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End of the Road: Ford Taurus

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More than 2 million examples of the first-generation Ford Taurus were built.
(Public domain photo via Wikimedia)

The Ford Taurus is a full-size sedan, once one of the most popular models in the blue oval’s arsenal. Changing consumer tastes and Ford’s reluctance to invest in an all-new model took its toll on sales. On March 1, 2019, the last Taurus rolled off of a Chicago assembly line.

Ford claims more than 8 million sales of the Taurus, spanning 34 years of near-continuous build. The very first model debuted at an auto show in 1985 and went into production later that year. Initially, the Taurus was a midsize sedan and wagon. Later, the wagon was dropped and the Taurus name was applied to a full-size sedan. That sedan competed against the likes of the Chevrolet Impala and Toyota Avalon. Soon, only the Avalon will soldier on as Chevrolet also exits the segment.

Here are the highlights of Ford’s Taurus:

1. Out with the old. Ford needed a competitive midsize model and set out to build a new vehicle from scratch. The previous LTD was a warmed over Ford Fairmont, one of many models sharing a common Fox-body platform. Indeed, the Fox architecture supported a variety of models, including the Lincoln Continental and the Ford Mustang.

2. In with the new: sedan, wagon, and SHO. Up until the time of the Taurus’ debut, Ford relied on a succession of rear-wheel-drive models to power its cars. That had Ford trailing its domestic competition, which offered front-wheel-drive models for the taking. FWD was deemed superior from a roominess standpoint as it allowed manufacturers to build smaller vehicles with larger interiors. The Taurus went up against such models as the Chevrolet Celebrity and the Dodge 600. Initially, Ford introduced the Taurus in sedan and wagon configurations, then followed with a SHO (special high output) performance version beginning in 1989. The Taurus’ twin was the Mercury Sable; a larger Lincoln Continental shared a modified version of the platform.

The style of this third-generation Taurus was widely panned.
(Public domain photo via Wikimedia)

3. Success, at last. Ford recorded a modest 200,000 units sold in the Taurus’ first year, but 2 million models over the first generation’s six-model-year run. Sales continued to climb after that, reaching 410,000 units in 1992. That year also saw the second-generation model’s release, which immediately made the Taurus the best-selling car in America. Ford would hold onto the title throughout this model’s second-generation run and with the third-generation model when it rolled out in 1996. However, beginning in 1997, the Toyota Camry wrested sales leadership from Ford, keeping the “best-selling car” title most years since.

4. The ever-popular 3.0L V6. Upon its debut, the Ford Taurus offered two engine choices: a 2.5-liter inline-four and a 3.0-liter V6. The base engine was weak, producing just 90 horsepower to the 140 horsepower offered by the V6. The base engine is paired with a 5-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 works with a four-speed automatic. The four-cylinder disappeared in early 1991. Beginning in 1988, a 3.8-liter V6 rolled out, matching the horsepower of the standard V6, but with improved torque. The SHO model had its own 3.0-liter V6 engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. This engine makes 220 horsepower.

5. On to the bubble. The Taurus’ sales held strong when the third-generation model rolled out, thanks in large part to rental and fleet sales, which kept this sedan a best-seller. However, customers could not look past the rounded exterior of the new model, with sales soon falling accordingly. Still, the Taurus name had much value and fleet demand remained strong. The fourth-generation model rectified the design issues of the previous model, continuing with sedan and wagon body styles. However, the SHO was gone and the wagon would follow by the end of 2004.

6. Good-bye, Taurus. Hello, Five Hundred and Fusion. After returning to peak sales in 2000 (382,035 units sold), Taurus sales fell steadily in successive years, dropping permanently below 200,000 units in 2005. By then, Ford planned to stop making the Taurus, replacing it with the midsize Fusion, which itself rolled out in 2006. Still, Ford kept the Taurus around for two more years, selling it to fleets only for its last year. But Ford CEO Alan Mulcahy wasn’t about to let a well-known name go away. The Ford Five Hundred, produced from 2005 to 2007, and targeted to eventually replace the Ford Crown Victoria, would be renamed the Ford Taurus, beginning in 2008. Thus, although not always available to consumers, Ford managed to keep the Taurus name alive, by shifting model names and eventually making the Taurus its flagship model. Once the Crown Victoria disappeared in 2011, the Taurus became Ford’s leading model.

Ford produced a wagon variant of the Taurus through 2004.
(Public domain photo via Wikimedia)

7. Bigly and a pursuit option. The fifth-generation Taurus covered just two years or five (2005 to 2009) when the Five Hundred is included. The sixth-generation Taurus represents a clean-sheet redesign, with a family of V6 engines motivating this sedan. All models feature standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available. Initially, the engine choices included naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions of a 3.5-liter V6. Beginning in 2013, a Police Interceptor Sedan based on the Taurus rolled out, offering the Taurus’s two engine choices plus a 3.7-liter V6.

8. End of the line. The proverbial “writing on the wall” for the Taurus soon became apparent as each model year passed. The Taurus remained virtually unchanged, while crossover models and trucks received updates or all-new versions. In 2018, Ford said it was exiting the car business in North America, with plans to keep the Mustang, but nothing else. The Taurus stayed in production long enough to produce tens of thousands of police vehicles, although the utility pursuit models were the biggest sellers.

So Long, Farewell

Eight million copies sold ensures the Taurus name will not be easily forgotten. In the grand scheme of things, the Taurus wasn’t an outstanding model, although its SHO variants enhanced its appeal. At some point, we’ll see the Taurus showcased at classic car events, with fans waxing nostalgic for a model popularized in the idyllic days of their youth.

The final generation Taurus was the largest one of all, taking over the
full-size slot eventually abandoned by the Crown Victoria.
(Public domain photo via Wikimedia)

Did you know? — Production of the Ford Taurus may have ended at the Chicago Assembly Plant, but a new model exists. Designed explicitly for the Chinese market, this large sedan is available in four trims and comes with a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine. Ford builds the new Taurus in China, along with many other models.

See Also — The History of the Hyundai Tiburon

These Car Models May Soon Get the Axe

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Sharply declining sales may spell the end for several car models.

The U.S. automotive market, indeed the entire global market has seen a shift away from cars to utility vehicles. Cars, while valued for their practicality and reasonable cost are yielding the market to utility vehicles, which offer an excellent combination of passenger space and cargo capacity. They’re also more profitable to automakers.

As such, manufacturers will soon lay the ax to several car models as the market shift continues. Soon, you may walk into a new car dealership and find no more than one or two car models available as utility vehicles, pickup trucks and an assortment of crossover-like conveyances take over.

Here’s our list of threatened models based on year-to-date sales figures through October 2018:

Chevrolet: Sonic and Impala

The bow-tie brand’s weakest models are its subcompact Sonic (hatchback and sedan) and its full-size Impala sedan. The two models were introduced or updated in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Chevrolet Silverado
Like its top competitor’s Chevrolet’s best-selling vehicle is not a car.

Sonic sales are down 25.7 percent and will struggle to top 22,000 units this year. The Impala numbers aren’t as bad with Chevrolet selling 43,953 units, down 13.38 percent. We think the midsize Malibu sedan (-23.88%) will hang on for a while longer, mostly because it is rather new. The compact Cruze (-26.52%) numbers are way down too, but there is life left. Besides, it shares its platform with the plug-in Volt (-13.72%).

