Vehicles & Gear


2016 Volkswagen Passat Might Just Surprise You

Volkswagen has had some rough times lately but during its troubles with diesel fuel economy, the automaker still manages to build some good vehicles. The midsize 2016 Passat sedan, for example, is on par with its segment competitors and it offers a fun, powerful driving experience while offering very good value.


2016 Lexus RX 350 Reigns Supreme in the Segment It Invented

Sometimes automakers have to be careful with their own success. Take the RX for example, a vehicle that defined a new segment when it launched more than 17 years ago. That was the birth of the luxury utility vehicle and since then many have tried to dethrone the king. Does Lexus still reign supreme with the 2016 RX 350?


2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: The Sequel Is So Much Better!

Over the past two years, Hyundai has rolled out three variations of its newest-generation Sonata midsize sedan. Last year we tested the Sonata and Sonata Sport versions powered by gasoline and/or turbocharged gasoline engines. Recently we got our turn behind the wheel of the new second-generation Sonata Hybrid sedan.





2016 Mazda CX-9 is Must-See, Must-Do, Must-Have

What do you get when you cross a family hauler with the spirit of design? The 2016 Mazda CX-9 three-row crossover. Mazda’s flagship arrived in its first iteration in 2006 offering seating for up to seven and a break from conventional design. The second-generation vehicle takes family functionality to another level.



2016 Honda Civic Coupe: This Is Your Jam!

On the heels of winning North American Car of the Year, Honda launched the new 2016 Civic Coupe to join the honored sedan sibling in its showrooms. For coupe fans, Honda did more than just hack off a couple of doors in delivering its new coupe to the market, but can it live up to the high mark already set?



2016 Dodge Durango R/T: My Wife Calls ‘Dibs’

It has been about five years since I last tested the Durango three-row SUV from Dodge and brother, that’s too long. When asked about which family sport ute I would recommend to folks the Durango is always near the top of my list and now my wife has joined the Dodge fan club as well.


2016 Nissan Sentra Gets Familiar Family Makeover

In the fall of 2012, Nissan reintroduced the Sentra compact sedan in its seventh generation form. For 2016, the automaker gives its popular little car a midlife makeover with new styling to match what we’ve seen in the rest of the family lately. Nissan has also updated safety and driving technologies as well.


2016 GMC Canyon Duramax Joins the Workforce

A little more than a year ago we saw the return of the GMC Canyon midsize pickup. It arrived as a 2015 model with more efficiency and more capability than the previous Canyon (and Chevy counterpart Colorado). For 2016, GMC offers Canyon with a Duramax turbo diesel engine for segment-leading towing and fuel economy.


2016 Subaru Crosstrek Trims the Fat

A few years ago Subaru rolled out a new small utility vehicle dubbed XV Crosstrek. The little cute ute featured most everything Subaru was known for including Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a smooth Boxer four-cylinder engine. Trouble was that vehicle was overladen with one thing: its name. For 2016, Subaru introduces the Crosstrek.


2016 Volkswagen Jetta: Compact Sedan Delivers Big – Updated

Despite the drama surrounding the diesel fuel economy cheating scandal, Volkswagen is still one of the leading producers of automobiles globally. And no matter what unfolds in the wake of its recent problems, the automaker still offers some good vehicles and that includes the 2016 Jetta 1.8T compact sedan with turbocharged gasoline engine.


2016 Kia Optima SXL Sedan: That’s What She Said!

Last fall, Editor-in-Chief Judie Lipsett Stanford introduced you to the all-new 2016 Kia Optima sedan, a vehicle that leads the brand in sales numbers and is largely responsible for Kia’s improved perception. Recently I got my turn behind the wheel of the midsize sedan to see if her first impressions resonate with others.


2016 Nissan Titan XD Puts the Mettle to the Pedal!

One of the most anticipated new vehicles for me to drive this year is the Nissan Titan XD. This Titan is nothing like the previous fullsize pickup from Nissan and it is actually a little bit extra. Powered by an all-new Cummins V-8 turbodiesel, the 2016 Nissan Titan XD looks to shake things up in the pickup market.


2016 Honda Accord Gets a Makeover!

The Honda Accord has long been one of the most popular sedans in North America and was the first nameplate built here by the automaker. In its nine generations the model has seen significant upgrades and improvements and for 2016 Accord gets some appreciated styling enhancements along with technology upgrades.