Chevy’s small car is big on efficiency. Car sales are getting clobbered in a market where SUVs and pickup truck growth continues to expand. Even as we finish yet another strong sales year, manufacturers are shifting production capacity away from cars in favor of the vehicle types consumers want. Yet, … Read more
Few models can match the Golf R’s fun factor. Hot hatchbacks remain prized commodities. And this segment has only become hotter since Volkswagen introduced the current Golf R in 2015. As one of just three small sport models with all-wheel drive — the Subaru WRX STI and the Ford Focus … Read more
Small means big when it comes to the VW Jetta. The Volkswagen Jetta is a compact sedan, a five-passenger model offering three turbocharged gasoline engine choices. Now in its sixth generation, the Jetta offers a conservative style, excellent interior room, superior handling, and a roomy trunk. 2017 Volkswagen Jetta Review … Read more
Now in its fourth year, the midsize Santa Fe Sport SUV has been mildly refreshed. Hyundai has the midsize SUV segment nailed down with two very similar models: the two-row, five-passenger Santa Fe Sport and the three-row, seven-passenger Santa Fe. The latter one is based entirely on the former with … Read more
Flagship CX-9 turns heads, stirs hearts. Three-row, midsize SUVs are popular models, taking over largely where minivans left off. The Mazda CX-9 is one of several models in the segment and is now in its second generation. In many ways the CX-9 is the flagship of the Mazda fleet, offering … Read more
A pleasantly appointed family car can be had for about $25K. US car sales broke an all-time record in 2015 and will likely fall just short of that number this year. With more than 17 million new car shoppers making purchases each year, the market is ripe for the taking. … Read more
Drop the top in this handsome little British people mover. The Mini Cooper now includes a convertible, available in standard, S, and John Cooper Works editions. The standard model is powered by a 1.5-liter, turbocharged three-cylinder engine; the “S” gets BMW’s 2.0-liter, twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinders and the top-end model garners … Read more
Ford’s three-row midsize crossover delivers off-road capabilities. Ford’s strength in utility vehicles is evident as nearly every model it offers is a hit. Even the quirky Ford Flex has an audience, people who prefer a more wagon-like experience and are not put off by its polarizing visage. And then there … Read more
Audi launches “e-tron,” its nascent line of hybrid electric vehicles. The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron name is a mouthful. Once you get beyond the lengthy moniker for this unusual plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), calling it “e-tron” or “A3 e-tron” seems entirely appropriate. The “e-tron” designation is an Audi registered … Read more
The smallest Lincoln model is the most original one yet. The Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln marque has fallen far since 1998, the last year it was the top-selling luxury automotive brand in the United States. These days, the segment is dominated by BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz with Audi, Cadillac, Acura, and … Read more