A decade ago, driving distraction involved ill-advised behavior like rubbernecking at roadside happenings, reading, shaving or applying makeup. While those and many other driver “don’ts” are undoubtedly still in play, distracted driving has now become synonymous with talking, texting and fooling with distracting vehicle technology.…
There is no shortage of choice in the compact crossover segment. Virtually every maker of any size fields a small crossover, ranging from the barebones to the ultra-luxurious, each with its own unique value proposition. For its part, the fully made-over 2014 Nissan Rogue hangs…
A recent column concerning crossroads on a portion of U.S. Highway 395 north of Spokane elicited a wealth of reader feedback. Some thanked me for clarifying rules of the road, but many spoke of general safety concerns there. Those safety concerns are a result of…
Audi’s Q7 is a big, meaty slice of German engineering, a seven-passenger crossover with a lust for the open road. Though it hasn’t had a significant makeover in its seven-year existence, the Q7 offers fully modern levels of comfort, safety and luxury. Three engine choices…
My traveling companion wasn’t sure what to make of the 2014 Toyota 4Runner. “It’s not quite as comfortable as some of the other cars you drive,” she offered. “Of course, not,” I said, trying to scrub any hint of condescension from my reply. “It’s not…
Even though this winter has been mild when historically considered, it’s presented plenty of challenges for area drivers. And while wintry conditions are waning, they will continue to affect us for awhile. Maybe drivers would get more accustomed to snow and ice if we had…
Certain driving situations create quandaries, and resolution often entails driver confusion and/or self-appointed traffic direction. B.M. described an example near Loon Lake that frustrates him, writing, “With State Road 292 approaching US 395 from the West and Garden Spot Road approaching US 395 from the…
Jeep’s 2014 Compass crossover earns my nod as the year’s most improved car. Achieving this crowning standard didn’t cost Jeep much; mainly, it meant adding a conventional six-speed automatic to the transmission mix, where in most instances it replaces last year’s continuously variable transmission (CVT).…
There has been much discussion here over roadway conflicts between vehicles of varying types, sizes and speeds, and how aggravation can result. Bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, small trucks and large trucks must all share the same roads despite their differing configuration, mass and maneuverability. Without some…
Two years ago, Acura introduced the compact ILX sedan in hopes of easing young buyers into the near-luxury classes. Its ILX (from $27,795, including destination) wraps Acura’s core values -- affordability, quality and low-key, tech-laced luxury -- in an attractive and well-equipped package. Though it’s…
After several emails challenged my advice, I checked out the northbound left turn lanes on Maple Street leading to westbound Francis Avenue in person. For starters, my advice to make left turns “into the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the same…
Following a column that addressed two adjacent turn lanes, I received a reader response that exemplifies why there is sometimes confusion and conflict at such locations. C.K. wrote, “This morning your column ended with a paragraph exhorting us to stay in our lanes in double…
I once hailed the Honda Accord Hybrid as the car that would bring hybrid technology into the mainstream. He shoots. He misses. That car, the original Accord Hybrid, circa 2005-07, had everything going for the one that mattered -- fuel efficiency. Apparently wanting it both…
The majority of vehicles I encounter are piloted by good drivers. Mostly, other drivers will see me and know when I have the right of way for example. Usually, drivers will stop at stop signs and not put their vehicles in places I already occupy.…
Kia walked away from the full-size segment in 2009, when it discontinued production of the Amanti sedan. The late Amanti mirrored the then-current state of affairs at Kia. Its design was confused and derivative, ride and handling were soft and lazy. Still, build quality was…
This should be a very good year for Acura’s MDX. Fully made over, the 7-passenger crossover went on sale last year and enters 2014 already smashing its own sales records. Built on a new platform and featuring a new powertrain, updated cabin tech and more,…
Approaching emergency vehicles can be intimidating, especially when drivers are uncertain of how to react. A note from reader D.D reflects this quandary. He wrote, “I was first in line at a left turn lane, at a red light, with traffic also stopped in all…
Should you be shopping for a compact, all-wheel-drive sedan, you have a choice of two -- Subaru’s Impreza and the Mitsubishi Lancer. As the entry-level Subie, the Impreza’s bona fides are well established. But Mitsubishi is an enigma in the U.S. After partnering here with…
We often make plans to better our lives at the start of each succeeding year. Since that time is upon us for 2014, let’s all give better driving a top spot on our list of resolutions. After all, vehicular crashes are the number one cause…
Minivans may have been last century’s big news, but you wouldn’t know it from behind the wheel of the 2014 Honda Odyssey. A mid-cycle refresh has the Odyssey feeling as fresh and contemporary as any of the crossovers that have displaced vans in the public’s…
I’m regularly a “sounding board” for readers’ pet driving peeves. A couple good examples of these irksome driving deeds made it to my email inbox last week. Reader B.L. griped, “Last evening as I drove home, a huge pickup truck with those new flashlight-sized headlights…
Sandwiched between volume-minded Chevrolet and performance-focused Cadillac in General Motor’s post-bankruptcy landscape, Buick takes the middle way. It aims to satisfy the middle-class need for affordable luxury. Since the bankruptcy, the company’s persistent focus on comfort, reliability and affordability has produced cars of the quality…
Every so often, clever ( and slightly off-camber) visionaries remind us what a magical business tool the Internet can be. Australian entrepreneur Steve Sammartino and Romanian “self-taught technology genius” Raul Oaida are two examples. With the financial backing of 40 crowd-sourced patrons, Sammartino’s brainchild, dubbed…
Although Ikonic Films probably intended to launch a viral video with their advertisement for a worn-out 1996 Nissan Maxima, chances are they couldn’t have guessed Nissan would step up with an offer to buy it. Thanks to the vulture-like draw of successful viral marketing, that’s…
America’s favorite news anchor is proving he has the mustachioed charisma to sell a shocking number of Dodge Durango’s. With the release of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ fast approaching, Chrysler made the call to Ron Burgundy, better known as comedian Will Ferrell to help…
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