Car reviews, car audio reviews & car forums - carreview.com (original) (raw)
2018 Lexus ES 350 4-DR Sedan Review
D.Colman Fri Jun 15th, 2018 11:44 AM
If you're in the market for a proven high quality 5 passenger sedan at an affordable base price of $38,900, take a close look at the 2018 Lexus ES 350.. Read More »
2018 Mazda 6 Signature Review
D.Colman Thu Jun 14th, 2018 11:36 AM
Mazda focuses on making the interior significantly better than the competition. A genuinely unexpected attribute in a $34,750 sedan occupying a price point that hardly qualifies it as a luxury ride. Yet the Mazda6 is surprisingly luxurious - in spite of its bargain price.. Read More »
2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate AWD Review
D.Colman Tue Jun 12th, 2018 12:23 PM
If you examine the Kona's window sticker, you will quickly determine that Hyundai's favorite phrase is "Included." Unlike some of the German competition where pretty much nothing is included in the base price of a vehicle, with this Hyundai, everything is "Included." . Read More »
2018 Volvo XC60 T8 E-AWD Inscription Review
D.Colman Fri Jun 8th, 2018 1:50 PM
If you haven't driven a Volvo recently, you need to attend Volvo school first. Pretty much everything you know about operating a conventional car needs to be discarded before you earn your Swedish driving permit.. Read More »
2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Review
D.Colman Thu Jun 7th, 2018 1:27 PM
Get it while you can. The last real sports car, that is. Mazda still makes it, just as they have for the past three decades. But given our national craze for self-driving cars, who knows how long this delectable purebred sports car will last? . Read More »
2018 Kia Stinger GT2 AWD V6 Review
D.Colman Mon Jun 4th, 2018 2:09 PM
There are a number of adjectives which can be applied to Kia vehicles: economical, practical, affordable, good looking, reliable. But conspicuously missing from that list is fast. Until now, no Kia product could be described as fast.. Read More »
2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE AWD-i Review
D.Colman Fri May 25th, 2018 4:06 PM
Toyota’s Hybrid Highlander tops the model range in both horsepower and fuel economy. It’s hard to beat that double-barreled punch. In the non-Hybrid Highlander, the 3.5-liter 2GR-FXS V6 produces 280hp in gas-only form, with an overall mileage rating of 20MPG.. Read More »
2018 Lexus GX460 Luxury Review
D.Colman Thu May 24th, 2018 2:37 PM
So how does this long gone scenario relate to the Lexus GX460? Simple, really, because the Lexus under review here is the direct descendant of that first 4Runner, updated continuously over 30 years by dozens of redesign generations. . Read More »
2018 Genesis G80 RWD 3.8 Review
D.Colman Fri May 11th, 2018 4:29 PM
You can certainly spend more for a Japanese big three product, but you'll probably be wasting your money. Because Genesis has hit the bulls eye with both of their model lines - the G80 and the G90.. Read More »
2018 Lexus NX 300 F Sport Review
D.Colman Thu Apr 12th, 2018 11:44 AM
Ensconced in such luxury, you are free to revel in the fine performance of the F Sport- enhanced NX 300 without a worry about what others may think of its polarizing appearance. . Read More »
2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD Review
D.Colman Wed Apr 11th, 2018 11:33 AM
The stormiest week of the winter really put this Mazda SUV to the test. The mid-size CX-5, which was redone for 2017, proved more than a match for the worst road conditions of the year.. Read More »
2018 Honda Fit 5-DR Sport Review
D.Colman Tue Apr 10th, 2018 11:17 AM
I wouldn't have liked the Fit half as much as I did if Honda had equipped it with the available CVT transmission. Instead, they provided me with a Fit worthy of the name Sport - thanks to its lovely, quick shifting, beautifully weighted 6-speed manual gearbox.. Read More »
2018 Toyota RAV4 Platinum FWD Review
D.Colman Mon Apr 9th, 2018 11:04 AM
It's not the space. It's not the pace. Nor is it the looks. So what is it about the RAV4 that makes this little SUV the best selling Toyota of them all? . Read More »
2018 Lexus GS F 4-DR Sedan Review
D.Colman Mon Mar 26th, 2018 11:37 AM
So what's the downside to the F? Mileage is the bugaboo if you exercise a heavy throttle foot. The gas tank holds only 17.5 gallons that yields a modest range of under 300 miles.. Read More »
2018 Toyota Camry XSE V6 Review
D.Colman Fri Mar 23rd, 2018 10:13 AM
This year, seven Toyotas started the Daytona 500. Six of them used V8 engines to power their rear wheels. The seventh used a V6 to power its front wheels. . Read More »
2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid Limited Review
D.Colman Mon Mar 12th, 2018 12:39 PM
For 2018, the Ioniq ups the ante of Hyundai's challenge to Toyota by offering a plug-in version for the first time. In several important respects, the Ioniq plug-in outdoes the Prius. Firstly, it looks much better.. Read More »
2018 Kia Rio LX 5DR Review
D.Colman Fri Mar 9th, 2018 12:29 PM
