Oriental Face-off: 2007 Grand Vitara vs. 2007 Santa Fé

By Daniel Souza

If you recall early history classes through junior high, you remember well that the West has always tried trading with the East. Well, this week I bring you a battle of the East right to your very own backyard in the West featuring two compact SUVs that even the most gearheads may get them confused.

Perhaps a few years ago, Suzuki and Hyundai could be considered flying under the radar, but the Oriental companies have been getting a push in advertising along with public recognition. Their increased visibility has fueled my desire to put the two together and see which one rates better.

Let the battle begin.

Both vehicles rate under the compact sport utility vehicle category. Both will seat five passenger plus cargo space. The Japanese Grand Vitara opens its back door—that also holds the spare tire—swinging counter-clock wise. The Korean equivalent has a more traditional, non-spare-mounted back door that raises upward granting access to the cargo area.

The Spanish titled Santa Fé—translated as Holy Faith—has a better developing six-cylinder power plant. Our loaner housed the 3.3-liter Lambda V6 which is lighter, more fuel efficient and cleaner burning than the previous Santa Fe 3.5-liter V6, while producing an additional 42 horsepower. Output is 242 horsepower and 226 lb.-ft. of torque with fuel economy ratings of 19 city and 24 highway, up from the 17/23 rating of the 2006 model.

On the other side of the rink, Suzuki’s Grand Vitara doesn’t “wow” the audience with a six that feels a bit tied up and sluggish right off the line. But, it does hit Hyundai’s Santa Fé with a right hook considering that the 2.7-liter V6 engine delivers 185 horsepower and 184 lb.ft. of torque and comes with standard automatic transmission with a 2WD AND a 4WD transfer case, a feature not present in the Santa Fé. Our rising-sun loaner has an estimate fuel economy of 19 city and 24 highway—identical to the Santa Fé—in 2WD AND 19/23 in 4WD, unlike the Korean 2WD only. The Grand Vitara can also pull up to 3000 lbs.

While the Grand Vitara boasted confidence and the four-wheel drive capability in our snow packed Utah County, the Santa Fé allowed more passengers to tag along, being Hyundai’s first crossover with optional seven-passenger seating. The third-row seat is split 50/50 and can be folded flat like the 60/40-split second-row seat. Total cargo volume is a cavernous 78.2 cubic feet.

As for safety, the Grand Vitara features a unibody construction reinforced with a built-in ladder frame for true off-road capability and on-road comfort. It is strengthened by independent MacPherson strut front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension and boasts good approach, departure and break-over angles.

The 2007 Korean equivalent answers back with a 50-percent improvement in body bending rigidity over the prior model and is 59 percent stiffer than the Toyota Highlander. The second-generation Santa Fe rides on an all-new, purpose-built unibody crossover platform with a 106.3-inch wheelbase that is 3.1 inches longer than its predecessor.

I would love to rattle more about the two, but I don’t have much more newsprint to go on and on. As much as these two can look similar to the naked eye, I must say that if your cup of tea involves constant off-roading or rough terrain driving, then stick with the Japanese maker’s Grand Vitara. On the other hand, if you just want to drive the kids around town and the term “back-road” doesn’t appear often on your dictionary, then the Korean maker has the crossover for you.

Santa Fé’s Base Price - $21,045 Santa Fé’s price as tested - $23,745

Grand Vitara’s Base Price - $19,379 Grand Vitara’s price as tested - $22,899

Daniel Souza can be reached at sixth.gear.herald@gmail.com or at his blog at http://sixthgearherald.blogspot.com

2007 Acura MDX

By Daniel Souza

Situated somewhere on the eastern part of 300 South in Provo and having Springville as the backdrop, the 2007 Acura MDX gets its picture snapped as the not-so-warm sun peaks from behind the clouds, setting the perfect canvas for the Japanese descent machine.

Take another brisk glance at this all-new sport utility vehicle and your mind may trick you in believing an U.F.O. landed in this Area-51 bordering state. No, the '07 MDX did not come from a far, far away galaxy, but it could have. Its new fascia displays bold impressions from a sci-fi derived movie. Its dramatic styling utilizes large surface areas, sweeping curves and decisive angles. Longer, wider and lower (and with a longer wheelbase) than the original MDX, the new dimensions create a more athletic appearance.

The MDX is equipped with High-Intensity Discharge (HID) low-beam headlights, an array of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in the tail lamps and center high-mounted stoplight, and exterior mirror-mounted turn signals. The new grille also reflects a fresh look for the MDX. Careful aerodynamic tailoring reduces drag noise and high speed dynamic stability.

The MDX has been very important to Acura, accounting for about 30% of the division's sales since the vehicle's introduction as a 2001 model.

The 2007 MDX—which sits up to seven passengers—has an all-new chassis to complement its V-6 engine and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive(TM) (SH-AWD(TM)). Engineers targeted the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne when developing the MDX chassis, and then tested and refined it at the Nurburgring circuit. The Active Damper System, available in the Sport Package, has proprietary fully active dampers that adjust to road conditions on a real-time basis - in less than five milliseconds (0.005 sec.).

