2013 Lexus ES350

ES350 handsome blend of luxury, elegance You’d have to be crazy or lacking in the ability to physically feel anything to not enjoy riding in the new Lexus ES350. This is a fine front-drive mid-size luxury sedan, with a restyled grille and lines that give it a somewhat more interesting look. At least you notice... Continue Reading →

January 19, 2013 1

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Veloster Turbo rocks the entry-level market Hyundai wasn’t happy to leave well enough alone, so it went and added a turbo to its sporty coupe/hatch, the Veloster. Yes, you’ll still hear jokes about the name and its similarity to the famous dinos in “Jurassic Park,” but you won’t care. You’ll have a sporty car with... Continue Reading →

January 12, 2013 0

2013 Audi S5 Cabriolet

Convertible adds fun to fast, sure-footed Audi What’s more fun than a sports coupe? Well, a convertible version of a sports coupe with a supercharged V6 and all-wheel drive, to be sure. That’s what you get with Audi’s S5 Cabriolet Quattro, compared with its standard A5 coupe. The S5 comes as either a coupe with... Continue Reading →

December 31, 2012 0

2013 Volkswagen CC Sport

Streamlined CC Sport shows what VW can do When Volkswagen launched its sporty CC in 2009 it went head-to-head with its own Passat, at the time a dowdy midsize sedan that was in need of a restyling. Now, Passat is coming off a facelift last year to thin it’s body to blend more with the other... Continue Reading →

December 27, 2012 0

2013 Chevrolet Malibu 1LZ

New Malibu impressive as high-value family car Chevrolet continues to impress with nearly every new model, or revamped model it launches, save the Spark. Its new Malibu is another winner with tweaked styling to make it look more like a Camry, especially from the rear. But to me, that’s a good thing as the current... Continue Reading →

December 2, 2012 2

2013 Lexus GS450h

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 →

November 27, 2012 5

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 →

November 20, 2012 3

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 →

November 20, 2012 8

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 →

November 9, 2012 0

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 →