2008 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe is largely unchanged, but there are new standard features for the Limited model. This crossover SUV comes in GLS, SE, and top-line Limited trim. All offer front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive that allows locking in a 50/50 front/rear power split. All Santa Fes have a V6 engine; the GLS has a 185-hp 2.7-liter, while SE and Limited have a 242-hp 3.3-liter. GLS offers a 5-speed manual transmission and an optional 4-speed automatic. The other models have a 5-speed automatic. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. All models seat five, but an available Touring Package adds a 50/50 split 3rd-row bench seat that increases seating capacity to seven.

News
Hyundai-affiliate Kia is working on a midsize pickup and a related SUV. These body-on-frame vehicles would likely be produced at the Kia plant now rising in western Georgia, not far from the Hyundai Alabama factory that builds Santa Fe. Kia has only started building its plant, so both these trucks are still a ways off, but Hyundai is expected to get its own versions. Timing is unclear, but model-year 2010 seems a safe bet.

source: http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2008-hyundai-santa-fe-5.htm

Minivan: Toyota Sienna

The 2008 Toyota Sienna minivan is available in 7 or 8 passengers seating configurations and provides an abundance of creature comforts and a smooth, comfortable ride.

The Sienna is available in your choice of 4 trim levels-the CE, LE, XLE and Limited. All models feature a spacious open design cabin that is equipped with high quality materials throughout. The CE and LE are available in 7 or 8 passenger models, while the upscale SLE and Limited are configured to accommodate 7 passengers only. With the exception of the front wheel drive only CE, all models are offered with a choice of front wheel drive or all wheel drive. The 2nd row captain's chairs in 7 passenger models can easily be positioned together to create a bench seat. 8 passengers are accommodated with a 40/20/40 split bench 2nd row seat with a center section that slides just over a foot closer to front seats, which makes access to a small child seated there less than an arms reach away. A maximum cargo area of 149 cubic feet is more than ample for most large families

The base model CE includes 16 inch steel wheels, front and rear air conditioning, dual sliding rear doors with power operated windows, power windows, door locks and mirrors, and a 6 speaker stereo with CD player and auxiliary audio jack. In addition to the folding 2nd and 3rd row seats, the front passenger seat also folds down to increase cargo space. The LE enhances these features with privacy glass, heated mirrors, a roof rack, cruise control and both a CD changer and steering wheel mounted stereo system controls. The XLE features alloy wheels, a power lift gate, power operated adjustable front seats, automatic headlights, a trip computer, removable center console, three zone automatic climate control, and superior quality faux wood interior trim. The lavish Limited version is enhanced with a sunroof, heated leather seats, leather and wood steering wheel, rear window shades, windshield wiper deicer, and a JBL 10 speaker sound system. Each all wheel drive Sienna is equipped with 17
inch wheels, run flat tires and the wiper de-icer. Option packages are available for those who would like to fill their cabin with features such as a rear seat DVD entertainment system, a power folding 3rd row seat and a Bluetooth enabled combination navigation system with back up camera.

All models are equipped with an outstanding 3.5 liter V6 engine that produces 266 horsepower and is mated to a sophisticated 5 speed automatic transmission. The superb combination equates to efficient performance, a smooth ride and decent gas mileage with front wheel drive EPA ratings of 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway and AWD ratings of 16 mpg in city traffic and 21 mpg on highway treks.

Minivans are not as popular as they once were, with many families turning to various sized sport utility and cross over vehicles, but the 2008 Toyota Sienna offers an excellent choice in the minivan category. As expected of all Toyota vehicles, safety features are abundant and safety ratings are top notch. Comfort and convenience options are plentiful and well designed while the powertrain is well suited for the vehicle's size, offering plenty of acceleration and smooth gear shifts, and reliable. Being one of the most spacious minivan's as well as one of the few that offers seating for 8 passengers and an all wheel drive option, the Sienna can satisfy the transportation and cargo needs of most large families very nicely.

