Automotive Reviews

3 important things to consider when buying a used truck

Does your truck have constant mechanical problems? Has it outlived its usefulness? If so, start thinking about the purchase of a more dependable vehicle. It’s a big purchase for a considerable amount of money. Carefully consider the factors that will go into your purchase. It will allow you to make an educated decision that you will not regret. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when you are going to purchase a used truck. What is the condition of the used truck? This is an important detail because buying a used truck that has not received proper maintenance could result in frequent and costly repairs. You need to seriously consider buying a used truck if you are

Read more
,

2017 Toyota Prius Prime has short shift, not short shrift

The transfer today for stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California took me from Morro Bay to Santa Clarita, California, and I’ve now driven a 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid for a week. I’ve covered 775 miles and averaged 55.9 mpg, nearly two miles per gallon more than plug-in hybrid’s rating. The route from Morro Bay was a coastal trek on Highway 1 and then a diversion to Highway 101 south for about two hours. The route then turned inland on 154 through small hamlets before rejoining 101. The final short stretch into Santa Clarita was a switch to smaller inland roads on state route 126. The drive covered 184 miles. With two brief stops to stretch and

Read more
,

Jerry Seinfeld set to auction rare Lotus super car in Texas

Jerry Seinfeld is known for his passion for Porsche cars. But the comedian has a vast interest in all kinds of automobiles, including a rare Lotus he used to own that’s now about to be auctioned. The 2009 Lotus Exige S260 sports coupe will be among 16 former celebrity owned cars in addition to 175 other vehicles set for the auction of May 27 in the Dan Kruse Classics Midland-Odessa Car Auction in Midland, Texas. The fastest to, from and around the track model, the 2009 Lotus Exige S260 Sports Coupe was among the vast collection that the car enthusiast owns is in special order Kawasaki green. Highlights of the super sports car include a 1.8 Liter Inline 4-Cylinder Engine

Read more
,

2017 Toyota Prius Prime: Fuel efficient, safety galore

After nearly six full days of driving the 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid during the Amgen Tour California, I stopped for my first refuel about two hours into a 3 1/2-hour evening drive from San Jose to Morro Bay, California. The route was primarily a long, straight haul north-south along Highway 101 before an undulating, often single-lane finishing 17-mile trek on Highway 41 into the ocean resort city. I stopped with about 90 miles left in the drive. I filled up the Prius Prime with 9.3 gallons at $3.09 per gallon for a total of $29.00. I’d driven 499 miles. The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is rated at 54 miles per gallon. I averaged 53.3 mpg on my first

Read more

2017 Toyota Prius Prime: Cool technology for modern hybrid

The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid is the most upscale addition to the Prius family. Its exterior design removes the stodgy image of many of the models in the country’s best-selling hybrid lineup. The Prime’s interior is chock-full of technology, most visibly the JBL navigation system. It’s an 11.6-inch vertically oriented high-resolution touchscreen. While not available on the entry-level Prime Plus, it’s standard on the Prime Premium ($29,965) and the top-line Prime Advanced ($33,965). I’m driving the Advance trim for two weeks during the Amgen Tour of California, May 11-20. It will take the women’s field from South Lake Tahoe to Sacramento over four days. The men’s race will begin in Sacramento on May 14 and progress to Pasadena

Read more

4 Essential Things to Check Before Buying a Used Car

Purchasing a car is exciting. The thrill of driving away with a new set of wheels should be a great experience. But sometimes, the excitement becomes too much and can lead to not noticing simple faults with the car before you purchase it. Used cars are more prone to having minor faults such as scratches and dents, yet they still should function properly. It’s not fair to purchase a car only to find out when you drive away, there are several faults that can increase the cost of the vehicle. Fortunately, most of these can be spotted before you purchase the vehicle — if you know where to look. Here are four common areas consumers forget to check when buying

Read more

2017 Kia Niro: New compact SUV redefines hybrid

The 2017 Kia Niro is new in the South Korean manufacturer’s lineup. It’s a sub-compact hybrid utility vehicle that looks more like a handsome, streamlined wagon. And it performs well enough to earn the loose translation of its name — strength. Unveiled at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, the Kia Niro uses a 1.6-liter hybrid-electric powertrain with 139 horsepower. It’s built with lightweight metals which help most trims achieve the SUV‘s superior gas mileage estimates: 46 miles per gallon in city driving, 40 miles per gallon on the freeway. Accessories lights are all operated via the hybrid engine. There’s no traditional battery. Positioned in the Kia line-up below the Kia Sportage, the Niro’s strength isn’t so much performance-oriented as it

Read more

2017 Honda CR-V: Top-selling SUV still reigns

For more than 20 years, the Honda CR-V has ideally defined the Japanese manufacturer’s reputation. It makes vehicles with a rare combination of style, efficiency, practicality and versatility. It was hard to complain about previous Honda CR-V editions. It’s been the country’s best-selling compact SUV for many years. But with the sport utility segment increasingly competitive, even industry leaders can’t become complacent. The 2017 Honda CR-V is the debut of the SUV’s fifth generation and it celebrates the vehicle’s 23rd birthday. Its exterior and interior designs are new. New safety features abound, and the CR-V is larger inside and outside. Its description as a compact SV is questionable with its expanded spaciousness. The CR-V is only slightly longer, wider and

Read more

2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid: handsome, comfortable, efficient

