Review Archive

Travel Toyota Highlander Hybrid Gets Great Mileage by Frank S. Washington I had the Highlander Hybrid for two weeks, drove to five cities, sometimes back and forth between them, and spent less than $100 on fuel.

Preview 2010 Mazda3 Hopefully Continues Momentum by Sue Mead The all-new 2010 Mazda3 enters its second generation with more power and substantially updated styling.

City Drive Mercedes’ GLK is Really Good by Frank S. Washington The third time is not always the charm. Sometimes it’s the fourth. It seems that's the case with the Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic.

Car-Data.com New Jeep Grand Cherokee by Casey Williams Although it pushes through the air with a smoother face and sculpted bodysides, you’ll instantly recognize the new Grand Cherokee.

City Drive Pontiac G3 – It’s Here? by Frank S. Washington GM announced in September that the Pontiac G3 would go on sale in the U.S. in March. What’s astounding is that it has come in under the radar.

Car-Data.com Dodge Challenger -- Deftly Designed by Kelly Foss So how good is the new Challenger? How does it compare with the former models? In short, in every way, it is a far superior vehicle.

Preview Nissan Cube – Small & Snappy by Frank S. Washington Get used to it; that is small snappy cars that are fuel efficient and fun to drive. The latest is the Nissan Cube -- a square block on four wheels.

Travel '09 Ford Escape -- A Comer by Mary Chapman Tweaks to shock absorption have markedly improved the ride of the Ford Escape. Helping the chassis are re-done dampers and a new stabilizer bar.

Preview Hyundai Genesis Coupe Spells Trouble by Frank S. Washington Putting power to the rear wheels means that Hyundai's Genesis Coupe has automotive chops that front-wheel drive competitors simply can’t match.

Motor News Media Saturn Sky Roadster -- Instant Classic: by Ken Chester, Jr. The rear-wheel drive Saturn Sky Roadster has helped to usher in an impressive product renaissance at GM’s “Different kind of car company.”

Preview New Toyota Prius Still on Top by Frank S. Washington The new Prius will achieve 51 mpg on the highway and 48 mpg in the city. The boost in power does not come at the expense of emissions.

Car-Data.com New BMW Z4 -- Large & Evolutionary by Kelly Foss The new Z4 has more presence but the big news is a two-piece folding hardtop that ducks into the trunk in just 20-seconds.

Preview Infiniti G Convertible – A Bullet by Frank S. Washington The Infiniti G Convertible is the drop top version of the automaker’s G37 series. It completes the nameplate lineup.

Car-Data.com Ford Mustang Still Exhilarates by Casey Williams Year after year, generation after generation, the original pony car excites drivers with exhilarating performance and beautiful bodies.

Preview New Camaro Saves GM -- Maybe by Frank S. Washington The bottom line is that most auto writers loved the old Camaro and I found no reason here to think they won’t love the new version as well.

Car-Data.com Chevrolet Spark -- Great Style by Casey Williams Front design is vulture-hawk aggressive with a pointed beak and large Chevrolet trademark crossbar grille while fenders are accentuated.

City Drive Ford’s F-150 -- A Great Pickup by Frank S. Washington The 2009 Ford F-150 Lariat was an extraordinarily great pickup truck. It’s hard to believe that it was meant to haul anything.

Motor News Media Audi Q5 -- Sporty & Versatile by Ken Chester, Jr. The new 2009 Audi Q5 combines the dynamism of a sports sedan with highly variable interior and versatile options for leisure-time and family use.

Preview Kia Soul – ‘A New Way to Roll’ by Frank S. Washington The Soul is an urban car aimed at youthful drivers. But Kia is realistic. Executives understand that style and value attract older drivers, too.

Motor News Media Lincoln MKT -- Distinctive Luxury by Ken Chester, Jr. The new Lincoln features the automaker’s signature design, three-row interior and intuitive technologies that will make customers' lives easier.

