Four years ago I reviewed the then all-new fourth-generation Subaru Outback and I called it a Swiss Army knife on wheels and even went so far as to say it would most likely be my one choice for a vehicle not knowing what lies ahead. All that was true then and still rings true with this fifth-generation 2015 Subaru Outback.
For the 2015 model year, General Motors has completely made over its fullsize sport utility vehicles. And now for MY2015, the General has updated its big SUVs. Wait, isn’t that the same model year? Apparently yes and no. The paperwork that arrived with this 2015 GMC Yukon XL Denali tester showed a couple of things the vehicle did not have.
This review is on the new 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander crossover utility. Yes, Mitsubishi still makes vehicles for the U.S. market, it was Suzuki that left a couple years back. And while pickings are few in a Mitsubishi showroom, the seven-passenger Outlander CUV is a model not to be overlooked when shopping this segment (looking at you, soccer moms).
Last week I spend a day with Chevy at their Milford Proving Grounds. I saw first-hand demonstrations of Chevy’s latest vehicle safety features, and I left feeling like it might be time to finally upgrade my GM vehicle to the latest version: GM’s newest technology may not be completely automated, but the technology removes a lot of guesswork and anxiety.
When I reviewed the Mazda CX-5 crossover utility vehicle two years ago I gave it high praises for replacing two outgoing CUVs in the Mazda lineup while giving consumers what I felt was one of the best new cute utes on the market. I had one wish for the model, feeling it a bit underpowered. Ask and ye shall receive.
Lincoln Motor Company is in the midst of a product revival, a task not helped by rumors of its demise not too long ago. In fact, new product has been rolling off the assembly lines of Ford’s luxury division over the past couple of years in the form of the MKZ/MKZ Hybrid and MKC models, and amidst this they have given the flagship of the fleet – Navigator – a decent makeover for 2015.
The compact crossover utility segment is crowded, almost to the point where so many competitors get overlooked due to shopper fatigue. When Volkswagen of America launched its entry into the cute ute segment a few years ago they sought to bring a little fun – some of that Fahrvergnügen if you will – in the form of the Tiguan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As most have probably already learned, there is very little sport in sport utility vehicles. Generally they lean much heavier to the utility side of the equation. Unless you are the new Volvo XC60 R-Design with Polestar package and that is exactly what Volvo recently sent us. Sport…Utility…Vee-hickle – a midsize luxury SUV with a real emphasis on sport.
When Chevrolet introduced its new Silverado pickup model for 2014, GMC was also celebrating a new truck along with 111 years in the truck business. Sierra is GMC’s pickup line, and Denali is the range-topping package that recently arrived for us to test. The 2014 GMC Sierra Denali is their most powerful, most advanced and most refined truck yet.
With the recent departure of the Compass model from Jeep showrooms, the automaker now anchors the entry end of its lineup with the Patriot compact SUV that boasts Jeep styling, Trail Rated 4×4 capability and, according to Jeep, is still the best priced SUV in America. For 2014 Patriot now offers up to 30 mpg thanks to a new transmission.
I have written about this before, but I believe it bears repeating – model year 2014 is a great one for Jeep Grand Cherokee. So far we have tested the base V-6 model and the top-of-the-line, no holds barred SRT version and loved both. Now we take a look at the all-new 730-mile range EcoDiesel Grand Cherokee.
There is a wolf in sheep’s clothing over in the Lexus stable and it comes in the form of the flagship 2014 Lexus LX 570 full-size luxury SUV. Be it atop the Continental Divide or the swankiest new spot in South Beach, occupants arrive in opulent style for any occasion in any location in this capable three-row luxury utility vehicle.
Last month we saw Lincoln take the wraps off its newest flagship SUV – the 2015 Navigator – and with it waved goodbye to the last V-8 engine (for now at least) from that storied automaker. This week Ford is debuting the next Expedition full-size SUV that also sheds the V-8 for the powerful, economical twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6.
I know what you did last summer, Acura. You brought to market the all-new 2014 MDX luxury crossover, your best-selling vehicle for all of last year. You made the new model more comfortable and more fuel-efficient while giving it better performance and yet you managed to keep it one of the best values in the segment.
What is that sleek, sophisticated and dynamic new sport ute you just saw? According to Toyota it is the all-new third-generation 2014 Highlander. While previous models were very good in their own right, the new Highlander may just be the epitome of the saying ‘Third time’s the charm’ by delivering more style, more comfort and more utility and capability.