Minivans were invented in the 1980s, and since then, they’ve have had a certain…reputation. Call them big-box bores. They’re functional to a fault, but sporty? Sexy? Not so much. Leave it to Chrysler to try and change that reputation. They invented the minivan. They've sold...Read More»
Kia made some great choices for its completely redesigned 2017 Sportage—choices that make it a better-driving, more comfortable vehicle than some of its key rivals. One of those key rivals is the Sportage’s corporate cousin, the Hyundai Tucson. Although the Sportage remains closely...Read More»
Why again is Cadillac walking away from its best-selling nameplate, the SRX? We’ll leave that one hanging; but much of what Cadillac’s doing at the moment is very big-picture—and the new XT5 nameplate fits into that picture, as part of a lineup of several “XT”...Read More»
Gimmickry and retro design cues have always been part of the beguiling formula for Mini—especially ever since the brand was resurrected by BMW earlier last decade, and up to present day and the 2016 Mini Cooper S Convertible we drove around Los Angeles earlier this month. It’s just that...Read More»
Once upon a time, the Honda Civic was a go-to recommendation for buyers shopping for a compact car. It was rarely the cheapest option, but a Civic offered good quality, economical operation, and a greater degree of sportiness than many rivals. In recent years, however—and particularly with a...Read More»
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is nearly 18 months away from its on-sale date in the U.S. Yet up north near the Arctic Circle, in Arvidsjaur, Sweden, this past week, we got just enough of a tease to know that this one’s going to be different. In addition to becoming, for the U.S. market, an...Read More»
The Hyundai Elantra has been a big success story for the South Korean automaker. A decade ago, it wasn't even mentioned in the same breath as Civic and Corolla. Today, it's one of the highest-rated small sedans at The Car Connection, in league with the brilliant new Honda Civic, the Ford Focus, the...Read More»
Great genre-bending cars are often the result of a leader with passion, to see it through—from conception to reality. Smart Automobile CEO Dr. Annette Winkler is the quintessence of that; the first ground-up redesign of the distinctive Fortwo lineup—including the new 2017 Smart Fortwo...Read More»
It’s been 25 years since Buick last had a convertible in its lineup. You’ve probably forgotten the Reatta, right? It's okay. The Reatta was a set-up, anyway. It was supposed to be Buick's halo car--in-dash CRTs and "Reatta Craft Centre" assembly line and all. Chalk all that up to...Read More»
It's now in its fourth generation, and the Toyota Prius continues to be the world's definitive hybrid-electric vehicle. This latest 2016 Prius gets slightly better gas mileage than before--52 miles per gallon for the base model--to keep its crown as the most fuel-efficient vehicle without a plug...Read More»
The kids use the phrase “on fleek” to describe something that’s on trend, and almost nothing fits its definition as well as the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. Any way you describe it—compact, luxury, crossover—this redesigned SUV is firing on all trendiness cylinders...Read More»
If you’re one of those guys who’s a little turned off by ever more cumbersome, oversized full-size trucks, the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Diesel, at least at first glance, looks like the sensible truck that puts a stop to the insanity. It’s easy to see why for some people...Read More»
The 2016 Kia Optima has a tough act to follow. Forget the two generations of the Optima that preceded the outgoing model; it was the 2011 Optima that was Kia’s big break in the U.S.—the model with which the brand really blew past an era of forgettable, derivative mainstream attempts and...Read More»
The tenth-generation Honda Civic drops almost all the economy-car pretense; in Touring trim, it could wear the same "premium" label that Acura's ILX does. Honda's first turbocharged engine appears in EX-T, EX-L, and Touring models Advanced safety technology is available on every trim level Prices...Read More»
Let’s get this out of the way: With the Tacoma, Toyota has the best-selling truck in this segment, and one of the models that retains the best resale value in the entire U.S. market. Its owners are fiercely loyal, and cheerleaders for the brand’s trucks. They’re also the...Read More»
![2016 Toyota Mirai - Quick Drive - Portland, July 2015 [photo: Doug Berger]](https://static.hgmsites.net/images/cache/2016-toyota-mirai_100521493_151x113.jpg "2016 Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Car: Quick Drive")
While auto-industry insiders, analysts, and tech-savvy early adopters are split on whether a hydrogen infrastructure is viable in the near future, several automakers are pushing forward with product—and hoping that infrastructure (and more product) will follow. At present, those automakers...Read More»
Starting out in the passenger seat is one of the better ways to acquaint oneself with the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. Car critics tend to fixate on what's new and fast and thrilling from the driver's seat, and here, it pays to 'recalibrate' first—by taking stock of the ride, the ambiance, the...Read More»
The Nissan Maxima was cocky and cool when it was young—they even called it the four-door sports car. But for the past decade, the Maxima’s been in limbo. Is it a sport sedan with Infiniti influences, or an Altima with attitude? The picture gets a little clearer this year, as the 2016...Read More»
We’ve been fans of the Honda Pilot since it was brand-new, back in 2003. The first one was a big hit—but the next one had a rugged SUV look that was out of step with its on-road talents. There’s a new Pilot for 2016, and it’s making a big U-turn. But is it big enough to pass...Read More»
