2014

2014 Jaguar XJL Supercharged: Fast, sexy, luxurious

Jaguars again are becoming one of the most desirable luxury/sports models in America. The supercharged 2014 Jaguar XJL continues the venerable automaker’s tradition of making fast, sexy and glamorous sedans. Never mind those old stories by no-nothings about Jaguars being unreliable because Ford Motor demolished the old Jaguar plant years ago after it bought the automaker and loaded Jaguars with reliability before selling it to its current owner, which is maintaining high reliability. Jaguar now has two state-of-the-art engineering and design facilities and three advanced manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom. Jaguar has an exciting racing history. Going back to the late 1940s, it has had sleek styling for all models, and the new XJ continues that tradition. But it’s

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2014 Porsche Panamera: Smooth, quick, luxurious

The 2014 Porsche Panamera 4S sedan seems perfect for those who want a Porsche sports car, but need more passenger and cargo room. I almost felt as if in a jet’s cockpit after settling into the Agate Grey leather beautifully finished interior of my test vehicles. It appropriately had Yachting Blue Metallic paint, which is a $790 option. The Panamera 4S I drove seemed to accelerate like a big jet, although Panamera models weigh 3,902-4,586 pounds. The aircraft look was largely provided by a no-nonsense dashboard and button-dominated center console. The buttons are well-labeled, and their functions are easy to quickly figure out. As a Porsche spokesman put it, “The buttons sure beat drilling down through menus that force a

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2014 Volkswagen Tiguan: A lot beyond the name

Eight years after its debut as a concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan retains the compact crossover vehicle’s unique status. It’s still largely unheralded, and it’s among the oddest named cars in the United States. The Volkswagen Tiguan concept debuted at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show to a fair amount of head scratching . . . “What’s a Tiguan?” The name (pronounced TEE-gwan) is a combination of the word Tiger and the German word “leguan”, which means “iguana.” The name is odd, for sure. But it won a naming contest in a German car magazine over more bizarre finalists: Namib, Rockton, Liger, Samun and Nanuk. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2014 Volkswagen

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2014 Ford Fiesta: Best car $17,500 can buy

Now in its sixth generation and two years away from its 40th birthday, the 2014 Ford Fiesta continues the subcompact car’s enduring legacy. The Fiesta is manufactured in a dozen countries and is third in sales for Ford, trailing the Escort and F-series trucks. The current generation Fiesta (Mark VI) was introduced worldwide in 2010, marking the car’s return to North America. More than 16 million Fiesta units have sold since its debut in 1976. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2014 Ford Fiesta is available as a four-door sedan and a four-door hatchback. Both are available in S, SE and Titanium trim levels. The high-performance ST model is available only as a hatchback. My weekly driver was the new

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2015 cars are here; best deals now on 2014 models

Models for 2015 cars and trucks in all shapes and sizes are steadily infiltrating the market. Which means it’s about the time when better prices may be available 2014 models. As edit and publisher of The Weekly Driver I’ve reviewed more than three-dozen 2014 models to date. And entry level sedans to luxury cars, sub-compacts to sport utility vehicles, the automotive industry has become increasingly competitive. So far this year, the Weekly Driver’s staff has contributed a few dozen other reviews and we’ve produced six independent videos. Videographer Bruce Aldrich, who edits and publishes, tahoetruckeeoutdoor.com, filmed and produced the videos. As the editor and publisher of theweeklydriver.com, I provided the narration for the videos. Contributing editor Dan Jedlicka, an auto

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2014 Scion tC: Aggressive, sporty, fun coupe

Scion is becoming more aggressive to attract a greater number of male buyers. The 2014 tC, an upscale front-drive hatchback sports coupe from Toyota’s youth-oriented brand, looks racier, is quick and handles better than previous models. The new Scion tC has a longer hood, new muscular-looking grille and LED accent lights, besides LED taillights that enhance the rear. Many tCs once were ordered with an automatic transmission by women. Not that Scion minded that much, but it wanted the car to have more masculine appeal and thus modified later models accordingly—without discouraging women buyers. The tC is reasonably priced at $19,210-$22,440 and is well-equipped, although some options that enhance its sportiness are costly. Standard items include a power tilt/slide panoramic

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2014 Volkswagen Passat: Unheralded, worthy sedan

The 2014 Volkswagen Passat is a family sedan that for years has fallen into an odd category. It doesn’t turn heads via an overtly handsome exterior. And neither are its performance nor interior styling spectacular. But for more than four decades the Volkswagen Passat has done a lot right and little wrong. That places the car in a category among few family sedans, particularly those in the high $20,000 to low $30,000 range. It’s hard to find anything wrong with the car. The sixth and current generation debuted in 2011 and was named the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year. The Passat has a unique position the auto industry. Despite its Tennessee assemblage, it’s the only European-engineered family sedan

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REVIEW: 2014 Honda Crosstour versatile, polarizing

Introduced in 2010 as the Accord Crosstour, Honda dropped Accord from the official name two years later. The 2014 Crosstour still shares its chassis and powertrain with the Accord. But five years into its first generation, it still has its own polarizing identity. Like its predecessors, the 2014 Honda Crosstour has been heavily maligned. Its critics don’t know how to categorize the car. It’s not a wagon, SUV or sedan. It’s category defying and some folks just aren’t comfortable with that. Honda defines the Crosstour as a 5-door hatchback. But its rear hatch design limits available cargo space and it doesn’t have the functionality of a full-blown wagon or more spacious crossover rivals. But so what? It’s a trendsetter in

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Eight diverse 2014 cars for less than $20,000

