New Vehicle Reviews (Page 55)

When it comes to lengthy car trips my first preference is either midsize sedans (and larger) or crossover utility vehicles. That's why I was initially dismayed to find out I would be piloting a 2014 Kia Forte EX on a 700-mile round-trip drive on a recent wet, windy November weekend but this compact proved it could work well.

The 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T is the most affordable V8 powered rear wheel drive sports car sold in America today but with 375 horsepower and a standard 6-speed manual transmission – the Challenger R/T Classic offers the excitement of the American muscle car without the gigantic price of the more powerful cars on the market today.

The 2014 Subaru BRZ is here and there are many things to be thankful for, here are eight that we like after testing the sports coupe.

There was a point in time where driving an affordable and efficient midsized sedan meant driving a drab, boring car but the 2013 Ford Fusion SE is a clear example that those days are long gone – with a ton of amenities and a drivetrain that makes the Fusion efficient and fun to drive.

The changes made to the 2014 Hyundai Equus might be fairly subtle but when combined with the long list of features that makes the Equus one of the most impressive – and least expensive – large luxury sedans sold in American, those subtle changes help to make the best bargain in the luxury segment even better.

General Motors has attempted to enter the luxury compact segment in the past but with the 2013 Cadillac ATS, the General finally has a small luxury sedan that can truly hang with anything else sold in the segment in the USA.

The 2013 Ford Explorer Sport offers sports car like performance with a 365hp EcoBoost V6 and an intelligent all wheel drive system working together to offer the usefulness of an SUV and the fun of a sports car.

I recently had a chance to spend some time driving the new 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and while some delays have caused critics to question if there have been some development or production problems– I am here to testify that the EcoDiesel is primed and ready to take on the half ton truck segment.

Hyundai has offered a model in the midsized crossover segment for years but with the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport – the Korean automaker finally has an alternative that can stand out in just about any comparison in the class.

The Lexus brand was introduced in the United States with the 1990 LS400 sedan so it is fitting that the 2013 Lexus LS460 F Sport serves as such a stunning example of premium Japanese luxury that can compete with any large luxury sedan.

Details of the changes to the new 2014 Corolla. There are really three big changes that buyers will like most.

When the 9th generation of the Honda Civic was introduced for the 2012 model year, it was met with harsh criticism to which Honda was quick to respond with changes from top to bottom.

Ford Motor Company recently had a small group of journalists to drive the 2014 Ford F150 against the newest half ton pickups in today’s market to remind us all that even though the competition vehicles are all very new – the F150 is still the king.

I love the Fiat 500 Abarth and considering that the topless Abarth 500 Cabrio offers nearly identical performance to the hard-topped version, it should come as no surprise that a week driving the Abarth Convertible led me to fall in love all over again.

The Ford C-Max Hybrid was introduced to provide the first true alternative to the top selling Toyota Prius and this curvy 5-door is truly the best competition for the popular Prius in the hybrid segment thus far.

I recently had a chance to log some miles behind the wheel of the 2014 Toyota Tundra and there weren’t just any miles – they were miles driven in some of the most scenic roads in the United States as we traveled around the Smokey Mountains.

I recently had a chance to spend a week behind the wheel of the 2013 Mazda MX-5 Club with the Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) and I was completely blown away by how much fun this compact roadster was to drive.

The 2013 Chevrolet Volt hasn’t received any huge changes since being introduced a couple years ago but the few subtle changes made for the 2013 model year only serve to make the best affordable electric vehicle sold in the US even better.

While the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the big dog of the Chrysler Group SUVs, the Dodge Durango R/T is a great option for someone who wants a go-fast SUV with three rows of seating that wont hit the bank account quite as hard as the SRT Jeep.

Once you start the 2014 Jaguar F-Type S convertible you can hear the ends of the highway calling your name – the genie is out of the bottle and at your command.

Snake and Mongoose is a movie that chronicles the path of two of the most legendary drag racers in the history of the sport as they made their hobby one of the most watched motorsports in the US.

While the 2013 Toyota RAV4 introduces the new generation of the popular compact SUV without the optional V6 or the EV drivetrain, the sporty looking crossover has improved in pretty much every way.

The midsized sport utility segment has become one of the main markets in the world of luxury vehicles and the Acura RDX is one of the best in the segment – with lots of power, a smooth ride, great handling and tons of interior goodies.

The 2013 Kia Sportage SX AWD offers all of the amenities and capabilities that you would expect from a modern compact sport utility vehicle but unlike the majority of SUVs large and small – the Sportage SX is a total blast to drive.

The Lexus GX 460 is still in its first generation, a full three years after production was shut down for 16 days over a stability issue corrected by April 29, 2010. Since then it has taken a hallowed place in the Lexus SUV court, selling roughly 40,000 units.

The 2014 Mazda6 is the first vehicle from the Japanese automaker to sport the sleek and stylish Kodo design language but with a roomy, plush interior and a drivetrain that is both sporty and efficient – the Mazda6 is far more than just a pretty face.

In the world of compact sedans and 5-door models, “getting bigger” is usually a bad thing but in the case of the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek – the added height that comes via the XV’s unique high riding suspension system makes for a vehicle that offers the positioning and ride of a small crossover without compromising the fun to drive, go anywhere feel that you would expect from a modern Subaru.

There are few automakers doing business in the US who are growing as rapidly as Hyundai so it came as no huge surprise when the Korean automaker opted to launch the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT - a 5-door version of the uber popular sedan that will help the Elantra continue to climb the charts of the most popular cars in the US while also helping Hyundai to continue their steady growth in North America.

Now in its 15th year since release, the Lexus RX 450h continues a fine tradition in the Lexus lineup with this crossover vehicle ready for city highways, interstate travels and even mountain passes, providing power and performance plus fuel efficiency to boot.

The Ford F150 is America’s bestselling truck and while there weren’t many changes for the 2013 model year F150, pretty much every change made for 2013 was featured on my F150 FX4 EcoBoost test vehicle – making for a very clear illustration of why this is America’s bestselling truck and how Ford keeps holds onto that title with new high tech features.