Today saw the Lexus UX 200 F-Sport being swapped for this 2020 Volvo S60 T5 Momentum. This base model comes very well equipped with a LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, 10-way power seats12.3-inch display for the instrument cluster, and a 9-inch infotainment system. But this particular vehicle is loaded with over $9,000 in options including metallic paint, 19-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, Harman/Kardon audio system, and power trunk lid. This brings the price to $46,240 with destination - base being $36,050.
Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 250 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
I'll be updating this piece later in the day with some first drive impressions and I only briefly drove it around my work's parking lot to grab some pictures. In the meantime, start dropping off your questions.
UPDATE: As promised (albeit slightly late), some more first impressions of the S60.
The T5 engine is a surprisingly punchy engine, providing rapid power when driving on the freeway or exiting a turn. But the downside is noticeable turbo lag when leaving a stop - something I noted in my XC40 review. Volvo Sensus and my iPhone 7 Plus aren't seeming getting along at the moment. When I first plugged my phone in, the system recognized it and brought up the button to launch Apple CarPlay. But I couldn't bring up the CarPlay interface as the button did nothing. I had to unplug and plug the phone back in before it worked. One more issue concerning CarPlay. Some apps only bring up a blank screen when first opened. I would close them and relaunch to bring them to back to regular status. I can't explain whether this is due to me still running an older version of the OS or something with the car. To answer @regfootball comment on the space, this feels slightly larger than the outgoing S60. In the back, I have slightly more legroom than the previous models I have driven. Headroom is still tight, partly due to the optional panoramic sunroof. Volvo still hasn't solved getting in and out of the back as it still feels like a tight squeeze, even though the rear doors do have a wider opening.


View full article

Today saw the Lexus UX 200 F-Sport being swapped for this 2020 Volvo S60 T5 Momentum. This base model comes very well equipped with a LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, 10-way power seats12.3-inch display for the instrument cluster, and a 9-inch infotainment system. But this particular vehicle is loaded with over $9,000 in options including metallic paint, 19-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, Harman/Kardon audio system, and power trunk lid. This brings the price to $46,240 with destination - base being $36,050.
Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 250 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
I'll be updating this piece later in the day with some first drive impressions and I only briefly drove it around my work's parking lot to grab some pictures. In the meantime, start dropping off your questions.
UPDATE: As promised (albeit slightly late), some more first impressions of the S60.
The T5 engine is a surprisingly punchy engine, providing rapid power when driving on the freeway or exiting a turn. But the downside is noticeable turbo lag when leaving a stop - something I noted in my XC40 review. Volvo Sensus and my iPhone 7 Plus aren't seeming getting along at the moment. When I first plugged my phone in, the system recognized it and brought up the button to launch Apple CarPlay. But I couldn't bring up the CarPlay interface as the button did nothing. I had to unplug and plug the phone back in before it worked. One more issue concerning CarPlay. Some apps only bring up a blank screen when first opened. I would close them and relaunch to bring them to back to regular status. I can't explain whether this is due to me still running an older version of the OS or something with the car. To answer @regfootball comment on the space, this feels slightly larger than the outgoing S60. In the back, I have slightly more legroom than the previous models I have driven. Headroom is still tight, partly due to the optional panoramic sunroof. Volvo still hasn't solved getting in and out of the back as it still feels like a tight squeeze, even though the rear doors do have a wider opening.