It's not often that a manufacturer has the courage to place a "stripper" model in the press evaluation fleet. But Kia's willingness to do so with the 5-door Rio we drove proves that you can still buy a perfectly adequate family sedan for a base price of just $15,290. . Read More »
2018 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring FWD Review
D.Colman Thu Mar 8th, 2018 2:21 PM
Mazda's corporate philosophy is diametrically opposed to the notion of the self-driving vehicle. In fact, this company has for years been using the slogan "Driving Matters" as their company motto. Mazda's affirmative take on the art of driving permeates everything they build.. Read More »
2018 Lexus LS 500 F Review
D.Colman Wed Mar 7th, 2018 4:11 PM
For those of you less concerned with the LS 500's cutting edge handling, and more concerned with its value as a luxury travel module, I'm happy to report that the revamped product looks better from the outside than ever, and offers more sumptuous luxury inside than any previous Lexus. . Read More »
2018 Volvo S90 T8 E-AWD Inscription Review
D.Colman Thu Mar 1st, 2018 12:44 PM
Do you fear the future? Or do you embrace it? Current Volvo TV advertising claims you're either fearful or welcoming. If you fear the future you'll need to find another ride, because the S90 has been designed for those who "embrace the future.". Read More »
2018 Lexus LC 500 Coupe Review
D.Colman Wed Feb 28th, 2018 12:02 PM
Wanna be a Rockstar? Buy a 2018 LC 500 right now. Make sure it's painted "Infrared," then show up at Cars & Coffee. Our local show is getting started so early that there were zero parking slots available in the main lot by 8am.. Read More »
2018 Lexus LX570 Review
D.Colman Thu Feb 1st, 2018 12:38 PM
The incredibly detailed window sticker for this newest 2018 version of the Lexus LX570 details no less than 37 selling points designed to entice you into purchasing this ultra-posh, all-terrain marvel.. Read More »
2018 Genesis G90 RWD 5.0 Ultimate Review
D.Colman Fri Jan 26th, 2018 1:14 PM
You can afford the car. But can you afford the chauffer? Because this is a limousine meant to be savored from the back seat rather than the driver's seat. The G90 Ultimate is the bargain Bentley of the year. The Bimmer beater. The Rolls wrecker. Without so much as a single option to pack the window sticker, the G90 goes out the door for its base price of $71,850.. Read More »
2017 Toyota Tundra 4x4 Limited Crewmax Review
D.Colman Thu Jan 25th, 2018 12:14 PM
If you want to be transported back in time to the rock 'n roll Fifties, step way up into the huge Crewmax cab of this Tundra, tune SiriusXM to "Fifties on 5," then lay hard into the throttle pedal. The tune the engine plays is even more evocative than the one issuing from the JBL amplifier and subwoofer.. Read More »
2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth Review
D.Colman Wed Jan 24th, 2018 11:36 AM
But along comes a Spider - a Fiat revision of the Miata called the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth. This numerical designation harks back to the lithe Fiat 124 that was sold in the 1970s and 1980s in North America during Fiat's first ultimately unsuccessful tenure in the USA.. Read More »
2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium Review
D.Colman Tue Jan 23rd, 2018 1:26 PM
For the money you still can't beat Subaru, And their loyal customers relish the fact that they don't have to go into debt to buy one. In fact, Kelly Blue Book, which has been in the car evaluation business since 1926, recently bestowed the following exemplary awards on Subaru: Most Trusted Brand, Best Overall Brand and Lowest Cost to Own.. Read More »
2018 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T Limited Review
D.Colman Fri Jan 12th, 2018 4:14 PM
Hyundai is on a roll. Every year this South Korean company manages to improve their main line sedan, the Sonata, by refining its looks and performance. The revamped 2018 Sonata is fully competitive with the best from Japan for class honors in this lucrative market segment.. Read More »
2018 Lexus LC500h Coupe Review
D.Colman Wed Jan 10th, 2018 12:34 PM
But the recent introduction of the breakthrough LC500 coupe moves Lexus into a new league where players like Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Porsche have long been on the varsity. Does the LC500h deserve elevation to major league status? Or does it need a few more years of seasoning in the minors? . Read More »
2017 Lexus GS200t 4-DR Review
D.Colman Tue Jan 9th, 2018 10:22 AM
At a total price of 50,070(with50,070 (with 50,070(with1,380 of Mark Levinson stereo and $1,730 for Navigation), the GS 200t (soon to be GS300 RWD) has got to be the best buy of the entire Lexus model range.. Read More »
2017 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 Raptor Review
D.Colman Mon Jan 8th, 2018 11:52 AM
Although we never found a suitable unpaved spot to exercise the Raptor, we can testify that this truck makes a delicious everyday companion. Its cabin is so comfortable you never want to climb down from your throne.. Read More »
