2014 Lexus IS350 AWD

Who makes the best compact sport sedan? Well, BMW has owned that segment for years, but it would be hard to argue against Lexus now making the best looking sport sedan with its new IS series. Lexus created the IS to be a BMW 3 Series (now renamed the 4 Series) fighter, but Lexus is... Continue Reading →

December 21, 2013 0

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 1LT

Fast & furious new Stingray sets a new standard The company parking lot was alive with color, as was the driveway at home. People stared, gave a thumbs up and admired what for 60 years has been America’s Sports Car. This was a Torch Red Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51, fresh off the assembly line in... Continue Reading →

December 4, 2013 0

2013 Toyota RAV4 Limited AWD

Lackluster new RAV4 underwhelming Underwhelmed, that was how the new Toyota RAV4 left me. Oh it looks fine, pretty much like every other compact ute out these days, and with all the features and electronic options and doodads you’d want. But given Toyota’s history, I was surprised by how lackluster it felt and it had fit... Continue Reading →

November 10, 2013 0

2013 Chrysler 200

Chrysler 200 Touring feels like a rental car, but scores with good MPG I wasn’t expecting much when the silver Chrysler 200 Touring arrived. It’s not a styling leader and isn’t far removed from its Sebring predecessor. It looks like a rental car and feels like one too. This one tried to spiff up a bit... Continue Reading →

November 3, 2013 0

2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core

Challenger SRT8 puts 470 ponies under you Muscle is one thing. Looks are another. But I still expect a boatload of amenities at $41 grand. The “TorRed” Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core that I blasted around town in last week targets the fanatical muscle car lover. It packs a 6.4-liter V8 SRT HEMI that punches out... Continue Reading →

October 26, 2013 2

2013 Lincoln MKZ AWD

New Lincoln MKZ's crisp style shows flair, staying power More than three years have passed since I last tested a Lincoln, which tells you a lot about how stagnant Lincoln’s lineup has been. Lincolns have been little more that gussied up Fords for some time, but that may be changing as Lincoln gets serious about... Continue Reading →

October 25, 2013 0

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion

Tiguan shows VW still struggling in U.S. Ever since Volkswagen lost its way in the U.S. market, about the time it phased out the old Beetle, it has been struggling to regain its footing. Nowhere is that struggle more evident than its small sport-utility offering, the Tiguan. VW’s small ute was restyled and remade a... Continue Reading →

October 12, 2013 0

2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI SEL

Passat's diesel economical and we're not blowing smoke!Perception often matters as much as reality, especially in the retail world of which the auto business is a top dog.So the perception of a diesel engine being loud, smoky and not terribly pleasant to drive remains Volkswagen’s biggest obstacle when selling its pleasant mid-size front-drive Passat. This... Continue Reading →

September 28, 2013 2

2013 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec

Genesis 5.0 R-Spec a styling winner, but a mixed bag Hyundai certainly knows what it’s doing as far as styling and creating a quality car these days, that’s why it continues to gain market share. But its large Genesis luxury sedan is a mixed bag. Here’s why. First, the tested Genesis 5.0 R-Spec is a... Continue Reading →

September 12, 2013 0

2014 KIA Cadenza Premium

Cadenza delivers solid luxury, stellar looks After a week of hearing jokes from colleagues about me driving a piece of office furniture, a more musically minded friend clued me in to the KIA Cadenza sedan’s true meaning. For non-music majors, cadenza is usually an improvised ornamental passage, played or sung by a soloist, often at the... Continue Reading →