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Presidents Celebration!

*Factory & finance rebates, customer cash, and other incentives in lieu of low APR financing. Savings listed above include all applicable factory & finance rebates and incentives. For well qualified buy-ers. Some exclusions may apply. Select models for special incentives vary by model year and model. See dealer for complete details. Offer ends 2/28/13.

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Autos PlusE2 • The Sentinel Sunday, February 17, 2013

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2000 Nissan Maxima SE #507496, V6, Automatic .................................................$4,9952000 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 #132870............................$11,9952001 Chevrolet Venture LS #282543.....................................................................$5,9952002 Mercedes Benz E-Class E430 #432273 ...............................................$6,9952003 Dodge Grand Caravan ES #159467, Leather, Rear DVD .........................$7,9952003 Dodge Caravan SXT #235017, PW, PL, Cruise, Tilt.......................................$4,9952004 Volkswagen Touareg #070414, V8, Heated Leather, Sunroof..................$10,9952004 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Quad 4x4 #766000, 5.7L, Hemi...................$15,9952004 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 #413225, 5.3L, V8, Clean! ......$11,9952005 Saturn Relay 2 Minivan #160003 ..............................................................$7,9952005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 #553820, V8 .............................$9,9952005 Ford Explorer XLT #68503, V8, AWD, Rear DVD, 66k Miles ..........................$9,9952005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT #411273, 1-Owner, Clean!..........................$7,9952005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT #264202, Low Miles.................................$10,9952005 Buick Lacrosse CXL #320965, Only 50k Miles ............................................$9,9952006 Jeep Wrangler 4x4 #740441, Soft top, Manual Transmission ..................$14,9952006 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie #155295, 5.9L Diesel, 1-Owner...............$27,9952007 Pontiac Torrent AWD #434404, V6, Automatic.............................................$9,9952007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 #599885.............................$17,9952007 Honda Pilot EX-L #523850, Sunroof, Leather ..............................................$17,9952007 Honda Civic Si #707303, Suspension Kit, Clean!...........................................$14,9952007 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 Extended Cab #61740 ...............................$16,9952007 Ford Focus ZX4 SES #207628, Only 28k Miles .........................................$11,9952007 Ford Expedition XLT #01646, 3rd Row Seat, 4x4 .....................................$17,9952007 Dodge Nitro SLT #578716, Heated Leather, Sunroof ....................................$14,9952007 Dodge Charger SE #815623, PW, PL............................................................$13,9952007 Dodge Caliber RT AWD #230021 ..............................................................$11,9952007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited #167131...................................$13,9952007 Chrysler 300 #879385, Very Clean! Low Miles ...............................................$12,9952008 Scion tC #247618, Special Turbo Charged, 16k Miles .......................................$13,9952008 Nissan Altima 3.5SE #221298, Only 51k Miles ........................................$14,995

2008 Mercury Grand Marquis GS #634868, Only 34k Miles.......................$12,9952008 Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD #139125.......................................................$18,9952008 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon #580011 ...........................................................$18,9952008 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad 4x4 #534133, Hemi, Only 22k Miles ...........$24,9952008 Dodge Avenger SXT #115218, Like New, Only 28k Miles, 18”Wheels ......$13,9952008 Chrysler PT Cruiser Touring #150704, Loaded...................................$10,9952008 Chevrolet Uplander LS #203903 .................................................................$9,9952008 Chevrolet Avalanche LT 4x4 #213291.................................................$25,9952008 Chevrolet Avalanche LT #148182, 20”Wheels, Leather........................$27,9952008 Cadillac Escalade ESV #214035, AWD, Loaded!.....................................$36,9952009 Mazda 5 Grand Touring #329307, Leather .............................................$12,9952009 Ford Fusion SE #181658.................................................................................$12,9952009 Dodge Charger SXT #521053, 1-Owner.....................................................$14,9952009 Chrysler Town & Country #528034 .......................................................$14,9952009 Chrysler Town & Country LX #570133................................................$13,9952009 Chevrolet 1500 LT Crew Cab 4x4 #282061, Clean ........................$27,9952010 Subaru Forester 2.5x Limited #705538 ............................................$19,9952010 Nissan Frontier SE #439468, V6, 4x4 .........................................................$23,9952010 Jeep Wrangler Sport #151064, 4 Door .....................................................$24,9952010 Ford F-150 Crew Cab XLT #29328, 4x4 ................................................$25,9952010 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT 4x4 #103786 ...........................$27,9952010 Dodge Challenger #137425, Only 9k Miles, Looks Great! .........................$22,9952011 Ram 1500 Quad Cab #508972, Big Horn, 20”Wheels .............................$27,9952011 Mazda 3i Touring #451388, Only 13k Miles ................................................$14,9952011 Kia Optima EX #091792, Turbo Charged ........................................................$20,9952011 Hyundai Sonata Limited #169787, Loaded!...........................................$20,9952011 Hyundai Elantra GL Touring #099822, Only 8k Miles.........................$15,9952011 Dodge Journey #517221, 20”Wheels, Sunroof ............................................$22,9952011 Dodge Charger SE #607863.........................................................................$17,9952011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ #261295, AWD, Loaded! .....................................$24,9952012 Dodge Journey SXT #213767 .....................................................................$20,995

*NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

OF SHIPPENSBURG

Autos PlusSunday, February 17, 2013 The Sentinel • E3

ViewAll Our Inventory at hhchev.com

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New 2013 SILVERADO2500HD 4X4CREW CABStock# 730936.0L V8, Auto, A/C, CD Tow Package, Snow Plow

New 2013 VOLTStock# 13052Comfort Package, Heated SeatsEnhanced Safety Package, Rear Camera

New 2013 SUBURBANZ71 4X4Stock# 73056Navigation, DVD, Leather, Sunroof,Power Heated Seats, XM, OnStar,Rear Camera, Tow Package

New 2013 TRAVERSELT AWDALLSTAREDITIONStock# 73058Power Heated Seats, 20”WheelsOnStar, XM

All About Cars

Mazda CX-5: Award-winning crossover with new designThe Mazda CX-5 compact

family crossover is a pleaser that has impressed experts and the buying public. The small sports-ute that re-placed the Mazda Tribute and has carried on in the wake of the CX-7’s depar-ture has been an award-winning darling this year, as it has been named among the top “green”, “safe” and utility/crossover vehicles.

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 has won top honors as the International Federation of Automotive Journal-ists (FIPA) “SUV of the year for the Americas”; “Most Earth-friendly’ Truck of the Year” by Earth, Wind & Power media (EWP); “Best Crossover Vehicle” by His-panic Motor Press Awards; was given the overall “Driv-ers’ Choice Award,” as an-nounced by MotorWeek at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show and was named a “Top-Safety Pick” by the Insur-ance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

New design languageThe CX-5 is Mazda’s first

vehicle to feature the car-builder’s new KODO — Soul of Motion Design language and is the first to feature Mazda’s full Skyactiv Tech-nology suite, the brand’s engineering-focused phi-losophy toward improving all-around vehicle efficien-cy.

The philosophy encom-passes a rigid, lightweight platform for safety and structure, combined with a new series of efficient en-gines and transmissions re-sulting in reduced emissions and fuel consumption.

From the outside in, CX-5 is dynamic. Its new “sig-nature wing” front grille dominates the front fascia. Its black elongated trapezoi-dal pattern adds masculine depth, while wing-shaped, wraparound headlamps ex-tend out, to greet onlook-

ers. This KODO-inspired design features a sculptured body with taut, compact lines. Contoured front and rear fenders hug the sporty SUV’s available 17- and 19-inch tire-and-rim packag-es, projecting a wide, low-slung stance and a sweeping swoosh line bridges the four corners with sleek, artistic expression. Topside, a pro-nounced crease begins at the A-pillar and darts sharp-ly across the side panels, eventually wrapping itself around stylized tail lamps. The sharply raked A-pillar is matched by the angles of the C-pillar and rear window, topping an aggressive profile that affords all occupants one of the widest fields of view in the segment.

I n AW D c o n f i g u r a -tion, CX-5 weighs in with a curb weight of 3426 lbs. and measures 179.3 inches long, 72.4 inches wide and 65.7 inches high on a 106.3-inch wheelbase. Minimum ground clearance is 8.5 inch-es. Its exterior is highlighted by daytime running lights, halogen headlights, power sideview mirrors, body color side mirrors and turn lamps, body color door handles, roof spoiler, variable inter-mittent windshield wipers, automatic headlight shut off, privacy glass, color key shark fin antenna and fog lamps.

