Walking through the show, it occurred to me that too many vehicles were painted silver, white or black. But beyond the paint, there's a lot of automotive diversity on the floor at DeVos Place.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – So many cars, so many options.
The Michigan International Auto Show, which started Thursday, Feb. 6 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 9, offers consumers a glimpse of 300 cars and trucks, some of which are going to annoy you, some that will enthrall you and some that may cause you to consider a trade-in.
Walking through DeVos Place, it occurred to me that too many vehicles were painted silver, white or black. But beyond the paint, there’s a lot of automotive diversity on the floor. Here’s a list of 10 vehicles that I found interesting, for a variety of reasons.
2015 Ford F150: Personally, I like my trucks small and this pre-production model is big. But Ford put a lot of aluminum in the body and bed of this truck, making it up to 700 pounds lighter than its predecessor. Coupled with its 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine that produces great power and gas mileage, this is an elephant that will dance its way into a lot of garages.
2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD: You don’t have to sit around waiting for this one despite the 2015 label. Chevrolet has finished upgrading the heavy-duty version of its award-winning 2014 Silverado 1500 and the dealers are ready to start taking orders. If Ford is a four-letter word in your book and you want the latest in big pickups, look at this one.
2014 Chevrolet Stingray: If trucks aren’t your style, wander over to the blue 2014 Corvette parked nearby. Chevrolet’s latest rendition of its iconic American sports car was just named Car of the Year at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show. At just under $70,000, it’s a bargain compared to some of the supercars across the hall at the Million Dollar Motorway.2014 Chevrolet Volt: By all appearances, not much has changed in 2014 for the pioneering car that runs on a battery charged by an on-board gasoline powered engine. But wait. That battery in that car is now made in nearby Holland by LG Chem, the Korean company that took so much heat for paying its workers to play cards and watch movies while they waited for production to catch up.
2014 C-Max Energi: As long as you’re looking at battery-operated cars, walk over to the Ford stable and check out the C-Max Energi, which operates on the same principles as the Volt. For $35,880, its sticker is about $500 cheaper than the Volt. It’s also more like a small minivan than a sedan. If you want a sedan, check out Ford’s Fusion Energi parked nearby.
2014 Fusion Hybrid: I debated whether to mention the hybrid version of the Fusion or the Fusion Energi. I decided on the Fusion Hybrid because of its gas mileage (47 mpg in the city and highway) and its sticker price, $31,185. Like most hybrids, those two numbers are the only aspects that distinguish these cars from their all-gasoline siblings. If you’re uncertain about future gas prices, why wouldn’t you consider a hybrid.
2104 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid: Speaking of hybrids, Lincoln’s MKZ sedan is beautifully styled inside and out. If you’re going to spend $36,000 and upwards on a luxury car, why not get great gas mileage to boot?
2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid: For the NPR and outdoor crowd, this is the Subaru to have in your garage. It still has Subaru's full-time all-wheel drive and its boxer engine, but the gas mileage is improved thanks to its hybrid power train. Incidentally, I was surprised to see how roomy the seats were in this 5-seater.
2014 PriusV: Toyota did not take its new plug-in Prius to this show nor did it take along its original Prius. If you’re considering a hybrid, take a look at the PriusV, the version they created last year for child-bearing Prius owners who are not ready for a mini-van. I can’t say it’s pretty, but that has never been an issue for Prius loyalists.
2014 Mazda3: This is a fun little car that was recently reworked. It starts for less than $20,000, sips gasoline and offers decent performance and quality. If the Mazda3 is too small or you don't like its grinning grille, check out the Mazda CX-5 parked next to it. For another $6,000 or so, the CX-5 also offers quality transportation for relatively little cash. (Full disclosure: I have been driving an older Mazda3 for several years and love it.)
Have I overlooked a car or brand that deserves our consideration? I probably have. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Jim Harger covers business for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.