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Review: 2014 VW Beetle TDI – One Efficient Beach Cruiser

written by Walter Wang

Few cars are as iconic as the Volkswagen Beetle. The original version of the VW Beetle was manufactured between 1938 and 2003. The original version was a fixture of American culture during the 1960’s and 1970’s and often associated with the hippie movement and surf culture. Driving through coastal Southern California today, you will see classic VW Beetles as well as VW vans with surfboards in tow.

The modern reincarnation of this classic appeared for the 1998 model year. The current 2014 VW Beetle expands on the new Beetle concept in a way that appeals to a wider audience. From the exterior, you notice that the car is slightly more aggressive than its predecessor without losing what I call the happiness factor (you can’t see a VW Beetle and not help but smile). From the interior, there are separate gauges for the turbo boost, a timer, and oil temperature that underscore that this Beetle is something more. Even the steering wheel has a flat bottom. This would make Kevin Bacon proud. It’s hard to drive this car and not think about Kevin Bacon and the classic VW Beetle he drove in the movie Footloose.

The VW Beetle that I tested was a 2014 VW Beetle TDI, meaning this bug runs on diesel. If you have read my reviews in the past, you’ll know that I have been singing the praises of the new generation of turbo diesels that have made their way to US shores. Diesel engines, while down on horsepower, have plenty of torque. The VW Beetle TDI has a 2.0L Turbo 4 cylinder engine good for 140 horsepower and 236 lb. ft. of torque. The car has plenty of giddy-up when called upon. Most importantly, the VW Beetle TDI is one efficient bug. The EPA rates the car at 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway (automatic), 32 combined. In real world testing, I exceeded these numbers. For example, on the freeway, I hit 46.1 mpg en-route to Newport Beach. Point to point on that same trip, the final number was 45.7 mpg, well above EPA estimates. Overall, in mixed driving with a slight lead foot, combined fuel economy was 35 mpg. Depending on your driving habits, one tank of diesel will net you 500 miles or slightly more. Not bad at all!

Spending a week in a VW Beetle TDI puts you in a state of mind. With mild temperatures and great surf, it was time to hit the beach. Time to listen to some reggae tunes on the SiriusXM equipped audio system to set the mood! At the end of the day, you realize you’re relaxed, the fuel gauge has barely moved, and oh wait, come to think of it….the VW Beetle TDI is one efficient beach cruiser. The toffee brown metallic paint was unique and definitely set the car apart from the crowd. Over the course of the week, I did notice on several occasions how wide the C-pillar is when reversing out of certain parking spaces. That being said, no car is ever perfect.

The VW Beetle TDI starts at $24,595 and is real easy to live with. It corners reasonably well and has enough giddy-up for most drivers when needed. More than a few onlookers during the week inquired into the VW Beetle TDI. They were blown away when I mentioned the fuel economy. The VW Beetle is an iconic car no matter which era, now thanks to the diesel engine, it’s a more efficient icon that is sure to draw attention and reward you for many years.



September 1, 2014 0 comment
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Review: 2014 Mazda3 – The Zippy and Efficient Alternative

written by Walter Wang

It has been a year since we last test drove a Mazda3. What a difference a year makes. While the 2013 Mazda3 carried certain admirable traits, the 2014 Mazda3 blows the previous version out of the water.  All new for 2014, the Mazda3 has moved decidedly more upscale and modern.

Our tester was a 5 door hatchback equipped with the a 2.5L four cylinder Skyactiv engine good for 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. The car is rated at 28 mpg city and 38 highway for a combined 32 mpg.  It was relatively easy to hit those numbers if you are not heavy handed with the pedal.  From West Los Angeles to Downtown San Diego, I averaged 38.6 mpg and completed the drive in 2 hours.  Around town, I typically averaged between 25 mpg and 28 mpg.

The exterior follows the company’s Kodo design language and follows closely the lines of the 2014 Mazda6. The attractive lines on the car flow nicely from front to back. One passenger took a look from the rear and immediately thought it looked like a miniature version of the Infiniti QX70.  The design of the interior is quite attractive as well.  The simple and effective layout utilizes better materials than the 2013 model.  The navigation, stereo, and phone are controlled with a circular knob similar to BMW’s iDrive.  The climate control buttons were easy to reach and are straight forward to operate. Our tester was also equipped with heads-up display, lane departure warning, satellite radio, regenerative braking system, and active grill shutters.

The longer track and wider wheelbase provide for more stability when cornering.  The car felt at home on winding roads as well as in normal traffic.  Put the car in sport mode and you can feel it come alive as the engine is kept in the meat of its powerband.  There was always plenty of power to move the Mazda3 around. The paddle shifters were a nice touch for a car in this category.  Probably, the only complaint was the amount of road noise that was coming into the cabin, especially at higher speeds.  Other than that there really is not much to complain about. A fuel sipper that is fun to drive!

Pricing for the Mazda3 starts at $18,945 for the base vehicle which is equipped with a smaller but more fuel efficient engine. Add in the options and a bigger engine like our tester, and the price can swell to $29,185.  The Mazda3 certainly holds its own in a very competitive compact segment competing with the likes of VW, Ford, Toyota, and Hyundai.  The sleek and stylish package both inside and out provide a compelling reason for the Mazda3.  Add in the driving dynamics and this car quickly rises to the top.



April 28, 2014 1 comment
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