The 2014 Mazda CX-5 represents a whole new approach for the Japanese car maker in the way it goes about producing vehicles. With their new SKYACTIV construction philosophy, Mazda claims to have reinvented the way they design and build cars, and the first model they built this way is the CX-5. The CX-5 is a …
Carrying that theme forward, Jaguar did well to engineer the F-Type with a good dose of split personality. Not in the schizophrenic sense where the car doesn’t know what it wants to be, but rather in a positive dual-mode character. Turn off traction and stability babysitters, turn up the exhaust, select manual gearbox actuation, and …
The 2014 Hyundai Equus is a large, comfort-oriented rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan, offered in two trims: Equus Signature and Equus Ultimate. Both come with a 5.0L V8 engine, as well as a long list of luxury and safety features that closely match the offerings of other top luxury sedans. The 429-horsepower V8 “Tau” engine in the …
The Chevrolet Equinox is an impressive contender in the mid-size crossover segment. It has the same platform as the GMC Terrain and shares a general aesthetic with both the Chevy Traverse and the latest Malibu. The Equinox’s rocker panels are integrated into the doors, which means the area over which a passenger must step is …
The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze is offered in LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ models–all in just one body style, a 4-door sedan. An ECO model slots between the 1LT and 2LT in pricing, while a new top-of-the-line Clean Turbo Diesel model lands at the top of the lineup. Each trim level except the top LTZ is …
During one run on the expressway, a friend, unprompted, noted how smooth the ride was. I can’t remember which mode I was in, but smooth control is something this car excels at. The silky engine has a lot to do with it; it growls pleasantly while kicking through the gears — opting for the four-cylinder …
If this 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer GT had even half of the advertising and dealer support that Honda gives the Civic, it’d be a best-seller. I was honestly surprised at this car — it lacks little in the performance and handling department: the 2.4-liter four is strong across the rev range, the tranny ratios are just …
Materials inside are basic, but the cloth seats are very supportive and the driving position is good for my 5-foot-10 frame, despite the lack of a telescoping steering column. Dash and door materials are soft-touch in most places and I think fits are good. Yes, it’s a noisy tin can, much like a Subaru Impreza …
It’s no secret around here that the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is one of my favorite cars on the market today. No, it’s not the newest Teutonic tuner car, nor the sharpest handler, but it has a delectable combination of Germanic solidity and the heart of an old-school muscle car. But so does the BMW M3, …
This 2013 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sedan is a real miscreant’s car. Rarely does a car combine accessibility with nuttiness in a way that makes me immediately comfortable with the idea of kicking the traction control off and driving like a teenager — this thing does. Is the interior nice? Yeah, it’s good — though Mercedes …
