Midnight Edition a trendy dark night's look in a gray coat ... As automotive trends go, the current black is beautiful movement might just have some staying power. The fascination with dark exteriors and trim began a few years back as an alternative to the fifty shades of gray that had taken over as the... Continue Reading →
2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid EX AWD
New hybrid is larger, more efficient, family-priced SUV ... Kia’s Sportage just keeps getting bigger and better, and now with a hybrid power system it’s more efficient and still can boast of family-friendly pricing. That’s a lot! But Kia and its twin cousin Hyundai have always been about value, generous feature content, top-notch warranties, and... Continue Reading →
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line
VW's handsome compact crossover an efficient high-value drive ... Volkswagen was once the automotive love child of my Boomer generation, but time changes things and VW has become one of the back markers in the U.S. auto market, although not worldwide. Lately it has turned much of its attention to electric vehicles, the ID.4 crossover/SUV... Continue Reading →
2022 GMC Terrain 4AT AWD
GMC's restyled Terrain a worthy SUV to fit a family budget ... I’d be lying if I said my expectations were high when the bright Cayenne Red GMC Terrain AT4 was deposited in the family driveway. This is a compact entry-level SUV from GM’s truck brand that starts just under $30 grand, a value leader,... Continue Reading →
2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport
Restyled NX puts emphasis on tech and sassy performance ... Small, sassy and techy, that’s Lexus restyled NX 350, a compact crossover aimed directly at the better-off retiree or suburban family with no more than two kids. I suppose I think of NX being aimed at newly retired Boomers because of its luxury... Continue Reading →
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.4GT AWC
New Outlander Sport a simple, effective, high-value crossover ...            Mitsubishi’s new Outlander Sport crossover is simple, yet effective. By that I mean it’s nothing fancy, but it’s a solid family hauler with four-wheel-drive, enough safety equipment to satisfy most folks and a sporty new nose to refresh its looks so it doesn’t look like... Continue Reading →
2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure AWD
Practical RAV4 muscles up its exterior ... There’s no denying that Toyota has done well with its RAV4, one of the first small SUV/crossovers on the market, and it continues to be among the most popular in its segment. For 2019 Toyota restyles the RAV4 to give it a more chiseled nose that easily calls... 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 Kia Sportage SX AWD
Larger Sportage maintains styling edge ... Kia has upgraded and enlarged its Sportage small sport-ute to keep it competitive with the likes of Subaru’s Forester, Honda’s CR-V, Ford’s Escape and Toyota’s RAV4. This is an extremely competitive market with many good products, but Kia maintains its strong styling edge and then lengthens Sportage’s wheelbase from 103.9... Continue Reading →
2013 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion
Tiguan shows VW still struggling in U.S. Ever since Volkswagen lost its way in the U.S. market, about the time it phased out the old Beetle, it has been struggling to regain its footing. Nowhere is that struggle more evident than its small sport-utility offering, the Tiguan. VW’s small ute was restyled and remade a... Continue Reading →