Sedans

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Porsche, Honda, BMW, Chevrolet dominate Car and Driver's top-10 best car lists the past three years

* The car must be new or significantly redesigned from a previous year; * Its price can’t exceed more than 2.5-times the average price of a new in the year of the list ($71,000 for 2009); * If a car doesn’t make the list on its first year of eligibility, it must undergo a redesign for future eligibility; * Once a car makes the list, it’s on the list again the following year and can remain on the list indefinitely unless there’s a drastic reason why it should be removed — a major change in the vehicle or the spectacularly warranted debut of a new car on the list. There aren’t many changes year-to-year, but here’s the last three years

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Nissan Maxima, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

With an increase of 35 horsepower to 290 in its 3.5-liter V6, the new Maxima has a fine presence and further blurs the distinct line in what once were clear car segments. Paddle shifters to the sleek, shorter new body, it all adds to a new appeal for the more than 30-year-old model. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings (Rating low to high, 1 to 10 points) Acceleration (8) The increased horsepower makes a lot of difference. Quick, steady and powerful, the Maxima is impressive for quick bursts around town and it’s authoritative with power in reserve on the open road. Braking/Handling/Steering (7) Firm and tight in all areas. The engine has a noticeable growl at high speeds, but it’s not annoying.

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Volkswagen CC Sport, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

A guy in a back parking lot of a Chinese restaurant, speaking with a French accent, starred at the 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport and said: “I’ve never seen that car in the United States before. I’ve only seen it in Germany.” It wasn’t the first nor the last time someone asked about the new VW sedan. It’s the German manufacturer’s second attempt at a luxury sedan via a sleeker design of the Passat. This time, VW has been influenced by Mercedes and Audi and it’s offering a four-passenger luxury-style car that costs less than $30,000. It’s a much better approach than VW’s brief, unsuccessful experiment with the Phaeton. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (6) There’s a slight delay, but the

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Jaguar XF, 2009: Weidel on Wheels

Plenty of review vehicles don’t create a stir. But the 2009 Jaguar XF, which replaced the S-type, is a vehicle to cherish. The British automaker has also dumped the Jaguar X-type and is phasing it out gradually. As such, Jaguar intends to make the sleek XF part of a manufacturer’s new direction — a blend of tradition, technology and styling.Although not an astonishingly eye-appealing midsize luxury sedan like many Jaguars, the XF still turns heads with its stylish appeal. But it’s the superior technology features that makes this Jaguar appealing. Let’s begin with the start button. Keep the keys in your pocket or somewhere close by because there is no standard ignition. Push the red rotary button to start the

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Audi to Honda, BMW to Nissan: The Weekly Driver's Cars Of The Year, 2008

The biggest automotive news of 2008 remains the ongoing crisis among the “Big Three” manufacturers — General Motors, Chrysler and Ford. But beyond all the serious stuff, there was a lot of fun and intrigue for automotive enthusiasts in 2008. This year marked the sixth full year of The Weekly Driver reviews. I reviewed 32 new cars in 2008 — Audi to Volkswagen, BMW to Suzuki. I drove about two dozen other vehicles at car shows and manufacturers’ functions. A few dozen additional reviews from contributing writers also appeared on dev.theweeklydriver.com during 2008. My friend Bruce Aldrich and I also collaborated on about a dozen car videos in 2008. It was great fun, and I learned something. I said the

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Acura TSX, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

I drove the 2004 model and thought highly of it as a near-luxury car with superior handling. I recently drove the 2009 model for a week and felt the same way. It’s a sedan designated by the odd term “four-door coupe.” Redesigned for 2009, the TSX is Acura’s entry-level offering, and it shares its the basic design with the European-market Honda Accord. The new version is 1 inch long in the wheelbase, 2.5 inches longer overall and 3 inches wider than its predecessor, the only previous TSX version. The new version is 150 pounds heavier than its sibling. Handling is an Acura trademark, and the TSX does not disappoint. It grips the road and never lacks confidence, sudden weather changes

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Pontiac G8, 2009: Bill Belew's Car Buzz

Pontiac is supposed to be GM’s “fun” division, but it’s largely been GM’s contribution to rental-car fleets. The 2009 Pontiac G8 is the core of Pontiac’s effort to reassert Pontiac’s high-performance image. The Pontiac G8 is the mechanical twin of the Commodore in Australia, which has received high praise for providing affordable full-size functionality in a swift and agile package. The car looks muscular and purposeful from most angles. The new 2009 GXP model raises the performance bar with a 402-horsepower version of the Corvette’s 6.2-liter V8. The G8 is sharp inside, not plastic-looking like previous Pontiacs. But there are too many buttons; I stopped counting at 60. Just because I can do anything from the driver’s seat, doesn’t mean

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Car & Driver Magazine's Top-10 Cars For 2008

