Once known as a cumbersome sport utility vehicle that didn’t have mass appeal, the Nissan Pathfinder is gradually gaining admirers thanks to some smart changes over the past few years. The front-wheel drive Pathfinder (all-wheel drive is an option) is one of the original SUV trailblazers and this year celebrates its 30th anniversary. In that […]
Travel/Golf/Auto reviews
Subaru Outback capable off-road SUV
It’s considered a sport utility vehicle, but could easily be mistaken for a wagon. I’m guessing the folks at Subaru could care less how the 2017 Subaru Outback is categorized: as long as it sells. And regardless of looks – which are appealing – there are many good selling points for the latest version of […]
Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road offers good versatility
Toyota enjoys huge sales numbers in the U.S., where reportedly half the midsize trucks sold are Tacoma models. One of the popular choices in the Tacoma lineup is the TRD Off-Road model. For more than two decades, the Tacoma has been a very popular alternative for shoppers who feel regular full-size trucks are just too […]
Revised Chevy Tahoe better than ever
Consistently lower gas prices are impacting car sales this year. Americans have historically loved big vehicles and with the price at the pumps holding relatively steady, 2016 has seen a shift back to large sport utility vehicles and trucks. Trucks and SUVs stand tall and the seating is higher, which makes for nice sight lines […]
Lexus NX 200t features edgy exterior
After manufacturing generations of vehicles with rather understated exteriors, Lexus has suddenly drifted away from its comfort zone and is designing some edgy cars. The problem with edgy is there’s two sides of the coin. While a particular design might be appealing to one person, it can totally offend another, which in the car business […]
Hyundai Santa Fe features two diverse models
For years now Hyundai has gotten very good at delivering the goods throughout its vehicle line-up. The South Korean auto manufacturer has crafted a winning formula that includes attractive styling, lots of value, affordable pricing, and a killer warranty on its drivetrain – 10 years, 100,000 miles. One of Hyundai’s more impressive vehicles is the […]
Latest Mazda CX-9 a major hit
The V6 engine is gone and the horsepower has been reduced, which leaves one wondering just what the heck Mazda was thinking when it put together the redesigned CX-9 sport utility vehicle that’s supposed to be a family hauler. Well, apparently the Mazda braintrust was thinking very clearly. After one week of driving the 2016 […]
Acura RDX remains high-quality SUV
On a recent vacation, cruising along the interstates, city streets, near the Puget Sound waterways, and mountainous terrain in the Seattle region was an effortless chore for the 2017 Acura RDX. The RDX is a very stream-lined, attractive, luxury crossover sport utility vehicle that thankfully supplied plenty of comfort and convenience as my wife and […]
New Hyundai Elantra resembles midsize sedan
No excuses required if you fail to recognize the 2017 Hyundai Elantra. A redesign took away the vehicle’s somewhat bold curves and replaced them with a more conservative look that resembles the popular midsize Hyundai Sonata. For knowledgeable Hyundai folks, that means the new bolder designed Elantra went from being an appealing looking compact sedan […]
Kia Forte continues to gain in esteem
Redesigned two years ago, the Kia Forte got noticed right away. There was a lot to like – it was longer, lower and wider than previous models, and the result was a roomier interior, which is always a good thing for a compact vehicle. Almost universally across the board, Kia keeps improving its brand. The […]