Ford introduced its alternative energy lineup, including the Ford Fusion Hybrid, in early 2009 as 2010 models. The midsize sedan is now well into its second generation with a healthy list of upgrades for 2017. The Fusion Hybrid has been the most attractive hybrid sedan on the market for several years. But it has a restyled front end and new headlights for 2017, further adding to its sleek exterior lines. The heavily touted MyFord Touch infotainment center has also been replaced by the simplified Sync 3 system. Like a few other manufacturers, Ford has dispatched an automatic standard transmission shifter in the Focus. Instead, there’s a rotary selector positioned on the console. There’s also a new push-button engine starter high

Read more

2017 Volkswagen Passat: Versatile like a blue blazer

Among the manufacturer’s most enduring models, the 2017 Volkswagen Passat extends the eighth generation of the midsize sedan to its sixth year. The Passat, German for “trade wind,” is an elder automotive statesman well into its fourth decade. There’s little flash or overt technology, but the mainstream VW has plenty of appeal via its reserved, classy presentation. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in S, R-Line, SE and Premium trims, the 2017 Volkswagen Passat is front-wheel drive and offered with two engines. My test vehicle was the SE trim with a 1.8-liter turbo-charged, four-cylinder configuration with 170 horsepower and a dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission. There’s also a 3.6-liter V6 with 280 horsepower available on the SE and Premium trims. As

Read more

2017 Hyundai Veloster: sporty look, lackluster ride

The Hyundai Veloster was introduced seven years ago as the South Korean manufacturer’s first coupe. A year later, a turbo-changed edition debuted. The 2017 edition is the continuation of the first generation of the odd-looking compact with sporty ambitions. A modernized version of the Hyundai Tiburon (discontinued in 2008), the Veloster has an asymmetrical door configuration. There’s a large door on the driver’s side and two smaller doors on the passenger’s side. The rear passenger door opens with a high-positioned, flush handle that’s easy to miss but convenient to use. Key Takeaways Final year of the first-generation Veloster: Hyundai’s asymmetric three-door hatch has been on sale since 2011, a modernized successor to the Tiburon that was discontinued in 2008. 201-hp

Read more

2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid: Stylishly efficient

When your older sibling is the most popular hybrid vehicle in history, the pressure is on. Could the Toyota Avalon Hybrid hold its own while its ever-expanding Prius family members thrive? The answer is a resounding yes. Introduced in late 2012, the 2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid further separates current hybrids from their debut more than 15 years ago. Once awkward-looking and awkward-functioning sedans comparable to futuristic vehicles featured in movies and television programs, hybrids are now mainstream. Their superior gas mileage is equaled by overall attractive styling, performance and functionality. The 2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid is an exemplary example. It’s a continuation of last year’s model, but the formerly optional Safety Sense package, which includes forward collision warning, automatic pre-collision

Read more
,

Mercedes-Benz breaks from tradition with first pickup

For some purists, viewing a Mercedes-Benz station wagon is odd. Now the German luxury carmaker is further expanding tradition with its first pick-up truck. The latest version of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class concept will be presented at the Geneva International Motor Show. It will be available later this year in selected global markets. One caveat: The new luxury midsize truck won’t be available in the United States — at least for now. Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has announced the X-Class will debut in “key markets” — Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and some European countries. A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said the pickup “will close one the last gaps in our portfolio. The X-Class will set new standards in

Read more

2017 Chrysler Pacifica: New strong rival in minivan niche

Pacifica isn’t a new automotive nameplate. Chrysler first used it on a concept vehicle 1999. The Chrysler SUV/wagon discontinued in 2008 after four years of production was also called the Pacifica. But the name has returned again with the debut of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan. It’s the replacement for the royal-sounding and now-defunct Town & Country. Key Takeaways Replaces the Town & Country with a genuine Odyssey rival: Chrysler’s revived Pacifica nameplate enters the minivan segment as a credible challenger to the long-dominant Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. 287-hp V6 and 9-speed automatic: The 3.6-liter V6 produces 287 horsepower paired with a ZF 9-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. 0-60 in 7.4 seconds is competitive for the segment. Stow

Read more

2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid: Efficient, luxurious, priced right

One major consideration for car buyers considering a hybrid is the cost increase from the gas-only equivalent. Lincoln avoids the potential consternation. The 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is priced the same as its gas-only sibling. Lincoln for several years has been trying to regain its luster of yesteryear. The MKZ Hybrid was introduced in 2011 as part of the initiative. It’s the manufacturer’s first entry into alternative engines, and the price match is unique in the industry. The entire MKZ lineup this year received a refresh. The interior changes included and updated radio and climate controls and a simplified console. The exterior tweaking resulted in a new front grille, new headlights and a sleeker body. The MKZ Hybrid is powered

Read more

2017 Volkswagen Jetta: enduring sedan holds its own

Now in the seventh year of its sixth generation, the Volkswagen Jetta is approaching its 30th birthday as a little sedan that can. For 2017, the Jetta receives a few upgrades, most in improved technology. New are a rearview camera on all trim levels and driver assistance features on lower trims. There’s also an updated infotainment system with a USB connection to replace the former cable connection. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The Jetta hybrid and diesel have been discontinued for 2017, leaving four trims — S, SE, SEL and GLI. The SEL trim, my weekly driver, included many of the lengthy lists of the standard features on the lower trims and added or upgraded many areas. A 1.8-liter turbocharged,

Read more
Previous Next