City Drive Saturn Astra an Acquired Taste by Frank S. Washington The Astra is utilitarian. Although handling was impressive, it lacked the power to characterize it as fun to drive. It was an adequate small car.

Motor News Media Buick LaCrosse -- Global Luxury by Ken Chester, Jr. The LaCrosse has been redesigned offering drivers a suite of advanced intelligent personal technologies and safety features.

City Drive Chevy Traverse – Doggone Good by Frank S. Washington I really appreciated Chevy's Traverse every morning when I started it from my kitchen. That means a lot when it’s less than 20 degrees outside.

Car-Data.com '09 Toyota Highlander -- Still Green by Sandi Pedersen I use reusable grocery bags, I recycle paper ...I drove the Highlander Hybrid. Yes, I am doing my part to save the planet and go green.

City Drive Range Rover Sport a $62,000 Bargain by Frank S. Washington Despite its posh ambience, it’s easy to forget that the Range Rover is one of the most advanced off-road vehicles in the world.

Car-Data.com Taurus Sho -- It's Back by Casey Williams Having debuted at the North American International Auto Show, the paint is hardly dry on early production units of the next-generation Taurus Sho.

Preview Lexus RX -- Still Formidable by Frank S. Washington The Lexus RX was the first luxury SUV to hit the market when it was introduced a decade ago. It made Lexus the best selling luxury brand.

Car-Data.com Chverolet Malibu Hybrid -- Affordable by Casey Williams Chevrolet took a shrewd path with the Malibu Hybrid. It is not a full hybrid. However, it turns in excellent fuel economy ratings.

On the Road M-B C300 – Outta the Way? by Frank S. Washington The new C-Class doesn’t seem like it is an entry level luxury sedan. The car had size. It has grown into a mid-size sedan, well almost.

Car-Data.com Chevy Cobalt -- The Future by Jim Meachen The future is a small four-door sedan that can comfortably transport four adults and cargo with an out-the-door price of under 25 grand.

City Drive M-B E320 BlueTec – Something Special by Frank S. Washington What the numbers didn’t tell was that the Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec was actually fun to drive. The fun came from the torque not the horsepower.

Car-Data.com Kia Borrego FCV Relies on Hydrogen by Casey Williams A 202-litre hydrogen tank provides gas enough to move the Borrego 426 miles, gallop 0-60 mph in 12.8s, and slush along at a 100-MPH top speed.

City Drive Jaguar’s XF is Great but Needs AWD by Frank S. Washington Jaguar is a great brand but consumers have forgotten what it stands for – sleekly styled luxurious cars that are rooted in performance.

City Drive Range Rover Sport -- Tough But Elegant by Mary Chapman Elegance notwithstanding, this high-performance, luxe sport-ute is a real, live truck. Still, the vehicle's street ride belied its brawniness.

Preview Volvo XC60 Steps Up by Frank S. Washington Volvo cars have long been considered premium vehicles known for their durability. Take care of your Volvo and you’ll have a car for life.

Car-Data.com High-End Hyundai Genesis Sedan by Casey Williams Hyundais have long since earned their quality stripes.However, it has yet to build a true Lexus competitor that luxury car buyers yearn to own.

Detroit’s Auto Show Electrification of the Automobile by Frank S. Washington One thing that did become really clear at the Detroit auto show. We are about to witness the electrification of the automobile.

On the Road Nissan Murano Not a Bother by Mary Chapman The 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD was just the ticket for a recent visit with a friend in central North Carolina. I picked it up at the airport.

City Drive Toyota Matrix S -- Real World Credentials by Frank S. Washington Sometimes when test driving a car you get caught in real real world conditions and you find out from day-to-day how good a vehicle really is.

Car-Data.com Ford’s Idol Focus Coupe by Casey Williams Ford is moving on with its next American idol – the upgraded, updated, and road worthy 2009 Ford Focus Coupe.

