Car Reviews

Kia goes for non-broke

Kia goes for non-broke

By SUSAN CARPENTER

"Premium" and "Kia" aren't words that naturally tumble together. In the 18 years since the South Korean automaker came to the U.S., it's battled to undo its reputation for cars that are unremarkable for anything other than bargain-basement pricing. ... Full story

Mercedes GLK250 shows off diesel

By SUSAN CARPENTER

It wasn't long ago that diesel vehicles were so deafening that conversations had to be yelled, so polluting that standing behind a tailpipe could dust a person in fine particulate. It's an archaic image that has helped keep sales of diesel passenger ... Full story

Nissan delivers hot cargo (van)

Nissan delivers hot cargo (van)

By SUSAN CARPENTER

The only delivery I made in Nissan's commercial cargo van was myself. And while my shoulder bag was ridiculously heavy, it wasn't anywhere near the vehicle's 1,500-pound payload. So for my purposes the NV200 was overkill. But the Japanese automaker ... Full story

Paceman: Small object careening at big speed

Paceman: Small object careening at big speed

By SUSAN CARPENTER

Linguistically, the Paceman is a Britishism wrapped in an Anglicism. It's a term from the decidedly English sport of cricket for a person who rolls a ball with lightning speed — a term that, when transposed to the newest car from MINI, describe... Full story

Perky Fiat 500e an attractive EV option

By SUSAN CARPENTER

Fiat's attempt to subvert electric vehicles' image as overpriced, underperforming do-gooders is first apparent in its color. The new plug-in 500e is offered in frisky orange.But palette is only the most overt part of an elaborate look-at-me strategy ... Full story

Suzuki GSX: A special edition of idiocy

REVIEW: SUZUKI GSX

By SUSAN CARPENTER

If there's a single strand of idiot buried deep in the double helix of one's DNA, the GSX-R1000 is likely to bring it out. Suzuki's bestselling superbike is so effortlessly powerful it tests the restraint of sensible riders, so joyful in its operati... Full story

Sportiest loser? Range Rover!

REVIEW: RANGE ROVER

By SUSAN CARPENTER

Anyone who's attempted to move 700 pounds can tell you exactly how intractable that feels. It's roughly the weight of three refrigerators. It's also the astounding amount of poundage Land Rover has removed from the Range Rover for its fourth generat... Full story

Review: Harley's new Breakout hits roads harder than wallets

REVIEW: HARLEY BREAKOUT

By SUSAN CARPENTER

Harley-Davidson's latest is likely to inspire déjà vu. The new 2013 Breakout is the budget version of the 2013 CVO Breakout the Milwaukee manufacturer introduced last August. But don't be confused. As with all things Harley, everything... Full story

Santa Fe stretches to fill Hyundai lineup

REVIEW: SANTA FE

By SUSAN CARPENTER

Parents who vacuum fossilized French fries and scrub – vainly – to remove grape juice spills from their cars' seat cushions are likely to appreciate the stain-resistant interior of Hyundai's new seven-passenger Santa Fe. Those who unwitt... Full story

Review: Cadillac XTS oozes luxury

By MARK PHELAN

The stylish, technically advanced and roomy 2013 Cadillac XTS Platinum AWD luxury sedan is trying to roll a tricky 7-10 split by simultaneously appealing to the brand's longtime customers and attracting new buyers looking for a large luxury sedan. T... Full story

Review: Lexus GS350 has new feel

By BARRY SPYKER

The wife always appreciates when a Lexus is a guest in our driveway. She lives for the luxurious accents, comfort and floaty ride that often is associated with Lexus. "Who wants to feel the road?" she always says, as I shake my head in disbelief. W... Full story

Review: City-smart, easy on wallet

By LAWRENCE ULRICH

At the 2001 Detroit auto show, before he was pulled back into the family business like the movie mobster Michael Corleone, General Motors' godfather-for-hire, Robert A. Lutz, gravely assessed the design studies on display: "A whole family of angry ki... Full story

Review: New name, new life for Ram

By LARRY PRINTZ

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Never mind that, almost since its inception, a leaping Ram was used as Dodge's radiator mascot. Never mind that over the past few decades, many Dodge trucks have used the name Ram. Starting with the 2013 model year, the truc... Full story

Review: Murano is odd, but likable

By BARRY SPYKER

It could be the oddest creature on the road since the Volkswagen Thing. "Wow, that's, uh, kinda weird. What the heck is it?" asked a Sunrise, Fla., restaurant patron after I pulled up. That, sir, is the 2012 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. "Cool. I ... Full story

Review: Scion iQ not the smart pick

By MARK PHELAN

Toyota would like the name of its Scion iQ minicar pronounced "I.Q.," as in "intelligence quotient." Who can blame them? During my test drive, though, I found myself alternating between "eek" and "ick" as my response to the car ranged from dismay to... Full story

Review: Veloster plays up its flash

By LARRY PRINTZ

Hyundai's newest model, the front-wheel-drive Hyundai Veloster sport coupe, is an impressive bit of automotive couture circa 2012. Its chunky athletic stance, its sculpted flanks, the glass roof that flows into the rear window, its fake hood scoops; ... Full story

Review: Camaro ZL1 off to the races

By MARK PHELAN

The most race-track-ready Camaro ever, the 2012 ZL1 coupe lifts the performance of Chevrolet's all-American pony car to Olympian heights once reserved for demigods like BMW's M and Mercedes-Benz's AMG specialty models. The pony car has hit the big ti... Full story

Review: Honda's Ridgeline - Is it a truck? Is it an SUV?

By Emma Jayne Williams

Honda's Ridgeline sport utility truck, introduced in early 2005, is similar in concept to the Ford Explorer Sport Trac and Chevrolet Avalanche, in that it has a cargo bed integrated with the SUV-style cab. That makes it look more like a sport utilit... Full story

Review: Escape has power, efficiency

By MARK PHELAN

All the pieces of Ford's global strategy come together in the 2013 Ford Escape crossover SUV. Engineered and designed to appeal to customers in Europe, China and every part of America, the Escape's advanced features and futuristic styling set it apa... Full story

Review: Charger is a modern muscle car

By G. CHAMBERS WILLIAMS III

Chrysler's renaissance under the leadership of Italy's Fiat continues to amaze me, as all the new models introduced since the takeover have been right on target – and that has been verified by the company's stellar sales growth in the past two ... Full story

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