Innovative engineEfficient power comes

from the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine. The innovative engine mated to a 6-speed transmission pro-duces 155 horsepower and

150 lbs.-ft. of torque and is EPA rated at 25/31. A week of testing in snowy condi-tions yielded an average of 28.3 mpg.

Showing plodding accel-eration, my test CX-5 man-aged a 9.7-second sprint from zero to 60 mph, en route to a slow-but-steady 17.4-second quarter-mile.

Acting as a small crossover should, CX-5 showed little top wobble, good balance and quick turn correction response. The independent, MacPherson Strut type front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar and inde-pendent, multi-link type coil rear with spring and stabilizer bar smoothed out road imperfections and the cabin was quiet.

Comfortable cabinThe intuitive cabin is

comfortably appointed and plush with Black or Sand Beige cloth seat upholstery (both with seatback pock-ets), push-button start, key-less entry, power windows with driver’s side one-touch auto open/close, cruise con-trol, a tilt and leather tele-scopic steering wheel, steer-ing-wheel-mounted audio, cruise control functions and Bluetooth controls, air con-ditioning, black gauge faces with white lettering, a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3-compatible radio with auto-matic level control, 5.8-inch color display, rearview cam-era, 6-way power adjust-able driver’s seat with man-ual lumbar support, leather shift knob and auxiliary and USB connection ports.

With seating for five, headroom goes 40.1 inch-es without a moonroof and 39.0 inches up front and in row two with a moonroof. Legroom is a comfortable 41.0 inches in row one and 39.3 inches in the second seats, while shoulder room goes 57.5 and 55.5 inches.

Focus on safetyPaying focused attention

to safety, CX-5’s SKYAC-TIV-Body and SKYACTIV-Chassis combine to ensure a vehicle structure as rein-forced and quiet as it is rig-id and impact-absorbing. Standard safety features include six airbags (front, side and full side-curtain) with rollover protection, power-assisted ventilat-ed front and solid rear disc brakes, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, daytime running lights, Dynamic Stability Control, a Traction Control System, Hill Launch Assist, a collapsible steering col-umn and fold-away brake pedal assembly, a tire pres-sure monitoring system and Blind Spot Monitoring.

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 in Sport trim starts at $20,695. CX-5 Sport models equipped with the optional SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission start

at $22,095. SKYACTIV-Drive becomes standard on Touring models, which start at $23,895 with front-wheel-drive and $25,145 when equipped with AWD. Available in either FWD or AWD configurations, the Grand Touring model starts at $27,045 and $28,295 re-spectively. My test model in Touring trim (AWD) added the Moonroof/Bose® Pack-age ($1,130) for a moon-roof and a 225-watt Bose® Centerpoint® nine-speak-

er Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®. Destina-tion and handling charges of $795 made the price as test-ed, $27,070.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automo-tive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior au-tomotive journalist in 2004. He’s been a “car guy” since the 1960s and has been writ-ing professionally for about 30 years.

By Mike Blake

Submitted photo

Above: The compact family crossover has a dynamic style with a “signature wing” front grille.Below: The comfortable cabin features cloth seat upholstery and a 5.8-inch color display with rearview camera.

ViewAll Our Inventory at hhchev.com

MSRP $36,335Auto Show Bonus Cash -$500GM Rebate -$3,000Trade in Bonus Cash -$1,000All Star Edition Cash -$1000Truck Month Bonus Cash -$750H&H Reduction -$2000

MSRP $39,380Auto Show Bonus Cash -$500GM Rebate -$3,000Trade in Bonus Cash -$1,000All Star Edition Cash -$1,000Truck Month Bonus Cash -$750H&H Reduction -$2,300

MSRP $55, 665GM Rebate -$750Truck Month Bonus Cash -$750H&H Reduction -$3,000

New 2013 CadillacSRX LUXURY COLLECTIONStock# 63025 Navigation, Sunroof, LeatherMSRP $45,255 Power Heated Seats

NOW ONLY$42,900*

New 2013 CadillacESCALADE LUXURY COLLECTIONStock# 63004 Navigation, DVD, SunroofMSRP $72,720 Leather, 22’ChromeWheels

NOW ONLY$65,700*

*Includes Cadillac owner loyalty*Includes Cadillac owner loyalty

adillacOLLECTIONon, Sunroof, Leathereated Seats

LY*Y*Y

New 2ESCALAStock# 63004MSRP $72,72

*In*In lcludeserer loloyallyalyalyayaltytytyttytyyty

INSTOCKNOW!

