Fiat had a respectable U.S. run in the late 1960s and mid-70s. But the Italian automaker disappeared for more than 30 years. Four years ago, Fiat purchased Chrysler and the 500 model was picked as the vehicle that would reintroduce the U.S. market to the Fiat brand. The original 500 model and 500L have not […]
auto reviews
New Buick Cascada a stylish convertible
In case you hadn’t noticed, there are fewer convertibles on the road these days. Maybe the appeal of driving a car with the top down on a beautiful, sunny day is no longer considered one of life’s most enjoyable guilty pleasures. The Toyota Solara, Volvo C60 and Chrysler 200 were all once offered as convertibles. […]
Subaru BRZ: Reasonably priced, old-school sports car
For driving enthusiasts who want to own a light, agile car that provides an elusive fun factor while also looking cool, the smartly designed Subaru BRZ deserves a good look. That’s right, this is a Subaru, which has a history of creating unimaginative vehicles. But the Japanese auto manufacturer decided to gamble a bit and […]
2016 Mazda6 a strong family sedan
The 2016 Mazda6 is a fine midsize sedan with a lot of enviable qualities, including affordability, styling, family-friendly interior space, plus solid fuel economy and performance. Good thing it possesses many strong qualities, because that’s needed in the competitive midsize sedan category, which is one of the most popular choices today among American car buyers. […]
2016 Toyota Tacoma better than ever
There’s no hard sell necessary when it comes to the Toyota Tacoma. The popular midsize truck has been a big seller for years and there’s no reason to believe that trend won’t continue thanks to the completely redesigned 2016 model. Toyota enjoys huge sales numbers in the U.S., where reportedly half the midsize trucks sold […]
Mitsubishi Lancer could use a makeover
In an era where redesigns are common place, Mitsubishi has stubbornly refused to provide a total makeover for the Lancer. It’s been a decade since the Mitsubishi Lancer compact sedan had a redesign. To Mitsubishi’s credit, changes have taken place over the past 10 years – some of them major ones. The 2016 Lancer features […]
Toyota Avalon Hybrid offers great gas mileage
The folks at Toyota know a little bit about producing a hybrid vehicle. Having developed seven gas-electric cars in the past has made Toyota the industry leader in hybrid sales. So it should come as no surprise that the Japanese auto manufacturer has a solid model in the 2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, a large near-luxury […]
Hyundai Genesis features luxurious appeal
Noticing my latest ride in a nearby parking space, a co-worker checked out the 2016 Hyundai Genesis and said – “What car is that? It’s really stylish.” Stylish indeed! Although Hyundai doesn’t place the so-called “luxury” tag on its vehicles, there’s no doubt that the Genesis could legitimately slip into that category among midsize sedans. […]
Kia Sorento delivers in snow country
Driving from the much more weather-subdued foothills – where rain, wind and fog are the only winter obstacles – to mountainous Lake Tahoe on a snowy weekend can be a challenging undertaking. Slick roads can be both snowy and icy on the interstate and anywhere in the Tahoe region, which produces storms that sometimes have […]
New compact hatchback: Scion iM
In some respect, this seemed an odd termination, considering that Scion rolled out a couple of compact vehicles for 2016 that may gain mass appeal. Toyota announced in early February that it would be discontinuing the Scion brand, which debuted in 2003. At its inception, Scions were characterized by their edgy exterior and were targeted […]