Which pollutes the most: a 1.5-liter Volkswagen Golf or a Ferrari 812 GTS with a 12-cylinder engine? Read More ⇒
There may be no vehicle more perfectly poised at the intersection of Mercedes-Benz’s past and future than the 2021 GLA250 4Matic small SUV. Read More ⇒
Q: I would like to get your opinion on noise pollution on our streets and roads. There was a time in my youth when loud pipes on cycles and vehicles were illegal and given citations for modifying exhaust systems. Today loud noise is getting worse and why should a guy with his family sitting … Read More ⇒
Hardcore off-road race machines that are built to tackle the Mojave and Baja dunes can cost anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million to build. But Jeep, with an eye on a growing market, now builds a desert racer for $44K. Read More ⇒
General Motors showed its much-anticipated battery-powered Hummer pickup in an online video, spearheading the automaker’s renewed push into the electric-vehicle market. Read More ⇒
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Maserati. Remember them? Read More ⇒
Q: A friend of mine never changes the oil in his car. He has gone 70,000 without a change. He claims the oil never wears out. He cites a study of two New York taxi cabs going 40,000 miles each. One had regular oil changes and the other none. Both engines were examined and no wear or tear on … Read More ⇒
2020 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCrew 4x4: Good things in small packages? Read More ⇒
Q: I own a 2005 Corvette in southern Nevada and never drive the car when it’s above 110 F. I am afraid I could damage the car because the coolant temperature can reach 218 to 220 degrees in stop-and-go traffic. I think that is too high but I’m not an expert. At outside temperatures below 100… Read More ⇒
Under the Trump administration, few industries have been singled out for scorn and threats from the White House as much as automakers. But even if President Donald Trump’s re-election bid falls short in November, American car companies have a much bigger constituent to answer to: their own r… Read More ⇒
Nissan is poised to challenge a couple of America’s bestselling vehicles when the new 2021 Rogue compact SUV arrives in dealerships in October. Read More ⇒
Q: I found six cans of STP in my garage that are so old the cans are rusted. Can I dump them in my gas tank once in a while or how do I dispose of them? Read More ⇒
We find ourselves in a dissonant time, in which tradition is too often met with contempt and suspicion, while wealth and achievement are assailed. It’s an age in which corporate CEOs dress with the elan of a college student after a bender, and tattoos, attitude and volubility matter more tha… Read More ⇒
The Jeep light transport vehicle, General Dwight Eisenhower once said, was “one of three decisive weapons the U.S. had during World War II.” Read More ⇒
DETROIT — General Motors’ dealers have a problem — and they say it’s a good one. Read More ⇒
Q: With just over 39,000 miles on the car, the clutch went out and we are going to be paying $1,700 for a new clutch. It is not part of the extra insurance coverage we bought from the dealer at the time of purchase because it is not considered part of the drivetrain. I have driven manual tra… Read More ⇒
California just started the clock on a future that a few years ago would’ve been unthinkable: dealerships full of nothing but zero-emissions cars. Read More ⇒
Q: I have a 2002 Buick Century Limited in excellent condition. I literally bought it two years ago from a little old lady who had only driven it 11,000 miles. It, however, has a vexing problem. The power windows only work occasionally. The rear ones will not go down, the passenger side windo… Read More ⇒
Building a world-class sport sedan is tougher than it looks. Of course, that’s true of everything from making an omelet to setting a broken bone, but a smart, focused student can generally master either of those in less than a decade. Read More ⇒
Like any car buyer, I can be shallow, drawn to a car as much for its unique design as its utility. So I admit to loving the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid’s roof. It looks unlike that of any other car, due to its integrated solar panels that directly charge the batteries with 205 watts o… Read More ⇒
If you’ve been on Mars for the last few years, you may be disoriented when you see what’s happened to America. No, I’m not talking about the coronavirus pandemic and racial tension; I’m talking about Buick’s lineup. Read More ⇒
While Volvo has always been a step ahead of the crowd when it comes to safety, the Swedish carmaker these days is carving a new trail with hybrids and plug-ins, too. Read More ⇒
Q: I read the item (about PDF owner’s manuals) with interest. I was in that situation when I bought my 2019 Honda Accord. I wrote to Honda that, when I am on the road and find I need to refer to the manual for example to understand a warning light, I do not want to have to squint at a PDF on… Read More ⇒
Q: I recently purchased a 2020 Chevy Colorado pickup truck. This is the first vehicle I have owned that came with no gas filler cap. As I live on the east coast of Florida where we have hurricanes and rainy seasons, I am concerned about getting moisture in the fuel tank. The owner’s manual d… Read More ⇒
2020 Lexus GS350: Does GS stand for Grandpa’s Sedan? Read More ⇒
These days, a product’s popularity is often a poor indicator of its quality. Consider McDonald’s hamburgers, which don’t taste remotely like beef, and Starbucks coffee, which always seems burned. Read More ⇒