*In wneer loyalyalyalyal

730 EAST KING STREETSHIPPENSBURG532-2121 toll free 1-888-532-2121

Serving our communitySince 1932

MSRP $24,780Auto Show Bonus Cash -$500GM Rebate -$2,500Trade in Bonus Cash -$1,000Truck Month Bonus Cash -$750H&H Reduction -$535

New 2013 SILVERADOREG CABW/TStock# 73011

MSRP $39,085GM Rebate -$2,000Trade in Bonus cash -$1000H&H Reduction -$1,800

MSRP $40,970GM Rebate -$2,000H&H Reduction -$1,070

TRUCKMONTHPRICE$37,900 MSRP $37,585

GM Rebate -$500H&H Reduction -$1,500

TRUCKMONTHPRICE$35,585MSRP $58,740

GM Rebate -$750Truck Month Bonus Cash -$750H&H Reduction -$3,600

New 2013 SILVERADOEXT CAB LT 4X4ALLSTAREDITIONStock# 73035

New 2013 SILVERADOCREW CAB LTZ71 4X4ALLSTAREDITIONStock# 73063

New 2013 TAHOEZ71 4X4Stock# 73042Sunroof, DVD Navigation, Leather,Power Heated Seats, Rear Camera,Power Lift gate, XM, OnStar, Tow Package

New 2013 SILVERADO2500HD 4X4CREW CABStock# 730936.0L V8, Auto, A/C, CD Tow Package, Snow Plow

New 2013 VOLTStock# 13052Comfort Package, Heated SeatsEnhanced Safety Package, Rear Camera

New 2013 SUBURBANZ71 4X4Stock# 73056Navigation, DVD, Leather, Sunroof,Power Heated Seats, XM, OnStar,Rear Camera, Tow Package

New 2013 TRAVERSELT AWDALLSTAREDITIONStock# 73058Power Heated Seats, 20”WheelsOnStar, XM

All About Cars

Mazda CX-5: Award-winning crossover with new designThe Mazda CX-5 compact

family crossover is a pleaser that has impressed experts and the buying public. The small sports-ute that re-placed the Mazda Tribute and has carried on in the wake of the CX-7’s depar-ture has been an award-winning darling this year, as it has been named among the top “green”, “safe” and utility/crossover vehicles.

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 has won top honors as the International Federation of Automotive Journal-ists (FIPA) “SUV of the year for the Americas”; “Most Earth-friendly’ Truck of the Year” by Earth, Wind & Power media (EWP); “Best Crossover Vehicle” by His-panic Motor Press Awards; was given the overall “Driv-ers’ Choice Award,” as an-nounced by MotorWeek at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show and was named a “Top-Safety Pick” by the Insur-ance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

New design languageThe CX-5 is Mazda’s first

vehicle to feature the car-builder’s new KODO — Soul of Motion Design language and is the first to feature Mazda’s full Skyactiv Tech-nology suite, the brand’s engineering-focused phi-losophy toward improving all-around vehicle efficien-cy.

The philosophy encom-passes a rigid, lightweight platform for safety and structure, combined with a new series of efficient en-gines and transmissions re-sulting in reduced emissions and fuel consumption.

From the outside in, CX-5 is dynamic. Its new “sig-nature wing” front grille dominates the front fascia. Its black elongated trapezoi-dal pattern adds masculine depth, while wing-shaped, wraparound headlamps ex-tend out, to greet onlook-

ers. This KODO-inspired design features a sculptured body with taut, compact lines. Contoured front and rear fenders hug the sporty SUV’s available 17- and 19-inch tire-and-rim packag-es, projecting a wide, low-slung stance and a sweeping swoosh line bridges the four corners with sleek, artistic expression. Topside, a pro-nounced crease begins at the A-pillar and darts sharp-ly across the side panels, eventually wrapping itself around stylized tail lamps. The sharply raked A-pillar is matched by the angles of the C-pillar and rear window, topping an aggressive profile that affords all occupants one of the widest fields of view in the segment.

