cars

Given the swelling popularity of sporty crossovers, it’s no surprise that Ford has given the “ST” treatment to the Edge. 

The harbinger of Hyundai’s high-performance line is one of the best sports cars I’ve tested and the most affordable.

In real life, I’m a happiness expert. And because true happiness is my brand, it’s hard to justify my love affair with a convertible sports car: the ignominious symbol of consumerism.

As a former six-foot, 140-pound teenager, I sympathize with modern crossovers. Height invites awkward handling, and there’s never been a crossover more agile than the sedan it’s based upon.

Unless you have to cross a moat to reach your Mount Paran castle, there’s not much reason to drive an all-terrain behemoth like a Lexus GX or a Land Rover Discovery daily. And yet, these leather-clad battle tanks sell faster than many sensible crossovers.

The Jeep Wrangler is like a bacon double cheeseburger – gristly and unrefined, yet patriotic and sacred. It’s imperfect, yet precisely nobody wants it to change.

Rarely have I sat in a six-figure car and thought this is worth every penny, but BMW’s all-new X7 is simply that good.

With raking angles, a gaping maw and fangs under the headlights, the Lexus RX couldn’t look more aggressive if it had a mounted machine gun.

There’s plenty to like about the new RAV4, from matured looks to a “take me off-road” attitude and well laid-out interior. It also boasts another design decision I think every car should have: a rubberized volume knob.

Muscle cars and crossovers continue to sell like Hamilton tickets, so why hasn’t anyone made a muscle crossover before?

The 2019 Camaro SS starts at $37,495, the same as a new Audi A4. At first glance, it’s hard to tell why. It features a functional but not fancy interior, a tough ride and gets city mpg in the teens.

The Insight is a mightily impressive vehicle. Compared to the Prius, the Insight offers more mature looks, a more luxurious interior, faster acceleration and an extra MPG (55 vs. 54).

First off, what’s a PHEV? A plug-in electric hybrid is a hybrid that you can run on electric-only for the length of an average commute. When it’s out of juice, the gas engine kicks in, and it acts like a normal hybrid.

If you’re shopping for a dependable midsized sedan, the question isn’t should you buy a Camry, but which one. Bells…

If you’re shopping for a seven-seat family hauler, traditionally speaking you have two options: SUV or minivan.

Aside from a glitzy brand name, what qualifies a car as “luxury”? Power, looks, exotic wood inlays and heated everything?

I’m running out of constructive criticisms for Kia. Virtually its entire lineup offers excellent looks, handling and value, and the newly-refreshed Forte is no exception.

Car shopping for a teenager? You probably want something safe, dependable and affordable. Your son, however, wants something fast, cool and expensive-looking. Can you please everyone?

To start on a positive note, I genuinely enjoyed the Outlander Sport, the Outlander’s little brother. Spritely, fun-to-drive and cheap, the baby Outlander pleasantly surprised. Its big brother, however, didn’t.

I’m running out of constructive criticisms for Kia. Virtually their entire lineup offers excellent looks, handling and value, and the newly refreshed Forte is no exception.

Admiring the new CX-5 Signature’s exquisite interior, upgraded driving dynamics and comprehensive suite of safety features, I wondered how much will all this cost? I checked the Monroney to see $44,395: expensive for a Mazda, but given how good it is, totally fair.

Designing a pickup in America is like opening a sushi restaurant in Japan. The competition is staggering, and there’s a subtle, local flavor outsiders struggle to replicate.

The Prius C starts at around $21,000, or $3,000 less than a regular Prius. For that, you might expect a few compromises. Maybe it’s smaller? Less luxurious?

When I told my friends I was testing an Avalon this week, one question kept coming up: “Isn’t that for old people?”

Lexus offers three capable, high-performance sedans. Ranked in order of both size and price, they include the IS, the GS and the LS.

To preface, I like the Prius, but it’s riddled with curious dichotomies that may excite or perplex you.

At first glance, Kia’s seven-seater may appear just to be another car built for soccer practice and the carpool line. Sure, moms will be happy driving the Sorento, but so will everyone else.

“Is that a BMW?” asked my friend Tara upon seeing the new Optima. A fair question, given Kia’s successful borrowing of the best visual elements from more expensive car brands.

On paper, the Lexus RC doesn’t match up to the BMW 4 series, Audi A5 or Mercedes C-Class. It’s heavier, slower, thirstier and doesn’t corner as well. It might, however, be the best of the four.

Cheap subcompact SUVs are the Frontier Airlines of cars: slow, cramped, comfortless, and making you wish you’d just spent a little more.