{"id":23314,"date":"2019-01-17T13:21:14","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T17:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=23314"},"modified":"2019-01-17T13:21:14","modified_gmt":"2019-01-17T17:21:14","slug":"detroit-auto-show-consumer-guide-suvs-and-crossovers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/detroit-auto-show-consumer-guide-suvs-and-crossovers","title":{"rendered":"Detroit auto show consumer guide: SUVs and crossovers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"speakable-p-1 p-text\">The automotive landscape has been transformed by SUVs since the Great Recession. Essentially\u00a0the rebirth of station wagons \u2014 except more rugged-looking and riding higher for better visibility \u2014 the five-door box is America&#8217;s family favorite.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-2 p-text\">New utes abound at this year\u2019s show as automakers try to fill every niche from subcompact SUVs to giant, soccer-team haulers. Here are the latest in Detroit.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-RfhLew-8JI4\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/e96e6624-3fa7-47f3-913e-c60e83048121-2019-0114-dm-naias-features0551.jpg?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Ford Explorer ST\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/e96e6624-3fa7-47f3-913e-c60e83048121-2019-0114-dm-naias-features0551.jpg\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/e96e6624-3fa7-47f3-913e-c60e83048121-2019-0114-dm-naias-features0551.jpg?width=500&amp;height=346\" \/><span class=\"mycapture-btn-wrap\"><span class=\"mycapture-non-priority-horizontal-image mycapture-btn-with-text js-mycapture-btn js-mycapture-photo-asset\">Buy Photo<\/span><\/span>Ford Explorer ST\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Daniel Mears \/ The Detroit News, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><strong>Ford Explorer<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\"><strong>What it is:\u00a0<\/strong>Where to begin? The best-selling SUV of all-time has been redesigned from stem to stern. Shared with Lincoln&#8217;s Aviator, the three-row SUV chassis is now rear-wheel drive biased with all-wheel drive optional. Extensive use of aluminum saves 300 pounds, which will assist first-ever ST performance and fuel-efficient hybrid models. Inside, the Explorer bristles with high-tech gadgets from one-button park-assist to third-row access with the touch of one button. The Explorer is immediately recognizable by its signature\u00a0&#8220;flying c-pillar,&#8221; but the front grille is deeper with more-integrated headlights.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Payne\u2019s take:<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0Explorer has always been a poor man&#8217;s Range Rover, and now with its Rover-like rear-wheel drive chassis it is more Rover-like than ever. Standard features abound, including blind-spot assist and auto high-beams. But load up the handsome $55,000 Platinum trim with seven drive-modes and park-assist. and you have Rover specs for half the price.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-RfhLew_o39U\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/4bd6b35f-8152-443d-a3ee-d609dded62f0-011319_FLJJ_naias_xt6_10.jpg?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Cadillac XT6 sports edition\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/4bd6b35f-8152-443d-a3ee-d609dded62f0-011319_FLJJ_naias_xt6_10.jpg\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/4bd6b35f-8152-443d-a3ee-d609dded62f0-011319_FLJJ_naias_xt6_10.jpg?width=500&amp;height=333\" \/>The 2020 Cadillac XT6 sports edition\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Jose Juarez, Special to Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><strong>Cadillac XT6<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\"><strong>What it is:<\/strong>\u00a0The three-row XT6 is Cadillac&#8217;s first non-truck based, three-row ute. It slots in between Caddy&#8217;s best-selling XT5 and the GM pickup-based Escalade. Based on the same architecture as the smaller XT5, the Cadillac nevertheless manages to carve out a third-row seat roomier than a base Escalade.\u00a0A much-improved CUE infotainment system is standard with touchscreen and remote-rotary knob operation. The big rig is powered by a a 310-horse V-6 engine mated to 9-speed auto tranny.