When Jeep’s West Coast press rep heard we were seeking a vehicle to test in Moab, Utah, he sent us a 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk. The Cherokee ($23,995) is Jeep’s midsize crossover. By most measures, it is a conventional crossover; built on a sedan platform and…
When talking Plymouth Roadrunners, and the car’s colorful history, the differences between the first Roadrunners in 1968 and the final effort in 1975 are huge.
Whatever the cause, we are once again headed for $4-per-gallon gasoline.
Any week that features a Miata in the driveway is a good week. Regular readers know Mazda’s little roadster is always welcome here. The two-person ragtop is one of the least practical cars on the planet, and also one of the most fun. It’s the…
Recent columns on cars and engines from the 1950 decade have resulted in numerous letters and comments via email from my loyal readers (thank you so much).
Memorial Day officially kicks off the summer travel season.
In 1999, Lexus RX 300 brought the word crossover into America’s automotive lexicon. The upright near-luxury vehicle was based on a sedan’s unibody but looked like a truck-based sport-ute. It rode like a front-wheel-drive sedan, while available all-wheel-drive echoed an SUV’s utility. The distinction was...
Back in the 1960s I purchased a 1955 BelAir Sport Coupe and while drag racing a guy who was driving it blew it up. It had the new 265-inch V8 and ran real well.
…the last minute “zipper” merge is the most efficient scenario at those sites.
Toyota’s Camry has been the country’s best-selling midsize sedan for so long that no one but Toyota bothers to keep track any longer. Year after year, it has served the needs of the American mainstream. This year, though, Toyota challenges its own status quo. The...
Remember to push the button when exiting a pushbutton vehicle parked in a garage.
Greg, I was a teenager during the 1950s and, like my pals, developed an intense interest in cars.
Gas prices are rising again and airfare deals abound. But in spite of those realities, Americans will embark on millions of motor vehicle road trips this summer. These asphalt journeys may cover 2000, 5000, or even 7000 miles, where all-day, every-day seat duty is required.…
In the past year, Honda has birthed a trio of midsize electrified sedans. They share a platform and campaign under a shared name — Clarity — but run distinct powertrains. There’s a hydrogen fuel-cell Clarity that’s available only in California and a Clarity EV that…
As I read of ever-evolving auto technology, including mechanical, electronic and computer advancements, I think of the individuals who diagnose, repair and service those systems. The simple term “mechanic” does not adequately label these people. Today’s auto technicians, or “techs” for short, must learn and…
Lexus’s 2018 LC 500 silences all doubts about Lexus's ability to build beautiful cars. The two-door LC is a proper grand tourer (from the Italian gran turismo), an exclusive class of two-door coupes meant to convey travelers over long distances, at great speeds and in...
There are numerous benchmarks indicating achievement in driving proficiency. Avoiding crashes is one such mark and avoiding traffic tickets is another. But meeting those basic goals does not necessarily mean that you are driving perfectly. Some accident-free drivers may have straight fenders, but are only…
In many families, graduation season prompts deep conversations about first cars. For the past decade, those conversations have had to include Honda’s Fit subcompact hatchback. The 2018 Fit ($16,190) checks all the starter-car boxes (and second-car and last-car boxes, too). It’s safe, affordable and economical....
I recently wrote about the rapid emergence of pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles occurring every spring. Along with that phenomenon, activity levels of deer, elk and other roaming animals rise with the warmer weather. I truly believe that instead of posting occasional “watch for deer” signs…
As oil prices rose last year, Kia debuted an all-new subcompact hybrid called Niro. The little front-wheel-drive hatchback quickly established itself as the country’s best-selling hybrid not named Prius. This year, Kia doubles down with the 2018 Niro Plug-in Hybrid. With a full charge, the…
Flashing yellow arrows began appearing at certain intersections a few years ago. Initially, I was uncertain of their intent. Did it simply mean, as a typical yellow light indicates, that a red-light indication was imminent? If so, it might induce drivers to rush through that...
To paraphrase the late singer/songwriter Guy Clark: sometimes a job is so big it needs a bigger hammer. Which seems like a perfect way to think about Infiniti’s QX80; it’s the hammer that gets big jobs done. The eight-passenger SUV weighs in at a full-size...
The first 70-degree days of 2018 occurred here last week. Sadly, it also marked a pedestrian death by way of automobile. The two events are somewhat related, with days warmer days putting people in peril as more of them venture out among motor vehicles. Worse,…
Last summer, Volkswagen launched an all-new 2018 Tiguan, then sat back and watched the compact crossover soar to the top of the company sales charts. The new Tiguan represents a recalibration for VW. While the previous model pleased enthusiasts (and auto writers) with its engaging...
U turn anxiety is a common driver affliction, as typified by a question from reader H.A. He observed and wondered, “I was researching because I see often drivers traveling west on the NE 124th Street in Redmond stopping and making an U turn [across double-yellow…
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