As for the Corvette (-21.23%) and Camaro (-25.87%), both models will soldier on with a mid-engined Corvette waiting in the wings. We can’t see Chevrolet killing the Camaro all over again, although sales now trail both the Mustang and Challenger.

Dodge and Chrysler: A Vulnerable Trio

Dodge and Chrysler are FCA’s two domestic car brands and both are hanging on. Dodge dropped the compact Dart sedan and Chrysler the midsize 200 sedans in recent years. What’s left is a trio of sporty models: The Dodge Challenger (+0.07%), Dodge Charger (-11.98%), and the Chrysler 300 (-12.83%).

Dodge Charger Hellcat
A succession of Hellcat models has kept the Charger and Challenger alive. But for how long?

The Chrysler is the most vulnerable of the three and will likely be replaced by a utility vehicle. We think Dodge will hang on to the Challenger and Charger for a few more years, making updates to keep these dated models fresh. But the tide is changing and we could see the Charger killed off first with the Challenger following a few years later. The Jeep and Ram brands are the big profit centers for FCA, thus every other brand is vulnerable.

Ford: Only the Mustang Remains

Ford has not been coy about its car models. Every single model except for the Mustang (-0.93%) is threatened. Already, the subcompact Fiesta (+1.05%) and compact Focus (-18.46%) are gone or will soon be gone from the U.S. market.

The midsize Fusion (-21.77%) and the full-size Taurus (-2.49%) will be the next to go, although one or more names may be affixed to a future crossover model. Yes, we’ve heard rumors of a four-door Mustang appearing, but all that noise is simply speculation.

2018 Ford Mustang GT
The Mustang “brand” is a blue oval success story.

Honda: Staying the Course

Sales of the compact Civic (-10.32%) and midsize Accord (-14.16%) may be down, but they’re not out. Indeed, Honda may very well sell as many as 250,000 Accords and 300,000 Civics this year. Even if sales continue to slide, both models are safe.

As for the subcompact Fit (-14.59%), sales aren’t likely to top 40,000 units this year. That said, Honda may keep the Fit around and not offer an update for some time. This automaker also seems committed to its Clarity and Insight electrified vehicles, though sales remain modest.

See Also — It’s a Wrap: 2018 in Review

Nissan: Maxima on a Short Leash

Like Honda and Toyota, Nissan will keep its compact Sentra (-0.34%) and midsize Altima (-16.64%) sedans. The Altima is new for 2019 and will offer available all-wheel drive for the first time. Although the Sentra was last updated in 2013, we think a new model will eventually roll out.

Nissan Maxima models
The Maxima is one of Nissan’s strongest names, but it may not have long-term staying power.

What might not survive is the Maxima sedan (-36.18%), although it shares its underpinnings with the Altima. Like other flagship models, the Maxima may no longer have a place in the Nissan product line.

Also threatened is the subcompact Versa (-29.87%), the sporty 370Z (-24.44%) and the high-performance GT-R (-2.49%). The last two will likely sell just 3,000 and 500 copies, respectively. Those aren’t sustainable numbers no matter how you slice it.

Toyota: Several Models Might Get 86’d

Imagine Toyota without the compact Corolla (-11.35%) and its midsize Camry (-6.94%) if you would. That’s hard to fathom, right? Well, both models sell slightly better than their Honda counterparts, so they’ll be around for some time. Indeed, a new Camry arrived in 2018, followed by an all-new Corolla hatchback in 2019 (we’re expecting a new Corolla sedan in 2020).

2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
Toyota’s Corolla is hanging around and includes this sporty hatchback model.

The threatened Toyota models include the subcompact Yaris (-37.05%) and the hybrid Toyota Prius c. We doubt the Toyota 86 (-41.71%) will survive for much longer, although the nearly identical Subaru BRZ may soldier on. As for the full-size Avalon (+6.38%), it is also all new and gaining market share in a shrinking segment. We consider the Avalon the safest model in its segment by far.

Volkswagen: A Passe Passat?

Volkswagen has been undergoing intense changes these past few years following its diesel scandal. New or updated crossovers are taking a bigger slice of the sales pie and are driving sales. But models such as the subcompact Golf (-38.08%), compact Jetta (-32.77%), and the midsize Passat (-33.78%) are falling out of favor.

We think the Golf and Jetta will hang on, but the Tennessee-built Passat may give up its assembly line space to one or more new (and electrified) models planned. That transition may take a few years to complete, however.

Hyundai and Kia: Opportunity Lurks

Hyundai and Kia are joined at the hip, although the two Korean automakers largely operate as separate concerns. Hyundai supplies the vehicle platforms, then leaves each brand (plus Genesis) to decide how they will go.

In recent years, we’ve seen Hyundai do away with the Equus, Genesis, and Genesis coupe, along with the Azera sedan. Some of those models were replaced by Genesis brand vehicles when Hyundai rolled out its luxury brand.

Hyundai has also expanded its crossover offerings while bringing the electrified Ioniq (+37.69) to the market. We’re not sure the subcompact Accent (-51.12%) will survive, given that a new model rolled out in 2018. The compact Elantra (+4.06%) is performing well, but the midsize Sonata (-24.83%) has certainly seen better days. The sporty Veloster returned after a one-year hiatus and like the Elantra, it seems safe. Still, we think Hyundai will keep its car line in place as other automakers cut back.

2018 Kia Rio
Kia Rio sales are down despite a new model on hand.

As for the Kia, nearly the same can be said about it as we have said about Hyundai. Further, Kia continues to update even its slow sellers, such as the full-size Cadenza (-11.07%) and the luxury K900 (-26.14%).

A new subcompact Rio (+44.67) is performing well, although the compact Forte (-18.68%) and the midsize Optima (-5.74%) are not. Still, looking at Kia’s track record, we doubt any model will go away in the near future. In all, we think Hyundai and Kia may see opportunity in segments soon to be vacated by its competitors.

Looking Ahead

The shift to crossovers is, indeed, playing a large part in driving each brand’s portfolio. Two other factors, electrification, and autonomous vehicles, will play increasingly significant roles as we move forward.

The question not asked is this one: will manufacturers permanently adjust their portfolios? They may say yes, but market conditions can and do always change.

Witness Ford’s insistence a few years back that the Ranger pickup truck wouldn’t return. Beginning in 2019 we’ll see a new Ranger. And as for the Fiesta and Focus, both models will serve other markets and could at some point return to the U.S. if demand warrants it.

See Also — End of the Road: Ford Taurus

All-Wheel Drive Edge: 2017 Subaru Legacy

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New Sport trim adds pop to the Legacy line.

2017 Subaru Legacy Sport

Subaru can no longer be considered a niche car manufacturer. Fresh off its eighth consecutive year of record growth, this burgeoning Japanese brand continues to attract a wider base of American car shoppers, thanks in large part to its SUV-skewed lineup.

But that’s not the only reason Subaru is growing: the manufacturer continues with its near-universal standard all-wheel-drive fleet (the rear-wheel-drive Subaru BRZ is the lone exception), an edge no other mainstream manufacturer can claim.

