Automedia.com - Reviews - 2004 Articles

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?..

2004 Acura 3.5 RL

We'd like to get one thing straight right up front about the Acura RL: We like it and have no problem admitting so. There are some media outlets that have tested the RL in recent years that have had some downright nasty things to say about the biggest and most expensive Acura sold. We do not fall into this category. Now, this isn't because we think the RL is perfect, because it's not. We think it's a pretty good car that unfortunately falls behind the competition in a couple of important areas. Let us explain...

2004 Acura TL

In the sport sedan world, if there's one make that's been a constant target all the others have been gunning for, it's BMW. For a long time, it seemed the Japanese brands were content to go for the luxury buyers, but stayed away from the enthusiasts who coveted the blue and white roundel that sits proudly on the nose of the best from Bavaria. That is until recently. The first bona fide volley fired into the heart of Europe was Infiniti's G35 sedan. With 260 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, and the handling and ride to match the best the Germans have to offer—all at a significantly lower price—it has been a stunning success. Now, we have our next challenger, equally impressive and a confirmed competitor—the 2004 Acura TL sedan...

2004 Acura TSX

Designed and priced to brazenly take on the entry-lux sport sedan competition, the all-new Acura TSX blends race-bred performance and advanced technology with an aggressive, efficient exterior—backed by a power-list of standard amenities and safety features...

2004 Audi A8 L

Quick, how many luxury car names do you know? First to mind might be the German Mercedes-Benz and BMW brands, followed by Cadillac, the leading American make. Then might follow the Japanese Lexus, British Jaguar, domestic Lincoln, and Infiniti, another Japanese luxury brand. In whatever order you call out the list, all but forgotten by most Americans is Audi, the third high-roller German marque. Long affiliated with Volkswagen and Porsche, Audi has come on strong lately with a growing palette of beautifully designed cars, from the bubble-shaped TT roadster or coupe to the quick and agile A4, A6 and RS 6 sport sedans, on up the model line to their high-tech and sophisticated, long-wheelbase flagship sedan—the A8 L...

2004 Audi S4

Whoever said, "good things come in small packages" would be delighted with this cheeky little Audi. Although Audis have won countless races worldwide, including a vaunted "three-peat" at Le Mans, BMW's M-Sport M3 and Mercedes-Benz's C36 AMG are more often the choice of enthusiasts when it comes to writing big checks for small sport coupes and sedans. That could change. With its new S4, Audi makes a serious statement. Eschewing their usual twin-turbo V-6 solution, the factory engineers shoehorned a downsized 340-hp 4.2-liter V-8 into their smallest (U.S.-available) sedan. The result is an all-wheel-drive road rocket in the tradition of Audi's vaunted, Pike's Peak-winning Quattros...

2004 BMW 330Ci Coupe

Even though the tag line of "Ultimate Driving Machine" is hooked up to BMW's entire offering, to the enthusiasts out there it seems best connected to the 3 Series coupes. This is where the qualities of nimble size, great handling and wonderful all-around performance mix into a blend that's about as smoothly ideal as driving can get. And, really, it's the top end of the 3 Series coupes, the 330Ci, which really nails down the concept of an ultimate drive...

2004 BMW 530i

When BMW's first mid-range sedan went on sale in the U.S. in 1968, the company's clever importer, Park Avenue-based Max Hoffman, astutely packaged as many desirable features as he could, mounted a distinctive "Bavaria" badge on the decklid, priced the car under $5,000 and began raking in the money. Earlier Hoffman had persuaded the BMW factory to shoehorn a 2-liter engine into its agile little 1600 2-door sedan. The resulting BMW 2002 put the once-struggling Munich firm squarely on the U.S. map. The Bavaria that followed, a neatly sized 3-liter sedan, was the frosting on the strudel. From the beginning, the range that evolved into the BMW 5 Series set high standards for rival sport sedans. The newest version ensures the same...

2004 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 and 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...

2004 BMW X3

BMW basically invented the sport sedan/utility crossover with its 2000 X5, creatively calling it a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). The idea was to marry the performance and agility of a sport sedan with the image and utility of an SUV. The result, a tallish all-wheel-drive sport wagon, which can negotiate dry-road corners as well as on- and off-road ice, slush and mud...

2004 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 Z4, BMW has taken one of its boldest step ever in this genre. Determined not to produce a mere Mk II version of its Z3, the firm totally recast its U.S.-built offering for 2003. The result was 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. The 2004 Z4 continues to inspire with virtually no changes except for some minor refinements...

2004 Buick Rainier

Celebrating its centennial year, Buick adds a second sport-utility vehicle to its lineup. Unlike the smaller Rendezvous, which ranks as a "crossover" model, the new Rainier is an unabashed truck-based SUV. Featuring full-frame construction, the latest Buick is based upon GM's midsize SUV architecture, also used for the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and Oldsmobile Bravada. In fact, Buick is essentially easing into the luxury-oriented spot currently occupied by the Bravada, which will fade away next year...

2004 Cadillac CTS

If you haven't already tossed aside any preconceived notion you have about small Cadillacs, now would be a good time. Forget Cimarron. Forget Catera. The only thing Cadillac's smart 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 its bigger, plusher brethren...

2004 Cadillac SRX

Industry observers didn't take Cadillac very seriously when it set out a few years ago to boost its products and image to a level fully competitive with today's top-rung luxury imports. For most of its existence, Cadillac was the "Standard of the World." But in the '80s and '90s, General Motors allowed its once-proud luxury marque to slip in styling, engineering, quality and, as a result, reputation and sales to a level well below the best. About four years ago, however, under then general manager (now Group VP, North American Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing) John F. Smith, the decision was made to invest the money and effort necessary to elevate GM's Cadillac brand back to its rightful place at the top of the luxury heap...

