Review Archive

City Drive VW Jetta Wagon's Got Panache by Greg Morrison Volkswagen is finally offering U.S. buyers a chance to get into the Jetta Sportwagen® or as it is known in Europe, the Golf.

Car-Data.com Dodge Journey Impressive by  Casey Williams Although the Journey looks low from the outside, it offers what seems like 40ft. of headroom inside.

City View Land Rover LR3 – Luxury in Mud by Frank S. Washington We didn’t find any woods around here to go sloshing through with the LR3. But the surface street attributes of the LR3 were admirable.

RoadWorthy! Pontiac G8 -- The Heir Apparent by Ken Chester, Jr. For the first time in more than 20 years, a rear-wheel drive Pontiac performance sedan will be available for sale in North America.

Car-Data.com Mazda CX-9 -- Crossover Goes Zoom Zoom by Jim Meachen People are clamoring for other types of transportation, chief of which is the increasingly popular crossover utility vehicle (CUV).

City View BMW M3 – Monstrously Good by Frank S. Washington A retractable hardtop convertible M3 will join the mix this summer. It will feature BMW’s first seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

Car-Data.com Pontiac G6 Blows Its Top by Casey Williams Top up or down, the G6 is a handsome sporty car with its cab-forward stance, twin port grille, 18” 5 spoke alloy wheels, and clean forms.

Two-Wheelers Victory's Luxury Tourer -- Future Vision by Arv Voss The Vision's power is provided by a solid-mounted, Freedom™ 100 V-Twin, SOHC 4-valve, fuel injected, air/oil-cooled motor that delivers 85 horses and 109 pound feet of torque.

City View Dodge Avenger R/T -- Practical & Better by Frank S. Washington Turns were easy, lane changes were effortless and the car accelerated with authority. In a phrase, The 2009 Dodge Avenger was very easy to drive.

Two-Wheelers MP3 -- Scooters' Time has Come by Arv Voss The time couldn’t be more right to dispel the notion that scooters are uncool. Nothing could be further from the truth, with fuel costs rising.

Car-Data.com Mazda MX-5 — Continuous Fun by Jim Meachen The MX-5 (Miata) has been injected with more horses and has grown a few inches, but it still has the feel of a traditional roadster.

City View Lincoln MKZ -- Not Bad for the Bucks by Frank S. Washington Once buyers feast their eyes on the $32,425 MKZ, Lincoln’s entry level sedan will indeed be its volume seller.

Two-Wheelers Harely's Fat Bob -- A Departure of Sorts by Arv Voss The Fat Bob brings a new perspective to the Dyna family, with its bold, in-your-face attitude and factory customized styling cues.

Car-Data.com Chevrolet Malibu -- A Step Forward by Kelly Foss The Malibu demonstrates to the world what GM is truly capable of. The car is now fully competitive in its class and has won many awards.

Preview MINI Clubman -- Bigger is Better by Frank S. Washington The MINI had flair, it was quick, it handled really well, it was stylish, it was really fun to drive, it was economical and it was relatively cheap.

Car-Data.com The Workman’s Dodge Dakota by Chris Jackson That squared-off face looks like it’s ready to haul stuff, and the V8 under the Dakota’s hood is ready to back that up.

Preview BMW Recaptures its Past by Frank S. Washington Performance has always been about horsepower to weight. The 1 series has the same engine family as the 3 series which weighs roughly 300 lbs. more.

Car-Data.com Chevy Aveo -- an Economical Ride by Chris Jackson With pricing starting at $10,560, the Aveo is definitely the lowest-priced new car out there. Chevy has taken steps to reduce the cheap-factor.

Preview Subaru Forester -- Customer Friendly by Greg Morrison The new Forester is 3 inches longer than the 2008 offering and that translates into 4.3 inches of additional room for rear seat passengers.

Car-Data.com M-B CLK63 AMG Black for Serious Drivers by Chris Jackson AMG has become known for producing wildly powerful, exquisitely refined upgrades of Mercedes products; the group’s roots are in racing.

City Drive Ford Explorer – A Bargain by Frank S. Washington Still, the best selling SUV on the market, the Ford Explorer has fallen victim to a couple of trends which will be hard to overcome.

Car-Data.com This Viper WILL Strike! by Chris Jackson This car could kill you. The Viper is a machine to be treated like a loaded gun. It’s a serious, serious piece of equipment.

City View Mercury Sable – New Upon Old by Frank S. Washington The Mercury Sable was a full-size sedan that we found awfully useful. We never felt overwhelmed by anything on the road.

Car-Data.com Honda Clarity --Mainstream Hydrogen-Power by Casey Williams Along with most major automakers, Honda is working hard to make hydrogen-powered vehicles mainstream.

Preview Dodge Journey Thoughtfully Designed by Frank S. Washington It doesn’t have a muscle bound name like Avenger or Viper. But the 2009 Dodge Journey has the best chance of being one of the most popular Dodge’s ever.

Car-Data.com Chevrolet Volt Energized for 2010 by Casey Williams Unlike a typical hybrid, the Volt is primarily an electric vehicle like the discontinued GM EV1. Wheels are driven by electric motors.

City Drive Cadillac CTS – A Different Caddy by Frank S. Washington The CTS was quick. It had a firm suspension and it handled with the preciseness of a Teutonic luxury performance sedan.

Car-Data.com 2008 Dodge Caravan Remains Tops by Casey Williams The new Dodge Caravan has stronger proportions, but maintains a formal two-box design. Shoulder lines, wheel arches, and a tall grille give it an SUV feel.

City Drive Nissan Sentra Exceeds Expectations by Frank S. Washington With an EPA rating of 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, the 2008 Nissan Sentra was just what the pocketbook ordered.

Car-Data.com New Ford Focus Can Compete by Kelly Foss The new Ford Focus is a significant step forward in development and can now effectively compete in this class.

Car-Data.com '08 Mercury Mariner -- Trucklike Soul Intact by Chris Jackson Mercury’s upscale version of the pleasant Ford Escape, emerges from a fresh round of 2008 updates with improved safety and driving dynamics.

City Drive Volvo C30 – Funky Speedster by Frank S. Washington A brand new Volvo for $23,920. You’d think it didn’t get any better than that but it did. The 2008 Volvo C30 was really fun to drive.

Car-Data.com '08 Nissan Armada Revamped by Greg Morrison The Armada's instrument panel has been changed.It includes a color monitor built into the dashboard which can accommodate a rear view camera.

Car-Data.com LR2 Worthy of Land Rover Badge by Jim Meachen The LR2 is definitely superior to the Discovery and Defender in those things that make the Land Rover name synonymous with off-road luxury.

Preview '08 Lexus IS F – It's Really Great! by Frank S. Washington The IS F is Lexus’ new designation for its vehicles that have undergone mechanical steroid treatment. And Lexus promises more F cars.

Car-Data.com Mercury Marquis Stands Alone by Casey Williams Mercury’s Grand Marquis is the last survivor in a family lineage that can be traced back to the Model T and the beginning of the Ford Motor Company.

Auto Guy Hyundai's Vera Cruz -- A Good Idea by  Greg Morrison While it is built on a stretched Santa Fe Platform the Vera Cruz is a demonstration of how to make the most of interior space.

Preview ’08 Mitsubishi Evo – Mo’ Better by Frank S. Washington It practically drove itself. That’s what one of the reporters said about the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution – Evo for short.

Car-Data.com Torrent GXP Gets Pontiac Excitement by Jim Meachen The 2008 Torrent has well-proportioned and sporty styling, something that had been lacking in many of GM’s projects over the last decade.

RoadWorthy! 2008 BMW 650i -- Elegantly Athletic by Ken Chester, Jr. Comfortable, responsive and intimately personal are terms to describe driving the BMW 650i. It represents a refined level of design, technology and quality.

