Bruce Caldwell

By Bruce Caldwell It took five decades for Jaguar to market a successor to the iconic sixties E-Type, but the all-new 2014 Jaguar F-Type is a noble heir. The new F-Type is a serious performance car that’s also gorgeous. The 2014 Jaguar F-Type has all the benefits of a half-century of technological innovations packed into […]

By Bruce Caldwell The 2014 Dodge Durango Limited AWD is a great SUV that manages to be both muscular and refined. The model has been around since 1998 and gone through a couple iterations. The present version debuted in 2011 and has been refreshed for 2014. The 2014 Durango shares much with its corporate sibling, […]

By Bruce Caldwell The Mazda CX-5 was new for the model year 2013, so the early arriving 2014 CX-5 is more of an engine and technology update than a whole new vehicle. What Mazda has done is take an already excellent crossover SUV and refine it with a more powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. We were […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]