi-Aniline Perforated Leather is either black or terra, a variant of brown. My choice would be any exterior with the terra interior. There’s something about the mixture of blacks and browns in the interior that gives it a distinguished look. While the Land Cruiser has always been known for its off-road prowess, the current genera-tion should be applauded for both its ability to tame the wilderness as well as the city streets. Powering the 2016 Land Cruiser is a 5.7L DOHC (Dual over-head cam) V8 with VVT-I (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence) good for 381 HP and 401 lb.-ft. This is paired with Toyota’s all new in house 8-speed automatic transmission which will help put power down to all 4 wheels. While you won’t blow by any 2 door sports cars, it’s surprisingly peppy notching a 0-60 time of just under 7 seconds. Considering that this is a three row vehicle that can comfortably fit 8 people, that’s pretty impressive. It comes equipped with a Torsen limited-slip differential that has a 40/60 split but can send more power to the front if deemed necessary. Finally, it has a towing capacity of 8100 lbs. for whatever you want to take with you on your next adventure. Focusing on its off-road proficiency, the Land Cruiser comes equipped with all the goodies needed to tackle any terrain. The 18” wheels are wrapped in P285/60R19 vulcanized rubber. Standard are front and rear frame mounted tow hooks, front and rear heavy duty mudguards, and skid plates. The suspension is up to the task as well, with a 4 link rear

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with springs, stabilizer bar, and semi float-ing rear axle. Or to simplify, it can tackle the most aggressive of terrains. To aid in this, it also has some great technology to complement its hardware. Equipped with a monitor so you can view the surroundings on the 9” navigation screen. Crawl Control helps modulate the throttle and brakes so you can get through mud and sand with ease. Multi-terrain Select lets you choose different modes to optimize performance in different conditions including: Rock, Rock & Dirt, Mogul, Loose Rock, and Mud & Sand. Finally, the Kinetic Dynam-ic Suspension System allows the system to adjust and articulate the tires better so you have better contact. When things are moved from the roads less traveled to the city streets, there is plenty to make your daily task a little easier with a Land Cruiser. The seats are ventilated and heated meaning they are always the perfect temperature. The dash is updated and features a 9” touch

screen. Four zone climate control makes sure all occupants have it just right. It also features two 11.6” screens in the rear for entertainment. Built in navigation and Entune App Suite. The sound system is phenomenal with 14 JBL speakers making the interior sound like a concert venue. Of course, my favorite is the center console cooler box to keep your choice of bever-age cool. The Land Cruiser has definitely evolved over its 65-year production cycle. At its heart, it’s still your off-road chariot made to help you tame the wilderness. It’s one of the most iconic names in all of automotive history and the current model does that history justice. In its evolution, it has grown to be a Swiss Army Knife of vehicles. It can do just about anything you need it to. You can attach the trailer and tow boat to the lake at 8, fold the seats down and haul cargo at 9, load the kid’s soccer team and take them to practice at noon, and conquer the Mojave in time for

dinner. Excuse the hyperbole but the point stands that the Land Cruiser is a great mix-ture of luxury and utility. Not only does it have the ability to do all these things, but it does them well. Sixty-five years and running for good reason, the Toyota Icon is positioned to shine for years to come.