Preview Saturn Astra – Good & Practical by Frank S. Washington The 2008 Saturn Astra is long, low and sleek which was saying something for a compact car.It was a snappy looking with a visceral exhaust note.

Car-Data.com New Land Cruiser Road Conquerer by Cindy Stagg I’m Not Saying I Would, but I Could If I Wanted To…in a Land Cruiser. You see it everywhere: in the movies; in a host of documentary films.

Car-Data.com Ford Super Duty -- Almost Immortal by Chris Jackson Ford's Super Duty pickup truck might just outlast human civilization. It's nothing if not significantly bigger and significantly badder.

Preview Nissan Murano – More Curves for '09 by Frank S. Washington The Murano has a new grille, front fascia and headlights. The hood is convex rather than concaved. Fender openings are larger for 20-inch wheels.

Car-Data.com GMC Sierra HD Works Easy by Casey Williams Sharing all-new styling and engineering with the all-new light duty pickups, the new heavy duties GMCs look tough and come prepared to battle.

Car-Data-com Ford Taurus is a Good One by Jim Meachen Call it the new Ford Five Hundred or the Taurus,it’s the styling upgrades and, more to the point, the engine upgrade that will sell the new Taurus.

Preview Chevrolet Malibu – World Class by Frank S. Washington The Malibu is the most important car being launched in North America this year. It can reinvigorate Chevrolet in the mid-size car market.

Car-Data.com Super Duper Buick LaCrosse by Casey Williams You’ll find few people who think the Buick LaCrosse is a very sporty car. Luxurious and stylish? Yes. But, sporty?

Racing Germany's DTM Racing by Larry Cornwell With NASCAR season done, Speed Channel is showing A1GP, LeMans, Australian V8 Supercars, British Touring Car and German Touring Cars (DTM) races.

Preview smart fortwo – The Right Dog Food? by Frank S. Washington The smart is powered by an inline one-liter three cylinder engine that makes 70 horsepower and 68 pounds-feet of torque.

Car-Data.com Lincoln MKS -- An American Lexus? by Casey Williams Based on a concept car of the same name from the 2006 Detroit auto show, the MKS is a beautiful automobile. The MKS is smooth and aerodynamic.

Car-Data.com Mercedes-Benz ML -- Midsize Luxury by Kelly Foss The ML delivers the full Mercedes luxury package and most of the accoutrements that the larger GL does, only in a more manageable size.

City Drive ’08 Jaguar XJ Looks Real Good by Frank S. Washington Two styling changes contributed greatly to the XJ's sportier look. The front end has been revised and our test vehicle had a honey combed grille.

Two-Wheelers Harley-Davidson’s Hot Rockers by Frank S. Washington Harley-Davidson Rocker motorcycles are raked back low riders with seats just a tad more than two-feet off the ground. They have wide rear tires that translate into phat rumps.

Car-Data.com '08 Jeep Liberty Tackles New Ground by Casey Williams Chrysler says the new Jeep Liberty stands out from the competition by offering customers classic Jeep design and two four-wheel-drive systems.

City Drive Hummer H3X – Slick & Sleek by Frank S. Washington Our H3X was equipped with a 5.2-liter V8 that made 300 horsepower and 320 pounds-feet of torque that provided more than adequate power.

Car-Data.com Dodge Challenger -- Passionate Power by Casey Williams Dodge Challenger is bold, powerful and capable. It’s a modern take on one of the most iconic muscle cars, and a new standard for a pure ‘pony car.’

Car-Data.com '08 Scion xD -- Save Money, Look Great by Casey Williams If you NEED an SUV, and can afford to pay the fuel troll, then by all means get one. However, you might also want to consider the new Scion xD.

Preview ’08 Toyota Sequoia – Bulked Up by Frank S. Washington The bottom line on the Toyota Sequoia is that it is as big as Toyota’s Land Cruiser but not as pricey.

