The Mazda CX-5 has zippy handling, an upscale and comfortable interior, and lots of available technology, putting it near the top of the super-competitive compact crossover/SUV class. The five-passenger CX-5 is redesigned for the 2017 model year. The outgoing model was already excellent and the newly revamped 2017 model is even better. The…
The Nissan Rogue is pretty good at most of the things you want in a small crossover or SUV. Problem is, this segment is so competitive that pretty good isn’t always good enough to top the list. Still, the Rogue has many fans. In fact, the Rogue is the best-selling compact crossover/SUV in the U.S.…
Is it a hatchback? A wagon? Or a small crossover? Whatever you want to call it, Kia hopes the all-new Niro Hybrid will be an option for buyers who would otherwise be shopping for a Prius. Kia calls the Niro a new kind of crossover aimed at environmentally conscious buyers who want the practicality…
The Toyota 86 was formerly the Scion FR-S. It gets some updates along with the new name and is a fun little sports coupe. Toyota dubs it the “affordable, fun-damental sports car.” The two-door 86 is available in only one trim with a starting price of $26,255. No packages are offered but you can…
Like the Kia Forte I drove last week, the Mazda3 is one of the best offerings in the affordable compact car segment. The Mazda3 is the sportiest and most fun to drive in this competitive segment. The five-passenger Mazda3 received a makeover for the 2014 model year and got some tweaks in 2015, 2016…
It used to be that shopping for an economy car meant trying to choose from a few vehicles that no one would buy if they could afford something nicer. The Kia Forte and several other worthy options prove that economy cars have come a long way since then! “That’s a Forte? That’s a nice…
The 2017 Range Rover Evoque Convertible is a bit of a head scratcher. Is there really a need for a luxury convertible SUV with amazing off-road capability? Wouldn’t you probably buy a Jeep? Nissan tried a convertible version of the Murano but it was a bust. OK, so now that we’ve established that the…
With the popularity of SUVs and crossovers, it’s no surprise that Jaguar has unveiled its first crossover, the F-Pace. Midsize luxury crossovers are one of the fastest growing segments in the car biz, and the F-Pace is becoming a serious challenger to the offerings from Acura, Audi, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes. In fact, the F-Pace…
New AAA Research shows Synthetic oil performs better than Conventional Oil PORTLAND, Ore., – Making an informed choice about oil changes just got easier, thanks to new AAA research on the quality of engine oil. AAA found that synthetic oil outperformed conventional oil by an average of nearly 50 percent in its independent evaluation,…
When you first get into the MINI, you may feel as if you’re in a dorm room on wheels. The design is fun and funky and things are laid out a bit differently than in many vehicles. The five-passenger MINI Cooper Countryman gets a makeover for the 2017 model year, with better handling and…