This week marks my first review vehicle for 2020 - the Lexus UX 200 F-Sport. This one comes equipped with such items as F-Sport exterior package, 18-inch wheels, Lexus Enform with Apple CarPlay  compatibility;  Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 10-way power driver's seat. Options on this vehicle include blind spot monitoring, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, heads-up display, navigation, and a windhield de-icer - the last one being quite important as we had an ice storm roll through last night.
Power comes from a 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder with 169 horsepower. This is likely the same engine I had in my 2019 Toyota Corolla SE hatchback I reviewed last month. This is paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. Disappointingly, Lexus isn't offering all-wheel drive on the UX 200. To get that, you need to climb up the UX 250h. 
For the day and a half I had the UX, I found to be quite nippy around town. Though on the freeway, the engine becomes quite buzzy and you do need to step on it to get some forward momentum. It is also surprising how maneuverable the vehicle is. I was able to snatch a narrow parking space at a popular restaurant with no issue.
The price-tag on this tester is $42,285 with destination. This surprised me considering how much stuff this vehicle is equipped with.
So while I put some more miles on and grab some photos, drop off any questions you have for Lexus' smallest crossover.


View full article

This week marks my first review vehicle for 2020 - the Lexus UX 200 F-Sport. This one comes equipped with such items as F-Sport exterior package, 18-inch wheels, Lexus Enform with Apple CarPlay  compatibility;  Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 10-way power driver's seat. Options on this vehicle include blind spot monitoring, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, heads-up display, navigation, and a windhield de-icer - the last one being quite important as we had an ice storm roll through last night.
Power comes from a 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder with 169 horsepower. This is likely the same engine I had in my 2019 Toyota Corolla SE hatchback I reviewed last month. This is paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. Disappointingly, Lexus isn't offering all-wheel drive on the UX 200. To get that, you need to climb up the UX 250h. 
For the day and a half I had the UX, I found to be quite nippy around town. Though on the freeway, the engine becomes quite buzzy and you do need to step on it to get some forward momentum. It is also surprising how maneuverable the vehicle is. I was able to snatch a narrow parking space at a popular restaurant with no issue.
The price-tag on this tester is $42,285 with destination. This surprised me considering how much stuff this vehicle is equipped with.
So while I put some more miles on and grab some photos, drop off any questions you have for Lexus' smallest crossover.

Volkswagen of America December 2019 Sales
  Dec. 19
Dec. 18
Yr/Yr% 
change
Dec. 19 YTD
Dec. 18 YTD
Yr/Yr% 
change
 Golf
314 
281 
12% 
5,644 
6,642 
-15%   GTI
765 
1,045 
-27% 
11,672 
16,684  -30%   Golf R
394 
88 
348% 
4,223 
3,468  22%   e-Golf
264 
222 
19% 
4,863 
1,354  259%   Golf SportWagen
927 
789 
17% 
10,991 
14,123  -22%   Total Golf Family
2,664 
2,425 
10% 
37,393 
42,271  -12%   Jetta Sedan
8,164 
10,261 
-20% 
100,453 
90,734  11%   Jetta SportWagen      
 (now Golf  SportWagen)
- 
- 
         N/A 
-  71 
N/A 
 Total Jetta
8,164 
10,261 
-20% 
100,453 
90,805  11%   Beetle Coupe
324 
455 
-29% 
7,704 
8,636  -11%   Beetle  Convertible
388 
462 
-16% 
9,511 
5,775  65% 
 Total Beetle
712 
917 
-22% 
17,215 
14,411  19%   Passat
714 
3,116 
-77% 
14,123  41,401  -66%   CC
2 
11 
-82% 
58 
455 
-87%   Arteon
283  -  N/A  2,449  -  N/A   Tiguan Limited
1 
189 
-99% 
391 
13,546  -97%   Tiguan
7,930 
8,353 
-5.1% 
109,572 
89,476  22%   Total Tiguan
7,931 
8,542 
-7.2% 
109,963 
 103,022 
6.7% 
 Touareg
7 
58 
-88% 
160 
2,022 
-92%   Atlas
7,400 
6,717 
10% 
81,508 
59,677 
37%   Total Car
12,539 
16,730 
-25% 
171,691 
189,343 
-9.3% 
 Total SUV
15,338 
15,317 
0.1% 
191,631 
164,721 
16% 
 TOTAL 
27,877 
32,047  
-13%  
363,322  
354,064  
2.6%