Sedans

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Chrysler 200, 2012: Quiet, comfortable cruiser built for moderate speed

Chrysler significantly redid its aged Sebring model for 2011 and renamed it the “200.” The 2012 version with the optional hardtop and strong V-6 make it a pleasant cruising convertible, and it’s virtually unchanged for 2013. The front-drive, two-door Chrysler 200 convertible with its cloth power top starts at $26,995, but you get far more than open-air driving with it. Standard items include a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the dated entry level 200’s four-speed automatic, power driver seat, climate and cruise controls, adjustable wheel with audio controls, keyless entry and power windows and mirrors. The 200 convertible is offered with a marginal 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower four-cylinder or a smooth 3.6-liter, 283-horsepower V-6, which provides fast merging and passing. The four-cylinder

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Acura ILX, 2013: Luxury, performance, strong value for new sedan

A new model for Honda’s upscale brand, the 2013 Acura ILX is the carmaker’s smallest offering as an entry level luxury vehicle. It’s only been available in the United States since May, 2012. Six models are offered: a base five-speed automatic, five-speed auto with premium package, five-speed auto with technology package, six-speed manual with premium package, a base hybrid and a hybrid with a technology package. The hybrid models are Acura‘s first and feature a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with a gas/electric powertrain. The 2013 ILX in one respect made an inauspicious debut: Combined with its distant 2012 Honda CR-V sibling, the manufacturer recalled 172,000 units because of faulty door latches. The Weekly Driver Test Drive As a luxury sedan priced at

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Subaru Legacy, 2013: Overlooked sedan offers good value, great safety

Many mid-size sedan buyers act like lemmings, continually buying the same make of vehicle year after year. Otherwise, a lot more Subaru Legacy mid-size sedans would be bought. Rivals to the Legacy — essentially an overlooked gem — include the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Most receive far more advertising and have a considerably larger owner body. Not that Subaru hasn’t been around for decades. It began to get its feet as a small, cramped front-wheel drive model that nevertheless was rugged. It became a favorite for rough New England winters, and for years was known as a “New England” or “Northeast” car. Few Americans knew it scored well in tough European rallies. Subaru began switching from inexpensive  economy cars

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Kia Optima Hybrid, 2012: Mixes racy style with economy, comfort

The 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid gas-electric sedan offers a good combination of comfort, practicality, style, performance and high fuel economy. The mid-size Optima Hybrid is rather large, as are many current mid-size sedans, and its racy-looking body has a roomy interior. However, the coupe-like styling results in narrow rear door openings and poor visibility through the rear window. (The optional rear camera display thus is a good idea.) The small rear “lip” spoiler is so nicely integrated into the styling that you have to look twice to notice it. But too bad the gas/electric hybrid system prevents use of dual exhausts with shiny outlet tips—always a nice touch for a racy-looking car. Although the trunk is generally large, with a

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Hyundai Sonata, 2012 2.0T: Spacious, better gas mileage for stylish sedan

Now in the second year of its sixth generation, the Hyundai Sonata is a midsize family sedan. It has steadily advanced in its highly competitive segment and is no longer a fringe alternative to the automotive mainstream represented by the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. With its redesign in 2011, the Sonata had its most successful year (225,961 units sold). It was the first time a Hyundai model sold more than 200,000 units in a year, and the stellar year vaulted the Sonata into 11th on the season-end, best-selling list where Honda, Ford, Nissan and Toyota all had sedan entries. The 2012 Hyundai Sonata, therefore, largely remains the same as last year (why tinker with success?) with only a few

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Hyundai Sonata 2012: Value-priced, performance-oriented family sedan

The mid-size Hyundai Sonata is the automaker’s top-selling car with swoopy styling, a roomy interior and muscular performance from the turbocharged version. The front-drive Sonata sedan is sold with either a 198-horsepower (200 with dual exhausts) 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine or a 274-horsepower turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder in the 2.0T. A 206-horsepower gas-electric hybrid version also is offered. The 2011 Sonata set the large, generally conservative and cut-throat mid-size car segment on its head with new, head-turning styling, roominess, good fuel economy and upscale nature. Not to mention Hyundai’s 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Turbocharged Family Car Keeping everything up to date, power was transmitted through a new six-speed automatic transmission replacing a five-speed automatic. A six-speed manual was—and is—still offered, but only

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Honda Civic Sedan, 2012: Economic, reliable, enhanced elegance

By Mary Ellen Ash Honda’s flagship Civic has been hugely popular since its debut in the early 1970s. For years, it’s been the benchmark for compact car manufacturers and its name is synonymous with long-term reliability, low running costs and high economy. For 2012, Honda introduces the redesigned ninth generation Civic which continues to refine the winning combination of reliability, economy and value. Interior/Exterior Styling Our test vehicle was 2012 Civic EX-L with a Taffeta White exterior. It's stunning and sharp at first glance. The newest Civic bodywork has sweeping, angular lines with increased aerodynamics giving the care an air  elegance and luxury. This theme is also visible with flowing interior paneling and dashboard layouts. The dash materials are textured,

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Hyundai Azera, 2012: Redesigned sedan enchances carmaker's stellar lineup

The old Hyundai Azera sedan was solid, although bland. But with swoopy new styling, more power and lots of features, the redone 2012 model that arrived this spring makes the car stand out. The new front-wheel-drive Azera comes in only one spacious trim level and slots between Hyundai’s Sonata and Genesis models. It looks more expensive, inside and out, than its $32,000 list price might suggest. Its nicely shaped and bumper-integrated tailpipes look as if they came from a top custom-car operation. The only option is a $4,000 package that contains such items as wider tires on 19-inch (vs. 18-inch) wheels, ventilated front seats and a huge panoramic sunroof with a power sunshade. The Azera’s long list of standard items