City Drive Lincoln MKS – Return to Luxury by Frank S. Washington The MKS is a good looking sedan. It is the first Lincoln to embody the brand’s new design DNA. It features the new double-wing grille.

Car-Data.com The R32 Is VW's Big Dog by Chris Jackson The Volkswagen R32 doesn’t look like the big, bad flagship performers from the Other Guys. However, looks can be deceiving.

Preview Nissan 370Z -- Back to Basics by Frank S. Washington Two seats, more horsepower and less heft translate into more speed. That’s the equation that Nissan emphasized with the 2009 Z Car.

Car-Data.com Saturn Outlook -- Modern Design by Kelly Foss In automotive parlance, the currency of growth is new product and Saturn is beginning a phase of serious automotive horticulture.

City Drive Lexus LS 600h L for Hybrid Luxury by Frank S. Washington Somebody who can afford the LS 600h L ought not be too concerned about the price of gasoline or how much of the stuff the car is burning.

Car-Data.com Ford Fiesta Comes Stateside by Casey Williams If you can remember the last time Ford sold the Fiesta in the U.S, you are probably not the target market for the next-generation model, due in 2010.

Travel Mercury Mariner -- No Ughs! by Frank S. Washington I took a Mercury Mariner from here to New Orleans on an extended road trip to visit family and friends. All-in-all the Mariner accounted itself well.

Car-Data.com New Subaru Forester Even Better by Kelly Foss Market forces demand updating and changes to models for vehicle to remain competitive. This time, it’s the Forester’s turn for modernization.

City Drive Toyota Prius -- Relevant Now! by Frank S. Washington The Toyota Prius is the only exclusive hybrid sold in the U.S. That means that the compact sedan is not based on a gasoline powered vehicle.

City Drive Audi RS 4 For a Fast Woman by Mary M. Chapman The Audi RS 4 is exhilaratingly fast, and pretty much wants to keep going fast until you drive it off the planet.

City Drive Snazzy Ford Flex by Frank S. Washington The 2009 Ford Flex was a head turner. It was big, with three rows of seats, had side grooves in the doors and it had a distinctive roof.

Car-Data.com Tougher Looking '09 Honda Pilot by Chris Jackson For its all-new, second-generation incarnation coming in 2009, the Honda Pilot is unabashedly a truck.

Car-Data.com Toyota RAV4 Sport Has a Lot by Sandi Pedersen After a total re-design in 2006, Toyota came out with a RAV4 Sport 4X2 SUV with more of a masculine feel. There's moer of everything.

City Drive Ford Mustang Bullitt -- Top Dog by Frank S. Washington Ford keeps the Mustang simple with a V6 a V8, a manual or automatic transmission, great colors and a special model tossed in here or there.

Car-Data.com Subaru WRX -- Grown Up Racer by Chris Jackson The WRX is all-new, along with the Impreza lineup, and it’s got a completely new look. And guess what? The Subaru faithful seem to hate it.

Car-Data.com VW Jetta Wagen -- Luxury, Value by Casey Williams What makes this Jetta different is a long wagon rear section. From the back, wrap-around taillamps could just as easily come from Mercedes as VW.

Preview '09 Toyota Venza – Better than Most by Frank S. Washington There are certain expectations of Toyotas and the Venza meets and exceeds some of them. Its styling, rarely a Toyota strong suit, is impressive.

Car-Data.com Saturn Sky Turbo Convertible -- Good! by Sandi Pedersen With a 2.0L turbo engine and 260 horsepower it accelerates quickly. I also preferred driving an automatic transmission.

Car-Data.com Lexus LS 460 L – Smooth, Spacious by Sandi Pedersen What can be said about this fourth generation LS? You feel and see why this is their premier flagship model.

Preview VW Routan – Germany’s Minivan by Frank S. Washington The Routan is a family orientated vehicle made for German-owned Volkswagen by American-owned Chrysler at its Canadian assembly plant.

