Life has changed in so many ways. We no longer think it’s strange when someone wears a face mask, once common only among bank robbers and surgeons. We’ve become accustomed to it, just like we’ve gotten in the habit of buying more things online, even groceries. It’s not merely a matter of avo… Read More ⇒
Q: I have a 2020 Subaru Forester and it has something called a “vehicle descent assist” feature, which I’d love to use, but, according to the manual, it is designed to turn off when the vehicle reaches 25 mph, which it does! This makes no sense to me. Any thoughts or suggestions would be gre… Read More ⇒
Acura’s off to a strong start in 2021 with a pair of appealing new vehicles. The sleek and competitively priced TLX sport sedan already breathed new life into the luxury brand’s struggling car business. A strong new version of Acura’s MDX three-row SUV builds on that, making it look like the… Read More ⇒
Automakers in Japan, where almost 30% of the population is 65 or older, are taking the lead on adapting cars so the nation’s legions of elderly drivers can feel more confident — and be safer — behind the wheel. Read More ⇒
Cadillac Lyriq. Ford Mustang Mach E. Polestar 2. New, premium electric cars are coming and they will inevitably be compared to Tesla, the baseline for battery-powered success. But to sell in volume, these challengers must also outperform the gas siblings across the showroom floor. Read More ⇒
Q: I enjoy reading your weekly column. Apparently, so much, that while cleaning the basement yesterday, I found four issues of the Chicago Tribune from late 2013. I decided to read your column anyway as the problems may still be applicable. Read More ⇒
The Nissan Kicks is an inexpensive vehicle, but it’s not cheap. Updated for 2021, this likable subcompact crossover offers loads of high-end features and plenty of interior space, all at a bargain-basement price. Read More ⇒
2021 Volvo S60 T5 Momentum FWD: Is the less expensive Volvo worth trying? Read More ⇒
Q: What does it mean to buy a certified car? When I got my used 2018 Toyota Camry SE nearly a year ago, they played up the certified car bit, but I found out later that it does not mean anything. I feel this dealer is doing an injustice to their customers. I tried to get that answer from the… Read More ⇒
QuantumScape Corp., a battery startup that counts Volkswagen AG as its largest shareholder, says new data show its batteries can be charged to as much as 80% of full power in 15 minutes, almost twice as fast as a Tesla Model 3. Read More ⇒
Q: I bought new a 2018 Mazda6, 4-cylinder turbo. The specs call for semi-synthetic oil. Everyone who I know with auto expertise thinks I should use full synthetic, even a former engineer friend from GM. The tech personnel at my local dealership, including the manager, tell me to follow the s… Read More ⇒
If you asked automakers in April or May about the outlook for the rest of 2020, answers would have been grim. Read More ⇒
Q: In a recent column you responded to R.W. from Minnetonka, Minn., that he should not need spark plug replacement of the platinum tipped plugs until the manufacturer recommended 60,000 miles. One thing that is often not considered is that over time, the dissimilar metals in the aluminum hea… Read More ⇒
Self-driving technology is coming to a pickup truck near you. Read More ⇒
From Bentley to BMW, Polestar to Porsche, new-car sales have slumped in 2020. Read More ⇒
Q: I have a 2002 Lexus ES300 with 185,000 miles on it. Some time ago, the ABS and brake light came on simultaneously. I took it to my local shop who diagnosed a faulty ABS sensor. They said that I did not really need to replace it since it would cost close to the value of the car and that, e… Read More ⇒
Dodge’s muscular lineup has always struck me as an Avengers comic book. There’s Challenger. And Hellcat. Demon and Charger. So what to make of a full-size SUV joining the team, the 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat? Read More ⇒
Gerry McGovern, chief design officer for Land Rover, knew what he wanted when the time came to redesign the iconic Land Rover Defender, the brand’s oldest vehicle, one whose styling had changed little over the decades. “I wasn’t constantly thinking about the old one and told the team not to … Read More ⇒
Lincoln’s Nautilus midsize luxury SUV gets a new interior and significant connectivity improvements when the 2021 model arrives in dealerships early next year. The Nautilus will also go into production then in China, a growing market for Lincoln. North American versions of the SUV will conti… Read More ⇒
Q: I bought a used 2008 Chevy Trailblazer several years ago. It is the right distance above the ground, and I really like it. When I drive for 30 or 40 minutes the voltage on the dash would go down. It still started normally, so I didn’t worry about it. Then, one day, it didn’t start. The to… Read More ⇒
Q: Purchased a new 2020 Audi A4. Salesperson wanted me to buy a maintenance plan that would cover oil changes for four years. Can my local mechanic handle the changes? Is there a reason I would need to use the dealer? Read More ⇒
There seems to be some impression that the best cars have rock-firm suspensions sure to shatter your vertebrae. Yes, a firm suspension provides exceptional cornering ability, but what works best on racetrack isn’t always what works best in the real world, where clogged arteries and crumbling… Read More ⇒
FedEx and United Parcel Service are running into a shortage of delivery vans, prompting a surprise cost squeeze that’s cutting into profits during a record surge in package volumes. Read More ⇒
A California newspaper is slamming General Motors in a searing editorial urging consumers to give pause before buying a new vehicle from the automaker. Read More ⇒
Not since the early 20th century have there been so many startups in the U.S. auto industry. Read More ⇒
Q: My spouse and I have Subarus and take our cars to the dealership for service. Every time I take my car in for an oil change, they seem to find something else wrong. This multi-point inspection labels all parts/systems as green, yellow or red and encourages you to fix or replace when in th… Read More ⇒
This year, the all-new 2020 Bentley Flying Spur came adorned with a large upright “Flying B” mascot on the hood. It’s a notable offering: This will be the first time that this style of B, which will electronically rise to view from underneath a modern Bentley badge, will be featured on a mod… Read More ⇒
Which pollutes the most: a 1.5-liter Volkswagen Golf or a Ferrari 812 GTS with a 12-cylinder engine? Read More ⇒
Q: I own a 2018 Honda CRV. Imagine my surprise when I went to the garage and found all the windows and the moon roof totally open. My research showed that when you press the fob a certain way, either accidently or on purpose, this happens. Imagine finding your car filled with water or snow. … Read More ⇒
2020 BMW X3 xDrive30E: Fun and fuel sipping? 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 ⇒