source: http://www.carseek.com/reviews/toyota/2008-sienna/

Pickup truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

Warranty Standard Features
Rust-through Corrosion Perforation - 6 years/100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance - 5 years/100,000 miles
New vehicle Limited Warranty - 3 years/36,000 miles
Powertrain Limited Warranty - 5 years/100,000 miles

Mechanical Standard Equipment
Transmission, 4-speed automatic, electronically controlled - With overdrive and tow/haul mode
Suspension, rear 2-stage multi-leaf springs, semi-elliptic
Suspension, front independent, coil over shock
Exhaust, aluminized stainless-steel muffler and tailpipe
Frame, hydroformed
StabiliTrak, stability control system - With Proactive Roll Avoidance
Steering, power, rack-and-pinion
Battery, heavy-duty 600 cold-cranking amps, maintenance-free - With rundown protection and retained accessory power
Brakes, 4-wheel antilock, front disc/rear drum
Alternator, 145 amps

Exterior Standard Equipment
Tire carrier, outside spare - Winch-type mounted under frame at rear
Air dam, Black
Headlamps, dual halogen composite - With automatic exterior lamp control and flash-to-pass feature
Lamps, dual cargo area lamps
Paint, solid
Daytime Running Lamps - With automatic exterior lamp control
Wipers, front intermittent wet-arm - With pulse washers
Wheel, 17" steel spare - (Spare wheel will not cosmetically match the other 4 wheels)
Bumper, rear chrome, step-style - With pad

Interior Standard Equipment
XM Satellite Radio - With a wide variety of programming, XM has something to excite any driver. Whether you want to be entertained or informed, to laugh, think, or sing, XM has the perfect channel for you - coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality sound. 3 trial months - no obligation (Available in the 48 contiguous United States. Required $12.95 monthly subscription sold separately after 3 trial months. All fees and programming subject to change. Subscription subject to customer agreement. For more information, visit gm.xmradio.com)
Warning tones - Headlamp on, key-in-ignition, driver and passenger buckle up reminder and turn signal on
Steering column, Tilt-Wheel, adjustable - With brake/transmission shift interlock
Seat, rear 60/40 folding bench (folds up), 3-passenger, folding - (Includes child seat top tether anchor)
Power outlets, 2 auxiliary instrument panel-mounted - With covers, 12-volt
Cup holders, front - (Also includes rear cupholders)
Air bags, frontal, driver and right-front passenger - With Passenger Sensing System (Always use safety belts and the correct child restraints for your child's age and size, even in vehicles equipped with air bags. Children are safer when properly secured in a rear seat. See the vehicle's Owner's Manual and child safety seat instructions for more safety information)
Lighting, interior - With dome and reading lights, illuminated entry feature and backlit instrument panel switches
Coat hooks, rear driver and passenger side
Audio system, AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD player - Seek-and-scan, digital clock, auto-tone control, Radio Data System (RDS), speed-compensated volume and TheftLock
Tire Pressure Monitoring System - (Does not apply to spare tire)
Assist handle, front passenger - (Also includes rear assist handles in the headliner)

source: http://easynewcars.autofusion.com/carresearch/TrimsBuild/confid_easynewcars/year_2008/make_Chevrolet/model_Silverado%201500%20Crew%20Cab/

top 10 picks for 2008

This year's Top Picks in 10 categories include four new models. For the first time since 2005, a U.S. model, the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado, made the list as our choice in pickup trucks. And for the first time ever, a South Korean automaker is represented: The Hyundai Elantra SE and Santa Fe are our top small sedan and midsized SUV, respectively. The fourth new entry is the Lexus LS 460L, the highest-scoring vehicle we've tested and best among luxury sedans.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on Yahoo!.