2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE Review
D.Colman Fri Jan 5th, 2018 11:58 AM
Toyota's official designation for the color of this week's 2018 Camry is "Ruby Flare Pearl." It costs $395 extra and is worth every penny. But since when is Ruby Flare Pearl a name you'd associate with a Camry? Since now. Read More »
2017 Fiat 500C Abarth Cabrio Review
D.Colman Thu Jan 4th, 2018 10:33 AM
You cannot buy any car for $24,000 that will provide more driving entertainment than the Abarth tweaked Fiat 500. White laser stripes adorn both flanks as well, making the diminutive 2,450 package look more ferocious than cute. Based on its performance this scorpion has every right to look pugnacious. . Read More »
2018 Toyota C-HR XLE Review
D.Colman Fri Dec 15th, 2017 1:44 PM
This uniquely outrageous looking vehicle, originally intended to be part of Toyota's now defunct Scion product line, is named C-HR because it's a Coupe-High Rider.. Read More »
2017 Ford Fusion Platinum Hybrid Review
D.Colman Thu Dec 14th, 2017 11:17 AM
The Fusion Hybrid will laugh its way past a lot of gas stations over the course of your ownership. According to the EPA, this 42 MPG gas miser will save you $2,500 in 5 years over the fuel cost of the average new car. That efficiency gives it a rating of 9 on the EPA's scale of 10 for "Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Rating.". Read More »
2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Review
D.Colman Fri Nov 24th, 2017 10:06 AM
Even at the fully equipped test car price of $27,460, the Hyundai Elantra GT remains a bargain in the bigger picture. If you have minimal interest in sporty driving, then this modest performer will fill the practicality bill to a GT. . Read More »
2017 Lexus ES350 4 Door Sedan Review
D.Colman Thu Nov 23rd, 2017 9:19 AM
What happens when you dress a Toyota Camry for the prom? You get a Lexus ES350. Both sedans share the same basic architecture. In other words, a commodious transport cell for five adults for a reasonable outlay of cash. . Read More »
2017 Toyota Highlander SE V6 AWD Review
D.Colman Wed Nov 22nd, 2017 9:09 AM
About the only thing this Toyota fails to provide is fun behind the wheel. Although the Highlander's window sticker claims that this crossover is fitted with a "Sport Tuned" suspension, the Highlander is just too heavy.. Read More »
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 SEL S-AWC Review
D.Colman Mon Nov 13th, 2017 4:10 PM
The most significant number about this Outlander isn't the seats (7), doors (4) cylinders (4) or gears (0 - it's a CVT). Rather the digit to remember is 21.7. That's the number of pounds each horsepower is tasked with carting around in this compact SUV.. Read More »
2017 Kia Forte5 SX Review
D.Colman Sun Oct 22nd, 2017 2:42 PM
The Kia Forte we drove had 4 cylinders, 5 doors and 6 speeds. All those elements combined to make it number 1 - the best compact sport sedan we have driven so far in 2017. From the outside, the Forte5 is a stunning looker.. Read More »
2018 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Inscription Review
D.Colman Fri Oct 20th, 2017 1:46 PM
From a driver's standpoint, however, the XC90 leaves something to be desired. Clearly Volvo didn't lavish any visual attention on the engine compartment, which is covered with a funereal flat black plastic shroud.. Read More »
2017 Honda Civic Si 2DR Review
D.Colman Thu Oct 19th, 2017 1:31 PM
Honda scores a perfect 10 out of 10 on this latest iteration of the evergreen Civic Si. I speak from long term ownership experience here because I bought the very first generation Civic Si when Honda introduced it as a 2 door hatchback in 1987. . Read More »
2017 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD Review
D.Colman Wed Oct 18th, 2017 1:05 PM
During the recent unprecedented heat wave in Northern California I took refuge from our non air conditioned house inside Mazda's plushest SUV, the Signature edition CX-9. . Read More »
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Ultimate FWD Review
D.Colman Tue Oct 17th, 2017 9:28 AM
You have to love an SUV with a list price of $35,650 that carries the notation "Included" 37 times on its window sticker. Unlike many other manufacturers, such inclusionary generosity is par for the course at Hyundai.. Read More »
2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country T6 AWD Review
D.Colman Thu Oct 5th, 2017 12:07 PM
Volvo's nomenclature can seem mysterious to the uninitiated. Our rather deliciously appointed test car this week is the wagon ("V") version of the all-new "90" series model line. This 90 model line replaces the aging 70 and 80 series cars from Volvo.. Read More »
2017 Lexus RC F 2-DR Coupe Review
D.Colman Tue Oct 3rd, 2017 11:10 AM
Lexus has finally seen the light this year with the introduction of the RC F, an eminently affordable supercar that requires no background check or half million dollar investment for purchase. Just regular car money will do.. Read More »