Observations
Admin note: test drive notes from a rented 2014 Mirage SE (top spec) CVT on a "bakery tour" in and around Winnipeg...
---
The Car:
Perfectly acceptable - I found the stability to be just fine, the steering to track arrow straight, and the effect of wind/passing trucks buffeting the car to be negligible. There is a bit of fore/aft bounciness when going over big bumps (it is spring, and our highways have suffered a lot of frost damage over the winter). For fun, I did a bit of weaving back and forth prompting my passenger to say "quit it - you're going to tip us", but there was no danger of that. It is a bit wobbly, though, if goofing around like that.
Noise is there - a bit louder on all counts - wind, mechanical, road noise. Not an issue for me, and not obtrusive. At one point there was a bit of a low whistle - again it was faint and not a problem. It seemed to be coming from the front A-pillar area.
Efficiency
I managed 4.9 calculated, 5.1 on the ScanGauge and 5.0 on the iMid. Take all of these with a grain of salt. Strangely, when the fuel gauge suggested I was over 3/4 full, I still was able to put in 16L! I stopped there, thinking it might be overflowing through some sort of vent. On the return, I put in the same - maybe the fuel gauges is wrong, or the filler hose is big - anyway it was inexact measurement. Likewise I couldn't re-set the scan gauge and the iMid at the same time/after each stop. Temperature was -6C to start with little wind - and +6C at the end with perhaps a 20km/h wind. Route was from Winnipeg-St Claude-Treherne-Gladstone-Portage-Winnipeg. Few hills of note, but the one we climbed with cruise went fine.
CVT
Works well. I warmed up to it and actually appreciated it in traffic. I am not used to any auto, though, so I really couldn't comment. That braking thing I mentioned is apparently just an auto trait.
Comfort
We were over 4 hours in the seats with few breaks. My passenger and I probably approached 500lbs total. No issues with leg, shoulder, or head room, no complaints about the seating surface comfort. Lumbar support was very nice. Another passenger didn't like how the headrest made the head tilt forward, so we flipped it around - problem solved.
Bakeries:
Chasing cinnamon buns is a red herring - these bakeries have much more to offer, including apple strudels, lemon danish, bread/buns, and best of all - pies. Gladstone bakery was the best of the bunch, and the busiest.
Worth the trip.
__________________________________________
View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 manual: 45.0 mpg (US) ... 19.1 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.1 mpg (Imp)