Product Reviews Net » SUV http://www.product-reviews.net Information on the latest gadgets, technology, news and product reviews Sun, 27 May 2012 11:45:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Conception to reality for the Mahindra XUV500 http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/24/conception-to-reality-for-the-mahindra-xuv500/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=conception-to-reality-for-the-mahindra-xuv500 http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/24/conception-to-reality-for-the-mahindra-xuv500/#comments Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:18:24 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=141173 If you need any more proof that India is now putting itself on the map in the automotive world, then maybe you should take a look at the Mahindra XUV500. This SUV has gone from conception to reality in just four years, and really helps to change our minds of how we see vehicles in India. We have seen all the programs that show the country in a different light when it comes to cars, so it is hoped that minds will now be changed?

We have been waiting for a while now on the official release date for the Mahindra XUV500, so WheelsUnplugged were happy to report that the unveil will be on September 28, 2011, which is this Wednesday. Then the day after there will be an announcement on price, sales strategy and what technology we can expect behind these new vehicles. Hype surrounding car launches in India have certainly increased over the past few years, and we can only see things improving even more due to this being an emerging market.

Those lucky enough to attend the unveil at Pune will be able to visit the manufacturing facility where the SUVs will be built, and even get a chance to test drive one. However, a lucky member of the public managed to guess the correct date for the release of the XUV500; so he will also be able to visit the plant where they are built.

This is the first SUV to be built in India, so this is a really big deal for not only Mahindra, but also the Indian car market as a whole. It is no secret that Indian cars from the past did not have to go through tough tests like they do in the US or Europe, but you will be happy to know that the XUV500 has gone through them all.

A huge amount of technology has gone into the design to make certain that the new SUV will offer quality, safety and emission standards. The future is looking bright for the Indian car market.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/24/conception-to-reality-for-the-mahindra-xuv500/feed/ 1 Anger over Nissan SUV and pickup warranty, still no recall http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/26/anger-over-nissan-suv-and-pickup-warranty-still-no-recall/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=anger-over-nissan-suv-and-pickup-warranty-still-no-recall http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/26/anger-over-nissan-suv-and-pickup-warranty-still-no-recall/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:55:37 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=139678 Owners of Nissan’s SUV and pickup trucks are left a little confused as to why the automaker has only extended warranty for radiators because they have been leading to automatic transmission failures. They had assumed that a recall was more appropriate, seeing as though the coolant can leak and effect the transmission, which is said to have cost owners thousands of dollars in repair bills.

The reason for this is because the warranty only covers vehicles with 80,000 miles or less, which seems a little strange, as these vehicles are workhorses and will have a great number of miles on the clock. When owners purchased these SUV’s and pickups they had no idea that this radiator would affect more than that, NY Times says that owners feel as though Nissan should have warned them of this problem.

The most responsible thing that Nissan can do now is to issue a recall of their Frontiers, Pathfinders and Xterras from 2005-2010, as there are many cases where owners do not know about this extended warranty, and also the fact that some of these vehicles have far more than 80,000 miles. It is all very well Nissan saying that they will cover the repair bills that was a cause of the coolant leaks, but what is the point if they do not know about it, and that is comes with restrictions?

You may wonder how the coolant can get into the transmission; well the tank will crack and force the coolant into the transmission cooler lines. Now something like this should not be covered under warranty, there should be a recall, as there is certainly a fault somewhere – surly it will be cheaper in the long run to repair a radiator rather than a transmission?

Should Nissan issue a recall or do you still think that the extended warranty is enough?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/26/anger-over-nissan-suv-and-pickup-warranty-still-no-recall/feed/ 5 Safest cars in 2011: Updated results no suprise http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/04/safest-cars-in-2011-updated-results-no-suprise/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=safest-cars-in-2011-updated-results-no-suprise http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/04/safest-cars-in-2011-updated-results-no-suprise/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 09:08:47 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=135981 Throughout the year the safest cars in 2011 are always in a constant state of flux, the reason for this is because newer and safer models are being released all the time. We already gave you our first look into this in January, which we then followed up again in March with the then current top 5, now we have an updated list and the results is no surprise.

