May 15, 2013
- Strategic Vision has released its annual Total Quality awards, and some of the winners may come as a surprise. To quote Alexander Edwards, President of Strategic Vision, "For the first time in over a decade our comprehensive and complete study of Quality resulted in more domestic winners than imports." That's not to say import brands performed poorly. Volkswagen was voted the best overall corporation in Total Quality for the eighth-straight year, and Audi tied with Lexus for the best...
May 14, 2013
- Choose a domestic-brand car, like the 2013 Dodge Dart or 2013 Ford Fusion, and you might actually be in love. That's what the latest study results from the market-research firm Strategic Vision suggest. The Dart, along with the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Durango, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Chrysler 200 Convertible, Ford Fusion, and...
May 6, 2013
- Highlights* Like every other model in the lineup, the 2013 Subaru Tribeca benefits from the automaker's widely acclaimed all-wheel drive system to stand out from the competition. It also offers good driving dynamics, and a quiet interior that can seat up to seven people. Lowlights* A rather bland exterior, low fuel economy, cramped third-row seating, and non-telescopic steering column are the main drawbacks here. Some also complain about the lack of value. Pricing The 2013 Subaru Tribeca...
- Highlights* Like every other model in the lineup, the 2013 Subaru Tribeca benefits from the automaker's widely acclaimed all-wheel drive system to stand out from the competition. It also offers good driving dynamics, and a quiet interior that can seat up to seven people. Lowlights* A rather bland exterior, low fuel economy, cramped third-row seating, and non-telescopic steering column are the main drawbacks here. Some also complain about the lack of value. Pricing The 2013 Subaru Tribeca...
April 30, 2013
- Pros and Cons* Pros The 2013 Murano Nissan means luxury, comfort, performance and cabin versatility. With standard all-wheel drive it's spacious and well soundproofed. Fully equipped and ever reliable, it's a real worry for competitors. Cons This crossover puts the emphasis more on luxury rather than performance. Imprecise handling and pronounced roll movement disappoint. Cargo space would benefit from improved capacity and the poor rear visibility is compensated, luckily, by the rearview...
April 25, 2013
- With a slew of new large crossovers hitting the market, is a light refresh too subtle to keep Chevy's Traverse in the game?
April 15, 2013
- General Motors and Ford have announced a partnership to develop an all-new generation of advanced, 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions for cars, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks -- both in front- and rear-wheel drive variants. The new agreement will enable both automakers to design, develop, engineer, test, validate, and deliver these new transmissions faster and at lower cost than if each company worked independently. This is the third time in the past decade that GM and Ford have...
April 12, 2013
- There are plenty of reasons to appreciate the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia, but it seems that these crossovers have what it takes to wear the title of America's most American vehicle. And who better to determine this than Washington, DC-based American University? Frank DuBois, an associate professor at this university's Kogod School of Business, has come up with a new model for determining which cars have the highest content of US-sourced labor and parts, and he named the...
April 11, 2013
- Utilitarian utopia We've all heard of the acronym K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) -- heck, I refer to it every day when I write -- but it's not often such a “rule” crosses over into the automotive realm. The more the merrier seems to be very carmaker's motto these days, as they load their vehicles with gadgets and hi-tech bits galore and trick out the exterior with endless design elements. Well, such is not the case with the 2013 Honda Pilot. And I'm so grateful that's the case...
April 8, 2013
- Enthusiasts are all talk. The best-selling cars are rarely the ones that set our hearts aflutter, and that's because while we're ogling glossy pictures of lust-worthy automobiles, Mr. and Mrs. Average American Family are ponying up the money to actually park a new rig in the driveway. For these family-focused buyers, the wants and needs are different than the set of requirements you start listing when you want to go weekend autocrossing. With that in mind, U.S. News and World Report has set...
April 4, 2013
- EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: It's truly surprising how quickly vehicles become dated in today's marketplace. Case in point: this
- Highlights* The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL stands out from the regular, short-wheelbase Santa Fe Sport with a new 60/40-split third-row seat that boosts seating capacity to seven while increasing versatility. It can also tow up to 5,000 pounds. Lowlights* The lone engine option with the Santa Fe XL is a 3.3L V6 which means buyers can't take advantage of the Santa Fe Sport's 264-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder. Pricing and equipment Starting at $29...
March 28, 2013
- Competes with: Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot Looks like: New exterior styling cues tie it more closely with the Dart and Charger Drivetrain: Carryover 290-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 or a 360-hp, 5.7-liter V-8; new eight-speed automatic Hits dealerships: Late 2013...
March 27, 2013
- Competes with: Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango and Chevrolet Traverse Looks like: A Pathfinder. Only a badge and LED taillights differentiate the hybrid version from the regular Pathfinder. Drivetrain: Supercharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine and a 15-kW electric motor paired with a...