Genesis new small sport sedan a high-value speedster … Occasionally I get to test drive a new model twice within a year or 18 months because the car makers fill their fleets with their newest models. The hope, of course, is that us auto writers will drive, and write about, said new wheels, and sales... Continue Reading →
2020 Toyota Corolla LE Hybrid
Corolla hybrid delivers high value, high mpg, low cost … After 60 years in the U.S. market Toyota continues to impress when it comes to value and its redesigned 2020 Corolla is a prime example. Toyota revamped its popular Corolla to lower its ride height, widen its track, lower the cowl for better visibility and... Continue Reading →
2019 Genesis G70 AWD 3.3T Prestige
New G70 luxury sport sedan delivers kick-butt performance, value … Hyundai cranks up the heat on Japanese and European luxury sport sedan makers with its new “entry level” Genesis G70. It’s long on performance and luxury, but modestly short on price. OK, the tested pearly “Casablanca White” AWD 3.3T model equipped with Prestige and Elite... Continue Reading →
2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD
Mazda CX-5 remains a sporty crossover ... As the world turns toward an all crossover and SUV automotive market it’s encouraging that the likes of Mazda continues to try and design sharp-looking vehicles that drive more like sports cars than trucks. This week’s fun four-wheeler is the midsize CX-5 crossover in top-level Grand Touring 4x4... Continue Reading →
2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Range Rover Velar a sport-ute rolling in luxury ... Don’t ask me what Velar means; something to do with your soft palette, but that doesn’t make me think of cars much. So to me it sounds like another made-up car name. I suspect though that Land Rover feels Velar sounds sexy and luxurious, which is... Continue Reading →
2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Ltd. Platinum
Highlander Hybrid excels at moving people, things ... A road trip to Louisville with a couple buddies, and plenty of cargo, proved Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid to be a perfect transport choice. Ours was a medium metallic brown, what Toyota calls Toasted Walnut Pearl. Probably should have been pecan since we were headed to the South. But,... Continue Reading →
2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited
A happy surprise, new 2017 Elantra arrives early ... Looks like 2017 is already here, at least at Hyundai. My test car was a sparkling white 2017 Elantra Limited, the compact sedan that improves with each iteration. One thing that hasn’t changed is its stellar looks. Hyundai and its cousin Kia have been leading the styling... Continue Reading →
2016 Ford Explorer Platinum 4×4
Ford Explorer less trucky, more luxury Long gone is the truck-based Ford Explorer that fueled the SUV craze that begot today’s crossover craze. The 2016 Explorer while tall and muscular is car-based and luxurious, which explains both its popularity and in the tested unit’s Platinum trim, its price. A base Explorer starts at $31,595... Continue Reading →
2015 Acura TLX 3.5L SH-AWD Tech
New TLX a blend of two Acura winners Acura basically blends two of its fine sedans, the TL and TSX into one, now the mid-size TLX. Beyond the alphabet scrambling, the tested dark blue TLX 3.5L SH-AWD Tech is a solid luxury sedan that will seat four in comfort, five if needed. This version comes too... Continue Reading →
2015 Chrysler 200C AWD
Fiat gives Chrysler a fine mid-size car with new 200C The former Chrysler 200 was so long in the tooth you may have wanted to nickname it Snagglepuss. It was updated a couple years back by Fiat, after it snaggled Chrysler away from bankruptcy and the U.S. government. Mostly, that change in ownership has done... Continue Reading →