Something new in the neighbourhood
You can recognize the 2010 models by their grille, lightly updated from the 2009 models. The 18-inch wheels (17 on the 2.5 S) also set them apart. Vehicle Dynamic Control is now part of the standard makeup. What’s more, while the four-cylinder variant benefits from new seat fabric, the high-end model’s leather appointments remain the same.
The automaker has attached a lot of importance to the new stereo system of the 3.5 SR, and with good reason. The Bose system with CD/MP3/WMA player will delight music buffs with its high-quality sound. It features nine speakers, a USB port and auxiliary iPod jack, XM satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity.
A satellite navigation system is available as an option. It adds, among other things, a 165-mm touch screen and Music Box hard drive capable of storing 9.5 gigs of data – that’s more than enough tunes to get you from one end of the Trans-Canada Highway to the other!
There is a but
That’s all well and good. It stands proud, is carefully assembled, features a complete list of equipment and is offered at competitive prices. All the ingredients are there for a week of fun behind the wheel.
But looking at it from a more practical angle, a few annoyances stand out. The front seats are very comfortable, true, and they accommodate two medium-size adults. But the rear seats? Even ten-year-olds complained about them! They’re cramped, and foot- and knee-room is kept to an absolute minimum – in short, you have to have Nadia Comăneci’s flexibility to get into these forgotten crannies.
Same story trunk-wise. With its 210 litres, it’s the least spacious of the class – it’s even 34% smaller than the Genesis coupe’s already far-from-exemplary trunk. In addition, it has a high sill and is weirdly contorted inside. Stick with the bare essentials if you’re planning a road trip.
You can recognize the 2010 models by their grille, lightly updated from the 2009 models. The 18-inch wheels (17 on the 2.5 S) also set them apart. Vehicle Dynamic Control is now part of the standard makeup. What’s more, while the four-cylinder variant benefits from new seat fabric, the high-end model’s leather appointments remain the same.
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| The Bose system with CD/MP3/WMA player will delight music buffs with its high-quality sound. (Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
The automaker has attached a lot of importance to the new stereo system of the 3.5 SR, and with good reason. The Bose system with CD/MP3/WMA player will delight music buffs with its high-quality sound. It features nine speakers, a USB port and auxiliary iPod jack, XM satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity.
A satellite navigation system is available as an option. It adds, among other things, a 165-mm touch screen and Music Box hard drive capable of storing 9.5 gigs of data – that’s more than enough tunes to get you from one end of the Trans-Canada Highway to the other!
There is a but
That’s all well and good. It stands proud, is carefully assembled, features a complete list of equipment and is offered at competitive prices. All the ingredients are there for a week of fun behind the wheel.
But looking at it from a more practical angle, a few annoyances stand out. The front seats are very comfortable, true, and they accommodate two medium-size adults. But the rear seats? Even ten-year-olds complained about them! They’re cramped, and foot- and knee-room is kept to an absolute minimum – in short, you have to have Nadia Comăneci’s flexibility to get into these forgotten crannies.
Same story trunk-wise. With its 210 litres, it’s the least spacious of the class – it’s even 34% smaller than the Genesis coupe’s already far-from-exemplary trunk. In addition, it has a high sill and is weirdly contorted inside. Stick with the bare essentials if you’re planning a road trip.
 |
| The front seats are very comfortable, true, and they accommodate two medium-size adults. (Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |