A new ute that Bond, James Bond, could love ... If James Bond were to drive a crossover/SUV (and I pray he doesn’t … ever) I’m convinced it would be a Genesis GV70, just for its looks. This compact luxury SUV’s looks ooze confidence, sexiness and swagger, very Bondish. They seem to say to all... Continue Reading →
2022 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum 4WD
Pathfinder adds third row seat, 20-inch tires, 2-tone paint ... Can mid-size SUVs get any bigger? Well, sure as buyers move away from minivans they find 5-passenger SUVs are too tiny for many of them. Marketing and design folks listen, so here’s another, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder with a third row. Pathfinder started out like... Continue Reading →
2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e
Smooth plug-in hybrid adds power, better fuel economy to SUV Luxury and power are as ubiquitous as peanut butter and chocolate. BMW knows that and blends the two with just a smidge of social consciousness in its latest X5 mid-size SUV/crossover. Its full name is X5 xDrive45e. What that means is that the power now... Continue Reading →
2022 Volkswagen Taos SE
Taos another newcomer in expanding small crossover market ... Oh my, the burgeoning small crossover market just added another competitor, the Volkswagen Taos (rhymes with House), and if value is your main shopping criteria the Taos should be near the center of your bull’s-eye. Just in the last year I’ve reviewed the following tiny crossover... Continue Reading →
2022 Genesis G70 3.3T Sport Advanced
Can a luxury sport sedan be a value leader? Yes, if it's a Genesis G70 ... In the olden days, 1980s and 1990s, there were a few grunty sport sedans that wouldn’t send a buyer to Uncle Guido for a small loan. That was then, this is now, and a loan is a near certainty.... Continue Reading →
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic (AWD)
Mercedes delivers a sporty small crossover with its GLA250 ... Life is getting harder for premium brands. For instance the small crossover market is flooded with snazzy options, the Lexus UX, Volvo XC40 being two I’ve tested, while the pressure is coming from the likes of Mazda’s near perfect CX-30 along with Subaru’s Forester. Into... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart’s 2016-’17 Lamborghini CEntenario Roadster
Here's how you can afford a $2 million Lambo Roadster ... Not a Lamborghini tractor! Did you know Lamborghini makes tractors? Maybe not, unless your gentleman farmer acreage is considerable and located in Europe. I’ll bet you’re more familiar with Lambo’s supercars, like the sumptuous Centenario Roadster, of which just 20 were made and nine... Continue Reading →
2021 Buick Envision Essence
Front-drive Envision the essence of entry-level luxury ... Buick has been evolving the last five years or so. It’s still a solid entry-level luxury vehicle maker, but it has been transitioning away from cars to crossovers and SUVS. Currently there are three models, the Encore and Envision that I’d classify as crossovers and the Enclave,... Continue Reading →
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat AWD
Crazy fast Hellcat SUV a demonic delight ... Some things simply make no sense, seem coo-coo crazy, yet are so much fun that a person ignores their lunacy. For instance, Dodge’s Durango SRT Hellcat with its 710-horse supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. Any engine oozing that many adjectives is sure to be a demon. This wild... Continue Reading →
2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Caligraphy
Fourth gen Santa Fe grows into a sharp looker ... Time flies. Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV proves it. Santa Fe debuted 20 years ago as the South Korean automaker’s mid-size SUV. It was nothing special, just economical and reliable. Hmmm, reminds me of how Toyota, Honda and Nissan started out in this country, except with... Continue Reading →