Choosing the Top Picks
Our Top Picks are the most well-rounded models in their categories. Each must meet these stringent requirements:

Road tests: Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 260 vehicles we’ve recently tested at our Auto Test Center.
Reliability: Each has an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, based on the problems subscribers reported on almost 1.3 million vehicles in our Annual Car Reliability Survey.
Safety: Top Picks have performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or the insurance industry. Starting this year, they also must provide a critical safety feature, electronic stability control (ESC), either as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

Top Picks 2008
Green car: Toyota Prius

Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE

Family sedan: Honda Accord

Upscale sedan: Infiniti G35

Luxury sedan: Lexus LS 460L

Fun to drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata

Small SUV: Toyota RAV4

Midsized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe

Minivan: Toyota Sienna

Pickup truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

source:http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/450/Top-Picks-2008/;_ylc=X3oDMTE0bG0zbnQ0BF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawN0b3AtMjAwOA--

2008 Honda Odyssey

here are some of the performance features of the 2008 odyssey:

You might just forget that you're driving a vehicle that can seat up to eight.

Power
A 244-hp, 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC VTEC V-6 engine (LX and EX vehicles) offers exceptional power while running on unleaded fuel and meeting CARBs ULEV-2 emission rating.

On EX-L and Touring vehicles, the revised Variable Cylinder Management engine increases the cruising range.

High-Tech Safety
Odyssey puts a priority on safety with features like Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) on all vehicles.

Michelin System

And with the ingenious Michelin System run-flat technology available on Touring vehicles, you can travel on a punctured tire at 50 mph for up to 125 miles

The Odyssey is a showcase of advanced safety features that help protect you and your precious cargo.

5-Stars
The Honda Odyssey is the embodiment of peace of mind. An array of standard safety features stands ready on all trims to help protect you and your family wherever you roam. In fact, the Odyssey earned a 5-star rating in frontal- and side-impact tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).* And the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the Odyssey a 2008 "Top Safety Pick."

Active Safety Features
Standard active safety features include the anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Brake Assist, which helps the driver retain steering control when braking hard, and Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control, which helps to detect and correct oversteer and understeer.

Peace of Mind
While sharing the road with many other drivers, sometimes a collision just cannot be avoided. So certain standard safety features in the Odyssey can help provide superior defense. Our Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure is designed to absorb impacts of vehicles of various sizes in the event of front-end collisions. And front 3-point seat belts with automatic tensioning devices, front side airbags and side-impact door beams all help to protect you and your passengers in sufficient impacts.

For three decades, Honda has played a leading role in meeting environmental challenges.

Low Emissions
The Odyssey is known for being big on fun. But were you aware that this innovative vehicle is small on emissions at the same time? An Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle (ULEV-2) rating from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) says so in no uncertain terms.

IntelligentThe Honda Odyssey does all this with its powerful V-6 engine that produces up to 241 hp and 242 lb.-ft. of torque on regular gas. The revised, brilliant Variable Cylinder Management system found on the Odyssey EX-L and Touring vehicles is powered by the intelligence of i-VTEC technology to quickly and seamlessly activate or deactivate two or three cylinders, based on the power requirement. So you get the best of both worlds: V-6 power when you're accelerating or climbing, as well as the efficiency of a smaller engine while cruising.

2008 Honda Odyssey part 1

here are some features of the Honda 2008 Odyssey:

The sleek, new lines and aerodynamic styling on the Odyssey will no doubt captivate you.

Ultra-Modern Styling
New styling cues at the front and rear, including a new hood and tailgate spoiler, are bolder and more powerful, conveying a sense of strength and integrity. And Daytime Running Lights (DRL) have been added to help increase visibility to oncoming cars.

AerodynamicTrace the aerodynamic lines from front to rear and you'll immediately sense that this quiet, peaceful ride is one of the best around.Power Sliding Doors and Tailgate

Power sliding doors (EX, EX-L, Touring) can be easily operated with the remote entry system from up to 50 feet away. And Touring vehicles offer a power tailgate and body-colored parking sensors (front and rear) for ultimate ease of use.

The interior of the Odyssey offers a level of innovation and technology that is unexpected in a minivan.

Tech Gadgets Galore
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® Technology (Touring) lets you make and receive calls with your compatible cell phone while your hands stay on the wheel. An MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack is standard on all models. And XM Satellite Radio®* is standard on EX-L and above trim levels.

