Sedans

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2015 Chrysler 200: Watch out Honda Accord

The 2015 Chrysler 200 marks the inauguration of the midsize sedan’s second generation. Introduced in late 2010 as a replacement for the much-maligned Sebring, the Chrysler 200 was named via a keen marketing idea as the smaller and younger sibling of the Chrysler 300. While the new model features a host of new features, 2015 also marks the demise of the previous generation’s convertible option. Like the Sebring, the Chrysler 200 Convertible has now been relegated to used car lots and in leftover fleet purchases for rental agencies. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2015 Chrysler 200 was my second straight weekly driver sedan test vehicle. And like the Kia K900 I drove on a 900-mile roundtrip trek to Los

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2015 Lexus IS 250: Comfort, control, cool

Following its extensive redesign last year, the 2015 Lexus IS 250 includes a few technology interface updates. But the compact entry-level luxury sedan largely remains a twin of its one-year older sibling. Powered by a 2.5-liter, 24-valve V6 delivering 204 horsepower, the 2015 Lexus IS 250 is offered only with a six-speed automatic transmission, but there’s a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive. The Weekly Driver Test Drive While not the fastest nor the most economical, Lexus always does interiors and exteriors right. The IS 250 may be the entry level for the luxury line, but it’s made with top-line materials. Leather, wood and metallic accents are used liberally. And even when plastic is used, it works. The comfort of

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Ford F-150 again tops best-selling vehicle list

The Ford F-150 pick-up truck and the Toyota Corolla don’t appear to have much in common. But they do. The Ford-150 had been made for 67 years; the Toyota Corolla is now 43 years old. The two enduring vehicles are perennially on the top-10 selling vehicle list in the United States. Although 2014 totals won’t be tallied until early January 2015, the Ford 150 will again lead the top-10 vehicle sales for the year. It will mark the 44th consecutive year the F-150 will lead truck sales. The Toyota Corolla may not lead the pack, but its enduring popularity is remarkable. Several years ago, it became the best-selling vehicle in history. Here’s a synopsis of the Ford F-150 and Toyota

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2014 Buick Regal: New worthy mix of U.S. and Euro design

Some American brand sports/luxury sedans are edging closer to costlier foreign rivals as the auto world shrinks. A few minutes at the wheel of the 2014 Buick Regal gave me the feeling I was driving a foreign luxury sports sedan. It sure handled and rode much like one. Buick has made lots of changes, but the Regal’s behavior puzzled me. I soon found the Regal is basically an Americanized version of the high-line German Opel Insignia. No wonder it felt as if it would be happy humming along a German autobahn at 100 m.p.h. It’s got a decent size, with a 107.8-inch wheelbase and 190.2 -inch overall length. The 2014 version of the Regal has new front and rear styling,

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2015 Hyundai Genesis: More car, less snob appeal

Would you prefer a well-known luxury car or saving thousands for a worthy but less-prestigious rival? The new, redesigned 2015 Hyundai Genesis is a fast, luxurious sedan designed to compete with foreign rivals (mainly German) that cost thousands more. This Genesis has slicker, more imposing styling. It’s highlighted by a new, very aggressive-looking hexagonal grille and dynamic rear design. The wheelbase is longer at 118.5 inches and there are shorter body overhangs than its predecessor. This big, imposing four-door is equipped with plenty of luxury and convenience equipment. It’s 196.5 inches long and weighs from 4,138 to 4,541 pounds. It’s not a sports sedan, but has excellent roadability, due partly to nearly 50/50 weight distribution and a new rear multi-link

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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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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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PREVIEW: 2015 Hyundai Genesis: Elegant, powerful

The 2015 Hyundai Genesis, which will debut at dealerships in late April, has been redesigned and will start at $38,000 for the 3.8L V6 and $51,500 for the 5.0L V8 model. Hyundai is touting the upscale sedan as the “the combination of bold design, superb driving dynamics, unmatched standard technology and attractive pricing positions.” 2015 GENESIS PRICE STRUCTURE Model     Engine     Transmission     MSRP 3.8L RWD     3.8L V6     8-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC     $38,000 3.8L AWD     3.8L V6     8-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC     $40,500 5.0L RWD     5.0L V8     8-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC     $51,500 Freight charges for the 2015 Genesis are $950 and not included in the prices above. The 2015 Genesis includes

