Automedia.com - Reviews - 2009 Articles

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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?..

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...