Automotive Reviews

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Rare Dodge Dakota ragtop at auction

Mini pickup trucks were the rage during the 1970s, 1980s and into the early 1990s. But as sport utility vehicles became increasingly popular, interest in popular mini-trucks from Chevrolet, Datsun, Ford, Mazda and Toyota waned. To be different, Chrysler introduced the Dodge Dakota Convertible pickup truck in 1989. It featured a fixed roll bar and a simple manual top. About 2,500 units of the odd trucks sold in the debut year, only 909 were made in 1990 and eight in 1991. Dodge Dakota convertible at Mecum With all options available included, the Dodge Dakota convertible in 1990 costs about $18,000 new. The current equivalent is about $35,625. Only a few of the convertibles remain in good shape. One example will

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2020 Nissan Titan Review: New, improved, still struggling

Nearly 20 years ago, someone decided on the not-so-keen idea of naming a full-sized pickup truck after a mythological Greek god. It’s been a curse for the Nissan Titan. Perennially low-selling in the country’s best-selling vehicle segment, the Titan has had only two generations since 2003 and none since 2016. The Titan had the poorest sales of any mainstream full-sized truck last year, losing nearly 38 percent of its share from a year earlier. Refreshing the truck for 2020 was the least Nissan could after only 31,000 Titans were purchased last year. The brand finished an unlucky 13th and at the bottom on the sales list. Nissan Titan tries to rebound The Nissan Titan was never bad; its rivals are

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Rivian EV debut delayed by Covid-19 crisis

The debut of the Rivian Automotive pickup truck, the much-anticipated and hugely financed potential competitor of Tesla, has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Amazon, Ford and Cox Automotive have combined for nearly $3 billion in investments for the innovative truck and sport utility vehicle. And the unveiling was scheduled for later this year, perhaps at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The vehicle received global attention when prototypes were unveiled at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. With its investment, Amazon ordered 100,000 custom-designed electric delivery vehicles. Rivian has best EV range Industry analysts predict the R1T and R1S trucks, marketed with a range of 400 miles per charge, can challenge Tesla. The efficiency estimates would be the

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2020 Nissan Sentra Review: A new hipster nearing 40

Nearing its 40th birthday, the Nissan Sentra has endured weird names and different marketing strategies. Once a sub-compact, it’s now a compact or small sedan. Its peculiar names in different countries include Tsuru, Sylphy and Almera. It’s also a direct descendant of the Datsun B210. The 2020 Nissan Sentra, available in the United States, isn’t named after a crane, a slender young woman or a princess. Its moniker is a variant of sentry, which also isn’t quite right. But guardian or protector-on-wheels is workable. The Sentra has adapted and remains strong in an ever-crowded marketplace. Key Takeaways Eighth-generation redesign targets hipsters instead of rental fleets: A two-tone Monarch Orange body with Super Black roof and black wheels signals the biggest

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PRESS RELEASE: 2020 Range Rover big, pricey, plush

PRESS RELEASE Range Rover is renowned for combining peerless luxury and refinement with traditional all-terrain capability. The 2020 Range Rover now offers higher levels of performance, refinement and responsiveness with the latest 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine. The 2o20 Range Rover 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine is available in 355hp and 395hp outputs, badged P360 and P400 respectively and delivers up to 406 lb-ft of torque that powers the new Range Rover from 0-60mph in as little as 5.9 seconds (0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds) and to a top speed of 130mph (209km/h)4. In the U.S., the new P360 engine will be available on the 2020 Range Rover and the P400 engine will be exclusive to the HSE trim level. The

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PRESS RELEASE: 2020 Infiniti QX50 rules as luxury SUV

PRESS RELEASE The 2020 Infiniti QX50 was completely redesigned for the 2019 model year, becoming arguably the most compelling Infiniti to date with world-first technologies, standout design, enhanced interior space and an entirely new platform. For 2020, the QX50 continues to provide the highest level of versatility, efficiency and performance in luxury mid-size crossovers. The 2020 Infiniti QX50 luxury mid-size crossover is now offered in five well-equipped grade levels and in a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The 2020 Infiniti QX50 Pure comes equipped with standard features and equipment including the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine, paddle shifters, 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, LED headlamps and LED signature Daytime Running Lights, leatherette seats, Intelligent Key, power liftgate, Infiniti InTouch dual display system,

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2020 Hyundai Sonata Review: New look, best sedan value

With the dominating presence of trucks and recreational vehicles, a pleasant, efficient drive in a fair-priced sedan is still appealing. The 2020 Hyundai Sonata comes to mind. Chasing the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, the segment sales leaders for years, the Sonata begins its eighth generation. It’s a much-changed midsize sedan inside and outside. The South Korean manufacturer’s marketing slogan for the new vehicle is “Sensuous Sportiness.” Sportiness works; sensuous is a stretch. Key Takeaways Eighth-generation Sonata drops the conservative look: The fastback roofline, driving lights extending into the hood, and wide C-shaped taillights replace the staid midsize-sedan styling of prior generations. Prices run $23,400 to $33,300 across four trims: The top Limited checks in at $34,365 with

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Ford rules best used trucks for $10,000

