2020 Lexus UX 250h Luxury

Whatever it is, little Lexus hybrid is a cute mileage champ ... Determining if a vehicle is a hatchback or a crossover can sometimes cause consternation. Take the case of Lexus small hatch/crossover, the UX. That name provides no clue as to what this is, other than there’s an X in the name, so the... Continue Reading →

July 23, 2020 0

2020 Mazda3 AWD Premium

Stylish Mazda3 AWD, a car for drivers who love to drive ... Some people still enjoy driving a car, its feel, its handling, its sharp engagement of power, yet their bank accounts don’t allow for a BMW. What to do? Mazda has an answer, its Mazda3 in either sedan or hatchback mode. Both are driving... Continue Reading →

April 23, 2020 0

2019 Hyundai Veloster N

Veloster N a hot hatchback, but avoid snow … With apologies to the late Dr. John, I was in the right place, but it must have been the wrong time. … I been in the right trip, but I must have used the wrong car. The day after Hyundai’s Racing Red Veloster N arrived, it... Continue Reading →

November 30, 2019 0

2019 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid Limited

Hyundai hybrid is low cost from the get-go ... Hybrids in general, and plug-in hybrids in particular, are becoming the way to go for families looking for the best fuel economy, or socially conscious buyers wanting to reduce their carbon footprint. Fortunately the hybrid market just keeps expanding while becoming more affordable. For instance, this... Continue Reading →

October 26, 2019 0

2019 Honda Civic 1.5T Touring

Civic comes in 3 shapes, a big player in small car market … Honda’s Civic is a mainstay in the small car market. Why? It has been around for years, remains affordable and comes in three body styles, sedan, coupe and hatchback. All of those traits make it unusual. And for the past few years... Continue Reading →

October 21, 2019 0

2019 Nissan LEAF SL Plus

LEAF Plus: Better range, and exceeding expectations … No matter how much good I have to say about Nissan’s new LEAF (and I have plenty to say), I’m not sure you’ll believe me. That’s because the original LEAF, as revolutionary as it was as the first fully electric car to be marketed to the masses,... Continue Reading →

August 5, 2019 0

2019 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring AWD

Mazda CX-3 sticking with a good thing ... Not much seems to have changed with Mazda’s stylish small crossover, the CX-3, since I last tested it a couple years ago. I mean it gained two horsepower (big whoop), but really nothing much needed to change. I’d still like more horsepower, but at least there’s a... Continue Reading →

December 16, 2018 0

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 →

October 28, 2016 0

2016 Fiat 500 Easy

Fiat 500 Easy: low price, low power, lower expectations Several years have passed since I last drove a Fiat 500, the mini-car Fiat re-launched its brand with in the U.S. market for 2012. The 500 hasn’t grown any, nor changed much, which depending on your point of view may be good, or a bit sad.... Continue Reading →

March 19, 2016 0

2016 Scion iA

Scion iA a snazzy low-cost small sedan Rarely has so little felt like so much. Scion delivers possibly the highest value car for the entry-level market and does it with a good looking small sedan that is value priced and yet looks and feels much more like a mid-priced compact sedan. The new iA,... Continue Reading →