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Suzuki Kizashi, 2012: Worthy midsize sedan has a name but no identity

Now in its third model year, the Suzuki Kizashi is the Japanese manufacturer's most expensive vehicle. The midsize sedan has only a few minor changes in 2012 from last year's offering, with the uniquely named car still hoping to find a larger niche in the near-luxury category. Kizashi (pronounced KEY-ZAH-SHEE) means “something great is coming.” Suzuki promoted the Kizashi with industry buzz in mind. And it attracted attention for a while when the car debuted in 2009 as a less expensive alternative to an Audi 4. But the Kizashi is still largely unheralded and under publicized. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The Kizashi may not be the great car Suzuki is seeking, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. In fact, it's

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Baboons frolic in Hyundai Elantra just for the fun of it

Baboons likely don't know one car from another, but a dozen of the monkey seemed to have a good time recently when turned loose to frolic in a Hyundai i30 park in Britian's Knowsley Safari park. Hyundai used the keen marketing approach to test the durability of the car known as the Hyundai Elantra wagon. The baboons acted liked . . . baboons. "At Hyundai, we believe in thinking differently, so we decided to give a new approach to this test of durability," said Felicity Wood, product manager at Hyundai i30. Many of the monkeys chose to play in the trunk, and most of them dirtied the interior and scratched exterior paint. "The fact that the car survived with only

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Kia Rio, 2012: Sleek, improved mpg, efficient sedan/hatchback

The 2011 Kia Rio looked plain, but was fairly lively, economical and backed with a long warranty. You either bought it — or maybe a used car. The redone 2012 model has slicker, European-inspired styling, more power, a better automatic transmission and improved fuel economy — besides keeping Kia’s 10-year/100,00-mile powertrain warranty. The front-wheel-drive Rio comes in base LX, mid-range EX and top-line SX trim. It’s sold as a sedan or hatchback. List prices range from $13,400 to $17.700, excluding a $750 destination charge. Standard for the LX are air conditioning, AM/FM stereo, CD Player, satellite radio, adjustable steering wheel with audio controls and large power mirrors. A six-speed manual transmission is standard in the LX sedan and hatchback, but

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Kia Optima, 2012: upscale look, good performance, tough competition

While gaining ground, Kia still lacks the appeal of more established brands. But cars such as the mid-size Kia Optima are throwing a big spotlight on it. The Optima is a corporate cousin of the above-average Hyundai Sonata. This Kia looks much like a slick European four-door sports sedan, and its attractive, roomy interior doesn’t disappoint. However, a driver should keep in mind the car has a very low front end for superior aerodynamics and a racier appearance. The front-wheel-drive Optima comes in LX, EX, EX Hybrid and SX turbo trim levels. The regular LX and EX have a 2.4-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder that provides decent performance. The hot number is the 274-horsepower turbocharged 2-liter direct-injection SX, which I tested. It

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Dodge Dart, 2013: Pricing announced for return of iconic sedan

The 2013 Dodge Dart, which will be available in five trims when it debuts in the summer of 2012, will be priced from $15,995 to $22,495, according to Chrysler. The entry level price for the Dodge is lower than some of its main competition in the compact market, which accounts for about 15 percent of new car sales. “The all-new Dodge Dart is a groundbreaking car, offering features and benefits never before found in a compact car,” said Reid Bigland, Dodge President and CEO. With class-leading style, customization, safety, technology, and interior levels of roominess, the all-new Dart perfectly blends Alfa Romeo DNA and Dodge passion and style into one all-new car that customers will be proud to own and

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Toyota Yaris, 2012: Better looks, but still basic, no-frills machine

The redesigned 2012 Toyota Yaris looks better, inside and out, and is more refined. But it still is just basic, no-frills transportation. The subcompact Yaris was introduced for 2007, when gas prices were rising. That helped give it a good start. But that was five model years ago, an eternity in the increasingly competitive small economy car market. This second-generation Yaris is longer and lower, with a stretched wheelbase. But it continues with a small 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine weak on highways, where it must work hard for even mediocre 65-75 mph passing maneuvers. The four-speed automatic transmission, although responsive, is several speeds short of being modern. The car should have a six-speed automatic. As for the standard five-speed manual transmission,

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Mitsubishi Lancer, 2012: Unheralded entry level sedan offers good value

Mitsubishi is at a disadvantage against better-known competitors such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic because it lacks their volume and promotional firepower. Because of that you might find Mitsubishi dealers more willing to deal than those selling rival cars. The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer has lots to offer. For one thing, it’s sleeker than some popular rivals. Most Lancers have front-wheel drive, but a race-proven all-wheel-drive system, called “All-Wheel Control,” is offered for some models. The wide variety of models have list prices ranging from $15.695 to $37,695, although most have prices that don’t top $21,000. Prices and models go from the base $15,695 DE front-drive sedan with a 2-liter, 148-horsepower four-cylinder that’s noisy when pushed to the ferocious

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Chevrolet Impala, 2014: Three trims, new interior for iconic sedan (video)

The redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Impala, which will debut at dealers in early 2013, will feature a more-refined interior, easy-to-use technology and an anticipated exhilarating driving experience. As the best-selling full-sized sedan in the United States in 2011 with sales of more than 171,000, the Impala joined siblings Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Cruze among the country's 10 best-selling vehicle. Highlights of 2014 Chevy Impala: sculpted body sides, standard 18-inch wheels and projector-beam headlamps, with HID headlamps and LED daytime running lamps standard on LTZ models. Three direct-injected engines, including a 3.6L V-6, new 2.5L four-cylinder and a 2.4L four-cylinder with eAssist, will be available. Safety features with 10 standard air bags, OnStar, full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, forward collision

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