Automotive Reviews

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2014 Toyota Highlander Preview

Toyota has announced United States pricing for the third-generation 2014 Toyota Highlander, including the gas-electric hybrid version of the midsize SUV debuting at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. Available in four grades – LE, LE Plus, XLE and Limited – the 2014 Highlander starts from $29,215, which means a $195 increase over the model its replaces. All gasoline Highlanders will come equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, except for the LE grade which can also has a 2.7-liter four-cylinder unit. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the new Highlander LE will range from $29,215 for the LE FWD four-cylinder to $43,590 for the Limited AWD V6 with the Platinum package. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid limited will range from

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2013 Ford Fusion Review: Euro flair

The all-new Ford Fusion sedan with its sharp European styling and turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engines likely surprised foreign sedan rivals such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. The solid-feeling Fusion is essentially a four-door family sedan, but radiates European flair because it steers, handles and brakes much like a foreign (or American) sports sedan. And the ride is supple. If you want a family sedan with pizzazz, the turbocharged EcoBoost Fusion might be for you. The Fusion has been such a hit that it’s unchanged for 2014, except for several new color combinations and the addition of a 1.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine with (a projected) 178 horsepower—the same rating as the current 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder but with

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2014 Honda Accord Review: Still on top

It’s hard to image the Honda Accord when it debuted in 1976. It was a small two-door hatchback with little to show for itself. Fast-forward to 2014 and the Honda Accord is a stalwart, a well-equipped family sedan perennially among the country’s top-selling cars. After a redesign last year, the Honda Accord, now in its ninth generation, remains much the same as the 2013 model. But buyers now have additional choices. The Honda Accord hybrid has been re-introduced after a several-year absence. And a Honda Accord plug-in electric has been introduced in a limited edition. The additions of the new models add to the already vast offering of available Accords at price prices ranging from less than $23,000 to approaching

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2014 Cadillac CTS gets Car of the Year honors again

For the second time in six years, the Cadillac CTS has been named Car of the Year by Motor Trend, defeating seven other finalists in the 1.1 million circulation magazine’s strenuous testing procedures. In addition to the Cadillac CTS, finalists this year were: BMW 4 Series; Chevrolet Corvette; Jaguar F-Type; Kia Forte; Mazda 3; Mazda 6; and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Ed Loh, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said in a statement judges were impressed by the sedan’s “responsive powertrains, smooth ride and sporty handling.” The  second-generation CTS sedan also received the car award in 2008. The 2014 award was announced as then new Cadillac is about to debut at dealerships. To become one of seven finalists in this year’s competition, 22 all-new or

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2014 Dodge Durango Review: Roomy, sporty

The sporty, practical 2014 Dodge Durango is an SUV/crossover based on a stretched version of the unit-body platform of the award-winning Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is a really good start. The new Durango looks better with a different, rather sinister-looking front end and revised rear styling with Dodge’s race-style LED taillight design. It has a new responsive eight-speed automatic transmission with a segment-first rotary shifter and efficient paddle shifters for manual operation. The automatic replaces one offered with either five or six speeds. The updated interior has a new instrument panel. A third row 50/50 split seat that’s suitable for adults, at least on short trips, accompanies supportive front bucket seats and second-row seats, which fold and tumble for more

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Ferrari LaFerrari: Fastest Ferrari and it’s a hybrid

Unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, the LaFerrari is a limited production hybrid sports car built by Ferrari. The LaFerrari is the first hybrid from Ferrari, providing the highest power output of any Ferrari while decreasing fuel consumption by 40 percent. Only 499 units will be built and each will cost more than $1.6 million. LaFerrari’s mid rear mounted V12 Internal Combustion Engine has a 6.3 liter engine capable of 789 horsepower. But it’s supplemented by a 161 horsepower KERS unit (called HY-KERS). It provides short bursts of extra power. The new Ferrari also has a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission and is rear-wheel drive. Top speed is 220 mph and with 0-60 mph in just under three seconds.

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2014 Toyota Corolla Review: Sporty redesign shines

Even the most successful car in history has to eventually change with the times. Meet the 2014 Toyota Corolla. Just in time for the sale of the 40th million iconic compact sedan, the redesigned 11th generation has been unveiled. Available in L, LE, L Eco and S models (and a few variants), the 2014 Toyota Corolla joins the Avalon, Camry, 4Runner and Tundra with new designs for 2014. The new Corolla models continue the sedan’s enduring legacy while competitors like the Ford Focus, Kia Forte, Honda Civic and Mazda 3 continue to gain larger audiences. Like other editions of the Toyota Corolla through the years, the 2014 models maintain a constant theme — value. The MSRP ranges from $16,800 for

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2014 Nissan Versa Note Review: Roomy, good value

The Nissan Versa debuted in 2007 and it’s firmly in the mix with a good chunk of quality sub-compacts in a highly competitive segment. For 2014, the Nissan Versa Note is the hatchback version of the Versa sedan. The Weekly Driver Test Drive My weekly driver was the Nissan Versa Note’s top-line SV trim. It adds a lot to the base model and makes the entry-level machine an appreciably more attractive option in its segment. As examples, the SV trim adds keyless remote entry, power locks and windows, upgraded and more cloth upholstery, a six-way adjustable driver seat, a driver-side center armrest, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, silver/chrome interior and exterior accents and Bluetooth phone connectivity. My SV

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2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith Review: Powerful, fast, menacing ghost

