Automedia.com - Reviews - 2003 Articles

2003 Acura CL Type-S

Effectively blending high performance and personal luxury is a genuine automotive art form, one that Acura has shown an amazing talent for doing, and doing well. The arrival of its latest CL 3.2 Type-S proves that Honda's luxury division still has the magic touch. When it stormed onto the scene for 2002, the original Type-S boasted a host of meaningful powertrain and suspension upgrades in its formidable resume, including a trick SportShift sequential 5-speed automatic transmission. For '03, this understated overachiever adds several new touches to make it an even more appealing ride to the purists...

2003 Acura MDX

When the Acura MDX sport utility debuted as a 2001 model, the automotive press gave it rave reviews—and buyers flocked to Acura dealers to purchase MDXs in droves. Yet, even with this success, Acura isn't resting on its accomplishments. Instead, Acura engineers have been hard at work improving the already great MDX package only two short years after its introduction...

2003 Audi A4 Cabriolet

It's been five long years since Audi last included an A4 convertible in its U.S. lineup. That drop-top drought ends in a major way for 2003. Functionally superior to its predecessor in every empirical category, the new open-air A4 is priced even more competitively on a feature-for-feature basis. Although a 1.8-liter Turbo four variant will turn up in Audi dealers in early Spring, right now, the al fresco A4 comes in one basic flavor: a front driver that uses the well-proven 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V-6 backed by the firm's slick multitronic continuously variable automatic transmission...

2003 Audi RS 6

In World War II, the allies equipped several innocent-looking merchant ships with powerful but hidden guns. When submarine raiders surfaced to shell them, so as not to waste precious torpedoes, the ship's crew would unlimber its cannon and try to blast the sub out of the water. These disguised men-of-war were called Q-Ships, and the term has come to mean a car whose potential is carefully hidden from prying eyes. Audi's RS 6 fits the definition perfectly...

2003 BMW 325xi Sport Wagon

The BMW 3 Series Sport Wagon seems to be one of those rare items that includes just about everything you could want. Add in the all-wheel drive, all-weather capability of the 325xi, and it's difficult to imagine anything the BMW folks might have forgotten...

2003 BMW 760Li

There's a fine art to making a big sedan that's truly capable of performing like a sports car, one that shrinks to fit you after a few moments of familiarization into a four-door that'll run with most two-seaters, yet convey a quartet of tall adults in sublime luxury and comfort. And, no one does it better than BMW...

2003 BMW M5

Few car names strike as much fear in the hearts and minds of sports car drivers as the two little characters, M5. Anybody who's gotten their doors blown off by a BMW M5 while driving their Porsche Boxster or Mercedes-Benz SLK knows exactly what we're talking about. For those fortunate enough to own an M5, you've experienced what it's like to grin from ear to ear while piloting what many feel is the best sedan ever built, and possibly one of the best passenger cars to ever grace the world's roads...

2003 BMW X5 4.6is

Think of it as a BMW M5 station wagon on stilts. The motor magicians from Bavaria stalled for years on whether to do SUVs until 1999. Then, predictably—and to a performance driver's delight—the company introduced the "BMW of sport-utilities." No, that's not an oxymoron (although BMW prefers to call the X5 an SAV for sport-activity vehicle)...

2003 BMW Z4 3.0i

Sporting roadsters have long been an integral part of BMW's motoring heritage. From its original 315/1 to icons like the 328 and 507, these al fresco two-seaters helped establish the character of the marque by adding stylish sensuality to their underlying performance capabilities. With its new Z4, BMW has taken its boldest step ever in this genre. Determined not to produce a mere Mk II version of its Z3, the firm has totally recast its U.S.-built offering for '03. The result is a wholesale reinterpretation of the basic sports-car formula that melds classic proportions with a new look and new technology aimed squarely at the 21st century...

2003 Buick Park Avenue Ultra

In cars as well as fashions, tastes change. What fell out of favor long ago just might make a comeback at some later date...

2003 Buick Rendezvous

Consider this a fresh sprout on Buick's gnarly old tree. Without abandoning upscale (read "wealthy") customers, Buick hopes to lower the age of its client base by at least 15 years by offering its first "truck" (although the EPA classifies the Rendezvous as a special-purpose vehicle) since 1923...

2003 Cadillac CTS

Toss aside any preconceived notion you have about small Cadillacs. Forget Cimarron. Forget Catera. The only thing Cadillac's smart new CTS has in common with its predecessors is that its name starts with a "C." The CTS's sharply chiseled lines, jaunty rake and snarly exhaust note mark it as a sharp departure from bigger, plusher brethren...

2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV

If GM's Chevy Suburban and GMC Yukon XL are not quite plush or powerful enough, if Cadillac's plush, powerful and popular Escalade isn't quite lengthy or spacious enough to suit your needs, Cadillac has extended, quite literally, its luxury SUV Escalade line to include exactly the vehicle for you...

2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Cadillac's new "Art and Science" design direction and GM's sincere determination to re-establish the Cadillac brand as among the best in the world are both admirable. We like the BMW 5 Series-fighter CTS sedan and have high expectations for the soon-to-come '04 XLR luxury roadster and SRX crossover utility. However, if you find Cadillac's current naming convention of its model line a bit confusing, you're not alone. Take heart in the fact that they actually do stand for something...

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier

File this new Cavalier under "Pleasant Surprises." Most new cars and trucks are pretty darn good these days, and many turn out better than expected. But this significantly updated '03 Cavalier is by far one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. Recent Cavaliers in general have been good cars—not great or class-leading but good, solid, reliable and an excellent value for money (especially with substantial incentives). But this 2003 version impressed from the moment we turned the key...

2003 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 50th Anniversary Edition

It's difficult to imagine that a half-century has passed since the first Corvette made its debut appearance at the 1953 Motorama exhibition. Even more incomprehensible is the wholesale transformation wrought upon this revered icon during that period. Save for remaining true to its fiberglass-bodied, two-seat heritage, America's only mass-produced high-volume sports car shares little in common with its seminal progenitor, spun from a short-wheelbase Chevrolet sedan chassis, powered by a 150-horse Blue Flame six and shod with stylish wide-whitewall 6.70-15 bias-ply tires...

2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The Z06 is for sports car buffs who can't be satisfied by the standard Corvette's 350 hp and 375 lb.-ft. of tire-smoking torque. You know, the ones who live in mortal fear of being blown off by the occasional 500-hp Ferrari or Viper...

2003 Chevrolet Impala

Still a far cry from Impalas of the distant past, Chevrolet's largest passenger car continues to attract a fair share of buyers. In fact, it's among the top 10 sellers. During 2001, more than 208,000 Impalas went to customers in the U.S., an increase of 19.5 percent...

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

When we think of amply-sized sport coupes, European and Asian brands tend to come to mind. That's partly because North American automakers have largely abandoned that niche. Only Chrysler offers a comparable model—the Sebring coupe—to rival Chevrolet's long-lived Monte Carlo...

2003 Chevrolet S-10 ZR5

The Chevrolet S-10 Crew Cab is a pickup truck that melds sedan seating and four doors with a pickup truck bed. Add the ZR5 package to the mix and you get a sporty look, giving compact-truck owners nearly everything they could want and need in one vehicle...

2003 Chevrolet Silverado C1500 Quadrasteer

Chevy's Silverado full-size pickup truck line offers an astounding array of equipment and configurations for 2003. One of the roster's standout packages is the 1500 (1/2-ton) model with the Quadrasteer four-wheel-steering system...