Subaru’s non-SUV fleet includes the BRZ sport coupe, the Impreza and WRX compact models, and the Legacy — a midsize sedan. Notably, the Legacy is one of Subaru’s oldest and most enduring model names, introduced in 1989 and is now in its sixth generation. Originally a compact car, the Legacy was stretched to midsize status six years later and was also sold as a wagon for a season. Afterward, that wagon evolved into the Outback, one of the brand’s best-selling SUV models.

2017 Subaru Legacy

The 2017 Legacy is available in five trims: 2.5i ($21,995), 2.5i Premium ($23,995), 2.5i Sport ($25,995), 2.5i Limited ($28,840), and 3.6R Limited ($31,640). A Legacy 2.5i Sport model was a recent weekly driver and was discounted by $2,000 before a $4,845 Sport Option package was added, bringing the final price to $28,910, including $820 for destination.

The Sport trim is new for 2017. Other changes include new reverse automatic braking and high beam assist technologies.

2017 Subaru Legacy Sport

Speaking about the Sport trim, it features exclusive styling features such as a dark-gray front grille, fog lamps wrapped with gloss black housing, 18-inch sport-styled wheels, and chrome accent rocker panel trim. Inside, you’ll find a two-tone interior with piano black and carbon fiber patterned trim.

Adding a Sport trim to the Legacy line was a wise choice for Subaru. The midsize segment continues under assault as consumers make the shift to SUVs. The Legacy gained ground in 2016, as sales increased by 8 percent just as net car sales fell by 8.1 percent according to Autodata Corporation. In any case, the Legacy is easily outsold by most manufacturers, with the Toyota Camry,Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Ford Fusion vying for leadership. Other models with stronger sales include the Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Malibu, and the Kia Optima.

See Also — 10 Things We Like About the 2020 Subaru Legacy

The All-Wheel Drive Advantage

But in a segment where differentiation seems difficult to accomplish, the Legacy is the only model with all-wheel drive only. The Ford Fusion offers all-wheel drive as did the Chrysler 200 until the latter was discontinued in 2016. Even if the segment continues to contract, the Legacy should gain a larger slice of the pie, thanks to AWD and now a Sport edition.

What the Legacy won’t win is a design award — neither ugly or handsome, the Legacy offers practical looks and contemporary style. Standard 17-inch steel wheels in the 2.5i give way to 17- or 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels elsewhere; all-season tires are standard across the model line.

Projector-beam halogen headlights are standard; HID projector headlights are available. Fog lights appear at the Sport level. You’ll also find folding side mirrors with available integrated turn signal indicators, chrome embellishments, and one or two exhaust tips.

2017 Subaru Legacy Sport

Ample Room for Five

Today’s midsize sedans offer true five-person space and the 2017 Legacy is no exception. Sitting on a 108.3-inch wheelbase, the Legacy offers excellent room up front and suitable space in the rear seat. A 60-40 split-folding bench seat offers access to the trunk, measuring 15 cubic feet.

All models, except for both Limited editions, are dressed in cloth upholstery. Leather-trimmed upholstery is standard on both Limited models.

Moving away from the base models brings in such amenities as a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Also available is heated outboard rear seats and wood grain or carbon fiber-patterned trim.

Keyless entry with push button start is available, as is an automatic dimming rear mirror, and dual-zone climate control. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power windows and door locks, an electronic parking brake, and cruise control. Every model comes with a center console, an overhead console, a tilt and telescopic steering column, and eight cup and drink holders.

2017 Subaru Legacy Sport

Top Tech Features

On the tech front, the 2017 Legacy offers a standard four-speaker audio system. A six-speaker audio system is found with the Premium and Sport trims. Limited models have a Harman Kardon audio package — a 12-speaker arrangement with 576 watts of modulated deliciousness at the ready.

If you want navigation, it is obtainable at any level, except with the base trim. The system is tied in with the STARLINK multimedia plus system with a seven-inch screen, Siri Eyes Free, HD Radio, a CD player, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. Only by opting for the upgraded STARLINK package is navigation available.

A Reputation for Safety

Subaru has long held a merited reputation for stellar safety, including exemplary crash testing scores, and the 2017 Legacy embodies that. Once again, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded this midsize sedan with its highest honor — Top Safety Pick+.

Beyond its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, the Legacy is equipped with daytime running lights, traction and stability control, and a rearview camera. Apart from the Legacy’s suite of airbags, it is the available package of driver-assist features that clinch it for the sedan — namely high beam assist, blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert, and EyeSight Driver Assist technology. EyeSight includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure and sway warning, and lane-keep assist. You’ll find these options available on every trim except for the base model.

2017 Subaru Legacy Sport

2017 Subaru Legacy Sport

Your Choice of Boxer Engines

Subaru gives Legacy shoppers two engine choices. Both offer a horizontally opposed (Boxer) layout and that means the engines sit slightly lower in the bay. Both are paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The standard four-cylinder displaces at 2.5 liters and makes 175 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. As equipped, these models make 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

The 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine is available only with the top-trim Limited model. This version makes a robust 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The 3.6R Limited achieves an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

2017 Subaru Legacy Sport

On the Road

The base model should be sufficient for most buyers. it delivers adequate off-the-mark acceleration and power increases steadily as it approaches highway speed. In the all-important “passing on the highway” analysis, the Legacy gets the job done, supplying sufficient faculty to pass and without lagging. Most people will probably be satisfied with this sedan’s steering — light to the touch — and handling — sufficient to superior, especially when torque is sent to the wheels that need it most.

And the all-wheel-drive system certainly came in handy when our area was socked by a winter storm. Our storms are typically icy, so that means I don’t drive at all as the all-wheel drive does no better than other options when it comes to stopping. It was only after the ice melted did I conduct the bulk of my driving, traversing slush and other melting material, while doing so in complete confidence. The Legacy stayed planted even as I pushed the sedan through my share of the many puddles encountered. You should consider AWD as an extra measure of security whenever you drive on wet roads.

Buyer Considerations

So, which model should you choose? I vote for the Sport as it has the looks and price point I think most people prefer. The package upgrade brought in a moonroof and the EyeSight driver-assist package, among other amenities. For under $30,000 you get all-wheel drive and certain advanced driver-assist safety features, a combination no other model offers, except for the Ford offers.

For a vehicle offering few surprises, there was one standout feature: fuel economy. Indeed, after 246 miles of driving, the gas tank needle barely touched the middle position, demonstrating that even with all-wheel drive the 2017 Subaru Legacy is an altogether efficient machine.

2017 Subaru Legacy Sport

See Also — Behind the Wheel of the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek

All photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Takata Recalls to Pace Yet Another Record Year

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With tens of millions of vehicles under recall for replacement airbags, other recalls may get buried. Millions of other models are also under recall for an assortment of mechanical and software problems.

Takata is in the process of working with 11 car manufacturers to recall 33.8 million vehicles in the United States, representing nearly 1 in 7 registered vehicles. That staggering number will most likely push this year’s recalls above the 60 million vehicles recalled last year, a record.

As important as the Takata airbag recall is, there are a number of other recalls that have been recently announced or are currently in progress. Thus, Auto Trends is presenting a sampling of some of the more noteworthy recalls for 2015:

Lincoln MKZ

The Lincoln MKZ & Ford Fusion are under a recall.

Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ — Certain 2013, 2014 and 2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ models manufactured earlier this year and Ford Edge models manufactured in late February are being recalled. Ford says that more than 487,000 models may have a steering problem affected by corrosion that could cause the steering gear motor to separate from the gear housing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Kia Soul — Owners of certain 2014 and 2015 Kia Souls and Soul EVs should have their vehicles checked for potential gas pedal breakage. About one dozen pedals have fractured, leading Kia to recall nearly 209,000 vehicles to install rubber supports underneath the pedal.

Volkswagen Jetta — At the beginning of the year, Volkswagen announced a recall involving approximately 50,000 2015 Jetta vehicles. The recall addresses a potential problem involving the halogen headlights. Specifically, software within the control module may shut down the low-beam headlights when the high beams are activated. The problem could affect the driver’s vision, leading to a crash.

GMC Canyon Recall

Under Recall: GMC Canyon

Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon — Owners of certain 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks are being alerted to a problem affecting the driver’s and front passenger seat. Nearly 50,000 vehicles are being recalled to inspect the seat-frame attachment hooks to ensure that they are secured properly. If not anchored properly, the affected parts will be replaced.

Hyundai Elantra — More than 200,000 Hyundai Elantra sedans covering the 2008 to 2010 model years and Elantra Touring hatchbacks for the 2009 and 2010 model years are being recalled. Hyundai has identified a flaw in the vehicles’ electronic power steering system, what could affect steering performance. In essence, the affected models may perform in manual steering mode, requiring greater driver effort. No accidents have been reported related to this problem.

Toyota Camry recall.

Select Camry & Camry Hybrid models are being recalled.

Toyota RAV4 and Other Models — More than 112,000 Toyota vehicles are being recalled to address various problems. The RAV4 EV may have a software issue that could cause these vehicles to shift into neutral, increasing the risk of a crash. Other vehicles, including select 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may have damaged electric power steering circuit boards.

Chrysler Minivans, Dodge Journey — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling more than 700,000 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 model years. They are also recalling 2009 and 2010 Dodge Journey utility vehicles. The issue for these vehicles has to do with the ignition key — what could shut the car off under certain conditions. As part of that recall, FCA is urging owners to remove extra keys from the key rings to prevent the vehicles from accidentally turning off, leading to a loss of control.

Recalls and Procedures

If your vehicle has been mentioned in any of the above-listed recalls, contact your dealer to have it repaired. For everyone else, you can check whether your vehicle is under recall by first writing down your vehicle identification number (VIN) found on the dashboard. It also appears on your registration card.

Next, visit the NHTSA’s Safercar.gov website. Specifically, click here to be taken to a page where you can enter your VIN to find out if your vehicle has been recalled. The website covers recalls conducted over the past 15 calendar years.

Recalls Look-up by VIN
Following that, contact any dealer for your manufacturer to schedule an appointment. The manufacturer will pay for repairs. You should also ask your dealer or the car manufacturer for a loaner vehicle as you wait for repairs to be completed.

Notably, signing up immediately for recall service will ensure that your name is on the list. When the parts become available, you will be notified. Finally, if your car is currently “in the clear” check back again periodically. When tens of millions of cars currently under recall, your vehicle may eventually find be listed.

See Also — Grim Stop Driving Warning for Select Honda Owners

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Ford Brings its EcoBoost Challenge to the Masses

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The Ford Motor Company has a certain technology that it wants potential customers to know about. Called EcoBoost, it is all about enhancing engine performance, by adding direct fuel injection, turbochargers and variable valve technology to the affected engines. The result is more power squeezed from a smaller footprint, boosting fuel economy while reducing emissions.

2015 Ford Mustang.
2015 Ford Mustang.

Widespread EcoBoost Implementation

First introduced in 2009, the EcoBoost trademark has found its way into more than 6 million new vehicles. From a 3.5-liter V-6 engine all the way down to a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder, nearly every Ford product sold today has at least one such motor in the fleet.

However, the Ford Motor Company is not satisfied that people know or even appreciate what EcoBoost does. That’s why for the third consecutive year it has conducted clinics across the country — what’s known as the “EcoBoost Challenge” — in a bid to allow people to drive a variety of Ford products.

This year’s event, a 17-city tour, traveled through my area — Raleigh, NC — so I took up the media side of the challenge to see what it was all about. That means a handful of media were on hand the day before the public had its own chance of participating.

EcoBoost Challenge Road Show

The EcoBoost Challenge is a free event and typically located in a parking lot of a large arena. At the PNC Arena in Raleigh, Ford set up several sections for test driving and included drag racing, slalom and standard driving courses. On hand were the Fiesta ST, Focus ST, the 2.3-liter Mustang, Fusion, Transit Connect, Edge, F-150 and Expedition. A 2016 Ford Explorer, the next generation of this popular crossover utility vehicle, was present for display purposes only.

Besides permitting people to test drive the fleet, Ford demonstrated its automatic parking system, what now includes perpendicular parking assist. And for those people who may be skittish about driving a stick shift model, Ford even provided a “Shiftphobia” clinic to teach them how to get the job done.

This writer drove both the Fiesta ST and Focus ST, then got behind the wheel of a Fusion before tackling the Transit Connect. Saved for last was the Mustang, the first forced induction engine to power this pony car. That drive came just three weeks after a Mustang GT departed the media fleet. The added power was welcome, but the naturally-aspired six- or eight-cylinder engines shouldn’t be easily dismissed.

Potential Conquest Sales

EcoBoost represents a significant investment, even a risk for Ford, as turbocharger reliability concerns are valid. Turbochargers sometimes prove troublesome with outright failure a possibility. Some analysts, including Consumer Reports, aren’t impressed by the power or the fuel economy that such engines deliver. However, few people dismiss the low to mid rpm torque boost that such engines deliver. Furthermore, Ford has avoided the recall issues with its EcoBoost line and that’s a good indicator of its reliability.

From a marketing standpoint, Ford told Auto Trends that it is satisfied with the turn out it is seeing at this year’s EcoBoost Challenge, with more than 1,300 people showing up at Chicago and 750 registered in Raleigh. Of major importance is that Ford claims that 70 percent of the participants are not Ford owners, giving the company a chance to reach new customers.

Fortunately for those customers, no salespeople were on hand — contractors and Ford Motor Company were in attendance, but dealers were not included. Certainly, salespeople may yet follow up, but allowing people to get behind the wheel of a broad variety of Ford vehicles without sales pressure is too good of an opportunity for many people to pass up.

To find out where the EcoBoost Challenge is traveling, check out EcoBoostDrive.com for those details.

See Also — Ford Opens Order Book for 2019 Ranger

On the Road With the Family Toyota Camry

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America’s best selling car model holds tight to its lead. A V-6 option adds performance, although it lacks the handling characteristics of a sports sedan. The 2015 Toyota Camry has an appealing visage and offers a model for a variety of shoppers, including an available hybrid edition.

2015 Toyota Camry

2015 Toyota XSE with a V-6 package.

Back in the 1990s, Toyota marketed its midsize sedan as the “Family Camry.” The automaker featured spots about people who owned not just one, not two, but usually three or four of these models, passing older copies to their children when they reached driving age. A number of those older models had high mileage, but seemed new, attesting to the sedan’s durability. Or so it went.

