Categories: Reviews

Both diesel and hybrid gas/electric cars now offer much better fuel economy than the traditional gas-only option; however, they deliver under different circumstances: hybrids make best use of their electric motors at low speeds around town—indeed, used in a certain way, the Chevy Volt need never use any gas at all—whereas diesels do well over longer distances. It is therefore ironic that in Europe, where driving distances tend to be short and populations highly urbanized, diesels rule, outselling gas-powered cars, while in the USA, with longer driving distances and a highway infrastructure suited to cruising, it is the hybrid which has taken hold. All the major manufacturers offer diesels in Europe with better fuel economy than their hybrids—often more than 50mpg, something few hybrids can aspire to—and now we are starting to see these diesels coming to the US market, amongst them VW, Audi, and BMW with their 335d.a

The average price for unleaded gas has been over three dollars a gallon since late 2010, and, despite recent drops, chances are good that gasoline will remain pricey for the foreseeable future. Because of this, millions of motorists across the country are showing keen interest in vehicles that promise better mileage for each drop of fuel, and automakers have been busy offering models to meet this demand.

Leading the way are gas/electric hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt, which can drive 50+ miles on a single gallon of gas. Backed by aggressive marketing campaigns and government tax credits, it seems clear that hybrids are the way to go for anyone who wants to save money at the pump.

It's a good week to be Tesla. On the heels of announcing its first profit in 10 years of business, the electric luxury carmaker gets a nearly perfect rating on its Model S. After testing the sedan, Consumer Reports slapped a big, old "99 out of 100" on it, a first for an electric vehicle.

The future of car buying is going to get more complicated, at least if you want to keep up with the latest technology. Not only will you need to educate yourself on engine options, standard equipment, safety features, fuel economies, and available packages, you'll need to compare computer systems. Each year, more and more vehicles include advanced infotainment systems that keep you connected to the cloud. Unfortunately, unlike the old car radio head units, which were pretty straightforward to compare and use, each system uses its own hardware and software interface, making them difficult to compare from one brand to the next. Infotainment reviews and awards provide a helpful shortcut toward helping you identify what might work for you. Ford's SYNC system is the latest infotainment system to earn a nod, getting named "Best Traditional-to-Mobile Transition."

In a little less than a year, we Chevy fans are in for a treat of historical proportions. There is a very good chance that we may be privy to witnessing the debut of the single greatest Camaro of all time. Yes, that's right.  Now, naysayers will harken back to the great heydays of the 1960s and pull out names like the original ZL1 or  Z/28, Yenko, or SS/RS. But  if we are going to be honest with ourselves, there is no comparison between a car built 50 years ago and a car built today, at least if you are planning to drive it in anything except perfect conditions. 

Before you decide to claim some sort of modern day bias, just know that your humble author was the proud owner of a 1965 Mustang convertible as well as a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am and speaks from experience. Unless you live in San Diego or have a least one or two other cars, a modern 500 horsepower Camaro supersedes a classic most days of the week. Once we get beyond the '60s, there is almost no other Camaro that even comes close to challenging the new Z/28 for the crown. In fact, the only car that does present a sizable challenge to the Z/28 is its very own stablemate, the mighty ZL1. But before we delve into why the Z/28 could very well overtake its more powerful brethren, let's take a closer look at it, shall we?

Flashy red exteriors may get more face time on magazine covers and auto show floors, but the interior is the more important part of the car. The car is designed to drive, and the interior is where that gets done. You're certain to spend more time sitting in the cockpit, fiddling with the controls, and commuting to and fro than you will staring at the perfectly buffed and waxed exterior sitting in your driveway. 

WardsAuto recently announced its list of top 10 auto interiors among models that are all new or have a thoroughly redesigned interior. While the Japanese steal the show, and luxury automakers have a predictably large presence, there are some surprises on the list, including the inclusion of one of the cheapest subcompacts on the market. 

Since its inception in 1984, the Jeep Cherokee has essentially looked exactly the same for almost its entire life. The tell-tale upright, boxy rectangular 4X4 has exuded nothing but Utilitarian functionality since Journey was all the rage. Even when Jeep officials made a name change from Cherokee to Liberty, they weren't fooling anyone. We know a Cherokee when we see one. Sure, the engines have changed slightly, a few little touch-ups here and there, and Jeep added a few more options over the years, but, if nothing else, Jeep kept it real for the better part of three decades. For its 30th anniversary, however, it seems Jeep wanted to give its second oldest model its first legitimate change of its lifetime.  

First and most obvious is the new Cherokee's redesigned exterior that features a much more aerodynamic, sleeked back look that gives a nod to its bigger Grand Cherokee brethren. Not that it would take too much to look more aerodynamic than the outgoing 90 degree angles of the Liberty, but we digress. The futuristic look will no doubt aggravate and, in some cases, infuriate purists. But, objectively speaking, after eight and a half presidential terms, change is good.

Buying a car, particularly a used model, is a taxing process. Consumer Reports says that it’s getting even harder, thanks to the fact that owners are holding onto their cars longer, resulting in lower supplies. Luckily, Consumer Reports does more than just provide gloomy market forecasts; it makes the buying process a little easier by testing cars and providing recommendations, helping buyers cut through all the market clutter and find what they need. The organization recently released a glimpse at its “Best & Worst Used Cars” list, covering models from 2003 to 2012. The list can serve as a short list of models to shop for or can augment your greater research. 

The Consumer Reports Annual April Auto Issue is filled with all kinds of helpful car-buying advice, reports and hints. Within that handy info is a look at the best and worst cars, new and used, to spend your hard earned money on, which includes the "disappointing dozen," 12 new car models that "fail miserably." 

A decade ago, the ‘Retro Craze’ brought us some funk-tastic cars like the New Beetle, the PT Cruiser, and the Chevy SSR. They were hot at the time, but their popularity lasted about as long as Chumbawamba’s. Fortunately, reintroducing an iconic model is now approached with a lot more care, and the 2014 Chevy Impala and 2014 Jeep Cherokee have been reimagined with an eye on future. So let’s look into the disco ball, and see what the future holds for these two iconic rides.

For anyone who has never laid eyes on a Lamborghini, a small piece of advice:  Find one. Sure, pictures are nice, and stats are fun to read, but there is nothing – repeat, nothing that compares to the visual presence of a Lamborghini in living color. If you happen to get your choice of which Lambo to view as your first raging bull, may we suggest the 2013 Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster. Sure, the name is a mouthful, but trust us there will be plenty of room to fill when your jaw drops.