I n AW D c o n f i g u r a -tion, CX-5 weighs in with a curb weight of 3426 lbs. and measures 179.3 inches long, 72.4 inches wide and 65.7 inches high on a 106.3-inch wheelbase. Minimum ground clearance is 8.5 inch-es. Its exterior is highlighted by daytime running lights, halogen headlights, power sideview mirrors, body color side mirrors and turn lamps, body color door handles, roof spoiler, variable inter-mittent windshield wipers, automatic headlight shut off, privacy glass, color key shark fin antenna and fog lamps.

Innovative engineEfficient power comes

from the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine. The innovative engine mated to a 6-speed transmission pro-duces 155 horsepower and

150 lbs.-ft. of torque and is EPA rated at 25/31. A week of testing in snowy condi-tions yielded an average of 28.3 mpg.

Showing plodding accel-eration, my test CX-5 man-aged a 9.7-second sprint from zero to 60 mph, en route to a slow-but-steady 17.4-second quarter-mile.

Acting as a small crossover should, CX-5 showed little top wobble, good balance and quick turn correction response. The independent, MacPherson Strut type front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar and inde-pendent, multi-link type coil rear with spring and stabilizer bar smoothed out road imperfections and the cabin was quiet.

Comfortable cabinThe intuitive cabin is

comfortably appointed and plush with Black or Sand Beige cloth seat upholstery (both with seatback pock-ets), push-button start, key-less entry, power windows with driver’s side one-touch auto open/close, cruise con-trol, a tilt and leather tele-scopic steering wheel, steer-ing-wheel-mounted audio, cruise control functions and Bluetooth controls, air con-ditioning, black gauge faces with white lettering, a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3-compatible radio with auto-matic level control, 5.8-inch color display, rearview cam-era, 6-way power adjust-able driver’s seat with man-ual lumbar support, leather shift knob and auxiliary and USB connection ports.

With seating for five, headroom goes 40.1 inch-es without a moonroof and 39.0 inches up front and in row two with a moonroof. Legroom is a comfortable 41.0 inches in row one and 39.3 inches in the second seats, while shoulder room goes 57.5 and 55.5 inches.

Focus on safetyPaying focused attention

to safety, CX-5’s SKYAC-TIV-Body and SKYACTIV-Chassis combine to ensure a vehicle structure as rein-forced and quiet as it is rig-id and impact-absorbing. Standard safety features include six airbags (front, side and full side-curtain) with rollover protection, power-assisted ventilat-ed front and solid rear disc brakes, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, daytime running lights, Dynamic Stability Control, a Traction Control System, Hill Launch Assist, a collapsible steering col-umn and fold-away brake pedal assembly, a tire pres-sure monitoring system and Blind Spot Monitoring.

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 in Sport trim starts at $20,695. CX-5 Sport models equipped with the optional SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission start

at $22,095. SKYACTIV-Drive becomes standard on Touring models, which start at $23,895 with front-wheel-drive and $25,145 when equipped with AWD. Available in either FWD or AWD configurations, the Grand Touring model starts at $27,045 and $28,295 re-spectively. My test model in Touring trim (AWD) added the Moonroof/Bose® Pack-age ($1,130) for a moon-roof and a 225-watt Bose® Centerpoint® nine-speak-

er Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®. Destina-tion and handling charges of $795 made the price as test-ed, $27,070.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automo-tive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior au-tomotive journalist in 2004. He’s been a “car guy” since the 1960s and has been writ-ing professionally for about 30 years.

By Mike Blake

Submitted photo

Above: The compact family crossover has a dynamic style with a “signature wing” front grille.Below: The comfortable cabin features cloth seat upholstery and a 5.8-inch color display with rearview camera.

Behind the Wheel

Honda Civic compact sedan back as a smart buyby ANN M. JObAssociAted Press

The Honda Civic is back as a smart-to-buy compact sedan, with a premium look inside and out, a more solid-feeling ride and a standard rearview camera on every model.

