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FEATURES
February 25, 2015
Feature: A New Era of Blossoming SUVs
Feature: The Flourishing New Era of SUVs
SUVs Make Car Choices More Exciting in 2014
The SUV category, once a booming trend that has now become a staple, is once again the scene of fierce competition. From the original Jeep and Land Rover, geared towards professional use, to luxury models and city-friendly options, manufacturers are launching a wave of new models. The SUV market is truly a battlefield of a thousand flowers in full bloom. OPENERS is focusing on this latest SUV landscape. We've compiled everything from test drives of the newest models, many of which are arriving in Japan, to hot topics.
Feature Story
OPENERS Car Special Feature
The Thriving Small & Mid-size Segment SUVs
The current popularity of SUVs, spearheaded by Japanese manufacturers in the 1990s, has grown so rapidly that even brands known as luxury car makers cannot ignore it. Satoshi Watanabe discusses the current state of the SUV world, which has achieved such rapid growth.
Car Impression
Porsche Macan
Test Drive Porsche's Second SUV, the Macan
Porsche is launching the "Macan" as its second SUV after the "Cayenne." To ascertain the capabilities of this new machine, which boasts a more compact and sportier look, we test drove it in Leipzig, Germany.
Audi SQ5
Test Drive the Audi SQ5, the First S Model SUV from Audi
We test drove the "SQ5," the first S model in Audi's Q model SUV lineup. How does the SQ5 differ from the regular Q5? Journalist Satoshi Watanabe savors the subtle nuances of Audi's tuning, hidden within the 760,000 yen price difference.
Ford EcoSport
Test Drive the Ford EcoSport Overseas
The "EcoSport," a compact SUV, will be introduced to Japan as the fourth global car from Ford. This model is a crossover SUV based on the Fiesta. Prior to its domestic sales, Hirohisa Kaneko test drove it in Thailand, where the factory is located.
Mercedes-Benz GLA
The Appeal of the GLA, Which Achieves a "Truly Mercedes" Driving Experience
Mercedes-Benz has launched a new series of compact cars. The "GLA Class," the final addition to this family, has finally appeared on public roads. Yasuhiko Kawamura drove it in Malaga, a port town on the Mediterranean coast of southern Spain.
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Test Drive the New Range Rover Sport
The new "Range Rover Sport" has been reborn as a completely new model with an all-aluminum body, downsizing engines, and evolved Terrain Response. Tatsuyuki Kushima explores its appeal.
Jeep Compass / Wrangler / Grand Cherokee
Performance Worthy of the Name "Jeep"
The "Jeep" began its history in 1941 as a military vehicle for the US Army. Its rugged body and four-wheel-drive suspension embody today's SUV image. We embarked on a long drive to Hakuba, Happo-one in Nagano Prefecture during mid-winter, test driving the latest models.
BMW X5
Test Drive the Fully Redesigned New "X5" in Japan
The X5, considered the originator of BMW's SUVs, was fully redesigned for its third generation in 2013. The model prepared for this test drive is the "xDrive35d," equipped with a 3-liter inline-6 diesel engine. Report by Tatsuyuki Kushima.
Ford Kuga
Ford's New Compact SUV, the "Kuga"
Like the "Focus," the second-generation "Kuga" features the latest Kinetic Design and has been released as a globally standardized model under the "One Ford" initiative. What is Ford's global standard SUV like? Kenichi Sakurai test drove it.
Mercedes-Benz G 350 BlueTEC
Test Drive the G-Class Diesel "G 350 BlueTEC"
The Mercedes-Benz "G-Class," with its virtually unchanged appearance since its debut, boasts enduring popularity. The model reintroduced to the domestic market last year, after a 23-year hiatus, is an ambitious vehicle with a diesel engine and right-hand drive, priced under 10 million yen.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Test Drive the Latest Jeep "Grand Cherokee"
Jeep brand vehicles, arguably the epitome of American SUVs, continue to evolve in unseen ways. Tomoshi Shiomi test drove the new "Grand Cherokee" on both public roads and off-road.