Four main reasons. First, although I don't necessarily drive like Grandma (despite some comments from car-chat members that I do), I usually don't need the extra power....I drive lightly-loaded, and even when using freeway-entrance ramps. I can safely merge without creating a hazard or holding up traffic. Second, turbos add heat, add mechanical complexity, require more-expensive synthetic oil (even some N/A engines now also use synthetic), and, in some cases, shorten engine-life, although, admittedly, I usually don't keep a vehicle to the end of its life. Third, in my case, you spend more for oil and filters...GM seems to program the Remaining-Oil-Life-computers in their recent engines to drop down from 100% rather quickly to about 30-40% or so, which is where, for caution and warranty-sake, I usually change it. On the Lacrosse, with a non-turbo engine, the computer gave you noticeably more miles between oil-changes. Fourth (and this may be more or less exclusive to GM), their turbos tend to leak fluids, although I have not had any of that in my particular vehcle. GM is still relatively new to turbos, and doesn't have as much experience with them as some other automakers do. The famous and well-known 3.8L V6, used for many years in Chevy/Buick/Olds/Pontiac products, used a belt-driven supercharger, not an exhaust-driven turbo.

 

Based on the criteria ab, why would one select a car with a turbo in the first place?

 

Because GM doesn't have N/A engines any more in their smaller crossovers. They are all turbo threes or turbo fours.

Does your 4Runner have the turbo four or the V6? The latest 6th-generation 4Runner, like a number of other vehicles today, dropped the V6 option and today only offers turbo-fours.

 

That’s a shame!!!

seems like GM buyers are settling for less these days…(when it come to small crossovers)

 

Well, everyone's individual view and opinion on that is different. I can't speak for everyone else....only my own view. But, as I mentioned in the last few posts, with many vehicles today, one no longer has a choice....and the number of (ICE) vehicles that DO still have a choice is rapidly diminishing. Personally, I don't like it.... but I don't make the decisions in the auto industry.

 

No. Although Mazda admittedly has a relatively nice CX-30, Turbo-three or not, IMO the Encore GX is still the best vehicle for my specific driving-needs. No other sub-compact vehicle in that size and price-range, in the American market, offers that kind of comfort. Some larger-size crossovers do...but they are larger, not as easy to manuver/park and/or more expensive. I thought the subcompact Trailblazer might (approximate) the Encore GX's comfort....but, as the test-drives I did showed, I was at least partly wrong.

It's like when Steve, in his quest for the ultimate in driving/riding comfort, checked out the S-Class sedans against the BMW 7-series, Audi A8, Lexus LS500, and other luxo-sedans in that range, decided that the S550 was the best car for his needs...and ended up getting a second one. And his wife is sold on Pacificas.

 

Seeing that your car has 16,000 miles on it and you're already debating replacing it I don't think turbo reliability is an issue.



S580, not S550.

I wouldn't say my wife is sold on the Pacifica specifically, she is sold on minivans and the Pacifica happens to be the best one. If she saw one she liked better we would get that.

 

Car and Driver says the new Trailblazer RS rides nice. … refined ride

a d surprisingly the RS model was tested

 

No, it has substantially more miles than that....but not enough to replace it right now.

OK, fine....a typo.


You seem to like the hybrid version yourself.

 

Yeah I like it a lot, I wouldn't go out and replace it with the same thing though.

 

If I'm buying something naturally aspirated, it better have 8 cylinders.

Otherwise give me a turbo or two.

 

All it takes is that one time where you are merging onto the highway and you want to get past an 18-wheeler as the entrance lane is coming to an end, and you will be thankful for that turbo. It's the reason you can drive a 3 cylinder engine without noticing much difference from a 4 cylinder.

 

10000000% V8 torque is instant oomph.

 

Didn't you have a non-turbo Ford Fusion that had either a 4 or a V6? Or have you changed your mind since then?

 

So I took all the pets to the vet for boarding and used the beater Enclave... (5 pets total, not fun)

It would get smoked by these more powerful turbo 4s but 99% of the rest of the time when you're just driving, the GM 3.6L V6 engine is quite pleasant and refined.

It's not just about racing and numbers, it's also every day feel..... living with that engine. That's one of the reasons I won't dump the LS430, the engine is just too good.