Another week, another polar vortex descends from the north to pester America. What is this, winter? How come it’s so damn cold outside? But now you can beat the below-zero chills; let us invite you inside to warm the cockles of your heart with the temperate goodness of a helping hand.
Gavin is a 32-year-old bachelor that’s looking for some new transportation. We were going to suggest a sedan chair or perhaps even a rickshaw but he was pretty insistent on getting a car. Perhaps unreasonable fees associated with human-powered vehicles deterred him from one of these eco-friendly options. Additionally the seat-hauler’s union can be a bear to deal with.
G-man wants a stylish vehicle with good fuel economy, a navigation system and a bitchin’ stereo. Additionally, he’d like something with enough room for his keyboard and amplifier, apparently he’s a musician, or a hipster, or both; we just don’t know. To cover all of our bases we’ll recommend some products with cubbies to stash a tin of moustache wax as well as room for a fixie bike and some cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Apparently he’d also like a sunroof.
So far he’s considered an entry-level Chevrolet Impala with the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine as well as a Nissan Juke; two totally different products. Curiously the budget for this week’s Ask AutoGuide is a seemingly incongruous $45,000, which gives him a plethora of interesting vehicles to choose from, though Subarus, Fiats and Suzukis are strictly off limits. Still, we’ve hand-picked an eclectic trio that will meet his needs and hopefully pique his interest.
Suggestion #1
First up, a taste of Bavaria, and I don’t mean beer and bratwurst. BMW waves the blue-and-white banner for this southwest German state. Believe it or not there’s a suitably useful and efficient Ultimate Driving Machine that could serve Gavin’s needs like a top-notch waiter at a fancy restaurant (to really labor the food reference above).
The 328i xDrive Sports Wagon is a grocery getter with the refinement, driving dynamics and prestige to give us the vapors. It’s an alluring package that’s as fun to toss around as it is practical; think of it as a youthful Pamela Anderson that’s actually good at something other than attracting second glances.
Despite the “28” suffix, this model is powered by a smooth and snarly 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It pumps out an even 240 horsepower and is paired with a technically advanced eight-speed automatic transmission. Torque is delivered to all four corners through BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system for ample traction in every weather condition.
On the efficiency front this car delivers the goods. Around town it ought to return 22 mpg; on the highway that figure increases to 33. Combined it averages 26 mpg.
SEE ALSO: Real World Fuel Economy Database
Base price for all of this Bavarian goodness is right about $42,500, including $925 for delivery. With a non-metallic paint job, which limits you to either black or white – BMW loves to charge extra for even basic colors ,– seats covered in the company’s “Sensatec” leatherette material as well as a couple invaluable options this car checks out at $45,500. That’s past our 45-grand limit, but if Gavin switches from Lucky Strikes and rolls his own cigarettes for a while, making up the difference shouldn’t be too hard. We’d explain the smoking reference, but you probably wouldn’t understand.
The abovementioned extras include a navigation system, which adds $2,150 to the bottom line as well as a monster 16-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system. The upgraded audio technology is a mere bagatelle at just $875.
Of course as a luxury car the 328i xDrive Sports Wagon comes with all kinds of standard niceties. Drivers are treated to eight-way power front seats, dynamic cruise control, automatic climate control and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, to name but a handful of its highly desirable features.
This BMW delivers the goods… literally. It’s got a wide-open cargo space that’s perfect for schlepping all kinds of large or misshapen cargo (it’s a wagon after all). If it were only a better value we might not even suggest alternatives.
Suggestion #2
The BMW is an efficient automobile, but Toyota’s Avalon Hybrid trounces it at the gas station and undercuts it on the showroom floor. How do you like that?
The top-of-the-line Limited trim kicks off at $42,210, including $810 in destination fees. But that still leaves a few dollars to play with so we figured we’d give Gavin a little more. In an effort to spend every available dime we opted for the $1,950 Technology Package, which adds things like adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, wireless charging for mobile devices and Toyota’s Pre-Collision System. Altogether this Avalon Hybrid checks out at $44,160.
