It doesn’t take a full week of press fleet driving to appreciate the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, a model that will most certainly captivate and enthrall even the most experienced automotive writer. I won’t pretend that I’m an expert in all things sports cars, but I’ve had the opportunity to … Read more
My wife’s favorite vehicle is the Toyota RAV4, an important disclosure I want to get out of the way before touching on the salient points of this crossover utility vehicle. Fortuitously, a 2013 Toyota RAV4 Limited arrived in our driveway the very week her aged RAV4 was beginning to show … Read more
Should I choose the Toyota Avalon or the Lexus ES? That question was posed to me recently via Twitter and I responded to the inquirer with a choose the Lexus if the pricing comes out to be the same. Then again, you may want to skip the Lexus once you … Read more
Just weeks after testing the 2014 Toyota Tundra at a media event in Georgia and, lo and behold, a 2013 Tundra arrived as my weekly test drive vehicle. The 2013 model year was the final one for the second generation Tundra, while the 2014 model year begins its third generation. … Read more
The Nissan Altima is all-new for 2013, the fifth generation of this popular midsize sedan. A coupe is also available, but it is based on the fourth generation Altima and will no longer be offered after 2013. A week spent with the Nissan Altima SL has convinced this writer that … Read more
When Chrysler went bankrupt and began its restructuring in 2009, the automaker essentially ceded the 2010 model year to its competitors then immediately started work on preparing its 2011 model line. That effort paid off and by the time 2011 rolled round, 16 new or significantly updated models were found … Read more
One look at the Sentra and can you say, “Altima?” The compact vehicle market is competitive, one where every car manufacturer has at least one model present. The Nissan Sentra is one of the best known and longest running model names in this segment, introduced in 1982 just as Datsun … Read more
The upscale brands are embracing their crossovers, SUVs that ride more like a car than a truck. Infiniti is no exception, offering three models plus the QX56 SUV. I got a hold of one of the last of the 2013 models for my weekly drive, the all-new Infiniti JX35, what … Read more
Buick Encore: Premium, subcompact crossover SUV. Most Buick and GMC vehicles are sold under one roof, part of a strategy that GM put forth more than two decades ago. Pontiac was included in that directive, one that made it possible for consumers to shop across three brands and inspect numerous … Read more
Hyundai has successfully made the transition from a substandard purveyor of rehashed automotive products to a world-class car manufacturer. Yes, the argument can be made that Hyundai is not on par with Rolls-Royce, Daimler or certain exotic brands, but as a mass producer of the types of vehicles that most … Read more
The Nissan Pathfinder made its US debut for the 1987 model year originally as a five-passenger SUV powered by a standard 2.4-liter four or an optional 3.0-liter V-6 engine. It was based on Nissan’s small truck platform and it stayed that way for three generations. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder Beginning in … Read more
Large and luxurious sport utility vehicles are a small segment with Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln and Lexus each fielding a model. The Infiniti QX56 should be named among them, a handsome three-row SUV that is based on a traditional body-on-frame platform. Our latest weekly drive was the 2013 Infiniti QX56, a … Read more
The Kia Optima Hybrid is a midsize sedan with room for five. While some car manufacturers are already introducing 2014 models, the 2013 version of the Kia Optima Hybrid is just now hitting the market. Its supposed lateness can be attributed to a few things, but most importantly to Kia’s … Read more
Newest and smallest Buick is available for sale. Following a December 2012 dealer preview, the all-new 2013 Buick Encore is on its way to Buick-GMC retail outlets. The subcompact crossover SUV, a first for the Buick brand, is a 2013 model. It will retail from $24,950 and features standard front-wheel-drive … Read more
It was 40 years ago when the first Honda passenger vehicle was introduced to the United States. That model, the diminutive Honda Civic, was one of the smallest cars on American roads, quickly gaining a reputation for exceptional build quality and very high fuel mileage. Today, Civic is a larger … Read more
An electrified Fiat takes to the California road this year. Yet another electric vehicle will hit the market this year and this one is a battery-electric Fiat. This month, Fiat introduced the Fiat 500e, a model that offers an EPA rating of 108 MPGe and a travel range of 87 … Read more
Beefy wagon offers utility and three trim levels. Toyota hasn’t offered a Camry wagon since the 1990s, a small loss for most consumers as the Toyota Sienna minivan and a host of SUVs have made up for the lost utility. Still, Toyota knows that consumers may want something a bit … Read more
Specifications of a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302. If you like tribute cars or vehicles that take its styling cues from another era, then the Ford Mustang is right up your alley. The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 edition takes paying tribute one step further by embodying the spirit of … Read more
The newest model in the Cadillac arsenal is its XTS sedan, a larger five-passenger vehicle powered by its front wheels. All-wheel-drive is optional. New for the 2013 model year, the Cadillac XTS replaces a pair of discontinued sedans: the STS and the DTS, formerly known as the Seville and the … Read more
GM likes to call its Chevrolet Traverse a midsize model, but this vehicle offers a cavernous interior and room for up to eight people. Yes, it is smaller than the bulky Tahoe, but when it comes to offering the best blend of room, utility and fuel efficiency, the Traverse should … Read more
Turbocharged engine brings performance to the Sonata line. The 2013 Hyundai Sonata continues where the previous model year sedan left off, bringing to customers a roomy five-passenger sedan that is big on value, looks and fuel efficiency. This model also has performance credentials to offer as a 2.0-liter turbocharged four … Read more
Smallest Kia gets a new design. The smallest model in the Kia line up is its subcompact Rio, a vehicle that is sold in sedan and hatchback configurations. Kia markets the Rio and Rio 5-door models separately, but unlike earlier models the only difference between these two is its body … Read more