Kia's new hybrid will knock your socks off ... Roughly once a year a test car knocks my socks off, trips my trigger, simply surprises the heck out of me and this week’s Kia Niro Touring has me amazed. Looking at it you’ll say that’s no car, that’s a crossover vehicle. And that’s what... Continue Reading →
2017 Volvo V60 T5 AWD Cross Country
Volvo 's V60 Cross Country touts pizzazz, not smooth ride ... Volvo’s V60 Cross Country wagon/crossover wisely borrows some styling pizzazz from the likes of Mazda, then goes about saturating the vehicle with its usual core competency, safety. Pretty nice combo, but it ladles on enough luxury to push the V60 to luxury-level pricing, but without... Continue Reading →
2017 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum 4WD
New Nissan Pathfinder more civilized, comfy ... My Navy son had a Nissan Pathfinder years ago and it was a true sport-utility truck, built on a truck chassis and able to go off-roading with the other utes of the day. Pathfinder has been around now for 30 years, but those trucklike days are gone as more... Continue Reading →
2017 Nissan Rogue SL AWD HEV
Hybrid Rogue pulls up a bit short ... I’m always thankful to get an early crack at a new vehicle to market, and that’s what I had with an early release 2017 Nissan Rogue SL hybrid. Nissan has revamped the popular Rogue for 2017 with a new gloss black V-Motion grille, wider headlights and restyled taillights... Continue Reading →
2017 Ford Escape Titanium FWD
Ford refines its Escape crossover . . . For 2017 Ford has restyled its popular Escape inside and out, plus developed two new engines for the entry-level sport-utility, er crossover. There’s no mistaking the Escape for something else as its profile remains much the same, but there’s a new hexagonal grille, LED trim headlights and revised... Continue Reading →
2017 Cadillac XT5 Premium AWD
Cadillac XT5 long on style, short on details ... Cadillac has mastered the styling, now it needs to work on the details. The new Cadillac XT5 crossover continues Cadillac’s sharp chiseled styling with tall taillights and noteworthy nose and headlight stylings. Its interior is luxurious and attractive in a way most German makes have yet to... Continue Reading →
2017 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring AWD
Mazda CX-3 flickable fun, but practical too Small hatchbacks have always been fun to drive and practical too. So why shouldn’t a small crossover with a hatch be much the same? Well, more and more tiny crossovers are being made and mostly they are pretty entertaining to drive. This week’s bright metallic blue (dynamic blue mica)... Continue Reading →
2016 Lexus NX 200t F Sport
Lexus NX proves looks still matter ... Looks matter in much of life, sometimes fairly, sometimes not. But good looks are so rare in small crossovers and sport-utes that when one has them, it deserves more than a passing glance. Lexus’ NX is a looker. I’ve said it before, as I’ve tested this vehicle a... Continue Reading →
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Limited
Refined Pacifica minivan replaces Town & Country Chrysler has long had one of the best riding, most comfortable minivans. Chrysler invented the minivan for crying out loud. But it hasn’t always felt as refined as other brands’ vans. Now comes the Pacifica, a restyling and renaming of the former Town & Country, which has departed.... Continue Reading →
2016 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD Hybrid
Toyota RAV4 hybrid = good mpg, sporty handling Funny, but I enjoyed driving the new Toyota RAV4 hybrid more than its gas-powered model that I had earlier this year. This one seemed sportier, and that’s a contradiction to all things hybrid. Power seems a bit better, and is with a combined 194 horsepower for the hybrid... Continue Reading →