The 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith, named after the Scottish word for Ghost, was unveiled in March at the Geneva Auto Show. It debuted at dealerships in the United States in October and further added to upscale wonderment of the prestigious brand. The Wraith, which continues the carmaker’s signature of naming cars after spirits (Ghost, Shadow and Phantom are other examples) is the most powerful and fastest Rolls Royce ever built. Its specs are impressive: 624 horsepower; 0-60 mph, 4.4 seconds; top speed, 155 mph. It’s a 6.6 liter, 48-valve, twin-turbocharged V12 with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s also a two-door, four-seat coupe and weighs 5,380 pounds. The name Wraith also has the connotation as a threatening ghost, the idea of which

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle Review

The Volkswagen Bug has endured many name and design changes since it debuted in the Unites States in 1949. With the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle R-Line, another chapter in the carmaker’s legacy as one of the top-10 best-selling cars in history has begun. The new limited edition is the most upscale and most powerful Beetle to date. The Beetle as a sports car isn’t quite accurate. But for 2014, the upscale trim features a larger turbo-charged engine, new front fascia, a metal dash plate and a host of R-Line, sporty badging throughout the car. The styling is not only more sporting, it’s more masculine than the 2013 Beetle Turbo. The squared-off steering wheel is leather wrapped and there are easy-to use

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BEST — — USED CARS: 2011 Honda CR-V

Now a teenager and offered in its third generation, the Honda CR-V remains one of the country’s most popular compact sport utility vehicles. It debuted in Japan in 1995, arrived as a Chicago Auto Show display in 2006 and debuted in United States dealerships in 2007. A decade later, the CR-V overtook its toughest competitors in sales, even the segment leader Ford Explorer. It became the country’s top-selling SUV with more than 219,000 sold units. The Ford Explorer had been top-ranked for 15 consecutive years. The CR-V hasn’t reached its 2007 sales total since, but it still remains a favorite with annual U.S. sales of around 200,000. (Editor’s note: TheWeeklyDriver.com is now 10 years old. We’re visiting our archives to

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2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Review: Less weight, more sport

The new Land Rover Range Rover Sport fits perfectly in the best country club parking lot, but is like a mountain goat when driven off road. For 2014, the Land Rover Range Rover has been redesigned to be the fastest, most agile ever. That’s largely because it’s shed a whopping 800 pounds. Most automakers strive to cut just a fraction of that weight loss for better performance and fuel economy. The Sport still is no lightweight at 4,727 to 5,093 pounds, and you can feel the weight when driving rapidly through tight curves or making quick moves. But it’s a lot more fun to drive than its predecessor. The old Sport’s body-on-frame construction is gone, replaced by an aluminum unibody

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Kaiser-Darrin: Odd, elegant sports car in demand

I’ve been fascinated by the Kaiser-Darrin for the past several years. It looks unlike any other sports car. Its prototype debuted in 1952 and it was available in dealerships two years later Built from fiberglass, the Kaiser-Darrin is both odd-looking and elegant. It has odd-shaped front grille, sliding doors and its was the second carmaker after Nash to have seat belts. The 1954 Kaiser-Darrin also had bucket seats, full sports-car instrumentation, a floor shifter and cost $3,668, slightly more than the newly arriving Corvette. The buying public was at first enamored by the Kaiser-Darrin. It had a standard three-speed manual overdrive transmission and got 30 mpg delivered 30 mpg. Even though the Kaiser-Darrin had a top speed of about 100

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2014 Ford Fiesta Review: Sub-compact star

Now 38 years old and a half-dozen generations into its tenure, the Ford Fiesta joins its siblings, the Ford Escort and F-Series trucks, to complete the trio of the manufacturer’s top-selling vehicles. Since its debut in 1976, more than 16 million Fiestas have sold for several simple reasons. As the third best-selling car in the Ford lineup, the little car provides solid transportation, strong gas mileage and dependability, and at an economical price. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in four trim levels and as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback, the Ford Fiesta is a surprisingly peppy sub-compact. My test vehicle for the week was the four-door SE sedan. It was equipped with a 1.6-liter, 120 horsepower four-cylinder engine.

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2014 Buick LaCrosse Review: Big sedan shines

Now in its 10th model year and fifth year of its second generation, the Buick Lacrosse is a large four-door luxury sedan. Like many of its competitors, the refreshed 2014 Buick LaCrosse provides a comfortable, smooth, spacious ride. Never a high volume seller (the best-selling year was 92,00 units in 2005), the LaCrosse nonetheless shouldn’t be overlooked. The dilemma for Buick is that the large sedan segment is ripe with fine choices. The new Kia Cadenza, the re-designed Chevrolet Impala and stalwarts like the Chrysler 300, Toyota Avalon and Lexus ES350 all have substantial new or sustained followings. With the 2014 Buick LaCrosse, the competition in theory should increase. Its refreshed edition includes adaptive cruise control, lane change alerts, rear

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2014 Fiat 500L Review: Defines sporty versatility

Three years after Fiat re-introduced its vehicles to the United States via the 500 compact, it’s now unveiled the 2014 Fiat 500L for Lounge and for large.  It’s a five-door compact hatchback wagon with a lot of character, innovation and a unique design. Fiat isn’t the first manufacturer to experiment with car conformity. Nissan has the Cube. Kia has the Soul. Scion has the xB. And even MINI has strayed from tradition in recent years with the Countryman, its compact wagon. The Fiat 500L is more than two feet longer than its more well known sibling. It’s equipped with a 1.4-liter, 160-horsepower turbo-charged, four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Fiat 500L is also among an increasing number of

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