Luxurious GS450h gives hybrids a good name Lexus is synonymous with luxury, which is currently being driven home via the smooth quiet operation of its GS450h, a midsize luxury hybrid. There isn’t much more anyone would need in a luxury car than what the GS450h delivers. Ride is smooth and controlled, the engine gives it plenty... Continue Reading →
2013 Chevrolet Spark 2LT
Chevy’s Korean micro car comes up short Chevrolet’s Spark is a confusing car. Why? Chevy has a perfectly fine entry-level car, the Sonic. Why it felt a need to go bargain basement with its Spark, a Daewoo (remember that name?) designed four-door micro or city car seems like a decision from the pre-bankruptcy General Motors.... Continue Reading →
2013 Dodge Dart Limited
New Dart hits the mark As a kid in the 1960s we had a Plymouth Valiant convertible, a kissin’ cousin to the Dodge Dart, both pleasant, sturdy, reliable compact cars. But by the 1970s, the Dart and Valiant had grown into ugly boxy things with parts that readily fell off. They, and other Dodge, Chrysler... Continue Reading →
2013 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD
A Volvo wagon (crossover) with style, luxury? YES! Volvo has been a master of wagons for decades, its sturdy boxy 240s setting the standard for boring (yet safe) upscale suburban transport. So it’s no surprise when its tall wagons, the XC crossover vehicles push that bar higher and give the Lexus RX 350 a run... Continue Reading →
2013 Cadillac XTS AWD Platinum
Luxury, your initials are XTS Luxury always has its price and for Cadillac, that price is $60,385 for its new XTS sedan. Don’t gasp, that’s nowhere near where the price for luxury starts, nor where many other midsize luxury sedans end up. This one added but a $920 delivery charge to end up at $61,305,... Continue Reading →
2012 Toyota Prius C Two
Smaller hybrid easy on gas, hard to get out of its own way The new Toyota Prius C is what most folks think of when they imagine a hybrid car. They think of an extremely small car that gets great gas mileage, but has a hard time getting out of its own way. But unlike many... Continue Reading →
2013 Scion FR-S
Spiffy sportster rekindles Toyota's sport coupe tradition Finally, a new sports coupe from Toyota, albeit offered through its entry-level youngster brand, Scion. I’ve missed the Toyota Celica for years now, and I’m not alone, so with the 2013 Scion FR-S, Toyota again has a low-cost sports coupe that looks great and will provide much entertainment... Continue Reading →
2012 Hyundai Equus Signature
Full-size luxury has a new name - Equus - and plenty of ponies Hyundai’s full-size Equus is a fine luxury car with one major drawback, the Hyundai name. Unlike Honda and its Acura line or Toyota’s Lexus or Nissan’s Infiniti, Hyundai has chosen to simply offer its luxury liner as an extension of its standard... Continue Reading →
2012 Nissan Murano SV AWD
Luxurious crossover, quiet comfortable family mover A lot of time has passed since I last tested Nissan’s fine Murano crossover, yet it remains a solid, quiet, comfortable family mover. While many folks buy this in front-drive form, Nissan says, I had the next to top level SL model with AWD. That means it goes for... Continue Reading →
2013 Acura ILX Premium
A handsome winner that slots below TSX Acura created one of the finest entry-level sport sedans with its TSX a few years back, but now introduces another winner to slot in just under the TSX. For 2013 Acura rolls out the ever so slightly smaller ILX to fill the entry slot as TSX has crept... Continue Reading →