2014

REVIEW: 2014 Kia Soul has more soul than predecessor

As Detroit automakers once said about their cars, the 2014 Kia Soul is “longer, lower and wider” than its predecessor, which arrived a few years ago as one of the first funky, boxy, compact crossover vehicles. The Soul has prospered, while its rival boxy Honda Element is gone. And the Soul far outsells the boxy Scion xB, which reportedly will be dropped. In fact, things are looking up for the new, second-generation Soul. It has a longer 101.2-inch wheelbase (up 0.8 inches), a width broadened by 0.6 inches to 70.9 inches and a reduced overall height of 63 inches—decreased by nearly half an inch. The result? More passenger and cargo room in the quieter, higher-line interior and a more attractive

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2014 Acura ILX: Unheralded luxury sedan shines

Now in its second year, the 2014 Acura ILX is the manufacturer’s smallest and least expensive, entry-level sedan. It’s only been available in the United States since May 2012. Available in four gas-only trims, the 2014 Acura ILX is versatile for its class. The choices: 2.0 liter, 2.0 with Premium package, 2.0 with Technology package and 2.4 with Premium package. And there’s also the ILX Hybrid. As a debuting car in 2013, the Acura ILX for 2014 shouldn’t be expected to offer vast changes, but it has been upgraded. Leather seats and a rearview camera are now standard equipment and the audio system has also been improved. The Weekly Driver Test Drive My weekly driver was the top-line 2.4-liter with

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2014 Volkswagen Passat: Conservative, sturdy, versatile

The reasonably priced 2014 Volkswagen Passat is among the top German sedans. Successfully redesigned for 2012, the slow-selling Volkswagen Passat was “Americanized” to satisfy desires of motorists here without losing its “German car” appeal. The made-in-America Passat confronts mid-size sedans, such as the Chevrolet Malibu, increasingly popular Ford Fusion, highly popular Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata and established Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Some rivals have adventuresome styling, while the Passat has a handsome but mostly conservative design—inside and out—that is typical of Volkswagens. But the 3,230-3,481-pound Passat has the sturdy feel one expects from a German auto. The front-drive Passat has a variety of prices and models and costs from $20,845 to $33,895. Passat engines include a new 1.8-liter turbocharged,

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2014 Honda Odyssey: Most versatile car made?

The 2014 Honda Odyssey marks a coming of age for the top-selling minivan. It’s 21 years old now, but it’s been mature for many years. The new Odyssey is in the fourth year of its fourth generation from a design that debuted at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. The 2014 Honda Odyssey features a 24-valve, 248-horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. It has 0-60 mph acceleration in 7.9 seconds and comfortable seating in three rows and for seven or maybe eight adults. The interior and exterior designs are sleek, modern and ultimately non-minivan. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite, I test drove the Touring Elite — the most

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REVIEW: 2014 Toyota Highlander gets makeover

Soon to debut in its third generation, the 2014 Toyota Highlander will be available in more trim options and with more features than previously offered. It’s the manufacturer’s acknowledgment of the ever-increasing popularity of sport utility vehicles. Available in four grades — LE, LE Plus, XLE and Limited — the 2014 Toyota Highlander lineup begins at $29,215, 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, also available with a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine. The gas-electric Toyota Highlander Hybrid limited, which debuted at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, will range from $47,300 ($930 more than the 2013 edition), and the Platinum model from

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata: Sporty, affordable

The Mazda MX-5 Miata debuted in 1989 as a 1990 model at the Chicago Auto Show — and at an ideal time. Roadsters we’re particularly en vogue at the time. But Mazda nevertheless introduced the little beast as an affordable two-seat convertible sports car. The rest is automotive history. The Mazda MX-5 or as it’s called only in the North America, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, is the best-selling car of its class globally. More than 900,000 have sold since the most recent international tally at the end of 2011. The name Miata derives from the German word for “reward.” And thus the car’s name also serves as an homage to roadsters of yesteryear like the Triumph Spirtfire, MG MGB, Fiat

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2014 Chrysler Town & Country: Upscale minivan

Have big old plush station wagons come back in a different form? The 2014 Chrysler Town & Country is reminiscent of  large old upscale station wagons—those with loads of room and decent road manners. After all, this minivan is heavy and big like those old wagons, with a 121.2-inch wheelbase and length of 202.8 inches. The front-drive Town & Country is an uptown version of the lower-cost Dodge Grand Caravan, which lacks the Chrysler version’s upscale nature. Heck, anybody can get a Dodge, but a Chrysler is still a Chrysler—although Chrysler lacks the prestige it began losing in the 1960s. The Town & Country debuted in 1989, billed as the “first luxury minivan.” (The first “upscale” minivan would have been

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer: Enduring Mediocrity

The 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer continues the enduring legacy of the compact sedan. It’s now 41 years old. The Lance is rarely mentioned first and often mentioned among the least favorite options for compacts in a car segment with more than 40 options, including perennial favorites like the Honda Civic, Ford Fiesta and Mazda3. But the Lancer has endured. During its first 35 years ending in 2008, more than six million Lancers were sold worldwide by nearly a dozen different names. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in five trims, including the top-line, performance-oriented Ralliart and Evo models, my test drive for the week was the GT edition. 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer. Images © James Raia/2013 The base model includes a good

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Kia Cadenza: A star is born

The Kia Cadenza, known as the K7 in its native South Korea where it debuted in 2009, was unveiled in the United States in early 2013 as a 2014 model. It replaced the short-lived, unheralded Kia Amanti as the carmaker’s flagship sedan. The 2014 Kia Cadenza joins the Hyundai Genesis and Hyundai Equus as the trio of South Korean luxury cars sold in the United States. Hyundai owns Kia, and the Cadenza shares a platform with the Hyundai Azera, although the Cadenza is sportier than its cousin. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The Weekly Driver picked the Kia Amanti as among its top-10 Cars of the Year in 2008. It wasn’t a popular choice, but I appreciated the car as

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Ford Fiesta: Racy fun

The sporty 2014 Ford Fiesta lets you bring the kids along. The fun-to-drive, European-styled, economical Fiesta has what many want from a subcompact four-door hatchback or sedan, although its rear seat is only comfortable for children. New for 2014 is an Aston Martin-inspired grille and new hood that fronts a slick body. (Ford once owned Aston Martin.) The Fiesta comes as a four-door hatchback or four-door sedan with a variety of engines—from a fuel-stingy new three-cylinder to a hot new turbocharged four-cylinder. The new Fiesta is offered as front-drive S, SE and Titanium models. You can get a four-door hatchback or sedan, but the new front-drive ST hot rod model comes only as a four-door hatchback. The sedan is 173.5

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2014 Toyota Highlander (with video)

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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Honda Accord 2014: Green Car of the Year at LA Auto Show

The 2014 Honda Accord was named the Green Car of the Year at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, getting top honors over the Audi A6 TDI, BMW 328d, Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla. The award was given to the Accord for all of its iterations, including the Accord, Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-In. According to the editors of the Green Car Journal, which has presented the award since 2005, the Honda Accord has evolved to meet the needs of an increasingly changing market that seeks ever-higher fuel efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and improved environmental impact. The 2014 Honda Accord brings notable efficiency with its conventional gasoline powerplants with Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-In hybrid choices that achieve up to

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Hyundai full-speed ahead with hydrogen Tucson in 2014

Hyundai will announce details Nov. 20 at the Los Angeles Auto Show that beginning in 2014 it will become the first manufacturer of a mass-produced car that will run on a hydrogen fuel cell. The vehicle will be the Tucson sport utility vehicle. Hydrogen-powered cars have been discussed in the automotive industry since the 1960s. General Motors and Honda both experimented with limited offering of hydrogen cars in the mid-2000s, respectively the Chevy Equinox and FCX Clarity. Hyundai will begin selling the hydrogen Tucson in Southern California and will further distribute the SUV as filling stations are constructed. According to an Associated Press report, the California Air Resources Board reports there currently are nine hydrogen filling stations open to the

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Honda Accord: 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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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric

Mercedes-Benz has waited a long time to enter the electric car business, but it will early next year with 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class. It’s all-electric hatchback with a 24-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack offering a driving range of up to 124 miles on a single charge. Mercedes reports the car will have an electric motor supplying 134-horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque. The new car can reach a top speed of 93 miles per hour and accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Mercedes-Benz unveiled B-Class electric vehicle at the 2013 New York Auto Show in March. The new B-Class will feature active parking assist and a radar-based collision prevention system. The B-Class Electric Drive will be the smallest

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