For purely selfish reasons, I wish Hyundai would revise its crossover naming strategy. Just last weekend, I found myself trying to explain the differences between the Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport. In a nutshell: The midsize Santa Fe (from $31,695, including transportation) accommodates as...
The intersection at Wellesley and Freya is closed for the construction of a roundabout there. Just as I read about that, an email from reader T.R. arrived, asking, “Can you comment on the proper rules when using the traffic circles at intersections, where each direction…
With the advent of driver assist and driver warning systems, pairings with technologies not previously associated with automobiles are emerging. The tech elements of those once uncommon systems will be ever more integrated with the development of self-driving vehicles. For example, cameras, besides becoming a…
Like many of my peers, I sang the praises of Acura’s RDX compact crossover when it launched in 2006. That first-gen RDX took direct aim at enthusiasts. Its turbocharged four-cylinder engine (240 horsepower/260 pound-feet of torque) made power in pulse-quickening surges. Its rigid, lightweight platform...
Automotive journals, including this one, are wrought with news of imminent autonomous automobile arrival. But the various players attempting this achievement are exhibiting divergent paths to their goals. Last week, Ford Motor Company announced that it would make driverless cars available to the public for…
Honda’s Ridgeline pickup just complete a two-year hiatus during which it did some soul-searching and realigned its priorities. Now, the five-passenger, midsize pickup is back. And what it gained in the transition far overshadows what it lost. Gone for good are the flying-buttress C pillars,...
In spite of the irritation they cause, there seems to be a continuous proliferation of pet peeves when it comes to irksome driving habits. Every driver seems to have certain behavior that annoys them, but we probably all do things, while driving or not, that…
In a category where cute counts, Jeep’s Renegade is a smash hit. The little Renegade ($18,990, including destination) teems with visual delights. An air of playfulness attends its funky, upright stance. Inside, rounded surfaces play with brightly colored trim. Lest you miss the point, Jeep…
The last time I drove Toyota’s Camry XSE, we were locked in winter’s grip. I wrote: Eighteen-inch alloys wear beefy all-season tires designed to enhance efficiency and foul-weather grip. They proved themselves during my ice- and snowbound test week. The chassis and suspension upgrades lent...
Drivers sometimes have uncertainties when making turns. A couple of those quandaries are of concern to reader S.K., who wrote, “I have learned over the years to always be on the lookout when making left turns, but there are two ‘dilemmas’ that I have never…
The road rage phenomenon is an interesting topic. What’s amazing and somewhat unbelievable to me is how full-blown fracases can escalate from essentially innocuous events. Bicyclists are regularly victims of driver rage simply for exercising their rights to the roadway. Sure, bicycles are slower than…
No automaker has leveraged the shared-platform strategy better than Subaru. Subaru knocked the industry tailpipe over teakettle in 1995, when it debuted the Legacy Outback. Built on the same platform as the midsize Legacy, the Outback sported standard all-wheel-drive, a raised suspension and lower-body cladding....
Worried about your teenage son or daughter texting or calling friends via cellphone while driving? It seems that many adult drivers should consider setting a better example. The Pemco Insurance Company recently conducted a poll of northwest drivers. Sadly, those results showed that nearly half…
The 2016 Toyota Prius is everything Toyota promised it would be. Already the poster child for fuel efficiency, the fourth-generation Prius ($25,035, including transportation) grows even more efficient. At 52 mpg combined/54 city/50 highway, it’s the most fuel-efficient of all non-plug-in hybrids. Without really trying,…
Self-driving automobiles will incorporate numerous systems to help them navigate roadways and react to ever-changing conditions. But the hubbub over their future overshadows the many features that are already available. These features, mainly safety-oriented, are so plentiful that many franchised dealerships actually employ computer technicians…
While 12-volt batteries have been the automotive industry standard for years, some drivers may recall a time when 6-volt batteries were the norm. Before that, when drivers started their vehicles with a hand crank, horns had a squeeze-bulb and headlamps were gas powered, cars had…
This year, Nissan debuts the all-new Titan XD, a pickup that splits the difference between the half-ton trucks and their heavy-duty, three-quarter-ton brethren.
Information from a concerned citizen recently reminded me that there is a way to address traffic citations that can alleviate some of the woes connected with them. Traffic education programs exist that can reduce the possibility of future tickets, accidents and escalating insurance premiums. Depending…
Depending on your point of view, Lexus’s small crossover, the NX 200t, is either a cutie-pie or a refugee from design school. I vote cutie-pie; your mileage may vary. Unlike other makers, Lexus doesn’t have a fancy name for its current design theme. Its “spindle”...
U.S. buyers shopping three-row crossovers face a rich supply of options, ranging from Mitsubishi’s $23,000 Outlander to the $113,00 Mercedes-Benz GLS63 AMG. Camped between those extremes, the 2016 Infiniti QX60 ($42,600) distinguishes itself with an attitude-laced blend of luxury and tech. Having positioned itself as...
I discussed some elements of road trips a few weeks ago, and have now just returned from one. Although they are generally more costly (with fuel, food and motels) than domestic round-trip airfare for two, and use up more time than air travel, I still…
Not long ago, I wrote that Volvo, that longtime bastion of virtue, had begun building cars that might be described as “sexy and alluring.”
Most drivers understand the basics of car insurance. Generally, it means choosing among the categories of liability (required), collision and comprehensive (optional), and determining the level of coverage and deductibles based on your vehicle, needs and wants. But it’s worth looking further at coverage details.…
A few years back, the concept of ride sharing was just beginning to evolve. Now popularized by companies like Zipcar, drivers can share cars with others without owning them, an adaptation of the taxicab concept without the taxi driver. A hybrid adaptation of those entities…
This winter, Honda dropped the first installment in the year-long launch of its 10th-generation, 2016 Civic. The sedan debuted in November. A coupe came in March and a five-door hatchback arrives this summer. A pair of coupe variants — the youth-oriented Si and the high-performance…
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