Automedia.com - Reviews Articles

2010 Ford Escape Hybrid

Plenty of manufacturers are beating their own drums with regard to innovative and “green” hybrid technology. But if you stand back and look at the field, one of the leaders and one of the first to develop useable production hybrids is Ford Motor Company. And they accomplished the job with one of the most unlikely candidates one might first think of—the five-passenger Escape Hybrid SUV—the most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet. But is the Escape Hybrid really all that unlikely? We think not, and here’s why:..

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

Japanese automaker Suzuki chose the mid-2007 Frankfurt (Germany) Motor Show to unveil a most interesting new concept car called Kizashi. They said its name was Japanese for “prelude” or “foretaste” and that it foretold of something coming from a company known better here for its motorcycles, ATVs and outboard motors than for its small cars and SUVs...

2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz has been busy with BlueTec engines over the past few years, taking the diesel route toward improved fuel economy. Until the 2010 model year, though, hybrid-powertrain models have been absent from the German automaker's lineup...

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

What’s in a model name? What is an SUV in your mind? Big, trucky, fuel inefficient. A minivan? Big, boring, soccer-mom transport. A station wagon? Boxy, clunky, old folks’ wheels...

2010 Lincoln MKS

It’s been said that torque makes the world go around. A certain successful motorcycle company named Harley Davidson has known this for a long time. Most of their competitors struggle to get it right. The reason is, modes of transportation built for conditions in North America really have no need for high RPM-fussy engines. Certainly in congested Europe or perhaps specific places in Asia where roadways between urban centers are short, crowded and in many cases prove narrow and twisty, a buzzy engine coupled to a multi-speed gearbox can be considered “fun” or at the very least, somewhat useful. But think of the typical North American thoroughfare (or even a typical backroad). The spaces here are wide open. And, for the most part, so are the roads...

2010 Nissan Altima Sedan

“My, how you have grown!” When you test drive the 2010 Nissan Altima, avoid sounding like a clueless uncle greeting an adult niece at Thanksgiving dinner. If, like much of America, it’s been a while since you’ve been in the market for a sedan—rather than an SUV—it’ll be tempting to repeat that familiar Turkey Day refrain. (Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday that reminds us why we no longer live with some people.)..

2010 Ford F-Series Super Duty

There is all sorts of fervor out there today about economies of scale, cash crunching and downsizing. It’s almost rather trendy for some folks to point at what they perceive as excess and then berate it. But what’s that old saying about walking a mile in someone’s shoes? Often times there’s a truly big need for brute and brawn. Just ask the guy who has to drive off-road to a construction site in a truck heavily laden with tools and equipment, or a rancher with a 40-foot long gooseneck trailer that’s mandatory to move livestock. Or ask the guy down the street with the big bass boat or the racer down the road with the triple axle fifth wheel trailer. Those people will be the first to tell you that the capability of their truck is more important than any other attribute to them...

2010 Spyker C8 Aileron

Some cars are meant for everyday driving. Others possess special characteristics, but may be wholly acceptable for daily commutes. A handful of vehicles are best suited for occasional use...

2010 Nissan Sentra

Surprised. Pleasantly surprised...

2010 Volkswagen Golf

To some folks, golf is a challenging, often frustrating game played on sunny Sundays with a bag of expensive sticks and balls. To others, it’s an iconic German small car that’s been around since 1977. Originally, and again recently, named the Rabbit for North America (and for a time assembled here) its U.S.-market fortunes have ebbed and flowed along with those of the company. But it has been a perennial favorite and a long-running best seller in Europe and most other markets...

2010 Acura TSX V6

Here’s a recipe for getting a traffic ticket while going less than 10 mph. Take one 2010 Acura TSX with a 280-horsepower V6 fitted with not-very-sticky Michelin Pilot MXM4s. Add one law-enforcement officer from a town that relies heavily on “traffic tax” for its operating budget. From a stop, slam the TSX V6’s accelerator to the floor. The driver will be rewarded with a satisfying, two- or three-second long tire chirp, a burst of neck-bending acceleration and an expensive citation for exhibition of speed, reckless driving, or more, depending on the city’s budget situation...

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

PREVIEW — What do you get when you cross a Jeep with a Mercedes? A 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be based heavily on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Except for Chrysler’s 5.7-liter V8, almost nothing from the 2009 and 2010 Grand Cherokees will be employed on the 2011 Grand Cherokee. The 2011 Grand Cherokee will reach dealer showrooms in the spring or early summer of 2010. Jeep may build a few 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokees, but they will be little changed from 2009 models...

2010 Honda Odyssey

You’ve likely seen the trend almost as annoying as the “Baby On Board” placard: Laser-cut stickers that show the whole family, from Dad down to the pets, in stick-figure form. Sadly, these are especially popular on Honda Odyssey minivans because the people who own Odysseys have kids and are darn proud of it. We mention this because one of the few nits we can pick about the Odyssey is that Honda didn’t make the rear window resistant to these stickers’ adhesive. Odyssey owners: Resist the stickers. We know you have kids and are proud of it. Just wait. They’ll become teenagers and by then the sticker people will sell little piercing and tattoo stickers that can be added to the little stick teenagers...

2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

It’s common practice for sports-car makers to introduce a special model toward the end of a car’s product cycle in hopes of reinvigorating interest and sales, and Chevrolet has done this more than once in the last few years before a new-generation Corvette takes its bow. One such memorable model was the limited-production Grand Sport of 1994 in the third-to-last year of the fourth-generation (C4) Corvette’s long run before the all-new C5 arrived for 1997. Only 1,000 were built, each featuring, among other things, a set of bold, slanted fender stripes that harkened back to a series of five special racing Grand Sport Vettes in 1963...

2010 Acura ZDX

If you call an elephant a mouse, does it suddenly turn into a rodent? Obviously not; yet, starting with the crossover craze, some recent models have been given characteristics that step outside the customary lines...

2010 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road

You want to buy it, drive it, and hope it lives up to the hype. We borrowed, we whipped and we found some real brass in Toyota Racing Development’s trail-special Tacoma. This is not hype: taking a hammer to cars and trucks from the corporate press fleets isn’t always an exercise in satisfaction and, frankly, disappointment happens as often as pleasure. The TRD Off-Road Tacoma is better than that—it works...

2010 Kia Soul

A few months back we wrote a preview about this new small, hip vehicle that seemed sure to make a lot of buyers rethink the Kia brand by offering a strong player in a segment that includes notables like the Scion xB and Honda Fit. We looked forward to our official test drive.
..

2010 Ford Focus Coupe

Everyone loves the environment, but many wince when they have to give up too much fun, fashion or funds to help preserve the planet. The sporty, economical, clean 2010 Ford Focus Coupe breaks the compromises. The two-door Ford Focus Coupe allows you to look good and enjoy driving without spending a lot of money or overstressing the environment...

2010 Chevrolet Camaro

After a seven-year hiatus, Chevrolet’s Camaro pony car returns to the showroom ready to take on its old school rivals, the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, as well as import sport coupes like the Nissan 370Z. Camaro’s return was long awaited, and many expected a blockbuster introduction. But a funny thing happened on the way to the marketplace. Just as Chevy was about to shout their return from the highest mountaintop, the mountain crumbled beneath them into a sea of red ink. What followed was one of the lowest key launches of a high profile product in automotive history. The 2010 Camaro is here, but a lot of people don’t even know it’s back...

2010 Lincoln Town Car

Between both coasts is an extremely vast continent. There is plenty of open space and literally thousands of miles of long, straight Interstate (and other) highways and thoroughfares. What really works well here is a traditional V8-powered rear-wheel-drive (RWD) sedan. Something that can both soak up the undulations and the miles with ease. Lincoln has been building cars for what seems like forever to meet these highways and thoroughfares with power, comfort and style. They’re pretty much experts at it and, for many, they’ve set the standards for rear-wheel-drive luxury sedans...

2010 Audi Q5

Q5 is a ‘tweener; an upscale crossover parked just north of sport wagon and well south of SUV. Introduced to the lineup in 2009, it returns for its sophomore year in a segment with a handful of refinements, sprinkled across a three-level lineup: Premium ($38,175), Premium Plus ($42,225) and Prestige ($49,675)...

2010 Toyota Avalon Limited

What do glimmering geodes, an intense yoga experience, and the 2010 Toyota Avalon Limited have in common? It’s their inner beauty, baby. And in particular, the Avalon’s solid build, interior comfort, reassuring handling and ample power make it a comfy and reassuring companion for just about any road-bound excursion you can imagine...

2010 Infiniti EX35

Finding a new niche in vehicle design is getting harder than splitting hairs. Time was when there were just a few basic categories of conveyances: sedan, wagon, and truck. Life was so much simpler then, but also rather limiting. Today, of course, you can have your cake and eat it too. And also pick the flavor of frosting while you’re at it, along with a dizzying array of other toppings...

2010 Ford F-150

First Look—For 2010, Ford offers more capability and features to its class-leading F-150 pickup. The big news is the radical F-150 SVT Raptor off-road version developed by Ford SVT (Special Vehicle Team). In addition, the Harley-Davidson F-150 returns. These new versions expand on the award-winning Ford F-150 lineup, which was completely redesigned for 2009.
..

2010 Honda Pilot

If the Honda Odyssey (or a large sport-utility vehicle) is too big and the Honda CR-V (or other small SUV) is too small, the 2010 Honda Pilot might be just the right size for your family and lifestyle. Like most SUVs, the Pilot is more often employed in the mundane movement of people to work, school and elementary school sports. While it may rarely get used for backcountry outings, it very easily could be...

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan

Not many automobiles have a history dating back more than half a century. Mercedes-Benz offers one: the E-Class sedan, whose initial ancestor came to life way back in 1947. Now entering its ninth generation, the E-Class gets a freshened appearance, coupled with even more technology than its predecessor. Better yet, most of the high-tech goodies are safety-oriented...

2010 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

What’s a lover of the environment and outdoor activities to do? A small car makes a lower carbon footprint, but can’t carry the gear for a backwoods adventure. And a small car certainly can’t go past where the groomed road ends. That means many outdoors enthusiasts need a sport-utility vehicle. But those tend to make big, stomping carbon footprints, which is embarrassing for the environmentally conscious. Here’s a vehicle that can carry a lot of stuff to that secluded campsite, while minimizing damage to the environment—the 2010 Mercury Mariner Hybrid...

2010 Ford Flex

How many of you remember the van craze of the Seventies? Or how about the Microbus craze from the Sixties? Or the station wagon craze of the Fifties? You might recognize a pattern here. It might not really be a craze after all. Maybe folks really have a need for a highly utilitarian mode of transportation—something that is based more upon function than form. The dawn of the minivan pretty much proved that but, over time, the minivan has morphed into something it wasn’t. People noticed and sales went away...

2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring

Who knew that when Hyundai brought out its all-new Elantra compact sedan to the U.S. market for 2007, it was planning to follow two years later with a sporty wagon version? Well, they call it a “5-door,” but it is a wagon—which is okay since relatively small, functional wagons, as alternatives to compact utilities, are beginning to be cool again. Witness German luxomakers BMW and Audi, who both offer premo-priced wagons of this size. Who knew, when Hyundai unveiled this Elantra Touring five-door hatchback (wagon) at the February, 2008 Chicago Auto Show, that it would turn out to be as likeable to drive as it is sportingly handsome to look at? Not to mention unusually roomy and practical for its size...

2010 Scion xD

The 2010 Scion xD five-door sport-subcompact vehicle delivers substance and value in the expanding segment where budget-minded buyers are seeking reliable, enjoyable transportation for less than $20,000...

2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Chevy’s original answer to Toyota’s RAV4, Honda’s CR-V and the passel of other compact crossovers (CUVs) in this fast-growing segment was almost pretty good. It looked fine, performed about average and was screwed together quite well. It satisfied owners with few complaints except a somewhat under-funded interior in terms of perceived material quality. This new one, like the midsize Malibu sedan and the Traverse three-row CUV before it, is a whole new ball game for the bowtie brand—better by far in virtually every way than the one it replaces; at least as good overall and better in many ways than its toughest competitors...

2010 Lexus IS C Convertibles

Convertibles, like the two-door 2010 Lexus IS C, are sexy. According to Lexus research, convertible owners hope their car’s sexy toplessness will lead them to getting lucky. Often. And in interesting places. IS C buyers are expected to be split fairly evenly among genders. As they say in New Orleans, laissez les bons temps rouler—let the good times roll!..

2009 Jeep Compass

Hardened Jeep fans had few kind words about the Compass when it debuted as a 2007 model. Potential owners who liked the idea of a Jeep, but had no need for ambitious off-road capabilities, adopted a more favorable view. Meant to attract this new breed of Jeep buyer, Compass was the first of three new models launched for 2007, including the more traditional-looking Patriot. Compass buyers with active lifestyles likely knew about Jeeps, but never had one before—or even wanted one. "They all wanted the confidence that comes with an SUV," said Michael Berube, who headed Jeep marketing during the Compass's initial media presentation...

2010 Subaru Legacy

Subaru crams considerable variety into its midsize Legacy lineup, continuing that practice in the new generation. Buyers can select a modest four-cylinder, a hot turbo, or a heftier six-cylinder engine—each with standard all-wheel drive. Manual shift is available with four-cylinder engines, but the non-turbo edition can have a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) instead...

2010 Lincoln MKT

Just after the turn of the 20th Century, when automobiles were in their infancy, one of the most popular automobile configurations was the touring car. Those early cars were of the open variety, regularly fitted with a (hand) folding top. The key, however was the capability of transporting a good-sized group of people over occasionally great distance in considerable comfort. Many actually seated four or more adults in the back seats. And they were popular, too. In the case of the Ford Model T, records indicate that more than 6.5 million touring cars were constructed between 1908 and 1927 (out of a grand total of approximately 15,000,000 Model Ts). Ford wasn’t the only company building touring cars. Many luxury brands of the era sold more touring cars than all other body styles combined. Eventually, though, the need for hauling a number of passengers in one car fell out of style. More cars were available. Cost effective personal transportation had arrived...

2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Not intended for the timid or those who prefer not to be noticed, Toyota's FJ Cruiser flaunts its potential capabilities like a gladiator brandishing his sword. Not unlike Hummers and Land Rovers, the FJ boasts of its prowess by the way it looks, even when standing still...

2009 Chrysler 300

Considering the current state of the Chrysler company, its full-size "flagship" 300 sedan seems to belong in a different era. Introduced for 2005, the modern-day 300 aimed to revive the tradition of the "letter series" models of the late 1950s and '60s...

2010 Nissan GT-R

How many race-capable cars safe and suitable for daily driving can you buy, for any price? Precious few: Chevy’s Corvette ZR1, Porsche’s top-of-the-line Turbo 911s, Dodge’s track-ready Viper and a handful of big-buck exotics. Now we can add one more to that short list: Nissan’s fifth-generation Nissan GT-R. Known as the Skyline GT-R (aka “Godzilla”) in Japan, it is the first to be imported here. The 2009 debuted in North America in July 2008, and the slightly upgraded 2010 models are available through nearly 700 official “GT-R certified” Nissan dealers across the U.S...

2009 Jeep Patriot

Chrysler's Jeep division scrutinized the entry-level market before launching its Patriot, as a 2007 model. Like the smaller Compass, which debuted in the same year, Patriot targeted potential customers who hadn't joined the Jeep family before. Likely prospects, in their early 20s to 40s, might not have been able to afford previous Jeeps...

2010 Lexus HS 250h

This all-new HS 250h is far from Lexus’ first hybrid. Toyota’s luxury brand says it has sold some 170,000 GS 450h, RX 400h, RX 450h and LS 600h L hybrids in the last few years. But those are gas/electric hybrid versions of conventional vehicles. What Lexus has not offered until now is a “dedicated” hybrid-only model comparable to parent Toyota’s popular Prius...

2009 Chrysler Town Country

Despite Chrysler's bankruptcy early in 2009, and subsequent takeover by Fiat, one vehicle continues to shine brightly in the company's product arsenal. That vehicle is the minivan: specifically, the Chrysler Town & Country and its Dodge Grand Caravan companion...

2010 Ford Edge

The Ford Edge wasn’t the first crossover-utility vehicle to market, but when it did arrive, it arrived to much applause. Ford has, after all, been a trendsetting leader more than a few times, with the Mustang, Taurus and Explorer, for example, so you can’t really fault them for their late appearance to the crossover party. And arriving fashionably late does have a few distinct advantages: Most important, Ford was given the opportunity to look at the competition up close, figure out what was hot, and what was not. That homework certainly shows in the au courant Edge...

2009 Toyota RAV4 V6

Better get one while it’s still available—“one” as in the 2009 Toyota RAV4 V6, a very quick, roomy, flexible sport-utility vehicle. When the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards take effect in 2016, you’ll still be able to purchase roomy, flexible SUVs from Toyota, but the “quick” part will depend on how Toyota and every other automaker is able to meet the 2016 requirements while still providing satisfying horsepower and torque numbers...

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

It’s past time to take all those negative notions about diesel-engine cars and feed them through the shredder. The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is the equal of its gasoline-fueled siblings in every area, except one: It kicks gas in fuel mileage. On the government’s highway driving cycle, the 2009 Jetta TDI gets 41 miles per gallon and 30 mpg in the city. During our test drive ng (in a TDI loaned to us by VW), which included 80-mph freeway cruising maximum-effort acceleration sprints, and a bunch of city driving, we recorded 39 mpg...

2010 Ford Taurus + SHO

The Ford Taurus made its debut to much fanfare in 1985 (as a 1986 model). It was perhaps a risky move for Ford. Not only was it Ford’s first big foray into midsize front-wheel-drive cars, the styling was like nothing else. In an era where crisply folded lines were the norm, the “soft” styling was decidedly different. So different, some pundits declared it would prove to be an outright sales disaster. They couldn’t have been more wrong. The Taurus (and to a lesser degree, sistership Mercury Sable) went on to dominate the automotive sales charts. Since its launch in 1986, Ford sold over 6.7 million Taurus’s worldwide as of 2007, making it the fifth bestselling North American nameplate in Ford's history. Only the F-150, Escort, Model T, and Mustang have sold more units. Between 1992 and 1996, the Taurus was the best-selling car in America...

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T

The cars in every major racing series are rear-wheel drive. And so is the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T. Similar to a rear-wheel-drive racecar, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T is quick, responsive and fast. The standard engine is a 210-horsepower, turbocharged, four-cylinder that makes a whopping 230 pound-feet of torque at a very low 2,000 rpm. For comparison, that’s five more horsepower and only 60 pound-feet less torque than a 1984 Corvette. (Modern safety features and sound-deadening material combine to mean the Genesis Coupe 2.0T weighs about the same as an ’84 Corvette.) Importantly, pricing for the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T starts at about $23,000...

2009 Toyota Yaris

Small cars helped establish Toyota's reputation in the U.S. market, starting with the Corollas that first appeared in the early 1970s. Over the years, each model grew in size, and bigger cars joined the lineup. Today, Toyota's trio of family-type sedans runs from Corolla to Camry to Avalon...

2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid

While the market for full-size pickups has seriously shrunk due mostly to unpredictable, and sometimes painfully high, fuel prices, the need for them as serious work and recreation haulers for substantial numbers of buyers have not. Most of those who have abandoned big pickups for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars and crossovers didn’t really need them anyway. And for those who still do, the challenge is choosing the best fuel efficiency without compromising capabilities. Things still need to be hauled and towed, sometimes off-road...

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara

To get Americans out of sport/utility vehicles, it’s going to take a lot more than a feeble economy and the constant threat of rising gasoline prices. That’s made true because of lower-priced, more fuel-efficient SUVs such as the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara. With a starting price of about $19,600 (including destination and handling) and fuel economy of up to 26 miles per gallon in the government’s highway driving test, the Grand Vitara allows owners to keep most of what they like about driving an SUV and eliminate much of what they don’t...

2009 Volkswagen CC

In 2003, Volkswagen began building a large luxury sedan called Phaeton to challenge the best of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, as well as corporate cousin Audi’s architecture-sharing A8. With formally handsome looks, a gorgeous interior, standard V8 power and a $64,600 starting sticker, it won affluent fans in Europe but did not do well in North America. Why not? Probably because most Americans who could afford it could not wrap their minds around an expensive sedan wearing a Volkswagen (translates to “peoples’ car”) badge. Alongside Beetles, Rabbits, Jettas and mid-size Passats, the big luxosedan didn’t compute...

2009 Honda S2000

The headstone for the Honda S2000 should say, “This was a real sports car.” Production of the Honda S2000 will end with the 2009 model year: If you can’t get a new one, buy used. You won’t find a better real sports car from any year...

2010 Mazda Mazda3

In the auto industry, it’s sometimes better to improve what you have than to start from scratch. That’s the approach Mazda took with the 2010 Mazda3. After a successful six-year run, the Mazda3 is reengineered for 2010, not totally redesigned. Mazda calls it an evolution, not a revolution. They made the right call...

2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Not satisfied with just its Camry-based Lexus RX 300 luxury “crossover” utility (CUV) and its Corolla-based RAV4 compact CUV, Toyota upped its ante in this fast-growing segment by launching a (Camry based) mid-size Highlander CUV in 2001. Four years later came the Highlander Hybrid, the industry’s first hybrid CUV with available seating for seven. This all-new, much-improved Highlander arrived for 2008, along with two new hybrid models. The Gen II Highlander is the most versatile of Toyota’s trio of mid-size SUVs and CUVs (the others are the truck-based 4Runner and quirky FJ Cruiser), and the hybrid is Toyota’s third after the Prius and Camry hybrid. And while it is larger, roomier, more powerful and (as a result) heavier than the first-generation Highlander, its EPA fuel efficiency is actually better...

2009 BMW 335i Coupe, 335d Sedan

Ever since the birth of BMW, two-door coupes have served as "elegant expressions of individual style and passion," according to the German automaker. Sedans offer practical values along with BMW's reputation for sterling road behavior, while coupes—dating back to the lush 327 model launched in 1938—cater to the most fervent devotees of the brand...

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

There’s a common misperception that U.S. automakers are behind some imports in technology and fuel efficiency. That may have been true some years ago, but it could not be further from the truth today. Both Ford and GM have become quality and fuel economy leaders in the last few years, especially from the highly competitive mid-size segment up. Chrysler still trails in both but is working hard and fast to catch up. Don’t believe us? Check the numbers...

2010 Honda Insight

Honda and Toyota pioneered the hybrid-powertrain business in the U.S. market, with the Insight two-seater and the original Prius sedan. Both debuted at the turn of the 21st century. Honda halted production of the original Insight after the 2006 model year, and Toyota's midsize Prius is now entering its third generation as a 2010 model...

2009 MINI John Cooper Works

Except for a racing shifter kart, I haven’t had this much fun in a motor vehicle in years. The 2009 MINI John Cooper Works hardtop edition is an old-school rush. Come to think of if, the kart kicked the fire out of my ribs, so the Cooper Works model is the most entertaining vehicle I’ve driven since I piloted the trailer portion of a hook-and-ladder fire truck...

2009 Nissan 370Z

Nissan’s handsome 240Z sports coupe was far more successful than the 2000 roadster (both badged “Datsun,” which was Nissan’s North American brand name then), its somewhat ungainly, British MGB-like predecessor. It hit the U.S. market in the fall of 1969 powered by a 2.4-liter in-line SOHC six. It rolled on a four-wheel independent suspension with front disc/rear drum brakes and carried an appealingly low price tag compared to contemporary European sportsters. The popular Z grew larger, more powerful, more luxurious and more expensive through four generations before being dropped in 1996. But Nissan brought it back for 2003 as the all-new 350Z—and this new 370Z replaces that for 2009. It sports a shorter wheelbase, more lightweight materials, a new, more powerful and more fuel efficient V-6 engine, a new high-quality interior and new available technology...

2009 Honda Civic GX

For the fifth consecutive year the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has named the natural gas-fueled Honda Civic GX the “greenest vehicle of the year.” The Civic GX, which Honda says has the cleanest internal combustion engine on the market, is not well known even among auto enthusiasts. This is largely because it is available to consumers only in New York, Utah and California, though businesses in any part of the country can buy Civic GXs for their fleets. Except for the fact that it runs on natural gas—and not gasoline—the 2009 Honda Civic GX sedan is little different than the four-door Civic LX...

2010 Toyota Prius

When gasoline prices hit record levels in the first half of 2008, interest in hybrid-powertrain vehicles shot upward, too. Suddenly, fuel-efficiency took precedence as a reason to buy a particular car. A few months later, as gas prices sunk back below $2 a gallon, that enthusiastic burst of hybrid popularity quickly eased. Customers started to revert to past habits, turning to bigger and less-frugal automobiles...

2010 Ford Mustang

Taking an iconic car like the Ford Mustang into the future while building upon its proud heritage is a job that Ford has been tackling with their legendary icon for 45 years. Over nine million Mustang owners have bought into the dream and become part of the legend that is Mustang. While the proven and successful formula of a rear-wheel-drive coupe remains the same, the collected knowledge and refinement gained in delivering the ride of choice for a young and vibrant America for over four decades is built into every 2010 Mustang...

2010 Lexus RX

When Toyota’s luxury Lexus brand launched its first RX 300 “crossover” in 1998, it was essentially a gussied-up wagon body on a front-drive Toyota Camry chassis. And it was seen by some as a weak competitor to the truck-based SUVs that were fast gaining popularity. It looked and drove okay, but lacked real SUV towing, cargo and rugged off-road capabilities...

2010 Cadillac SRX

PREVIEW—Are the years growing shorter or is it just me? Sometime in early summer, the all-new 2010 Cadillac SRX will be in dealer showrooms. The new sports-utility vehicle (or crossover, or whatever you’d like to call it) is smaller, gets better fuel economy and should be just as quick as its predecessor. The 2010 SRX will be powered by the smallest engine offered in a Cadillac; but, since it will make 265 horsepower, few will notice. An optional state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system should make the SRX a favorite of those who live or play where it snows. The 2010 Cadillac SRX loses the 2009’s marginally useful third row seats, leaving it with five seating positions...

2009 Suzuki SX4 Sport

Life often presents the agonizing but usually realistic choice between what you really want and what you can afford. Automotive desire and financial responsibility are not usually good bedfellows. Though reality of the decision is hardly ever as great as the fantasy of the situation, every now and again there's a little win even for the financially disinclined. A lot for a little or more for less is always welcome, especially when it involves having a swell time. Enter into this rare motoring world of the Suzuki SX4 Sport Sedan...

2010 Kia Forte Preview

A lot of people would be happy to emulate the Kia Forte: It’s skipping 2009 and going directly to 2010. Since the Forte will be in showrooms by early summer 2009, it’s less of a skip and more of a running head start. A bit of momentum will be welcome as the Forte is charged with replacing the Spectra as the compact four-door sedan in Kia’s broad lineup...

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid

Ford Motor Company’s mid-range Mercury brand has long occupied the middle ground between somewhat more affordable Fords and more upscale Lincolns. That is not expected to change going forward, but Mercury will become more European in size, style and character and more slanted toward fuel efficiency. So, not surprisingly—since Ford has redesigned its already excellent parallel hybrid system and is expanding its availability to substantially upgraded Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan mid-size sedans—the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid joins its Ford cousin, and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner (compact crossover) Hybrids double both the size and volume of the company’s hybrid lineup. Official EPA ratings put these fine new Fusion and Milan Hybrids at 41 mpg city and 36 highway, beating Toyota’s ’09 mid-size Camry Hybrid by eight and two mpg, respectively...

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Adding another SUV—even a crossover—in the midst of a frightfully distressed economy might not seem like the wisest course. Mercedes-Benz would beg to disagree, noting that the new GLK-Class falls into the premium compact category, well removed from the German automaker's other offerings. Marketers anticipate strong growth in the entry-level SUV segment, which the GLK clearly occupies. Bernhard Glaser, general manager for product management, explained that the 2010 GLK350 "doesn't look like a small M-Class," referring to the company's best-selling SUV, as redesigned for 2006. Neither is it a smaller version of the GL-Class...

2009 Volvo XC60

Volvo has used the "XC" designation for years now, to denote its most capable “cross country” wagons—the ones that have more ground clearance than their mates, and can therefore undertake some SUV-like tasks. Like other automakers these days, Volvo craves the attention of younger shoppers. That's the primary purpose for the shapely new XC60, which aims to attract a new group of buyers, different from those who continue to favor the traditional XC70 wagon...

2009 Subaru Outback 3.0R

While the phrase station wagon may conjure up fond memories of genuine simulated wood paneling and the unique rear facing kid seats associated with the full-size family of American station wagons of yore, we should not forget that it was Subaru that brought all-wheel drive and station wagons together in the mid-Seventies with a plucky and tough compact wagon that became an instant automotive hit in areas where ice and snow coat the roads every winter...

2009 Honda Accord Coupe

Not since the demise of the Acura NSX sports car have Honda products prompted observers to say “That’s a great-looking car, what is it?” Also not since the NSX went extinct have Hondas made BMW drivers look in their rearview mirror with surprise on a winding road and then squeeze the gas harder in response. But that’s exactly what the sleekly styled 271-horsepower Honda Accord Coupe accomplishes...

2009 Audi A4

“Sporty, superlative, progressive and emotive,” Audi calls them, and we can’t disagree. These new A4s explore new territory by moving up to the highly competitive “midsize” car segment. Previous A4s have been “compact” cars, with legroom-challenged rear seats. These new models are not. Still far from large, they are longer, wider and roomier than the ones they replace—much appreciated in their much more usable back seats...

2009 Infiniti G37x Sedan

Two years removed from its last major restyle, Infiniti has upped the ante on its G sedans once again. The 2009 edition of Infiniti’s near luxury midsize now packs a new powertrain. Known as the G37, the new models are equipped with a 3.7-liter V6 making 328 horsepower and 269 lb. ft. of torque. That’s 22 more horsepower than the motor it succeeds, and it’s also plus two in the gear department. The standard automatic transmission now boasts seven speeds...

2009 Chevrolet Traverse

It was the last to be introduced of GM’s quartet of new-generation three-row crossovers (car-based SUVs), and it may be the best in value. First came the 2008 Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia, each with its own distinctive look and personality, followed a few months later by the more boldly styled and upscale Buick Enclave, one of three finalists for the 2008 North American Truck of the Year. Now this Chevy Traverse, available in base LS, mid-range LT and top-of-the-line LTZ models, slides in below the Saturn in price yet gives up nothing in value...

2010 Buick LaCrosse Preview

In China, Buick is one of the best-selling automotive brands. European stylists are famous for their sumptuous designs. And, of course, most General Motors engineers and factories are located in the United States. That’s why GM employees from three continents came together to produce the all-new 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan. Buick says this is the first General Motors vehicle to be developed by its personnel on three continents...

2009 Dodge Nitro R/T

There's an undeniable appealing quality about driving an SUV. The commanding seating position combined with genuine off-road capability that's there even if you don't ever use it, is a combination that was and still is a popular hit with a lot of drivers. By definition there simply can't be anything subtle or understated about any SUV. Take away the sport or utility, and all you have left is an ordinary but tallish vehicle that drifts headlong into the hazy and undefined realm of a crossover, or worse—the almost inevitable certainty of the family minivan...

2009 Suzuki Equator

Why has small-but-growing Japanese automaker Suzuki brought a new midsize pickup truck to market just as U.S. truck sales were tanking due to high gas prices? Come to think of it, why has Suzuki, known better to most Americans for its motorcycles, ATVs and boat motors than for its cars, brought a new pickup to market at all?..

2009 Ford F150 Test Drive

Capable, economical, refined. These were often conflicting goals for the more than 1,000 people charged with designing, engineering and developing the 2009 Ford F-150. Achieving two would be an accomplishment, but Ford nailed all three with the new 2009 F-150...

2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 Sedan

About $20. That’s all that separates the 2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 Sedan from the title of “least-expensive new car in the U.S.”. Also, it’s among the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid, non-diesel cars in the country. The Versa 1.6 Sedan has plenty of room for four large adults: The interior is so large that the government rates it as a midsize. With 107 horsepower and a very light curb weight, the Versa 1.6 Sedan provides more-than-adequate acceleration. The Versa 1.6 Sedan offers very livable, basic transportation with few of the hardships associated with bare-bones vehicles...

2009 Dodge Ram 1500

Say what you want about the Big Three, they still make the best range of pickups in the world. Big and brash, they can tow a luxury yacht over the Continental Divide with authority, while hosting up to six passengers in sublime comfort. As long as gas is affordable and you can likewise afford the Lexus-like payments on the top models, there’s nothing like them. We put a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie model, the top trim level, to work recently by packing up and heading for a weekend of camping and vintage motocross racing in California. With its crew-cab body configuration, Hemi engine and soft leather interior, the Ram was ready...

2009 Lincoln MKX

For many consumers, today’s sport-utility vehicles have grown too large and uneconomical, but traditional sedans are too small and inflexible. The Lincoln MKX offers an excellent middle ground between the two. The Lincoln MKX is an easily maneuverable size, but it provides the higher seating position many enjoy in an SUV. Also, it has the ability to accept bulky items, tow a small trailer and haul a significant amount of stuff. Imagine a luxury sedan that easily transforms into a small van. That’s the Lincoln MKX, the brand’s first crossover...

2009 Toyota Sienna

You’ve probably heard all the swipes taken at minivans. You know, they’re matronly, soccer-mom mobiles that no red-blooded single guy would dare be seen in, lest his mojo be questioned. Truth be told, though, there’s no other type of vehicle that does so many things so well. (And we’ve heard more than one macho car-guy admit to sharing this same appreciation.) After all, it rides like car, carries cargo like a pickup, and has no peer as a people mover. Minivans are simply the smartest use of space for passengers and cargo, with a remarkable blend of comfort, convenience, and safety features. So what’s not to like?..

2009 Nissan XTerra

Most sport-utility vehicles are like apartment-dwelling Labrador retrievers: They’ve become soft—forgetting their original purpose in life was to work hard, get dirty and carry dead birds. Unlike most other SUVs, the 2009 Nissan Xterra feels as if it remembers its roots. Its floor and seats are inviting to muddy boots and wet raingear. Assertive fender bulges, prominent roof rack and black lower cladding stand out in the mall parking lot. Its stout ladder frame is based on that found in the Titan pickup. The XTerra’s cargo area can be had in hard plastic, and features 10 tie-down hooks. It has a tough-guy-loud exhaust and its ride is sometimes a bit harsh...

2009 Toyota Prius

In Washington, D.C., Toyota Prius seem almost as common as pickups in Texas. It’s not true, but some car-oriented visitors feel that way. The Prius, the nation’s fuel-mileage leader, is well suited for Washington’s congested streets. The gas-electric hybrid is far more convenient and, at least for suburban dwellers, a Prius will get you where you’re going quicker than the area’s Metro rail system. If four people share the cost of commuting, a Prius may be cheaper, too. More important for a place that’s all about making statements, the Prius might as well be wrapped with political vehicle graphics. These would say its owner is very environmentally conscious. Optionally, the graphics could also say: “I’m a liberal and darned proud of it.” Prius sales numbers may be a better barometer of public feelings than are political opinion polls.

2009 Toyota Venza

Nearly everyone knows by now that a “crossover” vehicle is a cross between an SUV and a car. Let’s say a tall, three-row (Camry based) Toyota Highlander, for example, were to mate with a Camry sedan—which is perfectly okay because it’s within the same species—then this all-new five-passenger Venza might be their legitimate offspring. In fact, it is...

2009 Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator has been a popular full-sized luxury sport-utility vehicle since its debut in 1998. The current generation was introduced as a 2007 model. For 2009, Lincoln has now made standard many features that were previously optional on the vehicle that will carry up to eight people and tow up to 9,000 pounds when properly equipped (4x2 model/standard wheelbase). Also, several new goodies have been added...

2009 Ford Focus Sedan

Most of us are familiar with the budget-friendly Ford Focus. It’s been on the American automotive scene for nearly a decade. We’ll get to the refresher course below on why the Focus is still a big seller, but first is what makes it better for 2009...

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

Rarely can “SUV,” “clean air,” and “good gas mileage” be used in the same sentence. One of the few exceptions is the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid...

2009 BMW X3

For almost two decades, nimble, efficient sport-utility vehicles have been decidedly out of fashion. The BMW X3 3.0si is a leader among the first wave of an inevitable trend toward more svelte and energy-efficient SUVs. The 2009 BMW X3 3.0si shows that a smaller SUV can provide plenty of interior room, excellent acceleration and better fuel mileage in a very attractive and luxurious package. In the near future, expect X3s that make better fuel mileage and a smaller impact on the environment. In Europe, the vehicle is currently offered with four-cylinder gas and diesel engines. Hydrogen-fueled or a plug-in hybrid-electric version can’t be far behind...

2009 Ford Taurus

After a short, ill-conceived time as the Ford Five Hundred, the Ford Taurus is again ready to regain its rightful place in the Ford lineup and America’s heart. Introduced in 1986, the Taurus was regularly Ford’s and, often, America’s best-selling car. But a radical redesign for the 2005 model year and an unnecessary name change caused what should have been the all-new Taurus to become the Ford Five Hundred. The old-platform Taurus continued to be built, mainly for commercial fleets. However, for 2008 Ford dropped the Five Hundred designation and appropriately renamed the full-size sedan the Ford Taurus...

2009 Volkswagen Routan

Routan marks Volkswagen’s re-entry into the minivan field after an absence of five years. The addition of the new model makes sense; filling one of the few remaining slots in the company’s lineup where they did not field a competitive vehicle. The route taken to develop Routan is unusual for the VW, though not for the industry. Rather than design a new van from the ground up, Volkswagen opted instead to buy an existing platform and adapt it for their use. The company that they chose to partner with was Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler is the acknowledged Minivan Meister. Inventors of the breed in 1984, they’ve been prime players ever since. The most obvious benefit of this approach for Volkswagen is speed to market. It’s far faster to build on established expertise than it is to cut something from whole cloth. The downside is, an off-the–rack offering—however handsomely tailored—will never have quite the individualized fit and feel that a custom-made piece would...

2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

With gasoline prices mimicking the motto of Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story movies—“To infinity and beyond!”—it’s good to know there’s a very economical sport-utility vehicle on the market. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also fun to drive, roomy and practical...

2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster

When spring nears, brilliant white wild dogwood blooms brighten the otherwise dark, bare Carolina hardwood forest that lines the curvy and empty backroad. A hundred explosively yellow daffodils mark the site of a long-demolished farmhouse. A trio of wild turkey gobblers, their heads red, white and blue from passion, display gaudy tail feathers to a harem of disinterested hens. This is a perfect time and place for the Nissan 350Z Roadster with its top down and its potent V6 screaming at almost 7000 rpm. It gets even better when the turkeys respond with involuntary shock gobbles to sweet exhaust sounds and the slight squeal of Bridgestones...

2009 Chevrolet Silverado XFE

Fuel economy and big pickup trucks don't mix, especially with a powerful V-8 engine under that expansive hood. Or do they? Responding to concerns about gas mileage in its existing vehicles, General Motors is launching a series of XFE variants of several current cars and trucks. XFE stands for "Xtra Fuel Economy." One of those improved-economy models is the full-size Chevrolet Silverado XFE pickup. Silverado's corporate cousin, the GMC Sierra, also gets an XFE offshoot. So do the full-size Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport-utility vehicles...

2009 Ford Mustang

Since the Ford Mustang was introduced in 1964, millions of people have lusted after one. Over the past 45 years, more than nine million have purchased new Mustangs and countless millions more have bought used Mustangs. On top of that, the Mustang convertible is currently the best-selling ragtop. The 2009 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT are sure to keep that streak going strong...

2009 BMW 1 Series

Most observers agree that BMW essentially invented the small “sport” sedan, beginning with its early 1960’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder 1500, which over time evolved into the 1600 and eventually the much quicker and more athletic 2002 (2.0-liters and two doors). The idea was a relatively advanced engine in a practical body on a decidedly athletic suspension. The resulting small two-door sedan with its usable back seat, sporting aspirations and real competition credentials was all about having your fun and hauling it, too...

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac shocked the auto world with the angular, creased-pants “Art and Science” look of its all-new 2002 CTS (think: “Cadillac Touring Sedan”). Then followed for 2004 with the marque’s first truly high-performance model in a very long time, the CTS-V. Cadillac has never said what the italicized “V” actually stands for; we’ve always thought of it as “Velocity.” Two more high-performance V models joined the line for 2006, the larger STS-V sedan and the Corvette-based XLR-V roadster, both powered by a supercharged Cadillac Northstar V-8 and both capable of sub-five-second zero-to-60 bursts...

2009 Cadillac XLR

When Cadillac launched the XLR as a 2004 model, the two-passenger roadster gave luxury-minded shoppers a dose of performance comparable to that of Chevrolet's legendary Corvette. Inspired by Stealth fighter planes, the exterior design of this retractable hardtop combined high style with a moderately assertive nature. In contrast to the Corvette's curves, the XLR relied more on straight lines and angles to achieve its alluring presence...

2010 Kia Soul Preview

PREVIEW—You can point toward the high cost of gas, raising concerns about the environment, or just what goes around, comes around, but small is big. Small doesn’t have to mean an austere, plain, prole-mobile, though. With vehicles like the MINI, Scion Xb and Honda Fit, small is hip and fun...

2008 Ford Edge

There’s a lot to like about sport utility vehicles: the secure-feeling high seating position, space to tote big loads, ability to climb steep, snow-covered driveways, and their adventuresome image. But SUVs have downsides, too, not the least of which is mediocre fuel economy. The 2008 Ford Edge crossover accentuates the positives of SUVs and minimizes their negatives...

2009 Lincoln MKZ

The 2009 Lincoln MKZ offers an impressively long list of standard performance and luxury features, an entertaining driving experience, an affordable price and, something offered by few others in its class, optional all-wheel drive...

2009 Ford Fusion

Looking to escape the Toyota Camry/Honda Accord status quo? Tired of seeing yourself—or at least an identical version of your car—regularly coming the other way? Ever try to open the door of the wrong car of the same make, model and color in a mall parking lot? Do you desire a bolder styling statement than regularly found in the four-door sedan segment? Do you live where it snows a lot and all-wheel drive would be more than handy? With bold, distinctive styling, a choice for two powerful engines, available all-wheel drive, quality, impressive fuel economy and a very attractive price, the 2009 Ford Fusion may be the answer to all these questions...

2009 Chevrolet Aveo

As fuel economy became a hot issue early in 2008, reacting to the sharp increases in gasoline prices, Detroit's three major automakers seemed to be caught short. Each had been concentrating hard on SUVs and trucks, paying scant attention to smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles. Chevrolet is something of an exception, with a pair of smaller, fuel-efficient passenger cars in its lineup. In addition to the compact Cobalt, Chevrolet since 2004 has offered a subcompact Aveo...

2009 Honda Fit

When interest in smaller, fuel-efficient cars began to sizzle in the spring of 2008, Honda didn't have to worry much. In addition to the popular Civic, Honda had a smaller-yet Fit in its stable—with a redesigned version at Honda dealers now...

2009 Jaguar XF

A remarkable thing happened just as Jaguar launched this sexy, silky new cat: it changed owners. After sinking multi-millions into the legendary British marque, Ford Motor Co. finally gave up on making it profitable and sold it (and its fellow-Brit distant cousin Land Rover) to the very big and profitable Indian conglomerate Tata Motors Ltd...

2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2009 Toyota Camry is the latest successor in a long line of regal Toyota sedans that ultimately lent the Camry its name. The word Camry ascended in a phonetic translation of the Japanese word kanmuri - or Crown. Not surprisingly, the flagship of the Toyota lineup in Japan before the advent of Camry was the mighty Toyota Crown. Executive level motoring luxury has since been spun off into the brand known stateside as Lexus. Deluxe motoring coaches aside, the Toyota lineup has always featured a mileage champion. The 1984 Toyota Starlet boasted an almost unbelievable EPA mileage rating of 55 mpg highway. This figure was likely achieved at the then national speed limit of 55 mph, and with an accompanying level of ride possible only in a small, short wheelbase compact hatchback. Merging the previously unrelated concepts of a comfortable, practical, and roomy sedan together with the fuel economy of a compact car is the hybrid version of the popular four-door Toyota Camry.

2009 Dodge Challenger

Concept cars have a way of writing checks that the production versions can’t cash. Unfettered by real world demands (cost, safety, practicality), they can take chances with their styling. That often leads to some fine designs, but also raised expectations—and those hopes can be dashed if the street model doesn’t live up to the show version...

2009 Nissan Maxima

For close to three decades, Maxima has served as Nissan's flagship in the U.S. market. Through the '90s, it was promoted as the company's "four-door sports car," emphasizing the sedan's handling talents as well as its upscale amenities. Mark Perry of Nissan's product planning group notes that Maxima "lost a step" in its prior (2005-08) generation. Now, freshly redesigning the sedan for the sixth time, Nissan again touts sports car-like qualities under the theme "Maxima reborn."..

2009 Acura TL

Now entering its fourth generation, Acura's midsize sedan gets a major makeover that includes a laundry list of technical modifications, plus sharply different eye appeal. Many automakers promise sculpted shapes, but the TL really deserves that claim with its gently flowing lines and dips, especially up front. The new "signature" grille has a 3-D look, more like a tapered lid above the air opening. Styling project leader Art Osborne calls the design philosophy "keen-edge dynamic," centering on "linear fluidity" and a "pronounced upper shoulder" that imparts an authoritative presence...

2009 Honda FCX Clarity Preview

The 2009 Honda FCX Clarity doesn’t have an engine. It doesn’t use gasoline, diesel or biofuel. Its emission are only water vapor and oxygen. It gets the equivalent of about 80 miles per gallon gasoline and is almost completely silent...

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt

As Americans clamor for greater fuel economy in the wake of attention-grabbing gasoline prices, Chevrolet is more prepared than some domestic automakers, which are overburdened with SUVs and other fuel-thirsty models. In addition to the subcompact Aveo sedan and hatchback, Chevrolet offers the compact-size Cobalt coupe and sedan. Introduced for the 2005 model year, Cobalt took the place of the Cavalier, which faded away after a run that lasted well over two decades. Chevrolet touted the Cobalt as a "premium small car," rather than targeting the low end of the small-car market, which includes the Aveo...

2009 Hyundai Sonata

Korean automaker Hyundai has spent a decade working hard to change its image from cheap to quality, and from entry level to upscale automobiles people aspire to own. It has been doing this the best way a car company can: by significantly improving every vehicle in its line and introducing fresh new ones that meet or surpass the competition in nearly every way. Last year’s Veracruz premium crossover and this year’s Genesis luxury sedan move the Hyundai brand into important segments where it has not played before. And this year’s revamped 2009 Sonata raises its competitiveness to new heights in the large and hugely important midsize family sedan class...

2009 Ford F-150 Preview

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning is famous for changing the play once his team is already on the line of scrimmage. By adapting to the defense, Manning is able to turn a likely loser into a winning play. Ford is attempting to emulate Manning with the 2009 F-150 pickup. The company hopes to slip out of a desperate situation, much in the same manner as Peyton’s brother, Eli, did to win the 2008 Super Bowl. The price of gas more than doubled while Ford was designing the 2009 F-150. Then, just after the truck was introduced to the press, fuel prices plummeted close to 2007 levels.  In press material written early in 2008, Ford said the 2009 F-150 was going to have “game-changing features.” Instead, the game itself changed.

2009 Infiniti FX Preview

PREVIEW—You have to feel for automakers when it comes time to follow up what was a home run. There’s a lot of sophomore slump out there, and most of it comes from the expectations of buyers who were wowed once, and want to be wowed again. The Infiniti FX is all-new for 2009, and the good news is it looks like it will be as much of a hit as the original...

2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC will make you forget everything you thought you knew about diesels. It’s quiet, quick, clean and odorless...

2008 BMW X6

Scientists would declare that the new 2008 BMW X6 xDrive50i and X6 xDrive35i are a new vehicular species. Football coaches would say the 2008 X6 has hit the seam in the zone defense. Marketing folks assert the 2008 X6 created a new sub-niche. However, car writers are befuddled as what to call the BMW X6...

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan

Ever tried to get someone’s attention in a crowded room? If so, you know the position that Volkswagen is in. The top selling automaker in Europe, VW is in the midst of a busy year here in the states, rolling out four new models to market. The latest is called Tiguan, making its showroom debut now, as VW’s entry in the burgeoning, compact SUV class...

2009 Mazda Mazda6

Mazda’s 2003 Mazda6 midsize sedan first brought “Zoom-Zoom” to the U.S. market. Six years down the road, an all-new ‘09 Mazda6 brings both more room and more zoom. The idea, Mazda says, was to blend “the sprit of a true sports car” into a four-door, five-passenger sedan, and it worked pretty well. Compared to the fairly ordinary, dare we say, “boring” Mazda 626 midsize sedan it replaced back then, the ’03-‘08 Mazda6 looked a lot zoomier and was much more fun to drive. So why didn’t it sell a lot better?..

2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

The easier you make it for people to do the right thing, the more likely they are to do so. That as much as anything explains the growing popularity of hybrid-powered vehicles in this country. We like our SUVs for their space, their image and, most of all, their go-anywhere, in-any-weather attitude. But we don’t like being on a first-name basis with the cashier at the local gas station. And many of us don’t want to be hoggish about using more natural resources than we need to. So, the end of the payment book sparked many drivers to migrate out of their large SUVs, in search of something smaller, greener and more economical. Mercury is among the happy recipients of this influx of buyers. The Mariner Hybrid is a compact SUV available in all-wheel drive ($28,945) and, as of 2008, front-wheel drive ($27,195)...

2009 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Stage whispers are everywhere about the new ZR1 Corvette. When it arrives later this year, the new King of the Hill will boast a power output of more than 620 horsepower, thanks to a supercharged small block V-8. Until then, those in search of the top fiberglass flier will have to “make do” with the Z06. Make do, indeed. The 2009 Corvette Z06 posts some pretty gaudy numbers in its own right. Power is provided by the LS7 engine. It measures 7.0 liters, which translates into roughly 427 cubic inches of displacement—magical numbers for old school, Chevy buffs. The LS7 generates 505 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm, and 470 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,800 rpm. Those numbers lead to these numbers: 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds; a quarter mile time of 11.7 seconds @ 125 mph; top speed 198 mph; max lateral grip 1.04 g; 60 mph to zero braking in 111.3 feet. Of course, cars are about more than just numbers, but those stats sketch a picture of a world-class performer...

2008 Volvo XC70

Remember when Volvos were solid, safe, boxy and boring? Now they’re solid, safe and stylish, and some are downright sexy. Some have even been swift and sporty. Go figure. Now come these solid, safe, practical and attractive new midsize wagons. Built on a completely new vehicle architecture and slotted neatly between Volvo’s smaller V50 wagon and its larger, more rugged XC90 SUV (“XC” for cross-country), this third-generation V70 and its slightly taller and tougher XC70 “crossover” (CUV) derivative share major systems and components with the new-for-2007 S80 flagship luxury sedan. Volvo says they bring to market “breakthroughs,” in safety, style, luxury, driving dynamics, utility and versatility...

2008 Infiniti G37

Coupes are all about style. Why else would anyone sacrifice that second set of handy doors offered by sedans, some of which are pretty stylish themselves these days? This all-new 2008 Infiniti G37 coupe marries style to performance and a posh, sporty, functional interior, all of which raise the bar well beyond the already excellent G35 coupe it replaces...

2008 Porsche Cayenne

Plenty of Porschephiles went depressive a few years back when their favorite high-performance sports car company announced it was about to enter the SUV business. “That will damage our vaunted marque beyond recognition,” they cried in unison. After all, who would buy a pure-as-snow sports car from a showroom shared with four-door, family toting, off-road-going—yech!—trucks? Many swore that if Porsche actually did this awful thing, they would surely shop elsewhere for adrenelin-pumping, image-boosting automotive excitement...

2009 Acura TSX

To call it a freak snowstorm would be a major understatement. It was mid-February in, not northern or snow belt U.S., extreme Southern California, a few short miles from the Mexican border. That was where Acura chose to hold a press-drive for its all-new 2009 TSX. This is normally a great choice: Start in San Diego, drive some great roads eastward into the hills, stop for lunch, and hightail it back. We were enjoying the car’s crisp handling on the way out and had just switched drivers when the snow began, flurries at first, an amusing area novelty that wetted the road but didn’t accumulate. We assumed it would soon blow by...

2008 Toyota RAV4

Getting older isn’t easy, even when you’re good. Case study: the 2008 Toyota RAV4. This is year three of generation three for Toyota’s perennially popular, compact SUV. But, as it marks time between redesigns, it doesn’t have the luxury of coasting. Aside from the annual, best-in-class battle with Honda’s CR-V, there are other things to consider. Like that object growing quickly larger in the rear view mirror, the Nissan Rogue...

2008 Audi A5 3.2 quattro

Coupes are right brain buys; style plays as much of a role in their purchase as sensibility does for a sedan. With the rollout of the new A5, Audi expands its holdings in this style-conscious class from two to three. Or its that four? The all-new two-door also has a sportier sibling named the S5 (Gwyneth Paltrow’s ride in the movie “Iron Man”), so you can consider the Audi coupe count as four, or three with an asterisk. Considering that the other Audi coupes have very distinctive shapes—the swoopy R8 über car and the modern classic TT—A5 inherits some fine genetics...

2009 Kia Borrego

TEST DRIVE—With two smaller SUVs already in its lineup, Kia has taken a traditional and expansive approach to its newest model. Named Borrego, the new midsize sport-utility vehicle is built like a truck, with a separate body and frame, and seats up to seven passengers. Both the compact Sportage and the smaller midsize Sorento hold five occupants.

2009 Lincoln MKS

Lincoln has a new flagship: The 2009 Lincoln MKS full-size sedan. Its styling is classic and understated, except for Lincoln’s traditional aggressive chrome grille. The 2009 Lincoln MKS’ list of standard features is impressively long, and includes a 275-horsepower* engine, heated front and rear seats, and a six-month subscription to SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Both interior and trunk room is expansive. Perhaps most significantly, the 2009 Lincoln MKS offers a very attractive starting price of just over $38,000—about $9,000 less than a 2008 Lincoln Town Car. It’s less than the Lincoln LS was in 2006, the last year it appeared...

2009 Hyundai Genesis

Names can make a difference when a new car model emerges. Genesis, the model designation for Hyundai's new premium flagship sedan, suggests a new beginning—or at least a new direction. Not only does the Genesis use a rear-wheel-drive layout, rather than front-drive like all other Hyundai models, but it's available with either V-6 or new V-8 power...

2008 Saturn VUE

Except for newcomer Smart, with its comically tiny two-seat city car, Saturn boasts the U.S. market’s youngest lineup. The Sky two-seat roadster, which debuted in March 2006, is its oldest vehicle. The Aura midsize sedan, the Outlook crossover, the Opel-clone Astra small cars and this all-new Vue compact crossover have arrived in Saturn showrooms since then. Saturn’s and GM’s German Opel products now share virtually identical styling, and this ‘08 Vue not only looks like its European Opel Antara counterpart, it is essentially the same vehicle mildly modified to meet U.S.-market rules. “The 2008 Vue continues the product revitalization at Saturn,” comments Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak...

2008 Lexus IS F

If the Lexus IS F isn't the best factory hot-rod ever, it's in the top 10 of a very hallowed group...

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen

Station wagons hit their high watermark in the states about 50 years ago, accounting for 15 percent of all auto sales. By 1990, that number had slipped below 5 percent. Where did all the buyers go? The first stop was minivans. In the 1980s, vans inherited all the people who wanted to keep the wagon’s versatility, but didn’t want to look like their parents. The next migration was to SUVs in the 90s, by minivan owners who wanted to keep the versatility, but didn’t want the soccer mom (or dad) stigma. In recent years, the move has been to crossovers and station wagons (once again). This time, it was the SUV owners, who wanted to keep the versatility but didn’t want to pour their paychecks into their gas tanks...

2009 Pontiac Vibe

Vibe (and its corporate cousin, the Toyota Matrix) first rolled onto the scene in 2003. At the time, crossovers were hot, but not like now. Five years removed from its debut, Vibe reloads and returns to a field that is filling with new buyers, and new competitors. Buyers want the versatility that they used to get in their SUV, in a more economical package. Competitors want as much of Vibe’s market share as they can eat...

2009 Honda Pilot

With so many midsize SUVs on the market, it's a miracle that shoppers manage to make any choices. Automakers face their own challenges: namely, how to capture a bigger share of that elusive market when it's time for a new or redesigned model...

2008 Honda Civic Si Sedan

It happens without warning. You awake one day to the shocking reality that you’re a grown-up. Or, at least, people—like your spouse, kid(s), boss, parents and banker—expect you to act a lot more mature than you feel. With the Honda Civic Si Sedan, you can fool most into believing you’re a responsible adult: What says “good citizen” better than a four-door Civic? Yet, when they’re not looking you can snap off a couple of screaming redline upshifts and hustle around a freeway on-ramp or down backcountry roads. In those moments, you can be a kid again, dreaming that Formula 1 or Indy car stardom is your destiny. Calculating mortgage refinancing—or whatever it is that grown-ups do—can wait. The Civic Si is also available as a two-door, but your anonymity is harder to maintain...

2008 Honda S2000 CR

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a sports car as an automobile equipped for racing, an aerodynamically shaped single or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity with a steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds...

2009 Ford Flex

If there’s hope that the left and right sides of your brain can agree on anything, that one thing may be the 2009 Ford Flex. Both emotional and practical needs are more than fully met by the 2009 Ford Flex, a crossover that’s equally sporty and utilitarian...

2008 Saturn Astra

Ever wonder why GM and Ford rarely bring their best European products across the pond to market here? Several good reasons: With European fuel prices way higher than ours, Euro cars typically offer smaller size, less room, less performance and fewer features, yet are priced well higher than U.S. models. (As fuel economy requirements ramp upward, this is the future for us as well.) Their roads, rules and driving conditions—and therefore buyers’ tastes—are substantially different. Dollar vs. Euro currency rates and incompatible safety and emissions standards raise costs even higher. And the few modern-day tries at Americanizing European cars for sale here—German Opel-based Saturn L-Series sedans and wagons, for example—have been unsuccessful...

2008 BMW M3 Coupe

Go from zero to jail without shifting out of third gear. Pick the wrong place and time to exercise the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe and you’ll have the opportunity to be a star on “Cops,” “Speeders,” “Inside American Jail,” or pretty much any other program on the truTV network...

2008 Pontiac G8 GT

Imagine a Pontiac Trans Am that has room for five full-size adults, one of the biggest trunks available, is faster and no more expensive. That’s the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT...

2008 Mercedes-Benz E350

It’s funny that no matter how far a manufacturer goes, they’re usually remembered for one pivotal vehicle that’s left a lasting impression in the consumer’s mind. Porsche for example, is a sports car company. Even with the Cayenne SUV and up coming Panamera sedan, to most, a Porsche is a 911. BMW made its mark in the U.S. with the small 2002 sport sedan and, even today, its spiritual successor; the 3 Series is its bread and butter...

2008 Audi R8

Say you’re a fine, upscale German car company sick of operating in the long shadows of larger rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz. You long to show them up and stick a finger in the eye of haughty sports car maven Porsche in the process. What to do?..

2009 Dodge Journey

It’s easier to sell fun than functional. As masters of the minivan—that most practical of vehicles—Dodge knows this. Since inventing the breed in 1983, the company has had more experience in the business of selling sensible than anyone. They’ve also amassed plenty of know-how in the art of wringing every last ounce of space out of an interior design. The collective lessons learned in marketing and cabin layout have been rolled into the new Dodge Journey, which recently made its showroom debut in March, as an early 2009 model...

2008 Mercury Mountaineer

Don’t you just love great vehicle names? Names you can pronounce, understand and remember, instead of confusing alphanumeric badges. So it is on today’s Mercury cars and trucks—midsize Milan and full-size Sable sedans, compact Mariner crossover (CUV) and midsize Mountaineer SUV. The latter is not only poised and ready to take on mountain roads and trails, towing a boat, wave runners, mountain bikes or snowmobiles, but completely at home on the highway or a night on the town in style and comfort...

2009 Subaru Forester

Whether Subaru deserves credit for the first "crossover" vehicle may be debatable. When the first-generation Forester debuted as a 1998 model, the term hadn't even entered the public lexicon. Most people considered the first Forester to be a car-like compact sport-utility vehicle. At the time, apart from such newcomers as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, most SUVs were truck-based, built on a separate chassis...

2008 Lincoln MKX

Many desire the capability and image of a luxury sport utility vehicle, but dislike the reduced maneuverability and fuel economy of a full-sized SUV. Even midsized SUVs have inflated to the point that they’re more than a tight fit in the average garage or mall parking space and burn fuel at a prodigious pace. For those who don’t tote a lot of people or tow extra-heavy trailers, these are too much vehicle. Instead, they need a smaller vehicle that doesn’t sacrifice style, comfort, room for stuff, or the ability to haul. That’s why Lincoln’s first crossover SUV, the Lincoln MKX, is just right for many. And why it was a sales hit in its first year. (“Crossover SUV” is what car writers call vehicles that are not traditional, truck-based SUVs, but aren’t station wagons either.)..

2009 Toyota Corolla

Until recently, U.S. subcompact cars have been mostly about price and fuel economy. Now, due to much-increased consumer interest in smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, most have developed personality as well, thanks to more stylish looks, improved performance and handling and better feature availability. In most cases, interior design, materials, quality and accommodations have also approached those of larger, more expensive models. Toyota’s aging (yet still surprisingly popular) Corolla has been an exception—until now...

2008 Toyota Avalon

The Avalon has been reclassified from a full-size sedan to midsize in the premium class, even though the exterior and interior dimensions are identical to last year’s model. Well known for its comfortable, smooth and quiet ride, the performance quality has been enhanced with a new six-speed transmission and improved brakes. There are four models available. The base MSRP for the XL model is $27,075 and the Limited starts at $34,415...

2008 Subaru WRX STI

Calling the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI “practical” is much like saying Eli Manning has a nice personality. While both statements are accurate, it’s more appropriate to first reference the outstanding performance of each. On the other hand, the well informed already know Manning was the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Super Bowl and that the 305-horsepower all-wheel-drive 2008 Impreza WRX STI is wickedly fast...

2008 Lincoln Mark LT

Those above a certain age will remember Ford's Ranchero and some other car-based pickups of many years ago. While their styling was appealing, their function was not. In trying to double as both car and truck, they ended up not very useful as either...

2008 Lincoln Town Car

Lincoln has been making a major comeback in sales, market share and image thanks to such excellent new products as the MKZ "entry luxury" sedan, the Lincoln MKX "crossover" SUV and the soon-to-arrive, larger MKS sedan. But fans of traditional American luxury cars no doubt rejoice that Lincoln's iconic full-size, full-frame Town Car still graces Lincoln-Mercury showrooms...

2008 MINI Clubman

The new Clubman is more MINI. Or is that less?..

2008 Ford Focus Sedan

Transportation, recreation, communication. Three concepts, formerly distinct, but lately related, as the lines blur between work and play, home and away. Originally, cars were conveyances, something to get us from place to place. But increasingly, that view of auto as rolling appliance is being crowded out by a different take...

2008 Nissan Frontier

Imagine having a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III as your private airplane. Your friends would be mightily impressed that you had the ability to haul either some 100 paratroopers or an M1A2 Abrams tank. But some might snicker behind your back when you spend far more time flying alone in a huge, expensive, thirsty airplane. For the vast majority of truck owners, driving one of today's full-sized—which are really super-sized—trucks is similar to having a military transport as a personal aircraft...

2008 Ford Taurus X

When Ford introduced its roomy new full-size Five Hundred sedan for 2005, it also brought forth a kissing-cousin crossover-utility vehicle (CUV) on the same Volvo-derived architecture, and they named it Freestyle. Problem was, the generally fine Five Hundred quickly got lost in America's sea of look-alike sedans, and the space-efficient three-row Freestyle found itself too often confused with Ford's slow-selling Freestar minivan...

2008 Chevrolet Malibu

Malibu is a high-buck ocean-side neighborhood northwest of Los Angeles. It is also Chevrolet's bread-and-butter midsize sedan. When GM introduced "intermediate" autos, between big cars and compacts, in the 1960s, Chevy's was called Chevelle, and Malibu was its top-of-the-line model. The Chevelle name later went away, but Malibu has stuck ever since...

2009 Nissan Murano

In 2003, when Nissan introduced its first Murano, sport-utility vehicles suffered from sameness. Even the growing number of car-based models, later dubbed "crossovers," displayed a basically boxy profile. With its unique checkered grille leading the way, Murano stood apart from the pack—not unlike the FX35/45 from Infiniti, Nissan's sister company. Stretching beyond its distinctively sophisticated appearance, Nissan also defied convention by installing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) rather than an ordinary automatic with gears...

2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

The ideal vehicle would be much like a Hasbro Transformer for grownups. It would turn into a pickup for the Saturday morning run to the home improvement store. Then it would become an SUV and carry four USSSA youth baseball players and their equipment (including the mandatory array of $400 bats) to an afternoon game. That evening, the vehicle would convert into a smooth-riding sedan for the drive to dinner. The next weekend, it would grow into a beast of burden, able to haul and tow enough gear and big-boy play toys for a serious back-county adventure far from paved roads...

2008 Toyota Tacoma

Most of the truck buzz at Toyota in recent times has been tied to Tundra. The company rattled the Big Three's cage, rolling out a full line of full-size trucks, to go head to head in the marketplace...

2008 Scion tC

Scion's small family of small cars includes the entry level, hatchback xD, the boxy, funky xB, and the sporty tC coupe. Of the three, you could argue that the tC has the toughest row to hoe. For one thing, the two-door coupe segment is notoriously small and fickle. Ditto for hatchbacks, at least in this country. And, its price point (MSRP $17,620 (manual), $18,420 (automatic), means that it has one foot in the entry level market and the other in the compact sport coupe segment...

2008 Acura TL Type S

Since its introduction in 1995, the Acura TL has been an upscale mainstay in the midsize market. Wrapping bulletproof mechanicals in a classy package, Acura's top seller is a perennial favorite of buyers in the near luxury segment. Cars in this class have always provided traditional, top shelf amenities. More recently, this sector has also sprouted a separate branch with a sportier bent. Acura competes on both fronts, with the luxury oriented TL and the performance influenced TL Type-S...

2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz's previous-generation C-Class cars have been its most successful. As the company's smallest and most affordable U.S.-market entries, they are its natural best-sellers and compete well against "entry luxury" sedans from the likes of BMW, Acura, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti and Cadillac...

2008 Hyundai Azera

When Hyundai introduced the Azera as a 2006 model, it wasn't the first upscale sedan sent to U.S. dealerships by the South Korean automaker. That distinction goes to the XG series, first seen as the XG300 in 2001, then given more power as the XG350 a year later. Both models sought to give Hyundai shoppers a step up from the slightly smaller, value-priced Sonata...

2008 Jeep Liberty

Even though every vehicle is technically an "it," not a he or a she, some can display a distinct gender bias. Here's an interesting example: The first-generation Jeep Liberty was a tad more popular with the distaff side—60 percent of its buyers were women. That doesn't surprise us, as it had that "cute ute" demeanor, unlike its more rugged Wrangler relatives. Although a capable rig, the first Liberty looked dainty by comparison, with a perky persona enhanced by its wide-eyed headlights...

2008 Honda Element

When the first Element rolled out in 2002, Honda got a surprise. Aimed at young, outdoor actives, the boxy-bodied SUV proved more popular with Baby Boomers than it did with the Boomer's babies...

2008 Ford Expedition

Those who can't understand the still-substantial demand for large sport utilities have never needed one. The simple fact is that, if you have a serious amount of people and stuff to haul and/or tow, there is no good alternative...

2008 Ford Ranger

Ford's compact Ranger pickup debuted as a 1983 model and won its first award that year as Off-Road Magazine's "4x4 Truck of the Year." Another came three years later when Ranger was named Petersen's 4-Wheel and Off Road magazine's "4x4 of the Year." Then, a full decade after its birth, Truckin' magazine named Ranger "Pickup of the Year."..

2008 Nissan Altima

Nissan's Altima, a worthy alternative in a midsize car market led by Toyota's Camry, Honda's Accord as well as new domestics Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion, is the number three Japanese automaker's best-selling vehicle in the United States. The sedan was redone for 2007, the Hybrid (which mates Toyota's Synergy drive system to Nissan's own four-cylinder engine) was launched (in California and other wannabe "green" states) in January 2007, and the strikingly styled coupe was added for 2008...

2008 Ford Mustang GT

Mustang was a marketing success from the get-go. Here was a car so in tune with its times that it grabbed a whole generation by the lapels and shook them up. The clean, cool styling of the first, 1965 models got buyers to nibble. But what really hooked them was the menu. Mustang's long-as-your-arm option sheet allowed people to personalize their rides, depending on tastes and budget. The combination of a hot looking car, a nice price and a have-it-your-way marketing approach made for record-breaking sales. By the time Mustang hit its second anniversary, over one million had rolled off the assembly line and into American driveways...

2008 Honda Ridgeline

While crossover designs are the all the rage for SUVs, this concept is also trickling into the pickup truck market. The Honda Ridgeline is a good case in point. Conventional wisdom tells us that a truck should have a big V8 engine and a body-on-frame construction. Anything else just can't cut it, right? Well, Honda is anything but a conventional company, having developed a number of breakthrough engineering achievements over the years—the CVCC engine, robotic technology, and a new low-emissions diesel, to name just a few. So when news of a pickup truck from this innovative company leaked, nobody was surprised by its unusual design, combining pickup practicality with agile, car-like handling...

2008 Ford Fusion

Ford's midsize Fusion hit the streets in 2005 as a 2006 model and has accumulated more than a few kudos for value, quality, and safety. Now in its junior year, Fusion gets more standard features—including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)—plus the (optional; standard on SEL) wondrous new Ford SYNC "total connectivity" communication and entertainment system that enables hands-free integration of Bluetooth-enabled cell phones and portable media players into its audio system via wireless technology and USB connectivity. Other notable optional new features include reverse sensing, a door-mounted keyless entry keypad and interior ambient lighting...

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe

First unveiled for the 2001 model year, the Santa Fe was Hyundai's first sport-utility vehicle. By the time it was redesigned and enlarged for 2007, such car-based SUVs were being called "crossovers." Meanwhile, a smaller Tucson had debuted in 2005. Reaching a step further, early in 2007, the South Korean automaker unleashed the larger Veracruz, for a total of three SUVs in the U.S. market...

2008 Ford F-150

Ford F-Series pickups, in all their many variations, have been America's bestselling full-size pickups for 30 years and the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for 25 years. But as the competition heats up in this still-giant segment of the business, Ford truck engineers have been working overtime to stay ahead of the game...

2008 Volkswagen R32

R32 is to GTI as GTI is to Golf. Which is to say, the R32 is based on the GTI, which is in turn based on the VW Golf. Golf is Volkswagen's high-utility, two-door, front-drive hatchback. Traditionally, Americans haven't embraced this body style, a fact that makes as much sense to Europeans as their fascination with Jerry Lewis does to us. We've always liked hatchbacks (Jerry Lewis, not so much) because they're efficient. The angular lines make the most of their dimensions, so even a compact car can be larger inside than the outside would suggest...

2000 Berger Camaro SS

To any muscle-car maven, the letters COPO (Central Office Purchase Order) mean one thing: a factory-built 427 Camaro or Chevelle that wasn't in the brochures in 1969. These special-order muscle cars went to "in the know" dealers. Few of these COPO cars were assembled, and most were drag-raced to death...

2001 Acura MDX

2001 Audi Allroad Quattro

Colorado's Hardscrabble Road west of Denver is no place for a luxury automobile. Sharp rocks poke out of the terrain to bite holes in the sidewalls of low-profile tires and deep ruts lie in wait to snag vulnerable undercarriage gear. Yet, the Audi Allroad Quattro hardly slows its pace. Prancing on its tiptoes, the Allroad maintains forward momentum with the sure-footed confidence of a Rocky Mountain bighorn...

2001 BMW M5

Case-hardened by a career-long barrage of lavish press trips and free loaner test cars, the typical automotive journalist tends to be a pretty hard person to impress. Yet BMW's M5 (introduced as a 2000 model) has reduced the automotive press to a bunch of blubbering idiots. Almost universally acknowledged as the best production sports sedan ever offered to the public, the M5 has even been proclaimed to be the "Perfect Car" by some scribes. So much for the jaded automotive press—they're flat in love with the M5...

2001 BMW Z3 Roadster 3.0i Sport

In 2000, BMW began transforming its Z3 roadster with several cosmetic updates. The company completed the makeover in 2001 with mechanical upgrades that greatly enhance the roadster's dynamic capabilities...

2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

When Zora Arkus-Duntov launched the original Z06 Corvette option in 1963, it was as close to a "works" sportscar as he was allowed to build. Regular Production Option (RPO) Z06 consisted of a 36-gallon fuel tank, a fuel-injected 360-horsepower engine, big brakes and a stiff suspension. In its competitive debut, a Z06 won the L.A. Times Invitational at Riverside. (To the chagrin of Chevy loyalists, a haunting spectre also debuted at that race—Carroll Shelby's new Cobra.) Only 199 Z06 Corvettes were built in 1963. That low production made the vehicle unique; its spectacular performance made it legendary...

2001 Chrysler Sebring Sedan

Chrysler is introducing a new Sebring sedan for 2001 to replace the aging Cirrus. Retaining the cab-forward design of the Cirrus and larger LH cars, Chrysler has adopted many styling cues from the Sebring's larger sibling, the Concorde. This gives Chrysler a much stronger identity in the highly competitive midsize sedan market. More than a cosmetic makeover, this total redesign focused on improving performance and overall refinement—and building a car that's more fun to drive than the Cirrus it replaces...

2001 Corvette Z06

2001 DaimlerChrylser Minivans

2001 Dodge Stratus R/T

High volume, high utility vehicles may have greater prominence, but there's nothing like a pretty face to elicit true visceral response among car buyers. Sport coupes, in particular, offer the most tangible proof of that axiom. But history shows that shoppers in that visually high-profile niche are a notoriously fickle bunch. Even a successful new entrant's glory days tend to last only about 18 months before the first-on-the-block trendsetters start turning their attentions elsewhere. With the arrival of the new Stratus R/T, Dodge marketing types are hoping to forestall that process. This high-styled 2-door goes well beyond being a mere "pretty face." It's a total package that bolsters elegantly aggressive sheetmetal with a host of desirable design elements and a genuinely enjoyable driving experience...

2001 Ford Escape XLT 4x4

It's rather uncharacteristic of Ford to be a latecomer in any portion of the light-truck or SUV game. From the original Bronco to the now-ubiquitous Explorer or even its bigger and biggest bothers, the Expedition and Excursion, the firm has historically been in the forefront as the stakes—and the entries—increased. This year, Ford moved aggressively to deal with the other end of the spectrum. With gasoline prices continuing at unpleasantly high levels and sales of conventional midsize and larger SUVs faltering, the arrival of the new Escape couldn't have come at a better time...

2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

This is, admittedly, an odd truck. As if it couldn't decide between pickup and SUV at birth, Ford's latest creation engenders a measure of both, combining the passenger room of the extremely popular Explorer with a macho-but-small utility bed. Available in either rear- or 4-wheel drive and blessed with a healthy dose of style to go along with this unique brand of flexibility, the Explorer Sport Trac offers a new take on the basic SUV genre. Given the initial public response—Ford initially hoped to sell 50,000 2001 Sport Tracs, but orders have already exceeded that number—quite a few potential customers have already been smitten by what they see. We recently drove several versions but spent the bulk of our time in a rear-drive autoshifted version, which will likely account for the bulk of the Sport Trac volume...

2001 Ford Focus ZX3

Korean automakers have run rabid through the small car lot of late, skimming off buyers galore with prices too cheap to believe. Fighting 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 during the 2000 model year. 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...

2001 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrew

Ford began its affiliation with legendary American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson last year. Following the overwhelming success of the original limited-edition H-D F-150 pickup, the Blue Oval operatives created a new package for 2001 that takes the program one step farther. Where the initial offering was based on the F-150 SuperCab, this time around it's the new-for-2001 F-150 4x2 SuperCrew model that gets the bad-boy-in-black treatment...

2001 GMC Sierra C3

What if BMW built a pickup? That's the question General Motors asked its designers when planning the 2001 GMC Sierra C3...

2001 Honda Accord EX V6

There's nothing quite like getting things right the first time around. Except, perhaps, continuing to keep them right over and over. Honda's Accord is a spot-on, real-world example of that adage in action. Now in its sixth generation, this hardy perennial is rolling through the penultimate season of a five-year product cycle. To keep it competitive against its most formidable archrival in the midsize family-sedan segment, the Toyota Camry, Honda has added a few new wrinkles to the mix. Built in Ohio but seamlessly integrating design elements from around the world, the front-drive Accord is available in three distinct trim levels: DX, LX, and EX, which base at $15,100, $18,790, and $21,400, respectively. We recently slipped behind the wheel of a top-line sedan variant: an EX with V-6 and leather...

2001 Honda Civic EX Sedan

It's always risky to mess with success, especially when that process involves the wholesale redesign of a vehicle that's attained near-legendary status among buyers around the world. In recasting its perennial best-selling Civic for the seventh time, Honda created the biggest, most sophisticated and arguably best version ever to wear that revered badge. About the only element that hasn't changed much is pricing. With stickers ranging from $12,760 for a basic DX coupe to $18,400 for a fully loaded EX sedan, it remains within a couple hundred dollars of the 2000 lineup. So how well did Team Honda pull off this critical makeover? We spent a week in a top-line four door to find out for ourselves...

2001 Honda Civic GX

Powering through yet another tight turn on California's winding Highway 227 in Honda's 2001 Civic GX, the realization finally settles in—it's difficult not to get passionate about this car. More than 2,000 miles behind the wheel have proved this sedan to be comfortable, capable, stylish, and a snappy performer. What's not to like?..

2001 Hyundai Elantra GLS

There's an old adage that claims: "The third time's the charm." Those words do a pretty fair job of describing the new 2001 Hyundai Elantra. A host of major improvements on the third-generation Elantra have moved this Korean-built front-drive sedan significantly higher on the overall desirability ladder and narrowed the quality gap with its primary—and primarily—Japanese competitors. Although slightly bigger, better appointed and more refined than before, the Elantra still retains an exceptionally attractive pricing structure as well as a world-class 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty...

2001 Hyundai XG300

Known here since 1986 for economy-oriented automobiles, Hyundai has raised the bar this season with its XG300. Positioned above the midsize Sonata sedan—which was itself redesigned for 2000—the South Korean auto company's new "flagship" is the largest and most luxuriously appointed passenger car it's ever sold in this country. Our test car was a "base" model XG300. Priced at $23,499 (plus $495 destination charge), its lengthy roster of standard comfort and convenience features includes power windows/locks/mirrors, leather-trimmed seats, climate-control air conditioning, trip computer, cruise control, keyless entry, foglights, and a CD stereo system. On the safety front, the XG300 comes with ABS-abetted 4-wheel disc brakes, traction control, and both front and front-side airbags with a Passenger Presence Detection system to control deployment. For those who need even more, Hyundai offers an L variant at $24,999. It adds a sunroof, heated seats, automatic day/night mirror, and a combination cassette/CD stereo...

2001 Kia Optima SE V-6

Things have been looking pretty sweet of late for the gang at Kia Motors. U.S. sales rose some 17 percent in 2000, thanks in no small measure to the recent arrivals of the Sephia-based Spectra and the ultra-economical sub-compact Rio—currently the lowest priced car available in this country. Continuing the product rollout on a slightly grander scale is a brand-new midsize sedan, the Optima. Although 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...

2001 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.)..

2001 Lexus IS 300

Lexus earned its stripes with a decade of invade-and-conquer initiatives scattered throughout the luxury car and truck market. Now this brand's mighty product cannons have shifted aim toward another daunting target. After warming up in Japan and Europe, the new Lexus IS 300 has arrived in U.S. dealerships on a clearly defined mission: to rattle the cage of one the most universally adored automobiles on the planet, BMW's 3 Series...

2001 Lexus LS 430

With all due respect to that prescient observation by the late Oscar Wilde, Lexus may quite possibly have at least conceptually one-upped the famed literary bad-boy with its all-new LS 430. This top-of-the-line luxury sedan picks up where the LS 400 left off—and promptly proceeds to establish a host of new benchmarks for the class...

2001 Mazda B4000 Dual Sport Cab Plus 4

Seven years ago, Mazda took a risky leap—from selling its own well-respected B-Series compact pickup to offering a lightly disguised version of Ford's Ranger. Import-oriented owners were initially miffed, but they've come around quite nicely. As a matter of fact, new customers rated the 1999 Mazda B-Series pickups at the absolute top of the small-truck heap in J.D. Power & Associates' Initial Quality Survey...

2001 Mazda Millenia S

In the intensely competitive entry-luxury sport-sedan game, Mazda's Millenia has chronically suffered from an odd-man-out stigma. Intended to be the lead entry for the firm's stillborn upline division, Amati, it arrived on the scene in late 1994 with plenty of designed-in goodness. But that fact notwithstanding, the Millenia has been hampered by the lack of perceived prestige and a dearth of underhood firepower compared to many of its key rivals. And, in a league that also awards points for visual distinctiveness, some have also criticized this midsize four-door for bearing too strong a resemblance to its kid brother, the 626. Seeking to address a number of those issues, Mazda made several significant changes to the 2001 package that add to its visual, structural, and mechanical appeal...

2001 Mercedes-Benz C320 Sport

When the original C-Class arrived in 1994, it heralded the start of an entirely new era in the history of Mercedes-Benz. Stunned by the meteoric rise in popularity of Japanese "second-channel" luxury offerings, the German automaker embarked upon a new course of action that placed as much emphasis on perceived value as it did on prestige and safety. Replacement for the entry-level 190 line, the seminal C-Class was a showcase for this radical—for Mercedes—line of thinking. Quite simply, it delivered more for less—the biggest "less" being a base price below $30,000. Buyer response was predictable; first-year sales shot up by more than 60 percent compared to the outgoing 190. With the introduction of the 2001 C-Class sedan, history appears ready to repeat itself...

2001 Mitsubishi Montero

Located in the southwestern corner of the Grand Canyon state, Tucson wears many faces but has two distinct personalities—like the state it's a part of. The region has attracted New Age visionaries and is home to old Spanish missions; miles of majestic caves meander underground, and the unsightly pilings of copper, silver, and gold mines litter the terra firma. Tucson appears barren and devoid of habitation but, at the same time, boasts a landscaped urban sprawl. Its most visible contrast is between Tucson's lowland desert and highland mountains. Each is rich with natural beauty and compliments the other. It was here that Mitsubishi brought its latest version of the Montero to give auto writers a chance to experience this full-sized SUV's many faces and two distinct personalities...

2001 Mitsubishi Montero 4WD Limited

The arrival of the 2001 Montero marked the start of a new era in Mitsubishi's history as a builder of sport-utility vehicles. Originally introduced in 1983 and last redesigned in 1992, the previous Monteros reflected design concepts of a bygone time when SUVs were used by only a handful of dedicated off-roaders who motored in far-off corners of the globe. Monteros performed flawlessly in that capacity, successfully enduring where others had failed. Along the way, they distinguished themselves with multiple victories in the most demanding of all trials-by-fire, the grueling Paris-Dakar rally. But the game has changed dramatically in the past few years, and even the Gen II version's notable strengths paled in light of the current suburban SUV paradigm. Its field-worthy body-on-frame architecture, for example, was seen as unrefined and truck-like, while its tall profile and slab sides made even minor crosswinds a little too exciting...

2001 Nissan 4x4 Frontier Crew Cab SC

Without a doubt, the Xterra was a breakthrough vehicle for Nissan. A very hip ad campaign—"everything you need, nothing you don't"—struck a chord with young, affluent buyers, and Nissan delivered a vehicle that didn't disappoint...

2001 Nissan Sentra CA

When "environment" is placed in context with cars, thoughts often turn to alternative-fuel vehicles of one type or another. Hybrids such as the electric/gas Honda Insight or Toyota Prius carry the highest profile in the enviro arena these days, garnering more attention than battery-powered cars like the GM EV1...

2001 Pontiac Aztek

Pontiac calls its 2001 Aztek the world's first "sport recreational vehicle." Catchy classification, perhaps, for an all-new vehicle that now 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."..

2001 Porsche 911 Turbo

During the quarter century or so that Porsche Turbos have scorched American pavement in hot pursuit of speed and glory unknown to ordinary automobiles, they've earned an indelible reputation. Every school kid knows this is the definitive bad-boys' car. It's the all-time favorite of rock stars, lottery winners, and trust-fund beneficiaries in a hurry to have fun. On the speed charts, the Turbo resides a notch up from the quickest Corvettes, in league with the money-is-no-object Aston Martins, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis...

2001 Toyota Camry LE V6

There's nothing quite like consistently topping the best-seller charts to build confidence. Now in the final year of its 4th generation, Toyota's versatile Camry has reigned as the passenger-car volume leader in the U.S. for four consecutive seasons. Having recently spent a week in a mid-level V-6 powered LE, it became more obvious how and why this midsize front-drive family sedan manages to enjoy continued popularity in a segment that boasts some formidable competition...

2001 Toyota Highlander 4WD V6

Toyota, once best known in America as an import automaker of reliable, economical, fuel-efficient small cars, has long since formally broadened its mission. Today, that includes becoming a driving force in the truck and sport-utility arena as well. With product ranging from an all-new RAV4 to a Tacoma Double-Cab to the full-size Tundra and its new runningmate, the Sequoia SUV, the firm has racked up an impressive track record on that side of the market, as well. Its latest offering, the all-new Highlander, represents a departure from both realms. However, as we quickly learned, it blurs the line between the world of cars and trucks in a most engaging way...

2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder

Toyota resurrected and redesigned its MR2 sports car to stop Mazda from having all the fun in the 2-seat inexpensive roadster realm. That motivation led to a 3rd-generation Spyder aimed at kids of all ages with semi-flush bank accounts and a spare slot in the garage. Price of entry starts at $23,585 and even fully loaded won't top $25,150. Although by no means a car for everyone, the new MR2 offsets some of its less-practical aspects as a daily driver with a magnum load of sheer driving pleasure...

2001 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4x4

In 1995, when Toyota announced plans to build a full-size pickup at a new plant in Indiana, it left no doubt that a full-size SUV based on that truck would follow. The Tundra pickup arrived in 1999; and now, right on cue, the Sequoia rolls into the picture...

2001 Volvo S60

What if you could blend Jaguar's svelte styling, Mercedes-Benz-grade safety, BMW road prowess, and VW practicality and efficiency in one reasonably affordable automobile? Volvo engineers and planners must have had something like that in mind when they joined forces to create the new S60 compact sedan because that's precisely how it turned out...

2001.5 Volkswagen "New" 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...

2002 Acura NSX

Arguably, the Acura NSX may be the most affordable exotic automobile available today. Though it has gone through a few minor changes each year, this sports car has improved with each model revision. Even with a fervent enthusiast following, a strong business case for a limited-production vehicle can be tenuous at best. Fortunately, for those of us who appreciate fine automobiles, Acura has identified the importance of having an image car of NSX magnitude. We hope this automobile will remain in the Acura stable for quite some time to come...

2002 Acura RSX Type-S

From the beginning of the process, as Acura began developing a replacement for the Integra, they knew they would have to go that extra distance for such an important automobile. The Integra is a car that put the spotlight on Acura, gaining the attention of young buyers. In some areas of the country, the Integra even has a cult-like following. By all appearances, Acura's designers and engineers have reached their goal...

2002 Acura TL Type-S

There's no substitute for solid engineering, but a bit of added flash never hurts when it comes to enhancing market appeal. That fact was not lost on Acura, which endowed the TL sedan with a tasteful freshening for 2002. In its first mini-makeover since being introduced in 1999, the TL gains a bolder front end with stronger grille and lamp treatments plus tidied-up taillights. That welcome visual boost aside, it's the hot, new Type-S variant that really makes this midsize, entry-lux 4-door come alive...

2002 Audi A4

Audi has given its best-selling model a major overhaul for 2002, and the results are impressive to say the least. Since its introduction in 1995, the A4 has established itself as a solid player in the entry-lux segment. Bolstered by numerous improvements throughout the package, this second-generation offering is destined to enjoy an even higher profile among its aspirational peer set...

2002 Audi A6 3.0 CVT

As a mid-luxury-class cruiser, Audi's stylish A6 has hardly come in for much in the way of blistering criticism. But in a market defined by such other luminaries as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the BMW 5 Series, Jaguar's S-Type and Volvo's S80, a regimen of regular improvements is pretty much part of the game. For 2002, Audi has graced it midsize four-door with the largest number of meaningful changes since the current-generation A6 rolled onto the scene in 1998. Visual, structural and motivational in nature, these upgrades promise to keep it on pace for yet another record sales year...

2002 Audi TT Roadster

Remember when you were a kid and you'd finally saved enough money to go downtown to the sporting goods store and buy that new baseball glove? Remember the way it felt as you slipped it over your hand? Remember the way it smelled? Remember how it transformed you into the Brooks Robinson of your local sandlot?..

2002 BMW 325i Sedan

On the BMW model ladder, the 3 Series is the entry-level rung. And within that broad 10-car range of 3 Series variants, the 325i Sedan is the most affordable. At $27,100 in stripped-down form, the 325i puts the revered BMW roundel within reach of people who might be more accustomed to Camry-class vehicles. At that price point, the BMW offers both more and less than its popular competition from Japan...

2002 BMW 745i

In the car business, making big changes generally means taking big risks. That's particularly true in a historically conservative and exceptionally high-profile/high-margin market segment. With its all-new 7 Series sedan, BMW has arguably launched the most dramatic attack ever seen on the status quo of the prestige sedan genre. Stylistically, conceptually and dynamically, it breaks new ground as it seeks to one-up the rest of the field—and most directly its prime archrival, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class...

2002 BMW M3 Coupe

BMW's M squad has always been in a class by itself, even when judged against its sibling Ultimate Driving Machines. The latest M3 raises that blatant-overachiever benchmark to a heretofore-unseen level. Despite a multitude of refinements and creature comforts, the third-generation M3 comes closer than ever to being the near-perfect embodiment of a road-going racecar...

2002 Buick LeSabre Custom

How often does a product meet or exceed all of our expectations? For those seeking a large, roomy, comfortable, quiet, conservative American sedan, the 2002 Buick LeSabre Custom fills the bill. That must be why it has been the country's best-selling full-size car for nine straight years...

2002 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...

2002 Cadillac DeVille DTS

It was 8:30 one winter morning on a Michigan two-lane with a layer of fresh snow and slush partially cleared Detroit-style. As I approached a left-hand curve at about 50 mph, a huge umpteen-wheel gravel hauler suddenly appeared, coming the other way around the bend—way across the center line!..

2002 Cadillac Escalade

These days, automotive manufacturers look at SUVs the same way that prospectors looked at Sutter Creek in 1849: There's gold in them thar vehicles. No longer simply pickup trucks with enclosed cargo areas and extra seats, SUVs have replaced sports cars in some households. In others, these vehicles now occupy garage space next to expensive foreign jobs...

2002 Cadillac Seville

Only one Cadillac model vies seriously against the luxury-car competition from Europe and Japan: the Seville sedan. In fact, quite a few Sevilles are sold elsewhere in the world, attracting affluent buyers who might otherwise be tempted by a midrange Mercedes, a Lexus GS sport sedan, an Infiniti Q45, or a 5 Series BMW. Seville is the Cadillac model chosen by buyers who appreciate taut handling and a firm but satisfying ride, along with a full load of the expected comforts and conveniences that make driving life a little bit more enjoyable...

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche

"Changes in attitude, changes in latitude"—that's how Jimmy Buffet's song goes and that's exactly how Chevrolet hopes people will view the all-new Avalanche. Call it part pickup truck, part sport-utility or maybe all Transformer, but no matter what you call it, the Avalanche is a versatile package that has the capability to morph into many configurations and accommodate many needs. Certainly a change in attitude...

2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS 35th Anniversary Edition

With apologies to the late, great Dylan Thomas, Chevrolet is not quite ready to let its venerable muscle car "go gentle into that good night." Although the Camaro will be mustered out of production at the end of the 2002 model year, the Bow Tie Brigade is celebrating its last lap around the fast track with a limited-edition model that suitably recalls 35 years of past glory...

2002 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24

Hurry, hurry! Get your Z24 Cavalier today, before supplies run out. Carnival barkers might not be the best sources for new automobiles, but these words of warning do apply in the case of the sportiest version of Chevrolet's compact series. Not only has a new Z24 sedan joined the existing coupe, but both are available at dealerships for a limited period, early in the 2002 model year...

2002 Chevrolet Tahoe

Authenticity matters in the sport-utility vehicle market—especially for the full-size ones. Some try to conceal their truck origins. Chevrolet's full-size Tahoe almost flaunts its heavy-duty foundation, though that admission is softened somewhat this year by what the company claims is a "premium ride."..

2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT LT 4x2

You have to really want the third seat. That's the thought that kept rattling around in my brain as I spent a 5-day workweek with Chevy's stretched TrailBlazer EXT...

2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer LTZ 4WD

Intense competition continues to be a hallmark of the sport-utility realm in 2002. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the midsize segment, the motorized battleground of Chevrolet's all-new TrailBlazer. Although sharing platform basics with the equally new GMC Envoy and Oldsmobile Bravada, this Chevy-badged variant is destined to be the largest-selling—and hence, most critically important—member of the General's new power trio...

2002 Chevrolet Venture Warner Bros. Edition

The 2002 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...

2002 Chevy Suburban 2500 LS 4WD

I bought my last Suburban in 1973. I was hauling racecars on weekends; the Sub's tremendous towing capability and capacious interior for people and stuff made it, in my opinion, the world's greatest tow vehicle. Nearly 20 years later, along with its GMC Yukon XL sibling, it probably still is. Long-time favorites of ranchers and oilmen, these "Cowboy Cadillacs" are as plentiful as jackrabbits in Texas—and for good reason...

2002 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...

2002 Chrysler Concorde Limited

By the time most automobiles reach their fifth model year wearing the same basic suit of exterior sheetmetal, they're tapped out. Fenders and fashions inevitably change with the seasons. Rapidly advancing technology is the second force that drives elderly designs resolutely toward the scrap heap...

2002 Chrysler Prowler

When the Plymouth Prowler first appeared on the display stand at the '93 Detroit auto show, the jaded press and slack-jawed public could scarcely believe a vehicle so outlandish could roll forth from a major carmaker. Much too daring. Far too outrageous. And yet there it was, with its rakishly low stance, cycle fenders and all. It was almost as if Chrysler was intending to prove that the Viper (which first appeared in 1989 and then went on sale in 1992) was no fluke. The Prowler flew in the face of convention in dramatic style. Surely by the time the car met all the appropriate safety requirements and internal corporate mandates, it would look nothing like the evocative show car...

2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser

When you're working with a finite budget, finding a car that's packed with personality can be an enormous challenge. In most cases, you're relegated to mainstream (and very modest) style, bland performance and an overall panache-deficit...

2002 Chrysler Sebring Limited Convertible

The Chrysler Sebring, totally revamped for the 2001 model year, enters 2002 with lower MSRPs across the board and a sporty new convertible package due mid-year. Until this much-anticipated Sebring GTC is introduced as a 2002-1/2 model, the Limited convert continues to be the line's top-billing drop-topper. It still sports the dashing visual changes and mechanical upgrades the Sebring family received last year...

2002 Chrysler Sebring LXi

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 new-for-2001 Sebring sedan rolled forth 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...

2002 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...

2002 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...

2002 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...

2002 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4

Big pickup trucks make great commercials. They carry impossibly large loads, tow huge boats up near-vertical inclines, and leap over tall buildings in a single bound...

2002 Dodge Neon R/T

The Neon was Chrysler's (before Daimler bought them) attempt to market a quality, low-priced entry against entrenched Japanese and German competition. Its cutesy styling, roomy interior, revvy (if a bit buzzy) motor and low sticker made it a base hit—but not quite a home run. Sadly, the coupe version fell prey to low sales, and the virtually identical Plymouth-nameplate edition fell by the wayside when DC axed that division...

2002 Dodge Ram 1500

Hard to believe that it's been over eight years since Dodge unleashed an all-new Ram pickup. Introduced in 1993 as a 1994 model, that innovative Ram's massive front end and dominant fenders had a like-it-or-hate-it personality. A lot of people liked it, and the Ram hasn't looked over its shoulder since...

2002 Ford Escape XLT 4x4

Nothing is a sure bet in today's automotive world. But if ever there 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 compact SUV scene for 2001. With its impressive combination of style, flexibility, and convenience, the Escape racked up a formidable 164,184 sales and handily displaced the Honda CR-V as the volume leader in class. A handful of minor upgrades for 2002 leaves little doubt that Escape will remain a solid presence during its sophomore season—and for some time to come...

2002 Ford Excursion

GM's Suburban/Yukon XL stranglehold on the full-figured SUV class came to an end two years ago when Ford launched its Excursion. Dearborn's big "E" went straight 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 just have to have the super size of everything. The good news for 2002: Excursion is available in XLT, XLT Premium or Limited, and Limited Ultimate editions with fully 22 different trim combinations. So, you can spec your Excursion virtually exactly the way you'd like it...

2002 Ford Expedition XLT

Overall demand for full-size sport-utility vehicles has admittedly softened of late. But for those who really need the space and capability these magnum load-toters offer, nothing less will do. Despite rating only "middle child" status in Ford's exceptionally broad-based SUV lineup, the Expedition definitely fills the bill when it comes to both aspects of that packaging equation. Introduced in 1997, this versatile hauler was spun from the firm's best-selling F-150 pickup platform and immediately took over the top spot in its segment. While it's definitely feeling the competitive heat from the newer Chevrolet Yukon, GMC Denali and Toyota Sequoia, there's still plenty of appealing features to be found in this Blue Oval offering...

2002 Ford Explorer

Forget most of what you know about SUVs in general and Ford Explorers in particular. The new 2002 edition is a revolution. Out goes a rustic truck-based people-hauler and in comes the third-generation design that combines the best aspects of a car and a truck in one tidy package. Length and height dimensions are largely unchanged. Expanding track width by 2.5-inches and stretching the wheelbase by 2.0-inches changes the Explorer from a large compact to what many are now calling a midsize SUV. Ground clearance and approach angles are both improved even though Explorer customers are probably the least likely to venture off-road...

2002 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition

Replacing a proven winner is never easy. It entails walking a fine line that introduces enough to keep one step ahead of the game while avoiding the inevitable temptation to try and fix what ain't broke. With its all-new 2002 Explorer, Ford appears to have done an excellent job of treading that notoriously treacherous path...

2002 Ford Explorer Sport

After the redesigned four-door Explorer debuted as an early 2002 model, not everyone remembers that a two-door companion remains in Ford's lineup. The Explorer Sport, its prior-generation roots intact, is conveniently sized and easy to handle with the right amount of allure to those wanting a sport-utility vehicle larger than the Escape but smaller than the full-size Explorer...

2002 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...

2002 Ford F-150 Regular Cab

Although the F-150's design is getting a bit long in the tooth—GM redesigned and updated its basic pickups last year and Dodge just did the same with its Ram models—it's still very competitive. Ford sells more F-150s than any other truck or car in America. And F-Series trucks have been the bestsellers here for 24 years consecutively, so Ford's huge volume allows dealers to discount their trucks enticingly. This is particularly true if the model with most of the features you're seeking is sitting on your dealer's lot...

2002 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 chameleonic, with a varied set of personalities and virtues...

2002 Ford Focus ZX3

Korean automakers have run rabid through the small car lot of late, skimming off buyers galore with prices too cheap to believe. Fighting 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 two years ago. 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...

2002 Ford Focus ZX5

Ford's Focus ZX3 has been a very popular two-door hatchback. For the 2002 model year, it becomes as practical as it has been popular with the introduction of the Focus ZX5 model, which has two additional doors to enhance access to the back seat and cargo area...

2002 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 new-for-2001 SuperCrew body style added even more practicality to the package...

2002 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 still accounts for more than two times the combined volume of its closest competitors, the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird...

2002 Ford Ranger FX4 4x4

In today's increasingly crowded world of "active lifestyle" vehicles, one is either a player or a poser. Ford's latest addition to its immensely popular Ranger compact-pickup lineup definitely falls into the former category. Starting with an XLT SuperCab Styleside 4x4, the new FX4 premium off-road package adds a comprehensive array of functional and cosmetic touches that give dyed-in-the-dirt adventurers a vehicle with equal measures of style, comfort and go-just-about-anywhere capability...

2002 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. While no one will accuse the current iteration of breaking mass quantities of new ground, it continues to deliver an appealing mix of desirable elements at an affordable price...

2002 Ford Thunderbird

An American motoring icon is back following a hiatus of nearly 50 years. Most red-blooded Americans over the age of 16 are familiar with the 1955-57 Ford Thunderbirds, and even many automotive-illiterates have at least one memory of these classics...

2002 Ford Windstar

A few years ago, minivans appeared to be fading out of the automotive scene. More recently, they've hinted at a comeback. Plenty of shoppers still like the interior space and versatility of a minivan despite its often-mocked, family-focused image. Owners get many of the merits of a sport-utility vehicle, with more car-like ride and handling as well as better gas mileage...

2002 GMC Envoy SLT 4WD

As sport-utility vehicles have grown in sales over the last 10 years from minor curiosity to major market segment, General Motors has been something of an also-ran in the midsize SUV market. With the Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy/Olds Bravada platform, GM found itself up against the larger and roomier Ford Explorer; America chose the Explorer decisively, buying significantly more copies of it than of all three GM utes combined. It turns out that to American midsize SUV buyers, size matters, and the extra room the Explorer has traditionally offered over its GM counterparts was a significant factor in its favor...

2002 GMC Sonoma

Whether it's intended for work or play, picking the right compact pickup truck isn't easy. Each model on the market, import or domestic, can get the light-hauling job done with a satisfying degree of competence. Therefore, the differences boil down to details and brand preferences...

2002 Honda Civic Si

It's been a while since the Civic lineup was graced with a member whose primary role was to bring pure driving fun to the masses. With the reintroduction of the Si-spec hatchback, Honda has gone out of its way to atone for that glaring omission. It's not that this little street-stormer isn't without a practical side. It's just that, pound for pound and feature for feature, the Si merits absolutely stellar marks when it comes to generating more smiles per mile than virtually anything else out there today in its sub-$20K price range...

2002 Honda CR-V

Transforming an already-excellent sport-utility vehicle into a superior one was a demanding, if essential, task for Honda developers. Although the CR-V quickly reached the top of its class after its 1997 debut, the compact market has gained some vigorous new competitors since then. For its second generation, Honda wanted a "major leap forward," said chief engineer Takahiro Hachigo...

2002 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...

2002 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...

2002 Hyundai Accent GS

Econo-boxing has come a long way from its humble beginnings. While burled walnut, supple leather and mega-watt sound systems are still not in the cards, going a few rounds with many of today's budget-oriented transport modules has become a far more bearable and—in many instances—a reasonably pleasant undertaking. Nowhere has the maturation process been more dramatic than in vehicles coming out of Korea. Prime mover in that realm has been Hyundai, whose products have made quantum advances in design and build quality during the past five years while maintaining a solid commitment to price competitiveness...

2002 Infiniti I35

Infiniti has increased performance throughout its 2002 lineup. (In fact, the division's parent company, Nissan, is becoming more excitement-oriented in general.) Based on the same platform as the Nissan Maxima, the I-series Infiniti has taken hold of the entry-lux market and just seems to get better with each model year...

2002 Infiniti Q45

To put it mildly, Infiniti's flagship sedan has led a less-than-charmed life since it rolled onto the scene in 1989. Nissan designers seriously miscalculated the nature of the luxury-sedan market in the first-generation Q-ship, giving archrival Lexus a massive step up on the premium-channel luxury game. The second-generation Q45 arrived in 1997, seriously hamstrung by numerous design compromises mandated by Nissan's deepening financial difficulties...

2002 Infiniti QX4

When it comes to spending quality time in a midsize SUV, few players in today's market can rival the experience provided by the Infiniti QX4. Sharing the same basic MonoFrame structure as the rugged Nissan Pathfinder from which it was spawned in 1997, the somewhat pricier but far plusher QX4 has been winning over the modestly well-heeled ever since with its distinctive blend of competence, comfort and convenience. Beneficiary of an image-emboldening facelift and major powertrain upgrading in 2001, Infiniti's entry-lux sport-ute makes do with a host of lesser—but nonetheless welcome—refinements and seven new exterior colors this time around...

2002 Isuzu Axiom XS

Isuzu's new Axiom ranks as the most brazen example to date of the groundswell automotive movement toward "crossover" vehicles. This high-profile sport-utility model softens the typical SUV styling approach of straight lines and squared corners to convey a unique personality, highlighted by its defiantly muscular front fascia, arcing roofline, sculpted fender flares and geometrically patterned wheels. Beneath its shapely skin, though, the Axiom rides on a rigid 8-crossmember frame that maintains a degree of kinship to both the slightly smaller Rodeo and slightly larger Trooper...

2002 Jaguar X-Type

When Ford Motor Company purchased Britain's ailing Jaguar Cars a decade ago, one unspoken goal was patently obvious. Ford management knew that Lincoln scarcely had the cachet to overtake Cadillac, let alone battle BMW and Mercedes-Benz for prestige sales...

2002 Jeep Liberty

2002 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'...

2002 Land Rover Freelander

Pint-sized SUVs have been the province of the Suzuki Grand Vitara, KIA Sportage, and more recently Honda's updated CR-V and Toyota's RAV4. But don't bet on any of those trucklets in a serious off-road situation. For 2002, the new Jeep Liberty has had a short reign as the sole serious small off-roader. Real competition—albeit at a slightly higher price—is here...

2002 Lexus ES 300

With its new ES 300, Lexus has soared well past the original concept of a leather-lined, upgraded and more-expensive Camry. The first ES (the ES 250, introduced in 1989) was just that. Lexus engineers simply Lexified the top-of-the-line Toyota in case their bigger car's $35,000 price tag (lofty then for a Japanese car) scared customers away. From an engineering standpoint at the time, Lexus opted to focus on its then revolutionary LS 400, a car that first startled—then soon scared—the Germans. In hindsight, the LS provoked a Teutonic turnaround that manifested itself in better customer service, longer service intervals, and a host of great new products—plus a few old ones that soon received V-8 heart transplants...

2002 Lexus GS 430

Driving any path to glory is seldom an easy task, even if you're Lexus. For a number of years, the GS series languished in its own quiet corner of the luxury netherworld. Tastefully styled by Giugiaro, the original version of this midsize, rear-drive sedan boasted an admittedly striking visual presence, but comparatively lackluster straight-line performance...

2002 Lexus IS 300 L-Tuned Limited Edition

These are heady times for automotive enthusiasts. With increasing regularity, manufacturers are discovering the marketing benefits of performance-oriented personalization programs backed by a factory imprimatur. The most recent player to establish a fledgling presence in this burgeoning field is Lexus, with its L-Tuned operation...

2002 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. Latest face to join this burgeoning group of multifaceted people-movers is the Lexus IS 300 SportCross. Sharing basic architecture with the new-for-2001 IS sedan, the 2002 SportCross offers even more visual impact to complement its additional flexibility...

2002 Lexus LX 470

The House of Lexus brought new standards of quality, performance and luxury to the sport-ute world when it introduced the LX 470, a big, go-anywhere icon that Range Rover freely admits to using as a benchmark when designing its new mega-ute. More than anything, the LX 470 is a first-class means for going anywhere, with a level of comfort and luxury appropriate to Park Avenue apartments. It also provides seating for up to eight, maximum cargo space of 90.4 cubic feet and generous towing capacity, yet is nearly as nimble as most any sports sedan...

2002 Lexus RX 300 4WD

Call it the right product at the right time. Since its introduction for the '99 model year, the RX 300 has become a runaway success for Lexus—so much so that it now stands as the division's top-selling vehicle. One quick drive confirms why. In a universe populated by SUVs of every stripe, the RX 300 excels at delivering what the vast majority of buyers really need. An anathema to hardcore off-roaders and maximum posers, this highly refined hauler was conceived and executed to take care of the business at hand without resorting to pointless excess. It's comfortable, safe, luxurious, decently capacious, easy to drive, and fully capable of going just about anywhere the vast majority of SUV buyers really want to go...

2002 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. Now, Toyota's premium division wants to infuse that slightly constricting definition with some genuine emotion, as well. To that end, it just introduced the 2002 SC 430, a head-turning, top-dropping, hardtop convertible that replaces the recently departed SC 300/SC 400 coupes. In creating what chief engineer Yasushi Nakagawa calls the "jewel of Lexus," the SC 430 development team combined the engine of the LS luxury sedan with the underpinnings of the GS sport sedan and topped off that formidable combo with sheetmetal that ensures the car will make a dramatic entrance regardless of whether it's in closed or open mode...

2002 Lincoln LS V-8 Premium

Seeking to broaden the appeal of its decidedly domesticated lineup, Lincoln introduced the Euro-flavored LS to its sedan family for the 2000 model year. Although it shares basic platform architecture with the Jaguar S-Type, the two have no common sheetmetal and little in the way of interchangeable interior trim bits. Aimed squarely at those who relish the basic driving experience rather than those seeking to avoid it, the LS also takes notable steps to distance itself from its own marque-mates, the Continental and Town Car...

2002 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...

2002 Mazda Protegé5

Fun behind the wheel doesn't have to preclude practicality. Mazda is proving that premise with its new Protegé5, which is basically a five-door variant of the well-known Protegé four-door sedan (with trunk). A new body style for Mazda, Protegé5 combines the practical virtues of a wagon with the taut suspension and precise maneuverability of a small sport sedan. The new model went on sale as an early 2002...

2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe

"Affordable Mercedes." Most people might find that word pairing the ultimate automotive oxymoron. With the arrival of the new C-Class Kompressor Sports Coupe, those folks may have to start rethinking the ground rules in the entry-lux game. Starting at $24,950—plus a $575 destination fee—this rakish rear-drive hatchback becomes the lowest-priced Mercedes sold in America. But price is only part of its appeal. There's enough high-quality substance in this value-driven package to find favor with plenty of customers who could afford to spend considerably more...

2002 Mercedes-Benz C320 Sport Wagon

Mercedes-Benz has long been known for its roomy, stylish, midsize E-Class station wagons. But for many years, North American buyers who couldn't pop for nearly $60K for a loaded E320 wagon were denied that body style in the smaller C-Series because the price-value-size equation just didn't compute over here. BMW faced the same problem with its 3 Series wagons. It didn't help matters that station wagons as a class were being upstaged by more-popular SUVs and, to make matters worse for would-be wagoneers, Mercedes-Benz offered its Alabama-built M-Class SUV at a relative bargain rate (well below $40,000)...

2002 Mercedes-Benz G500

Mercedes-Benz, the brand long associated with refinement and sleek sophistication, knows what discerning luxury-car customers really want—mud flaps, four-wheel drive and the ability to climb mountains with a shift on-the-fly...

2002 Mercury Sable LS Wagon

Despite a decade-long battering by minivans, SUVs and now an increasing tide of crossover vehicles, the traditional station wagon simply refuses to die. Ironically, it's been European and Japanese automakers who've taken the lead in spearheading a mini-renaissance of this former mainstay of the U.S. motoring industry. On the domestic front, Ford Motor Company has been the most steadfast supporter of this seemingly endangered breed. Current top gun in its corporate station-wagon arsenal is the Mercury Sable LS Premium...

2002 MINI Cooper

The MINI Cooper has a heralded and notable history around the world. Even here in the United States, where the car saw minimal exposure, the prospect of having a modern version of the MINI has gathered a windstorm of enthusiasm. Now it's getting extraordinary attention in a country where people had little or no contact with the original car...

2002 Mitsubishi Galant

Always a capable and pleasant automobile, Mitsubishi's Galant midrange sedan has edged up another notch in all-around appeal. Improvements for 2002 aren't exactly earthshaking, but the end result adds to the quality of the Galant driving/riding experience—which is even more enjoyable than before...

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Rally

Parked in front of my local post office, a spiky-haired, 20-something blonde in tight jeans emerges from a battered KIA. Her car's rear bumper is covered with stickers, the most prominent of which reads "Skin Ink."..

2002 Nissan Maxima

Promise the customers more power, and they will buy. That seems to be an axiom among many automakers these days. It's a rule that Nissan has followed to the letter when modifying its full-size Maxima sedan for the 2002 model year...

2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V

When Nissan introduced its all-new, fifth-generation Sentra compact sedan in the 2000 model year, the car rekindled fond memories of the Datsun 510 and its success in small-bore GT racing. After this Sentra went into production, one of the development cars was collecting dust at Nissan's Arizona Proving Ground, and several of the engineers started fiddling with it in their spare time. After an engine tweak here and a suspension mod there, these Nissan brains realized that they had something special. So special, in fact, that they couldn't contain their enthusiasm...

2002 Nissan Xterra

Effectively, the Xterra single-handedly "saved" Nissan when it was introduced for the 2000 model year. Before then, the company had been bleeding red ink, which translated into less R&D resources for developing and updating vehicles to stay competitive in the market. Nissan gambled with the Xterra and managed to create a new market niche in the process: a real truck-based compact SUV that could transport five adults, is maneuverable and easy to park, and has multi-terrain capabilities thanks to respectable ground clearance and available four-wheel drive...

2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Collector Edition

No doubt about it, as GM's F-body cars take their final bow, the 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with the highly desirable WS6 Ram Air performance/handling package is quintessential American transportation—and a very nice piece in its own right. It's a lot noisy, a bit rough around the edges and not a car for wimps. With market forces and insurance rates ushering the F-bodies off-stage at the end of the 2002 model year, Pontiac has marked the occasion by issuing a screaming-yellow Collector's Edition Trans Am, which takes the WS6 joy-toys and adds $3,000 worth of exclusive, purely visual, add-ons...