Summer is here, and that means it’s time to break out boats, jet skis, and four wheelers. Those fun machines won’t get to the lake or the trail on their own. GM says that its research indicates about three-quarters of all light-duty pickup owners actually put their trucks to work towing...Read More»
The 2018 Nissan Kicks puts the automaker into full crossover mode, even if it stretches the definition of what’s crossing over what. This subcompact five-door is Nissan’s answer to the Kia Soul and the Hyundai Kona. Each forges its own path and the Kicks has its own story to tell. Here...Read More»
The new 2019 Subaru Ascent does family duty like Sunday chores. It's the biggest consumer vehicle Subaru has ever made, and as we found during our first drive around Portland, Oregon, it's clear that it's here to stay. DON'T MISS: Read our 2019 Subaru Ascent full review The 2019 Ascent skips the...Read More»
The 2018 Dodge Durango SRT was created to go fast, look mean, and haul a gaggle of people. The muscle truck of three-row crossover SUVs has one more ace up its sleeve—or tucked between its rumbling tailpipes. Shove a massive engine into a vehicle and sometimes it increases its capabilities...Read More»
We hate to admit it, but it’s true: Sometimes, driving is boring. Whether it’s starting at a stagnant cesspool of cars on the 405, or pencil-straight interstates that never end in Wyoming, there’s just no getting around the boredom that long drives can present. Humanity may never...Read More»
As buyers put their money on crossover SUVs rather than sedans in the game of new-car roulette, the 2019 VW Jetta hopes to be more than just a dapper, quiet observer on the sidelines. The latest Jetta is a mild-mannered four-door that does many things well, which may make it highly appealing to...Read More»
It's all a popularity contest. If you're a successful car, odds are good that you'll make an appearance the next year. But if you're the kind of car perpetually marked as the "manager's special" with an asking price that's about to become a begging price, you're probably not going to be asked to...Read More»
No flip of the calendar passes without a slew of new cars, crossover SUVs, trucks, and even minivans hitting the market. Some are mild rehashes of last year's models, while others are entirely new designs. It's our job to sort through them. For the 2018, we've found at least 18 new vehicles that...Read More»
"Overindulgence is life. The rest is just details." We're paraphrasing here, but you remember those t-shirts that were all the rage in the 1990s. They made everyone into an enthusiast of some kind, at least for a few seconds. Here at The Car Connection, we're car enthusiasts, even as we watch the...Read More»
Maybe we're inherently negative since it's easier to describe why a new car is unattractive than it is to put to words just what makes a shape evocative and eye-catching. Beauty is highly subjective, which is why it's a massive challenge for the editorial team at The Car Connection to agree on the...Read More»
It's true: There's no such thing as a bad car anymore. At least here in the U.S., every new car you can buy comes loaded with at least a quartet of airbags, anti-lock brakes, and some semblance of useful features like air conditioning, multi-adjustable seats, and a decent stereo. But they're not...Read More»
New cars are not simple. They're beginning to look and act more like electronics than basic transportation. Even basic commuter cars available for under $20,000 now boast high-resolution touchscreens with advanced smartphone connectivity and a host of cameras that feed systems that can steer away...Read More»
It's official, America. This is the land of crossovers and SUVs. The best-selling vehicles in America are now pickups and crossovers, not sedans—a marked departure from last year when four-doors took home two of the top five positions. In 2017, Americans flip-flopped in favor of crossovers...Read More»
Like day-old pastries, some new cars have stuck around on the shelf long enough that they're starting to grow a little moldy. Long ago, these cars first hit the market—and we were generally excited about them back then. At the time, they represented something close to their makers' latest and...Read More»
A day in the life of most Cadillac Escalades starts with dropping the kids off at school followed by a visit to the local Starbucks watering hole, but these big brutes are well-suited to far more strenuous activities. While most of the Escalade's rivals feature car-like unibody construction for...Read More»
Today, the Dodge Neon and the Chevy Trailblazer are in the automotive equivalent of the international witness protection program. You won't find a new one in a showroom in the United States, but venture across a border or two and a Dodge or Chevy dealer will be happy to sell you a new four-door...Read More»
Incoming college freshmen, take note: Your roommates should not be your friends, good shower shoes are indispensable, and leaving campus will become mandatory approximately four days after classes start. Reliable transportation comes in handy for 2 a.m. burrito dashes, 4 a.m. jam sessions, and 11...Read More»
The 2017 Ram Power Wagon's main mission in life is to slowly pluck its way through treacherous situations, like rock crawling, the woods, and other various off-road situations. But at its core, the Power Wagon is a heavy-duty 2500 Ram pickup truck, which means it's also built to serve all your...Read More»
Small SUVs and crossovers are a big deal. The deluge of all-new crossovers this year from Volkswagen, Honda, and others should be proof enough of that. If you listen to Mazda engineers, the bigger deal is in the small details. The new 2017 Mazda CX-5 is their proof. Although the second-generation...Read More»