Car-Data.com '08 Dodge Avenger Has Attitude by Jim Meachen We like the Dodge Avenger's combination of macho styling and its large array of comfort and safety features at reasonable prices.

First Look 2008 Audi TT -- Cult Icon Improved by Ken Chester, Jr. The 2nd generation TT is five inches longer and three inches wider than -– allowing for a more aggressive stance and improved interior space.

Car-Data.com "08 Honda Element -- Quality & Fun by Jim Meachen Like it or not, what is indisputable is that the Honda Element is one of the most functional vehicles in America with a voluminous interior space.

Preview Audi R8 Supercar is No Joke by Frank S. Washington There's just one adjective that aptly describes the Audi R8's low slung, wide stance, curved, speedster, silhouette -- Supercar.

RoadWorthy! 2008 Cadillac CTS -- Wow! by Ken Chester, Jr. The CTS is infused with distinctive character traits inside and out, with an almost fanatical attention to detail intended to generate desirability.

Preview Ford Focus -- Noticeably Different by Lolita Standifer Noticeably different than its predecessor, the Focus is suited with a new sleek exterior and revised steering for better handling.

Car-Data.com Dodge Nitro --Bold Styling, Nice Drive by Kelly Foss The Dodge Nitro is not intended to be a timid wallflower type of vehicle. Rather, it’s an in-your-face, “look at me” machine.

Preview Infiniti EX35 – Pocket Rocket by Frank S. Washington Nissan’s luxury division is about to make some more waves on these shores with its all-new Infiniti EX35. With almost 300 hp, it's a pocket rocket.

RoadWorthy! 2008 Pontiac G6 -- More Oomph by Ken Chester, Jr. Pontiac's G6 with the 3.5L V6is smooth, nimble and responsive. This V6 moves the sedan down the road with authority.

car-data.com Infiniti G37 Coupe Is Fun to Drive by Kelly Foss The new G37 builds on the already successful G35 coupe. The new model retains all the goodness that the former had plus more.

Preview Toyota Land Cruiser – Legendary SUV by Frank S. Washington The Land Cruiser symbolizes Toyota more than any other model in its lineup. It was first introduced in Japan in 1951 as military vehicle.

RoadWorthy! Dodge Caravan -- Innovative Leader by Ken Chester, Jr. Setting a new standard for the minivan segment, the 2008 Grand Caravan boasts 35 new or improved features to best transport cargo and people.

Preview Volvo XC70 – Refined, Rugged, Versatile by Frank S. Washington Volvo's XC70 has the comfort of a luxury sedan, the ruggedness of a small sport-utility and the versatility of a station wagon.

RoadWorthy! '08 Honda Accord -- More Refinement by Ken Chester, Jr. The 8th generation Honda Accord sedan is a mobile reality. Refined, dynamic and sophisticated, it has an expanded range of technologies.

City View Honda Civic Hybrid Didn't Disappoint by Frank S. Washington Our Honda Civic Hybrid sedan was a 2007 model rather than a new 2008. But that was the only thing about our test vehicle we found disappointing.

RoadWorthy! '08 Chevy Silverado -- Smartly Versatile by Ken Chester, Jr. Boasting best-in-class horsepower, towing capability and fuel economy, Chevrolet introduced the all-new Silverado last year.

City Drive Hyundai Veracruz – Elegantly Soothing by Frank S. Washington We were impressed with the Veracruz’s driving characteristics. Although it weighed almost 4,500 pounds, our test vehicle was rather spry.

RoadWorthy! '08 BMW 528xi -- Enhanced Precision by Ken Chester, Jr. BMW continues to upgrade and enhance the 5-Series. The 528xi benefits from a mild exterior facelift, a revised interior and major powertrain changes.

Preview '08 Jeep Liberty – Refined Ruggedness by Frank S. Washington Now that Jeep has more than doubled the number of vehicles in its product line from three to seven, the Liberty’s mission is narrowly focused.

