SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — The new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck is finally here, the first new-generation Silverado in seven years, and loyal Chevy fans are sure to welcome it with a huge cheer, even while others may scoff a bit and offer the challenging question: Is it new enough? “It’s all-new from hood to hitch,” said Silverado product manager Carl Hillenbrand, sounding like he had just made up a …
When I first had the chance to drive the new BMW X1, I was impressed with the looks and performance, and the diminutive size of the new smaller brother of the X5 and X3 SUVs from BMW’s ever-expanding stable. It is more compact than most crossover SUVs, but most people don’t need the enormous size of the heftiest vehicles that brought the U.S. auto industry to near the point of …
ATS isn’t simply a car Cadillac wants to offer. It’s a car Cadillac needs to offer. Globally, the biggest category in the luxury field is the compact performance segment, and Caddy simply hasn’t been a player. Until now. Eight inches shorter and 500 pounds lighter than its CTS showroom mate, ATS is virtually all new; only its available V-6 is off the shelf. Everything else is consciously designed to target …
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — During three restyling generations over the last seventeen years, the Toyota Avalon never distinguished itself as a dazzler, even though it never qualified to be an ugly duckling, either. Its heritage was as an elongated Camry-with-bling, but that image will be shattered forever by the 2013 Avalon, which soars, swan-like, with a combination of stunning attractiveness with breakthrough engineering. First impression is striking, particularly for a …
2013 Honda Fit EV Review: If the 2013 Honda Fit EV were a fictional character, it could be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or the Hulk and Bruce Banner. Either way, it would way more fun than frightening. Credit that to the Fit EV’s three drive modes. The EV is the new electric car from Honda, which also has been poking around in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles. In fact, …
2013 Volvo S60 Review: Merging smartly into the lengthening line of modern less-is-more vehicles, Volvo brings us its 2013 Volvo S60 T5 sports sedan. The last time we looked, the S60 was a T6, an all-new 2011 model with 300 horsepower from a turbocharged, inline six-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. It delivered 18/26 city/highway miles to the gallon and had a starting price of $38,550. It was a way of …
2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Review: Never mind the tussle over whether the glass is half empty or half full. To hear the Mercedes-Benz people tell it, the 2013 GLK’s glass is full to the brim. That’s despite the fact that the company’s smallest SUV is only about half new. Mercedes says it’s been redesigned, but it is what the vehicle business calls refreshed, usually done half way through a model’s life …
2013 Acura RDX Review: The 2013 Acura RDX is more spacious, more luxurious feeling and a better all-round performer than its predecessor, which was no slouch. The interior is roomy, comfortable and quiet. Its power hatch welcomed a big load of luggage. Everything looks and feels right for a small to mid-size crossover. At its base is solid performance that any luxury crossover owner would want. The 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 …
