Day 1 impressions from Steven:
Impressions <JY: All Lexus and Volt pix are in the one new Lexus folder on Sharefile>
Eco-Run’s raison d’etre is twofold: 1) to show consumers considering a new car the latest advances in fuel efficient vehicles of all sizes and snack brackets 2) for the rest of us who aren’t buying, to demonstrate how to drive your current vehicle more efficiently.
Number 2 is the catalyst behind the Green Jersey competition which, daily, awards the driver who demonstrated the greatest efficiency. (Specially installed devices read and interpret our braking and acceleration.) Today, the launch of Eco-Run, it was awarded twice however. Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, attended our kick-off ceremony and gave one ceremonially to the driver who made the most efficient trip from our hotel 10km away to his office. The winner was in front of me on much of the ride and he purposely drove 20 km beneath the 80 km speed limit during much of the trip, slowing the single lane for a score of frustrated commuters behind us. Perhaps such tactics are more fuel efficient but in the real world they’re bound win you plenty of unwanted attention from fellow drivers — even police if you stringently don’t let others pass.
Each driver gets two cars each day. Here are my impressions of today’s rides.
Lexus ES 300h
What I liked: pretty much everything. It’s nimble on its toes, with laser sharp steering. The buttery bright leather doesn’t soak up the sun, increasing increase the need for A/C and just looks sexier than predictable black. The three driving modes, Eco, Normal and Sport each present a different car. To return to normal you need to depress the dial. This is brilliant because you can flip back and forth, in busy or opening traffic, between the other two extremes. You can instantly seize opportunities when you need to and maximize mileage when things are smooth.
Complaints: 1) The point and click infotainment master control will take anyone a while to get used to. If you click in the wrong spot, it doesn’t forgive you easily. 2) I had to immediately accept that I wouldn’t be winning the Green Jersey today. Sure I switched the transmission to hand-shifting to lessen the need for braking but how could I avoid the temptation to rev now and again (and again) in sport mode. Ottawa’s a stressful place!
What’s most interesting: how it delivers 4.8L/100km when it’s so sportily tuned.
Chevrolet Volt
What I liked: Well, outside it’s gorgeous, especially from the back. Yet within it doesn’t disappoint. There’s charming symmetry of design from any passenger’s point of view. The materials used were quality and well assembled. The long hatchback — Priusesque in its extended gentle slope — allows plenty of light to flood in, despite that there’s no sunroof. You can fold the two back seats down to maximize space. The sporty driver’s seat was very comfortable; though the front seats aren’t electric (save the juice for something that matters) it molded to my peculiar scoliosis in seconds. The drive flew by, despite a cruise control set — realistically! — at 99km/h.
Complaints: 1) Some of the GM infotainment and comfort controls get flashy and aren’t intuitive. 2) After a morning in the Lexus, it felt less agile, though it’s a good tight car. 3) Starting at $42,000, it is still very expensive. Other green cars have come way down in price.
What’s most interesting: Not really a hybrid, the Volt is an electric car, which extends its limited range by using a small onboard gasoline engine to generate more juice. I completed an 98 km drive on 1.1L of gas.
