Toyota did such a nice job in reintroducing the Venza that it would not look out of place under the Lexus brand, Toyota’s luxury division. Unlike its predecessors, the 2021 Toyota Venza is no longer exclusively a gas-powered midsize crossover sport utility vehicle. It’s been rebranded solely as a hybrid, one that is bolstered by […]
auto reviews
Honda Ridgeline no average truck
Since its inception 16 years ago, the Honda Ridgeline has always been different, so different that many traditional truck lovers won’t even give it consideration. Its longtime calling card remains this: it’s a truck for people who really don’t like owning a truck. The Ridgeline drives more like an SUV than a traditional truck. That’s […]
Lexus RX 350 popular SUV
Lexus doesn’t make the decision an easy one when it comes to purchasing one of its midsize sport utility vehicles, the RX brand. The 2021 RX 350 test driven here appeals to folks who want a traditional gas-powered luxury SUV. But it’s worth some additional time to consider other versions of the RX. There’s also […]
Hyundai Venue solid new SUV
Sometimes we wonder about the reasoning behind the introduction of new vehicles. The Hyundai Venue is a classic example. Debuting a year ago, the subcompact sport utility vehicle was fairly well received from most auto reviewers. However, Hyundai already had a fine subcompact SUV – the affordable and attractive Kona was unveiled in 2018. Kona […]
2021 Mazda6 solid sedan
Although the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry have been industry standouts for decades, there are more than a half dozen other midsize sedans that demand a good look. One of those to check out is the 2021 Mazda6, which features many enviable qualities, including styling, family-friendly interior space, affordability, plus solid fuel economy and performance. […]
CX-30 joins Mazda lineup
There’s no doubt that Mazda gambled a bit with the CX-30, a compact sport utility vehicle that made its debut a year ago. The perplexing part from our vantage point is this: will the new SUV hinder sales of two other well-known Mazda vehicles – the highly-acclaimed Mazda 3 and the CX-3, a subcompact SUV? […]
4Runner still rugged SUV
The 2021 Toyota 4Runner hasn’t changed much over the past decade – it’s a midsize sport utility vehicle workhorse that remains old school in so many ways. Make no mistake, the 4Runner is still popular among SUV buyers. Last year, sales hit 129,052 and have not dipped below 111,000 the past five years. If owning […]
Lexus GX 460 aging
Although it has added a spindle grille and headlight designs, the truck-like Lexis GX 460 is still an old-school, three-row SUV that remains outdated. The midsize luxury SUV is not all that different from 10 years ago when its last major redesign took place. While the 2021 Lexus GX 460 has remained mostly stagnant, much […]
Cadillac CT5 replaces CTS
When Cadillac decided to replace the aging CTS with a new luxury midsize sedan, the move seemed a sensible one. CTS sales had dipped during its last five full years of production, falling to a low of 6,965 in 2019. A replacement waiting in the wings – why not? However, what took place was the […]
Optima replaced by Kia K5
Bid farewell to the Kia Optima, a successful midsize sedan that enjoyed a shelf life of 19 years. The South Korean automaker not only renamed the Optima, the 2021 Kia K5 comes with a complete redesign that has lots of upside. The Optima had a nice run for nearly two decades. After modest sales the […]