That marketing plan may have helped Toyota move to the top rung amongst passenger cars, a position it has held nearly every year this millennium. And just when Toyota seems as if they may lose ground to arch-rivals such as the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and the Ford Fusion, the company introduces a new model.

2015 Toyota Camry

Seventh Generation Toyota Camry

Indeed, the current iteration made its debut in 2012, marking the start of the seventh generation of this five-passenger, front-wheel-drive sedan. And to ensure that it holds the top spot for at least the short term, Toyota rushed a mid-cycle refresh to the market just two years later to counter updates made to some of its chief competitors. Never fear, the Toyota Camry has tightened its lock on the top spot and seems assured to hold on until the next generation model appears, probably in 2018.

It is true that some people hate the Camry and probably a host of other Toyota products. Much of that antipathy has to do with austere styling, something Toyota has been moving away from in recent years. Granted, the haters aren’t likely to be impressed by the Camry’s reliability and high residual values — they want newfangled styling above all else.

2015 Toyota Camry

2015 Toyota Camry

View manufacturer details and pricing

2015 Toyota Camry

Flair and Distinction Added

Well, the current Camry has a certain flair to it that was not available previously. Indeed, Toyota now incorporates its own version of the Lexus spindle grille with a distinctive front fascia featuring a piano black grille, wraparound headlamps and crescent LED daytime running lights set within deep grooves. It is a more daring design, something you would expect to find in a Ford Fusion or a Hyundai Sonata.

From front to back the current Camry has an athletic stance punctuated by wrap around tail lamps and LED lights to the rear and dual exhaust ports. Looks wise, this sedan is a significant improvement over the previous generation model and the choice of colors and wheels simply enhances that vibe.

What has not changed for the Toyota Camry is its powertrain offerings. Yes, in recent years the manual transmission was dropped and the automatic transmission now has six forward gears. But the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 178-horsepower returns as well as the optional 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 268 horsepower.

2015 Toyota Camry

V-6 With Torque Steer

The four-cylinder engine is standard across the model line and is the only engine available in the LE and SE editions. Both the XLE and the XSE provide a V-6 option, a $5,200 upgrade that brings in a host of other features. My test model was a 2015 Toyota Camry XSE with the V-6 engine.

I have driven Toyotas equipped with either the four-cylinder or the V-6, and can say that there is a world of difference between the two. That Toyota continues to offer a V-6 in a segment that is largely dominated by naturally-aspirated and turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engines is important to note. That this same engine is rated at 21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway may appeal to people who place an emphasis on performance, but still want good fuel economy.

When you start the V-6 Camry and shift the transmission into gear — hold on tight. Torque steer (understeer) is evident with the front wheels wanting to shift to the left or to the right as copious amounts of power is suddenly delivered. Certainly, if torque vectoring control is present, I didn’t sense it — I knew that a sudden press on the accelerator would cause the tires to squeal, signaling me to tighten my grip on the steering wheel.

Once you are on the road, you can shift the transmission into manual mode and work the stick or the paddle shifters. That is, if clutchless shifting is your desire. In the Camry, you don’t operate the paddles, rather the buttons located on the back of the steering wheel adjacent to those paddles. Initially, I sensed that the paddles were disconnected as I pressed on each one — I finally figured out that there were buttons present and made my adjustment.

If you have a need for speed, the V-6 Camry will not disappoint. In fact, be prepared to travel from 0 to 60 mph in just under six seconds. The sport suspension ups the handling quotient, but steering seems sluggish with little feedback. As for the “sport” in sport suspension, let’s just say that Toyota hardly strayed from the comfort mode there.

2015 Toyota Camry

Cabin by Lexus?

Inside, its seems as if Lexus’ designers were all over the cabin. The Camry XSE is dressed in black leather with red stitching across the seats, around the steering wheel, on door inlays, across the dashboard and on the center console. The seats are supportive and I incurred no fatigue, even following hours of driving. Between the 8-way power adjustment and lumbar support as well as the tilt and telescoping steering wheel column, you can find the ideal driving position.

The rest of the cabin is covered in soft touch materials, aluminum trim and wherever plastic is used it is of the hardened variety. That’s what you obtain in a Camry priced in the mid-30s. Yes, at that price point you may begin to look at the rear-wheel drive Lexus IS. If you do, go with the larger V-6 and you won’t be disappointed. Just saying.

If you are a rear seated passenger in the 2015 Toyota Camry, be encouraged: there is ample room for three adults. Then again, the 60-40 split-folding bench seat offers a tempting middle armrest that provides the requisite two cup holders. Here, you might want to convince one passenger to ride with elsewhere.

Standard across the Camry line is air conditioning, power accessories, Bluetooth connectivity, an illuminated glove box, an overhead console with sunglasses holder, two 12-volt auxiliary power outlets, four cup holders and four in-door drink holders. The XSE V-6 edition upgrades the instrument panel, adds in the sporty front seats, and also provides an automatic dimming rearview mirror, a Homeline transceiver, and dual-zone climate control.

The Toyota Camry offers a fairly soft ride, but interior noise is average — I kept hearing wind noise intruding — it seemed to come in at the front of the driver and front passenger windows.

Thankfully, Toyota’s Entune infotainment system is one of the preferable ones on the market. You can sync your phone, access the available App Suite and plug-in navigation commands without much drama. As tested, the Camry XSE has several upgrades that enhance the ownership experience, including remote start ($499), a technology package with lane departure warning and dynamic radar cruise control ($750), an upgraded Entune audio package with JBL audio ($805), blind spot monitor ($500) and illuminated door sills ($299). Special floor mats ($325) and a unique paint finish ($395) were also included.

2015 Toyota Camry

Toyota Camry Considerations

Although the latest iteration of the Toyota Camry offers a styling improvement, likely the sedan won’t conquest sport sedan drivers from different brands. Instead, it should keep loyal Camry owners in the fold, especially those who may have been looking at competing eye candy and were considering making the jump.

Besides improving the handling, there are two changes on my Camry wish list, both not likely to be adopted any time soon. First, let’s stick a turbocharged engine under the hood. Toyota Motors has been a laggard in that department, but now has a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbo powering the all-new Lexus NX. Second, an all-wheel drive variant would be ideal — the Subaru Legacy is all-wheel drive only; the Ford Fusion and Chrysler 200 offer that option.

To sum up, I believe that a turbo has a much greater chance of appearing down the road, but all-wheel drive isn’t likely. After all, when people are already pleased with the product you deliver, certain engineering changes and options are not likely to bring in the additional customers.

2015 Toyota Camry

2015 Toyota Camry

  • Sticker price from $22,970 (base model)
  • Sticker price from $31,370 (XSE model)
  • Price as tested: from $35,768 (XSE model)
  • Seats 5 occupants
  • 3.5-liter 24-valve V-6 gasoline engine
  • 268 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
  • 248 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,700 rpm
  • 3.70 inches bore by 3.27 inches stroke
  • Engine compression ratio: 10.8-to-1
  • Six-speed automatic transmission
  • Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
  • Length: 190.9 inches
  • Width: 71.7 inches
  • Height: 57.9 inches
  • Passenger volume: 102.7 cubic feet
  • Storage volume: 15.4 cubic feet
  • Towing capacity: NA
  • EPA: 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway (AWD)
  • Regular grade gasoline required
  • Fuel tank: 17 gallons
  • Curb weight: From 3,480 pounds
  • IIHS safety rating: Top Safety Pick+
  • Limited vehicle warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
  • Corrosion warranty: 5 years/Unlimited
  • Vehicle assembly: Georgetown, Kentucky

Additional Car Reviews

Where Was My Car Manufactured?

