By Bruce Caldwell Mazda has really been on a hot streak. The CX-5 crossover SUV and the Mazda6 sedan have both fared very well in magazine comparison tests. Consumers have supported those wins at the showroom. The all-new Mazda3 compact sedan is another big winner. The company’s best-selling model scores high in all categories: design, […]
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2014 Nissan Versa
Model Tested: 2014 Nissan Versa Note SV Engine: 1.6-liter DOHC I-4, 109-horsepower 107 lb-ft torque Transmission: CVT, front-wheel-drive EPA Ratings: 31-mpg city/ 40-mpg highway Base Price: $15,990 As Tested: $17,320 Performance: Comfort: Utility: WOW Factors: Whines: Bottom Line: The 2014 Nissan Versa Note subcompact is the company’s entry-level car, but it’s more than just an […]
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2014 Jeep Compass: The mini Grand Cherokee
By Bruce Caldwell The Jeep brand is one of the most iconic in the history of American automobiles. The parent company, Chrysler, has done everything possible to maximize the brand’s value. They have expanded beyond the marquee models Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee to offer the Compass and Patriot. These smaller, less-expensive models let budget-minded […]
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2014 Buick LaCrosse
Model Tested: 2014 Buick LaCrosse Premium Engine: 3.6-liter V-6, 304-horsepower 264 lb-ft torque Transmission: 6-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive EPA Ratings: 18-mpg city/ 28-mpg highway Base Price: $38,810 As Tested: $45,595 Performance: Comfort: Utility: WOW Factors: Whines: Bottom Line: The 2014 LaCrosse Premium is Buick’s flagship sedan and it exhibits all the upscale features expected of a […]
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An All-New Full-Size Flagship Sedan
At the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s (NWAPA) Run To The Sun event last summer, the participating manufacturers pitched their vehicles to the journalists present, with a brief Q&A after each presentation. When Kia came up, I asked if, considering the success of Hyundai’s full-size Genesis sedan (Hyundai owns a major stake in Kia), Kia didn’t […]
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2014 Acura MDX: Perfect blend of luxury, safety, efficient performance
By Bruce Caldwell Seven-passenger SUVs have improved dramatically from those early truck-based, gas-guzzling monsters like big-block V-8 ’70s/’80s Suburbans and first generation V-10 Excursions. Minimal sound insulation, harsh ride dynamics, and single or low double-digit fuel economy figures are a faint memory thanks to the current generation of innovative SUVs such as the 2014 Acura […]
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2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT: Sports Car SUV
By Bruce Caldwell The Jeep image has always been one of ruggedness. The brand is so synonymous with off road performance that people unfamiliar with a particular SUV’s identity are most apt to call it “a Jeep type vehicle.” Jeep’s stellar reputation was established during World War II and maintained and enhanced in both civilian […]
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2014 Kia Sorento: Updated and Reengineered
The popular Kia Sorento, Kia’s flagship SUV, has received a major update for the 2014 model year. It could be viewed as a midcycle refresh, although Kia marketeers are careful not to use the term “all new”: The Sorento sports about 80 percent new or reengineered content, with a list of revisions much more extensive […]
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2013 Chevrolet Traverse
Model Tested: 2013 Chevrolet Traverse AWD LTZ Engine: 3.6-liter V6, 288-horsepower 270 lb-ft torque Transmission: 6-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive EPA Ratings: 16-mpg city/ 23-mpg highway Base Price: $42,575 As Tested: $46,200 Performance: Comfort: Utility: WOW Factors: Whines: Bottom Line: The Chevrolet Traverse LTZ is a luxurious, very spacious, comfortable (especially with the second row captain’s chairs) […]