The Civic’s steering is re-vised for 2013, too, and new standard equipment in-cludes Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, iPod interface, Pandora Internet radio com-patibility, speech-to-text capability, steering wheel audio controls and a sliding center armrest between the front seats.

Most of these features are costly extras on mainstream compact sedans. In the case of rearview cameras, they may not be offered at all.

The changes to the 2013 Civic came quickly after the 2012 Civic — a new, ninth-generation version — de-buted to criticism from re-viewers and consumers about cheap-looking mate-rials and plain styling.

Nothing has changed in the engine compartment for 2013, and the Civic sedan continues with notable gov-ernment fuel mileage ratings of at least 31 miles per gallon in combined city/highway travel for all but the perfor-mance-oriented Civic Si models.

In addition, Consumer Reports puts predicted reli-ability for the Civic at above average.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, in-cluding destination charge, is up some $2,000 from the base 2012 Civic sedan. Part-ly, that’s because the bare-bones, entry-level Civic DX sedan is not offered in 2013, and partly it’s because of the additional standard equip-ment and upgrades made to the car’s structure for safety.

So, the base 2013 Civic

sedan is an LX, which has a starting retail price, includ-ing destination charge, of $18,995 with a 140-horse-power four cylinder and five-speed manual trans-mission. The LX, like all 2013 Civic sedans, now includes a 5-inch liquid crystal display screen up on the dashboard where the rearview camera images are shown.

The lowest MSRP, includ-ing destination charge, for a 2013 Civic LX sedan with five-speed automatic is $19,755.

These starting prices are higher than the $16,995 and $18,090 starting retail pric-es for the 2013 Ford Focus S compact sedan with five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions, respectively. The base Focus engine is a 160-horsepower four cylinder. But standard equipment on the base Fo-cus S doesn’t include Blue-tooth connectivity, Pandora Internet radio compatibility, sliding center armrest or a rearview camera.

Another compact sedan competitor, the 2013 Toyo-ta Corolla, starts at $17,025 with five-speed manual and $17,855 with four-speed au-tomatic. All Corollas have a

132-horsepower four cylin-der. But the base Corolla L doesn’t include Bluetooth, rearview camera or sliding center armrest.

The Civic is critical to Honda’s success in the United States, and sales re-bounded in calendar 2012 to 317,909 from calendar 2011’s 221,235.

As a result, the Civic ranked as the fifth best-selling vehicle in the United States last year and the third best-selling car, after the larger-sized Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The changes for 2013 promise to answer the critics and position the 2013 Civic into the thick of the compe-tition, where connectivity and technology are impor-tant to young buyers.

Longtime Honda fans are likely to appreciate the im-proved ride and handling of the 2013 Civic sedan vis-à-vis the 2012 Civic.

Honda engineers retuned various suspension compo-nents, including bushings and springs, to give drivers a more tangible feel of the road than the softer suspension of the 2012 Civic provided.

So, while the suspension continues with MacPherson

struts up front and a multi-link rear, road feel is much improved, and passengers, while they notice some vi-brations and rough patches, aren’t subjected to an overly harsh ride.

The steering ratio is quick-ened for a more linear feel, and the test Civic EX con-veyed competent, yet com-fortable ride and handling.

S t y l i n g i s d e f i n i te l y spruced up.

The black honeycomb de-sign of the grille is nicely accented by chrome-look accents. The new hood has creases that fit well with the sweeping lines on the Civic sedan’s sides and increase visual interest.

In the rear, new, sub-stantial-looking tail lights, a taller trunk lid and a long strip of silver-colored trim give the 2013 Civic a richer flavor.

All in all, the restyling helps link the new Civic to the current Accord, and that’s a good thing.

Still, during the test drive, no one was seen turning around to get a good look at the new Civic.

No matter. The lasting impression came from be-ing inside the Civic and ex-periencing its spacious and quieter room.

As in Civics from the past, the dashboard, particu-larly on the front-passen-ger side, sits low, so there’s ample window and an airy feel, even in a Civic without a moonroof. The dashboard, overall, feels like it’s a good bit away from passengers, which adds to the roomy feel.

Yet, controls and gauges are well organized. And the large, easy-to-read, digital speedometer numbers that are positioned high up, near the windshield base, pro-vide a quick reference to the speed the car is traveling.