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Lincoln MKZ
The Lincoln MKZ is manufactured in Mexico.

From time to time I am asked about the manufacturing status of a particular make/model. No, not whether the vehicle is still being made rather where it is being assembled.

Some people make a big stink about where a car is built, then quickly realize that a model from a domestic manufacturer may be imported from overseas. They also soon learn that a Japanese or German manufacturer may build a so-called “foreign” model in the United States. What complicates matters further is when the model was also designed in the United States.

NAFTA and globalism have changed the way that consumers look at cars. While local build is sometimes a criteria for some customers, it doesn’t come with the emotional strings that it once had. Let’s take a look at a select group of models and where they are manufactured. The list may surprise you.

1. Lincoln MKZ — The smallest of Lincoln’s sedans is built at the Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant in Mexico. That plant also builds the Ford Fusion.

2. Hyundai Santa Fe — Hyundai either imports its Santa Fe from South Korea or it builds this crossover at its sole US plant in Montgomery, Alabama. Right? Wrong on both counts. Hyundai taps its Kia partner to build the Santa Fe at Kia’s assembly plant in West Point, Georgia. In Alabama, Hyundai builds the Elantra and Sonata sedans.

Hyundai Santa Fe.
Kia handles manufacturing of the Hyundai Santa Fe.

3. Toyota Avalon — The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan and the Avalon is its large sedan. The Avalon is based on a stretched version of the Camry’s platform. Both models also offer hybrid variants. The Avalon, like the Camry, is manufactured in the good ‘ole USA at an assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. Both hybrid editions are built there too.

4. BMW X4 — Most automotive enthusiasts know that BMW has a manufacturing plant in South Carolina. What they may not know is that the plant is the exclusive builder for all BMW crossovers, not just the all-new X4. That means if there is an “X” in a BMW model’s name, then the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant is where it was manufactured. These models are also exported to more than 140 countries.

5. Lexus IS — Let’s just get straight to the point: all Lexus models are imported. They are manufactured at various assembly plants in Japan (Tahara, Kyushu and Motomachi), or in the case of the RX, at least some capacity is handled by a plant located in Cambridge, Ontario. That will soon change, however, as Lexus ES production will move to the US in 2015. Toyota Motor announced in 2013 that it would invest $360 million to retool and expand its Georgetown, Kentucky, assembly plant to build the 2016 Lexus ES reports USA Today.

Lexus IS350 F Sport
No Lexus models are manufactured stateside. Yet.

6. Volkswagen Passat — Volkswagen was the first foreign automaker to establish a manufacturing presence in the United States when it completed construction of an assembly plant in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. That plant was originally owned by Chrysler and eventually built various small models such as the Rabbit and its variants. The plant closed in the late 1980s, but was followed just over two decades later by a new plant in Tennessee. The Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant is the exclusive producer of the North American-spec Volkswagen Passat notes Edmunds.com.

7. Dodge Challenger — There is nothing more American than the Dodge Challenger, right? Unless you are a Canadian. Yes, the Dodge Challenger as well as its platform mates — Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Lancia Thema — are built at the Brampton Assembly Plant and Brampton Satellite Stamping Plant in Ontario. Chryslers manufacturing presence in Canada goes back nearly a century.

8. Fiat 500L — There is nothing more that “speaks” Italian than Fiat. Okay, Ferrari and Maserati do likewise. Even so, it would be wrong to assume that every Fiat model is manufactured in Italy. Take the 500L as one example: every model you see on the roads here is built at the Kragujevac plant in Serbia. Serbia was once part of Yugoslavia and is the exclusive producer of this compact car. Oh, by the way, the Fiat 500L is not a stretched version of the 500. Fiat uses a separate platform to build the larger model.

2014 Fiat 500L Trekking
Italy cannot claim manufacturing responsibility for this Fiat.

9. Honda Accord — Honda has the distinction of being the first Japanese car manufacturer to establish a manufacturing plant in the United States. In 1981, Honda opened an assembly plant in Marysville, Ohio. That plant continues to make the Honda Accord today. Honda claims that 94 percent of Honda and Acura vehicles sold in United States are manufactured in North America. Honda now exports some of its production from the US to overseas markets.

10. Chevrolet Silverado — Baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet. The old advertising adage for Chevrolet is fondly recalled by many. However, most people are aware that some GM models, including certain Chevrolets, are not manufactured in the United States or in Canada. One such model is the Silverado, This full-size pickup truck and twin to the GMC Sierra is manufactured in Silao, Mexico, or in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A third plant, located in Flint, Michigan, builds a heavy-duty line according to MLive.

2014 GMC Sierra Denali
Your GMC Sierra may or may not be manufactured in the USA.

Manufactured in America or Not?

Does it matter anymore where a vehicle is manufactured? The concern for many in the past was the loss of American jobs. These days, an assembly plant located in the southern United States may not be unionized, but will typically employ 2,000 to 3,000 or more direct jobs and produce more than 10,000 indirect positions through suppliers and local businesses that have also benefited from the presence of a local manufacturing plant.

Beyond Canada and Mexico which along with United States compose the three NAFTA countries, imported vehicles provide jobs for dockworkers, dealer sales staff as well as for upfitters tasked with helping finish these models to comply with US regulations period.

See Also — Highlights of July 2014 Auto Sales

American Luxury Sedan: 2014 Lincoln MKZ

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The Ford Motor Company has turned its attention to reviving Lincoln, once a leading luxury brand. In the past decade Lincoln has been overtaken by three German makes, three Japanese makes as well as Cadillac, its domestic competitor.

2014 Lincoln MKZ

2014 Lincoln MKZ

Two new models — the MKZ and MKC crossover — are among a group of new or updated products Ford has promised for Lincoln, vehicles that should help begin to turn the tide for the flagging brand. A 2014 Lincoln MKZ AWD edition was a recent weekly driver, an all-new second generation midsize sedan model.

The Lincoln MKZ made its debut in 2007 replacing the Zephyr name rolled out the year before. The name change was made to align the sedan with the brand’s new three-letter naming convention with all vehicles, except the Navigator, starting with an MK followed by a unique third letter. Initially, Lincoln referred to these models as “Mark” Z or “Mark” X, but customers and analysts simply say “em-kay” followed by the letter. Yes, Lincoln’s nomenclature is one of the least understood, one that this writer would love to see scrapped.

Naming convention aside, the Lincoln MKZ is a five-passenger front- or all-wheel drive midsize sedan. Audi and Acura take the same front/all-wheel drive approach while the other German makes, Lexus, Infiniti and Cadillac offer standard rear-wheel drive with all-wheel drive optional. Allow me to cut to the chase here: if you prefer superior handling, all-wheel drive is the way to go.

As before, the Lincoln MKZ shares its platform and most of its mechanical underpinnings with the Ford Fusion. The current MKZ has unique sheet metal and enough exterior differences to present a distinctly different model. Indeed, when I presented the MKZ to several friends, not one knew about the Ford Fusion similarity. After that, I figured that it was a point not mentioning — the MKZ’s designers did an admirable job of working with what they had to dress the Lincoln for success.

