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To get an early take on this new sedan, we borrowed a press car from Hyundai that we could put through its paces at our Auto Test Center. Our initial impressions are that the Equus feels very luxurious, with a comfortable ride and a mostly hushed interior. Cabin furnishings are top-notch. The 4.6-liter V8 and six-speed automatic are very impressive. But the Equus isn’t as engaging to drive as its sportier counterparts. In that regard, the Equus’ overall character reminds us more of the Lexus LS 460. And that’s not bad company to keep, considering the LS 460 has the highest overall test score in our current ratings. But the Equus lacks the Lexus’s eerily quiet cabin and ultimate ride comfort.

We’ll have to wait until the Equus goes on sale this fall before we can buy one to put through our full battery of tests. In the meantime, check out the video for our early impressions.

—Eric Evarts

Unveiled: 2011 Dodge Durango - What do you think?

After a recent sneak peek, Dodge has officially pulled the covers off its all-new, third-generation Durango. While the original was a truck-based, rough-and-ready SUV, the 2011 Durango is a unibody crossover (available with rear- or all-wheel drive) promising more real-world refinement as well as off-pavement and towing abilities to satisfy the needs for most customers. Think of it as now targeting the Chevrolet Traverse, rather than the Tahoe.

It is powered by the new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 engine, with a 6,200-lb. tow capacity. For more might, a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 will be available with a 7,400-lb. tow capacity—more than enough for a typical 24-foot boat and trailer. Horsepower and fuel economy figures have not been released. However, we can guess the output, as these power plants are shared with the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. There, the V6 produces 290 horsepower and the V8 churns out 360 horsepower.
The three-row interior is said to be more passenger friendly than before, with better materials and attention to design. We had a chance to briefly preview the Durango, and the cabin made a better first impression than the outgoing model. We'll know more when we test a real production model.

Safety features include standard three-row curtain air bags, active head restraints, and stability control. Available premium equipment includes adaptive cruise control, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection.

The new Durango goes on sale late in 2010. See more 2011 Durango photos.

How do you like the overall package and styling? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

—Jeff Bartlett

How will your car rate under new EPA fuel economy window stickers?

Even with fuel economy ratings on window stickers, it can be difficult for consumers to judge how efficient their car is compared to others at a glance. That's one thing that the Environmental Protection Agency's new fuel economy labels are designed to address by assigning letter grades to every model.

According to EPA assistant administrator Gina McCarthy, the letter grades—from "A+" to "D"—will be assigned on a bell curve, with the median being a "B-." That means most cars will cluster around a "B-," while few will get an "A+" or "D." Specifically, according to the joint notice of proposed rulemaking by the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 697 of the 2012 model-year vehicles will get a "B-," while 14 will get an "A-." There will be a dozen vehicles that get the lowest mark, "D." (The EPA counts each drivetrain variation within a model separately.)

For now, no cars rate an "A" or an "A+." According to the schema, only pure electric cars would be eligible for an "A+," only plug-in hybrids could get an "A," and only conventional hybrids could get an "A-," says McCarthy. (Whether those cars deserve that grade comes down to where the electricity they use comes from, which consumers can find out from the QR Code on the new window sticker.) So far only the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti rates a "D," and only the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, and Toyota Prius rate an "A-."

Other interesting examples include the Ford Escape, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry hybrids, which each get a "B+," and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which gets a "B." The Honda CR-V and four-cylinder Toyota RAV4 each rate a "B+," while other popular small SUVs such as the Subaru Forester and the V6-powered RAV4 only get a "B." Several family sedans such as the Honda Accord and Chevrolet Malibu are rated "B" with in their four-cylinder engine variants, while the V6 versions get a "B-."

Most large half-ton pickups, as well as popular midsized SUVs such as the Honda Pilot and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, are rated "C+."

If approved, the new system may take a little getting used to. But just like in school, a "C" isn't a very good grade, while only the stars will get "A+." To see how your car rates, check out page 37 of the PDF of the agencies' proposed rule.

Learn more about the window stickers under consideration, and share your opinion.

Also read:
New-car fuel-economy stickers promise abundant information and connectivity
Your vote: Should new car fuel economy labels include letter grades?

—Eric Evarts

See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline. Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels.