Mazda3: Fun-to-drive and affordable. Small cars have been taking it on the chin these past few years as the market continues to shift to crossovers. Mazda is well represented in the SUV market with three distinct models in the subcompact, compact and midsize range. Yet, this automaker hasn’t abandoned cars … Read more
The Elantra offers something for everyone in the compact sedan range. The Hyundai Elantra is a model that keeps on giving. Giving, as in great value, multiple trim levels, three engine choices and a selection of transmissions. While all automakers are feeling the impact of consumers shifting their purchase decisions … Read more
A new car, truck, SUV or van may be in your future. Besides reviewing cars on a regular basis — typically one or two new models week after week — I regularly dispense advice to friends who are shopping for a new or late model used car. Certainly, timing is … Read more
The Kia Sorento seats 5 or 7, offers 3 engine choices & tows up to 5,000 pounds. The midsize crossover market is awash with competitors, with the Kia Sorento one of the few offering two- and three-row seating capacities. Its elegant looks and available premium features make it a strong … Read more
A Kent Island glimpse at a compact luxury PHEV sedan. The Mercedes-Benz brand has remained elusive among my press fleet vehicles, a situation I plan to amend by next year. You simply can’t properly evaluate the market without a steady dose of M-B models to compare with Audi, BMW, and … Read more
Infiniti takes on the bottom end of the luxury market. America’s insatiable appetite for crossovers hasn’t been lost on manufacturers, including luxury brands such as Infiniti. The Infiniti QX30 is the latest model from Nissan’s luxury brand, a compact crossover with a strong hatchback vibe. Introduced in 2017, the QX30 … Read more
Lexus’s six-figure sports car. Lexus says it doesn’t offer a sports car, but don’t for the moment believe it. Marketed as a “luxury sport coupe,” the all-new Lexus LC500 is simply a sports car in 2+2 guise. I became acquainted with this exotic beauty and its hybrid variant at a … Read more
Fourth-generation Kia Rio rolls out. Demand for small cars is down, but don’t tell that to Kia Motors. The Korean automaker is well entrenched in the segment, offering both the subcompact Rio and the compact Forte. The Kia Rio rolled out in 2001 and we’ve seen it grow since, although … Read more
Hyundai breathes fresh life into its little sport hatchback. Automakers are responding to a wholesale shift in consumer demand by building more SUVs and fewer car models. This unprecedented shift means some manufacturers are catching up, including Hyundai which will release its small Kona SUV early in 2018, giving it … Read more
After a 20-year hiatus, the Volvo V90 returns. Station wagons dominated the American scene from the 1950s to 1970s, serving as the people hauler of choice for large families. By the 1980s, wagons (as they were by then commonly called) began to disappear. Once the 1990s arrived, even fewer models … Read more