Things have definitely changed in the car industry over the past decade. Especially with domestic manufacturers. What was known as The Big Three – General Motors, Ford and Chrysler – pretty much owned the car industry in North America right up to the early 1980s and had an iron grip on most buyers’ affections. But that…
This sport cute may be a little shy on power but it’s a pleasure to drive as an urban runabout
For the first time in a long while, I went to a social event last week. Just a few people getting together to play a little music and socially un-distance for a while. It was all COVID-19-proof, of course, and a good time was had by all. But what struck me as I pulled up…
As you would expect from any Toyota, the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid is very driver-accessible and immensely driveable
Hybrid engineering, once thought to be bridge technology, is stronger than ever. Sometimes it seems every other vehicle on the road is a hybrid of some kind. And this includes SUVS – virtually all the major carmakers have something on offer. Volvo XC90, Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Kona, Ford Escape, Subaru Crosstrek and others are available…
It’s a state-of-the-art compact sport utility vehicle that stands at the head of the class in almost every department. You just need to overlook the transmission
The qualities that have made the CR-V such a winner – driver-friendliness, usability, thrift and driveability – are still very much in evidence in the newest iteration of this Honda mainstay. I spent some time with the 2020 CR-V and liked just about everything about it. Available in five trim levels, with front- or all-wheel…
Getting an all-wheel-drive system standard on a mainstream four-door sedan is huge and definitely gives the 2020 Altima a step up
Is the traditional four-door sedan on its way out? The numbers would suggest so – buyers in the market for a new vehicle are choosing an SUV, crossover or truck of some sort in increasing numbers. Sales for conventional four-door sedans are definitely not what they used to be. According to the Wall Street Journal,…
This lovely automobile has a nice sense of balance, plenty of get-up-and-go, is comfortable and easy to get along with
Maybe it’s because the price of diesel has crept up. Maybe it’s because Volkswagen got busted for a massive fuel economy scam a few years ago. Maybe it’s because people stopped caring about fuel economy. But whatever the reason, diesel-engined cars have decreased in popularity to the point where they’re almost unavailable. For a while,…
In the economy market, this model has always been a cut above the rest
Car buyers have plenty to choose from in the economy market segment. Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, etc., all have tons of models available and, by and large, they’re pretty good. But one model has always been a cut above the rest when it comes to getting maximum bang for the buck – at least, as…
Buying a new car is all about expectations. If you expect to drive something that is faster than everyone else, you get yourself a Corvette, or Porsche. If you expect you will be carrying a bunch of stuff, you get a mini-van or pickup truck. If you are looking to save money on gas, you…
If you’re a regular reader of this space, you’ll be aware of my aversion to CVTs – continuously variable transmission. With rare exceptions, every time I’ve encountered one of these, it’s been less than satisfactory. Toyota seems to have figured things out, as has Mazda, but, by and large, the belt-driven CVT is an inferior…
There are two important facts you need to know about the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. About 500 km. Eleven bucks. Yup, if you nerd it up and stick close to home, you can slash your fuel costs like crazy. I proved it in a week of city-only driving involving a series of trips that rarely…