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As for the mileage, it isnt class leading but 2pmg isnt going to be noticable in the long run. If the Aura is cheaper than the slightly lower mileage may be an acceptable trade off for most people. As with most models in this class, the base trim will make up the majority of the sales. I don't know enough about final drive ratios and gearing to understand why the Aura's mileage is below average, but my guess would be it's geared to accelerate quickly.
I suspect you are right about the Aura likely being geared for acceleration, although Toyota's new V6 is quick and still delivers suprising gas mileage.
Did you look into the Ford Freestyle? The Freestyle is not as wide or tall then the Outlook, but has more legroom and cargo space behind the 3rd row. The mpg is good too. But it doesn't tow as much, so if you really need a big towing capacity, then the Freestyle isn't for you.
A little off topic, but interesting... Compare the parts origin content on some Toyotas vs some amercian cars like the Ford Fusion. The fusion is 30% Amercian, the Camry 85%. This is the final straw than may make me give up my "big 3" loyalties.
BTW the Freestyle isn't underpowered unless you want to tow a lot. I won't comment on styling or the antenna, because those are just subjective comments. I guess the Freestyle leans more towards the car end of the spectrum and the Outlook leans more towards the SUV end, but the Outlook is pretty similar to the current Freestyle in many ways.
Freestyle/Outlook:
Length (in.) 200.1/200.7
Width (in.) 74.9/78.2
Height w/rack (in.) 68.2/72.8
Head room (in.)
First row 39.4/40.4
Second row 39.8/39.3
Third row 38.6/38.4
Leg room (in.)
First row 41.1/41.3
Second row 40.4/36.9
Third row 33.3/33.2
Shoulder room (in.)
First row 58.4/61.9
Second row 58/61.1
Third row 50.8/57.8
Hip room (in.)
First row 55.5/57.8
Second row 56/ 57.9
Third row 45.9/48.3
Cargo volume (cu. ft.),
Behind 1st row 86.1/117
2nd row (cu. ft.) 47.9/68.9
Behind 3rd row (cu. ft.) 20.8/19.7
From the specs, you can see that the Outlook is a few inches wider and taller, but head room is about the same. Shoulder & hip room is greater in the Outlook by a few inches, but then so is the overall vehicle width. An exception is the 3rd row of the Outlook, which is a lot wider, but then it’s rated for three across where the Freesyle is only two across in the 2nd row. So if you must has capacity for 8, then don’t get the Freestyle. The legroom is actually better for the Freestyle in the 2nd row by 4”, which is a lot. Cargo space behind the 3rd row is a little better for the Freestyle, but that’s probably because it counts the well where the 3rd row folds into. In the Outlook, the 3rd row just folds forward, but in the Freestyle, it folds forward and flips back, like minivans do. And in overall cargo room, the Outlook wins, but again it’s 4 ½ inches taller and about 3 ½ inches wider, so that’s where the extra cargo space comes from packing stuff to the ceiling.
Bottom line is that the Outlook is wider and taller and more SUV-like, where-as the Freestyle is more car-like. You can look at the specs to see which ones mean more to you. For me, the extra legroom in the 2nd row is important, plus I wanted more of a car-like height for climbing in and out. I didn’t need the space of a full sized minivan either, and the Freestyle’s more car-like characteristics are what I like about it. But for those who need more SUV characteristics, then the Outlook seems pretty good. If I needed that much interior space though, I’d just get an Toyota Sienna with a 2nd row bench and AWD if I needed it, since it’s smaller than the Outlook, but has a whole lot more interior room:
Sienna:
Rows 1/2/3
Head room 42.0/40.2/38.1
Shoulder room 63.8/64.9/61.1
Hip room 58.4/67.5/51.8
Leg room 42.9/39.6/39.5
Cargo behind rows 1/2/3 148.9/94.5/43.6
As far as mast antenna's, I don't like power antannas because they go up and down every time you use the radio, so that's just one more thing to break. I've read that grid antennas don't get as good reception, nor do those little post antennas. They put some grooves in the Freestyle's mast antenna to make it quieter too (ie...less wind noise), so I'm satisfied with it. Plus I wash my own car, so the carwash issue isn't a problem with me (and there are no vandals where I live breaking antennas).