First Look 2009 Jaguar XF -- Future Cat by Kimatni D. Rawlins The new XF offers the “JaguarDrive Selector,” a rotary dial which operates the gears on the XF’s six-speed automatic transmission.

Preview Nissan’s Rogue – Urban Refinement by Frank S. Washington The Rogue, Nissan’s first entry into the small crossover market was a bundle of refinement. Its styling was sleek and aggressive.

First Look Chrysler Sebring Convertible Trio by Ken Chester, Jr. Forget what you think you know about domestic convertibles. Chrysler's Sebring is both a ragtop and a hardtop convertible.

City View New Toyota Highlander is Much Better by Frank S. Washington We spent a week with Toyota’s all-new 2008 Highlander and walked away from our test drive feeling pretty good about the vehicle.

Wish List '08 R-R Phantom Drophead Coupé by Kimatni D. Rawlins The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé is “the business.” Unleashing the soft top in 25 seconds in front of any emphatic crowd causes a mob scene.

Preview 2008 Cadillac CTS – World Class by Frank S. Washington Just how much better is the all-new 2008 Cadillac CTS, well, where do you want to start?

RoadWorthy! Volvo S80 -- Still Revolutionary by  Ken Chester, Jr. Volvo’s second generation S80 is still revolutionary with elegant styling, breakthrough safety technologies and two highly sophisticated engines.

Preview Chrysler’s New Minivans Squared Up by Frank S. Washington Chrysler plans to increase its already segment leading share of the minivan market and its new lineup is more than capable of doing the job.

RoadWorthy! Audi RS 4 -- Tuned Performance by Ken Chester, Jr. The Audi RS 4 combines emotional and functional perfection, meeting all the demands made by the driver of a high-performance car in general.

Preview Infiniti G37 Coupe – Good to Go by Frank S. Washington The Infiniti G37 coupe tracked well, the suspension was firm not harsh, it had blistering acceleration and it responded to driver input sharply.

City Drive '07 Saab 9-3 Aero is a Standout by Tenisha Mercer The new 9-3 Aero cements Saab’s place as a solid contender in the entry level luxury sports sedan market in the U.S.

On The Road Toyota Avalon – Full Size & Fully Equipped by Frank S. Washington We experienced the Avalon’s road manners,urban handling capabilities and we were pampered by its its creature comforts.

City View Buick Enclave -- Elegant & Classy by Tenisha Mercer The design of the Enclave is stunning, different than anything Buick has in decades. It's sculpted, precise and yet as curvy as a Coke bottle.

Preview '08 VW Touareg – Off Road Oomph by Frank S. Washington The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg has new engines. They are direct injection, provide more power and they deliver better fuel efficiency.

RoadWorthy! Saab 9-7X -- Premium Sportiness by By Ken Chester, Jr. Offering sophisticated styling, the 9-7X is a key part of the most aggressive product development program in Saab's history.

City Drive Audi TT Roadster is Road Runner by Frank S. Washington Although our Audi TT Roadster was bigger than the car it replaced it had a lower center of gravity. That gave it an astounding agility.

First Look 2008 HUMMER H2 Gets More Power by Neal White The redesigned H2 is powered by an all-new 6.2-liter all-aluminum small-block V8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

City Drive 2008 Scion Xb – Fixed! by Frank S. Washington Scion’s mission is to attract younger buyers, the group that wouldn’t be caught dead in a Toyota Camry. So far so good.

RoadWorthy! '08 Porsche Cayenne -- Utility with Dispatch by Ken Chester, Jr. The Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo feature larger, more powerful engines that are more fuel-efficient than the prime movers they replace.

City Drive Ford Focus ST – Has the Right Stuff by Frank S. Washington Our Focus was quick off the mark, responded to driver input sharply, handled the ruts well and it was comfortable, really comfortable.

RoadWorthy! Saab 9-7X SUV -- Premium Sportiness by Ken Chester, Jr. Featuring premium design features, the 9-7X is a key part of the most aggressive product development program in Saab's history.