With its 5000-pound towing rating, standard trailer pre-wiring, high-capacity radiator with twin cooling fans, ATF cooler and Trailer Stability Assist, the MDX needs only a dealer-installed hitch and wiring to tow a substantial trailer.

As for the inside, this oriental SUV wows any passenger aboard, but it will take time and practice—lots of it—to get used to its airline carrier-like instrument cluster panel. Set aside a day (or a whole weekend) to familiarize yourself with its controls. It certainly packs impressive and useful features, but usability will only come with repetition.

On the other hand, passengers aboard will appreciate the MDX's Tri-Zone automatic climate control system and new 253-watt, 8-speaker Acura Premium Sound System with multi-format 6-disc in-dash CD, MP3, WMA changer, AM/FM tuner, and XM(R) Satellite Radio. An auxiliary jack for personal audio devices is also included.

Standard convenience features include HomeLink(R), Smart Maintenance, and adaptive and flexible cargo space with six configurations. Included in the available Entertainment Package is a power tailgate, the first on an Acura SUV.

With a displacement of 3.7 liters, the 2007 MDX features Acura's largest and most powerful V-6 engine. Developing 300 horsepower and 275 lbs.-ft. of torque, the MDX's output is competitive with many V-8 engines - without the fuel-economy penalty that some V-8 engines suffer. To widen the powerband and improve emissions and fuel economy the engine has VTEC(R) (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control), a dual-stage intake manifold, and an electronic Drive-by-Wire Throttle System(TM). EPA estimated mileage of 17/22 mpg (City/Highway) and a large 21-gallon fuel capacity should get you to Las Vegas without a refuel stop.

2007 Volkswagen EOS

By Daniel Souza

First of all, Happy New Year to everyone out there in readership land! I hope your goals go far beyond your wild expectations. Second of all, 2007 doesn’t just bring in new hopes, resolutions and March Madness, but it also boasts a full lineup of automotive surprises.

From wildly designed concepts that will never make to production to space-like technologies in fuel—or battery—consumption to cars that park themselves, 2007 brings a future brighter than ever when talking autos.

Now, most drivers may know this piece of priceless trivia I’m about to type, but for automakers 2007 comes earlier than January 1^st. In fact there are new vehicles being brought to market with as much as nine months before the actual year tag arrives—think 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, which first became available to the public in March 2006. That’s also explanation as to why in the last few months you have been reading about the ’07 models.

I’m not sure I can pinpoint the gist of why this happens, but our egos certainly get a nice boost—a needed measurement when trying to keep up with the Jones’—when you state (and not tell) that you are driving a ’07 model during the final months of 2006.

The 2007 Volkswagen EOS is such an example. The German maker loaned me this top-dropper back in 2006—it sounds like so long ago, doesn’t it?—which it not only made me look good, but it allowed me bragging rights about ’07 models.

The Bavarian-born hard top convertible boasts in style with a top that drops in 25 seconds. The roof-lowering maneuver is even fascinating to watch, as the front roof panels, including the glass sunroof, slide under the forward roof panels as the entire roof area rises from the C-pillar to what would be a B-pillar and is stored beneath a rear deck.

An available Trunk Lid Assistance program with integrated bumper sensors monitors up to 20 inches behind the vehicle and prevents the roof from operating if any object or obstruction is detected.

Also, just to be safe, the vehicle ignition must be “on” and vehicle speed must remain below 0.6 mph during roof operation. A status indicator provides warnings if the roof is not secured – either up or down.

Because seasons change, the 2007 Eos is designed and built with all-weather and four-seasons cruising in mind. Once the top in up, highway noise is present, but the interior cabin enjoys a much quieter ride than soft-top convertibles. The only problem with the automated roof operation is that it becomes addicting. It makes it look as if you are inside a Transformers machine with the VW logo on it.

But either way, another impressive headline on this type of vehicle is the fuel consumption. The 2007 Eos 2.0T offers 200 horsepower and 207 lbs.-ft. of torque from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. High-pressure, FSI helps with performance and efficiency. The 2007 Eos 2.0T is EPA-rated at an estimated 23 miles per gallon in the city and an impressive 32 mpg in highway driving.

The vehicle can also be equipped with an optional 3.2 L narrow-angle V6 that can crank out 250 hp and 235 lbs.-ft. of torque. The narrow-angle six-cylinder engine accelerates the Eos from 0-60 miles per hour in 6.9 seconds.

A very cool ride, but it did bring a couple of disappointments. The EOS can quickly lose its ‘cool’ by a glance at the price tag: $35,755 is how much our test drive came for. The vehicle also sacrifices on trunk space for its ‘foldable’ hard top. But you gain on the look-at-me-cuz-I-can-show-off factor.

Base Price - $27,990

Price as tested - $35,755

Daniel Souza can be reached at sixth.gear.herald@gmail.com or read his blog at http://sixthgearherald.blogspot.com