2003 Chevrolet Silverado LT 2500 HD

If a heavy-duty full-size pickup is what you need, Chevy's Silverado might be the one. Handsome and rugged as it is agreeable, it's easily as good as any, and better than most. For one thing, though the competition is increasingly tough, Silverado HD pickups boast the segment's most powerful engine lineup—your choice of a 300-hp 6.0-liter Vortec V-8, a 340-hp 8.1-liter big-block Vortec V-8, or the widely acclaimed 300-hp 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V-8. Peak torque ratings for this muscular trio—more important for trucks than power, since torque is what gets your payload moving and accelerates it to speed—are 370, 455 and a stump-pulling 520 lb.-ft., respectively. Alternative fuel fanciers will also appreciate that the 6-liter V-8 (with hardened upgraded valves and seats to withstand CNG's lack of lubricity and cooling effects) can run on CNG/gasoline bi-fuel systems or dedicated CNG (compressed natural gas)...

2003 Chevrolet Venture Warner Bros. Edition

The Chevy Venture follows a typical minivan formula: adequate V-6, easy-driving 4-speed automatic, somewhat unexciting exterior profile and enough seating for a Little League team. As with other vehicles in its class, cupholders abound, and some nifty storage spaces help stash gear enough for a summer trip to the beach or a winter trip to the slopes...

2003 Chrysler 300M

The perpetual whirlwind of "new and improved" is blowing entry-luxury sedans toward rear-wheel-drive propulsion systems faster than you can say "snow tires." That's a pity because front-drive layouts boast so many intrinsic attributes. Case in point: Chrysler's 300M. In terms of value for money, well-rounded competence, and universal goodness, they don't get any better than this...

2003 Chrysler Concorde Limited

These days, most automobiles are passe by the time they reach their sixth model-year wearing the same basic suit of exterior sheetmetal. After all, fenders and fashions inevitably change with the seasons. Rapidly advancing technology is the second force that drives elderly designs resolutely toward the scrap heap...

2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Turbo

Only a handful of new vehicles truly capture the imaginations of auto buyers. Fewer yet cause an appreciable number of those shoppers to pay well over sticker price just to be among the first owners of the hot new item...

2003 Chrysler Sebring GTC Convertible

DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler brand sales have been on a roll for more than a decade. Quadrupling from 130,000 units in 1991 to a record 530,000 in 2001, the marque's U.S. market share grew from 2.8 to 5.6 percent in the same period...

2003 Chrysler Sebring LXi Coupe

On the Olympic difficulty scale, selling sport coupes is right up there with underwater tobogganing. It's because any mention of "sport" gets a prospect's tail wagging in anticipation of the "utility vehicle" words that usually follow. So how does a manufacturer clear this hurdle and draw the eye of customers not necessarily in the sport-coupe mood? In Chrysler's case, the answer is the Sebring...

2003 Chrysler Sebring LXi Sedan

One of the more notorious Detroit car designers coined the phrase, "If you must steal, rob a bank, not a dime store." It was a clever way of urging junior staff members to seek inspiration from life's top shelf, rather than from its bargain basement. That sage advice must have registered at Chrysler, where the Sebring sedan rolled forth in the 2001 model year showing a close family resemblance to the Concorde and 300M models that define the line's highest aspirations. For all intents, the Sebring is a 7/8-scale model of the best Chryslers money can buy...

2003 Chrysler Town Country LXi

As America's leading purveyor of minivans, Chrysler continues to roll more of these practical and comfortable vehicles off its lots than any other manufacturer on Earth. There are credible challengers to be sure, but when America thinks "minivan," the majority of people summon up a familiar vision from DaimlerChrysler. But which one, exactly? That's a tough question, since between its Dodge and Chrysler nameplates, DaimlerChrysler offers a dizzying array of choices...

2003 Chrysler Voyager

When it comes to minivans, DaimlerChrysler's approach is anything but "one size fits all." People's specific needs and tastes differ, and DaimlerChrysler probably comes closer than any other manufacturer to offering a custom-built approach designed to please just about everyone...

2003 Dodge Durango R/T

Whether you view SUVs as unpatriotic or not, nobody can deny there are plenty to pick from, with about two dozen models on the market and more on the way. At the extreme ends of the SUV spectrum are crossover designs such as the high-performance Cayenne from Porsche, or "cute-utes" like the boxy Honda Element. The Dodge Durango, while by no means the freshest kid on the block, lands squarely in the middle between these extremes. It's essentially a centrist of SUV design themes, but with a right-wing bent toward traditional off-road duties. It has a true 4WD system, a stout truck chassis, and red-blooded American V-8 power. Don't look for any blurring of its intended role, trying to be all things to all people. It knows its purpose in life and doesn't try to pretend to be anything different...

2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4

Hitting 60 mph in less than six seconds, it's the quickest production vehicle available in the United States for (barely) less than $20,000, and the second quickest (to the V-10 Viper) in Dodge's stable. We couldn't quite verify that touted performance since we never got it properly test-launched without a big bunch of wheelspin. Maybe it was the pavement we were on, but the SRT-4 lit its front tires every time we torqued it up and launched from rest. And it spun them again after shifting to second. Launching more conservatively or backing off a bit to regain traction settled it down, but wouldn't quite get us there in less than six seconds. Oh well, who cares? The point remains—this car is fun!..

2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab SLT

A guy is towing a 1960s Dodge Charger on a trailer behind a new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup. Two scruffy characters in a '60s Plymouth Barracuda pull up next to him at a light. "Hey," asks one, "That thing got a Hemi—"..

2003 Dodge Stratus Coupe

Styling is subjective, so you may or may not agree, but we think this restyled Dodge Stratus Coupe looks "right" from every angle—right size, right shape, and right stance. When a car looks right for its intended role, image and price, you expect to like it. It makes the right impression before you turn the key. And impress us it did, because it drives pretty much as well as it looks...

2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10

Ever wonder what it's like to ride on the back of a dinosaur? Not one of those slow moving veggie-eating guys. No, we're talking one of the most ferocious and powerful of the prehistoric meat eaters—the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Well, climb behind the wheel of the Dodge Viper, and you'll get as close as any modern man has ever come to riding one of those monsters. Twist the key and the mammoth V-10 engine roars to life like the rousing of a giant T-Rex from an afternoon nap. Hit the road, mash the gas pedal to the floor and the Viper eats up pavement (and Corvettes) like a T-Rex chowing down on its prey...

2003 Ford Crown Victoria LX

The Ford Crown Victoria is America's most popular full-size rear-drive sedan (and dominates police and taxi fleets nationwide) for two big reasons. One, it's an excellent car and extremely well suited for family, fleet, cab and cop-car use. Two, it's one of only three large rear-drive sedans on the market; the other two are its (somewhat pricier) Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car "Panther" platform stablemates...

2003 Ford E-Series

The venerable E-Series van has been a staple in Ford's lineup for more than 40 years. Since its introduction in 1960 as a 1961 model, the E-Series (or Econoline, as it was previously known) has hauled every conceivable cargo from pets to people to produce. Its last major redesign was way back in 1992, the same year it was named Motor Trend Truck of the Year. However, the E-Series carries on into the 2003 model year stronger than ever...

2003 Ford Escape XLT 4x4

Nothing is a sure bet today, especially in the automotive world. But if there were ever an odds-on favorite to turn up in the success column, it's the Ford Escape. This handsome hauler had all the hallmarks of a winner when it rolled onto the compact SUV scene for 2001. With its impressive combination of style, flexibility, and convenience, the Escape quickly racked up a formidable 164,184 in sales and handily displaced the Honda CR-V as the volume leader in its class...

