A Land Rover Discovery with a supercharged gas engine. The hits keep coming. Or at least the weekly model or two I have had the privilege of driving in 2017. This past week it was the Land Rover Discovery, the second time in two months the keys to this model … Read more
Eight years is a long time to stay with any model and the XC60 is showing its age. But that fact hasn’t stopped Volvo from making important updates to the 2017 edition in advance of an all-new model debuting in 2018. 2017 Volvo XC60 Review When the XC60 rolled … Read more
Among midsize SUVs, the Hyundai Santa Fe stands tall. No, it doesn’t sit higher than the competition, rather it possesses certain attributes its competitors don’t offer, namely superior bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties. In a crowded field, offering 5-year, 60,000-mile standard and 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranties might be considered the tiebreaker … Read more
The second-generation Armada has sailed into port. Few manufacturers build full-size, traditional body-on-frame sport utility vehicles these days. Count Nissan among the few. Among mainstream brands, the Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe, and the Ford Expedition are your choices. Of the five, the Armada is the newest … Read more
The third-generation Honda Pilot takes a bow. Amongst three-row, midsize crossover utility vehicles, the Honda Pilot has made a name for itself. This seven-passenger model offers standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive, is powered by a V6 engine, and is all new for 2016. As before, it offers seating … Read more
Muscular, luxury SUV brings performance to the compact range. When was the last time you found a crossover utility vehicle exciting? Crickets. Yeah, I thought so. To be fair, there are some fun crossovers out there, but typically you’ll have to opt for the high-end performance edition and all-wheel drive … Read more
A modest price premium makes hybrid ownership a solid value proposition. The Toyota RAV4 is a popular compact SUV in its own right and one of the first models in the segment, having launched in 1996. Now in its fourth generation, the RAV4 has long lacked a hybrid variant, until … Read more
The second-generation GMC Acadia is 700 pounds trimmer than its predecessor. Ten years is a long time for a vehicle to remain on the market without a clean sheet redesign. Introduced in 2007 and continuing through 2016, the first-generation GMC Acadia managed to stay relevant throughout its 10-year run, benefitting … Read more
Just as it enters its fourth year, the Subaru Crosstrek drops its “XV” designation. As for the model at hand, a 2015 edition was the subject of a weekly test drive. Take a look at Subaru’s entry-level SUV line up and this niche automaker is well represented. The Subaru Forester … Read more
Kia may receive the second mention in the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, but this once very plain Korean brand is anything but boring, especially with the products it has been serving up in recent years. Indeed, nearly every model put forth by Kia has been lauded for its outstanding style, … Read more
Where is Fiat Chrysler Automobile taking the Ram brand? A large SUV is under consideration, what could bring sales and big profits to this truck-based marque. Ever since Fiat Chrysler Automobiles separated Ram from Dodge to form a distinct brand, enthusiasts have wondered if additional products might eventually join the … Read more
Car manufacturers sometimes choose odd names for their vehicles. Most such names, including the Mazda Bongo and the Mitsubishi Pistachio, never make it to the US as marketers wisely intervene and demand changes. The Nissan Rogue has one of those names that slipped through the cracks, although it is doubtful … Read more
British SUV manufacturer Land Rover has divided itself into high-end Range Rover and more pedestrian Discovery lines, with the two aimed at different consumers. Certainly, you could pay upwards of $200,000 for one Range Rover model, but if your SUV aspirations are more down to earth, then the Land Rover … Read more
The subcompact crossover utility vehicle or SUV segment is booming, due to a slew of new products introduced within months of each other this year. The segment is not new, but it does demonstrate that consumers have an insatiable appetite for all things SUV. As a result, manufacturers are looking … Read more
The Nissan Juke is so ugly that it is beautiful. Its design is polarizing, the dimensions seem too short, but this tiny crossover sport utility vehicle is simply a hoot to drive. That’s something I can personally confirm, having spent three times in the past four years driving one. The … Read more
When taking to the road, you need a reliable car. A meaningful bonus is any model that gets you there in style. This past week an Infiniti QX80 was my weekly driver and I also received an added bonus of my own: permission to take it Washington, DC, and back, … Read more
For 2015, the Ford Expedition continues with its traditional body-on-frame construction. Several updates, including a turbocharged V-6 engine, give this vehicle a lease on life. A more comprehensive revision is needed, one that may still be two or three years away. Sales, however, have not suffered for this big SUV. … Read more
A sophisticated sound system, highly supportive command seating and excellent towing capabilities are just a few of the many positive attributes of the Land Rover Range Rover. And if the standard model is not to your liking, you can easily double your price by opting for the top-of-the-line edition. There … Read more
What some men and women encounter as they approach the midpoint of their lives. For some, car buying satisfies their quest to harness a slice of their once remembered youthful past. Some men and women, especially when they hit a certain age, make impulsive decisions, including not a few that … Read more
Living large with GMC’s big SUV. Oversized sport utility vehicles seem like a throwback to a different era for some. For those who own them or aspire to acquire one, these models deliver the best amalgamation of passenger room and trailering capabilities in the business. Fuel costs can be exorbitant, … Read more
New front and rear fascias plus an EcoBoost engine. A 2015 Lincoln Navigator in Java metallic. You have to hand it to Lincoln. They just redesigned their traditional body-on-frame Navigator sport utility vehicle and gas prices have dropped to the lowest levels we have seen in five years. Oh, there … Read more
Now that the Ford Motor Company has turned its attention to Lincoln, new and updated products are debuting with more on the way. In 2013, the latest generation MKZ sedan made its appearance. This summer, the all-new MKC crossover utility vehicle rolled out. And this fall we have the latest … Read more
Fourth generation model debuts this year. The Ford Motor Company released updated information on Wednesday about its full-size sport-utility vehicle. The 2015 Ford Expedition is the latest version of this big body-on-frame SUV. Standard and stretched wheelbase versions are once again available; a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine is now standard. … Read more
Shop for a larger sport utility vehicle and you’ll soon find that the market is now dominated by crossovers. These are models that dispense with traditional body-on-frame or truck-like construction in favor of unibody or car-like construction, the latter providing a more rigid frame for a better handling ride. This … Read more
Bring it on. The first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle will not come from Honda, General Motors or Toyota, who are among the biggest names associated with this emerging technology. Instead, the winner in the race for the first hydrogen-powered vehicle will be Hyundai when its 2015 Tucson FCV (fuel cell … 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
New base engine powers Hyundai’s compact SUV. Introduced in 2005, the Hyundai Tucson plunged the Korean automaker right into the middle of the very competitive small crossover utility vehicle segment. The Toyota RAV4, Honda’s CR-V and the Ford Escape were segment stalwarts, but the Tucson quickly found room by offering numerous convenience … Read more
It was an opportunity too good to pass up. Fly in to Atlanta, get whisked away to a luxuriant resort some 75 minutes north of the city, and then take in a ride and drive event for the third generation Toyota Tundra. Also making an appearance was the Toyota 4Runner, … Read more