Tag: gallery

2017 Volvo S60 T5 AWD Dynamic - Unapologetic Nordic Sports Sedan Zag - Quick Review

2017 Volvo S60 T5 AWD: A "Passion Red" "Svelte Swede" zags against zigging Teutonic compact executive sedans. <br> <br> Now re-connected with all-wheel drive, this amply safety & driver assist endowed S60 T5 Dynamic is priced at $44,195. <br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch) Perhaps from the influence of the fjords (inlets) along the coastline not far from their Gothenburg headquarters, Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo always seems to Zag as their Teutonic rivals Zig; Back in 2013 the brand raised industry eyebrows when... Read more »
By George Straton,
May 19, 2017 at 3:15 pm • 

2017 Mazda6 Grand Touring - Spoiling Budget Enthusiasts' Glutes - Quick Review

2017 Mazda6 Grand Touring: Possibly the most "Buff-looking" front-drive mid-size family sedan, in its most upscale trim, finished in Machine Grey Metallic, garners admiring stares from on-lookers;<br> <br> Priced at $34,530 it is among few in the segment imparting as much "Oneness of Driver and Steed."<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Peter Stamatis) Three+ years ago “Drive…He Said” heaped restrained praise:   “There, we said it. In spite of the [meh] interior styling, [flimsy trim and spartan appointments], we cannot immediately think of another family sedan for $21,000 out the door that... Read more »
By George Straton,
April 17, 2017 at 8:15 am • 

2017 Toyota Prius Two Eco - Fourth Generation Godfather of Green - Quick Review

2017 Toyota Prius Two Eco in Blue Crush Metallic hue: <br> <br> 4th Generation Godfather of Green Driving evolves with new battery tech. more conventional packaging & standard driver assist tech in a $26,554 compact family liftback.<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch) Until the day comes when all roads are smart roads intermittently lined with magnetic inductive charging network or a network of liquefied hydrogen fueling stations…   RIGHT NOW, gas-electric hybrid powered vehicles are the name of mainstream green motoring... Read more »
By George Straton,
April 3, 2017 at 9:59 am • 
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2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco 1.4T - Lesson Learned, Exceeding Stated Promises - Quick Review

2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco 1.4T: 6th generation compact family sedan swaps oblique for more understated elegance. <br> <br> This Lakeside Blue Eco 1.4T DCT version is available monospec priced at $21,610.<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch) “A Penny Saved is a Two-Pence Dear ( aka Penny Earned)….” Benjamin Franklin, “Poor Richard’s Almanac”, 1732.   Two-Pence Dear: when Hyundai Motors America paid $355 Million in settlement fees for overstating Fuel Economy ratings on the previous generation... Read more »
By George Straton,
March 7, 2017 at 12:05 pm • 

2017 Honda Civic Coupe 1.5T Touring - Compact Double Door Alive & Kicking - Quick Review

2017 Honda Civic Coupe 1.5T Touring: the re-designed 2-door sporty notchback moves up a couple notches to a legitimate grand tourer; <br> <br> Priced starting at just under $20K for LX 2.0L 6 spd. manual trim, the tested fully kitted Touring 1.5T CVT runs $27K. <br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch, Roadblazing.com) Unlike the “Star Trek’s starship Enterprise, car maker, Honda, “Boldly Goes On Alone Where Many Men Went Before.” For Honda is the “Keeper of the Coupe.”  At least the volume front-drive sedan-derived 2-door kind. As we recently assessed... Read more »
By George Straton,
March 3, 2017 at 10:30 am • 

2016 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD - SAV Signed By MX-5 Miata - Quick Review

Handsomely re-designed 2016 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD is the "MX-5 Miata of 7-seat SAVs." <br> <br> Starting at $32,420, with (pictured) Signature AWD trim topping out at $45,215, the new Mazda CX-9 excises "blandness" from the family crossover utility vehicle .<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch, Roadblazing.com) WISH: bringing home to the wife (or husband) & four kids a brand new deep Soul Red Mazda MX-5  repleted with a big white ribbon. PROBLEM: Then imagine the frying pan (or power tool) hitting you over the... Read more »
By George Straton,
January 20, 2017 at 12:06 pm • 
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2016 Fiat 500X & 2016 Jeep Renegade 4x4 - Red Hot Tomato, Yellow Hot Mustard Fraternal Cute Utes - Comparison Review, Video

Fraternal Twin Cute Utes: (TOP): 2016 FIAT 500X = Red Hot Tomato personal crossover utility vehicle from Italy. This FWD 2.4L gas 9-speed automatic EASY trim model is priced at $24,700;<br> <br> (BOTTOM): 2016 Jeep Renegade = Yellow Hot Mustard personal sports active vehicle. Also from Italy. As tested 4x4 1.4L turbo gas 6-speed manual Latitude priced at $25,760. <br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * Fraternal twins aren’t genetic twins. Since one is a boy and the other a girl, they aren’t being constantly compared for character differences as genetic twins are. Car manufacturers have been doing fraternal twins for a long time now. Sometimes fraternal quadruplets. Coming... Read more »
By George Straton,
December 16, 2016 at 8:28 am • 

2016 Kia Optima SX Limited 2.0T - My Blue Family Sedan Heaven - Quick Review

Redesigned 2016 Kia Optima SX-Limited is intent on breaking out from the tight mid-size family sedan mid-pack position.<br> <br>Pricing starts < $23K, with this top trim Horizon Blue SX-L version stickering at $36,615.<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch) At the head of the pack there are two cemented in popularity. For the rest of the mid size family sedan pack, none is going break out based on good looks or performance alone.   But it sure can’t... Read more »
By George Straton,
October 24, 2016 at 1:30 pm • 

2017 Kia Sportage SX Turbo AWD - Hot Brand Doing Spicy CUV - Quick Review

2017 Kia Sportage SX-T small family crossover SUV in "Burnished Copper." Fully optioned MSRP: $34,895.<br> <br> Deep valley hood atop smooth round front corners intentionally bears more than passing resemblance to Spicy SUV from Zuffenhausen. <br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Susan Frissell, Women With Wheels.com, ChicagoNow.com “Girls Go Racing”) When you’re hot, you’re hot. Korean brand Kia is currently sizzling. Last year it sold 600,000 vehicles in the U.S. alone. That represented a nearly 8% increase over previous year sales. As... Read more »
By George Straton,
October 10, 2016 at 10:46 am • 
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2016 Subaru Legacy 3.6R AWD - Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall Family Haul - Quick Review

2016 Subaru Legacy 3.6R AWD exists because many Americans "enjoy" Four Seasons. This Twilight Blue Metallic tester comes fully equipped at $33,080.
* * * * * * * * * * * * (Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch, Roadblazing.com) Car and Driver recently culled some data showing that only 8-10% of American buyers of volume family cars demand the greatest possible tractive control afforded by All-Wheel Drive. This despite 52-60% of non-luxury crossovers and sport utility vehicles... Read more »
By George Straton,
October 3, 2016 at 8:00 am •