Chris Martineson News Article

Online, December 29, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Chris Martineson Article - Chris Martineson Bio
Honda Fit Base
Who Should Buy This Vehicle

The Fit is a good buy for people concerned about fuel economy who still want a car that seats up to five and offers wonderful utility. Young drivers will love its sporty handling, while everyone can appreciate its surprisingly generous cargo capacity. In that respect, SUV drivers looking to downsize might find that their needs are still met by the 2008 Honda Fit. But keep in mind that this is more of an around-towner than a long-distance cruiser.

Honda Civic Hybrid Chris Martineson : Function
As is typically the case with any Civic, the hybrid's climate controls are very simple, intuitive and easy to use. Unfortunately, the audio-navigation system controls drew mixed reviews. The small knobs, rocker switches and buttons all look and feel too similar to each other, and they seem flimsy. But we appreciated the logically arranged menus and the detailed audio graphics of the touchscreen navigation system. Voice activation makes programming the navigation system a breeze - unlike other systems, you can enter a destination while driving.

Chris Martineson Article Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited

While this fresh Forester isn't perfect, our criticisms may seem insignificant to compact SUV shoppers. The slow-witted four-speed transmission makes the turbocharged engine feel less powerful than it is, for example, but the 2.5XT Limited is nonetheless quick enough for most tastes. As-tested price is another issue, but if you can do without our tester's navigation system and luxurious appointments, the base Forester 2.5XT stickers for a more palatable $26K. One unequivocal shortcoming is fuel mileage: The aforementioned Toyota is appreciably more efficient while delivering similarly brisk acceleration.

Chris Martineson Toyota Corolla XLE Performance

Like the rest of the car, the nice-and-easy steering weighting and comfort-first ride should be appreciated by older drivers who are looking for a budget-priced Buick. This was a sentiment shared by our real-world consumer testers (from a variety of age demographics), who were nevertheless universally unimpressed by the Corolla's dynamic abilities. They felt less in control than in the other cars in the test (Civic, Mazda Mazda3), with noticeable body roll and unresponsive steering being frequently mentioned detractors.

Chris Martineson Blog
Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Prototype
Function

The Equinox Fuel Cell's climate controls are certifiably idiot-proof, consisting of three large knobs that are unmistakable for anything else. In an unconventional nod to BMWs past, the power window switches are mounted on the center console. The stereo faceplate features easily deciphered buttons, though sound quality is strictly average. Cargo volume is relatively limited due to the hydrogen tanks and non-folding rear seats, measuring a mere 32 cubic feet.

Chris Martineson Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV Sport: Comfort

The rear seats are near mirror images of their forward counterparts, as the Sport package includes rear bucket seats. This is great for outboard occupants, but perches the poor schmoe stuck in the middle up onto the buckets' edges and into the ceiling. Seating capacity could better be described as 4+1.
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