2017 Nissan Rogue SL Hybrid AWD

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.…

2017 Kia Niro Touring

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…

2017 Toyota 86

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…

2017 Mazda Mazda3 4-door Grand Touring

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…

2017 Kia Forte EX

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…

2017 Jaguar F-Pace 35t Prestige

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…

AAA: the Truth about Oil Changes

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,…

2017 MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4

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…

2017 Honda CR-V AWD Touring

The Honda CR-V is one of the most popular crossovers in the U.S. because it’s comfortable, practical, reliable and gets great fuel economy. It gets a makeover for 2017 and sales for the redesigned CR-V are ahead of last year.   The five-passenger CR-V is available with front-wheel or all-wheel-drive. It comes in LX, EX,…