Online Shopping

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53 Review

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Overview

When the elegant Mercedes-Benz E-class doesn't offer enough excitement, the AMG-tuned E53 fills the void with increased performance and edgier styling.

A unique grille and exclusive exterior details help separate its sedan, cabriolet, and coupe body styles from their more pedestrian counterparts. A 429-hp turbocharged six-cylinder power-train and standard all-wheel drive deliver all-weather traction and zealous acceleration.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Of course, the E53 family also maintains Mercedes' luxury pedigree with an eye-catching cabin that boasts cutting-edge technology and upscale materials.

In a class brimming with talented competitors, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E53 ranks among the most remarkable.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

What's New for 2021?

Mercedes-AMG gives the E53 a mild makeover for 2021. The changes are shared between the four-door sedan and the two-door coupe and cabriolet.

These include redesigned front and rear ends, a new steering-wheel design, an enhanced infotainment system, the latest driver assists, and an updated power-train.

The latter combines a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt hybrid system.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Pricing and Which One to Buy

I'd recommend the drop-top cabriolet model. It comes standard with all-wheel drive, an adjustable air suspension, a fully digital dashboard, and a robust infotainment system.

I'd also select upscale options that include the head-up display, massaging front seats, sport-tuned exhaust, ventilated front seats, and the Warmth and Comfort package (heated armrests, heated steering wheel, rapid-heating front-seat cushions).

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Every E53 is powered by an AMG-tuned turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that makes 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque.

It pairs exclusively with a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive. Manual swapping of the gears is available at any time via paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

The last E53 coupe sprints from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The standard air suspension seamlessly makes the switch from twisty-road demon to comfortable freeway cruiser.

Swapping drive modes subtly changes the sedan's road-damping demeanor without becoming either pillowy or punishing.

The steering—as with the other dynamics—is crisp, sweetly responsive, and well balanced, blending feedback and precision. The E53 rides on standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch rollers.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Fuel Economy

Neither the EPA nor Mercedes-AMG have released fuel-economy estimates for the 2021 E53 lineup at the time of writing this post.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The E53 earns top marks for interior build quality and the ability to make its passengers feel as if they have just walked into a fine high-end pastry shop in Paris.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

The sporty, upscale cabin is completed by a collection of deluxe standard and optional features. The standard interior is plenty fancy, but deep-pocketed buyers can elevate the experience further with exotic wood trims, a fragrance atomizer, and massaging front seats. Flashy red seatbelts are standard fare but can be replaced with black belts for free, which I would choose to do.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

The only thing that irked us was the column shifter, which is awkward to use at first, looks out of place in a sports sedan, and feels fragile. The E53 sedan has the smallest trunk volume among most rivals.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Interior storage space is significantly better than the competition, with a commodious center console and a massive underfloor trunk compartment.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Infotainment and Connectivity

A large 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard and supports the company's latest MBUX infotainment system. The unit can be controlled through myriad functions that include a touchpad on the center console, steering-wheel-mounted controls, and voice commands.

The latter are intended to be an intuitive alternative to traditional switchgear. Every E53 also comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Burmester stereo, and wireless charging.

2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The 2021 E53 hasn't been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at the time of writing this post.

While driver-assistance technology such as automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring are standard, most additional equipment costs extra.

Key safety features include:

Available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology
Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
Available automatic high-beam headlights
2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Mercedes-AMG provides competitive limited and power-train warranties. However, the company doesn't offer complimentary scheduled maintenance—something that rivals from BMW and Jaguar do.

Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
Power-train warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
No complimentary scheduled maintenance.
2021 Mercedes-AMG E53

Amazon Hot Deals - Big Sale Events

Subscribe to My YouTube Channel

Luxury Lifestyle - Best Sellers

Monday, October 5, 2020

2021 GMC Acadia Review

2021 GMC Acadia

Overview

On the surface, the 2021 GMC Acadia's handsome exterior design and spacious three-row interior makes it a perfect family SUV, but other SUVs in this price range offer a more elevated experience.

Buyers will choose from a standard four-cylinder, a turbocharged four-cylinder, or a smooth V-6, but none of these power-trains deliver particularly exciting performance or class-leading fuel economy.

2021 GMC Acadia

A user-friendly infotainment interface provides competitive connectivity features, and the GMC's cabin offers highly sought-after second-row captain's chairs.