Heck, the speedometer numbers are so big, people in passing cars can see the

speed of the Civic, too.Honda’s colorful semi-

circle of a tachometer that sits lower, down closer to the steering column, is eye-catching, and the standard “Econ” button on the dash-board helps maximize use of gasoline automatically.

The test car with auto-matic transmission averaged 31 mpg in travel that was 65 percent in the city and 35 percent on the highway. This was just a bit below the federal government’s aver-age.

For the record, the test EX sedan was rated at 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.

Shifts were mostly smooth from the automatic trans-mission, and sounds from the 1.8-liter, single overhead cam four cylinder were not obtrusive, save for times of hard acceleration.

The engine isn’t direct-injected, and the Civic EX torque peaks at 128 foot-pounds at 4,300 rpm.

Associated Press

This undated image made available by Honda shows the 2013 Honda Civic EX-L Sedan.

Vehicle Repair

Cuban cars get spruced up by Fla. shop

by CHRISTINE ARMARIOAssociAted Press

HIALEAH, Fla. — Some-where on the streets of Ha-vana is a cherry-red Lada car rebuilt almost entirely with parts that arrived from Mi-ami in a visitor’s suitcases.

A year ago, the 20-year-old Russian-made automo-bile — a boxy but remarkably durable model — was in dire need of repair. The door han-dles were rusting, the tires on their last mile, the inner workings shot.

“It was in very bad con-dition,” said Frank Torres, a Cuban-American living in Miami whose cousin owns the car back in Cuba.

Torres decided to help overhaul it. But he and his cousin either couldn’t find the parts they needed in Cuba or encountered exorbi-tant prices.

So Torres turned to a Rus-sian auto parts store that re-cently opened in Hialeah, in a pocket of Miami-Dade County filled with cheap clothing stores and gas sta-tions that sell freshly brewed cafe con leche.

There, businessman Fa-bian Zakharov is tapping into a niche market: Cuban-Americans, mostly recent arrivals in this country, who frequently go back to visit relatives on the island and bring food, toiletries and car parts.

In more than a year since

the store opened, Zakharov said, he has sold parts for hundreds of Ladas and some Moskvich cars, the two So-viet-era vehicles that are mainstays on Cuban roads.

Despite the U.S. trade em-bargo that has been in place against the communist is-land since the early 1960s, what Zakharov and his cus-tomers are doing is legal and aboveboard. He is not ex-porting to Cuba; he is selling to customers in the U.S. like any other business. Those customers can send or take products to Cuba, subject to certain limits.

It’s one more example of the growing economic links between the United States and Cuba, political adversar-ies still intricately connected by those who left and those who stayed behind.

The average Cuban worker is paid about $20 a month, making buying a new car im-possible for most. Because of that and the trade restric-tions, the streets of Havana are an automotive time cap-sule, filled with bulbous, tail-finned Detroit models from the pre-revolution 1950s and dowdy vehicles from the Cold War.

“This store is wonderful,” said Alexis Reyes, a Cuban who has been living in Miami for two years and recently bought a part for a 30-year-old Russian car his son drives back on the island. “It means those of us living here can

buy the parts to maintain the cars of our family in Cuba.”

Ladas began arriving in Cuba in the 1970s, when the country was closely allied with the Soviet Union. Many were doled out strategically to doctors, diplomats, and sugarcane cutters who met production targets. Cubans who served on overseas mis-sions and came back with hard currency were often al-lowed to buy them.

While they are slowly being supplanted by Chinese and South Korean models, Ladas are now commonly used as police cars, taxis, govern-ment and military vehicles, and family cars.

Zakharov, who was born in Russia but grew up on the is-land, learned how to drive in one of two Ladas his parents own — a beige one that now has more than 125,000 miles on it. He would drive his fa-ther, a university professor, to work.

Zakharov recalls travel-ing throughout Cuba, rarely having any trouble with the car. The only problem was the high price of gas.

“They call it the worker’s car,” Torres said. “Because it’s tough.”

It’s commonly said the Lada is the perfect car for Cuba: No matter where you break down, you can imme-diately find a mechanic who knows how to fix it. Parts are generally easy to find but pricier than they are in Flor-

ida.Zakharov, who immigrated

to the United States six years ago, said the idea for the auto parts business occurred to him when a friend in Cuba needed help finding an origi-nal Lada brake pump. The only place Zakharov could locate one was Russia.