German automaker Daimler and its American subsidiary Mercedes-Benz USA agreed Monday to settle alleged violations of U.S. and California emission rules totaling $1.5 billion in penalties and other costs, according to an agreement filed in federal court. Read More ⇒
Q: I have had two flat tires this summer. Both from nails. One was a roofing nail and the other was a 2 3/4-inch spike. In both cases only the head of the nail was showing on the tread. How does a nail lying horizontal on the pavement re-position itself, so the point drives itself into the t… Read More ⇒
When I tell people I recently drove the new Polestar 2, the first question I get is a variation of “What’s a Polestar? Never heard of it.” Read More ⇒
DETROIT —The big question for many people wondering about the upcoming Jeep Grand Wagoneer has involved wood. Read More ⇒
There are moments in the automotive industry when a new vehicle arrives that changes everything. The Ford Mustang created the market for small, sporty coupes. Chrysler’s minivans proved there was a better way to build a station wagon. And Jeep created the SUV market. Read More ⇒
Q: I have a 2013 Honda Accord Sport sedan. During my last car service it was recommended that I get a CV half shaft replacement. The repair cost $1,173.60. I am having no problems with my car. I am concerned that the dealer is trying to get me to do a repair that is not needed. Read More ⇒
It’s early, but there are signs Tesla Inc.’s Model 3 could be as exceptional in the used market as it has been in the new-car world. Read More ⇒
The aviation industry is under pressure to do something about the immense amount of carbon emissions its engines generate. The output is accelerating many times faster than from sectors such as energy and agriculture, contributing to global warming. Read More ⇒
DETROIT — COVID-19 and the global downturn have hit car sales hard, but the pandemic isn’t the only thing on the minds of new car buyers. Read More ⇒
Q: You always say to read the book that spends most of its life in the glove compartment. I do my own basic maintenance on my vehicles and have always relied on the owner’s manual. I recently purchased a 2019 Chrysler 300 from a dealer. The only book in the glove box was a very limited manua… Read More ⇒
Many of us grew up watching hood ornaments bob somewhere near the horizon on the fronts of our parents’ cars. The winged motometer on my dad’s Model T and chrome star on my grandma’s Mercedes were two of my favorites. For decades, hood ornaments identified the beginning of a car and the heig… Read More ⇒
DETROIT — Big vehicles don’t make me nervous. I grew up with them. My father, an engineer, drove a succession of pickups through fields and forests developing agricultural and construction equipment. My mother, 5 feet, 4 inches in heels, was decades ahead of auto industry trends, driving a S… Read More ⇒
Q: I hit a new traffic paint line and got a boatload of paint under my wheel wells, not just spatter but a lot caked on about ⅛ inch thick, besides some spatter. I tried Goof Off paint remover and regular paint and varnish remover for wood and plastics. Neither one did anything. Any ideas? Read More ⇒
The 2021 Venza hybrid SUV delivers Lexus style at Toyota prices. That’s no coincidence. Toyota only uses the name “Venza” in North America, where it was used on another attractive SUV from 2008-15. Read More ⇒
Ford Motor Co. digital engineer Paula Wiebelhaus takes Fluffy outside for walks in the yard. Her cats hide from him. He has his own spot in a corner of the bedroom where after a run, he plugs into his charger to reenergize. Read More ⇒
Q: I have a 2002 21-foot motorhome on a 3500 Chevrolet frame with a 5.7 engine. It now has 95,000 miles. At about 85,000 miles, the engine started losing power at driving speed. At first the engine would keep running but only at about 10 mph. After it sat overnight it would run fine. Now the… Read More ⇒
General Motors unveiled a long-awaited Cadillac electric vehicle that will offer Tesla-like range, though prospective buyers will need to be patient. Read More ⇒
Odds are you’re working from home now, and possibly for the rest of your career. Read More ⇒
Q: I have a 2011 Mazda Tribute and wanted to change the fuel filter. The manual states that it is in the gas tank and does not need to be changed. I find this strange, so I asked my local mechanic if he knew about this. He looked up gas filters for that model at his supply store and it shows… Read More ⇒
Jennifer Stockburger, a mother of two children, worries about the safety of her 16-year-old son who just started driving with a learner’s permit. Read More ⇒
Q: I have two vehicles in Arizona that I had to leave there on March 18. I have not been able to get them due to the virus. When I am able to get them, what type of maintenance should I have done to them? They have been garaged with trickle chargers. Should I have the oil changed and all flu… Read More ⇒
Amid the battle between blue states and red states, between those who wear a mask and those who refuse, it seems that our country is increasingly polarized. Heck, we can’t even decide if a beer is less filling or tastes great. Read More ⇒
My notes on driving the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer are full of exclamation points. That’s not always a good thing. Observations of previous vehicles have included ‘Terrible headroom!’ and ‘Useless touchpad!’ Read More ⇒
It’s not unusual for luxury brands to experience an image slump. Sometimes they recover, like Gucci has, while others, such as Bill Blass, Halston and Anne Klein, never do. Read More ⇒