Still, its interior materials don't live up to the Acadia's asking price, even on the top-spec Denali trim, but thoughtful storage cubbies provide ample space for entire families to stash their road-trip goodies.

2021 GMC Acadia

What's New for 2021?

GMC has made a few packaging changes to the Acadia for 2021. The Pro Safety Plus package, which includes several driver-assistance features, is now standard on SLT, AT4, and Denali.

An Elevation Edition package is now available on the SLE and SLT and includes 20-inch wheels and black exterior accents. A heated steering wheel joins the Premium package for SLT and AT4 trims.

2021 GMC Acadia

Those same trims can now be had with the Technology package, which includes a head-up display and a 360-degree camera system.

Second-row captain's chairs are standard on all but the base SL and three new colors—Cayenne Red Tintcoat, Hunter metallic, and Midnight Blue metallic—join the palette.

2021 GMC Acadia

Pricing and Which One to Buy

I'd choose the mid-level SLT trim, which adds the Acadia's available turbocharged engine, leather first- and second-row seats, and a hands-free tailgate to the equipment list.

In addition to those SLT extras, that model comes with the standard LED headlights, heated, power-adjustable mirrors, and keyless entry and push-button start.

2021 GMC Acadia

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Acadia's base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 193 horsepower and the optional 3.6-liter V-6 makes 310 horsepower.

A nine-speed automatic and front-wheel drive are standard with either engine and all-wheel drive is optional. The 2.5-liter is good for maximizing fuel efficiency, but not much else—it has a measly 1000-pound towing capacity whereas the V-6 can tow up to 4000 pounds.

2021 GMC Acadia

A turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 230 horsepower is also available, but only on the SLT and Denali trims. While you'll never forget that you're driving an SUV, the Acadia is competent and reasonably composed.

The Acadia feels ponderous during high-speed cornering, but when driven in a less aggressive manner (as most people drive most of the time), the ride is forgiving and stable.

An adaptive suspension—standard on the Denali and optional on SLT-2 trims with all-wheel drive—adjusts the dampers every two milliseconds to help smooth out the ride over bumps or to tighten things up if the driver starts feeling frisky.

2021 GMC Acadia

Fuel Economy

The EPA estimates the front-drive version with the base 2.5-liter engine will earn 21 mpg city and 27 highway. The V-6 with front-wheel drive has estimates of 19 mpg city and 27 highway.

The turbocharged engine with front-wheel drive is the thriftiest combination, with ratings of 22 mpg city and 29 highway.

2021 GMC Acadia

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Acadia's compact exterior may help it fit into garages and parking spaces, but it imposes consequences on interior spaciousness.

The interior design is pleasing to the eye, and most controls are intuitive and within reach of the driver. A black-and-white gauge cluster with red needles provides information at a glance

2021 GMC Acadia

Denali models feature a reconfigurable center screen that provides a plethora of additional vehicle information depending on the driver's settings.

2021 GMC Acadia

The tilting-and-telescoping steering column could use more range to give very tall or very short drivers a comfortable position, but it still works for most people.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel features aluminum trim that is convincingly upscale. Unfortunately, some of the interior materials have a cheap look and feel.

2021 GMC Acadia

Infotainment and Connectivity

When it comes to technology, the Acadia offers plenty for the whole family. From an abundance of USB ports to a Wi-Fi hotspot, passengers can easily stay connected.

The touchscreen infotainment system is intuitive and responsive; charging more than one device that requires a 12-volt outlet may prove a challenge, as only one of those outlets is provided.

2021 GMC Acadia

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The 2021 Acadia earned a five-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the last version that was evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) wasn't named a Top Safety Pick.

Its driver-assistance technologies add an additional level of protection, but they're either expensive options or they force the buyer to choose one of the costly top trims.

Key safety features include:

Available automated emergency braking
Available lane-keeping assist
Available blind-spot monitoring
2021 GMC Acadia

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Acadia comes with a comprehensive warranty and maintenance coverage package as standard, with additional protection plans available from dealers.

Hyundai offers longer limited and power-train warranties, but GMC does cover the Acadia's first maintenance visit within the first year of ownership.

Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
Power-train warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit.
2021 GMC Acadia

Amazon Hot Deals - Big Sale Events

Subscribe to My YouTube Channel

Luxury Lifestyle - Best Sellers

Sunday, October 4, 2020

2021 Lexus ES Review

2021 Lexus ES

Overview

Even though the 2021 Lexus ES is a sedate offering in a segment dominated by legitimate sports sedans, it delivers what a certain group of luxury car buyers are looking for in terms of comfort, ride quality, and effortless cruising capability.

