2017

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: Top rival for Honda, Toyota

As the smaller of the two Hyundai Santa Fe offerings, the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is the five-passenger version of the Santa Fe that several years ago replaced the now-defunct Veracruz. The Santa Fe Sport is classified as a small crossover sport utility vehicle, but each year since its debut it seems to get bigger and worthy of a medium-sized designation. Although not a new generation, the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport has refreshed styling inside and outside as well numerous updates: a height adjustment for the power passenger seat, a larger five-inch standard display and an available seven-inch touchscreen with Android Auto. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Offered in base, 2.0T and 2.0T Ultimate trims, my test vehicle

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Jaguar enticing younger buyers with 2017 F-Pace SUV

The automotive industry’s sport utility vehicle segment continues to contradict the move toward more efficient vehicles, particularly with new legislation on the horizon requiring better gas mileage. Jaguar has never manufactured a compact SUV, but it’s now joining the movement as more buyers are opting for the versatility of the style. Like other high-end manufacturers, Jaguar, and its new F-Pace are now part of a recent sub-set, which not too many years ago, was an automotive oxymoron — luxury SUV. The F-Pace, combined with its second updated vehicle, the Jaguar XE, defines the British carmaker’s objective toward a younger audience. In its marketing and promotion of the two new vehicles, including a recent presentation at Mather Aviation in Mather, Ca.,

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2017 Kia Sportage: New SUV design stuns, shines

After years of acceptance as an unheralded compact sport utility vehicle against the monoliths in the segment, the 2017 Kia Sportage has emerged as a worthy competitor. It’s been boldly redesigned inside and outside for the debut of its fourth generation. The Weekly Driver Test Drive In addition to a new exterior design Kia says was inspired by modern fighter jets (Doesn’t Saab say the same thing?), the 2017 Kia Sportage is offered in new trims. My test vehicle was SX Turbo model with front-wheel drive. Like the base model LX and EX modeles, the SX model has a long list of standard features: Bluetooth hands-free phone and streaming audio, while the EX model brings leather upholstery, Apple CarPlay and

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Tesla announces Model 3 for 2017 with $35,000 price

Tesla may be the safest car ever tested. And company Elon Musk may have shaken up the car industry. But since its debut, Tesla’s inability to make an environmental difference with its high-performance electric car has been thwarted by one large problem. The Tesla and its six-figure price made the car unaffordable to most buyers. Now, it may all change with the announcement of the new Tesla Model 3, the manufacturer’s third platform. The base price for the Model 3 is anticipated at $35,000. The price does not include a $7,500 to $13,000 governmental rebate depending upon the state in which the car is purchased. According to Tesla, the unveiling of the Model 3 will take place in March, and

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PREVIEW: 2017 Hyundai Elantra defines when more is less

The Hyundai Elantra, the South Korean manufacturer’s best-selling car, will begin its sixth generation in 2017 with a starting price $100 less than the 2016 model. The 2017 Hyundai Elantra will be available in SE, Eco and Limited trims. The SE comes standard with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transition. The MSRP is $17,150 for the manual transmission option and $18,150 for the automatic transmission. The Limited trim, which features leather upholstery as well as additional safety and technology features, has an MSRP of $22,350. The Eco trim pricing has not been announced. A sport model will debut later in 2016. Elantra’s base SE trim is available with a Popular Equipment package

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2017 Preview: Honda Ridgeline Longer, wider, innovative

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit with the pickup’s versatility, capability and comfort emphasized. Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the Ridgeline will be available to he public on a yet-to-be announced date in the first half of 2016. Honda is promoting the midsize pickup as having the “largest, most versatile cabin.” It’s touted as the “only 4-foot-wide flat bed space in the midsize pickup segment, along with payload capacity rivaling top competitors.” Powered by a 3.5-liter, direct-injected i-VTEC™ V-6 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Honda Ridgeline will also feature the industry’s first in-bed audio system. For the first time, front-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations will be available. Front-wheel

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PREVIEW: 2017 Kia Cadenza gets sporty

The Kia Cadenza, the most luxurious and expensive are in the Korean carmaker’s lineup, will have a new look for 2017 with hopes of improving slumping sales. Launched in 2013, the Cadenza has attracted a niche audience among car buyer seeking an alternative to costly sporty sedans an with a great warranty. Called the K7 in South Korea, the 2017 Kia Cadenza will have a more angular and sportier design. The new edition will a more prominent in the dip in Kia’s “tiger nose” grille as well as substantially new appearance in front and rear end designs. “The next-generation Cadenza maintains the progressive, contemporary image of the current model, and the sharper more defined lines and wider, lower stance give

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