City Drive Scion xD -- No Pizzazz, But Value by Mary M. Chapman The xD was damned-near perfect; who knew? It more than accommodated a two-cooler, several-piece-luggage, two-chick weekend.

Car-Data.com Ford Escape Refined & Enhanced by Casey Williams Ford has done right by the Escape. Look back over several years and you realize how the small crossover has kept pace with competition.

City Drive Kia Rondo for Need not Ego by Frank S. Washington The driving public has been shocked into not wanting to get caught again with a gas guzzling vehicle so I drove a Kia Rondo from Detroit to Chicago.

Car-Data.com Chrysler ecoVoyager -- Electric Drive by Casey Williams ENVI engineers will focus Chrysler's efforts towards plug-in hybrids, diesel hybrids, pure electrics, and hydrogen fuel cell models.

Car-Data.com Buick Lucerne Rivals Europeans by Casey Williams If I don’t quit praising Buicks, you are going to think GM is buying me off. It’s not the case. GM reps comaplin about me being too tough on them.

Preview VW TDI – The Little Diesel That Will by Frank S. Washington There’s absolutely no difference between the Jetta sedan and the 2009 Jetta TDI except one. The TDI is a diesel powered automobile.

Car-Data.com Scion FUSE Concept Car by Kelly Foss Scion is stretching its wings and indulging in some futuristic concept vehicle designs. This is a clear display of confidence.

Car-Data.com Dodge Caliber SRT4 Gives a Kick by Casey Williams One of the drivers at the Chrysler SRT performance driving school told me his favorite model was the Dodge Neon SRT4. Ditto the Dodge Caliber SRT4.

Preview Volkswagen CC – A New Flagship by Frank S. Washington Volkswagen doesn’t use the term but the German automaker brought us here to test drive its new flagship, the CC.

Car-Data.com ChevyTahoe Hybrid Hugs Mother Earth by Casey Williams The Chevy Tahoe is the best-selling full-size SUV but its in the crossharis of environmentalists. Now comes the Tahoe HYBRID.

Car-Data.com Toyota Highlander All Grown Up by Cindy Stagg Put another candle on the cake. The seven-year-old Toyota Highlander is all grown up and ready for modern life.

Preview Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart -- Just Right by Frank S. Washington Only one automaker (BMW)gets more out of a platform than Mitsubishi does with the chassis that is the foundation of its midsize Lancer sedan.

Globtrotting Land Rover Goes to Mongolia by Sue Mead Next year, Mongolia,the most sparsely populated sovereign country will be home to the Land Rover G4 Challenge a grueling three-week-long competition.

Car-Data.com Kia KOUP Concept -- Next Generation by Casey Williams It took Kia (and its sibling, Hyundai) a while to find its unique stylistic path but its KOUP points the way to next-generation models.

Preview New Dodge Ram in Tough Times by Frank S. Washington In a lament that was almost palpable, an executive from Dodge said "the new Dodge Ram is the best truck we’ve ever made but it’s the wrong time.”

Preview VW's Tiguan -- Tiger & Iguana by Sue Mead The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is an all-new compact SUV that has been designed to mix luxury and a playful driving experience.

Car-Data.com Lexus LX 570 -- Off Road Resort by Casey Williams Taking the Lexus LX 570 off-road is like hiking up the side of a mountain, pack on back, tent in tote and canteen on belt to find a Ritz-Carlton.

Preview The CTS-V -- Caddy’s Super Sedan by Frank S. Washington The CTS-V is Cadillac’s answer to high performance luxury sedans from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It can get from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

Preview Ford Flex -- A Class of One by Sue Mead with its unique roofline and boxy looks, Ford's Flex competes with the Toyota Highlander, the Honda Pilot, the GMC Acadia and other crossovers.

Car-Data.com M-B GLK -- Purpose Built by Kelly Foss The Mercedes GLK is not classified as a crossover, which indicates it is purpose-built rather than being a converted car.

