Options aplenty for car buyers

From a luxury hybrid sedan to the simplest of truck, there are plenty of options for the car buyer today.

In this issue we look at a sedan, the Infiniti M35h; a SUV, the Lexus GX 460; and truck, the RAM 1500 Tradesman Crew Cab. Why these three vehicles? The Lexus and Infiniti both cost about $66,000 as tested. The Infiniti is a luxury hybrid sedan and the Lexus is a luxury SUV competing for red carpet and off-road appeal. Then you have the rough and tough RAM. Our truck was pretty Plain Jane and represents the diversity in the RAM brand alone ringing in at about $36,000. We should note that a RAM 1500 with all the luxury options can be had in the Laramie Limited starting at about $50,000.

If you like or need a sedan, then the 2013 Infiniti M35h is a nice luxury hybrid — with the benefit of being greener. It’s sportier than the competing Lexus GS 450h and offers fuel economy of 29 mpg combined — not bad for 360 net horsepower. It also has Infiniti exclusive technology like the available Eco Pedal that provides the driver feedback through the pedal for more efficient driving.

You will miss some trunk room with the hybrid, but it brings savings at the pump. With options like navigation, heated and cooled front seats and premium leather interior, it is a vehicle that will keep you and your passengers in comfort, yet has an aggressive edge veiled by the curvaceous body that has become a trademark of the Infiniti brand.

If an SUV or truck is more your style, you might turn your Luxury eye to the Lexus GX 460. The GX design isn’t new, but you can think of it as tried and true. Powered by a 4.6-Liter 301-hp V8, rated at 17 mpg combined, it drives as expected with good road manners, plus has safety enhancements galore. Have trouble gauging where the front bumper is? There’s a camera view for that.

Another remarkable part of the GX 460 is the adjustable suspension — a feature directly aimed at the Range Rover Sport market. A couple drawbacks include dated design and an unfortunate rear spring/damping rate that bounce rear passengers more than they might like. On the plus side, Lexus customer service is acclaimed.

Now the RAM Truck. Who doesn’t like a good, rough and rugged…well, you know. This RAM wasn’t a showstopper, but it did have interesting improvements including the optional 3.6-Liter V6 engine that achieves 19 mpg combined. Technology advances like Active Grille Shutters help the fuel economy. The best part of this 1500 4×4 is that it is

capable and easy to drive with the all-new 8-speed rotary shift transmission. Just twist to shift.

The 1500 drives smooth and handles road surface changes better than previous generations. It even has small feature touches such as a tailgate lock integrated with the keyless entry. The most notable part of the RAM family is the diverse option groups and levels of capability. You can opt for a plain model like our test truck or one to rival luxury vehicles from Infiniti and Lexus.

My answer to so many choices? Have nine vehicles. Others might choose to be more practical.