The segment for traditional, large sedans is a small one, yet important to manufacturers nonetheless. For Toyota, the Avalon has faithfully served the brand for two decades, representing a plush, front-wheel drive vehicle that will be refreshed for the 2016 model year. The Chicago Auto Show served as the perfect … Read more
New 2016 model year vehicles are beginning to trickle out and the Acura ILX is among them. This entry-level premium sedan has been redesigned and is priced from $27,900. A new, high-performance, direct-injected engine is now paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, to deliver improved performance and efficiency. 2016 Acura … Read more
Hyundai’s approach to the automotive market is an unusual one, as this Korean automaker serves a passel of mainstream and upscale models within the same showroom, what follows a debatable decision the company made not too long ago. Specifically, that arrangement does not dissever Hyundai’s premium offerings from its conventional … Read more
Your pathway to luxury in a Lexus ES 350. Like other premium brands, Lexus has been working diligently to attract and capture new customers. Unlike its competitors, it now has four lines of vehicles to get the job done. Specifically, you can choose a CT200h hybrid hatchback, an NX crossover, … Read more
A diesel for Audi’s smallest range. A quiet diesel powers this A3 sedan. With gas prices falling below $2 per gallon in most states it can be difficult to argue for the benefit of purchasing any fuel-efficient car, including diesels. Besides, diesel prices remain about 75 cents higher than gasoline … Read more
Rapidly falling gas prices will squeeze Camry Hybrid sales. Through 2014, the Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car model in America, outpacing the likes of the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and its own compact sibling, the Toyota Corolla. Sales of the standard-bearer Camry routinely top 400,000 units per year, … Read more
Ford’s smallest pocket rocket excites. The 2015 Ford Mustang has been promised to me, an upcoming press fleet vehicle that I’ve been anticipating for a long, long time. As I’ve been patiently waiting, an assortment of Lincoln and Ford vehicles have kept me busy, including one hot five-door hatchback that … Read more
Diminutive truck enhances Ram’s Mexican product line. Considering that car manufacturers may push for product unity across different markets, the truth is that these very same companies know that certain products will only sell in specific places. Full-size pickup truck sales are largely confined to the United States and Canada, … Read more
Behind the wheel of Nissan’s best seller. The Nissan Altima is as American as any sedan gets. Built in Canton, Mississippi, this five-passenger, front-wheel drive midsize sedan features a chrome-wrapped grille, long overhangs and generous room inside. But it is built by a Japanese manufacturer, Nissan, a company that has … Read more
Latest edition Toyota Avalon hits all the right marks. After three consecutive weeks of driving hybrid electric vehicles, little did I know that the best one would be saved for last. While the Toyota Prius and the Lexus CT 200h both have a place among hybrids — the Prius for … Read more
Toyota offers customers six utility vehicles — seven if you include the FJ Cruiser that is being retired this year. Half of the remaining six models are traditional body-on-frame sport utility vehicles; the other three are crossovers. It is in the middle of the line up where customers are best … Read more
Behind the wheel of Hyundai’s larger, but not largest crossover. Here a crossover, there a crossover. The market is flooded with car-based utility vehicles, offering excellent room, superior body rigidity and decent fuel mileage nearly across the board. Hyundai has two offerings in the crossover department — a compact Tucson … Read more
Third van model for Ram brand arrives in 2015. With Chrysler separated Ram from Dodge, the move was deemed by some as a curious one. Especially with a line up that consisted solely of midsize, large and heavy duty pickup trucks. The Ram Dakota occupied the midsize segment, but was … Read more
Invariably, when I am asked my opinion about a new passenger vehicle, the conversation includes one or more crossover utility vehicles (CUVs). These models are immensely popular and represent today’s version of the sport utility vehicle. SUVs are built on truck-based platforms while CUVs have “crossed over” to car-based platforms. … Read more
Driving the little van that could. Cars, trucks, utility vehicles and vans have come and gone, but there has been nothing quite like the 2014 Nissan NV200 Cargo Van that was a recent weekly driver. For one thing, the compact Nissan was the first model supplied by a manufacturer’s commercial … Read more
The Hyundai Sonata is not the best selling vehicle in the midsize segment. That honor belongs to the Toyota Camry. 2014 Hyundai Sonata Limited As a matter of fact, the Sonata trails the Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and the Ford Fusion. And at present, it is running neck and … Read more
Smallest Nissan model gets a big makeover. The subcompact segment is where many young, first-time car buyers look when considering a new car. Pricing typically is in the $15,000-$20,000 price range although more basic models can come in quite a bit lower. In advance of the 2014 New York International … Read more
Second-generation model makes a luxury statement. The current Azera features Hyundais fluidic sculpture design language. Hyundai offers four medium to large sedans, more than any other brand. The Korean manufacturer has steadily expanded its product line to provide incrementally larger and more luxurious vehicles beginning with the midsize Sonata and … Read more
You can make your green dreams a reality with the Fusion Energi. ===MPG figures updated June 12, 2014 per the Ford Motor Company.=== We’ve heard it all before: for just under $40,000 you can get behind the wheel of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and receive a sizable federal … Read more
Traditional luxury get a fresh look. Three decades ago Toyota began considering how it might best serve premium customers, in a bid to go head-to-head against Lincoln and Cadillac. It was determined that a new brand was necessary, thus Lexus was born. Today, Lexus is one of the top selling … Read more
Those big yellow Ford Crown Victoria sedans plying the streets of major cities and picking up passengers will soon become a thing of the past. For one, Ford no longer makes the Crown Victoria. For another, taxi fleets are looking for more efficient vehicles to get the job done. Enter … Read more
Smallest Ford is big on value and fun. In 2008, before the US economy nosedived and the American car manufacturing industry nearly folded, the Ford Motor Company announced its One Ford plan. That plan offered a blueprint for sustainability that would completely shift the way that Ford conducted its business. … Read more
That Kia would even consider reentering the premium sedan segment a few years ago shows just how far this Korean car manufacturer has progressed in recent years. Until about 2005, most of Kia’s models were considered basic transportation, sometimes of dubious quality and certainly not what diehard automotive enthusiasts would … 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