Automotive Reviews

2013 Smart Fortwo: Electric, eclectic, fun

Introduced 15 years ago at the Paris Motor Show, the Smart Fortwo, named after its two-seat capacity, is now in its third generation as the smallest full production car available in the United States. The third generation of all electric model was also recently unveiled, and The Weekly Driver drove and filmed the new car at a press launch in San Francisco. Priced respectively at $25,000 (coupe) and $28,000 (cabriolet), the manufacturer is marketing the car as the most affordable full production electric vehicle in the United States. Customers may also be eligible for federal tax credits (totaling as much as $7,500) as well as state and/or local tax credits. During the presentation (and subsequent driving opportunity) of the new

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2013 Nissan Juke Nismo: Wacky look, keen power

The Nissan Juke is an odd name, but the Juke Nismo sounds even more offbeat. That is, unless you know “Nismo” is derived from “NISsan MOtorsports, which is the name of Nissan’s motorsports division. The compact four-door, five-passenger Juke hatchback differs from the fun-loving regular Juke in that it has a race-inspired exterior, specially tuned suspension, steering and transmission. It also has more power from its small, sophisticated turbocharged and intercooled 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which has goodies: direct injection, dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The Juke Nismo is rated at 197 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, versus the standard Juke’s 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Juke Nismo comes with front-wheel drive and a

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2014 Chevrolet Impala (video): Sedan icon honored

What a difference a model year makes. Chastised as not worthy of a rental agency upgrade in 2013, the 10th generation 2014 Chevrolet Impala has been universally praised. In late July, the new Impala made national headlines when it was named Sedan of the Year by Consumer Reports. It was the first time in 20 years an American car received the honor from the national magazine. Dominated by models from Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and the German cars, editors of the publication rated the Impala at 95 out of 100. The magazine called the iconic Chevy “excellent.” With its 10th edition, the Chevy Impala, introduced in 1958, has a starting MSRP of  $26,725, nearly exactly 10 times more than its original

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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (Sport): New design, quiet ride

The Weekly Driver recently had an opportunity for an extended review, a nearly 2,000-mile, two-week trek in the newly designed, six-passenger 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (Limited). This week, it’s back to standard procedure. My weekly driver was the 2013 Santa Fe Sport edition. It’s the smaller (in several ways) five-passenger edition in Hyundai‘s restyled Santa Fe lineup. The larger Santa Fe replaced the poor-selling Veracruz. In addition to one less passenger and a smaller engine, the Sport is eight inches shorter than the Limited. But there are also interior and exterior similarities among the siblings, with the SUVs both offering a smooth ride. Hyundai’s new design is featured throughout its SUV lineup, and it attracts a lot of attention. The

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Chevrolet Impala: History of an icon, 1958-2014

The Chevrolet Impala was introduced as a 1958 model and was built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. Fifty-five years later, the Impala has advanced to its 10th generation with the introduction of re-designed  2014 edition. It was recently honored by Consumer Reports as sedan of the year. Available in three trims as a coupe and convertible, the original Chevy Impala ranged in price from $2,586 to $2,724. The starting price for the 2014 model is just under $27,000. Named after the southern African antelope, the Impala became the best-selling automobile in the United States in 1965. Vying against the Ford Galaxie 500 and Plymouth Fury, about 1 million Impala units sold. (Double click on thumbnails to view full-sized

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2013 Toyota Highlander: Polished, roomy crossover

To the surprise of many, American station wagons from the 1950s and 1960s are becoming very desirable. One can only guess if the 2013 Toyota Highlander crossover will eventually become a collector’s item. The 2013 Highlander I tested had the smoothness of one of those old, big domestic V-8 wagons—along with lots of room. Although it’s from Japan’s Toyota, this second-generation Highlander has American flavor because it was designed at Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, Calif., and is assembled at Toyota’s Motor Manufacturing facility in Princeton, Indiana—part of America’s heartland. The Highlander won’t win beauty contests, but has clean, sculpted lines and a wide stance. However, the optional $649 running boards are recommended to ease getting in and out,

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Chevrolet Impala, 2014: The legendary sedan returns

What does a manufacturer do with a middle-aged car that was once the best-selling car in the country but has fallen on lean times in recent years? In the instance of the Chevrolet Impala, introduced in 1958, the car could simply fade away. Or, the carmaker could continue to honor the badge. That’s what General Motors did with the 10th generation 2014 Impala. The iconic Chevy will likely not return to its heydays, like in 1965 when more than 1 million Impalas sold in the U.S. But the 2014 model has a tremendous amount to offer. General Motors describes the car as “the reestablishment of a popular, enduring and iconic nameplate with a new outlook on style, comfort, efficiency and

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2013 BMW 750Li: Superior luxury, hefty price (video)

The 2013 BMW 750Li, my weekly driver, showcased BMW’s power, as in a 4.4-liter, 32-valve V8 with 445 horsepower and five-second, 0-60 mph prowess. The 7-Series is the BMW flagship, of course and it deserves the status. It’s a beast of a seat, a 4,600-pound cruiser best suited for long, open-road hauls. But the long (201 inches) sedan is also a standard bearer of engineering, technology and for audio enthusiasts, an over-the-top whirlwind of sound. There’s a lot to lot about the new BMW. It short, it’s opulent. And it’s got a hefty price to go along with all of the fine mechanics and superior workmanship. Videographer Bruce Aldrich, editor/publisher of www.tahoetruckoutdoor.com, and The Weekly Driver, review the top-line BMW

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2014 Nissan Versa Note: New stylish, fuel-stingy hatchback

