2020 MINI Cooper SE Iconic Hardtop 2-door

Electric MINI packs power, cuteness into a, well, mini package ... Have you ever driven an electric Go-Kart, maybe at an amusement park, in the Dells, or even an indoor karting track? That’s what it’s like to drive the new electric MINI Cooper SE. Power is instantaneous and the car is a bullet off the... Continue Reading →

November 25, 2020 2

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 →

December 23, 2016 0

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 →

September 2, 2016 0

2016 Kia Optima LX Turbo

Kia Optima, a better mid-size sedan ... When I last tested a Kia Optima I thought it among the best mid-size sedans I’d driven, plus it got 39.5 miles per gallon. Wow! But that was a hybrid model. Well, the refreshed 2016 Optima is even more impressive. My one major hesitation with the previous model,... Continue Reading →

April 15, 2016 1

2016 Toyota Avalon Touring

Stylish Toyota Avalon long on comfort at good price Toyota’s Avalon is a breath of fresh air, a full-size sedan with stylish lines and oodles of comfort and features at a reasonable price. In days of yore, that would be enough to make it one of the top sellers in the marketplace, but alas, modern... Continue Reading →

March 5, 2016 0

2016 Honda Pilot Touring AWD

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 →

October 23, 2015 0

2016 Honda HR-V 2WD EX-L w/Nav

Honda's new HR-V just another solid little ute Honda makes many fine cars that perform well, get good gas mileage and are reliable and its new small personal-sized crossover, the HR-V fits that mold. But Honda, like Toyota before it, seems to have neglected styling in pursuit of its other laudable attributes. So the HR-V, like... Continue Reading →

September 26, 2015 0

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 →

July 10, 2015 0

2015 BMW M235i xDrive

Ultimately, BMW's M235i a great drive BMW made its mark in the U.S. market years ago with the likes of the BMW 2002, a compact sporty handling car that could run circles, or ovals, or whatever shape you wanted, around most other cars. It was quick and lithe and fun to drive. But as all... Continue Reading →

March 28, 2015 0

2015 BMW X4 xDrive 35i

BMW X4 blends car, SUV and gets it about half right When is a car not a car, or an SUV an SUV? When it is an X4, BMW’s new blended vehicle. From the front it looks like a BMW sedan, it even has four doors, but a decidedly taller profile that unfortunately looks bloated... Continue Reading →