2012 Mazda5

With a unique combination of flexible seat arrangements, sliding doors, stylish design, outstanding handling, fuel efficiency and high level of safety, Mazda5 has made a strong impact in the North American market since it launched as a 2006 model. The Mazda5 is unique: it doesn’t fit into a mold, and neither do its owners; it can’t be defined by a segment; it suits a family, but thrives in an active lifestyle setting.

The 2012 Mazda5 incorporates motifs from Mazda’s Nagare “flow” design language which, inspired by the beauty of nature, presents an elegant look not found in any existing vehicle today. It’s an appealing look that captures the eye upon first glance.

Changes to the 2012 Mazda5 continue under the skin, too, as the vehicle is powered by a 2.5-liter MZR I4 engine, which also sees use in the Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-7, and can be paired with either a manual or automatic transmission. “We have further evolved Mazda’s trademark Zoom-Zoom driving experience by working to deliver an overall balance of linear feeling and response that creates a unique bond between the driver and car, as well as a stronger sense of trust in the vehicle,” said Matsuoka.

Adopting the expression “Seductive Smartness” as the design concept, the new Mazda5’s design is aimed to achieve a higher balance of functionality and design, while at the same time giving it a stylish new look that is immediately distinguishable from the box-like designs found on conventional offerings in the market.

The driver-oriented design of the interior positions the peak of the meter hood as the tall point, with all lines flowing from there to comfortably wrap around the driver. The instrument panel flows from the cockpit to the center panel and on to the passenger-side dashboard in a rippling effect that suggests a liquid sensation to the design. The same flow continues on through the lines of the seat pattern, connecting seamlessly with the second and third row seats to create a strong sense of unity throughout the interior.

With an overall length of 180.5 inches, width of 68.9 inches, height of 63.6 inches, and sitting on a 108.3-inch wheelbase, the Mazda5 delivers roomy comfort while being surprisingly compact. The long wheelbase helps give it extraordinary passenger space for its modest external dimensions, and the short front and rear overhangs enable better handling and parking ease. Despite the long wheelbase, Mazda5 features an impressive tight turning circle of 36.7 feet, making it remarkably easy to maneuver in tight situations. With a low drag coefficient of 0.30, it is aerodynamically efficient, cleaving the air quietly and maximizing fuel economy.

The previous generation Mazda5 achieved outstanding safety ratings. While carrying over this high level of safety performance, the new Mazda5 further raises that safety level, and never makes customers pay more money for more safety – all features are provided on all vehicles at no additional cost. All Mazda5s include a long and impressive list of safety features, including: Anti-lock Braking System, Dynamic Stability Control, with Traction Control System, Electric Hydraulic Power Assist steering system, "Triple H" body construction, side-impact door beams, crushable brake and accelerator pedal assembly, advanced dual front air bags, front seat side air bags, three-row side air curtains, engine immobilizer anti-theft system, second row LATCH child safety seat anchors and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander

With the addition of the new-for-2010 Outlander GT last year - an amenity-packed version of this rugged crossover utility vehicle (CUV) that features advanced electronic driving aids similar to those found on Mitsubishi's ultra-high-performance Lancer Evolution sports sedan - it's no wonder that the rugged Mitsubishi Outlander, with seating for 5 or up to 7 passengers, has proved to be a popular choice for tens of thousands of consumers across North America. And with key enhancements for the 2011 model year - including a price reduction for the top-of-the-line Outlander GT model - the award-winning Outlander looks to become an even better value in the competitive mid-size crossover segment.

Two normally-aspirated engines are available in the Outlander: a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that produces 168 horsepower in the Outlander ES and SE models while the XLS and GT grade vehicles feature a 3.0-liter V-6 that is capable of producing a full 230 peak horsepower. The base model Outlander ES comes equipped with a Sportronic® continuously variable transmission; the 2WD and 4WD Outlander SE's make use of this same CVT transmission but also have the added benefit of steering wheel-mounted magnesium-alloy paddle shifters that allow the driver to quickly toggle between gear ratios. Both the Outlander XLS and GT models also possess the enthusiast driver-oriented paddle shifters but are mated to a technologically-advanced Sportronic® 6-speed automatic transmission.