2004 Cadillac XLR

The first sign of Cadillac's bold new design direction appeared at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in January 1999 as the angular, edgy and aggressive-looking Evoq concept car—one of five GM concepts shown that year—and by far the best. The dramatically styled and techniclly advanced 2004 Cadillac XLR is the evolution of that concept...

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier LS Sedan

File this generation Cavalier under "Pleasant Surprises." Most new cars and trucks are pretty darn good these days, and many turn out better than expected. But the 2004 Cavalier, significantly updated in '03, is by far one of the most pleasant surprises of late. Recent Cavaliers in general have been good cars—not great or class-leading but good, solid, reliable and an excellent value for money...

2004 Chevrolet Colorado

One TV spot has a guy in a new Colorado chasing a mountain lion cross country, bounding wildly over rocks and between trees, until he gets close enough to reach out and smack the fleeing cat on the head. "You're it," he says. The lion looks him in the eye, gathers itself up, and then charges toward him. The guy floors the truck and races away with the cat in hot pursuit. "Look how fun, fast, agile and rugged this pickup can be," this entertaining ad is telling us...

2004 Chevrolet Impala SS

For the past four decades, Chevrolet has periodically used the "SS" (Super Sport) suffix to designate special high-performance models. The heritage of the Impala nameplate stretches back even further to the top-of-the-line 1958 model that set the stage for performance-oriented luxury passenger cars. An Impala SS option group followed in 1961, taking Chevrolet into the opening days of the musclecar era. Soon, the Impala SS became a distinct model, avidly sought by high-performance fans who liked the idea of vigorous V-8 power in a full-size automobile...

2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Like other model designations in the Chevrolet lineup, the Monte Carlo badge goes back quite a long way. Chevrolet introduced the first Monte Carlo right in the midst of the "musclecar" era as a personal-luxury coupe with rear-wheel drive and a mighty V-8 engine...

2004 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 boasts the segment's most powerful engine lineup—your choice of a 300-hp 6.0-liter Vortec V-8, a 330-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. For vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and the Duramax diesel, horsepower is increased to 310 and torque gets a monster boost to 590 lb.-ft. 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)...

2004 Chevrolet Silverado SS

We remember a time when Chevrolet built true performance cars for families. The hottest of them carried the "SS" badge, which stands for Super Sport. We're talking Impalas and Chevelles, including the 1961 Impala, the first Chevrolet to carry the SS moniker. The kinds of cars that average guys drove to work and moms drove to the market—but with a little kick under the hood. Well, evidently, Chevrolet also remembers those days. However, instead of sedans, most of today's families are roaring around in pickup trucks and SUVs. To provide these households with the kind of performance edge enjoyed during the bygone era, Chevrolet has introduced the Silverado SS...

2004 Chevrolet SSR

It was 1998 when GM Design Vice President Wayne Cherry started thinking about a unique "halo" vehicle to pump up excitement around the Chevrolet brand. A halo vehicle, while seldom selling in great volume itself, creates excitement and showroom traffic and boosts the image of the brand, which increases sales of other, more mainstream products...

2004 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4WD

The Chevy Tahoe is so familiar on the American highway that being in it can remind you of that old "hot dogs, baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet" ad line of years ago. It seems to have established itself as the generic iteration of what a full-size SUV is and should be...

2004 Chrysler 300M

Salty-haired enthusiasts surely recall Chrysler's legendary first 300, so-called because it's 331-cid race-bred Hemi-head V-8 engine cranked out a rare-for-the-time 300 horsepower. Introduced in 1955, it was easily the most powerful passenger car on the American market-and the first in a 10-year series of high-performance Chrysler 300s, all the rest carrying a letter designation from the '56 300B through the '65 300L...

2004 Chrysler Concorde Limited

Remember, not long ago, when Chrysler's "cab forward" design—sleek, rounded and handsome, with steeply sloping windshields and a surprisingly roomy interior—was leading edge design? Critics praised and loved it so much they chastised other makers for not emulating it. Well, times have changed. Others have gone their own ways—some good, some less so—and have not copied Chrysler's cab-forward look. And now Chrysler itself appears about to embark on a new design direction...

2004 Chrysler Crossfire

When DaimlerChrysler presented the Crossfire at Detroit's 2001 North American International Show, it was a provocative two-seat concept car with big tires and a tapered boattail backend—and we were very impressed. Now, a little more than two years later, the Crossfire is a production sports car and, after driving it, we are even more impressed...

2004 Chrysler Pacifica

Chrysler has a storied history of creating new market segments from thin air. From mass-appeal ideas like the minivan to popular niche products like the PT Cruiser and the aspirational (and fairly outrageous) Viper, Chrysler is a company that has few reservations about forging ahead on its own. Today, as DaimlerChrysler, that heritage is alive and well. Proof comes in the form of the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica—a brand new name and a brand new vehicle that is designed to carve out a fresh market segment of its own...

2004 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. Chrysler found itself in this enviable state when it introduced the retro-look PT Cruiser wagon as an early 2001 model. Like Volkswagen's New Beetle a few years before and the revived MINI in 2002, the PT's appearance also prompted enthusiastic folks to sign up for lengthy waiting lists to drive one home...

2004 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible

Roughly one in every eight convertibles sold in this country last year was a Chrysler Sebring, and that didn't just happen by accident. Though the Sebring Convertible isn't the fastest or most nimble-handling or most luxurious of all the cars that allow dropping the top when the weather's dandy, it is a definite popularity leader. For 2004 it gets some detail refinements inside along with some exterior cosmetic surgery to keep it as one of the best-looking ragtops on the road; the new and attractive front end helps it face the new year...

2004 Chrysler Sebring Limited Sedan

The notion of niche marketing is an interesting idea, and niche products certainly get a lot of attention. But when it comes to the backbone of the car business, a manufacturer has to offer four-door sedans that will get paying customers into the showrooms. And the Chrysler Sebring Sedan, as exemplified by the Limited version that's the subject of this review, should be a powerful enticement to draw a lot of those sedan-buying folks into showrooms with "Chrysler" signs over the doors...

2004 Chrysler Town Country

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...

2004 Dodge Durango

DaimlerChrysler's basic formula for success in the U.S. truck market has been incredibly simple of late: 1) make Dodge-brand trucks bigger and more powerful than others in their class, and 2) make them look even bigger and more powerful...

2004 Dodge Intrepid SXT

What with the seething masses of minivans, sport utility vehicles, the new so-called cross-over models, compacts and sport compacts and all the rest of it, the concept of what we used to call the family car can seem a little lost. But there are still significant numbers of people who need exactly that—a roomy, comfortable four-door sedan with plenty of legroom and headroom, a big trunk, all the usual conveniences and enough power to get easily away from stoplights or keep up with highway traffic—at a price that won't ding too far into the mortgage payments and grocery money. Such a car is the Dodge Intrepid...

2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4

Given the big splashes made by the Subaru WRX STi and Lancer Evo on the radar screens of sport-compact enthusiasts, an inevitable question arose. Could a domestic sport compact register even a faint blip? Well, the Dodge SRT-4 registers considerably more than that—INCOMING! With rocketing straight-line performance, a snug chassis and cockpit, and thrifty pricing to boot, this car pegs the bang-for-the-buck indicator...

2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10

When you consider the immense popularity of trucks these days, it was just a matter of time before more factory hopped-up pickups hit the dealerships. It's been tried in the past with Dodge "Little Red Wagons," GMC Syclones, and Ford Lightnings—and it's too good an idea to lie dormant...

2004 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...

2004 Ford Crown Victoria LX

The Ford Crown Victoria is one of America's most popular full-size rear-drive sedans (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...

2004 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 2004 model year stronger than ever...

2004 Ford Escape

Nothing is a sure bet today, especially in the automotive world. But if there ever were 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 sub-compact SUV scene for 2001. With its impressive combination of style, flexibility, and convenience, the Escape is a formidable foe in the rugged, yet small, SUV realm...

2004 Ford Excursion

Ford has the answer if you need the largest, multi-purpose sport-utility vehicle for your family and/or business. GM's Suburban/Yukon XL stranglehold on the full-sized SUV class came to an end four years ago when Ford first introduced its Excursion. Dearborn's big "E" went right to the head of the class-and it continues to reign supreme in size, space and capability. It's not only bigger in every dimension internally and externally than the Chevy Suburban/GMC Yukon XL, but it offers a choice of three engines and a towing capacity up to 11,000 pounds. 2004 is the first full year of availability of the new 6.0-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel engine. Mated with the five-speed Torqshift automatic transmission, this powertrain combination nets the Excursion both best-in-class horsepower and torque—while getting better gas mileage and yielding cleaner emissions...

2004 Ford Expedition

Completely redesigned for 2003, the Ford Expedition continues to set unparalleled standards few other SUV dare match. 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. But for 2003, Ford gave the Expedition its own, purpose-built platform, new exterior design, interior styling, safety technologies and a new off-road package. The 2004 Expedition continues in basically the same realm with several new trim levels, features, and colors...

2004 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...

2004 Ford F-150

Ford is celebrating one hundred years of business this year, and while the prolific Model T made the company's reputation in its first quarter century, the F-150 pickup is their all-time bestseller. Ford built over 16 million Model Ts, but they've sold some 26 million F-Series full-size pickups. Since 1982, the F-150 has been America's top-selling vehicle—period—and Ford is determined to keep its leadership crown. The completely redesigned 2004 F-150 is everything Ford needs to stay on top in the truck game. Stated simply, the F-150 is the best all-around full-sized truck on the market—once again. Ford's engineers had to ensure that the new truck's features were equal to or best in class in every important way. Ford knows truck buyers and, thanks to extensive research and dealer feedback, they've built the F-150 the way serious buyers will want it...

2004 Ford F-150 SuperCrew XLT

If you want to have your cake and eat it too, the F-150 SuperCrew XLT Styleside is your pickup of choice. Think of it as a full-sized station wagon on stilts, with a five-and-a-half foot wide, 22.3-inch deep pick-up bed for those extra-bulky items you couldn't stuff inside it. The new SuperCrew features four, full-size, conventionally-opening doors, and up to 6.3 inches more rear legroom than the already roomy SuperCab model. It wins the space race hands down. All F-150 XLT's offer handsome, premium Flint fabric interior. They're equipped with a big center console that'll swallow cups up to 'Big Gulp' size, while it packs away and locks everything you could want in front, including a portable computer...

2004 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. For 2003, Ford presented a new Power Stroke diesel engine built by International. As the builder of excellent heavy-duty trucks, International also manufactures some of the best diesel engines on the road today...

2004 Ford Focus Sedan

Launched for the 2000 model year as a stylish, European-inspired replacement for the subcompact Escort, the Ford Focus rapidly became one of the most popular cars in the world. It's also one of the most chameleon-like, with a varied set of personalities and virtues...

2004 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...

