Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda, Reviews

Take off your rose-colored glasses, CRX fans


Okay, so the 2011 Honda CR-Z isn't exactly the modern-day CRX redux that we were all hoping for. Mildly upsetting, yes, but perhaps this disappointment tarnished our initial impression of this newest hybrid offering from Honda. We still have many questions about its form and function, but need to accept the fact that times have changed, Honda's product strategies have been realigned to the times and the CRX shall remain a modern classic - especially the Si. Besides, this little two-seat hybrid isn't really all that bad. Really.

What we have here is an inherently good vehicle that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It only has two seats and its EPA fuel economy numbers are underwhelming. A Ford Fiesta, for example, is more functional, less expensive and gets nearly the same combined fuel economy - at least compared to a manual-equipped CR-Z like our tester.

But don't write off the CR-Z completely. It may be a tough sell when looked at from a big picture perspective, but on its own, it's a pretty good little whip. Follow the jump to find out why.



Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Honda CR-Z

Review: 2011 Honda CR-Z originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Toyota, Reviews, Luxury

Sexagenarians Rejoice! Your Ride Has Arrived


Have you seen the TV commercials for the 2011 Toyota Avalon? One particular 30-second spot sticks out. It's shot through a 1960's filter and features an old-fashioned voiceover, cheesy elevator music and an airline pilot driving the big Toyota sedan on a cloud with a pretty flight attendant in the passenger seat. It's like something the Mad Men crew would create, minus the misogyny.

That Toyota's marketing team produced such a commercial proves they know exactly who buys the Avalon: people who were alive and watching television 50 years ago. Since a "jet-smooth ride" and "quiet cabin" don't set an enthusiast's soul ablaze, we're taking Toyota's hint and getting in the mood for our review of the updated Avalon by donning a cardigan, ordering a scotch and soda and developing a one-sided friendship with Alex Trebec. So let's phrase it in the form of a question: How good is the 2011 Toyota Avalon? Follow the jump to find out.



Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Shunk / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Toyota Avalon

Review: 2011 Toyota Avalon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Minivan/Van, Toyota, Reviews

Family Vacation Tests This Minivan's Mettle


My wife and I? Not minivan people. It isn't for lack of appreciation. After all, we have three kids, so we're acutely aware of the advantages gained from lots of interior space. We get our three rows in a different form factor; one that's admittedly less practical but doesn't make us feel like we're flying the white flag of suburban surrender in the garage.

For our annual summer vacation, we decided to see how more sensible people roll. Our ride for the week was the latest monument to family-friendly practicality: the 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited (stickering at a significant $44,919 as tested). Its mission: schlep the author, his wife, our seven-year-old daughter, four-year-old son, 11-month-old son and the rather daunting pile of related detritus up to Cape Cod for a five-day getaway. Would everything fit easily? Would it actually be pleasant to drive? Would we be beset with secret minivan jealousy forever after? All those answers and more after the jump.



Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited

Review: 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Crossover, Buick, Reviews

The Epitome of Inconspicuous Consumption


There was a time when Buick was the brand of choice for doctors, lawyers and politicians. Its cars were elegant enough to show success without being overt signals of wealth, they were the epitome of inconspicuous consumption. But that was a long, long time ago. Buicks of the last 30 years look like slightly disguised versions of a run-of-the-mill Chevrolet, with a bit more chrome and better seat fabrics.

Buick design went from purposely understated to flat-out dull, and the average age of the brand's buyers shot up to over 70 in the mid-2000s. If it weren't for Buick's success in China, the Trishield would have likely followed Oldsmobile into retirement. But instead of mothballing Buick for good, General Motors decided to finally give the brand what it really needed: new and exciting products. Former Vice Chairman Bob Lutz went as far as to say that Buick's new products were going to compete against Lexus. We were all a bit skeptical, but one vehicle began making believers.

The Buick Enclave took many by surprise when it debuted in early 2007 with attractive styling and a well-appointed cabin. And since production started, the Enclave has proven to be a strong seller. In fact, the Enclave continually beats the combined sales of its crosstown rivals, the Ford Flex and the Lincoln MKT.

Since Lexus itself does not offer a three-row CUV, does the Buick offer a credible alternative to the hush and plush Japanese automaker? We spent a week with a very well appointed Enclave CXL AWD to find out if GM's highest-end large crossover really represents the brand's new mission. Continue reading...



Photos Copyright (C)2010 Chris Shunk / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2010 Buick Enclave CXL AWD

Review: 2010 Buick Enclave CXL AWD originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Truck, Work, Dodge, Reviews, Diesel

A Work Horse You Can Live With


Big Red. Take one look at the massive red monster above and you'll understand why it picked up that nickname moments after arriving at our door. Cliched name aside, we wanted to find out exactly what one can or can't do with a truck like the 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Mega Cab. After all, a four-wheel-drive, diesel-powered behemoth doesn't come cheap, and there has to be ample justification for its existence if you're going to try and make room for one in your jumbo-sized garage. To that end, we used the beast as our daily driver for a week, and while we never once came close to reaching anything near its prodigious capabilities, we did find out what it's like to live with.

Oh, and when we sat down to put our thoughts into words, we also decided to see how many ways we could describe how large this truck really is. Read on to see how we fared.



Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2010 Ram 3500 Laramie Mega Cab

Review: 2010 Ram 3500 Laramie Mega Cab originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Jaguar, Reviews, Luxury

Lightweight Luxury with Style


There's a sect of motoring nihilists out there who would have us all believe there isn't a single thing in the automotive universe that hasn't been done before. It's the "Simpsons did it" meme on methamphetamines, though instead of a yellow animated family, our cast is populated by the likes of Plymouth, Cord, Studebaker, Hudson and any number of other equally innovative yet forgotten brands. Think adaptive headlights are a trick piece of tech? Think again - Willys-Knight employed a third directional headlight as early as 1928 on its 70A, and Citroën made use of similar methodology on cars like the DS and SM way back when.

Few segments seem to have accepted this grim reality quite like the luxury sedan world. Automakers that once strove to create unique products now seem to be operating from the same design template. Line up the profiles of the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the vast majority of the car-buying public would have no idea which car was which. Each vehicle is attractive in its own right, but we wouldn't accuse any of them possessing the same kind of gravitas as, say, a '38 Mercedes-Benz 770.

Which is one of the big reasons we're smitten with the 2011 Jaguar XJL. Whereas the only way you're going to stop traffic with a 7 Series is to put the drivers around you to sleep, the newest interpretation of the stately Jaguar flagship is the kind of beauty that sends jaws clattering across the concrete.



Photos copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Jaguar XJL

Review: 2011 Jaguar XJL originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Lexus, Reviews, Luxury

A Perfect Prius It Is Not


Lexus likes to say that it pursues perfection. Toyota's luxury brand has been playing the hybrid game for a while now with converted gas-powered models like the LS, GS and RX hybrids, and few would argue that these models represent the zenith of what a luxury hybrid can be. For that, Lexus finally decided to build a dedicated hybrid model from the ground up, and the result is the HS 250h.

Being that the brand's parent company builds the Prius, the industry benchmark for hybrids in terms of both fuel efficiency and popularity, Lexus has, on the one hand, a much deeper well of hybrid expertise from which to draw than its competition. On the other hand, it has the toughest act to follow in the third-generation Prius. In the minds of many, a true Lexus hybrid should be everything Toyota's magic bean is and more - it should be the perfect Prius.

Funny thing, the HS 250h is not. Lexus hasn't built an upmarket version of the Prius with the HS 250h. Perhaps realizing that after three generations creating about as perfect a parallel hybrid as there is, Lexus up and decided that its own luxury hybrid should have a different mission. Unfortunately, after a week spent behind the wheel of a 2010 HS 250h Premium, we're not still not sure what that mission is. Follow the jump to learn what else we found confusing about Lexus' latest hybrid.



Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2010 Lexus HS 250h

Review: 2010 Lexus HS 250h originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Crossover, Mini, First Drive, Reviews

Yes, it's a Mini. Yes, it's a crossover. Yes, it makes sense.


Whether we like it or not, even niche automakers are expanding their lineups to appeal to a broader range of shoppers. This may seem like automotive blasphemy, but think back a few years ago when Porsche introduced the Cayenne. We all threw temper tantrums and hugged our 911s, but now we begrudgingly accept that, as far as SUVs go, the Cayenne is pretty damn good and has been the brand's #1 selling model since day one. So in comparison, adding the 2011 Countryman to the Mini lineup isn't nearly as big of a culture shock.

In an effort to show Mini owners and enthusiasts that the Countryman is indeed worthy of a Cooper badge, the automaker brought a few of the new crossovers out on its 2010 Mini Takes The States cross-country road rally. Mini is wholly confident that people will be impressed with what the Countryman has to offer, not only with functionality, but with driving dynamics, as well. We saddled up to find out for ourselves.



Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Mini Countryman

First Drive: 2011 Mini Countryman originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: SUV, Acura, Reviews, Luxury

Overcomes Corporate Snout with Luxury, Technology and Value To Spare


"Any press is good press," so the saying goes. With that in mind, the refreshed 2010 Acura MDX, now bearing the automaker's corporate "beak," should finally be garnering some much-needed attention.

And the Acura MDX deserves the spotlight. Nearing its tenth year of production, the seven-passenger crossover has flown under the radar, always relegated to yesterday's news as the segment rapidly expanded and welcomed interesting new competitors. Seemingly tired of watching the competition steal the conversation, Acura threw on the controversial grille and significantly updated the MDX for 2010.

We spent a week with Acura's big SUV. Pressed into family service, we put nearly 900 miles on our tester, including a one-day, 12-hour journey and more than a few trips with a full load of passengers.

While nearly everyone mentioned its questionable front fascia during the walk-around, we wondered if the Acura's on-road performance and luxury amenities were strong enough to convince us to look the other way. Follow the jump to find out...



Photos copyright (C)2010 Michael Harley / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2010 Acura MDX

Review: 2010 Acura MDX originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Reviews

The Best Mid-Size Base Model Money Can Buy


If you've been keeping up with Autoblog lately, we've had a lot to say about the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. We've tested the top-rung SE and Limited trims out in California. We've even had the chance to sample the upcoming Sonata Hybrid and Turbo versions in the automaker's homeland. But when you get down to brass tacks, the majority of dealership transactions will be made up of the volume GLS model. Sure, a loaded-up $28,000 Sonata Limited is one heck of a nice car, but since 50 percent of all 2011 models sold to date have been fitted to GLS spec, it's important for us to see if Hyundai's swoopy new sedan is worthy of such high praise even without the extra gee-whiz goodies.

With that in mind, we recently invited an Iridescent Silver Blue Pearl (what a mouthful) Sonata GLS into the Autoblog Garage to find out what sort of goodness lies within the bargain bin. Hyundai has always prided itself on being able to offer outstanding overall value in all of its models, but when it comes to the new Sonata, its success extends far beyond the price tag. Follow the jump to learn why.



Photos copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS

Review: 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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