PLUG-IN HYBRID— BEST CHOICE What is the Honda Clarity? Is it a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle? Is it an electric car? Or is it plug-in hybrid? The answer is “yes” to all three. The Honda Clarity is a midsize sedan that is powered by three different powertrains. The first …
THE NON-SUV The Subaru Forester is the vehicle for buyers who want the advantages of an SUV without the macho styling that goes along with them. It features a high seating position, spacious interior and all-wheel drive. Maybe the best way to describe the Forester is to call it …
THE REAL DEAL When the Volkswagen GTI came to America 35 years ago, it established itself as the standard by which other hot hatches would be measured. Now in its seventh generation, it continues to be the standard, with its fine blend of sportiness and utility. Volkswagen was never …
VW GOES BIG Volkswagen has added a much-needed SUV, the Atlas, to its American lineup. It has three rows for passengers, and is competitively priced. Following a pattern it established with the current Passat sedan, Volkswagen designed the new Atlas SUV specifically for the American market, and manufactures the …
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 …