As I've been thinking about NAIAS, which just recently ended, two cars have constantly been sticking out in my mind. (And they are at very different ends of the automotive spectrum)
There were a lot of wonderful cars that were on display at the show, but they were all talked about and the two that I have in mind were over to the side.
The first was the Jeep Renegade, a small Jeep that one might compare to a box on wheels. The Renegade isn't out yet, but one was open to sit in and explore. I was pleasantly surprised by the interior space, ergonomics and the overall vehicle. I predict that it will be a superior seller when it hits dealers, especially with the starting price of less than $18,000. If I were in the market for a new, small SUV, I'd pass the Chevy Trax and Nissan Juke for the Renegade.
The second vehicle was the 2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe, a low slung, two-seat coupe which is the first sports car from Jaguar in a long time. From the moment I folded myself into the driver's seat, I was in love. I'm a bigger person, but the seat still fit me like a glove and I found the cabin space extremely comfortable. Speaking of the passenger space, the leather-lined cabin was efficiently laid-out and everything looked and felt top-notch.
Another thing that helps the F-Type is that the exterior is drop-dead gorgeous! Even though styling is always subjective, there is little about the styling of the coupe that could be considered offensive. My two favorite aspects of the exterior are the voluptuous curves at the 'hips' and the throwback taillights that evoke thoughts of the stunning E-Type of the 60s.
The Renegade starts around $18,000 while the F-Type ranges from $65,000 to well over $100,000 for a well-equipped, top-of-the line model.
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