2009 Run to the Sun: New car challenge in Central Oregon

Part one: First day impressions of annual road rally

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Jul 31, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Northwest Automotive Press Association

Modern German engineering met the Old West when the 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport visited the historic Central Oregon town of Shaniko.

With all the bad news about the automobile industry, it’s hard to remember just how good most cars are these days.

Sales are down for many reasons, including employment worries, tight credit and unpredictable gas prices. But potential buyers should not be too worried about quality issues. Compared to even just a few years ago, most of today’s cars are well built – and even the least expensive are available with an almost unimaginable array of performance, safety, comfort and convenience features.

That hit home when the Northwest Automotive Press Association sponsored their Fourth Annual Run to the Sun during two days in mid-July. Regional car reviewers had the chance to drive 16 new production models from Portland to Central Oregon and back again over a variety of roads, including freeways, rural highways and twisty back roads. All of them performed exceptionally well – despite temperatures that approached 100 degrees on both days.

Manufacturers included Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Jaguar, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki, Volvo and Volkswagen.

Their products included coupes, sedans, convertible and crossover sports utility vehicles. Prices ranged from under $20,000 to more than $90,000.

One surprise was the growing use of turbocharged engines. Turbos are exhaust-driven turbines that force more air and fuel into the engine during acceleration, creating addtional power when needed. As a result, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine can produce as much power as a six-cylinder engine when needed, while still delivering the mileage of a four-cylinder engine.

After enjoying a surge of popularity in the 1980s, turbocharging largely fell out of favor until recently, when rising gas prices prompted more manufacturers to reconsider them. Six of our test vehicles were turbocharged, and many more are in the works.

Model impressions

No car is perfect, of course. All have design quirks that make comparison-shopping essential. Potential buyers should also check with objective sources like Consumer Reports for information on reliability and fuel economy.

That said, here are quick impressions of the nine models tested on the first day:

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