Vehicles & Gear



Accessorize Your New Ride, Right at the Factory

In recent weeks, the test driveway has hosted a couple of models that we have already reviewed in the past year. Much of what we have found in the Jeep Cherokee and Volkswagen Atlas is pretty much a repeat of our favorable impressions we reported. So let’s talk about accessorized versions of these two, right from the factory.


2019 Volkswagen Jetta is the ‘Betta Jetta’ Yet

Volkswagen is one of the leading automakers in the world, and right now is a great time for product here in the U.S. We have seen a great new 3-row SUV (Atlas) and a total makeover of the Tiguan crossover. Now we see the next-generation Jetta compact sedan, and what a winner this is.


2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Ushers in New Era

Toyota did something a bit unusual to debut the 12th generation of one of its most popular models. The 2019 Toyota Corolla arrived first as a hatchback. And while this is not the first subcompact hatchback from Toyota, it is the first to carry the name Corolla Hatchback here in North America – and it’s a good one.


2018 BMW X2 Is the New Sports Activity Something

BMW and I are going to have to agree to disagree on the all-new X2. The Bavarian automaker is billing the new model as a sports activity coupe, but I fail to see much coupe-ish about it. What is offered is a great combination of a hatchback and crossover utility vehicle, just not a coupe.



2018 Toyota RAV4 Ready for ‘Adventure’

Toyota is getting ready to roll out the next-generation RAV4 compact utility vehicle later this fall, a vehicle we introduced to you earlier this year. So it came as a surprise when the 2018 RAV4 Adventure model rolled into our test driveway just barely ahead of the 2019 arrival.


2019 Toyota Avalon Leading a New Revolution for Cars

Toyota has just launched the new flagship of its North American fleet in the form of the fifth-generation Avalon mid-premium sedan. Designers and engineers have addressed nearly every aspect for the 2019 model year, but is it enough, especially given these troubled times for sedans?


2018 Toyota C-HR Is Distinctively Different

Toyota parked its national headquarters in our backyard a couple of years ago, and in recent weeks they have parked some new vehicles in our test driveway out front. We have written about a few Lexus products already, and now it is Toyota’s turn beginning with the new, distinctively different C-HR.



2018 Lexus LS 500h: Living Green in the Lap of Luxury

This is the most incredible experience I have had in my 20 years reviewing new vehicles…and that is just the audio system. The stereo is the new Mark Levinson 3D sound system complete with 24 speakers and 2,400 watts of power, and the car is the 2018 Lexus LS 500h luxury hybrid sedan.








2018 Nissan Titan Midnight Edition Sees Light of Day

The light truck segment of new vehicle sales is ultra competitive, and relative newcomer Nissan is doing everything possible to get its share of those transactions. Case in point is the new Titan Midnight Edition we recently tested that adds many items consumers would add to the pickups after purchase, but they can now get right on the showroom floor.