2004 Ford Focus ZX5

Ford's Focus ZX3 hatchback is one of the pillars of the sport-compact segment. For the 2000 model year, the car gained two doors when the ZX5 joined the Focus family. This five-door enters its fifth season offering even more choices. The result is a vehicle that's more practical, popular and easier to personalize than ever before...

2004 Ford Freestar

Jaguar completely redesigned its flagship XJ8 sedan for 2004—totally new from the tire-patches up—but left its classic styling so intact, buyers will need a new color to let their neighbors know they bought a new one. Lexus upgraded its flagship LS 430 sedan for '04, but barely massaged its ultra-conservative appearance...

2004 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 currently the best-selling American convertible...

2004 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 offers both a "base" Off-Road level and a 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...

2004 Ford SVT F-150 Lightning

There isn't another pickup truck like Ford's SVT F-150 Lightning. SVT stands for Special Vehicle Team. Translation: The guys at Ford who design and build the factory hot rods. Lightning stands for about how fast it feels when you cram the gas to the floor. If the notion of a hot rod pickup truck seems a little silly to you, then you are not the intended buyer of this vehicle. But if even the thought of such a device is what keeps you hanging around the "Transportation" section of the local bookstore's newsstand, then step right up...

2004 Ford SVT Focus

The people at Ford's Special Vehicle Team, a.k.a. SVT, have worked their hot rod tricks on Mustangs and F-150 pickups. What we have here is the runt of the litter, an SVT Focus that just might be the most pure fun to drive of them all. Notice, that's not the fastest; the Mustangs that SVT has sent out into the world are certainly faster. But the concept of fun to drive means a car that's quick enough, and matches that quickness with nimble and responsive handling, a great feel and a blend of performance that's useable on a day-to-day basis...

2004 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra

Despite the fact that the Mustang's nemesis for 35 years, the Chevrolet Camaro, is no longer around the Mustang enters 2004 as strong as 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 Cobra best when he said "you open the throttle and get gratification on demand. It just goes!"..

2004 Ford Taurus

Since its introduction for the 1986 model year, the Taurus has, in its own low-key way, become one of the legendary nameplates in Ford 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, more than 6.0 million Tauruses have been sold, keeping the vehicle among America's best-selling passenger cars every year. The 2004 Taurus boasts more improvements and continues to deliver an even-more-refined mix of desirable elements at an affordable price...

2004 Ford Thunderbird

For 2004, the Thunderbird retains all the carryover styling components from the 1950's icon, including the hood scoop, round headlights and opera window on the optional hardtop. However, the '04 models gain a number of new features, all of which make the Thunderbird a better car—and increase its open-top fun...

2004 GMC Canyon

It may help the reader to understand that GMC is describing the all-new Canyon pickup as "More Truck, More Choices." It may also help the reader to understand that particular two-part claim is not without some merit. In the popular midsize pickup category, as defined by such year-in, year-out players as the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger and Dodge Dakota, the Canyon and its Chevy equivalent, the Colorado, really are bigger in some ways, and do offer an impressively wide range of choices...

2004 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 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...

2004 Honda Civic

If cars were movie characters, the Honda Civic would likely be cast as the bespectacled brainiac who saves the world with his quiet competence. Instead of swinging a big stick like the Rock in Walking Tall, the Civic is more like Jeff Goldblum in Independence Day, who disables the defenses of the alien attackers with brains rather than brawn. Not everybody can be the muscular hero of the automotive arena, but the Civic's finesse and refinement, especially in the economy segment, sets a standard of quality that bedevils competitors...

2004 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 Honda Insight CVT. Seeking to broaden its overall appeal, Honda recently began offering this petite two-seater with a Continuously Variable Transmission (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. The 2004 Insight has earned—for the 5th consecutive year—EPA honors of having the highest fuel economy rating for any passenger car...

2004 Honda Pilot EX

When Honda developed its own midsize family-transporter for the 2000 model year, that vehicle went to its Acura division. The MDX abruptly won countless awards and legions of loyal owners. Finally, the Honda nameplate got its own version of the MDX for 2003, the Pilot. Although more value-priced than its upscale older brother, the Pilot isn't as blue-collar as one might initially expect. Many of the MDX's amenities are either standard on the Pilot or available as options...

2004 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...

2004 Hyundai XG350

Like Kia, its sister company, Hyundai emphasizes the value of its products compared to the competition. Both South Korean automakers offer a range of sedans, from mini-dimensioned to midsize. Adding the upscale midsize XG300 sedan for 2000 gave Hyundai a model with some extra amenities positioned above the Sonata. Installing a bigger engine in 2001, accompanied by a name change to XG350, delivered a bit of a performance boost to complement the sedan's comforts and conveniences...

2004 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 a broad, very competitive lineup that includes, not surprisingly, four sport/luxury sedans in varying sizes, a smart coupe, the all-new QX56 sport-utility and the FX "premium crossover SUV."..

2004 Infiniti G35 Sport 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. Then the division came back with an even more stunning rejoinder—the G35 Sport 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...

2004 Infiniti G35x

A few years ago, if you wanted a midsize "entry-lux" sedan with all-wheel-drive, you bought an Audi Quattro. Audi's pioneering all-wheel-drive system was a popular, but initially pricy option. It became a standard inclusion (at a reduced price) in a clever marketing ploy that helped lift the beleaguered German automaker out of its doldrums...

2004 Infiniti QX56

Nissan and Infiniti aren't missing a trick with their sparkling new Canton, Mississippi truck plant. Wisely, they're morphing its principal product, an all-new, full-sized pickup truck platform, into as many logical spin-offs as possible. Nissan's already made the Big Three nervous with its all-new, and clever, feature-packed Titan pickup truck, and its companion offering, the Armada SUV. Predictably, they're not quite finished...