2016 Toyota Land Cruiser

Engine: 5.7L V8

Horsepower: 381 hp @ 5600 rpm

Torque: 401 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm

Transmission: 8-Speed Shiftable Automatic

0-60: 6.8 secs

MSRP: $83,825

Overall Score- 9.0 out of 10

Pros: Off Road Capability, Bold styling, Sound system

Cons: Pricy for a Toyota, Fuel economy

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Whenever I get behind the wheel of a new car I try to imagine the car’s intended market. Not what mar-ket research of Y gen and millennial’s shopping tenden-cies, and not who the ad folks say the car is for, but who is actually going to buy one. Who is going to waltz into a dealership and plunk down their hard earned shekels and commit to several years’ worth of monthly payments? That’s the nagging question the 2016 Mitsubishi Out-lander Sport. The Outlander is an economical compact SUV with lots of nice, if sometimes confusing, features. Such is the case with the adjustable head lamp feature which allows drivers to adjust the angle of the headlights while driving. The super-wide HID lights are great and watch-ing them sweep back and forth in front of the car is enter-taining but why do drivers need to adjust them on the go? If the low beams aren’t enough why wouldn’t they just flick on the high beams and vice versa? The only thing I can think of is maybe this would be helpful when driving in fog. It seems like Mitsubishi allotted resources to this unnecessary feature which could have used elsewhere to improve the car overall. The Outlander can brag on its automatic fold-ing mirrors which fold in when the car is locked. This is a nice feature but seems a little out of place on this relatively small SUV. It is handy when driving through a carwash, as is the panorama glass roof. Roll back the headliner with the touch of a button to let in some sunshine, or watch the pink and purple carwash-soap create swirly little galaxies on the roof. It’s like the Juras-sic Park tour vehicle only without the giant murderous lizards. There’s even adjustable LED mood lighting that reflects of the glass.

VALUE FIRSTBy Aaron Starnes

2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT GT

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This car has paddle shifters which begs the question “what demographic is pleading for a smallish SUV with an automatic transmission that can be shifted from the wheel?” This is one of those features that drivers may play around with a couple times and then never touch again. It also seems redundant to have paddles when there’s manual mode on the gear selec-tor. All of these are interesting bells and whistles that do not necessarily enhance the experience. So, if adjustable headlights, paddle shifters and fancy glass roofs seem frivolous, then what would make this car better? Well for starters how about some factory installed sound deadening. There is a woeful lack of the stuff here. I’ve rid-den in pickup trucks that are quieter on the interstate. Yeah, owners get a 9 speaker Rockford-Fosgate sound system with a big ol’ subwoofer in the back, but they practi-cally need all 710 watts to hear the stereo on the highway. Maybe that’s an exag-geration, but there’s no way around it, this is a loud car. Aesthetically the Outlander looks good. It’s ruddy looking without the squared-off machismo look other compa-nies are trying to pander. Like the Lancer, it has that slightly irritated look about the headlights and taillights. In fact when parked with the mirrors folded in, it looks like a big shiny cat sitting on all-season tires ready to pounce. My only issue with the looks is the presence of silly little fake

vents adhered to the fenders – sidenote, the fenders are made from plastic. The upshot of this is you won’t be get any dings and the vents would be easy enough to remove if owners find them offensive.The six way power adjustable driver’s seat is comfortable. The passenger has to make due with a four way manual bucket. The legroom in back is not exactly ample but would be fine for kids. The dash is pretty minimal but not in a bad way. The switches and knobs have an analogue feel to them and are positioned well. In default mode everything seems to ding or beep. I managed to turn this off which made inter-acting with the care more of a pleasure. There’s a 6.1 inch touch screen stereo that is XM and HD ready and acts as the screen for the fuzzy but functional backup camera. The camera is mounted on the lift gate a little off-center and looks like an afterthought. A plus for this car is its maneuverability. Its size makes it easy to get in and out of parking spaces and tight spots wherever you may find them. Overall, the fit and finish of the interior is good. The trim, or possibly the track, for the panoramic glass roof rattles and squeaks a bit. This is only over rough sur-faces, but if a test car with less than 2,000 miles on it is doing this, what’s it going to be like at 120,000? The Outlander’s 2.4L cylinder is good for 168 bhp. This translates into adequate power for on ramps and passing. Drivers will experience a little torque steer

under hard acceleration. A significant amount of engine noise comes through the firewall when the pedal is down. On the highway the EPA estimates the outlander should get 28 mpgs and 23 around town. These numbers aren’t bad for a compact SUV. So, who is the Outlander Sport for? Young people who want lots of features in their first new car and, most importantly, haven’t been spoiled by nice quiet riding autos. This car would be good for young families and college/high school kids. A top spec Outlander can be had for under 30k. This fact combined with the decent fuel mileage, great warranty and 5 years of unlimited roadside assistance, makes this car a good choice for those who may not be so handy during a break down.Pros: Fuel Mileage, Interior Space, StylingCons: Too Loud

