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.
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.
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.
I find myself split on my opinions of the all-new 2016 iA sedan from Scion. And that’s not meant to be a pun as my opinions split almost right down the middle of the vehicle itself. Front? Good. Rear? Not so good. Not to mention the vehicle itself has sort of a split personality.
Longer, lower, livelier…these are the three L’s to live by in the all-new 2016 Nissan Maxima. This is the eight-generation for the flagship four-door that leads the Nissan lineup and the automaker swears this four-door sports car – created by driving enthusiasts for driving enthusiasts – is its best yet.
On the day it was named North American Car of the Year, the all-new 2016 Honda Civic sedan was delivered to the test driveway. Civic is Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate and it is one of the best-selling cars in the world period. This is Gen 10, and it may just be the best Civic yet.
This year marks the 90th year for Chrysler as an automotive brand. Not too long ago it was incorporated into the Fiat Chrysler Automobile global family and part of that new partnership meant new models rolling out that received global influence. The Chrysler 200 midsize sedan was one such vehicle.
If spending an afternoon cruising along the California coast in December sounds like your idea of fun, you’ll understand why I had such a great time recently while taking the 2016 Chevy Malibu for a spin. Now only is the car fun to drive, it’s loaded with state of the art tech.
I live in Texas, AKA the land of Super-Duty trucks and oversized SUVs, but I can still appreciate a comfortable sedan that’s fun to drive. I recently tested the 2016 Kia Optima, and in case you can’t tell by the big smile on my face, it was a great experience.
It’s not everyday that automakers get do-overs but that is what Acura has done with its smallest family member. For 2016, the entry model to Acura, ILX, sees a slimming of powertrain choices and a freshening of styling and technology – all for the better. A few years ago I thought Acura lost its way with this model but no more.
A new style sedan arrived on the automotive scene a few years back in the form of a coupe/sedan and the A7 is Audi’s entry into that category. From the B-pillar forward the vehicle appears to be a traditional sedan but from that point aft there is a long slope to the trunklid giving this styling its signature look.
This week was all about the 60s. Volvo Cars of North America is preparing to celebrate 60 years of bringing it’s Swedish-born vehicles to this continent. As part of the festivities the automaker is delivering some new 2016 models on the 60-series line–namely, the S60 Inscription sedan, the S60 Cross Country sedan, and the V60 Cross Country wagon.
Which Lexus sport sedan is the least known? My point exactly. Many of you did not even venture a guess toward the GS. Lexus re-launched the midsize luxury sport sedan in its fourth generation several years ago and then ushered it into the background. Shame really, as the GS 350 F Sport is a worthy contender for the German competition.
This is a big year for Dodge passenger cars. New sheet metal, new engines, new excitement. As we build up to the arrival of the baddest of the bad, we spend time behind the wheel of the totally redesigned 2015 Dodge Charger sedan. Redesigned from nose to tail, the big car still carries the vision of the Dodge brothers.
Midsize sedans dominate the list of best-selling vehicles each year right after pickup trucks. Names like Accord and Camry are household institutions. But did you know Subaru has been selling a vehicle in this segment too? It’s called Legacy, and it is completely redesigned for 2015. It features the largest interior in its segment and all-wheel drive is standard.
The diesel engine is once again back under the hood of Chevrolet cars, and this time it is a good thing. The Cruze compact sedan boasts a wide range of trim packages and since last year offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter clean diesel engine for clean, powerful motoring with fuel economy of up to 46 mpg on the highway.
Chevrolet says they are no longer going to compete in the midsize sedan segment. Instead, as they debuted the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Hybrid at the New York International Auto Show this week, they said they are going to win the segment with this car that is longer and lighter, has more interior space and improved efficiency.
The sight was the historic Naval Shipyards in Brooklyn, New York, and the event was the launch of the all-new 2016 Cadillac CT6 flagship luxury sedan. The CT6 sees the return of rear-wheel drive to General Motor’s luxury division and the car will showcase a host of technology when it arrives late this year.
I reviewed the all-new seventh-generation 2015 Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan just a few months ago and since then the automaker sent me a Sonata Sport model for a week. I mentioned the Sport in my first piece, as I had the opportunity to test the turbo model. Trouble with this latest Sport model under review is, where’s the sport?
Compact cars are just not as popular in North America as they are with car buyers around the globe. Midsize sedans dominate car sales in the U.S., but globally cars like the Honda Civic are top sellers; after a week in the 2015 Honda Civic Sedan it is easy to see why it is No. 1 in compacts here.
Rounding out its new lineup of “X marks the spot” vehicles, Acura has delivered the new TLX as its midsize sports sedan replacement. TLX succeeds the TL as well as the TSX and lines up between the ILX and RLX models. It is powered by choice of four- or six-cylinder engines backed by new eight- and nine-speed automatic gearboxes.