Last fall, Lincoln ran a TV ad campaign starring Texas actor Matthew McConaughey in homespun-philosopher mode. The viewer goes deep inside McConaughey’s mind as he steers a new Lincoln crossover into an unnamed city at night.
It’s always been common for drivers to have conversations with passengers, but nowadays, phone conversations are also prevalent. Beyond that, many drivers can’t resist the lure of convenient text message communication. The latter is forbidden by law in just about every jurisdiction nationwide. But sadly,…
I’m downtown, having a beer at a local haunt and watching the Final Four’s last hurrah. Outside on the sidewalk at halftime, a friend asks what I’ve driven lately that surprised me. Not what I’d liked best, but the one that exceeded my expectations. It’s...
Over the years of this column’s publication, some driving topics give rise to recurring controversy. Although common sense and written law should dictate driver behavior, certain situations continue to be a source of uncertainty, frustration, and even rage. Differing opinions and indifference to established rules…
This side of a big, yellow school bus, the minivan is the most efficient and comfortable way to transport people and their possessions. Nevertheless, its stock has fallen sharply of late, victimized by the popularity of the sedan-based crossover. Doesn’t seem to matter to Toyota,...
Two weeks ago, I presented some situations involving the elder group of drivers. That included accidents related to diminishing awareness/reflexes/vision or health problems, aging drivers’ reluctance to give up the driving privilege, and even some apt remedies for these dilemmas. As is typical, readers followed…
Volkswagen dropped the sixth-generation Jetta in 2011 and has refined its DNA each year since. Its cabin has grown richer. Engines are more refined and efficient. Ride and handling have evolved. This year, a mid-cycle refresh extends the streak: A stout new turbo-diesel joins the…
When we begin driving, we usually try hard to remember and employ all the new driving rules and tips coming our way. Back then, novice drivers are studying to get a learner’s permit, trying to impress driving instructors, or doing everything “by the book” to…
Out in the supermarket parking lot, you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish this year’s Mazda6 from last’s. Changes to its grille, headlights and taillights are so subtle casual observers won’t notice. It’s a different story inside, though, as Mazda fits the 6 with a new dash...
As it relates to driving, we have an established minimum age. Should there be a mandatory maximum? It’s evident that young drivers contribute greatly to traffic accident and fatality statistics. In fact, motor vehicle accidents remain the number one cause of death for individuals up…
Like a quarterback back seeing gaps in the opponent’s defense, Kia has a knack for finding unexpected openings. Last year, it debuted the K900, a luxury sedan that aims to replicate the full-on luxury experience for thousands less than the (mostly German) competition. This year,…
Ever since the section of Sprague Avenue near downtown was altered from four lanes to two, comments I’ve heard regarding it have been mostly negative. Per my informal survey, anecdotal evidence also suggests a similar attitude toward the proposed lane reduction north of Indiana on…
Let’s just go ahead and declare this Mazda month. In recent weeks, I’ve looked at Mazda’s MX-5 Miata and its CX-9 midsize crossover. Today, we’re looking at the CX-5 compact crossover, and in two weeks we’ll cover the Mazda6 sedan. Blame scheduling woes. I’m supplied...
At times I’ve hinted that to be safer in our motor vehicles, we’d all wear DOT approved helmets. That’s because nearly nine out of ten auto deaths result from an occupant’s head striking something within the car or truck. But since that is not a…
Kia’s Soul is an obvious candidate for electrification. So obvious Kia designed its funky hatchback with that conversion in mind. The Soul’s raffish vibe is well-suited for the iconoclasts who are the EV tribe. Moreover, its blocky, upright stance seems custom-made to accommodate a boxy…
Spring has sprung early this year, making streets soaked with magnesium chloride a mute point for now. Still, judging by reader response to the last two columns on the topic, many citizens share concern over the melter’s use and overuse — some individuals even wishing…
In my music critic days, I covered a “farewell concert” or two. Until now, though, I’ve not had occasion to review a car’s farewell tour. As you read this, Mazda is preparing the world for the arrival of the all-new, fourth-generation 2016 MX-5 Miata. Before...
I’ll readily admit that I sometimes long for the simplicity of “yesteryear” when it comes to automobiles. They did make use of basic electricity, but computers and associated electronic sensors were absent. Everything was quite rudimentary when compared to today’s vehicles — do-it-yourselfers even had…
In the past few years, Americans have discovered the little wagons and hatchbacks that rule the roost in Europe and Asia. Honda, for one, aims to grab its share of the market. For 2015, Honda debuts the third-generation of its Fit, a hatchback that packs...
Two weeks ago, when I wrote of the flagrant dispensing of liquid ice melter onto our roadways, I wondered if others shared my concern. I admitted then that the corrosive deicer has a valid place in the arsenal for winter road maintenance, along with plows…
The 2016 Mazda CX-9 does everything expected of a three-row crossover, and then some. The CX-9 ($31,865, including transportation) carries up to seven in a modern and comfortable cabin. Flexible seating arrangements allow easy mix-and-matching of passengers and gear. And, even though most CX-9s are…
Readers send many questions my way. Some have been answered before and others offer new opportunities for discussion; some questions have definitive answers while others just create more questions. This week, C.K. offered some samples, writing, “I grew up in the Midwest and moved out…
Add Honda to the growing list of manufacturers using mid-cycle updates to beef up their competitive positions. Having most recently remade its best-selling CR-V crossover in 2012, Honda ups the ante this year with a surprise powertrain transplant. This year, all CR-Vs receive the same…
Many of my column topics directly reflect reader thoughts and concerns. Those reader ideas often mirror my own, and have widespread applicability and agreement. A phenomenon that I have not heard from readers about, but riles me, hopefully has at least a few proponents. That…
With the all-new NX 200t, Lexus becomes the latest premium maker to succumb to the allure of the small. The NX 200t, a luxury compact crossover, slots into a booming new segment populated by entries from Audi, Acura, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. About the same size…
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