2016 Cadillac CTS AWD

Cadillac CTS remains edgy, fast sport sedan Cadillac’s CTS remains one of GM’s biggest success stories and for good reason. The mid-size sport sedan features edgy styling and handles like a fine European sport sedan, but with better ride characteristics and now, all-wheel-drive. The dark metallic gray test car was the CTS AWD 3.6L Premium... Continue Reading →

December 18, 2015 0

2016 Scion iM

Sporty Scion iM epitomizes simple driving fun Maybe because I test drive so many trucks and crossovers these days, but a week behind the wheel of a sporty hatchback is refreshing. It reminds you that driving, at its simplest levels, can be fun. Scion, the low-cost arm of Toyota, has figured this out. Let’s hope others... Continue Reading →

December 11, 2015 0

2015 Jeep Renegade Limited 4×4

Jeep's new baby still can crawl off road A lot of folks are calling the Renegade the Baby Jeep, and there’s some truth to that because it’s the smallest Jeep and solidly puts the brand into the growing small crossover/sport-ute segment. Renegade rides on a short 101.2-inch wheelbase and shares a platform with parent company Fiat’s... Continue Reading →

December 4, 2015 0

2016 Scion iA

Scion iA a snazzy low-cost small sedan Rarely has so little felt like so much. Scion delivers possibly the highest value car for the entry-level market and does it with a good looking small sedan that is value priced and yet looks and feels much more like a mid-priced compact sedan. The new iA,... Continue Reading →

November 28, 2015 0

2016 Kia Sedona SXL

New Kia Sedona improves on solid package I had driven the new Kia Sedona early this year and frankly, it had a few issues. I liked much the minivan had to offer then, and now. But I’m most impressed that all of my earlier concerns seem to have been tended to within the first year.... Continue Reading →

November 20, 2015 0

2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country T5 AWD

Volvo S60 Cross Country tall, awkward looking I really liked the last Volvo S60 sedan I drove and was curious about this new Cross Country model that adds all-wheel drive, plus more pronounced fender flares to give it a somewhat different look. AWD continues to gain popularity, especially in the northern climes such as ours.... Continue Reading →

November 13, 2015 0

2015 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye

Dodge Dart SXT sharp looker, affordable I’ve always liked the lightly regarded Dodge Dart because it’s a sporty looking entry-level car with a low price tag. It’s affordable and doesn’t look like a cheap econobox. I gave it my Zoomie Car of the Year award in 2013. So I was a bit surprised I wasn’t as... Continue Reading →

November 6, 2015 0

2015 Buick Encore AWD Premium

Buick Encore surprisingly nimble The Buick Encore and Chevy Trax are kissin’ cousins riding on the same platform with the same engine and transmission, but aimed at different markets. Not surprisingly the Chevy aims at value-minded and younger buyers, while the Buick aims more upscale, at empty-nesters who demand luxury and feel they’ve hit a stage... Continue Reading →

October 30, 2015 0

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

Redesigned Mazda Miata still the perfect sport car My generation may have been having fun, fun, fun till our daddy’s took our T-birds away, but since 1989 the fun, fun, fun has mostly been provided by Mazda’s Miata. Lyrically it’s not the same at all, but the feeling continues to be the same and the nearly all... Continue Reading →

October 9, 2015 0

2016 Honda HR-V 2WD EX-L w/Nav

Honda's new HR-V just another solid little ute Honda makes many fine cars that perform well, get good gas mileage and are reliable and its new small personal-sized crossover, the HR-V fits that mold. But Honda, like Toyota before it, seems to have neglected styling in pursuit of its other laudable attributes. So the HR-V, like... Continue Reading →