2014 Lincoln MKZ

Standard Turbo, Available V-6

Lincoln offers MKZ shoppers two engine options. Only the base engine, a 2.0-liter direct injection, turbocharged four cylinder can be found in the Ford Fusion. The base engine makes 240 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque. The available 3.7-liter normally aspirated V-6 is rated at 300 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 277 foot-pounds of torque. Both engines are paired with a six-speed select shift automatic transmission and paddle shifters.

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ is priced from $34,190 and offers standard front-wheel drive and the base engine. For $36,080 you get all-wheel drive. The base V-6 retails from $35,420 or $37,310 when outfitted with all-wheel drive. Also available is a Lincoln MKZ hybrid, priced from $35,190.

Like some of its competitors — Infiniti comes to mind — the Lincoln MKZ is sold in one trim level. The base models are outfitted with a Premiere equipment group that also includes an 11-speaker sound system, continuously controlled damping suspension, electric-power assisted steering and active noise control.

Packages and Upgrades

The other three packages are: Select ($1,145), Reserve ($3,195) and Preferred ($5,375). The first package brings in a rear view camera, rear parking sensors and an HD radio. The second package features a voice recognition navigation system, a blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert and a power deck lid. The third package brings in 19-inch polished aluminum wheels, a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats and an excellent THX II premium audio system.

Beyond the packages there are additional upgrades you can select, including a single panel moonroof ($1,200) or a retractable panoramic roof ($2,995), the latter unique to this model and like nothing else you have seen before (more about that later). A technology package ($2,250) brings in multiple safety features including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist as well as active park assist.

As for the test model at hand, the top packages plus smoke quartz tricoat paint ($495), multi contour seats ($595) and inflatable rear seat belts ($195) were added. Some $13,135 in options pushed the final price of this weekly driver to $52,110.

2014 Lincoln MKZ AWD

View manufacturer details and pricing

Exterior Embellishments

Of the sedan’s design language, Lincoln calls it “subtly distinctive” perhaps to send a message that the look is not radical, but has certain stand out features of note.

One of those features is the stylish split wing grill that defines the front fascia. It represents Lincoln’s current design language, offering a more elegant and contemporary persona than the previous layout. Other enhancements include: A steeply-raked windshield, profile characteristics and a taillight arrangement that spans the entire length of the rear deck.

Interior Amenities

Slip in behind the wheel and the Lincoln’s high-tech design is immediately evident. You may wonder where the transmission shifter is as it isn’t attached to the steering column nor is it found on the center console. Instead, Lincoln provides a five push button vertical control panel to the left of the center stack’s screen, an arrangement that frees up room where it is most needed.

Lincoln wraps the seats and steering wheel in leather with genuine wood trim found across the instrument panel, around the cluster and on the interior of the doors. The instrument cluster features a brightly lit and easy to change message center. Other interior amenities include: dual zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, power heated side mirrors and 10-way power operated front seats.

Perhaps the main challenge for a Lincoln MKZ owner is getting used to the center stack. Not only does it feature transmission and navigation controls, but it also dispenses with the traditional switches and knobs for climate control and the audio system. Instead, a pair of horizontal bars control temperature and sound, simply by running a finger to the right to increase air circulation or sound, or back to left to decrease the same. It is a simple to use arrangement, but it does take getting used to.

The Lincoln MKZ offers comfortable, supportive and cushy seats up front and a very good bench seat to the rear. Three can ride in the back fairly comfortably, but room for two is the ideal. Fold down the center compartment for your drinks and arm rest or make use of the pass through to bring with you your gear, such as your skis.

The single most outstanding feature of the 2014 Lincoln MKZ is a $2,995 option worth considering. And that option is a panoramic, retractable roof that transforms rather ordinary premium sedan into an extraordinary and handsome motorcar. The unique roof is fetching in its closed position alone. When open, it offers convertible-like access to the great outdoors as its 15.2-square-foot panel slides partially own the rear window.

There is nothing else like it on the market, what gives this sedan an open air feel that no moonroof offers without the hassle of a drop down roof. I had it open only twice, but it was an enjoyable experience that makes all the difference for this car.

The Drive

I would have been disappointed had Lincoln offered a weak engine with this sedan. Happily, the base two-liter four is robust and the V-6 rivals the performance of motors found in competing models. With 300 horses at work, it was always more than enough power to deliver. The trade-off here is gas mileage, coming in at a combined 21 mpg. If excellent fuel mileage is important to you, then the MKZ hybrid delivering 37 mpg with its combined 188 horsepower might be worth a look. That model carries a $1,000 price premium over the base edition.

Electric-powered steering, continuously controlled damping (CCD) and all-wheel drive combine to deliver good steering and handling. The CCD system automatically adjusts the shocks as road conditions warrant to ensure a smooth ride and improved handling. Lincoln provides three driving modes: normal, comfort and sport to provide the desired measure of control you want.

Model Considerations

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ is a step in the right direction, offering many of the luxury touches that buyers want and expect in this class. While some of its competitors such as the BMW 3-Series and Cadillac ATS provide better handling and a more robust driving experience, this Lincoln matches up quite well in the technology and interior comfort departments. The on-dash transmission shifter, the THX II audio system and the state-of-the-art reclining roof are among the special features that help this luxury sedan get noticed.

2014 Lincoln MKZ AWD

  • Sticker price from $38,080
  • Price as tested: $52,110
  • Seats 5 occupants
  • 3.7-liter 24-valve V-6 engine
  • 300 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
  • 277 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,000 rpm
  • 3.70 inches bore by 3.40 inches stroke
  • Engine compression ratio: 10:5-to-1
  • Six-speed automatic transmission
  • Wheelbase: 112.2 inches
  • Length: 194.1 inches
  • Width: 73.4 inches
  • Height: 58.2 inches
  • Passenger volume: 96.4 cubic feet
  • Storage volume: 15.4 cubic feet
  • Towing capacity: 1,000 pounds
  • EPA: 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway
  • Regular grade gasoline
  • Fuel tank: 17.5 gallons
  • Curb weight: From 3,849 pounds
  • IIHS safety rating: Top Safety Pick+
  • Limited vehicle warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty: 6 years/70,000 miles
  • Corrosion warranty: 5 years/Unlimited miles
  • Vehicle assembly: Hermosillo, Mexico

More Car Reviews

Driven: 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T (FWD)

Performance Luxury Sedan: 2014 Lexus IS

Bargain Hatch: 2014 Nissan Versa Note SV

Peak This: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit

2014 Lincoln MKZ AWD photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

YTD: The Five Best-Selling Midsize Models

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The Toyota Camry is the best selling midsize sedan and, indeed, remains the top selling car year after year. Through the first six months of the year, Toyota has strengthened its position with the Camry, even as it readies a significant mid cycle refresh for the 2015 model year.

If you are considering buying a midsize model, the Camry and three other models are battling it out for top honors, with the distant fifth place spot now belonging to the Hyundai Sonata as Chevrolet Malibu sales continue to flag.

2012 Toyota Camry

The current generation Toyota Camry midsize sedan.