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport GT

Engine: 2.4L Inline4



Transmission: Continuously Variable (CVT)

0-60: 8.6 secs

MSRP: $27,395

Overall Score 1-10: 7.0

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ELECTRIC SOULBy Kyle Edward

2016 KIA SOUL EV

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Nearly every auto manufacturer is producing their own version of the electric car, in order to keep up with strict regulations on fuel economy. Not to men-tion the fact that, they are becoming main-stream, with Tesla leading the way. Kia decided to use their Soul platform, which is basically a small SUV. It offers lots of space for the battery and a low center of gravity, plus a reasonable amount of space for passengers and cargo. Don’t venture too far from home base or a charging sta-tion though, since we only have 90 miles of range. There is no engine or generator to create additional range either, only the battery. In the electric car world, 90 miles is really quite good, however from a prac-tical standpoint, it’s very inconvenient. Especially when a Tesla can get nearly 300 miles on a single charge. Yes, I know a Tesla costs way more. But still, 90 miles isn’t going to get me through a single day. However that doesn’t mean it’s not going to work for some people. As it stands, most people drive less than 90 miles to and from work each

day. But that does not include however, after work adventures like those soc-cer games and dinner with your special someone. As for driving this EV, it’s a fun spunky little thing that drives some-thing like a golf cart on steroids. You can choose from three different steering modes, comfort offering the least resis-tance, normal and sport making the steer-ing feel as firm as possible. It’s very light, weighing in at only 3,289lb which makes it feel quick on its wheels, even though its 0-60 time is nearly 10 seconds. But with instant torque, it feels much quicker. Its ride is soft and refined while remaining very quiet even at highway speeds. Granted you won’t be able to stay on the highway long with that 90 miles of range. Thankfully we have a special EV GPS. It allows us to view a map that shows us where we can make it to and what’s just out of reach. We have the stan-dard KIA system here, which as expected operates with ease and a fast response time. The sound system was actually

better than expected as well, adding a little soul to our ride. When it comes to electric vehicles, it takes a special kind of con-sumer to purchase one, mainly someone who is focused on city driving and short distance communes. With that in mind, that KIA Soul EV is a fantastic little zippy electric vehicle offering plenty of space and more range than it’s competitors.

Pros: Interior space, Multimedia systemCons: Driving Range

2016 KIA Soul EV

Engine: Electric

Horsepower: 109 hp

Torque: 210 lb-ft

Transmission: 1-Speed Direct Drive

0-60: 9.5 secs

MSRP: $31,950


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THE 2017 AUDI A4BY ANDRE EVANS

At first glance the 2017 Audi A4 is eerily identical to the outgoing 2016 model. Upon further investigation and getting to experience it, it will show that looks can be extremely deceiving. The truth is that only about 10% of the new A4’s components are shared with its predecessor. Meaning that 90% of the 2017 is all new, making it much more than just another annual model. So while looks can be deceiving, the internal components and what makes this beauty tick are all new. The fact that Audi can overhaul the A4 and keep its signature style are quite the engineering feat. Starting with the exterior, the design language for the new A4 is sharp-ened. Audi is known for a more rounded look in most of its vehicles. However, they added a little more flair and edge to their lineup in 2017 A4 model. Starting with the heart of the A4, is the familiar 2.0L turbocharged 4 cylinder. For 2017 it receives a significant bump in power output rated at 252 hp and 273 ft. lbs. of torque gains of 32 and 15 respectively. The performance gains are noticeable as-sisted by a weight reduction of up to 100 lbs. across the lineup. When it comes to drivetrain you still have two options FWD and AWD (Quattro). If you are thinking of getting an Audi, your best bet is to pony up for their world renown Quattro system. Previously, there was an option for a 6 speed manual, CVT, or 8 speed automatic. Now you have one option, the 7 speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic. If you live outside the States, you do have a diesel option. The base FWD model comes with 17” wheels while the prestige comes standard with 18” and optional 19” wheels. The go to, will be the 19” with the performance tires to aid the Quattro system in putting down the power to the pavement. When it comes to performance, the new A4 is a serious improvement rocketing you to 60 mph at a very respectable 5.4 seconds. To add to the performance there are 4 available drive modes: comfort, auto, dynamic, or indi-vidual the latter being your own personal setup. With the optional suspension dampening system the A4 delivers an amazing and personalized experience that is suited to your driving style. Add-ing to all this is the A4’s robust driver assist features. Audi’s drivers assist alerts the driver to pedestrians as well as other vehicles and surroundings. It watches the vehicles blind spots to prevent ill-advised lane changes. My favorite feature, though, would be traffic jam assist allowing semi-autonomous driving. What this feature does is pretty