Every Mitsubishi Outlander model benefits from advanced design and engineering systems including an all-aluminum roof that not only helps to improve the vehicle's fuel efficiency, but also helps to lower this stylish crossover's center of gravity, thus aiding in handling, controllability and stability for the driver; eye-catching exterior details including LED tail lights with clear lens covers; and wonderful conveniences including fold-flat 1st and 2nd row seats along with a unique, easy to access flat-folding tailgate - clever features scarcely found in expensive high-end luxury crossovers and SUVs, let alone the lower-priced mid-size crossover utility vehicle class that the very competitively-priced 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander resides in.

Having been awarded the highest 5-Star safety rating in crash testing performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), all 2011 Mitsubishi Outlanders feature a lengthy list of advanced safety and security features as part of their standard equipment package. Helping to protect the driver and passengers are such items as advanced dual-stage front air bags with seat position sensors; side-impact curtain air bags (1st and 2nd row occupants); front seat borax side air bags; active front seat head rests; head impact absorption roof and pillar trim; Active Stability Control anti-lock braking system with Electronic Brake-force Distribution Traction Control Logic and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Offering further peace of mind are an anti-theft engine immobilizer, an anti-theft security alarm system and rear door child safety locks.

2012 Honda Civic

Beneath the aerodynamic skin of every 2012 Civic is Honda's commitment to its foundational pillars of safety, fun-to-drive performance, style, comfort, convenience, durability, quality and refinement.

Advanced safety systems include Honda-exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure for frontal collision energy management and vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility, and a long list of standard safety equipment including two-row side curtain airbags, dual-stage, multiple-threshold driver's and front passenger's airbags, driver's and front passenger's side airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Brake Assist, and a new Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering system that helps the driver steer in the ideal direction to mitigate oversteer or understeer situations. Internal crash test information indicates that the new Civic should achieve top marks in both the federal government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program and the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) designation as a “TOP SAFETY PICK.”

Every Civic model is designed to be fun to drive, with a MacPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link rear suspension, and front and rear stabilizer bars. Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) improves steering response at low speeds while rewarding the driver with outstanding feel at higher speeds. In addition, with EPS there is no parasitic power loss to the engine as is common with a traditional hydraulically boosted steering system – which benefits both power output and fuel economy.

As a new interpretation of the current Civic's iconic "one-motion" mono-form shape, the 2012 Civic is designed to convey an even more substantial, high-energy appearance. The exterior styling of both Civic Sedan and Coupe models showcases the clean-yet-powerful body lines with sleekly angled windshields, wide stances and pronounced character lines along the profile. The look of the Civic Coupe conveys an aggressive attitude with a more angular front fascia, mesh grille and a tapered rear roofline that flows smoothly into the trunk.

Crisp, smart and driver focused, the new Civic's 5-passenger interior is a careful blend of form and function, with an advanced instrument layout that is unique in its class. A “smart interface” approach divides the interior into different areas, with key instrument displays located above the steering wheel. Secondary information is located lower in the area, while a third area to the driver's right groups controls that are not essential to driving. New for 2012, the intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) on all models (except Civic DX) provides a 5-inch color monitor for the display of vehicle information and audio information including album artwork (if available).

For many customers the Durability, Quality and Reliability (DQR) of the Honda Civic is what keeps them returning year after year. These fine qualities – and the resale or trade-in value they engender for the Civic – become a powerful purchase incentive. Virtually every major study of vehicle residual value has shown that the Civic typically has one of the highest residual values in the industry. As an end result, a high residual or resale value makes the Civic's true cost of ownership less than many lower-priced competitors.