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 →

September 3, 2013 0

2014 Chevrolet Impala 2LT

New Chevy Impala brings GM all the way back Originally I thought Chevrolet’s Cruze signaled that the giant automaker was back, back to its 1960s world of innovative, high-value, handsomely styled vehicles. Cruze may have been the beginning, but Impala really says that Chevy has arrived. Since 1958 Impala has told folks that their neighbors have... Continue Reading →

August 26, 2013 2

2013 Nissan Leaf SL

All-electric Nissan Leaf fun, functional and easy to recharge I’ve driven my first all-electric car, Nissan’s latest Leaf, and I can assure you that if electric cars are to be our future, driving enthusiasts will still have fun behind the wheel. Contrary to many perceptions the car isn’t slow, it isn’t cumbersome in any way and... Continue Reading →

August 17, 2013 0

2014 Acura RLX Advance

I'll be dogged, Acura RLX delivers power, elegance and PAWS My experience is that it’s hard to go wrong with an Acura sedan, and the new mid-size RLX does nothing to make me rethink that notion. Fairly handsome outside, elegant inside it’s smooth on the road, handles well and offers oodles of power. Even the... Continue Reading →