Mazda recently sent us its family hauler vehicle in the form of the 2014 Mazda5 multi-activity vehicle. Its class is minivan, but Mazda builds the Mazda5 as more of a 7/8-scale minivan, and being smaller, shorter, narrower and lower makes for a much more maneuverable vehicle that, for many families, fits perfectly into their modern lifestyles.
In 1948, Land Rover began making vehicles with one intent – build the world’s most capable all-purpose vehicles. Since then, much has changed both around the globe and for the brand. Still, Land Rover has strived to manufacture authentic 4x4s that could tackle the worst roads in the world, and they are proving that again with the 2014 Range Rover Sport.
Dodge has been dominating headlines recently with its introduction of the new 707hp Hellcat models of Challenger coupe and Charger sedan. While these new demons of the pavement rightly deserve their place in modern motoring history let me remind you the automaker still offers modern musclecars for the everyday Joe or Jane, and recently we enjoyed the Challenger R/T Shaker.
For years, GM pickup buyers that wanted a really fancy truck had to purchase a GMC Sierra Denali to get the finery of a luxury automobile in a rugged package with a cargo box. That’s changed that for 2014, as the blue-collar brand now offers the new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country ready for the Denim and Diamonds Ball.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most beloved little roadsters in motoring history – the Mazda Miata. Born of an idea by a California automotive journalist, the Miata has spent these 25 years offering simple driving pleasure in an affordable package celebrating Mazda’s mantra of its Jinba Ittai driving experience – oneness between car and driver.
In 1989, Lexus introduced its flagship sedan to the world, dubbed LS. Over the past 25 years the luxury division of Toyota Motor Sales has tweaked and honed this impressive alternate choice to the German hierarchy into its current form of the LS 460, and offers it in standard, long wheelbase, hybrid and, as we tested, F Sport forms.
With each passing model year the field of fullsize SUVs has grown smaller as many automakers have chosen to go to a large crossover utility platform. Not so at GM. Chevrolet has redesigned the 2015 Tahoe inside and out looking to make the model more functional and refined while also keeping the vehicle relevant for consumers wants and needs.
A short while ago, I wrote about the Kinivo Bluetooth Car Kit; well, they’ve sent me one to review, and I like it so much that I will be ordering at least two more. Why? Because now my non-Bluetooth equipped SUV is now able to stream music and take hands-free calls. This solution is not perfect, but it’s pretty awesome.
I have driven all different sorts of vehicles in my life both privately and in public service, but I had never driven a taxi. I can now cross that one off the list, as Nissan recently sent me its Taxi of Tomorrow in the form of a New York City cab on the NV200 compact commercial van platform.
My car is a 2008 Yukon Denali XL, and while it has tons of bells and whistles, it doesn’t have a hands-free bluetooth hookup for calls or audio. I figured I’d have to wait until we eventually upgraded vehicles (not any time soon!) before I had that feature, but with the $45 Kinivo Bluetooth Car Kit, there is no need. Setting up the device is as simple as plugging the BTC455 directly into the auxiliary port on your stereo (assuming that your car stereo has at least that) and then plugging it into the volt outlet. Once that’s done, you’ll have hands-free streaming through your…
It’s hard to believe but some umpteen years after Prius landed on Plymouth Rock, there are automakers just now coming into the hybrid vehicle arena. Subaru is one such nameplate, recently launching its first hybrid gasoline/electric, and it arrives on one of the brand’s newest lines that is also becoming one of Subaru’s most popular models – the XV Crosstrek.
For the few of you who still may not know, the Jeep Cherokee is back. Jeep brought the familiar nameplate back to the midsize SUV segment to replace the Liberty model they are showing the door. The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk rides on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles globally-sourced architecture and features some of the most polarizing design in any new vehicle.
The 2014 Go Further with Ford Trend Conference featured discussion sessions and panels consisting of forward thinking and creative individuals, many of whom are not involved in the automotive industry. That is one thing that has perplexed me about this conference is, if Ford’s primary objective is building and selling cars, why bother going to such lengths?
I am home from the fourth annual Go Further with Ford Trend Conference where the automaker invited some 250 or so members involved in social media of one sort or another. I am going to break down the event into several segments and present them to you in portions that hopefully will be easier to digest.
The midsize S60 sedan from Volvo has become one of my favorite new vehicles over the past few years. Bolstering this middle segment from the Swedish automaker was also sibling crossover XC60. For 2015 Volvo V60 T5 brings a new sport wagon to the center of its lineup in the form of the V60 and it is quickly gaining favor.
As we step into the first full week of summer, it’s time once again for the annual Trend Conference hosted by Ford Motor Company. This is the fourth such event that takes a deeper look into key global trends and issues influencing consumers – all consumers. Gear Diary will once again be covering the event that runs June 24-26.
It was only a few months ago when I reviewed the 2014 Volkswagen Passat midsize sedan. This past week, I’ve found another VW Passat in the test driveway; this review model outfitted with the TDI diesel engine backed by manual gearbox, so this review is pretty much just going to be an update for the powertrain variation.
I was going to bring readers yet another review this morning, but instead wanted to update information presented in a recent piece about some Ford vehicles we tested. Apparently Ford has had to revise EPA mileage ratings for some of its vehicles again — including 2014 model year Fiestas and 2013 and 2014 model year hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
It has hardly been a year since I last reviewed the Ram Heavy Duty pickup models, and at that time I spoke of the never-ending competition between the big three truck makers. This year nothing has changed as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Ram have upped the ante yet again with the 2014 Ram lineup of 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.
While many automakers have chosen to remove the frame from underneath their midsize SUVs lately, Toyota takes a different approach by delivering two medium-bodied sport utes – one with a frame and one without. We’ve already looked at the latest unibody Highlander, and now we’ll spend quality time with the 2014 Toyota 4Runner frame-based SUV we first saw last fall.
It has been a few years since I last reviewed the hip boxmobile from Kia. That was the first-generation Soul and it arrived a bit late to the party segment that includes the likes of Scion xB and Nissan Cube. No worries though because not only did Kia bring a good vehicle but a fun marketing campaign along with it.