Autoshow Impressions

[vonVeezelsnider]

Took some time to attend the Calgary Auto Show tonight and I got a chance to see a couple vehicles that haven't really been seen up until this point. You might be interested to hear about the Orlando for example... Here's a summary of my thoughts.

Golf Estate

Absolutely love this car, would be perfect for me. Nice compact wagon, especially a Diesel with real solid MPG. It's disappointing more automakers don't make wagons these days. Are you listening GM? Regal Wagon, Coupe, and Convertible would be nice.

9-5

This is a REALLY elegant car, and the presence is even better in person. LOVE the digital cockpit inspired digital speedometer

300

Feels big, great quality interior, this was a low-spec model with the all microfiber seats, not sure how I feel about that. Also like the use of dark woodgrain accents which are much less played than the standard fare Walnut. Big chrome strip looks less awkward in person

Grand Cherokee

Absolutely gorgeous... Great use of wood and love the steering wheel. Also in a class of its own now that the Explorer has been wussified.

200 Convertible

Really nice, no garish elements of the sedan or the previous Sebring. Really comfortable front seats and the back seats are reasonable. Good storage with the top up and the roofline is nice. Interior quality is top notch, too bad its saddled with the old shift knob and infotainment system. Could see myself purchasing one (hardtop) if I lived in a less $h!ty climate.

RDX

No... just no.

Mazda2

Lots of exposed painted steel in interior takes away from quality look of the car

Regal

Great interior build quality, seats still not feeling quite right... like the seat is not giving enough thigh support

Equinox

Really comfortable front seats but it feels a little more tight in there than the previous gen when it comes to hip and shoulder room. Overall still very roomy and could potentially be a wildcard for my car search in a couple years

Orlando

BIG disappointment. Interior build quality is equal to the Cruze but the seats must be Euro... I'm not a big guy (5'11 average BMI) but the seats pinch my hips and it was uncomfortable for a few minutes let alone a road trip. Cheap flimsy front armrests but reasonable rear seat legroom (both rows really). Rear visibility and cargo with third row up is unexceptional, otherwise good. Just get an Equinox. You people in America are just as well for not getting it.

Cruze LTZ

Still bullish on this car, they had an LTZ RS in one of my favorite colors, the Crystal Red color. Quality as good as other Cruzes I've been exposed to, switchgear has really good tactile feel and quite frankly I like the upholstered dash. No flimsy buttons or stalks. This car is the contender to beat for my purchase in couple years. They had another LTZ with all the airbags deployed to illustrate how fracking many there are

Malibu

Getting long in the tooth compared to the other Chevrolet cars parked amongst it (but still solid)... Replacement will be exciting to see

Volt

Solid quality interior and quite frankly, more plausible engineering than Leaf. If a price drop is associated with the Volt V2.0 I will be interested in possibly buying one.

Sonic

REALLY awkward styling profile, especially at C-Pillar. Rear door handles look cheap and quite frankly I found the Fiesta to be more aesthetically pleasing, and have better interior quality. Also it doesn't have that GAY gauge pod thing. Big negative points for that. I'm sure it's a solid offering but I think that the Fiesta from a superficial standpoint is a more mature, and euro looking car compared to the Sonic which def. shows Korean roots.

Impala, DTS and Lucerne

As a large-car guy I still like these three a lot (hell I drive one of them daily), but GM must be ashamed of them because there wasn't one Impala, Lucerne, or DTS for display.

Edited March 11, 2011 by vonVeezelsnider

[ocnblu]

I plan on testing out a Fiesta SE manual hatch tomorrow.

[Drew Dowdell]

Did you get any pics of the Orlando? I'd like to see some real world ones.

[vonVeezelsnider]

Did you get any pics of the Orlando? I'd like to see some real world ones.

Alas I didn't bring my Camera... But these are live pictures from MSN Canada at the Montreal Show.

[Drew Dowdell]

I'm surprised, that looks like a slightly taller Cruze interior. I didn't have any issues with comfort.

[vonVeezelsnider]

I'm surprised, that looks like a slightly taller Cruze interior. I didn't have any issues with comfort.

I've had no issues with comfort in the Cruze, I've even driven a 2LT with the 1.4T back when they first came out. Very supportive and would have no problem driving for long distances considering it's a small car. Hope the Verano is even better.

The seats in the Orlando are definitely different. I thought they were the same at first so I went and tried the Orlando and Cruze back to back- the seat cushions are wider and flatter in the Cruze for sure. My complaint is with the hip/thigh bolstering on the seat cushion. It feels uncomfortably tight on my hips and thighs... I'm sure I could get used to it but if it's noticeably uncomfortable for a few minutes how is it going to feel if you drive it for 6-8 hours...

[Justin Bimmer]

I think the Orlando could sell some units in the US.

[Drew Dowdell]

I think if they built it to be able to sell in North America anyway... what's the harm in plopping a few on Chevy lots in the U.S. and see if they move?

[Justin Bimmer]

3 rows of seating, fold down seats, not as big as a mini van but has the looks of a CUV. CUVs are HOT right now.

[ocnblu]

Wow, look at that load area with the third seat up. Totally non-existent. No good for a vacation vehicle, or a soccer mom (mom with kids who play sports and need to ferry equipment to games) if you have a need for all those seats, unless you get a roof rack and one of those fiberglass boxes for up there. Same with a Mazda 5 or any number of compact, 3-row vehicles. The concept escapes meh.

Edited March 11, 2011 by ocnblu