2004 Jaguar XJ

Say aluminum a few times, out loud, the way the British do—a-lu-MIN-ium—and then you'll be ready for a JAG-u-ar. Soon, you won't use the American pronunciation again, and you shouldn't, because the new, lightweight, aluminum and speedy Jaguar XJ8 and its even quicker companion, the XJR, are seven leagues ahead of the six Jaguar sedan models that preceded them...

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee

In recent years SUVs have become increasingly upscale, graced with posh accommodations for affluent customers who rarely, if ever, go off-road. Many of these vehicles are in fact thinly disguised passenger cars or high-riding station wagons made to look like 4x4s. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but at least one luxury SUV refuses to water down its original design—the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It stands out as a SUV with the chops to take on serious duty in the dirt, and all while keeping its occupants comfortable, if not downright spoiled. The iron fist in a velvet glove is an oft-used expression, but entirely appropriate here...

2004 Kia Amanti

As it enters its second decade in the U.S., Korean automaker Kia can look back with pride on the remarkable strides it's made during that period. Having recently notched its 1,000,000th sale here, the firm plans to further broaden its market appeal in '04 by expanding its 5-vehicle lineup with a new, sedan, the Amanti. While this upsized and upscale 4-door shares a good bit of basic platform design and key mechanical bits with its fraternal cousin, the Hyundai XG350, it's far from a clone. The Amanti is actually larger inside and out, with a 1.9-inch-longer wheebase and unique sheetmetal and interior trimouts designed to give it a slightly more sporting flair. Equally important, it enjoys the latest round of structural enhancements that increase torsional stiffness and improve the impact resistance of its passenger compartment...

2004 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.)..

2004 Kia Spectra

There's a touch of attitude in evidence at Kia these days. Call it confidence that borders on cockiness. As it celebrates 60 years in the business, the Korean automaker has seen an organization-wide commitment to improved overall quality bring about double-digit increases in annual sales figures and in buyer loyalty numbers. The latest offering to ride the crest of what's become a tidal wave of successful product launches is the second-generation Spectra. Certain requirements in the EPA's emissions credit program resulted in this all-new Spectra—code named "LD"—carrying the same name and 2004 model-year designation as its short-term predecessor. Beyond that, the two share virtually nothing in common, save for Kia's determination to maintain strong value orientation and the industry's most attractive warranty package...

2004 Lexus ES 330

Every car company has an advertising motto; some are more believable than others. In the case of Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, their byline is "The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection." A nice idea, you might think, but are they serious or is it just marketing mumbo-jumbo? We tested the 2004 Lexus ES 330 to find out...

2004 Lexus GS 430

Bracketed by the IS 300 sports sedan and the LS 430 luxury sedan, the Lexus GS Series is engineered to strike a fine balance between performance demands and hedonistic desires. With two different models to choose from—GS 300 and GS 430—Lexus lets you fine-tune the balance further still. You can opt for the smooth refinement of the GS 300's sweet in-line six or step up to the GS 430 tested here, with its all-aluminum DOHC V-8. With this formidable powerplant providing the motivation, the GS 430 functions impressively well as a both a sport and luxury sedan...

2004 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 vehicles that combine equal parts of utility and style. One of the more attractive faces in 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...

2004 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 new GX 470, which nestles midway between the RX 330 and LX 470, the division's full-size offering boasts a few new interior upgrades for 2004 in the area of creature comforts that keep it fully in step with the rest of the divisions upscale offerings...

2004 Lexus RX 330

Pulling an impact player out of a new-product hat is the kind of marketing magic every auto exec dreams about. But even the most optimistic in the Lexus legion couldn't have anticipated the stunning sudden success of the original RX 300. Exploding out of the box in spring 1998, this seminal car-based crossover quickly established itself as the best-selling model in the lineup, a position it maintains to this day. Its all-new successor, the 2004 RX 330, builds on that solid base, bringing a load of improvements that promises to add even more luster to the RX's already golden legacy. In addition to a stellar package, the RX 330 will have the distinction of being the first Lexus vehicle built outside of Japan. Although drawing initial stocks from the existing Kyushu plant, starting next fall, production begins at the award-winning Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada facility in Cambridge, Ontario...

2004 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...

2004 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...

2004 Mazda RX-8

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...

2004 Mazda Truck Dual Sport Cab Plus 4

Following a complete upgrading in 2001 including significant improvements in the powertrain and packaging departments, Mazda continues to refine for 2004 what it now calls the "Mazda Truck." We decided to check out one of the more trick variants: a Dual Sport Cab Plus 4 model. Base-priced at $22,080 (including destination fees), our tester was fitted with the optional automatic transmission and the Convenience Package (keyless remote, bedliner, power mirrors and a sliding rear window) for even more comfort and versatility...

2004 Mazda6 Sedan

Now in its second year of production, the Mazda6 returns for 2004 as a serious challenger to midsize volume leaders such as Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and sporty competition like the Acura TSX, Volkwagen Passat and Nissan Altima...

2004 Mazda6 Sport Wagon

It's hardly news that station wagons are on a bit of a comeback roll in the U.S. What's really noteworthy is that style, performance and basic coolness have joined fundamental practicality as de facto buy points for these 21st century space ships. The new Mazda6 Sport Wagon embodies pretty much all of the above, joining an equally new and equally striking 5-door variant as running-mate to the slick midsize Mazda6 Sedan that made its successful debut for the 2003 model year...

2004 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...

