Luxurious GMC Sierra the Cadillac of pickups GMC is the Cadillac of pickups, juicing up the chrome levels on the exterior and adding a bit more finery to the interior, compared to its kissin’ cousin, the Chevrolet Silverado. Make no mistake, both trucks can be equipped and decked out much like any fine luxury sedan,... Continue Reading →
2014 Ford Escape SE
2014 Ford Escape SE FWD Ford’s Escape is a pleasant compact sport-ute with quick handling and edgy stylish looks. The tested metallic blue SE is the mid-level model, with the S being the base and the Titanium being the high-end model that I’d previously tested. Starting price is $25,550 for the SE and it features... Continue Reading →
2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude 4×4
New Cherokee brings modern look, but same off-road capability Some folks had their doubts about Chrysler and Jeep when Italian carmaker Fiat assumed control of them a few years back. Now Fiat owns them outright and the new product parade can’t have been more impressive. Latest on the list is the new Jeep Cherokee. It’s an old... Continue Reading →
2014 Lexus RX 450h
H = hybrid in luxurious 450h crossover for a smooth quiet cruiser Lexus makes quiet, comfortable and reliable vehicles as well, if not better, than most car makers and its RX crossover has been a hit for years, being an early entry into the crossover, or tall wagon, market. Certainly Lexus does nothing to embarrass itself... Continue Reading →
2014 Audi Q5 TDI quattro
Audi Q5 blends luxury, utility with clean turbo diesel  Luxury sport-utility vehicles all pretty much look alike, and all are loaded with luxury and high-tech features, so it’s in the blending of all these features where excellence outs itself. Even in high-end utes it has been uncommon for me to be fully comfortable with the size,... Continue Reading →
2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Ltd. 4X4
Hefty Tundra ready to take on the Big 3's Big Boys Toyota needn’t worry about folks pooh-poohing their full-size (and then some) Tundra pickup as not manly enough, or strong enough to take on the Big 3’s big boys. Heck, the tested metallic black Tundra CrewMax Limited 4X4 is nothing if not big. First, it’s U.S.-built... Continue Reading →
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 →
2014 Acura MDX SH-AWD
New MDX lighter, loaded with gadgets galore Acura put its popular MDX sport-utility on a serious diet, tweaked its dimensions a bit and in the test version, attached every electronic gee-whiz feature its engineers could muster – hence the $57,400 price tag. First, the sport-ute added considerably to its use of high-strength steel and a new... Continue Reading →
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
New Silverado quieter, more refined and plenty strong A pickup is a pickup, there’s no two ways about it. Pickup trucks are tall and boxy and, well, originally intended for work, primarily in farm fields and on construction sites. That’s why they ride higher and even the new – nose to tail – Chevrolet Silverado has an... Continue Reading →
2014 Land Rover Range Rover 5.0 V8 SC
Supercharged Rover strong on power, luxury, off-road ability Dating myself here, but imagine a Crocodile Dundee type character intoning, Luxury Ute? Now this is a Luxury Ute as he points to a large, muscular Range Rover SC. The Aussie accent may seem appropriate too as Land Rover, the firm that makes Range Rovers, was for years... Continue Reading →