Disclaimer: Never put yourself or other drivers in harm’s way when practicing some of these techniques which may, incidentally, be illegal in some jurisdictions. There is a group of people on the roads who seek to squeeze more miles out of a gallon of fuel than seems scientifically possible. Known … Read more
Toyota launches the latest generation Avalon Hybrid sedan. The 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid is a large, five-passenger front-wheel-drive sedan that’s also all-new. While some competing manufacturers are fleeing sedans altogether, Toyota is doubling down and releasing new models, including the hybrid version of its flagship sedan. The current version is … Read more
The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid by the numbers. Toyota has long held a big edge in the hybrid market, easily selling more vehicles than all of its competitors combined. The Prius, of course, is the best-known Toyota hybrid, but there are other hybrid models available based on the Camry, Avalon, … Read more
Compact NX is the smallest of four Lexus SUVs. Low fuel prices haven’t halted Lexus’ advance in all things hybrid. Piggybacking on Toyota Motors’ technology, Lexus’ gas-electric vehicles currently number five model lines and soon will be joined by two 2018 models: the LC 500h coupe and the LS 500h. … Read more
An entry-level hybrid with a fun-to-drive F Sport option. Sitting lower and coming in slightly shorter than the Toyota Prius, the Lexus CT200h (CT) is the smallest hybrid model for Toyota’s luxury brand. Now in its seventh year, the CT will soon follow the Prius and receive an update of … Read more
Updated Jan. 14, 2016 to reflect IIHS crashworthiness results. Nissan Altima SL grade (photo copyright Christopher Brewer). These certainly are heady days for Nissan, Japan’s second largest car manufacturer. The automaker is poised to overtake Honda in the US, the lone major market where its smaller competitor maintains a sales … Read more
If you are a fan of the Hyundai Elantra, then the Hyundai Avante reveal in Korea earlier this week should have your attention. That’s because the Avante, marketed as the Elantra in North America, will soon benefit from an important update, one that will become evident in the sixth-generation Elantra … Read more
Hyundai’s weakest link is its line of utility vehicles. As other manufacturers have the right product in place, Hyundai finds itself scrambling to compete. A Genesis-based SUV may be in the works, but it may not be the right product or the right time. Hyundai’s smallest SUV is its compact … Read more
At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past Jan., General Motors took the wraps off of a concept vehicle called the Chevrolet Bolt. Unlike the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Bolt is a pure electric vehicle and one with a projected 200-mile range. Chevrolet … Read more
The modern minivan movement began in 1983 when the Chrysler Corporation brought the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan to the market. Those early models were based on the automaker’s K-Car platform, a compact car line that spawned numerous other Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth models. The earliest minivans lived up to … Read more
The Ford Motor Company has five hybrid models on the market, four for the Ford brand and one for its Lincoln make. As a result of its recently expanded product offerings, its share of the hybrid segment has quadrupled within the past year, with the automaker managing to snatch shares … Read more
Mazda took advantage of a slow early summer news cycle to unveil the next generation of its popular Mazda3 compact. Through a concerted series of reveals in five cities including New York, this Japanese automaker has followed through on its promise to raise the bar in a tightly competitive segment. … Read more
Honda is about to have its second go around with the Honda Accord Hybrid, but this time it has aimed higher. The new model, slated to go on sale in Oct., is expected to deliver 49 mpg around the city and 45 mpg on the highway. That’s far better than … Read more
Chevy, Ford pickup truck battle. From the 1950s through the 2000s Chevy vs. Ford was the brand battle for the ages. The two best-selling makes for General Motors and the Ford Motor Company have long fought for the top position among car brands, with Toyota jumping in more recently in … Read more
An automobile is more of a necessity than a luxury in Los Angeles. Unlike many U.S. cities that have square, box-like geographies New York, Philadelphia and Boston come to mind Los Angeles is generally spread out. It’s not unusual for Southland citizens to travel 15 to 30 miles to work … Read more