1. Toyota Camry

Six months in and Toyota Camry sales are up by nearly 8 percent to 222,540 units sold. And that is for a model that will soon benefit from a significant mid product cycle update that will change nearly everything about the Camry except for its roof and powertrain.

The next generation Camry will go further than any Camry has gone in a bid to lose its appliance look. The most recent model made a good effort, but some have felt it did not go far enough. The 2015 edition seeks to keep up with its competitors, by offering a model that is stylish, sporty and a great value.

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid midsize sedan.

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid.

2. Honda Accord

Accord sales are down 0.2 percent through June, but when you figure in EV sales, this model is performing quite well. Through June, 195,000 Honda Accord models have been sold, keeping the Accord in second place, but with little hope of catching the Camry this year.

The Honda Accord Hybrid does not get quite the attention that it may deserve. It is rated at 50 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, numbers that compete with the smaller Toyota Prius. A plug-in version is also available, but through June Honda has sold only 180 PHEV models for the year.

The 2014 Nissan Altima midsize sedan.

The 2014 Nissan Altima midsize sedan.

3. Nissan Altima

Nissan had been selling twice as many Altimas as any other model, but this year sales of the Sentra and Rogue have risen much faster than for the midsize sedan. Through June, Nissan has sold 176,453 units, up 5.2 percent for the year. That’s the same pace as the second-place Accord (with hybrids), thus Nissan may be content with holding on to third place while holding off the Ford Fusion.

The Nissan Altima is in its second year for the current generation. It sits on a 109.3-inch wheelbase, matching the current Nissan Maxima, its large car. Buyers continue to embrace a model equipped with a continuously variable transmission, what Auto Trends has previously reviewed and found that works satisfactorily and helps provide excellent overall fuel economy.

2014 Ford Fusion Energi

2014 Ford Fusion Energi: plug-in hybrid sedan.

4. Ford Fusion

Don’t look now — the Ford Fusion is gaining ground, outselling the Nissan Altima in June. Its sales are up 2.7 percent for the year on 165,498 units sold. Although the Altima’s overall pace is quicker for the year, Ford is determined to push sales in a bid to take advantage of expanded, but underutilized capacity.

Ford offers three four cylinder engine choices for the Fusion and like Honda also sells hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. The automaker took some heat last month when it recalculated and lowered the mileage estimates for six models, including both hybrid Fusions. That move will cost the company millions of dollars in payouts to lease holders and owners.

2014 Hyundai Sonata.

2014 Hyundai Sonata.

5. Hyundai Sonata

The fifth place position has the Hyundai Sonata moving ahead of the Chevrolet Malibu, reversing the place that these two models held at the end of 2013. Through June, Chevrolet Malibu sales were down by 6.8 percent on 103,505 units sold and Hyundai Sonata sales were up by 3.2 percent to 106,347 units to overtake Malibu.

Look for Hyundai to solidify its position as the year moves forward. An all-new 2015 Hyundai Sonata is already on sale, with more than 25,000 units of old and new models sold in June. The new model is slightly larger than the previous generation Sonata and is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine; a 2.0-liter turbocharged edition also returns. New for 2015 is a late available 1.6-liter turbocharged four paired with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

Midsize Models: Looking Ahead

With Toyota defending first place with gusto, the likelihood that we’ll see a competitor better positioned to provide a strong challenge to the Camry may still be several years off. That sentiment was shared by Mike Rabkin, President, From Car to Finish who noted, “As to the future, I am not sure if anything will unseat the Camry per se unless the mid-cycle refreshes for the Accord/Altima/Fusion are something special. Since all three were totally redesigned for the 2013 model year, the 2016 model year is probably the soonest they will see major changes.”

And those changes will have to convince thousands of current Camry owners to look elsewhere, a highly unlikely proposition given their loyalty for a once bland, but now sporty midsize sedan.


Midsize Toyota Camry

See Also — The Five Top Selling Midsize Sedans of 2013

All-New 2015 Chrysler 200 Debuts

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2015 Chrysler 200.
The Chrysler 200 is all-new for 2015.

Introduced in 2011, the Chrysler 200 took up where the Chrysler Sebring left off. That is, it occupied a position toward the bottom end of the midsize sedan pack. Not so much in sales, rather in looks, engineering, and the execution of the final product.

The 200, like the previous Sebring, is a model that screamed dated especially when lined up against its chief competitors including the Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion. Other models competing in this segment include the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Volkswagen Passat, Subaru Legacy, Mazda 6 and the related Dodge Avenger.

Some models are better than others, but except for the Avenger all are more modern and better refined. The Dodge Avenger, by the way, will continue with its same design for 2015.

2015 Chrysler 200

The 2015 Chrysler 200 is now available, priced from $21,700 (LX) and available in four trim levels. Beyond the base LX you can choose from Limited ($23,255), 200S ($24,495) or 200C ($25,995) models.

The sedan is based on the same platform underpinning the compact Dodge Dart, itself based on Fiats compact wide architecture that spawned the Alfa Rome Giulietta and the Jeep Cherokee. The 200 is not the Darts twin as this vehicle comes in longer, wider, and heavier than the Dodge. For 2015, Chrysler also drops the convertible model.

Chrysler hasn’t announced its sales goals with the new 200, the beneficiary of a $1 billion investment in its Sterling Heights, Mich., manufacturing facility which also led to hiring 800 more workers. Sales up to now have been heavily reliant upon fleet customers including daily rental companies. Those sales come with lower profit margins and also have a debilitating effect on resale value. Should Chrysler show much discipline here, it could make more money even with the same amount of sales.

Newly Available Features

There are two features that may distinguish the 2015 Chrysler 200 from the pack: a standard 9-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive. The 9-speed is unique to Chrysler and is found in a segment where 6-speed automatic transmissions are the standard with the occasional continuously variable transmission included.

Few competitors offer all-wheel drive standard in the Subaru Legacy, optional in the Ford Fusion another area where Chrysler hopes to find an advantage. It is a risky and expensive move to offer all-wheel drive, what represents a $4,200 upgrade on the 200S and 200C, the only editions offering it. That puts the 2015 Chrysler 200 closer in price to the Ford Fusion and above the Subaru. (See our review, Subaru Legacy Delivers Quality and Reliability).

Under the hood, Chrysler offers a 2.4-liter four cylinder engine making 184 horsepower and a 3.6-liter V-6 making a segment-leading 295 horsepower. In the 2014 Chrysler 200 convertible that larger engine was also offered and torque steer was quite apparent when we tested it (See our review, Chrysler 200 Convertible Provides Much Drama).

For 2015, Chrysler says that the new model delivers sporty European handling dynamics and steering precision. In its press release announcing the 200, Chrysler mentioned modulating steering as one attribute, perhaps hinting at torque vector control, what sends braking power to the inside turning wheels to eliminate understeer in front-wheel drive models.

Improvements and Options

Other improvements that Chrysler hopes will attract shoppers include available LED daytime running lamps, LED fog lamps, and LED tail lamps. An improved fascia, available 19-inch wheels, upgraded interior colors and trim, an available 7-inch LED instrument panel, its latest navigation packages, and a host of safety features including available adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert and park assist, can be had.

Auto Trends will have a full review of the 2015 Chrysler 200 following our press fleet rotation later this year.

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2015 Chrysler 200 photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Ltd.