2018

2018 Kia Niro joins Hyundai Ioniq to challenge Prius

Once upon a time, car categories were simple — sedans, convertibles, station wagons, vans and pick-up trucks. Vehicles had concise, practical names often referencing ferocious or fast animals. But ambiguity now reigns. Consider the 2018 Kia Niro and its close relative, the Hyundai Ioniq. The former, introduced two years ago, is designated as a subcompact crossover hybrid SUV, but it more resembles a hatchback. It doesn’t offer all-wheel drive or extra ground clearance, customary SUV characteristics. Key Takeaways Niro PHEV new for 2018 with 26-mile electric range: The plug-in hybrid variant adds to the existing hybrid lineup, recharging in under three hours with portable equipment stored in a backpack-style case. Federal and California tax credits trim sticker meaningfully: $4,543 federal

Read more

2018 Hyundai Ioniq: Serious challenger for Toyota Prius

Since the debut of the Toyota Prius in 2000 as the first mass-marketed hybrid in the United States, several manufacturers have tried to infiltrate the odd-looking green car leader’s dominance. All have failed. Now, there’s a legitimate contender, the Hyundai Ioniq. The unusual name is the combination of the words ion and unique, and the vehicle’s title works. The Ioniq’s specs outdo the Prius numbers in multiple categories. Key Takeaways First car offered in three electrified flavors: Ioniq Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and full Electric — something not even Toyota’s Prius lineup matches in a single nameplate. 58 combined mpg tops the Prius: The Ioniq Blue is rated 57 city / 59 highway mpg, a few miles per gallon better than

Read more

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser: luxury, power, gas sucker

The Toyota Land Cruiser has been manufactured for 67 years, and it’s geared toward a niche audience of SUV buyers seeking ruggedness and off-road durability. It’s the second-largest and oldest vehicle in the manufacturer’s lineup. For 2018, the Land Cruiser remains much the same as last year. It seeks a market share with the Land Rover Discovery, Lexus LX 570 and Lincoln Navigator in the behemoth SUV category. The auto industry’s gas guzzlers are the easiest segment to dismiss. How can anyone justify an $87,000 SUV that averages 13 and 18 miles per gallon respectively in city and highway driving? For the few thousand Toyota Land Cruiser buyers each year, the answer is simple: They know what they want and

Read more
,

PREVIEW: 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid, priced lower

The fifth and newest addition to the Honda Accord electrified vehicle lineup will debut March 23 when the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid is unveiled at dealerships at a lower price than the previous model. The Accord Hybrid, sibling to the 2018 North American car of the year, will have a starting price of $25,990, including its $890 destination fee. The price reflects a $4,505 price drop from the 2017 model, according to Honda. The Accord Hybrid lineup now comes in five trim levels: Hybrid, EX (new), EX-L, EX-L Navi (new), and Touring. The newest Accord has an estimated gas mileage average of 47 in city and highway driving. The new Accord Hybrid will offer a lengthy list of standard equipment:

Read more
,

2018 Lexus LC 500: a beauty of a beast

A middle-aged man and his three teenage companions stopped in a coffee shop parking lot, gawked at the exterior of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 and asked if they could check out the inside. A guy in an old pick-up with a dilapidated camper shell stopped in the middle of a street near to where the Lexus was parked and started a conversation about saving his money to buy one. Some people pointed, others provided a thumb’s up or exclaimed “nice wheels, dude.” A few young drivers pulled up near me on the freeway, momentarily glared and sped off, perhaps suggesting I follow them. It was tempting, but no thanks, fellas. Key Takeaways 471-hp 5.0-liter V8 with Maserati-grade engine note:

Read more

2018 VW Golf SportWagen: humble, proud, best in class

Throughout its long history in the United States, Volkswagen has manufactured two of the most recognizable cars in history, the VW Beetle and the VW Van. It also makes the Golf, and it’s arguably the most understated vehicle on the road. The Golf’s humble exterior and simple, efficient interior define its personality. It’s about as far-removed from its individualistic siblings as possible, and that’s its appeal. It’s no-nonsense and versatile. And it’s the best-selling VW in history and third on the all-time global sales list behind the Toyota Corolla and Ford F-150 series trucks. Key Takeaways 170-hp 1.8-liter turbo across all trims: The SportWagen carries the same engine as the rest of the Golf family, paired with either a six-speed

Read more
,

2018 Infiniti QX80: ridiculously big and beautiful

With increased emphasis on green vehicles — entry-level economy boxes to electric supercars — one look at the 2018 Infiniti QX80 and a prevailing thought is that the luxury division of Nissan has missed the movement. The massive SUV is a small tank defined by opulence. It weighs more than three tons. It’s a heavy drinker, sucking down a gallon of fuel for every 13 miles it advances in city driving. It has 20-inch wheels (22-inch wheels are an option) and all-wheel drive. It often doesn’t fit in standard-sized parking spots. The QX80 has a 26-gallon gas tank that requires refilling in less than 500 miles. When fully equipped, the QX80 has four option packages and a few miscellaneous items

Read more

5 Best Online Car Games For 2018

If you’re a car buff, your love of cars doesn’t stop in researching and fantasizing about your favorite models and ideal car. If you’re an avid car lover, your love doesn’t stop with reading car magazines, it extends into other aspects of your life — the movies you see, the books you read and the games you try to master online. Finding the best car games to play can be difficult and tedious. As fellow car enthusiasts, we’ve sifted through the many options of car games available and boiled it down to a list of the top-five favorites we think are most worth your time. These games greatly vary, but they all have one crucial thing in common — cars.