2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Cabriolet

Mercedes-Benz has just introduced another new car to die for, but don't take that statement literally, or you won't be able to enjoy going topless, Stuttgart style, in what's arguably the nicest all-around four-seat convertible, regardless of price. The CLK cabriolet replaced the aging and now neoclassic E-Class drop-top a few years back. Economies of scale, using an enlarged C-Class platform, permitted a somewhat lower price for the new model. Now, "fifty large" is nothing to sneeze at, but you really do get a lot for your money: style, technology, and performance, not to mention envious neighbors—unless, of course, you live in Beverly Hills...

2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350

Most Americans know Mercedes-Benz as a maker of German luxury cars ranging from the "entry-level" C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedan and SL roadster. Some may not know that M-B also offers tiny economy cars and large commercial trucks around the world, and its U.S. truck line includes the boxy G-Class utility and the more civilized and popular M-Class...

2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK320

Even though the Mercedes-Benz SLK has been a tidy fixture on the American highways for some time, it remains one of the favorites of the small, two-seater crowd. While the lower end of the price spectrum, such as the Mazda Miata, Toyota MR2 and Honda S2000, tend to get the enthusiasts, the younger, and the wannabe boy-racer crowd, the little Benz has carved out its own domain for those interested in some open-top, two-seat motoring while still behaving, most of the time, like an adult...

2004 Mercury Marauder

This dressed-in-black modern musclecar 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...

2004 Mercury Monterey

Not so long ago, some industry observers and critics were ready to write off Ford Motor Co.'s Mercury brand. They thought it would soon go the way of Chrysler's Plymouth and GM's Oldsmobile marques, abruptly canceled like a marginal TV sitcom that few were watching. Granted, we had not seen many signs of new-product life in recent years, but we believed that Ford would continue to recognize the need for its venerable Mercury marque to provide a necessary middle ground between everyday Ford and luxury Lincoln...

2004 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...

2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor

Despite the introduction in 2002 of the all-new Outlander sport utility vehicle and the continued popularity of the Montero with its excellent off-road prowess, Mitsubishi has been missing out on the midsize crossover SUV craze that's sweeping the nation—until now. Enter the all-new 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor...

2004 Mitsubishi Galant GTS

It's tough to please everybody. So sometimes you simply have to take a stand. Mitsubishi's been able to crack the youth market with its kid-friendly Eclipses and Mirages, driven in no small measure by hip TV ads that resemble MTV videos. They're often laced with deafening music. And everyone on the screen should be carded. For parents and seniors looking for four solid doors and a modicum of styling, plus cheerful dependability, Mitsubishi needs another formula. That's because they're up against Brand T and Brand H, both of whose bread-and-butter sedan sales often top 400,000 units apiece annually. Throw in Ford's Taurus and you have a cool one million-plus basic four-doors. Mitsubishi would be content to sell 100,000 of its midsize sedans; that's not enough to seriously worry its Japanese rivals, but it would definitely annoy Ford...

2004 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 has been filled with the introduction of the 350Z. The 350Z, in coupe or roadster guise, 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...

2004 Nissan 350Z Roadster

A bolt of lightning was sent through the sports car world when the all-new 2003 Nissan 350Z coupe starting shipping to Nissan dealers in August 2002. In just 12-months sales topped 39,000 units making the 350Z the world's number-one selling 2-seat sports car. The demand for a value-priced but powerful and performance-driven sports car was clear. It was time that a very capable 2-seat sports car was base-priced below $30,000.00. The all-new-for-'03 350Z Coupe did that—it is a near-perfect combination of performance and handling, design and durability—and value...

2004 Nissan Altima

When the dramatically redesigned Altima arrived in 2002, it set the stage for an exciting new era in the history of Nissan. Significantly larger, more luxurious, and more powerful, many people wondered what the folks at Nissan were thinking—or going to do next. A lot of the automotive erudite were legitimately concerned that the new Altima, especially with the addition of a V-6 to its lineup, would steal some glory, and sales, from the flagship Maxima. But then Nissan followed the Altima's latest re-launch with several more all-new Nissan introductions—including a totally made-over Maxima—proving that a little sibling rivalry never hurt anyone—and that a family can have more than one star child...

2004 Nissan Frontier King Cab S/C

Supercharging for trucks is not new, but it certainly adds an aura of upscale performance to an otherwise proletariat pickup. Witness the success of Ford's F-150 Lightning and the new Dodge Ram SRT/10. So Nissan conjured up some of the same marketing magic for its smaller Frontier. The question is, does this waving of the performance wand truly transform the Frontier?..

2004 Nissan Maxima

With its new, sixth generation Maxima sport sedan, Nissan has staunchly resisted homogenization. When Nissan's Altima bowed last year, it basically offered everything the existing Maxima did, but in a more affordable and nominally sporty package. Nissan marketers urged patience, insisting one model alone could not deliver the competitive midsize sedan volume they sought. Even more importantly, they wanted loyalists to know they would soon introduce an all-new Maxima that would please decades of buyers who proudly considered it a 4-door sports car. Initially very well received, the Altima jumped out to a 200,000-unit head start, up 50,000 units over its predecessor. But loyal Maxima fans who've waited, as well as new converts, won't be disappointed. Nissan general manager, Bill Kirrane, calls the Maxima "a wolf in wolf's clothing." He's not kidding...

2004 Nissan Murano

Car-based sport utilities like the Nissan Murano, Lexus RX 330, Acura MDX, and Volvo XC90 are the hottest stars of the still-expanding SUV segment. And Nissan's razor-edged Murano, introduced in 2003, combines all the ingredients needed for class success. Bundled with technical innovations like a 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. New features for 2004 include the addition of Sunroof and Touring packages, a manual shift mode for CVT on SE models, standard 10-way power driver's seat with power lumbar, and standard satellite radio pre-wiring, plus available mobile entertainment system pre-wiring...