Beyond that fancy options package the car comes loaded with lots of features and amenities. It’s got a navigation system, leather-trimmed seats, a power rear sunshade, an illuminated glove compartment, 10 standard air bags and a premium JBL sound system. Crossing another item off Gavin’s wish list, it’s also got a power-operated moonroof complete with a sliding sunshade, a rather oxymoronic combination.
Avalon Hybrids are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine as well as a permanent magnet AC electric motor that’s juiced by a 6.5 ampere hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. All told the system delivers 200 net horsepower, which sounds a little weak on paper, but in the real world it’s plenty of oomph to move even the husky Avalon.
In this instance the powertrain’s fuel consumption figures are of much greater importance than its output. This hybrid sedan can stretch a gallon of dinosaur juice a remarkable 40 miles in urban driving; its highway score clocks in at 39 miles per gallon. If you can believe it the combined fuel economy score is 40 mpg.
Atypically for a Toyota, the 2014 Avalon is attractive both inside and out. The company finally decided to give styling a try with this generation of the car and their extra effort really shows. No longer a bulky four-door tailor made for the jazzercise set, this thing appeals to a whole new group of customers: drivers that aren’t in their 70s. Likewise, the Avalon is better than ever to drive, which is another significant accomplishment for Toyota and a major win for its customers.
When it comes to comfort and efficiency this large sedan is worth a serious look, plus it offers a decent amount of utility and it’s probably reliable enough to survive an extinction-inducing asteroid impact. The dinosaurs may have perished in a similar catastrophe but this Toyota is built to last.
Suggestion #3
Rounding out this week’s vehicle lineup is the controversial Chevrolet Volt. The what? You heard me right, a range-extended electric.
This Bow Tie EV provides dog-walloping fuel economy and a bargain price tag… relative to the other two cars in this feature, of course. Running strictly on electricity the Volt can travel an EPA-estimated 38 miles. That means many folks can commute to work and home again without burning a drop of petroleum. Of course when the battery pack is depleted there’s an onboard internal-combustion engine that keeps you keepin’ on. With a full tank of gasoline the car has an estimated total range of 380 miles to deliver the best of both worlds.
The car’s battery can be fully recharged in anywhere between 10 and 16 hours using a standard 120-volt household outlet. That figure comes from Chevrolet and depends on an ambiguous “charging level and outside temperature.” An optional 240-volt charger cuts that time down to a much more reasonable four hours.
On the efficiency front it stickers at 98 MPGe, that’s shorthand for miles per gallon equivalent. Running on gas it delivers 35 mpg city and 40 highway.
SEE ALSO: What is MPGe?
As for pricing, the Chevy Volt starts at about $35,000 but that’s not good enough for Gavin. Given the opportunity to spend somebody else’s money we’re going to throw ourselves at the task. For his benefit we decided to opt for the Premium Trim Package ($1,395), which gets him heated, leather covered seats. The “Enhanced Safety Package I” ($575) throws an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, parking sensors and a backup camera into the mix. The Enhanced Safety Package II ($595) nets Gavin forward collision alert and lane departure warning. Finally, he needs the MyLink navigation system, which costs $895.
After a bunch of irritating math, this volt checks out at $38,950, including $810 for freight, excluding any rebates or tax breaks that may be available. That’s not a bad price for a cutting-edge, range-extended electric vehicle that’s pretty stylish and very thrifty. If it’s cool in California, it’s cool everywhere… right? Don’t be afraid to admit you’re a nature-loving fish-taco enthusiast with a weakness for wearable products from Google.
Surprisingly the Volt also provides a decent amount of cargo space. Fold the rear seats down and the hold should be able to swallow Gav-man’s keyboard and amp with ease. About the only knock against it is the lack of a sunroof.
As always, good luck in your quest for a new family vehicle, Gavin, and thanks again for taking the time to Ask AutoGuide.
If you need a little assistance shopping for your next vehicle feel free to do the same. Send a short message to ask@AutoGuide.com. Let us know the basics of what you’re looking for. How many seats do you need? What size of vehicle do you want? How much are you willing to spend? With some of those fundamentals out of the way we’ll get busy to come up with two or three must-see vehicles that you’ll have to put on your test-drive list.