Creature Comforts
New for 2008, your friends and family will be even more comfortable with the passenger’s seat with 4-way power adjustment (EX-L and above). And tri-zone automatic climate control is now standard on EX and above trim levels.

Better Than a Backseat Drive-In
The available Honda DVD Rear Entertainment System (EX-L, standard on Touring), with a 9-inch display, lets rear passengers enjoy a movie or even a video game. When DVD-equipped, a 115-volt outlet in the third row lets you plug in your video-game console, laptop or other electronics.

Navigate and Configure
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with voice recognition† and Honda DVD Rear Entertainment System, now standard on Touring vehicles, make it fun to find your way. Meanwhile, passengers, cargo, or any combination of the two are easily accommodated, thanks to a removable 2nd-row PlusOne Seat,™ with storage bin and the 60/40 split 3rd-row Magic Seat®.

2008 Volkswagen Jetta SE test drive

well respected Aaron Gold has this in his car blog:

The Jetta sedan is the best-selling car in Volkswagen's model lineup. I've always admired the Jetta for its family-friendly interior and exceptional safety record, and I love the hot-rod GLI version -- but I've always found the plan-vanilla Jetta a little dull. Has anything changed for 2008? Yes -- just enough, as it turns out, to change my opinion. $16,990 base, $19,904 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 21-22 MPG city, 29 MPG highway.

For starters, my test car was finished in red -- not some fancy high-tech shade of red with a whimsical name like Sunset Blush Pearlsonic Flakecoat, but plain ol' non-metallic red, which did a beautiful job of showing off the Jetta's chrome grille and alloy wheels (link goes to photo). (Alas, the photos didn't come out so well, hence the pics of the white Jetta.) The Jetta's paint palette includes some very nice grown-up shades of grey and blue, but I think the car looks its best in plain, bright colors like red or white.

The next issue the Jetta had to tackle -- in my eyes, at least -- was the value equation. 2008 sees a new model lineup for the Jetta; last year's Jetta 2.5 has been split into S, SE and SEL models. I drove the mid-level SE; for just under $20K it comes with power windows, mirrors and locks, air conditioning, sunroof, 6-disc CD changer, height-adjustable driver's seat, alloy wheels, fake leather, and a tilt and telescope steering wheel. Too spendy? The Jetta S runs $2,800 less and is still pretty nicely equipped.

I mentioned that I've always found the base-model Jetta a bit dull to drive. So what made this one different? For one thing, Volkswagen has fortified the 2.5 liter five-cylinder engine for 2008 -- output is 170 horsepower, up 20 from last year, while torque rises by 7 lb-ft to 177. Despite the extra grunt, the engine is slightly more fuel efficient than last year's car, though fuel economy is still below average for a compact sedan. VW builds a PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) version for California-compliant states; unlike many PZEVs,which extract a power penalty, the Jetta's PZEV engine puts out just as much power as the non-PZEV version. Way to go, VW!

The extra power definitely upped the grin factor, but what I really fell in love with was my test car's manual transmission. The automatic 2.5 is droning and dull, but the 5-speed manual really wakes the engine up. If you must have an automatic, I'd recommend skipping the 2.5 and buying either the GLI or Wolfsburg Edition, both of which are equipped with VW's stellar 200 hp 2.0T engine. (Of those two, I'd take the GLI, which gets Volkswagen's Direct Shift Gearbox in place of the Wolfsburg's conventional automatic.)

Handling is wonderful; I took the Jetta up to the About.com Cars Top Secret Curvy Test Road and it seemed to enjoy the drive every bit as much as I did. But the ride quality -- or lack thereof -- came as a bit of a surprise, with the firmly-sprung Jetta jiggling and joggling over LA's sectional freeways. Oddly enough, it was as comfortable as could be on the bumpiest sections of the Curvy Test Road.

As you can tell, I was really impressed with the Jetta. It turns out that the car I'd perceived as a slightly dull, slightly snobbish family hauler does have a soul after all -- it's just a matter of equipping it right. -- Aaron Gold

http://cars.about.com/od/volkswagen/fr/08_vw_jetta_se.htm