2003 Ford Excursion

GM's Suburban/Yukon XL stranglehold on the full-figured SUV class came to an end three years ago when Ford launched its Excursion. Dearborn's big "E" went right to the head of the size class. It's bigger in every dimension internally and externally than the Chevy Suburban/GMC Yukon XL. And it's just the thing for affluent people who have to have the giant size of everything. The good news for 2003: Excursion is still available in XLT, XLT Premium or Limited, and Limited Ultimate editions as well as a new Eddie Bauer level. With an all-new diesel engine now in the mix, you can spec your Excursion virtually exactly the way you'd like it. The bad news: The Excursion will reportedly be discontinued after the 2003 model year...

2003 Ford Expedition

When Ford introduced its full-size sport-utility vehicle in 1997, the Expedition was based on the F-150 pickup-truck platform. That's the way SUVs were built: Take an existing truck chassis, make some necessary modifications and bolt on an SUV body with two rows of seats where the pickup bed used to be...

2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4x2

Entering the second year of its current iteration, Ford is content to add more content to its perennial best-seller SUV. Although some of the refinements are purely cosmetic, the bulk of the changes are under the skin. Highlights include three newly optional systems: all-wheel-drive, traction control and a DVD-based rear-seat entertainment arrangement...

2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Thinking outside the box has become a hallmark of success in today's rapidly changing business world. The same is proving true in the automotive realm, where rethinking conventional approaches has led to numerous variations on the basic transportation theme...

2003 Ford F-150 Series Pickup

Although the current model F-150's design has gotten a bit long in the tooth—and the redesigned 2004 model is on the horizon—the 2003 F-150 truck is still very popular and competitive. Ford sells more F-150s than any other truck or car in America, so their huge volume allows dealers to discount these trucks enticingly. This is particularly true if the model with most of the features you're seeking is sitting on your dealer's lot—and now may be a particularly good time to check one out...

2003 Ford F-250/F-350 Super Duty

For many years, the F-Series pickup has been the leading seller among all vehicles sold in the U.S. In addition, it's helped fill the Ford coffers with loads of profit. While last redesigned for the 1997 model year, sales volume for the F-series has continued to grow despite only minor upgrades since its introduction...

2003 Ford Focus Wagon

If you travel around Europe, you'll notice the relative lack of sport-utility vehicles barreling down the autobahns and country roads. Because gasoline and diesel fuel cost between $3.25 and $4.00 per gallon in Europe, SUVs are both impractical and unpopular since most aren't fuel efficient enough for the average European buyer. That said, Europeans still require vehicles capable of transporting their families. Their solution to this transportation dilemma is the wagon. While the term "wagon" isn't very popular with U.S. car buyers these days (even though the cars are), small wagons have a very large and loyal following in Europe that only continues to grow. And, one of the best small wagons, no matter which continent you live on, is the Ford Focus—the best selling small car in the world...

2003 Ford Focus ZX3

During the past few years, Korean automakers have made serious inroads in the small-car market, attracting buyers galore with prices too cheap to believe and best-in-the-industry warranties. Competing with this incursion takes courage, commitment, and creativity beyond the pale. It takes a seriously outstanding effort such as the one Ford invested in its Focus, a bare-knuckle import-fighter launched at the new millennium. The sensible strategy would have been to snuggle the Focus between proven Escort and Contour car lines. But in this day of cutthroat competition, the sensible approach seldom works. So Ford cleared its small car decks, retiring both of those bookend vehicles to give the Focus ample breathing room. Designers and engineers exploited that opportunity to create one of the most interesting—and enjoyable to drive—small car families ever to wear a domestic manufacturer's ID plate. Of particular note is the overtly sporty ZX3 hatchback...

2003 Ford Focus ZX5

Ford's Focus ZX3 hatchback is one of the pillars of the sport-compact segment. Last year, the car gained two doors when the ZX5 joined the Focus family. This five-door enters its sophomore season offering more trim levels and option packages. The result is a vehicle that's more practical, popular and personalized than ever...

2003 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrew

You could pretty much see this one coming from the very start. When America's most successful truck producer and its most legendary motorcycle manufacturer joined forces back in 2000, their collaboration yielded one of the slickest-looking pickups ever to hit a showroom floor. A low-slung, high-strung study in black and brightwork, the original limited edition Harley-fied F-150 was a rolling objet d'art that even non-truck people had to admire for its unique blend of cool and competence. The subsequent switch from SuperCab to the SuperCrew body style in 2001 added even more practicality to the package...

2003 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

In an automotive world fraught with change, constants are few. One of the most enduring is the popularity of America's original ponycar, the Mustang. Ever since it began filtering into Ford retail corrals back in mid-1964, this stalwart steed has occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of buyers across the country. While sales volumes admittedly have dipped from their all-time highs, in a realm increasingly populated by SUVs and "crossovers," the Mustang is now the best-selling American convertible...

2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1

In 1969, Ford launched a Mustang model that gave American muscle fans a sleek, new fastback pony car that might prove to be the most popular and best looking Mustang ever built. The Mach 1 Mustang featured a rear spoiler, an aggressively-angled front air dam, fake side scoops mounted on each quarter panel, "comfort-weave" seats, and one of the coolest hood scoops to ever grace a FoMoCo product. This "shaker" hood scoop was mounted directly to the carburetor and was visible through an opening in the hood. Besides moving from side to side when you revved the motor, it also provided much needed fresh air to the engine—a choice of either a 250-horsepower, 351 cubic-inch V-8 or the monstrous 335-horse, 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet powerplant...

2003 Ford Ranger FX4/Level II 4x4

In today's increasingly crowded world of "active lifestyle" vehicles, one is either a player or a poser. Ford's off-road-oriented additions to its immensely popular Ranger compact-pickup lineup definitely fall into the former category. Using an XLT SuperCab Styleside 4x4 as its foundation, the FX4 package introduced last year now offers a "base" Off-Road 4x4 level and a new Level II "True Off-Road Enthusiast" options bundle. Both FX4 configurations add arrays of functional and cosmetic touches that give dyed-in-the-dirt adventurers a vehicle with graduated measures of style, comfort and go-just-about-anywhere capability...

2003 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra

Despite the fact that the Mustang's nemesis for 35 years, the Chevrolet Camaro, went out of production following the 2002 model year, the Mustang enters 2003 stronger than ever. In addition to the base 3.8-liter OHV V-6 version, Mustangs can be had with 4.6-liter V-8s including the GT's 260-horsepower SOHC 16-valve version and the Mach 1 model with its 300-horsepower 32-valve DOHC unit. All three engines come in either hardtop or convertible bodies. However, the ultimate production Mustang is the SVT Cobra. John Coletti, chief engineer for Ford's Specialty Vehicle Team described the '03 Cobra best when he said "you open the throttle and get gratification on demand. It just goes!"..

2003 Ford Taurus SEL Premium

Since its introduction for the 1986 model year, the Taurus has, in its own low-key way, become one of the legendary nameplates in Blue Oval history. In a daring-at-the-time move, Ford used this eminently practical four-door to pioneer the aero look in modern family sedans. Since then, 5.7 million Tauruses have been sold, keeping the vehicle among America's best-selling passenger cars every year. The 2003 version doesn't break mass quantities of new ground, but it continues to deliver an even-more-refined mix of desirable elements at an affordable price...

2003 Ford Thunderbird

Cruising into its second year, Ford's Thunderbird appears to have shaken the start-up glitches that delayed many of last year's cars getting to their owners. A limited-production vehicle with a long waiting list of buyers is Catch-22 for any automaker. It's good to have people anxiously awaiting their cherished automobiles, but humans are impatient by nature. Ford wanted to assure quality for this eagerly anticipated car and delayed delivering many 2002 T-birds until the ubiquitous new-vehicle glitches were sorted and solved. Though it still suffered a few growing pains along the way, this revision of an American classic continues to garner awards and attention from the motoring press and the public...

