Some of us remember when dirt-cheap hatchbacks were the first stop for first-time new car buyers. Freedom was a fold-down rear seat, longboard, and sleeping bag for the only weekend vacation we could afford. The small cars only asked that we compromise our expectations for a tall ride, decent...Read More»
The 2019 Ram 1500 has fully adapted to the way most drivers use their trucks: livability trumps utility. Sure, the latest Ram is powerful enough to lug a trailer weighing up to 12,750 pounds, but that didn’t matter to me as I took in the warm scent of leather and ran my hand across the...Read More»
The 2019 Kia Sorento is not a German crossover SUV. It’s far from Teutonic. But the 2019 Sorento Kia assembles in Georgia is beginning to feel less like a cut-rate Audi and more like a real one. Tweaks made to the three-row crossover’s steering and suspension for the 2019 model year...Read More»
There was molten lava under my feet, and it was relaxing. Harmonious, even, as it thumped gently to the music. It wasn’t a trippy dream, but rather bright orange felt-like carpeting and a Harman Kardon subwoofer hidden behind the dashboard supplying mellow bass tones. The unconventional...Read More»
Jeep didn't get it right with the Cherokee when it revived the revered name in 2014. The six-eyed styling bugged us—mainly, it looked like an insect. The base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine was gutless, and the 3.2-liter V-6 was a neutered version of the strong 3.6-liter V-6 found elsewhere...Read More»
The 2018 Buick Regal TourX is a muddy vehicle. Not just because it is aimed at the hiking boot-wearing active-lifestyle set that marketers covet. Buick would like to see its new tall(-ish) wagon, which shares a nameplate, powertrain, and interior with the Regal Sportback hatchback, covered in dirt...Read More»
The way engineers talk, the 2018 Honda Accord evolved from inattention. A decade ago when money for research was expensive and hard to find, Honda skated on its reputation. Call it a byproduct of conservatism, not laziness. Cars like the Civic and Accord didn’t thrive—just survived...Read More»
Cars get heart transplants all the time, but whole brands? It doesn't happen very often. When Lexus launched with its LS sedan in the 1990 model year, its success hinged on the flawless replication of the Mercedes model. That first sedan was an homage to Benz titans like the W123, and it was a...Read More»
With 400 horsepower on tap, you’d think that the 2018 Volvo XC60 T8 Plug-In Hybrid would be the right choice for carving your way through a winding canyon road. The ingredients are mostly there: a lot of power, a balanced chassis, grippy all-wheel drive, and nicely weighted steering...Read More»
You can be forgiven for not remembering the Fiat 500X. Underneath its cheeky body, the 500X is basically the same thing as the Jeep Renegade. Both share the same engines and transmissions, and their structure is largely identical. Through the first six months of this year, 53,000 Renegades have...Read More»
You can remember your first car. I bet you don’t have to think hard. I’ll make another safe bet that the name of that car is clearer in your head than the name of your best friend from the same time. Like friends, memories, and first cars, we forget the flaws of things we love. Or, more...Read More»
Beauty is no longer merely skin deep when it comes to the 2018 Hyundai Sonata. Last year's dowdy model has given way to a more evocative, interesting design for 2018. It's a study in restraint—both fiscal and stylistic. The 2018 Sonata's basic design dates back only a few years, to 2015. That...Read More»
As the more dapper and international of the automaker's two compact cars, the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT speaks many languages. It wears a crisply tailored European suit not unlike the car that's in its sights: the Volkswagen GTI It mostly succeeds in imitating, but not besting, that German stalwart...Read More»
Alfa Romeo may be on the comeback trail, but so far it’s been missing part of the map. Alfa relaunched here in 2015 with the fantastic 4C sports car. Next came the Giulia sports sedan. See what’s missing? If you said crossover SUV, give yourself a gold star and stop emailing them. The...Read More»
We’ve paid our respects to “sport” leaving “sport utility vehicle,” but we haven’t yet found closure. We held on to the last vestiges of SUVs to the bitter end. Probably too long. We started calling them “crossovers” so we wouldn’t be reminded...Read More»
Over the course of a long day last month, we drove five separate versions of the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry mid-size sedan. Until recently, it had been Toyota's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for 15 years—but now it's been overtaken by the RAV4 compact crossover utility vehicle. That points...Read More»
The cars are running, the clock’s ticking when I slide sideways in the seat. Mirrors? Check. Youthful attitude? Check. Jet lag? On hold. Test drives in the 2018 Hyundai Kona leave every 30 seconds, and I’ll have four minutes to come up with something to tell you about the Kona...Read More»
Like playing blackjack at a casino, redesigning a mid-size crossover SUV is a huge gamble for an automaker. Mess it up, and you lose big time. Get it right and you may clean out the house and dominate the competition. It’s Chevrolet’s turn to take the gamble with its redesigned 2018...Read More»
The 2018 Honda Accord will be an all-new version of the popular mid-size sedan last redesigned for the 2013 model year. The 10th-generation Accord will ride on new underpinnings, and use a pair of revised 4-cylinder engines, eliminating the previous V-6 that's been the top engine option for many...Read More»