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much helps control braking, acceleration, and steering at up to 37mph making the daily com-mute much less grueling and far more enjoy-able. Move to the interior and you are welcomed by more of the brilliance that Audi is known for. Virtual cockpit is a must have as it creates quite the dynamic driving experi-ence. The A4 has 3 zone climate control with optional heated rear seats. The touchscreen is phenomenal and offers Apple Car Play and Android Auto. Audi has first in class led ambient lighting which adds a nice touch for night time drives. Overall the interior is everything you would expect of something in its price range. To sum up the new A4 its 90% new over the exiting model but still feels 100% unique. While styling changes may have been subtle the driving experience and the comfort of the redesigned interior are a great leap for-ward. With a bevy of driver assist functions that make driving not only safer but more enjoyable, it meets the needs of most luxury car shoppers. My only problem is the fact that you can’t row your own gears. Though to be honest Audi’s 7 speed can definitely rip through gears better than I ever dreamed of. All in all, the A4 is extremely refined which is fitting considering of its new edgier style. The A4 is world class and the ride is as smooth as you’d like it to be. All the driver assist features create increased confidence in any condition or situation, you still have to focus on safety. This generation A4 shows the continuous evolution of Audi.

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THREE DOOR CAR?

By Kyle Edward

2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO Yes, this vehicle does in fact only have three doors plus the hatch of course. It’s a funky little car by Hyundai, basically their answer to the VW GTI. When I think of this car, it reminds me of that middle-aged aunt of yours that still isn’t married but has been engaged three times. She just doesn’t want to settle down but needs to figure some-thing out before she is just too old. The Veloster wants to be something amazing. It’s giving it everything it’s got to succeed but it just doesn’t want to grow up and settle down, which is what’s holding it back. Take the interior, for example, it’s kinda fun and funky with bright orange handles and racing stripes in the seats, but only a midget would be comfortable in the backseat. But all passengers do get to enjoy a mammoth sunroof which basically takes up the entire roof. Sure, it’s a well-made interior, after all, it’s a Hyundai, but nothing really stands out like crazy either but it’s also not that functional. The trunk, however, is very deep and makes great use of that space, so at least there’s that. It has all of the normal gadgets like a touch screen multimedia system, complete that with a 450-watt Dimension audio package. The system itself is very easy to use and the premium audio system sounds crisp and clear. The instrument cluster is unique as well, with the red dials starting at the 6 O’clock position. There’s nothing wrong with the interior, but when you look at a GTI, you wonder why Hyundai didn’t go all out and make the inte-rior exciting and funky. They went with three doors, now that’s something I can respect. I do like the exterior of this

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car, the big bubbly LED headlights and LED taillights really stand out and make this little car have a sporty flair. Another thing to love about the exterior would be the center dual exhaust, reminds me of a Corvette which is indeed, a very good thing. So yes, it has three doors, funky headlamps, an egg shape and dual center exhaust. I always liked it and always will. They went with some bold styling cues and I think it paid off. Ah, driving, whenever you add turbo into a name, you expect that vehicle to be quick and the Veloster is a quick little guy, getting from 0-60 in around 6.7 seconds with the 7-speed dual clutch transmission. When I heard they had the 7-speed DCT, I was super excited because the last KIA (KIA is part of Hyundai) I drove, had an amazing DCT. Unfortunately, this one still needs

a good bit of fine tuning. It’s great with high-speed shifts but slow city driving can be a big nuisance. It loves to bounce out of neutral jolting you forward, only having to mash on the brakes seconds later. Thank-fully it handles the road quite well with it’s stiff but comfortable suspension. How-ever, the steering is somewhat removed from road feel which could be a negative for us driving purists. So the Veloster is a fun little car to drive with a base MSRP of $18,000 which is a great price considering what it offers which is a solid interior with decent driving attributes. However when we hit the turbo price of $22,600, it makes me think about the VW GTI, which is a hard car to beat. But if you don’t want to be like everyone else, the Veloster may be just right for you.