2003 Ford Windstar

Though SUVs have lured droves of buyers with their rough-and-ready image, well-engineered minivans actually offer more practical virtue, given the way most people really drive. Granted, minivans are burdened with a decidedly non-trendy family image, but for people who can see the beauty within, there's a lot to like...

2003 GMC Envoy XL

When the Envoy was introduced in late 2001 as a 2002 model, the major fault of this all-new vehicle was that it didn't have a third row of seats and could only be ordered with a six-cylinder engine. However, buyers didn't have to wait long for a solution. By the summer of 2002, GMC had introduced a larger version called the Envoy XL that comes with three rows of seats to transport seven people and can be equipped with GM's venerable 5.3-liter V-8 engine for increased towing capacity over a regular Envoy...

2003 GMC Sierra 2500 Extended Cab

A work truck should have the hauling capacity, the ruggedness, and the sheer guts to take things to the places they need to be. That's all anyone can really ask from a work truck. But what happens at the end of the day, when the bed is empty of the concrete mixer, or the load of plywood, or whatever else you needed to get the job done? The ride home reminds you that it's not just about hauling anymore...

2003 GMC Yukon XL

There are few other vehicles that more advantageously benefit from electronic stability control than a full-sized sport-utility vehicle. Not because they are unwieldy or difficult to control, but because they're so big—and many drivers haven't a clue as to how to maintain control of a large vehicle, especially in an emergency situation. Admittedly, these large vehicles can be a handful for even the most experienced of drivers...

2003 Honda Accord Coupe EX V6

Honda's vision for its seventh-generation Accord was a fairly straightforward one: optimize its well-established practical qualities but add a long-overdue measure of pure visceral appeal to the mix. That mission was deemed particularly critical with respect to the two-door model. Whether its latest sheetmetal stylings went far enough remains open to debate, but there's precious little to fault in the comprehensive mechanical upgrading that's been wrought upon the rest of the package. Nowhere is that transformation more evident than in the hottest of the new Accords: the top-line Coupe EX V-6 with manual transmission. Easily the quickest, best-handling and most exciting variation on the basic theme ever to see a showroom, it picks up where the other two- and four-door models leave off, bringing a plethora of unique tweaks that turn it into even more of a driver's car...

2003 Honda Accord EX V-6 Sedan

High-stakes gambling can encompass many forms. In the auto game, the most pressure-packed roll of the dice involves making major changes to an extremely successful vehicle like the Accord. Regularly accounting for annual sales in excess of 400,000 units, this iconic middle-American road warrior remains the single most important player in Honda's corporate portfolio. With that kind of ante on the line, it's no surprise that recasting the sedan and coupe stablemates for the 7th time turned into one of the most ambitious programs in the company's history. Although our first encounter with the new Accord was confined to several prototype variants, it appears that Honda managed to tread an extremely critical path with remarkable finesse in moving this pivotal project from concept to reality...

2003 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan

Behind the wheel of the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid, we're reminded that this isn't just another gasoline-electric experiment, but rather an evolutionary step forward—like next-generation technology...

2003 Honda CR-V

Transforming an already-excellent sport-utility vehicle into a superior one was a demanding, if essential, task for Honda developers—but one they completely lived up to with the new-for-2002 CR-V. After its 1997 debut, the CR-V quickly reached the top of its class after its 1997 debut. Now, the second-generation CR-V has set an all-time sales record for 2002—and returns in 2003 with an additional color scheme and interior upgrades...

2003 Honda Insight CVT

Tussling for top honors in the cleanest, most fuel-efficient auto competition continues to take a variety of interesting twists. One of the slickest is the latest version of Honda's original Insight. Seeking to broaden its overall appeal, Honda recently began offering this petite two-seater with a CVT automatic as well as the conventional 5-speed manual gearbox fitted when the car first rolled onto the scene in 2000. Although this steplessly shifted Insight sacrifices a bit of pure performance, the added measure of convenience it affords in return is the kind of tradeoff that's proving popular with a goodly number of buyers...

2003 Honda Odyssey EX

America's love affair with the minivan may have abated somewhat over the last decade, but you surely couldn't prove that by Honda. While the firm didn't even enter the multi-purpose segment until 1996 with its original Odyssey, today it stands as one of the world's premier purveyors of people movers...

2003 Honda Pilot EX

Although Honda SUV owners are highly unlikely to misplace their Passports, a worthy replacement is awaiting anyone who wants to. Caught with its pants down at the dawn of last decade's SUV frenzy, Honda cut a deal with Isuzu in 1994 to re-badge and refine the Rodeo. This midsize SUV apparently served its purpose while the company developed its own active-family bookends, the compact CR-V and full-size Odyssey...

2003 Honda S2000

With a corporate design culture that prides itself on pushing technology, the S2000 roadster is the perfect image leader for Honda. While other manufacturers tend to escalate engine size in the pursuit of performance, Honda's approach is more minimalistic. And it makes the rear-drive S2000 possibly the most unusual sports car available today—at any price...

2003 Hummer H2

In truth, Hummer's new H2 is no baby unless you're thinking of an elephant. It weighs over three tons. But at less than half the price of the military-inspired, rather Spartan H1, the newcomer is surprisingly agile, comfortable, versatile and it's guaranteed to turn heads and provoke stares wherever you travel...

2003 Hyundai Santa Fe

When buyers purchased the first Korean cars imported to the U.S., during the 1980s, they assumed the build quality would be about as good as the established Japanese brands, but at a bargain price. Most were unpleasantly surprised to find they were not...

2003 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6

Here's what you mainly need to know about the Hyundai Sonata: Good car, great value, affordable price, and best warranty on the market. Go to the Hyundai web site, www.hyundaiusa.com, click onto the warranty section, and right there at the bottom of the explanation of the warranty coverage is this: "When Your Warranty Outlasts Your Car Payments, You WIN!" For budget-minded buyers—and who among us, really, doesn't have some sort of budget——the thought of the warranty outlasting the payments is a strong inducement to give this product a good look...

2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT V6

Introduced for the 1997 model year, Hyundai's Tiburon has struggled ever since to establish a market presence to match its elevated visual profile. With the all-new 2003 iteration, this front-drive 2+2 coupe may finally come into its own. For openers, the package has been improved in just about every way possible. Rounding out the deal, pricing remains in the same affordable vein that's become a Hyundai hallmark. Slightly larger inside and out, the Tiburon now offers a V-6 engine and 6-speed manual gearbox to sweeten the mix as well as revised styling that finally takes it out of the pointlessly quirky category...

2003 Infiniti FX45

Infiniti has always been a little out of step with rival luxury carmakers. Remember the first Q45? No grille, no wood interior trim, a brawny V-8 and an ad campaign, which featured rocks and trees but no product? The company is considerably more conventional these days, with 2002 sales reaching 87,911 units, and a broad, very competitive lineup that includes, not surprisingly, four sport/luxury sedans in varying sizes, a smart coupe and a sport utility—and now the FX45...

2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe

Raves were in order, and rightly so, when Infiniti launched the first model in its G-series, a hot 4-door sedan that blended great features, great performance and a great price. Now the division has come back with an even more stunning rejoinder—the new G35 Coupe. Sharing all key mechanicals with its sporty sedan sibling, this rakish romper puts a proper exclamation point on the program thanks to a 1-2 punch that opens with a more expansive dynamic envelope and follows through with an MSRP that still starts below $30K...

2003 Infiniti G35 Sedan

Judging from its burgeoning new-product portfolio, Nissan Motor Company has come back from its much-publicized near-death experience with a vengeance. The good news extends well into the firm's upline Infiniti channel as well. With the arrival of the G35, the I-Team begins an earnest assault on a new market segment: the midsize performance sedan...