Three power-trains are offered: A V-6 engine with 302-hp, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with all-wheel drive, or a hybrid setup that delivers fantastic fuel economy.

2021 Lexus ES

As for luxury, the ES's cabin is a lovely space that's lined with fine materials, supportive seats, and plenty of technology features and connectivity options.

What's the downside? The Lexus doesn't deliver the same level of driving satisfaction as the sportier luxury cars it competes against.

But, for the price of an entry-level 2021 Audi A6 or 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-class you can have a well-loaded ES—which makes it an unbeatable value in this highly competitive segment.

2021 Lexus ES

What's New for 2021?

Lexus is adding the ES250 to the ES lineup this year, which is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Like Lexus' RX SUV, the ES sedan also receives a Black Line Special Edition package for 2021.

2021 Lexus ES

Based on the F Sport model, the Black Line package adds black exterior trim, a black lip spoiler, a white interior, and a two-piece matching luggage set from Zero Halliburton.

Elsewhere, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is now standard on Ultra Luxury and F Sport models, a new Rich Cream interior color is available, and Lexus's Enform Safety Connect suite of connectivity features—including onboard Wi-Fi—is now standard across the entire range.

2021 Lexus ES

Pricing and Which One to Buy

I think upgrading to the ES350 Ultra Luxury trim is worth it even though it increases the price significantly over the base model.

Including all of the standard features from the mid-range Luxury trim, the Ultra Luxury model adds special 18-inch wheels, semi-aniline leather upholstery, a hands-free power trunk lid, a power rear sunshade, a wood-and-leather steering wheel, and an adaptive suspension.

To that, I'd add the Navigation package, which upgrades the infotainment display to the larger 12.3-inch setup and adds in-dash navigation and voice recognition.

2021 Lexus ES

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2021 Lexus ES gives buyers a choice of three power-trains. The ES250 is powered by a 203-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

2021 Lexus ES

All ES350 trims come with a 3.5-liter V-6 that generates 302 horsepower and is governed by an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

2021 Lexus ES

With all ES350h trims, motivation comes from a hybrid power-train that provides a net output of 215 horsepower

A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive are standard.

The gas-only ES350 goes from a standstill to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The hybrid variant does the dash in a more leisurely 8.3 seconds.

2021 Lexus ES

This Lexus sedan exhibits the composed handling and forgiving ride quality that's cherished by many luxury-car shoppers.

For those seeking keener handling, the F Sport trim adds larger wheels and suspension tuning that's more performance oriented.

Even with this upgrade, though, the ES is less athletic than competing models such as the BMW M5-series.

2021 Lexus ES

Fuel Economy

According to the EPA, mileage for the Lexus ES350 tops out at 22/32 mpg city/highway. As you'd expect, the ES350h hybrid is even more frugal, achieving mileage of 43/44 mpg.

The EPA hasn't released fuel economy estimates for the new ES250 yet at the time of writing this post, but Lexus claims it's capable of a 28 mpg combined city/highway rating.

2021 Lexus ES

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

With its stylish, asymmetrical dash and high-quality materials, the ES's cabin creates a plush environment for passengers. Both rows offer enough legroom for the long-legged, and the seats provide comfortable support.

2021 Lexus ES

Notably, the cabin is unfailingly peaceful, even when the ES is being driven at highway speeds.

2021 Lexus ES

Both gas-only and hybrid models provide 17.0 cubic feet of room in the trunk, and this gives the ES more cargo space than rivals such as the Volvo S90 (14.0 cubic feet) and Acura TLX (14.0 cubic feet).

2021 Lexus ES

Unfortunately, the ES isn't available with a folding rear seat. This makes it difficult for this Lexus to accommodate outsize cargo.

2021 Lexus ES

Infotainment and Connectivity

Luxury-car buyers look for vehicles offering the latest and greatest tech features, and the 2021 Lexus ES doesn't disappoint.

It comes standard with an infotainment system governed by an 8.0-inch central display, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are onboard to provide hassle-free device integration.

2021 Lexus ES

All models come with a 10-speaker sound system equipped with SiriusXM satellite radio.

The list of standard tech amenities also includes Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth phone and music streaming, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Scout GPS Link navigation.