He eventually traveled to Russia and signed contracts for tons of parts. His store is now stocked with everything from screws and valves to seats and dashboards.

Their ultimate destination is most often Cuba, since in the United States, there are very few Ladas. Even in Mi-ami, a place with great nos-talgia for all things Cuban, there appears to be only one: A Cuban barber uses it for advertisement outside his shop.

Under the Obama admin-istration, restrictions have been lifted on the number of times Cuban-Americans can travel to visit relatives on the island.

Auto parts can be brought in under a Cuban govern-ment point system: There is a limit of 200 points per per-son receiving shipped items and a 1,000-point limit for those bringing items them-selves on a visit to the island. A trailer to attach to the back of a car is 100 points, while a light bulb is 20.

Some large pieces, such as engine blocks, are not al-lowed.

2013 Honda Civic 4Dr EX

BASE PRICE: $18,165 for LX sedan manual; $18,965 for LX automatic; $19,765 for HF sedan; $20,815 for eX.

PRICE AS TESTED: $21,605.

TYPE: Front engine, front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, compact sedan.

ENGINE: 1.8-liter, single over-head cam, inline four cylinder with iVtec.

MILEAGE: 28 mpg (city), 39 mpg (highway).

TOP SPEED: NA.

LENGTH: 179.4 inches.

WHEELBASE: 105.1 inches.

CURB WEIGHT: 2,855 pounds.

BUILT AT: Greensburg, ind.

OPTIONS: None.

DESTINATION CHARGE: $790.

In Focus

Associated Press

Photos of the Russian made Lada car are on display in a Hialeah, Fla. auto parts store. Fabian Zakharov, a Russian man who grew up in Cuba, opened the store in Hialeah, selling parts for Russian cars in Cuba. It’s a niche market, but Zakharov has sold parts for hundreds of vintage Lada and Moskvitch cars that still fill the roads of the communist island.

Driving

Tips to stop texting on the road

bRANdPOINT

Most Americans know texting and driving is dan-gerous but it continues to be a problem, especially for young drivers. While 97 percent of teens agree that texting and driving is dangerous, 43 percent still admitted to continuing to do it, according to a recent survey.

The 2012 AT&T survey of teen drivers also found 75 percent of teens say tex-ting while driving is com-mon among their friends and the majority of re-spondents said they have texted when stopped at a red light and often glance at their phones while driv-ing. While teens might be the worst offenders when it comes to texting and driving, plenty of adults are guilty too. As the evi-dence continues to mount concerning the dangers of texting while driving, 39 states have made it illegal. Whether it’s legal or not in your state, here are three good reasons to quit once and for all:

• Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be in an accident, according to Virginia Tech Transporta-tion Institute research.

• Texting while driving is distracted driving. Dis-tracted driving is a factor in 15 to 25 percent of all crashes, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

• Each day, an average of more than 15 people are killed in crashes that result from distracted driving, according to the Nation-al Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

How to stop texting while driving

To help people break

the perilous habit of tex-ting and driving, technol-ogy companies are coming up with unique and prac-tical solutions for driv-ers. For instance, Xperia SmartTags by Sony give you the ability to turn off all distractions from your smartphone with just a simple touch. These small tags can be put on a dash-board or a set of car keys and allow you to change your phone’s settings for driving by simply touching your NFC-enabled smart-phone to the tag.

Smartphone applica-tions can make this pro-cess even easier. When paired with AT&T’s free Drive Mode app, you can automatically disable your phone’s texting and call-ing capability. The app can also be programmed to in-clude an automatic mes-sage that’s sent to any-one who texts you while you’re behind the wheel, letting that person know that you’ll respond when you are finished driving. You can program this app to run when you tap your phone to your SmartTag, while also setting your phone up to automatically run GPS programs and en-gage your car’s Bluetooth system for both safety and convenience.

While messages from your friends and fam-ily are important, nothing should take precedence over safely getting your-self and your passengers to your destination. To help make your driving experi-ence safer, outfit your car with tools such as Smart-Tags, which you can learn more about at www.so-nymobile.com, and don’t forget to take the pledge to never text and drive again at www.itcanwait.com.