2003 Infiniti M45

Continuing its relentless new-product barrage, Infiniti has unleashed yet another high-powered, premium-grade sedan with bona fide world-class performance credentials. Offering an impressive dynamic envelope, V-8 vigor at a V-6 price and a mega-roster of standard features, the new M45 has arrived on the scene ready, willing and extremely able to hold its own against competitors from all corners of the globe...

2003 Isuzu Ascender

In the sport-utility vehicle field, model names tend to last a while. Still, not many have hung on as long as the Trooper, which first appeared at Isuzu dealerships back in 1984. Finally, soon after the start of the 2003 model year, Isuzu has a brand-new replacement just about ready for sale. Named the Ascender, the seemingly full-size SUV was first unveiled at the New York Auto Show in March 2002. Isuzu's biggest and most powerful model ever, it's also claimed to be the only SUV in its class with a 10-year/120,000-mile powertrain warranty...

2003 Jaguar S-Type R

When it appeared in 1998, Jaguar's S-Type midsize sedan range seemed just what the doctor ordered: a modern reincarnation of the firm's popular '60s-era 3.8 Mark II sports saloon. Its curvaceous styling was a visual extension of the earlier model, but it was updated with all the "mod cons," including a Jaguar-ized Ford-based V-6 and, optionally, the XJ's 4.0-liter V-8. Enthusiasts welcomed the new car, as did upwardly mobile newcomers who now had an affordable new level of Jaguar to consider...

2003 Jaguar XK8 Convertible

Sweet. The word kept coming to mind as I was driving, testing and even just admiring the Jaguar XK8. Sweet looking, sweet handling, and sweet running. Not since the gorgeously svelte and sexy XKE (or E-Type) introduced in 1961 has Jaguar, the venerable British luxury/sports-car maker (now part of Ford Motor Company's Premium Automotive Group, which includes Aston Martin, Land Rover and Volvo), offered such a sensuously beautiful driving machine...

2003 Jeep Liberty V6 4x4

The SUV landscape has changed radically since 1984—a reality that didn't go unnoticed by Jeep and parent company DaimlerChrysler. In recent years, car-based mini SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV have established firm footholds. But, that's changed for people who want the on-road capability of the wannabes but with the rock-climbing courage of a genuine Jeep. For 2003, the Liberty receives a new overhead console, available 6-disc in-dash CD player and auto-dimming interior and driver's side mirrors, plus standard sliding sun visors...

2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Nobody has ever questioned the off-road capabilities of the Jeep Wrangler. Properly outfitted, this hard-as-nails, single-minded SUV can tackle the toughest terrain. Superb in the dirt, but not specifically suited for the street, the Wrangler has been a favorite of four-wheelers for years. Trouble is, to push the envelope off-road and go well beyond where a stock Jeep can go, you have to add a number of driveline upgrades such as lockers, bigger axles and lower gears—and these items are expensive and sometimes difficult to install. Not anymore, though—enter the Wrangler Rubicon...

2003 Kia Optima SE V-6

Though the Optima is destined to play against a host of well-established competitors in one of the most cutthroat market segments, this stylish, well-built four-door offers an attractive roster of standards and a price that significantly undercuts a comparably equipped Toyota Camry, Honda Accord or Ford Taurus...

2003 Kia Rio

One can't help but be leery of any product that touts being the "lowest-priced available in America." When that item happens to be a new car, the matter takes on an even greater degree of significance. (Just ask anyone who'll admit to being even remotely involved with the ill-conceived Yugo experiment.)..

2003 Kia Sedona

Value has been the key to Kia's success. Ever since the South Korean manufacturer began trickling cars into the U.S. market in 1994, its products have promised an appealing selection of features at prices well below the competitions'...

2003 Kia Sorento

When is a Japanese sport-utility vehicle not a Japanese sport-utility vehicle? When it's the new 2003 Kia Sorento. Upon its introduction, Kia's executive vice president and chief operating officer Peter Butterfield said "The Sorento will set a new standard for value in the midsize SUV segment," and he wasn't kidding. The best thing about the Sorento is that it's about the same size as a Toyota Highlander, yet costs thousands less. The Sorento starts right at $20,000, while a base model Highlander goes for just under $24,000...

2003 Land Rover Discovery

My guess is that those who buy the Land Rover Discovery are going to do so for one of two basic reasons: its raw capability or its rugged image...

2003 Land Rover Range Rover HSE

The night air is crisp in northern Scotland, where the winter winds come across the firth and blow sheets of rain at a 45-degree angle to the ground. Ensconced inside the upscale cabin of the newest Range Rover, I'm comfortable and warm. I realize that I have everything I need at the moment at my finger tips, and a world-class four-wheel-drive course below my tires. I even have a picnic backpack filled with scones and the makings for piping-hot tea or coffee. What more could a girl want?..

2003 Lexus ES 300

Time has continued to blur the boundary between entry-level luxury and its full-on counterpart. One of the clearest-cut examples of this new reality is the Lexus ES 300. A comprehensive makeover for the 2002 model year elevated this striking midsize sedan into a delightful netherworld. It gained numerous trappings that befit the Lexus flagship, LS 430, while retaining its price point at 2001 levels. Along with enhancing status among its peer set, these changes helped the ES 300 remain Lexus' best-selling passenger car. The good news carries over for 2003, where it picks up another premium-grade option in the form of a power-adjustable pedal set...

2003 Lexus GX 470

When it comes to playing new-product poker, few have been able to match the enviable record established by the folks at Lexus. For 2003, they've raised the ante on the SUV side of their game with this slick little number, the GX 470. Scaled and priced to fit comfortably between the existing RX 300 and LX 470, it neatly fills an inside straight—and makes Lexus the first luxury marque to offer three different flavors of upline sport-utility vehicles as part of its portfolio...

2003 Lexus IS 300 SportCross

In today's automotive world, practical chic is where it's at. Leading the charge in that direction is a variety of new vehicles that combine equal parts of utility and style. One of the newest faces to join this burgeoning group of multifaceted people-movers is the Lexus IS 300 SportCross. Sharing basic architecture with the IS 300 sedan, the SportCross offers even more visual impact to complement its additional flexibility...

2003 Lexus LS 430

Raising the bar is no small accomplishment. Even the second-generation Lexus LS 400 luxury sedan inhabited some pretty rarefied territory. Its redesign—and redesignation—as the 2001 LS 430 gave this flagship 4-door of Toyota's luxury division even more of what many of us didn't know we needed until we saw it. The LS 430 promptly proceeded to establish a host of new benchmarks for the class...

2003 Lexus LX 470

Although still best known for as a purveyor of premium-grade passenger cars, Lexus has wasted no time in becoming a major player in the luxury SUV side of the game as well. While most of the limelight will be accorded its all-new GX 470, which nestles midway between the RX 300 and LX 470, the division's full-size offering also benefits from a series of functional and cosmetic upgrades for 2003. In addition to subtle visual and not-so-subtle mechanical improvements, the latest edition of this ultra-spec on-/off-roader boasts several new wrinkles in the area of creature comforts that keep it fully in step with the rest of the divisions upscale offerings...

2003 Lexus SC 430

Lexus built its enviable reputation on quality and quiet. It did such a brilliant job in the process that the name has virtually become synonymous with luxury in the minds of American car buyers. With last year's introduction of the SC 430, Toyota's premium division successfully infused that slightly constricting definition with some genuine emotion. Chief engineer Yasushi Nakagawa calls the head-turning, top-dropping, hardtop convertible the "jewel of Lexus." Part Lexus LS luxury sedan with the underpinnings of the GS sport sedan, this formidable combo is capped with sheetmetal that ensures the SC 430 will make a dramatic entrance regardless of whether it's in closed or open mode...