As cars get more technically advanced they in turn become safer and as a result there are less deaths on the roads – well in most places. Only the more expensive luxury cars used to have such features, but as they get even newer tech those old yet still impressive safety features get passed down to the cheaper models.

This used to happen at such a slow rate, but because technology moves at such a faster rate than ever before, the turnaround is now much quicker. Now we know that some cars will always be safer than others, so it comes as no surprise that a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study shows that it is the SUV that is said to be one of the safest models.

One of the biggest changes that have helped to reduce crashes was the introduction of electronic stability control or ESC and it is on the SUV where it has been most affective. When a small vehicle used to lose control it did it in a subtle way, this was far more dramatic with an SUV, as the inertia was much greater.

If an SUV was to lose control then chances are it would topple over, so you can see how a safety feature like this would have a greater affect on a larger vehicle than a smaller one. WSJ has been looking into the IIHS report, which is conducted every few years, and we can clearly see a decline in death rates in SUVs. The average death rates for 1999-2002 SUV models were at 82 per million, and in the most recent report it shows that those numbers have dropped.

Over 150 models took part in the recent study, from SUVs, Hatchbacks, Saloons etc. Now we have learned that these Sports Utility Vehicles are safer than ever, but it is the Minivan that is seen as the safest, as the death rate in these are lower than any other model. Now there are a number of reasons for this, but the biggest reason has to be due to the fact that there is a much larger safety cell for passengers.

What model of vehicle do you think is the safest on the roads?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/04/safest-cars-in-2011-updated-results-no-suprise/feed/ 0 Iron Diamond SUV for Ladies: Male Drivers Stay Clear http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/02/iron-diamond-suv-for-ladies-male-drivers-stay-clear/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=iron-diamond-suv-for-ladies-male-drivers-stay-clear http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/02/iron-diamond-suv-for-ladies-male-drivers-stay-clear/#comments Mon, 02 May 2011 11:11:54 +0000 Alan Ng http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=129241 We have a treat for our female readers now, as a new vehicle has emerged on to the scene, more specifically the 2011 Iron Diamond SUV for ladies. We have some pictures to show you of the model, as well as a list of features which make this perfect for female auto lovers.

It’s no secret that fasionable ladies also like to be spectacular in the auto department like men, and the Iron Diamond SUV will give women the perfect chance to arrive to events and meetings in style. For starters, the vehicle will be bulletproof, just in the occassions when you accidentally drive through the set of a hollywood action movie (yeah right!), and it will also feature eight built-in cameras with monitors to assist those having difficulty with parking.

This vehicle also includes 3 doors only, which is a security feature to protect women who like to put their handbag on the next seat – a usual highlight for would be thieves, but not with with the Iron Diamond SUV. More exciting perhaps, is the fact that ladies will be able to choose from as many as 10 skins for their Iron Diamond, with themes such as crocodile, snake, whale, chameleon, elephant and more.

You can view a full picture gallery of this ladies-only SUV over at AutoBlog. If you are a female reading this, let us know your thoughts on it – do you want to own one of these?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/02/iron-diamond-suv-for-ladies-male-drivers-stay-clear/feed/ 13 Land Rover Defender Overhaul: 2013 Concept http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/27/land-rover-defender-overhaul-2013-concept/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=land-rover-defender-overhaul-2013-concept http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/27/land-rover-defender-overhaul-2013-concept/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:43:48 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=128804 If there were ever a vehicle that looked a little dated, then the Defender would be it, which is why there will soon be a Land Rover Defender overhaul. We can expect a 2013 concept, which will then go into production by the summer of 2015 – so not too long to wait. It has been reported that work has already begun, so we hope to see something very special.

Tata is said to have invested a huge effort into this overhaul of the Defender, and will offer a range of new body styles, such as convertibles wagons and pickups. According to AutoCar, Land Rover is still in the planning stages with designers and engineers, making certain that what they design can be done.

Sales of the Land Rover Defender have been very low just recently, with just 18,000 being sold last year. This could either mean that we are not interested in the vehicle anymore, or that the current design is too dated? Tata must feel that the Defender still has a lot to give; otherwise they would not invest so heavily?

