Restyled Honda Pilot roomier, improved overall The Honda Pilot has been a reliable big box of a sport-utility vehicle for years, nothing fancy, but usual Honda quality and solid build. For 2016 the Pilot is restyled and rounded to give it a smoother more refined look, one that might be confused with Buick’s Enclave. In... Continue Reading →
2016 Mazda CX-3 Touring AWD
New CX-3 a spirited, fun, small crossover Mazda isn’t the first car maker with a small personal-sized SUV, but it certainly has one of the most stylish and fun to drive with its new CX-3. The CX-3 continues the tone set by Mazda’s slightly larger CX-5 that competes with the likes of Toyota’s RAV4, Subaru’s Forester... Continue Reading →
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander 3.0 GT S-AWC
New Outlander good, but doesn't raise SUV bar Mitsubishi doesn’t sell many models in the United States, so when it re-launches one, as with the new 2016 Outlander, it had better be good. The Outlander is good, but it sets no new bar for small sport-utilities, or crossovers. Yet it does raise the bar considerably... Continue Reading →
2015 Hyundai Tucson Ltd. AWD
Stylish Hyundai Tucson looks great, drives great I’ve found my new favorite small crossover vehicle, the Hyundai Tucson. I’ll admit to being surprised, but I’m not sure why. Hyundai and sister company Kia have become the styling leaders among Asian car makes and their performance is on par, or better than most of their... Continue Reading →
2016 Kia Sorento SX Ltd. AWD
Kia Sorento, a crossover that will haul seven people Kia’s Sorento is a fine crossover that will haul up to seven folks and look good doing it. The 2016 model is the continuation of a revamp from a couple years ago and the tested pearl “snow white” test vehicle was the top-level SX Limited... Continue Reading →
2015 Chrysler 300S AWD
Chrysler nails full-size luxury with 300S AWD Remember full-size cars that were comfortable for five adults? Probably not, unless you’re of a certain age. A few remain, the distinctive and elegant Chrysler 300 being one of the better efforts. First, it looks great with a big grille and chiseled lines that have only been somewhat... Continue Reading →
2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport
First Lexus turbo turns up the juice in angular NX F Sport If I were selecting a smallish sport-ute solely on looks Lexus’ NX would be my first choice. I like its angular lines, its exciting sporty appearance, its 3D taillights and its front lights that appear to be large checkmarks laid sideways. I like the... Continue Reading →
2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD
Sharp looking CX-5 also performs The 2016s are in! Not all of them mind you, but Mazda has released its revamped CX-5 small sport-ute early and it remains a good-looking ute in a mostly ho-hum market segment. That’s the first plus, because generally you aren’t hung up on looks if you’re shopping for a small... Continue Reading →
2015 Nissan Rogue SV AWD
Rogue grows to happy medium in SUV/crossover market Nissan restyled its entry-level crossover, the Rogue, last year to give it a less trucky appearance and smooth its ride along with its appearance. It works and offers a little more interior room and overall length than most small SUVs, like Toyota’s RAV4 and Ford’s Escape. Rogue... Continue Reading →
2015 Dodge Durango R/T Blacktop AWD
Durango R/T is SUV that looks like a racy minivan Dodge generally doesn’t try to blend in as a brand, favoring bolder styling than most competitors. That’s what some of us like about Dodge. Dodge’s Durango though is a bit different in that it stands out from other large SUVs, especially with its wide... Continue Reading →