2003 Lincoln Aviator

Say you crave an SUV, but not one that drives like a truck. You want the SUV "look" but not the big-truck bulk and buck. You also want some lux and plush and loads of features, but you need the utility to haul or tow all your stuff. Like Little Red Riding Hood, you want an SUV that's not too big, not too small, not too hard, and not too soft—you want one that's just right...

2003 Lincoln LS

You've really got to hand it to these Lincoln folks. First they decide to revamp their product image from traditional American plush to powerful, responsive, rewarding-to-drive luxury with a touch of sport. Then, just to show they're not kidding around, they bring out a very credible BMW 5 Series competitor, the Lincoln LS, which won a slew of awards and accolades from the motoring press following its debut in 1999 as a 2000 model. Now, for 2003, they've redone the Town Car and Navigator, introduced the excellent new midsize Aviator SUV and further refined and improved the LS...

2003 Lincoln Navigator

Testing the first Navigator in 1997, I was followed by a woman in a Lincoln Town car. After she flashed and honked repeatedly, I stopped...

2003 Lincoln Town Car

The Lincoln Town Car has become the icon of American luxury. Not only does it offer opulent transportation for the private-party owner, it's a stalwart of the limousine industry. In some form or another, a Town Car has liveried many Americans to or from the prom, a wedding or an airport...

2003 Maserati Spyder GT

Following an absence of twelve years, the prestigious marque Maserati returns to North America in a luxurious way. Maserati brings two automobiles that exude the classic design, exciting driving and luxurious interiors we have fond memories of from more than a decade ago...

2003 Maybach 57 and 62

With the globe on the brink of possible economic malaise, three major automakers are bravely introducing the most luxurious and expensive cars in their company's history. It feels like 1929-30 all over again. But, instead of the legendary Duesenberg J Straight Eight, Cadillac's V-16 and the Marmon Sixteen, altogether we'll soon have the Bentley coupe and a new sedan (Bentley is now owned by Volkswagen), the Rolls-Royce Phantom (created by its new owner, BMW) and the Maybach 57 and 62, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz...

2003 Mazda MPV ES

It's tough to grab much attention when you're not the big dog in any pack—literally or figuratively. That adage has proven particularly true when applied to the minivan segment, a subset that's been acutely impacted over the past decade by the rising popularity of SUVs and car-based crossovers...

2003 Mazda RX8

Mazda's history of sports car design and production began in 1967 with the Cosmo Sport. This low-slung, two-door sports car was powered by a unique, compact and strong powerplant into which Mazda invested its faith, and even its life-blood—the rotary engine. In the years since the launch of the Cosmo Sport, Mazda has continued to pursue rotary engine technology in an effort to bring the delight of driving a sports car powered by something other than a piston-driven vehicle to as many drivers as possible...

2003 Mazda Truck B4000 Dual Sport Cab Plus 4

Following a largely carryover year in 2000, Mazda made some significant strides in the powertrain and packaging departments and recently tossed in a few cosmetic upgrades for good measure. We decided to check out one of the more trick B-Series variants: a B4000 Dual Sport Cab Plus 4 model. Base-priced at $20,095, our tester was fitted with the optional automatic transmission ($1,000) and the $595 Convenience Package (keyless remote, bedliner, power mirrors and a sliding rear window), bumping its MSRP up to $22,095...

2003 Mazda6 Sedan

Mazda's 626 midsize sedan has long been a sales footnote to category volume leaders like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Never quite large, powerful or distinctive enough, not as sporty as the VW Passat or Nissan Maxima, or as well rounded as the new Altima, the 626 soldiered on through several unimpressive reiterations, barely competing despite big discounting and, thus, not achieving much volume. Despite Ford Motor Company's underlying support, Mazda hasn't been given the budget nor has it had the sales base to justify investing in this class. But its management always knew that to be a player, their mid-level entry had to be more than simply "me too."..

2003 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan

Mercedes-Benz has done an exceptionally good job at marketing the C-Class line of sedans since the current generation debuted in late 2000 as a 2001 model. Entering 2003, the lineup consisted of three sedan models: the base model C240 with its 168 horsepower 2.6 liter V-6; C320 powered by a 215 horsepower 3.2 liter V-6; and the high performance C32 AMG complete with a 349 horsepower supercharged 3.2 liter V-6. This grouping proved so popular with Mercedes-Benz fans that sales rose 25% during 2002 over 2001 levels...

2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK 500

Secretly, I'm convinced there are a bunch of Mercedes-Benz engineers in Stuttgart who would rather be working for BMW a few hundred miles south in Munich because every so often they surface with a car that could be a Bimmer and probably makes the Bavarians very nervous. This is one of them...

2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the company's bread-and-butter car. And, if you think that's a misnomer for an automobile that costs nearly $50,000 in its basic V-6 form and jumps ten percent more when it's equipped with an even more powerful V-8, consider this: The E-Class represents one fourth of Mercedes-Benz's volume, and it's been the company's mainstay since 1953, with over 8.8 million vehicles produced. You could also argue that it's too expensive to be a great value, but I'd disagree...

2003 Mercedes-Benz E320

I never thought I'd type into my computer the price "$46,950," and refer to it as a bargain. However, to quote an obscure philosopher I once knew, "Hear me now and believe me later." The 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 is a steal at this price. While this amount could get you two Toyota Camrys or Honda Accords, there's nothing like getting an all-new Mercedes-Benz model packed with technological features and luxury amenities for $1,500 less than last year's model...

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500

It was December 11, 2000. About nine months before the outside world would lay eyes on the new creation. I was one of only 20 journalists invited to Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany for a preview of future Mercedes models. We were ushered into a large room, empty except for 10 cars parked in a semi-circle and covered by silk sheets. Our host for the evening was the head of Mercedes-Benz, Prof. Jÿrgen Hubbert. He led us from car to car, uncovering and explaining the finer points of each as he went. We listened attentively to his description of the first nine; however, I had traveled halfway round the world to see the 10th and final car. Even though no photos had been released of this car, it was impossible to hide the shape of the sexy sports car that lay beneath the thin wrap. Without any fanfare or fancy production, Prof. Hubbert yanked the cloak off to reveal possibly the most beautiful Mercedes production car any of us had ever seen—the 2003 SL500...

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

Mercedes-Benz shocked the sports car world in the early '50s when the first fuel-injected 300SL Gullwing coupes arrived and began winning races almost overnight. A roadster version soon followed, as did the 190SL, a smaller, more affordable 4-cylinder variant designed to appeal to women. Seeking increased sales, SLs have since gradually become less innovative, fatter, softer and race-uninspired. By the time the plush 560SLs left the scene in 1989, older (wealthier) men and Beverly Hills trophy wives favored the model...

2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG

Don't let the SLK32 AMG's relatively diminutive size fool you. Working in concert with its in-house schnellmeisters, Mercedes has transformed this modestly scaled 2-seat convertible coupe into one intensely serious street stomper. Still capable of cruising docilely while waiting to spring into action, it undergoes an immediate and definitive Jeckyll-to-Hyde conversion the moment your right foot mashes the accelerator pedal to the floor...

2003 Mercury Marauder

This dressed-in-black modern musclecar, available soon from your Lincoln-Mercury dealer, is as much a message as a product. "Don't count Mercury out!" it asserts. The brand may have grown old and stodgy in recent years—some have predicted it would soon go away like Plymouth and Oldsmobile—but suddenly it's striving toward a more youthful respectability...

2003 MINI Cooper S/John Cooper Works Edition

2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS

While many of us grew up with traditional pony cars such as Mustang, Camaro and Firebird, today's young people still gravitate toward this kind of inexpensive, fun-to-drive mode of personal transportation such as the Honda Civic and Subaru WRX. But, another favorite of the mosh pit crowd is the aggressively styled Mitsubishi Eclipse...