Nissan may grab more buyers with its redone, unusually named 2014 Versa Note hatchback economy model, judging by my test of a prototype model. For one thing, the front-drive Note looks sleeker. That’s important because nobody wants to look like they’re in an econobox. It has a steeply sloped front windshield and deeply sculpted doors. A large front spoiler combined with a “kick–up” roof shape and low aero-drag floor structure directs air under and around the body for better aerodynamics. &JSCODE% However, some shorter folks may object to the high beltline (where side windows meet the doors). The new Note has a rather long (for its class) 102.4-inch wheelbase. Although roomier than the previous Versa hatchback, it has six-inch shorter

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Top-10 cheapest cars in the United States, all less than $16,000

Since the average price of a new car in the United States is just under $30,000, what can a consumer except to purchase with a budget of $15,000 or $20,000? Some might say what’s a good cheap car? Others might look at it as buying a good car at a good price. Turns out, for whatever reason, the options are plentiful. Seven U.S. and international manufacturers combined offer 10 cars all with a base price of less than $16,000. Based on the average transaction price, including the MSPR, taxes, license, factory rebates and dealer discounts, 10 U.S. and international manufacturers combined to offer 10 cars priced at less than $18,000. The cheapest car available nationwide is the Nissan Versa with

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Jerry Seinfeld, Seth Meyers get coffee in the perfect car, really?

Jerry Seinfeld’s latest comedic innovation, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, will conclude its second season with Chris Rock as the guest of eighth episode finale. Like Seinfeld’s television show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is based on the complexities and yet simple ways of natural comedy. It’s about cars and coffee, but not really. The Internet-only series premiered July 19, 2012 on digital network Crackle. In each episode, Seinfeld introduces a classic car. He calls a comedian and drives the car to pick up the guest. The duo then drives to a restaurant and has coffee (and sometimes lunch). There are deviations from the norm (as one would expect) like the poignancy of last season’s episode when comedian Michael Richards

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2013 Hyundai Genesis: World-class, less pricey luxury sedan

The South Korean 2013 Hyundai Genesis sedan shows it’s pretty hard, if not impossible, to come up with a one-to-one rival from such automakers as Mercedes, BMW or Infiniti. Especially when the Genesis costs appreciably less. But never mind. For a lower price, the rear-wheel-drive Genesis is a world-class luxury car from an automaker that built marginal cars in its bad old days. The Genesis possesses the high-class trappings of autos that cost considerably more. This rear-wheel-drive sedan comes as the base $34,200 3.8 model or the $46,800 5.0 R-Spec version. It has a 3.8-liter, 333-horsepower V-6 or 5-liter, 429-horsepower V-8. Both can run on regular-grade or premium gasoline. The 2013 Genesis has simplified model offerings and a new “ultimate

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Mitsubishi i-MIEV: Not-so-electric car best run with cold pizza

The Mitsubishi i-MIEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) arrived in the United States around the same time as the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. The latter two were marketed with huge television campaigns and touted by celebrity spokesmen. The Mitsubishi debuted as if the carmaker for some reason didn’t want anyone to know about it. Nonetheless, it immediately generated curiosity. The i-MIEV exterior design is futuristic and it attracts on-lookers. Its entry-level price (about $22,000) is the lowest among major carmakers offering electric vehicles. And for anyone with even a passing interest in alternative vehicles, there’s the obvious: Just how does the odd little machine actually work? As I found out recently during a full night’s trip from the San Francisco

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BMW 135is, 2013: Rocket-fast coupe offers classic ride, high price

The 2013 BMW 135is is everything right with an upscale small car. It’s powerful, classically designed, keenly appointed and it drives with a healthy dose of attitude. The little BMW series is all about performance, and it’s in your face about it. Among several options are two turbocharged engines that produce 300 and 320 horsepower, respectively, both with six-cylinder engines and six-speed manual transmissions standard. The top-line 135is coupe, with the 320 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission, was my weekly driver. I avoided getting in trouble. What’s not to like? Like other BMWs, the 135is is ideal for the open road and it’s race-car fast, with 0-60 mph performance in about five seconds. While not quite warp speed, the

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Kia Sorento, 2014: Crossover SUV adds style, power, now bigger contender

The Kia Sorento crossover SUV has been sold for years, and continual improvements have kept it a contender. The improved 2014 Sorento shows Kia can keep this carlike vehicle very competitive. Formidable rivals include the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Dodge Durango and Toyota Highlander. Styling counts for a lot these days, and the 2014 Sorento looks sharper than its predecessors. It has redesigned front and rear fascias to enhance its presence with a lower, broader look up front and a visually wider rear stance. Projector style headlights peer from behind tapered clear lenses. The Sorento rolls on redesigned 17-, 18- or new 19-inch wheels. Prices range from $24,100 for the base front-drive, four-cylinder LX Sorento and go to

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2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata: World’s top-selling, two-seat roadster

The Mazda MX-5 Miata was a sensation when it arrived as a 1990 model. It was an alluring, reliable copy for only $13,800 of the unreliable-but-respected 1960s-70s Lotus Elan costly low-volume sports car. The 2013 MX-5 Miata, which I tested in new “Club” trim, hasn’t lost the original’s charm. The first Miata quickly won over male auto buffs and replaced the Volkswagen convertible as the most desirable car among female high school and college students. And never mind that this two-seater lacked the Volkswagen’s back seat. The Miata is still very much with us, and is the record-holding top-selling two-seat roadster, with more than 900,000 produced. That means many have had two or three owners by now. Mechanical upgrades have

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