Hybrid Rogue pulls up a bit short ... I’m always thankful to get an early crack at a new vehicle to market, and that’s what I had with an early release 2017 Nissan Rogue SL hybrid. Nissan has revamped the popular Rogue for 2017 with a new gloss black V-Motion grille, wider headlights and restyled taillights... Continue Reading →
2017 Acura MDX SH-AWD w/Advance & Entertainment
MDX loaded with luxury, high-tech goodies ... Acura’s big MDX sport-ute is loaded with luxury and high-tech items and graced with a quiet interior and powerful V6. The top-of-the-line test model was a bright white MDX SH-AW with both the Advance and Entertainment packages. The SH-AWD stands for Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive. Not sure I’d tout the... Continue Reading →
2017 Ford Escape Titanium FWD
Ford refines its Escape crossover . . . For 2017 Ford has restyled its popular Escape inside and out, plus developed two new engines for the entry-level sport-utility, er crossover. There’s no mistaking the Escape for something else as its profile remains much the same, but there’s a new hexagonal grille, LED trim headlights and revised... Continue Reading →
2017 Honda Civic Touring Coupe
Civic Coupe is sleek, peppy, responsive, but ... Honda’s new Civic Coupe has a sleek profile, peppy turbocharged engine and responsive handling, but it also has a few issues that reinforce it’s an entry-level car. Through the years the Civic has grown up. It has gotten larger and now rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase. It’s... Continue Reading →
2017 Audi A4 Premium
Audi's new A4 is the epitome of fun driving ... Here’s a simple truth. It’s fun to drive a car that’s fun to drive. That may seem silly, but let’s break it down. First, cars have taken a back seat to trucks for years now as first SUVs and then crossovers replaced the family sedan... Continue Reading →
2017 Cadillac XT5 Premium AWD
Cadillac XT5 long on style, short on details ... Cadillac has mastered the styling, now it needs to work on the details. The new Cadillac XT5 crossover continues Cadillac’s sharp chiseled styling with tall taillights and noteworthy nose and headlight stylings. Its interior is luxurious and attractive in a way most German makes have yet to... Continue Reading →
2017 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring AWD
Mazda CX-3 flickable fun, but practical too Small hatchbacks have always been fun to drive and practical too. So why shouldn’t a small crossover with a hatch be much the same? Well, more and more tiny crossovers are being made and mostly they are pretty entertaining to drive. This week’s bright metallic blue (dynamic blue mica)... Continue Reading →
2017 Toyota Camry XLE Hybrid
High-value Toyota Camry hybrid does it all, efficiently ... For 35 years Toyota has cranked out one Camry after another, often grabbing North America’s best-selling car title. That probably won’t be changing any time soon if the 2017 Camry hybrid is any indication. Everything buyers like about a Camry is here, economy, value, comfort and... Continue Reading →
2016 Lexus NX 200t F Sport
Lexus NX proves looks still matter ... Looks matter in much of life, sometimes fairly, sometimes not. But good looks are so rare in small crossovers and sport-utes that when one has them, it deserves more than a passing glance. Lexus’ NX is a looker. I’ve said it before, as I’ve tested this vehicle a... Continue Reading →
2017 Fiat 124 Spider Classica
Fiat's 124 a Miata remake long on style, better ride It has been a long, long time since an affordable convertible with Italian styling was available in the United States, but now we have Fiat’s 124 Spider. Actually, we had it all along, or at least since 1989, in the form of a Mazda Miata.... Continue Reading →