2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII

Belle Rose, Louisiana, is located about 35 miles Southwest of New Orleans, halfway to Baton Rouge. There's a small but challenging, 1.8-mile long racetrack there called, believe it or not, No Problem Raceway Park. Our test car was the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII. As luck would have it, it was raining those proverbial cats and dogs. You wouldn't want to be on public roads in this kind of weather, let alone on a track—and be expected to wring out a sports sedan packing one horsepower for every 11.9 pounds. For the record, that's about the same power-to-weight ratio as a Nissan 350Z. We'll tell you how we fared in a few paragraphs...

2003 Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi is a latecomer to the ever-growing crossover-vehicle market. However, its presence reinforces that this segment will continue to thrive for the foreseeable future...

2003 Nissan 350Z

Sometimes there's more to automotive life than mere sales numbers. One needs look no further than Nissan's iconic Z car for proof. Its departure from the U.S. market in 1996 had, at best, modest impact on the automaker's revenues. The rather gaping conceptual hole it left in the lineup was a different matter altogether. Thankfully, that palpable void is being filled for '03. The all-new 350Z has rolled onto the scene with all of the necessary elements to write its own illustrious chapter in what already stands as a legendary saga...

2003 Nissan Frontier King Cab S/C 4x2

Supercharging for trucks is not new, but certainly adds an aura of upscale performance to an otherwise proletariat pickup. Witness the success of Ford's F-150 Lightning. The company sells all it can build of that limited edition model. Nissan conjured up some of the same marketing magic for its smaller Frontier, powered by a V-6 instead of a V-8 found in the full-size F-150. The question is, does this waving of the performance wand truly transform the Frontier, or is it just a lot of hocus-pocus?..

2003 Nissan Murano

And still they come. Car-based sport utilities like the Lexus RX 300 (soon to be RX 330), Acura MDX, and Volvo XC90 are the hottest stars of the still-expanding SUV segment. And Nissan's razor-edged new Murano combines all the ingredients needed for class success. Bundled with technical innovations like a new, continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmission and clever use of lightweight materials, and distinguished with bold, dramatic styling, the unit-bodied Murano is a 'damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead' design statement that's become typical of the company's new direction...

2003 Nissan Pathfinder

Nissan's range of SUVs is a microcosm of the SUV market in general. At the entry level is the rough-and-ready Xterra; for the sportier segment there's the stylish, car-based Murano; and to run with the big dogs, look for the Armada coming out soon, which is based on Nissan's new full-sized Titan pickup. So how does the midsize Pathfinder fit into this melange?..

2003 Pontiac Grand Am SE2

Despite its rather unassuming nature, the compact Grand Am has proven a remarkably resilient bastion of Pontiac market presence. Perennial winner of the P-team's annual consumer popularity contest, it's also maintained a place of honor in the Top 10 best-selling passenger-car list for over a decade. Seeking to extend that enviable record, this hearty mainstay received a much-needed mini-makeover for '03. A key element in that tactical transition involved the reintroduction of a new high-content/high-value SE2 variant. Last seen in 2000, it rejoins the existing Grand Am SE/SE1 and GT/GT1 4-door models and GT/GT1 coupes...

2003 Pontiac Montana

For the 2003 model year, an extended wheelbase version is now available with the Special Value package Montana. A new 60/40 split-folding second-row bench seat is standard on regular- and extended-wheelbase SV models, and features an integral child seat. All Montana models now offer one year of OnStar's Safe and Sound service at no cost. Olympic White joins Montana's choices of exterior colors for 2003. Instead of the usual front-drive configuration of the typical minivan, Montana can be equipped with the transparent Versatrak all-wheel-drive system...

2003 Pontiac Sunfire Coupe

Last updated for the 2000 season and facing ever more intense competitive peer pressure, Pontiac has given its subcompact Sunfire a host of significant improvements for the new year in an attempt to put a sharper focus on this youth-oriented player. While both the sedan and GT coupe have been dropped from the lineup, a broad range of cosmetic and functional tweaks add a bit of new sparkle to the reformulated baseline two-door. Three basic packages are available for '03, each bringing more standards plus a selection of new options...

2003 Pontiac Vibe

A white-haired gent was sitting at one of those arcade-sized video games, racing a virtual rally car over, around, and sometimes through obstacles. He was obviously enjoying every second of this awkward juxtaposition—an old guy playing a teenager's game. But the scene didn't seem so odd after we spent some time behind the wheel of the 2003 Pontiac Vibe, a car designed for the youngest of new-car buyers, but a car that should have a very practical appeal to a much wider demographic...

2003 Porsche Boxster S

Porsche believes that with the introduction of the 2003 Boxster and Boxster S they have resurrected the lost art of going for a drive. We believe this art may have just been in remission, never really lost—particularly with Porsche—and especially with the Boxster S...

2003 Saab 9-3 Vector

Move over BMW 3 Series, Volvo S60 and Audi A4; here comes Saab's new 9-3 sport sedan (yes, we said sedan)...

2003 Saturn ION Sedan

Saturn's got a brand new model and it's not a moment too soon. The venerable Saturn S-Series bowed in 1990 and soldiered on seemingly forever. Despite generic, dated-from-the-outset styling and a noisy engine, Saturn's brilliant, down-homey ads by Hal Riney & Partners (sadly, no longer the company's agency) created a warm, fuzzy feeling about the brand that inspired owners to sing its praises and make an annual pilgrimage to the factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee. But a warm, fuzzy pilgrimage, handsome, dedicated Saturn stores, cheerful sales folk and semi-fixed, no-dicker pricing can only go so far when everyone else is updating their wares and you're not. To my mind, the second round L-Series was so generic that the cars could have all been painted white with a prominent bar code affixed to the door panels. The new VUE sport-utility has helped a bit, but this is a car company, right?..

2003 Saturn LW300 Wagon

Have you noticed all the L-Series Saturns buzzing around these days? Neither have I. Not that they aren't out there in reasonable numbers—nearly 100,000 a year since 2000—in the happy hands of satisfied customers. It's just that they are not very noticeable...

2003 Subaru Baja

While not yet in the same league as Toyota or Honda when it comes to sheer sales numbers, Subaru has proven uncannily adept at exploiting niche automotive markets. The latest in the firm's ongoing line of dare-to-be-different offerings is the Baja, a contemporary carryall that fuses sedan civility and mini-pickup capability with a reconfigurable passenger/cargo area. Directly descended from Subaru's ST-X concept vehicle first seen at the 2000 North American International Auto Show, the Baja nevertheless begs inevitable comparisons between itself and its considerably quirkier and less-sophisticated forebear, the Brat...

2003 Subaru Forester

Back in 1997, Subaru (known at the time for its tough little Outback station wagons) raised the roof with the first Forester. Subaru hoped to find at least 30,000 people who might like a vehicle that drove like a car—albeit a car—with the sure-footedness of all-wheel-drive and the utility and roominess of a compact SUV. Last year, 56,000 people bought Foresters, and now hundreds of thousands of us are driving crossover vehicles produced by virtually every automaker except Ferrari...

2003 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT

Subaru is known for its cleverly designed and cleverly marketed Outback models and respected in World and Pro Rally circles for its outrageously quick and agile Impreza WRX turbocharged small sedan. Those who know Subaru also know that every vehicle in its U.S. line, from base Impreza to luxurious Outback H6 sedan and wagon, boasts full-time all-wheel drive—which helps explain why Subaru sells more AWD passenger cars than anyone else in America. They might also know the impressive diversity of products that Subaru derives from just two basic platforms...