Preview Dodge Challenger – The Real Deal by Frank S. Washington When it comes to the new iteration of the fabled Challenger, Dodge has wisely, or not, tried to build a Challenger for every pocketbook.

Preview Nissan GT-R -- Quickest for Under $100k by Sue Mead It’s been coveted for decades. With a zero to 60 mph of less than 3.5 seconds, the legendary Nissan GT-R finally comes to the United States.

Car-Data.com Pontiac Grooves with its New Vibe by Casey Williams Quality speaks well for the Vibe, but I also wanted much more cargo space and functionality than she would find in a typical sedan.

Preview Mazda6-- Zoom Zoom is Back by Lolita Standifer If your Jones for an exhilarating ride is unsatisfied don’t worry; the redesigned Mazda6 has the Zoom Zoom that will get your cylinders roaring.

Car-Data.com Chevrolet HHR SS Hits the Mark by Casey Williams Chevrolet is working hard to make sure SS, which has seemingly been stuck to everything over the years, actually means something.

CaData.com Malibu Living Up to the Hype by Jim Meachen No car in our memory has been pitched to the American public like the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. We can’t fathom a man, woman or child who reads a newspaper or magazine, watches television or surfs the Web that hasn’t seen at least one.

Bumper2Bumper TV Jaguar's XF Ain't Bad by Greg Morrison Jaguar’s XF sedan is much better than the S type that it replaced. But the car has been caught in the wake of higher gaoline prices and it’s not getting a lot of ink. Still, it ain’t bad.

Preview Kia Borrego Creates Trouble by Frank S. Washington In this clime of higher gasoline prices, two dirty words are sport-utility. But that’s just what Kia brought us here to test drive -- the Borrego.

Car-Data.com Hummer H3T -- This Is Good by Kelly Foss For 2009, Hummer will offer another useful derivative of the H3 SUV called the H3T…”T”. It has extreme off road capability.

Preview Infiniti FX -- Swimming Upstream by Greg Morrison While others sccurry to offer small fuel efficient platforms, Infiniti thinks there is still a place for power, size and technology.

Car-Data.com Pontiac G8 Sport Truck an Aussie by Casey Williams If you still miss the Chevy El Camino and Ford Ranchero, you’re going to wet your pants over the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck unveiled in April.

RoadWorthy! Mazda5 wagon -- Multi-activity inspiration by Ken Chester, Jr. Zoom-zoom meets functionality and versatility in the form of the Mazda5 -– a sort of micro-minivan evolution of a completely modern small wagon.

City View Range Rover – Cloud-like Ride by Frank S. Washington The Rolls-Royce of sport-utilities; the Range Rover is recognized as the world’s most capable mud sloshing and rock crawling vehicle.

Car-Data.com Chevrolet Traverse -- Formidable by Casey Williams If its sister wagons are any indication, the Traverse is going to be formidable.

First Look 2009 Mazda6 sports sedan by  Ken Chester, Jr. The 2009 MAZDA6 is the first of Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom Evolution” second-generation vehicles, building on a heritage of sports and sophistication.

City View M-B E350 Wagon -- Not for Everybody by Frank S. Washington To drive a $63,605 station wagon, you’re either nuts or you’re stylish and self assured. The latter is applicable when it comes to the E350 Wagon.

RoadWorthy! Saturn Astra -- New Possibilities by Ken Chester, Jr. Saturn turns up the heat with the debut of the all-new Astra compact. In three-door and five-door body styles, it features Eduropean design.

Car-Data.com Honda Accord -- The New Deal by Casey Williams The Accord has developed into the benchmark of mid-size sedans and coupes and is completely redesigned for the 2008 model year.

Preview BMW X6 -- It Works by Mary M. Chapman BMW does a very good job here marrying coupe-like agility with the flexibility of an SUV.