Friday, 11 October 2024
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Remember the wagon? Long ago, for decades, it was the preferred vehicle we used to hop into when people hit the road with family and friends.

Enter the era of SUVs, and the wagons have mostly disappeared as families flocked to the new dominant vehicle type on today’s roadways.

But fear not, wagon lovers, you still have a few choices if you’d like to maintain solid cargo space and a roomy interior, but don’t want to follow the trend of SUV ownership.

The clear leader in the world of wagons today is the Subaru Outback, which is so successful it’s the leading seller for Subaru in the U.S.; sales actually grew by 10 percent in 2023 to reach 161,814 total Outbacks sold. And numbers are trending to grow yet again in 2024.

Additional Info

  • Vehicle 2024 Subaru Outback
  • Price as tested $44,231 (starts at $30K) 
  • Best feature Wagon setup is strong alternative to SUVs, off-road ability
  • Rating 4 out of five stars   
  • Who will want this vehicle? Anyone who wants strong cargo space and off-road credentials, but seeks alternatives to traditional SUVs
Posted On Sunday, 08 September 2024 02:37 Written by
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With more automotive brands backing out of the sedan segment each year, the ones who are sticking it out continue to wage a tough battle for market share, fighting among each other for less total percentage each year.

Once the go-to for families, sedans are now being pushed aside in favor of SUVs and trucks, but they’re not quite dead yet.

Among the handful of brands still competing in the sedan battle is Nissan, whose offerings include the midsize Altima sedan — which goes head-on against giants such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry and has been sold for more than 30 years.

After a makeover for 2023 when its sixth generation was unveiled, the Altima carries over mostly unchanged for the 2024 model year.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2024 Nissan Altima SL, and I’m back with a full report on my experience and how the Altima holds up against other midsize sedans.

Additional Info

  • Vehicle 2024 Nissan Altima
  • Price as tested $37,010 (starts around $26K) 
  • Best feature Smooth ride, strong fuel mileage, roomy interior
  • Rating 3.5 out of five stars   
  • Who will want this vehicle? Midsize sedan buyers seeking excellent fuel mileage and a solid overall sedan experience
Posted On Sunday, 23 June 2024 18:40 Written by
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It’s an interesting time for the world of electric vehicles.

Story after story talks about how the EV revolution is falling short and demand isn’t living up to expectations.

But don’t tell that to Hyundai, who are rising to become perhaps the biggest star in the EV field behind Tesla, which had a bit of a head start on the legacy automakers.

The Ioniq 6 is one of Hyundai’s stronger EV offerings, and is the sedan version of their Ioniq 5 crossover. Its most direct competitor is the Tesla Model 3, but it is also high-end enough to take on upscale vehicles like the BMW i4 and the Polestar 2.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of an Ioniq 6, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up in today’s EV landscape.

Additional Info

  • Vehicle Hyundai Ioniq 6  
  • Price as tested $46,825 
  • Best feature Tremendous EV range; strong technology, unique design
  • Rating 4.5 out of five stars   
  • Who will want this vehicle? Car buyers seeking an EV sedan that will cure their range anxiety, while offering strong style, power and tech
Posted On Thursday, 04 April 2024 01:35 Written by
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The compact car segment continues to be a shrinking one, so it’s curious to watch the remaining competitors and see how they are adapting to remain competitive.

One brand that has remained steady in the segment is Mazda, which has offered its compact Mazda3 option for more than 20 years.

This fun little ride comes in both sedan and hatchback versions for 2024.

I tested the 2024 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Hatchback with all-wheel drive, and it is one of the most enjoyable options in the segment in terms of pure drive quality. It also offers a surprisingly upscale interior design that will make you question whether it’s competing with non-luxury compacts, or with more upscale luxury models.

One thing’s for sure: You won’t confuse the Mazda3 with a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, as it looks and drives like nothing else on the road.

Read on for a full report on how the 2024 Mazda3 holds up in the compact car segment.

Additional Info

  • Vehicle 2024 Mazda3
  • Price as tested $38,265 (starts around $25K) 
  • Best feature Mazda drive quality, upscale interior   
  • Rating 4 out of five stars   
  • Who will want this vehicle? Small car buyers looking for a classy and fun-to-drive ride
Posted On Tuesday, 26 March 2024 08:37 Written by
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The Genesis brand, which has made major moves in the luxury car world for the past half-decade or so, is making a heavy move toward EVs.

They see the future is electric, and already offer multiple EV options, both on the SUV and sedan side of the business.

When it comes to the Genesis sedan lineup, the vehicle that began this transition is the midsize G80 sedan. Genesis first launched an Electrified G80 variant for the 2023 model, which carries over to 2024. What’s interesting about this particular model is there isn’t some radical new design offered, instead they are keeping the standard G80’s looks essentially intact, and swapping in electric power. 

Read on for a breakdown of how well the Electrified G80 holds up in the growing luxury EV market.

Additional Info

  • Vehicle Genesis Electrified G80
  • Price as tested $81,525
  • Best feature Bold and classy looks, solid range, driving experience   
  • Rating 4.5 out of five stars   
  • Who will want this vehicle? Luxury car buyers seeking one of the best EV sedans for sale today 
Posted On Saturday, 02 March 2024 01:49 Written by
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