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Car Reviews

Praise for 2011 Buick Regal is richly deserved

2011 Buick Regal
As I was waiting for a traffic light on my second day of test driving the 2011 Buick Regal, a much older Buick Regal pulled alongside. I felt like my vehicle was a sweet young thing being eyed by an old geezer with whom I had nothing in common. The g...

2011 Cadillac Escalade

Last year when I reviewed the Platinum edition of 2010 Cadillac Escalade, I called it a beautiful behemoth that was “mind boggling” in terms of its size, carrying capacity, technology and amenities. That description still fits. In fact, the 2011 ...

Jaguar XF – A near flawless driving experience

Jaguar XF
Not all luxury vehicles live up to their price tag. However, the 2011 Jaguar XF certainly comes close. The moment I slammed the formidable door of the vehicle I knew I had entered a rarified world. The eye-catching burl walnut veneer along with the s...

Much to like in Fiesta’s return to the American market

2011 Ford Fiesta. Photo by Travis Hudgons
The 2011 Ford Fiesta is a likeable compact – likeable for its gas mileage, spunkiness and some nice design features. The five-door hatchback comes with a 1.6-liter engine and promises 28 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. The f...

Lexus rolls out joy-to-drive compact hybrid

Lexus CT 200h
Up to now those in the market for a compact hybrid with the Lexus nameplate were pretty much out of luck. This month, however, all that changes. Lexus is introducing a new hybrid to its lineup—a 1.8-liter DOCH 16-valve engine with an electric motor...

Dodge Ram 1500 roars like a lion

2010 Dodge Ram 1500
The 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 is a massive piece of machinery. From the outside, the SLT Crew Cab 4X4 is wide and big and long—equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 Hemi engine and the ability to haul a 1,900-pound maximum payload as well as 10,450-pound tow capa...

Improvements to 2011 Scion tC won’t disappoint target audience

2011 Scion tC
If the Scion tC were to come to life, it would most likely embody a male teen who’s surrounded by devoted friends, has an ever-changing fashion sense as well as an edgy reputation. Much like that description, the Scion tC is a youthful vehicle, wit...

MDX takes luxury and power to new level

2010 Acura MDX
An invitation to drive the 2010 Acura MDX is an invitation to experience loads more than simply getting from point A to point B—all the while ensconced in a lap of luxury. First the basics: the MDX has a 300 horsepower 3.7-liter engine with a six-s...

Compact Honda Fit is a fun gas miser

2010 Honda Fit
When my eye caught the 33 miles per hour highway mileage for the 2010 Honda Fit, it almost swayed me to cancel a weekend flight to Biloxi, Miss., in favor of a weekend drive. I still flew but imagine that had I taken to the open road, it would have b...

Crosstour is one impressive Honda

2010 Honda Crosstour
by Gale Horton Gay   Honda is clearly stepping up its game. Just take a gander at its 2010 Crosstour, a vehicle that has beautiful curves and lines outside, is downright comfortable inside and easily converts when large and odd-sized items needs to ...

Traverse gives passengers something to smile about

2010 Chevy Traverse LTZ
Some vehicles have an immediate impression on people. Take the Chevy Traverse LTZ. I and three co-workers took the 2010 Traverse on a Decatur-to-Jekyll Island road trip two weeks ago, and we were barely out of DeKalb County when one colleague explain...

Malibu deserves to be on one’s radar

2010 Malibu
I don’t know why I hadn’t paid much attention to the Chevrolet Malibu before. But it was certainly one of those vehicles that wasn’t on my radar. Little did I know that my week test driving the 2010 Malibu 2LT would be so enjoyable. Granted, th...

GMC Terrain perfect for city/suburban life and getaways

2010 GMC Terrain
Some vehicles shamelessly flaunt what they’ve got, be it their size, styling, technology or comfort and convenience features. And they usually turn heads in the process. By comparison, the GMC Terrain FWD SLE-1 might appear to underwhelm. It’s a...

ZDX designer shares insight into new Acura

2010 Acura ZDX
Jason Widmer has one cool job. Dreaming up designs for the next generation of automobiles, then spending years to fine tune that design and working out the engineering to bring it to market and traveling the country talking about it. Widmer has spent...

Tote-it-and-go transportation doesn’t have to be boring

2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring SE
Hyundai’s 2010 Elantra Touring SE is proof that a vehicle without a ton of bells and whistles doesn’t have to be boring. Although it is a hatchback, the 2-liter/4-cylinder/16-valve dual overhead cam engine Elantra comes with five-speed manual tra...

Second time around in LaCrosse solidifies praise report

2010 Buick LaCrosse
Late last year I wrote a review of a vehicle that I only test drove for 15 minutes, and I’ve wondered since if my assessment of it was accurate. Last month, I had the opportunity to revisit that car—the 2010 Buick LaCrosse—and following a weekl...

Lexus IS350’s silence and luxury speak volumes

2010 Lexus IS350
If you need a little more peace and quiet in your life, the 2010 Lexus IS350 may be just the paradise on wheels for you. It’s incredibly quiet, keeping outside noise so much at bay that I kept turning down the radio when I realized that I could bar...

Cadillac Escalade Platinum is one beautiful behemoth

2010 Cadillac Escalade Platinum
The Platinum edition of the 2010 Cadillac Escalade is a behemoth in just about every imaginable way. The vehicle’s size, carrying capacity, safety features, technology and amenities are mind boggling. Despite its commanding size, the Escalade doesn...

4Runner SR5 is an appealing man cave

2010 4Runner SR5
I don’t like to pigeonhole vehicles by associating them with a gender, however, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner SR5 is a decidedly masculine machine. My first impression was that I had climbed aboard a man cave on wheels–from the heft of the steering whe...

Lexus RX 450h conserves fuel but splurges on comfort and convenience

Lexus RX 450h. Photo by Travis Hudgons
The whisper-soft whirring sound of the 2010 Lexus RX 450h is a gentle reminder that this hybrid delivers a unique driving experience. With a 3.5 liter, 24-valve, dual overhead cam V6 engine, the RX 450h alternates between gas and electric power seaml...

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