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\"><strong>Payne\u2019s take:\u00a0<\/strong>Every SUV that Cadillac introduces right now is important for a brand that is way behind in the SUV game. While the King of Bling Escalade will remain Cadillac&#8217;s SUV flagship, expect the XT6 to draw more buyers looking for better fuel economy, ride and park-ability. The XT6 faces formidable competition from the Audi Q7 and reborn crosstown-rival Lincoln \u2014\u00a0but it should be a winner if priced right.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\"><strong>Lincoln Aviator<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-RfhLew_zSO8\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"single-photo float\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/2e2bd4e6-3c6f-4355-a330-a12c0d4bc525-2019-0115-dm-naias1057.jpg?width=180&amp;height=240&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Lincoln Aviator\" width=\"180\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/2e2bd4e6-3c6f-4355-a330-a12c0d4bc525-2019-0115-dm-naias1057.jpg\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/2e2bd4e6-3c6f-4355-a330-a12c0d4bc525-2019-0115-dm-naias1057.jpg?width=359&amp;height=400\" \/>Lincoln Aviator\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Daniel Mears, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\"><strong>What it is:<\/strong>\u00a0Lincoln likes to talk about the owner experience, not N\u00fcrburgring lap times. Call it \u201cquiet flight.\u201d Approach the Aviator and the mirror projects an image of the Lincoln logo on the ground. The doors unlock. The car kneels to help you get in if you opt for air suspension. Open the door and a chime recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra plays.\u00a0As for the oily bits, the Aviator will be powered by a healthy turbo V-6 pumping out 400 horses mated to a smooth, 10-speed tranny.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Payne\u2019s take:<\/strong>\u00a0Call it Navigator Jr. Like its extravagant big brother, the Aviator wraps you in luxury with 30-way\u00a0massaging seats and tasteful touches like a tablet screen. But the Lincoln shouldn\u2019t be shy about its chassis engineering, either. Its platform is rear-wheel-drive based (with all-wheel drive optional), which gives it Range Rover proportions, good towing capacity\u00a0and lots of rear cargo room. Lincoln touts the plug-in hybrid version as the most powerful in the segment with 450 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-RfhLew-p0n8\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/f2e9f1ae-9a37-41fb-ae37-8ba3d06e2cd5-2019-0114-dg-autoshow0381.jpg?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Kia Telluride\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/f2e9f1ae-9a37-41fb-ae37-8ba3d06e2cd5-2019-0114-dg-autoshow0381.jpg\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/15\/PDTN\/f2e9f1ae-9a37-41fb-ae37-8ba3d06e2cd5-2019-0114-dg-autoshow0381.jpg?width=500&amp;height=333\" \/><span class=\"mycapture-btn-wrap\"><span class=\"mycapture-non-priority-horizontal-image mycapture-btn-with-text js-mycapture-btn js-mycapture-photo-asset\">Buy Photo<\/span><\/span>The 2020 Kia Telluride\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: David Guralnick, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><strong>Kia Telluride<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\"><strong>What it is:<\/strong>\u00a0Following sister-brand Hyundai&#8217;s jump into the three-row crossover space with the Palisade (first time in Detroit after its Los Angeles Auto Show\u00a0debut), Kia introduces its own jumbo-ute.\u00a0Built at the same Georgia plant as Kia\u2019s stylish mid-size Sorento SUV, the Telluride has a more rugged view with boxier styling and a more-powerful\u00a0turbo engine option.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Payne\u2019s take:<\/strong>\u00a0While producing sexy sedans like the Stinger coupe and Optima, Kia is keeping up with the Joneses with another family ute. The Telluride brings Kia&#8217;s stylish look to a growing segment with household names like the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander. Boxier than its elegant Sorento sister, this bro\u00a0brings an off-road Jeep Wagoneer vibe a year ahead of the Wagoneer&#8217;s expected intro. Ride it on Cobo\u2019s Telluride Torque Track.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-RfhLew__BoY\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/ef68aaf0-246e-4f19-baca-6b887a0338d2-2019-0115-dm-naias1085.jpg?