New Chevy Equinox shrinks, but that's a good thing ... Chevrolet updated the Equinox for 2018 by doing something carmakers rarely do these days, shrinking it. Equinox is nearly 5 inches shorter than its predecessor, but it feels lighter and livelier to drive, another rare accomplishment. Usually carmakers add inches and weight to increase their... Continue Reading →
2017 Lexus IS350 F Sport
Stylish Lexus IS350 remains true to its calling ... When we are lucky, good things don’t change, much! This week’s luxurious example is the Lexus IS350 F Sport, a certified BWM 3 Series fighter, and a near identical luxury sport sedan to one I drove two years ago, right down to the Atomic silver... Continue Reading →
2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD
New Volvo V90 Cross Country a big, slick wagon ... Give Volvo credit for creating a high-end wagon that looks like no other. The V90 Cross Country is big and features a swoopy profile that looks downright slick. The Cross Country part tells you the Volvo prefers to think of itself as a crossover, and... Continue Reading →
Genesis G80 RWD 3.3T Sport
Genesis G80 Sport stirs comments, all good ... I’m used to getting questions about the test cars I drive, but few get as many comments as the Genesis G80 3.3T Sport I just drove. Dressed in Caspian black, a deeply layered sparkling metallic black, the G80 oozes luxury and authority on the road. Old and... Continue Reading →
2017 Lexus RX 450h
Lexus RX 450h perfect for a comfy, long haul ... Mostly my test drives are a couple hundred miles around Southeast Wisconsin over the course of a week, but this week was a rare exception when I drove the Lexus RX 450h to Omaha and back, more than 1,100 miles. As many a high-end suburban... Continue Reading →
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T ULT AWD
Hyundai's Santa Fe Sport still a leader ... Hyundai continues to pace the small to mid-size crossover segment with its Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport. A few years back Hyundai split its Santa Fe crossover lineup with the larger being the Santa Fe and the smaller, sportier model being the Santa Fe Sport. The... Continue Reading →
2017 New Jeep Compass Latitude 4×4
New Jeep Compass leapfrogs its predecessor ... Jeep has remade its Compass and moved it from near the bottom of the small crossover sport-utility list to much nearer the top. The former Compass didn’t impress in any way, while the new Compass starts by looking like a miniature Jeep Grand Cherokee with a handsome 7-bar grille... Continue Reading →
2017 MINI Cooper S Countryman All4
MINI's Countryman is bigger, not necessarily better ... The new MINI Cooper Countryman goes too far, but maybe that’s what U.S. buyers want. It’s the biggest MINI yet. I know that sounds contradictory for the small British-born make now made by BMW. But it’s true. This is MINI’s version of a crossover or small sport-ute with a... Continue Reading →
2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack TSI SE
New VW Golf Alltrack brings fun to wagons ... Volkswagen brings a little fun to the small wagon market, which is a niche of a niche these days, but certainly compares well with small crossovers. But instead of a tall boxy AWD vehicle, the Golf Alltrack is a decidedly leaner machine that looks downright sporty compared... Continue Reading →
2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Ltd. Platinum
Highlander Hybrid excels at moving people, things ... A road trip to Louisville with a couple buddies, and plenty of cargo, proved Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid to be a perfect transport choice. Ours was a medium metallic brown, what Toyota calls Toasted Walnut Pearl. Probably should have been pecan since we were headed to the South. But,... Continue Reading →