The magazine has just released its 2008 results,  and the list emphasizes an influx of sedans and sports cars in several price categories. As the magazine detailed, it judges cars as follows: “We judge each car in three general areas, the first being how well the vehicle performs its intended functions. We expect sports cars to be fast and exhilarating, whereas we presume a family sedan will be frugal and practical.” “Second, we show all preference for the more engaging cars in each category, be it athletic driving manners, a seductive look, or a powerful engine sure to induce a grin every time we climb behind the wheel. Finally, we are suckers for a good deal, so an inexpensive car

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Saturn Aura, 2009 review

I was impressed when I read the car’s fuel economy estimates. I thought American cars had given up on competing with foreign counterparts of the same class long ago. Not so. The car felt big, it drove quietly and I imagined a family of four riding in comfort for the 500-plus-mile range the manufacturer claims the Aura gets in highway driving. I read reviews that complained about the car’s impressive handling, but I didn’t notice anything remarkable. Several times friends commented on the exterior appearance with one asking, “Is that a Mercedes?” The back seat was more than accommodating to my eight-month-old child’s car seat and two in-laws. The trunk handled my golf clubs and a mini-SUV-sized baby stroller with

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Acura TL, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Like previous models, the current edition is all good with the vehicle’s largest engine to date and a good selection of other new additions. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (8) The front wheel and AWD models have plenty of power, both testing in the 0-60 mph standard in 6.0 seconds. The only transmission is a smooth and responsive five-speed automatic with two keen features — manual shiftgate and steering wheel paddle shifters. It all adds up nicely, particularly since there’s an expanded 3.5-liter, 24-valve, 280 horsepower engine. Braking/Steering/Handling (7) Smooth and steady on all accounts. Confident turning, strong and steady stopping and maneuvering through all traffic situations as if it’s in charge, which it is. Cargo Room (5) Interior areas,

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Acura TSX, 2009: Weidel on Wheels

And if I were shopping for a vehicle in this category, the Honda Accord would be a wiser selection. Redesigns always come highly touted by manufacturers, but the results can be less than impressive. That’s the case here, where Acura made few significant changes to the interior or exterior. No other alterations are memorable, either. That makes the TSX a tough sell compared to the formidable Audi A4, Volvo S40, Mercedes-Benz C300, Audi A4, BMW 328i and Lexus IS 250. This year’s TSX is slightly larger than its predecessor. It remains a peppy vehicle that won’t disappoint in performance, despite a horsepower reduction from 205 to 201 — a change rarely seen in “more power is better” conventional thinking. All

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Mazda 3S (Grand Touring), 2009: Belew’s Car Buzz

It’s handsome, nimble, has a good road feel and is peppy. My wife had a 2002 Honda Civic and now a Honda CR-V. My son has a 2005 Honda Civic. Next in our family, a Mazda 3 maybe? Only the price is holding me back. I read the current Mazda 3 is going to be replaced in 2010. But the adage, “If it ain’t broken, why fix it?” applies. The Grand Touring model has auto on/off xenon headlights, automatic rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, a six-way power driver seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a trip computer. And I figured out how to operate all of features without reading a 400-page manual. The Grand Touring model also has a

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Buick Lucerne CX, 2008: Belew's Car Buzz

“Though I hate to resort to such a hackneyed statement, the 2008 Buick Lucerne CXS isn’t my father’s Buick. I should know because I’m still driving my father’s hand-me-down Buick — a 1963 LeSabre. “In my father’s estimation, Buick represented affordable luxury and quality just one step below a Cadillac. The ’63 was just one of several he owned starting in the 60s. I was curious to see how a modern Buick compared both to the older ones and to the current high quality cars from Europe and Japan. I discovered the Lucerne embodied the best aspects of the Buick tradition in an up-to-date package. “Like Buicks of yore, the Lucerne is a big car with the usual pros and

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Dubious honors for old Honda Civics, Accords: Thieves' favorite cars

Beauty is in the eyes of thieves. That’s the ruth in terms of stolen cars since the most No. 1 hot-wired car in the United States is a 1995 Honda Civic. According to a new report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB, the Civic is followed by its older sibling, the 1991 Honda Accord in terms of susceptibility to thieves. According to the report, published in Forbes Magazine, “junkers” like older Honda Civics and Accord are more valuable to thieves because they can easily strip the cars and sell the parts on the street. According to the  NICB, a car is stolen in the United States every 2.5 seconds. Here’s the list of the top 10 most stolen cars

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Ford Taurus, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

Of course, the new name should be recognizable. The Taurus enjoyed an auspicious debut in 1985 as an innovatively designed sedan. It immediately attracted the car-buying public and by 1992 was the top-selling American car. But instead of improving the Taurus, Ford aggressively went after the truck segment. That was successful, but the Taurus died a slow death. It eventually left the Ford lineup and emerged in 2006 as the Five Hundred. The name might not represent the number of vehicles sold, yet the Five Hundred never caught on. When Roger Mulally became Ford’s CEO last September he wanted the recognizable Taurus name revitalized, hence the Taurus X unveiling and elimination of the Five Hundred. While the Freestyle was criticized

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