2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Engine: 1.6L Inline4, Twin Turbocharged



Transmission: 7-Speed Shiftable Automatic

0-60: 6.7 secs

MSRP: $22,600


Pros: Price point, Driving dynamics, Exterior styling Cons: Excessive road noise

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THE GREEN MACHINE2016 TOYOTA PRIUS

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BY KYLE EDWARD

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When you think Toyota, you gener-ally think Prius, as you should, seeing that it’s the best selling hybrid car in the world. Another Prius accolade is being the most fuel-efficient car in the world with fuel efficiency rating of 58 miles per gallon city, even though we achieved as high as 70 mpg on a short city drive. This mid-size hatchback was first made available to the public in 1997 in Japan, being the first mass-produced hybrid car. Three years later it was introduced to the world market, today it is sold in more than 90 markets, with the United States and Japan being the largest. In 2013, it passed the three million vehicle mark. It’s mission is simple, provided extreme fuel efficiency with everyday practi-cally. All this is powered by a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engine with a 60 kilowatt electric motor that has a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. It has fuel economy ratings of 58 city and 53 hwy mpg, although we were getting an average of around 63/65 mpg. The all new Prius stands out with it’s alien spaceship looks and rear laser like LED taillamps. It also boasts a very stylish interior, with lots of tech such as blind spot moderating, laser guided cruise control which allows you to set a specific distance with the car in front of you, no need for that pesky brake pedal. On the interior, there’s a beautiful contoured dash that slides down into the center console which even has a wireless charging spot. The gauges are mounted in the center which may take a while to adjust to, however the gauges are still very much visible. There’s enough room for those sitting at the back, as well as for cargo under the hatch.

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The Prius has standard equipment such as tilt/telescoping steering wheel, height adjustable driver’s seat, automatic climate control, push button start, and a couple of 12-volt power outlets. There’s also an op-tional touchscreen system which includes the audio controls, Bluetooth integration and navigation. This system has been programed to react much faster than before and is a welcomed improvement. On the road, I was surprised at how well this vehicle handles the curves and continues to hold the road when pushed. The steering feedback is also better than expected, providing a tight yet comfortable feel. It does not however ride as smooth as it could and they need to increase the soundproofing throughout the car. Don’t expect to win any drag races but the immediate torque makes the Prius feel more powerful than you’d expect. All things considered, it drives better than I planned on. All this equals a Prius that is a little less strange and almost fun to drive. I actually enjoyed my time with the Prius and Toyota is definitely on the right path making the Prius more appealing in way of looks, interior comfort and driveability.

Pros: New style, Fuel economy, Updated interior multimedia systemCons: Interior noise level, Premium sound system is not so premium.

2016 Toyota Prius

Engine: 1.8L Inline4

Horsepower: 121 combined hp

Torque: 225 total lb-ft

Transmission: CVT

0-60: 8.7 secs

MSRP: $24,200


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DRIVE Magazine is backed by some of the most prolific minds in au-tomotive journalism today. With years of experience in the realm, the team is well placed to add a new magazine in an industry that hasn’t

seen a fresh, modern publication in decades. Our team’s unique ability to craft these seemingly antithetical precepts into a comprehendible

narrative affords it nimbleness unheard of in today’s industry. However none of this would be possible without our readers and for that we

are very grateful.

-DRIVE STAFF

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QUESTIONS/COMMENTS ?EMAIL Us: [email protected]

Photographs on page 10 and 11 are courtesy Mitsubishi.Photographs on pages 14-17 are courtesy Audi.

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drive magazine: july issue

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