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Kia Niro EV\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/ef68aaf0-246e-4f19-baca-6b887a0338d2-2019-0115-dm-naias1085.jpg\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/ef68aaf0-246e-4f19-baca-6b887a0338d2-2019-0115-dm-naias1085.jpg?width=500&amp;height=333\" \/><span class=\"mycapture-btn-wrap\"><span class=\"mycapture-non-priority-horizontal-image mycapture-btn-with-text js-mycapture-btn js-mycapture-photo-asset\">Buy Photo<\/span><\/span>Kia Niro EV\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Daniel Mears, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><strong>Kia Niro EV<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\"><strong>What it is:<\/strong>\u00a0The third member of the Niro crossover family after the gas-engine and plug-in hybrid versions is a 239-mile-range EV. You\u2019ll know it by its closed-off cheese-grater grille and blue accents. True to Kia\u2019s vibe, it promises fun-to-drive characteristics like a regenerative paddle on the steering wheel so you can bring the car to a stop without ever touching the brake pedal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Payne\u2019s take:<\/strong>\u00a0The 239-mile range of the Niro EV (subtract about 30 percent in Michigan winter) is Kia&#8217;s answer to the Chevrolet Bolt hatchback. The front-wheel drive EV offers an impressive 291 pound-feet of torque and can be fully recharged in about 10 hours if you have a 240-volt charger in your garage. Expect a price around $38,000\u00a0before federal tax credits.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-RfhLew_XwFs\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/0bf551f7-8f5e-4d48-9031-65e860f71ebf-2019-0115-dm-naias1079.jpg?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Kia Soul X-Line\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/0bf551f7-8f5e-4d48-9031-65e860f71ebf-2019-0115-dm-naias1079.jpg\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/01\/16\/PDTN\/0bf551f7-8f5e-4d48-9031-65e860f71ebf-2019-0115-dm-naias1079.jpg?width=500&amp;height=333\" \/><span class=\"mycapture-btn-wrap\"><span class=\"mycapture-non-priority-horizontal-image mycapture-btn-with-text js-mycapture-btn js-mycapture-photo-asset\">Buy Photo<\/span><\/span>Kia Soul X-Line\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Daniel Mears, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><strong>Kia Soul<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"article-body-p-last\" class=\"p-text p-text-last\"><strong>What it is:\u00a0<\/strong>The third generation of Kia\u2019s compact hamster-mobile makes its first Detroit appearance after bowing in at the Los Angeles show.\u00a0The exterior gets a cool, edgy remake with thinner headlights, horizontal upper grille\u00a0and rad\u00a0boomerang tail lights. The signature \u201cisland\u201d remains in the rear hatch. The roomy millennial-friendly interior is less changed while offering lots of safety features like blind-spot assist and adaptive cruise-control. New X-line and GT-Line trims are added \u2014 the latter primed for performance when matched with the top-of-the-line 201-horse turbo mill. The base engine squeezes out 147 ponies and has a hamster-friendly $18,000\u00a0starting price.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Payne\u2019s take:<\/strong>\u00a0Long live the box! The Kia Soul has proven\u00a0resilient as other cubes hit the ditch: Nissan Cube, Scion xB, Honda Element. The third-generation Soul looks poised to boogie on with a stylish exterior remake, two sporty trims\u00a0and a peppy turbo-4 option. Alas, weary winter-weather wanderers, the Soul doesn\u2019t get all-wheel drive. For that, you\u2019ll have to get the slightly more conventional-looking Kona ute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The automotive landscape has been transformed by SUVs since the Great Recession. Essentially\u00a0the rebirth of station wagons \u2014 except more rugged-looking and riding higher for better visibility \u2014 the five-door box is America&#8217;s family favorite. New utes abound at this year\u2019s show as automakers try to fill every niche from subcompact SUVs to giant, soccer-team [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23314"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23314\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}