Corolla Hatch a practical sharp looker … Back in the day I owned a Toyota Corolla, but then again, nearly everyone did at the time. The Corolla was to the 1980s what the Chevy Nova was to the 1970s, namely an inexpensive reliable car. While much has changed in the ensuing 35 or so years,... Continue Reading →
2018 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Inscription
Volvo XC60 a sweet ride - fun, luxurious, nimble ... Sometimes the hardest reviews to write are those for vehicles I’ve really enjoyed, the ones that stand out among the 50+ vehicles I test in a year. This week’s tester, the Volvo XC60 with the Inscription package shouldn’t be hard to ladle syrupy praise on.... Continue Reading →
2016 Audi TT 2.0T Quattro
Audi's latest TT is slick, squatty, luxurious, sporty Sports cars seem an endangered species and nearly as hard to find as polite political discourse. So my recent landing of a new Audi TT coupe seemed quite a coup. I hadn’t driven a TT for nine years. That’s how rare they are in the automotive test fleets. But... Continue Reading →
2016 Honda Civic EX
New Honda Civic adds style, remains no-nonsense sedan ... Need good basic wheels? Make that better than basic, but at a no-nonsense price, a practical car that’s fun to drive with good ride and that will fit a family of four comfortably. Honda’s new 2016 Civic sedan has you covered, and then some. Civics, when first... Continue Reading →
2016 Scion iM
Sporty Scion iM epitomizes simple driving fun Maybe because I test drive so many trucks and crossovers these days, but a week behind the wheel of a sporty hatchback is refreshing. It reminds you that driving, at its simplest levels, can be fun. Scion, the low-cost arm of Toyota, has figured this out. Let’s hope others... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart Lamborghini Aventador J
Small roofless Aventador looks great Proving that good things come in small packages I present the Lamborghini Aventador J in 1/43 scale by Autoart. This is one beautiful model, and comes at well less than you might expect to pay for a fine diecast car in this scale. The History The edgy Aventador coupe was... Continue Reading →
2016 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Inscription
Volvo XC90 not mainstream, not good with details Volvo has never been mainstream and it’s not about to start now. Its new XC90 crossover that replaces a quite dated crossover of the same name is a high-end luxury vehicle that offers typical Volvo safety and substance, but drops the ball on a variety of details. First,... Continue Reading →
2016 Acura ILX WatchPlus
ILX refreshed, steering and chassis upgraded Acura rolls out its 2016 ILX a bit early to update its look and shore up its underpinnings a mite too. The entry-level Acura that runs on a Civic platform was nice before its remake, but a bit sloppy in turns. Still, for the price, it was a fine... Continue Reading →
2014 Kia Optima Hybrid EX
Optima Hybrid a looker with spunk, yes a hybrid with spunk! Let’s put this right out there, I like Kia’s Optima. Optima is one of the best looking mid-size cars on the market, looks like a luxury sedan and rides and feels like an entry-level luxury sedan. It also is well equipped for its price,... Continue Reading →
2014 Dodge Dart GT
Sporty, high-value Dart GT has power, but ride is too sporty My previous test of the compact Dodge Dart was near perfect. That was the Limited model, this metallic red beauty was the sportier GT. Blame it on age or our increasingly decrepit roads, but this one was harder on the derriere. Oh, I still like the Dart... Continue Reading →