BETTER UTILITY Are wagons making a comeback in the U.S.? The European automakers seem to think so. Each one of them, including Volkswagen, are marketing at least one here now. The Volkswagen version, the Golf SportWagon is the lowest priced vehicle of its kind in the market. For …
ELEGANT HYBRID GT Most cars look bland in white paint, but not the Lexus LC 500h. The styling is so striking that it looks awesome even in white. In fact, the white color emphasizes the contrast between the sheet metal and the black exterior features, like the spindle-shaped grille. …
A HYBRID ALTERNATIVE Gas mileage continues to be a high priority for new car buyers, even for a lot of folks buying luxury models. Lexus has been aware of this for a while, and offers hybrid versions of a number of its cars, including the NX compact crossover. The …
GREAT GAS MILEAGE, NEW STYLING Several weeks ago, I reviewed the new, redesigned Camry sedan with a V-6 engine. This time, I got the hybrid version to evaluate. The Hybrid shares everything with the standard Camry, except the power train. The gas/electric version teams the base Camry 2.5-liter, four-cylinder …
BEAUTY AND MUSCLE It’s been a long eight years since Lexus had a grand touring coupe in its lineup. But when you see the new LC 500 in the flesh, you’re bound to think that it was worth the wait. The LC 500 is absolutely stunning. It turns heads …
VOLVO’S WAGON IMPRESSES Everybody knows that station wagons have been dead for a long time, but somehow Volvo never got the message. They have doggedly continued to market wagons in the U.S. even though there is not much of a demand. They’re latest version, the V90, may not …
IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER Although a lot of new-car buyers prefer SUVs, there is still a lot going on with traditional midsize sedans. The Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry have been just redesigned, and now a refreshed version of the Mazda6 is making its way to dealerships. The …
PRACTICAL AND FUN It’s a real kick to test a car that exceeds your expectations. The 2018 Kia Rio is that kind of car. Although it is the lowest priced car in the Kia lineup, it was a pleasant surprise. Kia redesigned the Rio this year, and buyers of …
BOLDEST LOOK IN CLASS Small crossover SUVs are the hot ticket these days, and Lexus has a very popular one with the NX. In 2017, it became the second best-selling car in the Lexus lineup (after the slightly larger RX) with nearly 60,000 sales. Last year it was …
REFRESHED AND IMPROVED The Hyundai Sonata gets some worthwhile enhancements for 2018. The folks back in Korea gave it a much-needed facelift, a new 8-speed automatic transmission, improved handling and ride, as well as a lower price on the top-of-the-line model. In this era of cars with large, flat …