Automotive News, Car Reviews, and Podcast
The VW ID.3 Neo debuts with 391-mile range, physical buttons, and three battery options. Why this European EV matters for American VW buyers.
Read moreThe Acura Integra and Acura Legend were pioneers when the upscale division of Honda debuted in North America in 1986. The Integra was a streamlined, more sporty version of the Honda Civic. It became a top-selling, front-wheel sports coupe. It won plenty of awards and then went away. Sports coupes and sedans fell out of favor with the ascension of sport utility vehicles. But the Integra is back after more than a 20-year absence. Key Takeaways Test car: the Integra A-Spec with the Technology Package, a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 200 horsepower. $35,800 starting price and $37,395 with taxes and the $1,095 destination fee. 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds. 29 mpg city and 36 highway. Transmission: A six-speed manual is
Read moreNearly every mainstream manufacturer has a basic car marketed to appeal to budget buyers and a flagship model touted to redefine luxury. Competition is fierce, and the extremes of success and failure can often be defined by Mazda. The former Mazda Miata (now the MX-5) is 30-years-old and is the best-selling sports car in history. But the carmaker’s overall sales and industry influence continue to stumble. Individual models, like the CX9, are highly respected. But Mazda sales fell in 2016 to 1.7 percent of the U.S. market share, the carmaker’s lowest tally. More than two dozen compact crossovers are available in 2019, among including the Mazda3 hatchback. It’s fully redesigned this year as the manufacturer tries to regain its one
Read moreThe 2019 Hyundai Veloster marks the sports-oriented compact’s second-generation debut, and it remains a one-of-a-kind hatchback. A sharper-edged new exterior design is immediately appealing. But the symmetrical configuration is still a signature feature, with one longer driver’s side door and two shorter front and rear passenger doors. The three-door scheme is not available on any other vehicle. Key Takeaways Test car: the Turbo Ultimate trim, with a 1.6-liter, 201-horsepower turbo and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. $29,160 out-the-door price for the turbo trim. 28 mpg city and 34 highway. Warranty: 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain coverage. Doors: The three-door scheme is not available on any other vehicle. Driving: With its appreciable power for a lightweight car (it weighs less than 3,000 pounds), the
Read moreCompact 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-cylinder 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. Key Takeaways Elantra
Read moreThe Hyundai Veloster was introduced seven years ago as the South Korean manufacturer’s first coupe. A year later, a turbo-charged edition debuted. The 2017 edition is the continuation of the first generation of the odd-looking compact with sporty ambitions. Key Takeaways 201 horsepower from the turbo-charged 1.6-liter four-cylinder; the standard Veloster has 132 horsepower. Transmissions: a six-speed manual on both trims, with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic optional on the turbo. Standard equipment includes a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and a rearview camera. Driving: Driving the Veloster is frustrating. Rear seats: The Veloster also has only four seats, with headroom and legroom limited, particularly for rear seat occupants. Manual: Credit Hyundai for offering the Veloster
Read moreThe Scion iA and its sibling, the Scion iM, are new vehicles for 2016 and soon they’ll be gone. The Scion iA is a sporty entry level sedan; the Scion iM is a five-door hatchback. The duo was manufactured, like all Scions since the brand debuted 13 years ago, to appeal to millennials. But it didn’t work to the company’s expectations. And now some of the brand’s offerings will be discontinued, while others will be absorbed and continued in the Toyota lineup. The Scion iA and iM are among models that will be transferred to Toyota. Key Takeaways Test car: 1.8-liter, 137-horsepower four-cylinder five-door hatchback with a six-speed manual, painted Barcelona red metallic. $18,460 MSRP and $19,594 as tested. 27
Read moreThe new hot rod Golf R hatchback is for driving enthusiasts and is unchanged from its 2012 debut. Demand was strong for last year’s model, so Volkswagen said the R is being offered again in 2013 in limited numbers. The R is the heir to the 2004 and 2008 Golf R32 models. It’s up against formidable rivals such as the BMW X128i, Ford Focus ST, Mitsubishi Evo, Mazdaspeed3 and Subaru WRX STI . The Golf R’s turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder is the most powerful Golf engine ever offered in the United States. It’s a gem that produces 256 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. The smooth engine features dual overhead camshafts, 16 valves, variable valve timing and direct fuel injection. Throttle
Read moreIn addition to its yearly offering of best values in different price classes and fuel efficiency, Consumer Reports‘ recent lists of best and worst cars included the category of most reliable vehicle by segments. The list makes sense for car buyers not shopping by social status or brand loyalty but in more general terms: the reliability of vehicle segments. It’s not true in every instance, but in many cases the vehicles among the country’s most fuel efficient segment is the same segment that’s the most reliable: hatchbacks. And how ironic? Consumer Reports in general terms reports the more expensive the vehicle segment, the less reliable the segment. In the new Consumer Reports listing, fuel efficient hatchbacks were overwhelmingly the most
Read moreThe 2012 Mazda Mazda3 has been the most popular car in the Mazda fleet for several years. Consumers love the sportiness, versatility and value, but many bemoan the 3’s less than chic fuel efficiency. By the 2016 model year, cars are expected to average 39 mpg and trucks are expected to get an average of 30 mpg. Mazda decided the best way to meet government standards, while maintaining their trademark “Zoom-Zoom” experience, is improve its existing technologies with SKYACTIV. There’s confusion over what SKYACTIV actually is; It’s not a single piece of technology but a complete set of technologies and improvements that come together to achieve, according to Mazda, “an exciting, sustainable future for cars, people and the Earth.” In
Read moreOnce every four years VW brings over a high performance Golf model to appease the enthusiast crowd and to amp up the Golf’s image. The past two iterations of the R32 brought over in 2004 and 2008 were outfitted with a normally aspirated 3.2-liter VR6 6-cylinder engine and AWD. This time VW takes a slightly different track and brings over the Golf R from Europe with more power, better performance and improved fuel economy. After teasing the media and public for months, the Golf R is now available on North American shores in two-door and four-door models, and is rarin’ to go. The 2012 VW Golf R gets the party started with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and 6-speed manual transmission.
Read moreApproaching its 40th birthday, the Mitsubishi Lancer has been sold around the world with about a dozen different names, Lancer Fiore to Mirage Saloon to Dodge Colt. Now in its ninth generation since its 1973 debut, the Lancer under its various badges has sold more than six million units. For 2011, a more entry level ES trim joined its sedan and hatchback siblings at a base price of about $2,000 less than last year’s model. The reduced price was prompted by the influx of top-notch small cars available from almost every manufacturer. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The Lancer Sportback ES has a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine, but its exterior appearance makes it look like a more powerful and appreciably sportier
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