We have to wonder if they are doing the right thing, sales of SUVs and trucks have been falling steadily in recent years. The reason for this is due to the fact that they have always been associated with low fuel-economy. However, we have seen in the past year that SUV emissions have been falling, but they need to fall a lot further if they ever have hope of getting back to high sales.

Do you feel that the SUV is a dying breed?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/27/land-rover-defender-overhaul-2013-concept/feed/ 4 Ferrari FF: 612 Replacement – Photos & Specs But No Price http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/21/ferrari-ff-612-replacement-%e2%80%93-photos-specs-but-no-price/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ferrari-ff-612-replacement-%25e2%2580%2593-photos-specs-but-no-price http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/21/ferrari-ff-612-replacement-%e2%80%93-photos-specs-but-no-price/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:50:36 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=119501 Ferrari has been guilty of two things as far as we can see, the first is not offering a four-wheel drive model and the second is not thinking about fuel-efficiency. However, the recent unveiling of the FF has just cleared both those matters up, as this is their first ever production model that supplies power to all four wheels.

Autocar reports that the Ferrari FF will replace the ‘612 two-plus-two coupé’, some fans of that model might be feeling a little sad about that news, but the Italian carmaker does offer something in return with the FF. Yes, that’s right a Ferrari that is said to be able to not only drive on all roads but all conditions as well.

The FF will still have a V12 engine, which will produce 650bhp. What makes this car rather unique compared to other Ferrari models is its stop-start technology, which is said to improve fuel economy by 10 percent. 0-62 takes just 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 208mph; both figures are an improvement over the 612.

Chris Knapman from the Telegraph has been looking more into Ferrari’s HELE system, and informs us that fuel economy will be 18.3mpg, or 360g/km of Co2. Although this sounds like a lot, you have to remember that Ferraris of the past, like the 458 Italia have been much higher. However, there is one model of the Prancing Horse that has better fuel-economy, the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari – although not a full Ferrari though. As yet there are no price details.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/21/ferrari-ff-612-replacement-%e2%80%93-photos-specs-but-no-price/feed/ 1 Porsche Cajun SUV: China Could Build, Like Audi Q5 http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/20/porsche-cajun-suv-china-could-build-like-audi-q5/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=porsche-cajun-suv-china-could-build-like-audi-q5 http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/20/porsche-cajun-suv-china-could-build-like-audi-q5/#comments Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:01:42 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=119363 Toward the end of last year Porsche announced that they were to launch a new SUV to their lineup. The new model will be called the Cajun and differs from the Cayenne, as it is not only smaller but also cheaper as well – we can here you getting excited at that prospect already.

What is also interesting about the new SUV is the rumors that it could be built in China, much like its sister company does with the Audi Q5. The New York Times has reported on a recent article from Focus, a German magazine, which said that the Porsche CEO said that the current factory in Stuttgart would be unable to cope with the production of the new SUV.

However, we have also learned that it will just not be the Cajun but other models that could be built in China as well. Let us hope that health and safety standards will be up to scratch, its one thing having issues with companies that make phones, but the auto industry is much more life threatening if something was to go wrong.

Looking at some renderings that we found on Top Speed, you can clearly see a relation between the Cajun SUV and the Cayenne. The issue we have is that the Cayenne is like Marmite; you either love it or hate it. I do not want to say what camp I am in, but an SUV should be made to go on off-road, and the Porsche SUV and others like it are not.

Do you think that Porsche should continue to make SUVs, or should they go back to basics? However, they did try to do both with the Merdad Porsche Cayenne.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/20/porsche-cajun-suv-china-could-build-like-audi-q5/feed/ 3 Top Cars to Avoid Buying Right Now: Tips / Guide http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/18/top-cars-to-avoid-buying-right-now-tips-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-cars-to-avoid-buying-right-now-tips-guide http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/18/top-cars-to-avoid-buying-right-now-tips-guide/#comments Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:32:19 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=119219 When choosing a car, it can often become very stressful – not like buying a house – but you get the idea. There are those who decide to purchase a new car, which means that they usually know just what vehicle they want, but what about when buying used? People like you and I need to know what cars to avoid buying right now.

Whenever I have purchased a used car I go to a dealer that I have known for some time, but what of those who you have never bought from before? The best thing is to always make certain that you take a mechanic with you who know what to look for. So what about those cars to avoid?

The website Dummies has a guide just for this, and offers some very valuable tips. Never purchase fleets cars, police cars or even taxis, as they tend to have high mileage and would have been abused. Used station wagons are another vehicle that you should try to avoid; this is because there could often be 50,000 put on them each year by traveling salespeople.

Used trucks, out of production vehicles and modified cars are also ones to avoid. The modified one stands out the most for me, as the previous owner would have made changes to the engine, which would reduce its lifespan. I know what you are thinking, there is not many left? But this is only a guide, and there is still a huge range of vehicles to choose from.

It is always hard to say what cars are best to be avoided right now, as this can change all the time, so a general guideline is always best. Ezine Articles has an interesting article about how to avoid fraud when purchasing a new vehicle. We have all heard the horror stories, so hopefully by reading their article you will not become a statistic.

For those thinking of buying a 2011 car, then check out the models with the best resale values here, we also discussed those which offered the best MPG ratings as well.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/18/top-cars-to-avoid-buying-right-now-tips-guide/feed/ 4 Trucks With Worst Gas Mileage: Be Informed and Save http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/09/trucks-with-worst-gas-mileage-be-informed-and-save/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trucks-with-worst-gas-mileage-be-informed-and-save http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/09/trucks-with-worst-gas-mileage-be-informed-and-save/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:20:42 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=118560 It seems lately that the price of fuel is on a constant upward trend and with this in mind it is more important to try and avoid the most fuel demanding vehicles. There are things we can do which can help us as consumers to purchase more fuel efficient cars and trucks.

Last year Adam Hughes from associated content compiled a list of the ten worst fuel efficient trucks and SUVs. Top of the list was the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG which only returns 11mpg around the city, and only goes up to 15mpg on the highway. Finishing off the top three was the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 AWD; this achieves 12mpg in the city and 16mpg on the highway.

A great US government website called fueleconomy, is available with a whole host of information and tips to try and help you save money. You can compare different makes and types of vehicles including trucks fuel economy. There are also tools to help you work out what MPG you are getting from your vehicle, tips on more fuel efficient driving, and much more.

Cars.com also lets you compare many different classes of vehicles with mpg ratings for city and highway driving listed. Using guides like these will hopefully help you to save money when purchasing or using your car or truck.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/01/09/trucks-with-worst-gas-mileage-be-informed-and-save/feed/ 4 2011 Ford Explorer: 2010 Taurus Like Reinvention http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/12/13/2011-ford-explorer-2010-taurus-like-reinvention/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2011-ford-explorer-2010-taurus-like-reinvention http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/12/13/2011-ford-explorer-2010-taurus-like-reinvention/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:49:35 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=117094 For those of you who thought the Ford Explorer was made part of automobile history, you would have been shocked when the Detroit Auto company announced that they were to launch a 2011 model. The SUV was not coming back in a form that we are familiar with – you can clearly see with the images from Autoblog that much has changed.

Chris Paukert from the above mentioned auto website has had a chance to give the new 2011 Ford Explorer a go, and before he gets going with his first drive experience was like, he thought it was only fair to offer a brief history into how the model had been damaged through past events. So we know that the 2011 model will have to be something special to shake off the stigma.

The new vehicle will be available in three trim versions: base, XLT and Limited, which we discussed in a recent post. Prices are $28,995 to $39,995. Paukert pointed to the fact that the 2010 Taurus was able to become a success even after being tainted, so there is no reason why this will not be the case for the 2011 Ford Explorer as well.

Below we have found a video of the new Explorer, and how it performs on the sand. In the video it has been pointed out that the new 2011 Ford Explorer is no competition for the Range Rover – but is anything? One thing is certain, from watching the video you will have a lot of fun on the sand – even if you might lose control a few times.

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