With its dominance in new truck sales, it only seems logical the Ford has the same good reputation used truck sales. It does, and it’s good news for truck buyers with a budget of $10,000 whether in the market for a work truck or a vehicle to tow an RV or boat. Chris Ford, a writer for HotCars.com, has compiled an interesting list featuring used trucks from 1999 to 2018 — all in the affordable $10,000 price range. As the best-selling vehicles in the United States for more than 40 years, Ford has five trucks on the list, dating from 1999 to 2014. Chevrolet has three vehicles on the list, dating from 2004 to 2014. Toyota is represented by two

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Toyota Land Cruiser, Honda Ridgeline top 200K list

The Honda Ridgeline is arguably the most unusually designed truck on the road. It has a large fan base and detractors. But one area in which there’s no disagreement, the Ridgeline has the best longevity of any of its competitors. Although the Toyota Land Cruiser has the top ranking, the Ridgeline is among the three trucks in the top-15 vehicles reaching 20,000 miles, according to iseecars.com. The result of the survey makes a good case for consumers considering buying a used vehicle instead of purchasing a new car or truck. The iSeeCars.com site is a comprehensive platform for all car buyers. It calculated data from more than one million vehicles to determine the models and manufacturers with the highest percentage

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2020 Toyota Sienna Review: Old school minivan still worthy

It seems like a sports car should be named after a city in Italy, not a minivan. But Toyota‘s adult-aged family hauler has grown into being worthy of its namesake, the medieval city in Tuscany. Siena is known for its sturdy, gothic brick buildings and historic districts. The 23-year-old Sienna is ancient by minivan standards and is holding up well despite declining sales and the dominance of lights truck and sport utility vehicles. The 2020 Toyota Sienna is a comfortable people hauler. It’s quick for its size, comfortable and versatile with several seat configuration options. The Sienna is also the only minivan available with all-wheel drive. A few refinements advance this year’s model from the 2019 offering, but the Sienna

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GM adds to new corps of pending electric trucks

General Motors has joined several other manufacturers and will debut a Chevrolet electric pickup by 2025. It’s another boost to the truck industry as buyers continue to abandon sedans for trucks and sport utility vehicles. The manufacturer, which revealed concept sketches of the pending vehicles to Car and Driver, reports the electric truck won’t be identical to the recent announcement of the electric GMC Hummer. The Ford F-150 electric, Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Bollinger B2, the Lordstown Motors Endurance are all predicted to debut within the next few years. The Hummer EV SUT will debut in the fall of 2021. While the Hummer is being billed as a lifestyle vehicle, the new Chevy truck is expected to more resemble a

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Is Ford soon announcing a new pickup truck for 20K?

It may be called the Courier or the Ranchero. It currently has the codename 758. For now, it’s wait and see as Ford is likely to officially announce a new, small pickup truck with a base cost of less than $20,000. The unnamed vehicle, according to various industry publications, will debut in late 2021 with perhaps a return to the new of two former iconic vehicles. Ford has used the Courier nameplate on several cars and trucks, dating to the early 1950s and ending less than a decade ago in Brazil. Ranchero was the name of the coupe utility vehicle made by Ford from 1957 to 1979. The new truck, which has been discussed for several years, will continue Ford’s

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$2 million Bentley made from ancient wood sold out

Even by Bentley standards, the British automaker known for its rare combination of elegance and performance, the just-unveiled Mulliner Bacalar reeks of pretentiousness. The $2 million open-topped cars will feature an interior made from 5,000-year-old trees and be powered with 650 horsepower, a 12-cylinder engine, with all-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The small production vehicle — only 12 will be made — was scheduled for its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The annual prestigious event was scheduled to begin March 5, but it was canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus. Like many other manufacturers that altered plans, the new Bentley was unveiled online. All 12 Bacalar cars have already been pre-sold to customers, who will work with

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2020 Toyota Tundra Review: Improved, still trails truck royalty

Like multi-word vehicles’ exterior paint colors, the names of cars and trucks are no longer simple. Welcome the 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro CrewMax. The initials TRD stand for Toyota Racing Development, with the word Pro added as embellishment. Combined, it’s one vehicle simultaneously focused on racing and off-road duties. The TRD Package means Bilstein shocks raise the stance two inches, good for the 18-inch wheels. It also includes dual exhaust, a front skid plate and an eight-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Entune infotainment system. CrewMax means an extra spacious cabin, with a five or six-seat configuration and more interior storage space. Overall, the Tundra is a brute-force beast. It’s 19-feet long, about 6 1/2 feet tall and the same

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2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Review: Tech review and kudos

New technology websites abound. Mark Pallone and Valerie Antkowiak have found a niche within a niche, the website AppMyHome.com. The husband/wife publishers recently produced a YouTube video of the smart tech in their new 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. With Valerie as the moderator, the nearly 10-minute video details all of the technology the SUV has to offer. Here’s how the couple’s website is described: “Exploring technology and products available for the Smart Home, the Kitchen and Travel. We test and review products in our own home or occasionally, at our friends’ and relatives’ homes, and share our experience with stories and videos.” The tech review of the new Hyundai is intriguing. The Santa Fe has been a favorite of The Weekly

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