The Aura's mileage isnt great, but no GM cars with the 3.6 get class leading mileage. The Camry offers best in class mileage so the Aura (nor any other V6 car) are going to beat it in that regard. There arent a lot of objective reasons to get the Aura over the camry but I personally don't want a camry and thus it will never be on my shopping list. The new camry looks OK, but I like the Aura and G6 better. It also has nice features, but most of them are only on the XLE version which can get pricey with options. I also hate that you cant get wheels larger than 16" on the XLE. The 16s look too small on the car, especially comapred to GM midsizers with 18s.
Aura is supposed to be on sale by July 24th.
To me the "Japanese" companies are becoming more "American" than the "big 3". My gist was if I was comparing buying a Fusion or Camry and needed a tiebreaker, I would definitely buy the Camry due to all the American jobs it was supporting. At least the Aura is to be built in the US.
Daimler makes the MB SUVs in the US. MB sedans are all imported. Most of Daimler's Chrylser and Dodge products are made in the US.
BMW makes the Z and the X cute utes in the US. The BMW Sedans and Minis are imported.
Audis are imported.
Ford imports Volvo for now, but may start making some in the US. The high Euro is killing Volvo profits in NA.
a 2007 Chevy Tahoe/Gmc YUKON
a 2006 Nissan Armada
a 2006 Ford Expedition?
Can you pace yourself and check out a mazda CX-9? It has a huge 3 seat and good mpg with ford's new 3.5. Heres some pics.
Now back to the AURA?
Don't know where you read that, but it is wrong.
The base Aura will have the GM 3.5 V6 in the Malibu and the mid-line G6, among others.
The high end Aura will have the GM 3.6 high output V6 currently found in the Cadillacs and top line Buick LaCrosse.
Neither Aura engine is offered in the current VUE. (the Vue uses the 2.2 ecotec, the 3.5 Honda V6 and will also have the 2.4 with an electric engine in the Hybrid Greenline)
Variable Valve Timing advances or retards the rotation of the cam relative to the piston cycle, so the valves open and close at different times at different rpm. Variable Valve Lift (VTEC, VVL, MIVEC, etc.) uses two different cam profiles to change the duration and height the valves open and close. This gives you a LOT more power than VVT does (30% more hp versus 3%). Honda i-VTEC and Toyota VVTL-i combine both VVT and VVL.
Otherwise i was GUESSING that since it will have the 3.5, it may be hondas. Otherwise gm wouldn't have gotten rid of the 3.9 v6 in favor of a more powerful and efficient v6, the 3.6.
VTEC has several different iterations and the complexity of the system depends on which VTEC is being discussed. VTEC on SOHC engines like the accord V6 is not as complex as VVT used on the GM 3.6V because it doesn't operate on the intake and exhaust valves. Every GM VVT system, except the 4.2L inline 6 and related engines, operate on the intake and exhaust valves. The SOHC VTEC system doesnt yield the same type of power increases as HOnda's DOHC VTEC system which is found on 4 cylinder models. It has two modes, one for low RPM and one for high RPM.
I would get the vehicle in about two months, so it would be cool to get the Aura as there won't be many around. But, I like the Vue also.
I wish I could go to a dealer and see an Aura in person, but because I have to put my order in next week, that isn't an option.
Any suggestions?
I would imagine the next mazda6 would be larger and get more power. You can always hold out for the next great model, but then you would never get a car. The New altima looks OK, but is too similar to the current one. I also am not crazy about the interior and find it no better than the G6 in that regard. In fact, it looks like it was inspired by the G6.
The next Mazda6 has already been confirmed to be bigger and be more powerful. It is based on the Fusion chassis, which incidentally is a stretched Mazda6 chassis. Addditionally, the next Mazda6 will get the new 3.5 engine good for at least 250hp. All this information has already been made public by Mazda USA. I think someone might be smart to hold out until next year if possible. The New Altima, the new Mazda6, the new Stratus/Sebring and let us not forget the new Honda Accord will all be out by then. The whole mid-size segment will basically be brand no with no significant players having a model over two-three years old.
The new Altima in person looks very nice. It is much more like the 350Z in styling than the current generation Altima but most Nissan have a strange familiarity anyway so I can see why people would think it is too close to the current model. THe interior does scream "inspired by Pontiac" though the dash materials are better than in the G6.