Read more

2018 Ford Mustang: Less is more with EcoBoost model

Like other automotive icons, the Ford Mustang is unmistakable. Its long hood, short rear deck, pony badge, overall styling and unique debut by Henry Ford II at the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., on April 17, 1964, have all added to the sports car’s legacy. The Mustang’s current generation debuted in 2015. The showcase model for 2018 is the direct-injected, 5.0-liter V8 with 460 horsepower. It defines automotive testosterone for the masses and is the most powerful Mustang to date. But what if you don’t need all that power and the corresponding constant growl of the big beast? The alternative is the base model 2.3-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder, Ecoboost coupe with 310 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic transmission. With the

Read more

Episode 26, picky buyer looks for 6 months, buys 2018 VW Atlas

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (82.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreSeveral months ago, Chris Wood decided it was time for a new vehicle. He has a family, including four grandchildren, a 50-pound dog and a 5,000-pound ski boat and equipment to haul. He had $50,000 to spend, but he was faced with a lingering dilemma. Wood, 63, of Pleasanton, a retired Silicon Valley computer salesman, looked for six months but couldn’t find a new sports utility vehicle that fit his criteria and could match the quality his previous vehicle, a 1999 Ford Explorer. “I had it for 19 years; I serviced it all the time,” said Wood. “I put in transmissions and took care a lot of

Read more

2018 Infiniti QX60: Luxury SUV with class, comfort

The sport utility vehicle segment, small crossovers to three-row, boat-sized gas guzzlers, continues to appeal to the public in record numbers. Several manufacturers’ offerings have seemingly meshed into one universal vehicle. So how does a buyer make a choice? If luxury, versatility and a quiet ride are key buying attributes, consider the 2018 Infiniti QX60. It stands out among the horde of SUVs barreling down the freeway and lined up row after row in shopping malls and grocery store parking lots. Introduced as a concept at the 2011 Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, the QX60 debuted as a seven-passenger, mid-size luxury crossover in early 2012 as a 2013 model. It was the first three-row SUV offered by Infiniti, the upscale

Read more

2018 Ford Mustang GT further defines iconic muscle car

Nearing the end of its sixth decade, the Ford Mustang is among the few remaining iconic American-made cars. It began as an affordable sporty coupe. For 2018, it’s undergone a refresh to showcase its muscle car masculinity. The Mustang legacy has endured multiple generations, reconfigurations and engine types. But it still resembles its debuting style, highlighted by a long hood and short rear deck. It was a new look for its time in 1964, and the Mustang’s success helped launch competitors like the AMC Javelin, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Pontiac Firebird and Plymouth Barracuda. The Mustang’s current generation debuted in 2015, but its makeover is substantial. The new Mustang gets a more aggressive front-end collection, including standard LED headlights and

Read more
,

2018 Lexus GX 460: Beauty and the Beast

The 2018 Lexus GX 460 is a large, plush three-row sport utility vehicle that transports seven occupants in style but has the ruggedness to venture off road. It’s largely unchanged from the 2017 edition. Sales have increased yearly since the GX 460 was introduced in 2010. The luxury SUV segment is appealing to more buyers simultaneously seeking prestige and versatility. Key Takeaways 4.6-liter V8 delivers 301 hp and genuine off-road capability: Body-on-frame construction with a 32-valve V8, 6-speed automatic, and full-time all-wheel drive across all trims, unusual in the modern luxury SUV segment. Seven-passenger capacity with 40/20/40 second row: Optional second-row captain’s chairs drop seating to six but add legitimate first-class comfort. Third row uses a 50/50 split with optional

Read more

2018 Honda Accord grabs two Kelley Blue Book best buy awards

After nearly 15 years of reviewing cars, the one question I get asked more than all other questions combined is “what new car would you buy?” There’s no right answer. With about 350 makes and models of new models, a case could be made for every car or truck available to be the best choice for someone. I often ask the person who’s asked a few followup questions — their available budget to their driving habits. I ask if they’re car buying for a one-person family or if they have a spouse and children and are car shopping for a larger family? Do they need cargo space? Will they often drive in inclement weather? Do they drive primarily in city

Read more

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT: Watch out Honda, Volkswagen

Compact hatchbacks often deserve more credit. They’re positioned in an unglamorous car segment, but they’re difficult to beat considering their combination of durability, economy, performance, space and style. New for 2018, the Hyundai Elantra GT expands the South Korean manufacturer’s lineup to further compete with hatchback stalwarts like the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Golf. The standard Elantra sedan includes a four-cylinder 147-horsepower engine. There’s also a four-cycling turbo-charged option with 128 horsepower. The GT, my test vehicle, adds further variety with 2.0-liter, 161 horsepower configuration matched to the same four-cylinder engine. The sport model has 201 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard and a six-speed manual transmission is also available. The Hyundai Elantra

Read more

2018 Audi A5: Refines entry level luxury coupe

The Audi A5 joined the German carmaker’s lineup in 1997, replacing the Audi 80. But for 2018, the Audi A5 is a new generation. And its design and features further designate the car’s position in the entry-level luxury coupe segment as an oxymoron. Equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that produces 252 horsepower and advance with a seven-speed transmission, the new Audi A5 advances smoothly and quickly. But there’s a brief turbo lag. The A5’s power is evidenced by its acceleration in the 0-60 miles per hour standard in 5.0 seconds. The all-wheel-drive system is impressive while cornering, particularly at higher speeds. The A5’s stability and braking are reassuring. Manual transmissions are nearing dinosaur status, but the Audi A5 is

Read more
Previous Next