2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada

Americans have taken to SUVs with almost religious fervor. Naturally, they want these pickups cum station wagons in every size. Over the last five years, the full-size SUV market has expanded 200 percent to nearly 800,000 units annually. Until recently, Ford and Chevrolet owned the "XXL" SUV business, but because expansion has been so rampant, when Toyota jumped in, its Sequoia quickly garnered share and barely disturbed the leaders' volume...

2004 Nissan Quest

Nissan is taking the sporty route with nearly all of its latest products, including the revived Quest minivan. Built on a new FF-L platform also used for Nissan passenger cars, the bigger-than-before Quest will rely on emotional styling and ample size to attract its target audience...

2004 Nissan Titan

This impressive truck signals the beginning of the end of the Big Three's long domination of the full-sized pickup class. Nissan's all-new Titan, built in a new plant in Mississippi, is a serious piece of hardware. Some say it's about time. For years, Japanese automakers neatly sidestepped around full-sized pickup trucks. They cheerfully sold small to medium-sized pickups, arguably because they either had plenty of car business, didn't have a full-size truck platform, didn't have a powerful, torque-y V-8, didn't want to ruffle the domestics' feathers, and/or there were bigger SUV opportunities. Whatever the reason, it no longer matters. Here comes the Titan...

2004 Pontiac Aztek

Introduced in 2001, Pontiac calls the Aztek the world's first "sport recreational vehicle." Catchy classification, perhaps, for an all-new vehicle that joins nearly four dozen SUV models on the highways of America. Not a new idea, however, as a number of other automakers have tried to make a distinction for their new crossover offerings with category-straddling names such as "sport activity vehicle," "sport utility wagon" and "sport utility truck."..

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

Pontiac Division of General Motors has a long and unquestioned performance tradition. But, with the demise of the Firebird, its offerings have fallen far short of legendary Pontiacs with hallowed names like GTO and Bonneville. Thankfully, that's changing. A badge-engineered, V-8-powered, 2004 GTO based on the Australian Holden Monaro coupe is due this fall. Meanwhile Poncho lovers can be content with the ninth iteration of the perennial Pontiac Grand Prix...

2004 Pontiac GTO

Those of you who remember the Pontiac GTO—known in car-guy circles affectionately as the "goat"—as a GM midsize car with a monster engine and all the behavior characteristics of a highschool kid invited to his older brother's frat party, might be disappointed in this reincarnation. It's built in Australia by Holden (GM's down-under part of the business), and is known there as the Monaro. But it's the right size, it has rear drive and it will take the Corvette's small-block LS1 V8. In a short time of about a year and a half, the GM guys went through a few styling mods to give it a Pontiac flavor, fiddled with a few other details here and there, put it on a boat and brought it to the U.S...

2004 Porsche Boxster S

Porsche believes that Boxster and Boxster S 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. With any Porsche, going for a drive is indeed an art form...

2004 Porsche Carrera GT

There are guided missiles with less impressive performance credentials than those engineered into Porsche's Carrera GT. Thanks to a body structure molded in carbon-fiber-reinforced composites and other exotic weight-saving gestures, it weighs but 3,137 pounds, full of fuel. It's loaded with a race-bred 5.7-liter DOHC V-10 engine equipped with four valves per cylinder, variable intake valve timing, dual control computers, a dry-sump lubrication system, and forged titanium connecting rods; output peaks with 605 horsepower at 8,000 rpm but another 400 revs are there for the taking. A 6.6-inch-diameter multi-plate carbon fiber clutch dispatches power to a transversely oriented 6-speed gearbox. Special Flexball shift actuators use a flat steel band guided by ball bearings to connect the driver's palm to each gear. Center-lock magnesium wheels are supported by a mix of forged aluminum and airfoil-section stainless steel control arms. Michelin Pilot Sport 2 radials strive to maintain a grip with terra firma...

2004 Porsche Cayenne

According to Porsche, the reason they made the unconventional decision to build their first ever sport utility vehicle was "survival," plain and simple. The new Cayenne is here because Porsche is firmly committed to staying in business for many more decades. Porsche Cars North America, under the leadership of President and CEO Fred Schwab, is responsible for all things Porsche here in North America and, as such, is committed to keeping Porsche a viable company on this side of the Atlantic...

2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible

It was logical that the first Saab automobile, a 1946 prototype, looked like an airplane wing with a little passenger bubble on top. At that time, the Swedish aircraft maker had only a small group of wing designers available to tackle the proposed car project. Since then, Saab cars have progressed from noisy, bathtub-shaped, two-stroke-powered automotive eccentricities to modern turbo-powered works of engineering excellence...

2004 Scion xA

Pop stars like Britney Spears and Janet Jackson reinvent themselves as easily as a costume change—or "malfunction" in other cases. It's no mistake, though, for Toyota to spice up its plain-vanilla image with its Scion line. The edgy (literally) xB model, with its cubical form, is the most noticeably different design statement ever done by this traditionally conservative automaker. And that's probably a good thing, at least from the standpoint of getting more attention...

2004 Scion xB

Every automaker constantly strives to find the great, untapped mother lode of potential new customers. With the launch of its revolutionary Scion sub-brand, Toyota has taken this quest to an entirely new level. Nominally aimed at yet-to-be-enfranchised 18-25 year-olds, aka Gen-Y, the front-drive Scion embodies a comprehensively different approach to the game. From design and marketing to pricing and personalization potential, it embraces and celebrates the unconventional in the hope of luring individuals who presently view Toyota mainstays like the Camry and Corolla as more fit for their parents than themselves...

