Originally a brand that was looking to capture youth-oriented car buyers that parent company Toyota was unable to reach, Scion has drifted from the game plan of late. The concept of offering vehicles with a certain edgy, unique appearance has not reached the level of success that was first expected. So the shift toward more […]
Travel/Golf/Auto reviews
Truckee-Tahoe Pet Lodge offers secure place to board pets
For people seeking a location to board their pet for a day, several days, or an entire week when visiting North Lake Tahoe during ski season, the Truckee-Tahoe Pet Lodge has earned a great reputation as a dependable and reliable location. While there are Lake Tahoe lodging facilities that welcome pet stays, there are also […]
All-new Honda HR-V an impressive small SUV
Honda decided several years ago that it wanted to be one of the primary players in the subcompact crossover sport utility vehicle class, so it went to work on creating a vehicle that would have mass appeal. Like most of the vehicles that it manufactures, the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V has immediately earned praise and […]
2016 Scion FR-S: Reasonably priced sports car
Back in 2002 when the game plan was unveiled, Toyota launched its Scion brand to hopefully capture a younger, hipper segment of car buyers. While the targeted millennials seemed to warm to the idea of owning these quirky styling, inexpensive vehicles, the ultra boxy xB wagon and the xA hatchback (which lasted just three years) […]
Kia Optima: 2016 model features new turbo engine
Although the Kia Optima went through a redesign this year, don’t look for a major exterior metamorphosis. The significant changes need a little investigative work to be unveiled. The Kia braintrust initiated changes in the chassis that will be appreciated for a number of reasons. The 2016 Kia Optima features a chassis that is primarily constructed […]
New redesign a major plus Hyundai Tucson
When one sees or hears the “redesigned” term, don’t automatically assume that it means tremendous strides of improvement. Often times the revamped vehicles are overhyped and not much better than the original. With that in mind, we were a little skeptical when learning that the Hyundai Tucson had been redesigned for 2016. It didn’t take long […]
Mazda CX-3: New subcompact SUV
My first thought when I saw the all-new Mazda CX-3: Is this really a sport utility vehicle? It looks more like a tall hatchback than a subcompact SUV. Is there a plan behind Mazda labeling the 2016 Mazda CX-3 as an SUV? You betcha. Most U.S. car buyers prefer an SUV over a hatchback or […]
2016 Kia Sorento: Redesign adds sophistication
In the past, the Kia Sorento has been a middle-of-the-road selection among midsize sports utility vehicles. There was nothing real special, other than its affordable price. The 2016 Kia Sorento still retains that same modest price (starting at just under $25,000), but thanks to a substantial redesign, it also comes with more sophistication and overall […]
Acura RLX competes with a tough crowd
Name recognition is important in this crowd of luxury sedans that have a history of success to intrigue car buyers. The Acura RLX debuted in 2014, joining a very impressive group of midsize luxury sedans. There’s no arguing that RLX arrived with plenty of upside, but does it have enough to hang with this crowd? […]
Honda Odyssey remains top-of-line minivan
When the search is on for a “people hauler,” many folks select the minivan as the smart choice. They have three rows and can accommodate eight people with relative comfort, assuming not all the passengers are adults. A longtime favorite of the mommy brigade, which typically has the assignment of car-pooling kids to school, soccer […]