Consumer Reports has lots of car lists. A recent addition is the best new cars to buy with prices less than $20,000. The eight-vehicle list is varied . . . from an SUV to several sedans, and there are a few surprises. All cars on the list have manual transmissions. An automatic transmission in any of the vehicles would come with a high price. Here’s the list of eight 2014 cars all available for less than $20,000: Vehicle/MSRP/National Market Avg./Potential % Savings/Potential $ Savings Ford Mustang Coupe V6, $23,335, $19,635, 15.9%, $3,700 Jeep Compass Sport 4×2, $19,690, $16,949, 13.9%, $2,741 Fiat 500 Pop, $16,995 $14,990, 11.8%, $2,005 Hyundai Sonata GLS, $22,260, $19,712, 11.4%, $2,548 Dodge Dart GT, $21,990, $16,626, 10.8%,

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Best Family Cars for 2014: Mazda3 to Honda Odyssey

What are the best family cars? What defines family? And what are the needs of families, small and large? Edmunds.com and Parents magazine have combined for the past seven years to present their combined list. For 2014, their top-10 list, as usual, is divided into categories, family friendly subcompacts to large sport utility vehicles. Car experts from both organizations examined hundreds of vehicles and narrowed the selection to choices in each category to those vehicles with features that make daily family journeys easier. The criteria include: reliability, impressive mileage and ample cargo capacity. “Whether they’re taking a summer road trip or just making a grocery run, families expect a lot from their vehicles,” said Parents Editor-in-Chief Dana Points. “Safety is

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2014 Lexus CT 200h: Great economy, utility, refinement

If an average hybrid gas/electric auto seems worthwhile, you might want to try an upper-class one. The 2014 Lexus CT 200h gas/electric hybrid is the lowest list-priced Lexus. But it’s still a Lexus so don’t expect a cut-rate model. This refined compact front-drive hatchback sedan has typical Lexus amenities and delivers a noteworthy, estimated 43 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on highways. The CT 200h uses the same proven hybrid powertrain as the Toyota Prius. Unlike the Prius, it’s rather exclusive because it’s not sold in large numbers. Many Americans still keep their distance from hatchbacks and hybrids. The CT 200h’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder gas engine and 650-volt motor/generator provide a combined 134-horsepower output. Acceleration is brisk off

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2014 Cadillac CTS: Smooth, powerful, plush

Now a dozen years old, the Cadillac CTS is a midsize luxury car available as a coupe and sedan. For 2014 and its third generation, the Cadillac CTS (Catera Touring Sedan) has been re-designed inside and out. Throughout its tenure, the CTS has been named to many top yearly car lists, and the 2014 edition has been and will likely add more end-of-the year honors. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan is offered in six main trim levels: Standard, Luxury, Performance, Premium, Vsport and Vsport Premium. The trims are matched to a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 3.6-liter V6 and a turbocharged V6. There are also a2014 CTS coupe, wagon and CTS-V. They were not redesigned for

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2014 Toyota Highlander: Perfect family vehicle?

Revise an already good vehicle and you can end up with an appreciably better one. The revised, user-friendly 2014 Toyota Highlander is sleeker, roomier and even more user-friendly. For some, it might be the perfect family vehicle. The revised Toyota Highlander is slightly longer and wider than its predecessor. It also has a lower roofline, sculptured side-door panels, redesigned trapezoidal grille, wraparound headlights, deeply chiseled fenders and prominently protruding wheels for a more aggressive look. There’s also a new rear bumper for a “tougher” appearance. The first- and second-row seating areas are spacious. There’s also extra room in the third-row seating area. The Highlander is billed as an eight-passenger SUV with a second-row 60/40 split bench seat if you don’t

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2014 Nissan 370Z: Fast, fun, impractical

Now in its sixth year, the 2014 Nissan 370Z is the seventh generation of the Nissan Z-car line that dates to 1969. The 370Z succeeds the 350Z which succeeds five other generations — 240Z, 260Z, 280Z, 280ZX and the 300ZX. The original Z car had innovative good looks for its time, and it was powerful. It didn’t take long for the then Datsun 240Z to become a top seller. In 1972, more than 50,000 units sold in the United States. Fast-forward 45 years since the car’s debut, and the current Z car still has a reputation as a handsome, powerful sports car. The difference: there’s a lot more competition. The Weekly Driver Test Drive My weekly driver was the NISMO

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2014 Hyundai Equus: Luxury, value for comfy sedan

As the flagship model, the Hyundai Equus is the largest and most expensive vehicle in the Korean manufacturer’s lineup. It’s a full-size luxury sedan and it’s named after the Latin word for horse. Hyundai introduced a new version of the Equus on a rear-wheel drive platform in 2009. It’s the carmaker’s direct to aim to compete with the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8 and Lexus LS. The Weekly Driver’s Test Drive For 2014, the Hyundai Equus isn’t a new generation, but it has substantial revisions. Front and rear styling have been altered. And the instrument panel, control layout and various materials have all been updated. New safety features, include: BlueLink telematics, blind spot and rear cross-traffic alert systems

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2014 Volkswagen Jetta: New engine, better ride

The Volkswagen Jetta is an affordable German-engineered compact sedan, which might partially explain why it is VW’s most popular model here. Major improvements for 2014 include a new turbocharged and intercooled 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It has direct fuel injection and replaces a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine with the same horsepower. The new engine delivers better fuel economy than the five-cylinder: an estimated 26 miles per gallon in the city and 36 on highways with a five-speed manual transmission. A six-speed manual and efficient automatic transmissions also are available. Enabling the front-wheel-drive Jetta to be fun to drive are a new independent multi-link rear suspension and electro-mechanical steering, which replaces a hydraulic

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