With the new calendar year, we have redesigned the Consumer Reports Cars Blog to give it more functionality for linking and sorting by categories. If you access the blog via RSS feeds, please be sure to update your reader to the new feed: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/index.rdf

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Last year was just the beginning for the Cars blog. For 2007, we'll have more expert insights from the automotive team on our extensive test program and also on the consumer-related issues that matter most to you.

We will formally kickoff the new blog Sunday, January 7th, with continuous, live coverage from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Posts will be delivered right from the show floor at the Cobo Conference/exhibition Center, giving you immediate insights into the key news and unveilings from America's most significant auto show. In addition, the auto editors and engineers will also provide traditional coverage of more than 30 vehicles at: http://onlocation.consumerreports.org/AutoshowDetroit/

Words and photos will be updated continuously. Be sure to check back to catch the latest information on vehicles, even if you read their preview text. Starting Wednesday, CRTV will be posting videos from the show hosted by the automotive team.

We appreciate you riding along with the blog in 2006, and look forward to accelerating into 2007. --Jeff Bartlett

More staff insights on the latest test vehicles, from the January 2007 issue of Consumer Reports:

Gene Petersen: Sporty SUV or off-road SUV? Some people may truly need an off-road vehicle or just want one, but the access, stiff ride, and poor visibility in some are not worth the price of admission for someone like me who drives predominately on public roads. A sporty SUV sounds appealing and seems to be a growing sub-segment. The Nissan Murano was one of the pioneers in this segment and still viewed as one of the best. It looks slick, drives like a car with nimble handling and comfortable ride, and the spunky V6 and continuously variable transmission operate smoothly. The Acura RDX and Mazda CX-7 try to compete in size and personality, but come up short with turbocharged four-cylinder engines that are not terribly fuel efficient or pack the low-end punch found in the Murano. The BMW X3 looks good on paper, but lacks rock-solid reliability and comes with a big-SUV-like price tag.

Mike Quincy:
Sporty: I'm trying not to jump on the Nissan Murano bandwagon, since a number of my colleagues have tagged this SUV as the one they'd buy. Can't help it, though...the Murano has it all over these other SUVs. For me, nothing combines the Murano's acceleration, good steering, and snow-weather traction. The premium-only fuel, though, is a bummer, and the ride and controls could be a tad better, but these are negatives that are still easy to swallow.

Off road: Truthfully, I can't see a time in my life when I'd need a tough-off-road focused SUV; I'd rather hike the trails some of the vehicles traverse. My trip in Texas (see "The Texas truck two-step"; "More Texas trucks - Digging in the dirt"; "Toyota Land Cruiser - Aging gracefully") gave me some additional seat time in the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ Cruiser for some challenging off-road driving. Both are well-designed for this purpose. For me, however, the Wrangler's classic good looks and the top-down option put it slightly ahead of the FJ. Plus, the deal-killer for the FJ is that it requires premium fuel. But I'd choose the Nissan Xterra over both, since it's nicer to drive on-road and has competitive off-road abilities. It also has a roomier back seat for my young kids and a cargo area big enough to haul stuff for a week's beach vacation.

Continuing with staff insights on the latest test vehicles, from the January 2007 issue of Consumer Reports:

Tom Mutchler:
Sporty: It’s hard for me to get my head around some of the prices in this test group considering what you get for that pile of dough. The BMW X3 is fun, but $43K with no navigation?! And $37K for the RDX, albeit it with lots of technowizardry, strikes me as a whole lot of money for a small four-cylinder SUV. Although not in this test group, the Toyota RAV4 V6 is the logical alternative pick, with an amazing combination of a 6.7 second 0-60 time and 22 mpg overall in our tests. However, I know from a long trip in it that I am not compatible with the seats, although others have found them acceptable.

In the end, this choice is an easy one: I’d go with a Nissan Murano. It has a wonderfully-smooth and powerful V6 with none of the hesitation of the Mazda CX-7 or forced-induction heavy breathing of the Acura RDX. The Murano is fun to drive, has more room than the RDX, and the front seats fit me great. I’m not too keen of the George Jetson-inspired gauge cluster, but I’d manage. Sometimes an older design is still a goodie...

Off road: I hate sounding like a Nissan advertisement here, but while the Nissan Xterra lacks the iconic styling of the FJ Cruiser or Wrangler, it’s my pick for an off-road-ready SUV. It has another wonderful V6, drives decently on-road, and is quite good off-road. Best of all, it is easy enough to live with everyday, unlike the Toyota FJ Cruiser or Jeep Wrangler.


Gabe Shenhar:
Sporty: Among the sporty SUVs, I’d take the BMW X3, hands down. I had high hopes for the Acura RDX and Mazda CX-7 as being lower-priced alternatives to the BMW, but neither satisfies like the X3. The BMW has a punchy yet refined powertrain, satisfying agility, and good steering feedback. Some of my colleagues complain about the X3’s ride, which is, indeed, choppy, but it doesn’t crash into pot holes like the RDX, and it provides good impact isolation. Comfortable seats, a huge sun roof, and being just the right size -- not too big, not too small -- are added pluses. And, it fits in my garage.  

Off road: Among the off-road-ready vehicles, I’m almost inclined to pick the Jeep Wrangler for its honesty and being true to the original. It’s also the first Wrangler I’m not trying to swap with someone else because this Jeep is rather tolerable in everyday life. But the Wrangler’s noise, anemic engine, and stiff ride would get to me eventually, I know.