2003 Toyota 4Runner Limited V-8

One of the cornerstones of the compact SUV segment takes a major leap forward for '03 as Toyota's popular 4Runner grows up in just about every way imaginable. With a more people-friendly package, optional V-8 engine and enhanced on- /off-road dynamic characteristics, this all-new iteration promises to have an even greater impact in one of the most intensely competitive segments in the market today. Even the lineup itself has expanded, with a new Sport variant joining the SR5 and premium-level Limited models...

2003 Toyota Camry SE

Attempting to fix something that ain't broke is always a risky proposition. When you're talking about messing with the best-selling Toyota Camry, the prospect of unwarranted tinkering takes on far greater gravity. In recasting its ultra-successful, 5th-generation Camry for the 2002 model year, Toyota confronted multiple—and often contradictory—goals. Aside from mere practical considerations, the engineering team led by Kosaku Yamada was charged with imparting a new sense of style and emotion to the mix—no small feat in a market segment that's notoriously conservative in its de facto automotive tastes. We've recently sampled the 2003 Camry in all of its flavors. While concentrating on the sporty SE variant, our extended seat time in all versions led to one overriding conclusion on the undertaking: It worked. Big time...

2003 Toyota Corolla LE

It's not like the Corolla was in trouble. Since debuting in 1966, it's been on a sustained juggernaut through the small-car ranks, racking up over 28 million sales worldwide and reigning as autodom's all-time best-selling nameplate. Even with a new version waiting in the wings, the outgoing Corolla still managed to sell over 245,000 units in the U.S. alone last year...

2003 Toyota Highlander Limited 4WD

With their uniquely versatile personalities, crossovers continue to carve out an ever-expanding market niche. One of the hottest new players on the scene is the Highlander, which first appeared for the 2001 season. Offering a choice of front- or all-wheel drive (which Toyota markets as 4WD), four- or six-cylinder power and a package sized and priced to actually serve the needs rather than the mere whims of potential customers, it's hardly surprising that this flexible, midsize hauler managed to rack up sales of almost 90,000 units during that inaugural year. Bolstered by several modest interior tweaks that added even more functionality to the mix, that figure climbed by roughly 25% in 2002. Although unchanged for '03, the Highlander still looks and feels more than ready to hold its own in what has become an incredibly competitive segment...

2003 Toyota Matrix XR

No matter what you call them, crossover vehicles have been popping up at a fast and furious clip of late. But to keep from getting lost in the mix, a newcomer to this burgeoning market segment must possess a full measure of the "right stuff." While it's still a bit too early to know how Toyota's latest offering will fare in the long run, a week behind the wheel of the new Matrix left us convinced that it comes well prepared to do battle...

2003 Toyota RAV4 L 4x4

In today's SUV market, bigger-is-better has become an all-too-familiar rallying cry. Spurred on by profit margins that rise in tantalizing lockstep with the physical scale of these super-utes, manufacturers have been only too happy to indulge the whims of customers who believe that the road to true happiness can only be negotiated in a vehicle whose curb weight and footprint dimension rivals those of a small condominium. Thankfully, saner minds do prevail in certain parts of the realm. For those who feel that form really should follow function when it comes to right-sizing a sport utility—and things like gasoline prices and garageability really do matter—Toyota offers its petite yet practical RAV4...

2003 Toyota Sienna XLE

Despite being under constant siege by SUVs and crossovers, the traditional minivan still makes incredible sense to plenty of folks whose vehicle acquisition processes are ruled by logic rather than emotion. Buyers who place top priority on a transport module that offers comfort, room and near-passenger car drivability will find a good deal to like about Toyota's current minivan offering, the Sienna. This 7-passenger people mover is available in CE and LE trim levels as well as the top-line XLE we tested. All three are front-drive, feature laden and carry 5-star front-crash ratings from NHTSA in addition to their other notable qualities...

2003 Toyota Solara SE V-6

Since rolling onto the scene for the '99 season, the Solara has been hard-pressed to carve out its own little niche in the overall Camry legacy. It's not for lack of trying. Originally a coupe-only offering, Solara is now available in both hard and soft-top variants, two impressively well-appointed trim levels, with a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines, manual and automatic transmissions. Furthermore, it has the somewhat uncommon ability—for a vehicle of its kind—to comfortably carry adults in both its front and rear seats. But with the high-volume Camry sedan firmly entrenched as the perpetual favorite son in the family, this stylish two-door has been cast in a clear supporting role...

2003 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab PreRunner 4x2 V6

For some folks, appearance is everything. Other more discerning buyers demand a serious helping of substance as well. With its Tacoma compact pickup, Toyota has managed to pack plenty of both in a package that can be custom tailored to appeal to a whole spectrum of buyers. One of the most successful variations on the theme of late has been the PreRunner. This sporty-looking/sporty-feeling 2WD has the visual character—and when properly equipped, similar operational capability—of a full-on 4WD Tacoma, but it rolls in at a substantially lower price point. As a group, PreRunners presently account for about a third of the total Tacoma mix. Leading the charge is the Double Cab V6 variant we drove, which makes up fully half of that volume...

2003 Toyota Tundra SR5 Stepside 4x4 V8

Time was when pickup trucks were largely utilitarian—functional in design, sparing in creature comforts and rough in the ride. Now that they outsell sedans, however, the lines have blurred. The Toyota Tundra is a prime case in point, a vehicle that's all truck, but not without a sense of style and, dare we say, even some grace. The clearest example of this shift is the new Stepside option, which gives the typically boxy cargo area some curvaceous styling that's so alluring it deserves a design award. The standard slab-sided bed is still available, but for the truck enthusiast who wants an exotic look, here's your pickup...

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet

After a long wait, Volkswagen finally introduces the New Beetle Convertible for 2003 and—not surprisingly—it's as cute as, well, you know, a bug...

2003 Volkswagen Passat Sedan

What do you call a midsize car that exudes sheer excellence all around? You could easily call it "Passat"—one of the smoothest-riding, most-refined and comfortable automobiles of its class on the road today. "In the past, the midsize category has been somewhat boring," said Stefan Krebsfanger, Volkswagen's manager of product strategy. With a history in the U.S. dating back to 1990, the Passat initiated a notion of what Frank Maguire, vice president of sales and marketing, calls "family-size cars with attitude and flair."..

2003 Volvo C70 Convertible

Some cars just capture your fancy—and this beautiful Volvo convertible certainly did. Not long ago, reading the words "beautiful" and "Volvo" in the same sentence would have been unlikely. With a few exceptions (remember the pretty P-1800 sporty coupe—), Swedish-built Volvos through the years have been perceived only as solid, safe and reliable transportation appliances, about as blocky as the boxes they were shipped in. Unlike the quirky, high-personality Swedish Saabs, Volvos were also conventionally driven by their rear wheels...

2003 Volvo S80 T6 Elite

Volvo celebrated its diamond jubilee in the automotive business last year with a limited-production variation of its flagship sedan known as the 75th Anniversary Edition S80. Renamed the S80 T6 Elite for '03 and gaining a few new added upscale touches in the process, this range-topping exercise deftly interweaves subtle visual cues with a tour de force of technology and backs its elegant ambiance with a serious performance punch...

2003 Volvo XC90 AWD T6

Losing a sale is never fun for any automaker. It's one thing when customers are disenchanted with the basic design or quality of your vehicles. It's quite another matter when owners start to walk simply because they want something you're not offering...

2003.5 MAZDASPEED Protegé

Following the recent success of several small performance cars such as the Ford Focus SVT and the Honda Civic Si, Mazda has updated the tunerized version of its popular Protegé sedan it calls MAZDASPEED Protegé. This mid-year car comes on the heels of the 2003 model, which was a high-performance version of the earlier Protegé MP3—a sport compact with lots of style and attitude, but no grunt to back it up. Frankly, the 2003.5 version is really the same as the 2003 save for several cosmetic and interior changes—all of which are welcome...