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REVIEW: 2014 Toyota Camry reliable like a good friend

Approaching its 35th birthday, the Toyota Camry is the top-selling car in the United States. The 2014 edition extends the current generation and will likely continue the midsize sedan’s reputation. It’s a dependable four-door machine that does a lot right albeit without fanfare. In 11 of past 15 years, the Toyota Camry has surpassed more than 400,000 sales annually. Buyers get a comfortable, efficient and not-too-complicated vehicle. It’s not the fastest or the most handsome. It doesn’t have the best fuel economy or the best performance. But the Camry does most things right and very little wrong. Which is what many consumers want — strong transportation, a good on-the-road companion that doesn’t cause any trouble and is loyal. It’s like

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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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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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Review: 2014 Toyota Corolla: Sporty redesign shines

Even the most successful car in history has to eventually change with the times. Meet the 2014 Toyota Corolla. Just in time for the sale of the 40th million iconic compact sedan, the redesigned 11th generation has been unveiled. Available in L, LE, L Eco and S models (and a few variants), the 2014 Toyota Corolla joins the Avalon, Camry, 4Runner and Tundra with new designs for 2014. The new Corolla models continue the sedan’s enduring legacy while competitors like the Ford Focus, Kia Forte, Honda Civic and Mazda 3 continue to gain larger audiences. Like other editions of the Toyota Corolla through the years, the 2014 models maintain a constant theme — value. The MSRP ranges from $16,800 for

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CAR PREVIEW: 2014 Hyundai Sonata: Major makeover

The 2014 Hyundai Sonata will include more than 50 new or redesigned features, including exterior enhancements, safety technology, comfort and convenience additions. The 2014 Sonata GLS will also offer a greater value for money, with MSRPs beginning at $21,350 — an increase of $155 from 2013. Gas mileage for the 2014 Sonata is 24 mpg city/35 mpg highway with the standard six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®. The Theta II GDI engine produces 190 horsepower and 179 lb.-ft. of torque. In the SE trim, which includes a standard dual exhaust, the engine delivers 192 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque. This high-tech, all-aluminum, 16-valve engine also features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (DCVVT) and a Variable Induction System (VIS) for better

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CAR REVIEW: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta: spunky little sedan

Since its debut in 1979, the Volkswagen Jetta has steadfastly endured the ebbs and flows of the auto industry. It’s now a quarter-century old, a half-dozen editions into its legacy and enjoying a resurgence with the upgraded model for 2014. With competition in all car segments increasingly keen, VW for 2014 Jetta replaced the former 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder model with a 170-horsepower, turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder. The Jetta is the little sedan that could and continues to do so, which is why it’s VW’s best-selling car. With the engine change, the Jetta is now more versatile while maintaining its value pricing. The gas engine model (a diesel engine is optional) can now also run on E15 (a mix of gas and

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Review: 2013 Ford Fusion gets sporty, flirts with luxury

Redesigned for 2013, the Ford Fusion is firmly positioned in the midsize sedan market — the most prevalent and most competitive segment in the auto industry. Available in three trims, the 2013 Ford Fusion is a four-door, five-passenger offering. Like several of its many competitors, the Fusion was also previously firmly planted in the world of pedestrian vehicles. Not any more. It’s now in a segment chock-full of cars hard-to-beat. They’re fairly priced and offer high quality in comfort and equipment with comprehensive standard equipment lists and plenty of option packages. In its new design, the 2013 Ford Fusion goes the front of the handsome line. The front grille is more pronounced and it’s meshed stylishly with a slightly wider

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Hyundai Azera, 2013: Strong entry in tight full sedan field

One year after its complete redesign, the 2013 Hyundai Azera remains much the same as its year-older sibling. It’s the South Korean manufacturer’s entry level full-size sedan and it’s positioned between the Sonata and Genesis. Unlike many manufacturers who sometimes make it difficult to chose from an overload of available trims, the 2013 Hyundai Azera is available in only one trim. It’s offered as a 3.3-liter V6 with 293 horsepower, a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The Weekly Drive It’s uncommon for two different cars from the same manufacturer to be considered competitors. But the Genesis is Hyundai‘s entry point in its luxury lineup, followed by the top-line Equus. Yet the Azera could easily make the carmaker’s luxury car

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