Croc

This clearly benchmarked the Torrent. Good job for Kia, but, like the Torrent, nothing to put them on the must-see lists of America.

I think you'd make a great third grade student.

Better buy a Honda then and invest in a lifetime supply of Depends...

Disagree...I really like that color combo. Also, I think that's more of a light neutral than a gray.

The trim in the AURA most obviously is. Look at it around the ignition switch. FAKE!

The minivans are a separate program.

The grey radio/HVAC unit plastic would also be in piano black. See the SKY interior as an example.

N-I-C-E!!

That thing is stuck in 2002.

That said...props to him on his purchase. Coupe or sedan? Coupe is quite the looker...

Were you shocked when he wasn't shoving sushi down his throat, too?

Well, since I wasn't on the design team, I cannot say for sure, but looking at the pix you posted actually makes it seem like a good decision. I don't see "afterthought" like you do, but rather that Nissan decided to push the shifter forward to allow for more center console storage...or possibly better, bigger cupholders (whatever is beneath that lid). It makes sense to me, since the space between the center stack and the shifter is usually wasted space or a very small, often worthless cubby. The console is too well-integrated beneath the dash for the "afterthought" hypothesis IMO. I dunno...I'll have to sit in one before I judge, but the armrest looks substantial and that covered area is large. Nissan may very well have a great interior packaging solution here...

I like the new Nissan grille, actually.

Ooooo nice interior!

It looks different? Without a side-by-side I don't think I can tell the difference...

I haven't edited out anything from any of my posts? EDIT: I edited a line into one of them, but I haven't edited anything out today.

Once again, Nissan takes the midsize segment by storm and creates what looks to be another solid contender for best in class, especially now that the interior, the last-gen's only weakness, looks much improved. A+

Without knowing the additional improvements that "cannot" be released yet, it appears to be a marginal refresh that raises a barely adequate SUV up to a mediocre one. The Equinox really needs a complete overhaul, especially the interior, to become competitive.

The interior and exterior really ape the B9 Tribeca. I like how the production taillights are not as AUDI like as the sketches appeared (or were those MDX sketches?). Overall, I'm not too impressed, other than the nice interior. It just lacks originality.

Perfect interior. Much better than the last couple out of AUDI. I especially like the placement of the controls next to the navigation screen.

Two words: Job bank.Don't forget Delphi... I don't take the "all mighty" word from anyone. Even evok, with whom I agree more than almost anyone else, can tell you I have disagreed with him a number of times; I just take much of my correspondence with him to PM.

Um, those taillights are straight off the Q7. Can Honda create a unique and aesthetically pleasing styling vocabulary for Acura...please?

Yea, predicting certain doom for a company is really showing your support and being enthusiastic

I am talking about second row. Not third.