Valerie Menard

Valerie Menard is a freelance writer and published author with 16 years of reporting about the auto industry for Latino publications.

Reviews–2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo E

Jeep, Reviews Comments Off

Jan 072015

The trailblazing Jeep Grand Cherokee continues to break new ground in 2014. Sporting an eight-speed transmission and offering a diesel engine in the lineup, it hasn’t missed a step with the latest generation.

Jeep recently delivered a Grand Cherokee Laredo E 4X4 for review. While not the fanciest trim level, the Laredo E will probably be the most popular and with good reason.

While the premium Jeep gets credit for creating the luxury SUV segment, the mid-level Laredo feels just as solid and plush with its premium cloth seats. The stitching along the dash is nice plus the seven-inch digital display in the instrument cluster can be customized to show a variety of information. I always keep my average fuel economy calculator showing to optimize fuel-efficient driving.

While the diesel will beat most gasoline-powered engines with a best-in-class 30 mpg on the highway, the 3.6-liter V6 with 290 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque on the Laredo has an EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy of 17/24 mpg. I averaged 19.2 mpg. A 5.7-liter V8 is also available.

Rock crawling remains a Jeep specialty and the Grand Cherokee offers three 4×4 systems, a class-exclusive Quadra-Lift air suspension, and class-leading Jeep Selec-Terrain traction management system with new Selec-Speed Control.

Grand Cherokee also boasts best-in-class towing of 7,400 pounds (6,200 with the V6) and the eight-speed transmission improves its 4×4 performance with a lower crawl ratio. I didn’t get to test it on this drive but at the launch last year near Enchanted Rock, Texas, it crawled with finesse.

On road, the Laredo moved fluidly and quietly, plus all Grand Cherokee models include standard paddle shifters mounted on the back of the new steering wheel.

There offers more than 60 available safety features, including Front Park Assist, Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, and a blind sport monitor. Unfortunately, the test model did not include any of these, nor can they be added to the Laredo. Also missing is a back-up camera.

What the Laredo E did include was Electronic Stability Control, Keyless Enter-N-Go, anti-lock brakes, side curtain and knee airbags, and Hill Start Assist, among other features.

Upgraded exterior details, like new headlamps and grilles that distinguish each trim level are matched to new features on the inside including a seven-inch customizable gauge cluster and five-inch touchscreen on the center stack. The 8.4-inch touchscreen is available but not on the base model. The extra large screen, however, has converted a CD player into a $200 option.

Creature comforts include dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control, Uconnect entertainment system with integrated voice command and Bluetooth, and a leather wrapped steering wheel.

Added equipment like Sirius Satellite Radio came with the Customer Preferred Package ($1,700) and heated front seats and the Selec-Terrain system were added via the All Weather Capability Group ($1696). The Security and Convenience Group ($1,350) added a power liftgate among other features.

Available in four trim levels, pricing for the 2014 Grand Cherokee starts at $30,190. The as-tested price for the 2014 Laredo E came to $37,530.

Reviews: 2014 Volvo XC60

Reviews, Volvo Comments Off

May 192014

While not the sexiest of topics, car safety technology can save your life. Volvo leads the field by example with innovations like the three-point safety belt that has saved an estimated one million lives. Most recently, Volvo committed to achieving zero deaths or serious injuries in a Volvo vehicle by 2020. That kind of boldness is hot.

Hoping to jazz up its exterior appeal, Volvo introduced the R-Design package in the 1990s, transforming regular models by adding sportiness initially with design cues, and now, improved performance.

On a recent test drive of the 2014 XC60 T6 R-Design for Latino Traffic Report, the small premium utility vehicle proved to be a bit of a turn on.

Among European brands, Volvo appeals immediately with its Scandinavian aesthetic. The XC60 R-Design standard sport seats combine black nubuck textile, perforated leather, and contrasting stitching, and a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) center display in the gauge cluster allows drivers to select among three different themes: Elegance, Eco, and Performance.

On the inside, aluminum inlays, ergonomically placed controls and storage, add refinement. Even the tapered leather sport steering wheel feels just right.

On the outside, the XC60 R-Design features a frameless Tech Matte Black grille with high-gloss black stripes, plus a silk metal diagonal and a refined R-Design emblem. At the rear, the unique diffuser with aero fins is flanked by the round, high-tech R-Design tailpipes.

On the performance side, the XC60 R-Design’s stiffer chassis has more dynamic driving properties. Tuned to be firmer and more balanced, the shock absorber springs and anti-roll bars improve control and produce a sportier, road-hugging drive.

Advanced Quick Shift is another new standard performance feature for T6 R-Design models that adjust gear changes when Sport Mode is selected or when using paddle shifters.

No discussion of a Volvo product would be complete without talking about safety. The XC60 was the first vehicle equipped with City Safety, a driver support system aimed at preventing or mitigating collisions by stopping automatically at speeds of 31 mph or less.

I’m a big fan of the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), another Volvo innovation, but while manufacturers most place the warning light in the side mirrors, Volvo puts theirs in the A-pillar, which I prefer. It comes as a package, not as standard equipment, however, even on the R-Design model, and includes other technology like Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Change Merge Aid.

The 2014 XC60 offers a choice of two engines. A 3.0-liter, six-cylinder turbo matched to a six-speed automatic transmission powered the test model. A 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter four cylinder engine will be available for 2015, as well as an eight-speed transmission.

The 3.0-liter had an EPA estimated fuel economy of 17 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. I averaged 20.8 mpg on the weeklong test drive.

Standard luxury features like a laminated panoramic sunroof with a power sunshade and sporty 20-inch alloy wheels set the CUV apart. Features like a navigation system and rear park assist were extras.

Pricing for the 2014 XC60 starts at $35,765. The as-tested price for the XC60 R-Design, with the Platinum ($4,000) and Blind Spot Information System ($900) packages came to $52,665.

For Latino car buyers, safety matters. Rather than downplay it, Volvo’s proud of its safety heritage, and I say, bravo!

Sí: Innovative safety technology and Scandinavian design, especially on the inside, offers elegant utility.

No: Safety features like a rearview camera should be standard, especially on a Volvo, not to mention, the R-Design.