Compass Updated For 2011 The Chrysler Corporation deserves an “A” for effort in updating its cars for the 2011 model year. While the automaker couldn’t totally redesign its lineup, they did improve many of their models, and made them more competitive in the marketplace. Like the Chrysler 200, which I reviewed earlier this year, the [...]
MKX Gets New look and More The Lincoln MKX gets a welcome makeover for 2011. The Lincoln designers freshened the bodywork, improved the interior and enhanced the high-tech features. This midsize SUV is now a serious competitor in the luxury crossover market. The 2011 MKX features a new front facia with Lincoln’s “Split Wing” grille. [...]
A Range Rover Junior Size The Range Rover Sport looks like a slightly shrunken version of the big Range Rover SUV, but it is actually derived from the Land Rover LR4. What it shares with its Range Rover namesake, are luxury appointments and an available supercharged engine. The Sport emphasizes on-road performance over off-road prowess. [...]
Lincoln’s New Flagship Lincoln is making a strong effort to regain its stature in the luxury car field. For 2010, the automaker revamped both its midsize MKZ and its larger MKS sedans, and introduced a new crossover SUV, the MKT. My review this time covers the MKT, which carries over mostly unchanged for 2011. The [...]
A Coupe-Like SUV? What do you call the ZDX. Acura says it a four-door sports coupe, but when you look at it closely, you see a lot of SUV there. To me, it’s more like a coupe-shaped SUV. Do people really want a vehicle like this? Acura seems to think so. But to some folks, [...]
Overlooked Santa Fe Has A Lot To Offer The Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize crossover that flies under the radar. The average buyer doesn’t think of it when shopping for a new SUV. He or she is more inclined to check out the class leaders, like the Honda CR-V or the Toyota Highlander. However, [...]
Lexus Revamps Its Midsize SUV I find it curious that Lexus continues to go with two truck-based SUVs when the trend is to the more car-like crossovers. Of course, one explanation is that they have readymade Toyota platforms to use. In the case of the GX460, it’s the Toyota 4Runner. But no matter how you [...]
Redesigned Sienna Impresses It’s not easy to design a stylish minivan. Nissan tried it a few years ago with the Quest, and it turned out to be a flop. Now, Toyota has taken a crack at putting some style in its 2011 Sienna, and I got mixed reactions to my test car. Some liked the [...]
A Sporty Minivan? Can a minivan be sporty? Toyota thinks so. The Japanese automaker is offering a sport model of its redesigned 2011 Sienna called the SE. The SE is one of five versions of an expanded Sienna lineup. The new Siennas, even the base model LE, have a sportier look this year. (Toyota’s Calty [...]
Off-Road Better Than On-Road How times have changed. Back in the 1990s, truck-based SUVs, like the 4Runner were all the rage—everybody wanted one. Today, most people opt for the car-based “Crossovers,” like the Toyota Highlander. However, there are those who still prefer the traditional “go anywhere” sport/ute. For these folks, Toyota has a redesigned 2010 [...]
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