2004 Suzuki Aerio

In recent years Suzuki has made a concerted effort to offer vehicles that appeal to a broader segment of the automotive market. For instance, looking back at the company's history with SUVs, it's apparent that their vehicle line has competently evolved from the sometimes unstable Samurai to the dynamic and nicely finished XL-7. Suzuki knows how to make a vehicle that strikes a chord with consumers; yet, despite this progressive trend, the Aerio SX is a more unusual representation of the company's recent approach toward styling...

2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Before turning into road-going battleships, SUVs were lightweight, short-wheelbase attack craft designed for nimble maneuvers over off-road obstacles. Eventually excess began to dominate, culminating in gargantuan conveyances such as the GMC Yukon XL or Ford Excursion, which have little or nothing to do with tackling tight trails, and are more about sheer size than anything else. Nobody says you have to own an oversized SUV, and that's where the Suzuki Grand Vitara nicely fills the bill. Despite its canyonesque name, this trucklette is a tidy little package...

2004 Suzuki XL-7

In the past, Suzuki was known for some unconventional and undersized vehicles. They had their place in the automotive landscape, but it wasn't in the forefront...

2004 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 and reigning as autodom's all-time best-selling nameplate. But for Toyota, just being good was not good enough. Faced with the fact that the Corolla no longer ranked as the segment leader in terms of value, image or owner loyalty, corporate Chief Engineer Takeshi Yoshida and his development team set out to rectify those shortcomings in a major way. The result was the all-new-for-2003, ninth-generation model—a slick sedan that raised its game to an entirely new level. Longer, taller and wider than the car it replaced, the newest Corolla's substantial 5.4-inch wheelbase stretch—to 102.4 inches—and faster A- and C-pillar treatments not only gave it a bolder, more substantial presence but also helped elevate it from subcompact to compact status...

2004 Toyota Highlander

It seems like we've come a long way since the first SUVs, which basically featured a pickup truck chassis with a 4-door body grafted on top. The original idea was a good one, but buyers have quickly come to expect car-like ride, handling and convenience along with the rugged looks and load-carrying abilities. We have one manufacturer in particular to thank for that: Toyota...

2004 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." A week behind the wheel of the new Matrix left us convinced that it comes well prepared to do battle...

2004 Toyota Prius

The world's first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle, Toyota's Prius has made quite a stir since its introduction in Japan six years ago and here in the States several years later. It remained a star in a world where its only competitor was the two-seat Honda Insight hybrid, but began losing its luster when Honda's more mainstream-looking Civic Hybrid came to town...

2004 Toyota RAV4 L 4x4

Toyota's compact RAV4 has carved a fairly healthy niche for itself since pioneering the concept of a car-based SUV back in 1996. A generational makeover for the 2001 model year added even more size and refinement to its original formula. But the segment has become increasingly competitive since then, and Toyota realized that even more was needed to help revitalize the RAV4's market position. It addressed that issue in a bold way for 2004, sweetening the recipe with a mid-term upgrade regimen that should make both current owners and potential buyers sit up and take notice...

2004 Toyota Sienna

Ever since Honda introduced its new Odyssey minivan in the fall of 1998 and Chrysler followed with the redesigned Town & Country in 2001, the automotive world has used these two vehicles as the yardstick to measure every other minivan built. There have been several other minivans introduced since, but these two have continued to retain the title of the ultimate family haulers. But, we think that's all going to change when the all-new 2004 Toyota Sienna hits dealerships in March 2003...

2004 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

Toyota's Tacoma is about to turn a corner. This tough truck has endeared itself to a wide range of pickup enthusiasts since its introduction in 1995, but soon will be going through some major changes. As with the truck market in general, size matters and bigger is better. So expect to see a re-designed Tacoma in the next model year that will be closer in size to the Dodge Dakota and Chevy Colorado, just as the Tundra will likely swell in size as well...

2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab

Looking back at Toyota's efforts to capture a piece of the American truck market, it hasn't always been as easy as pie. Even though Toyota has been building pickups since 1935, not until 1965 did the Japanese automaker enter the U.S. marketplace with a pint-sized rig called the Stout, which sold in modest numbers over its 3-year lifespan...

2004 Volkswagen Passat

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."..

2004 Volkswagen Touareg

If Porsche can join the sport-utility vehicle ranks with its new Cayenne, is it any wonder that Volkswagen now has a related SUV of its own? Though admittedly late arriving at the SUV party, the German automaker has brought a glowing guest in the form of the Touareg. German engineers have outdone themselves in development? the Touareg is packed with technology and luxury comforts...

2004 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...

2004 Volvo S60 R and V70 R

A few years ago, Volvo swapped the square shapes long associated with its conservative, safety-conscious reputation for gently curvaceous styling. At the time, one Volvo designer quipped, "this time, we kept the car and threw the box away." As Volvos have become better looking, performance has improved as well—with turbocharged and even twin-turbocharged models. Most prominently, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Jaguar have set sports sedan standards with their M-Sport, AMG, Quattro GmbH and Type-R models, respectively. Not to be outdone—with its new R—Volvo has enthusiastically joined the fray...

2004 Volvo S80

Volvo is changing dramatically with each successive model. The latest generation S80 T6 is the mechanical equivalent of costlier midsize sedans like the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Jaguar S-Class and Audi A6. With the new S80, you give away a bit of glamour and a more upscale reputation, but you get top notch quality, Swedish dependability, proven safety, enhanced driving dynamics and, compared on a feature-by-feature basis to the German trio, a somewhat reduced sticker. Canny Volvo buyers would argue that's a pretty fair tradeoff...

2004 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...