Reviews


First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna tries to make the minivan cool

The Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan minivans revolutionized family transportation when they were introduced back in 1983. Nevermind that Volkswagon had been selling people-friendly vans for decades, it was Chrysler's "magic wagons" that came to define the minivan for Americans. With decent car-based road manners, easy-access sliding doors and clever packaging, minivans quickly replaced the station wagon as our favored Wally World-bound chariots. Minivan sales peaked at more than 1 million sales in 2002, but the following year, customers ... Read more →

First Drive: 2010 Lexus LS460 Sport Package is F-ing with perfection

When Lexus introduced the IS F, enthusiasts were suitably skeptical about the automaker's attempt to go head-to-head with the Germans. After all, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have specialized in ...

Quick Spin: Mitsubishi i is a good car with a bad name

We're looking at a long, nearly straight, almost totally traffic-free downhill. We'd climbed up to the base of the Palm Springs to Idyllwild Ariel Tramway. Our goal was to see how fast ...

Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport is a lot of car for a lot of coin

Front-wheel drive is a funny thing. When originally introduced during the Thirties in the Cord 810 (then later in the awesome supercharged 812) and the Citroën Traction Avant, FWD was hailed ...

First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson a green machine with few compromises

Little more than ten years ago, the meat and potatoes of the automotive universe were C and D segment sedans. Think Corolla and Camry; Focus, Fusion and (old) Taurus; Civic and Accord. But then, ...

First Drive: 2010 Lexus GX 460 sticks to its trucky roots 9 days ago on Autoblog

The 2002 Lexus GX 470 was little more than a Toyota 4Runner with a healthy dollop of Lexus luxury on top, but at the time, it didn't have to be anything more than that. It seemed just about every automaker that had an SUV in the stable was introducing an uplevel version to capitalize on American ...

Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS is up for the Challenge 11 days ago on Autoblog

The 2010 Kizashi will change the way you look at Suzuki. To put it bluntly, the Kizashi is the strongest evidence yet that Suzuki's automotive division is no longer operating on autopilot in the States. And what's more, the brand is showing serious confidence. Consider the vehicles against which ...

Quick Spin: 2011 Chevrolet Volt charges toward production 18 days ago on Autoblog

Three years ago this December we first walked into a Manhattan conference room for a background briefing on a new concept being developed by General Motors for the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. Earlier that year, the release of a documentary called Who Killed the Electric Car made the then largest ...

Review: 2009 Audi A8L - requiem for a heavyweight 23 days ago on Autoblog

We come not to bury the A8L, but to praise it. Next week the newest generation of Audi's aluminum spaceframe panzer will greet the world in Miami, and we expect it to be a leap through a wormhole compared to today's car. After a week with the current model at the end of its six-year run, we ...

Quick Spin: Nissan Leaf the tip of mass market EV spear 24 days ago on Autoblog

Nissan has gone into a back room, pulled out its Ouija board and decided that the time is right to make a huge bet. The Japanese automaker, along with its partner Renault, wants to be the world leader in pure electric vehicles. Even though you can go buy an Altima hybrid right now, the company ...

Review: 2009 Infiniti G37X Sport makes no excuses 24 days ago on Autoblog

"Being close" matters with horseshoes, hand grenades and misguided arithmetic. In past years, the Infiniti G sedan has been close, but compared to the Kaiser of the Klasse, BMW's 3 Series, the G35 was near the stake, but not a ringer. "Almost as good," we'd all nod, "but its biggest strength is ...

First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal prototype looks to be a good sport 25 days ago on Autoblog

There's an odd bit of historical deja vu at work here. Back in the late '60s and early '70s, General Motors wanted to shift a few sporty-ish four-cylinder models from its Opel division into America, so they turned to their Buick dealers. This didn't work out exactly as planned – ...

First Drive: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT is a CUV we can live with 28 days ago on Autoblog

Mitsubishi presented its best and brightest rides for us to drive over the course of an eight-hour event in the parched desert oasis of Palm Springs, CA. Everything from a tuned, 290-hp Lancer Sportback Ralliart to an electric i MiEV. And drive them we did. We rocketed up winding mountain roads ...

Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 six-speed reveals its true character 1 month ago on Autoblog

This isn't our first sampling of the reborn Dodge Challenger. We've driven the SE, R/T and SRT8 variants before. However, this time it's different. We've secured a Challenger SRT-8 with a six-speed manual transmission – and it's a whole different breed of bull. The six-speed-equipped ...

First Drive: SMS 570X makes 700 hp, gobs more joy 1 month ago on Autoblog

During the course of a wide-ranging, more than two-hour long conversation, we asked racing legend, aftermarket impresario and SMS namesake Steve Saleen what's the single most important thing he wants Autoblog readers to know about not only his new 700-horsepower 570X, but about SMS as a whole. ...

First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is technologically impressive... but to what end? 1 month ago on Autoblog

BMW's pitch on how great the X6 ActiveHybrid is goes like this: it's the world's most powerful hybrid vehicle, fuel consumption is reduced about 20 percent compared to a similar vehicle without a hybrid drivetrain, and no matter what speed you're going, the incredibly complicated powertrain is ...

Review: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante makes getting away with it half all the fun 1 month ago on Autoblog

Let's say a clandestine organization asked you, for your country, to "take care of" an enemy of the state at tonight's performance of Tosca at The Met. And let's say this organization gave you the choice of any Aston Martin in which to conduct the evening. Which Aston would you choose? If you ...

First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG straightens up and flies right 1 month ago on Autoblog

On one hand, it may seem like an odd time for Mercedes to be jumping back into the ultra-premium end of the car market, particularly in light of its recent less-than-standouts efforts (think: McLaren SLR and the salesproof Maybach). But this isn't the case with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. In ...

First Drive: 2011 Kia Sorento finally crosses over 1 month ago on Autoblog

Sometimes it's hard to remember what you did just yesterday, but think back to 2003 when Kia first introduced the Sorento mid-size SUV. At the time, the market was dominated by body-on-frame vehicles with real honest-to-goodness four-wheel-drive systems and rugged part-time transfer cases. The ...

First Drive: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour goes down the road nicely... but is that enough? 1 month ago on Autoblog

We hadn't been parked but a minute or two when it happened. After about a half an hour wringing out our test subject on what few curvy stretches of road suburban Detroit had to offer, we opportunistically pulled into a roadside fruit stand to snap a few photos before our ride got any dirtier. It ...

First Drive: 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo is Stuttgart's quickest car yet 1 month ago on Autoblog

It's faster to 60 mph than a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 or Ferrari Enzo. Porsche's fastest offerings, including the Carrera GT, GT2 and road-going 911 GT1 "Strassenversion" will only see its LED tail lamps during a typical sprint. Only the unlikely – make that incomprehensible – ...

Review: 2010 Kia Forte continues string of hits from South Korea 1 month ago on Autoblog

It's not that there was much wrong with the Forte's predecessor. In fact, the last time we drove a Kia Spectra, we walked away wondering if anything more might be overkill. The Spectra was good but tended to blend in with a crowd, and Kia's not into playing the role of wallflower anymore. In ...

First Drive: 2010 Dodge Ram HD comes strong with more models, configurations and classier duds 1 month ago on Autoblog

Back in 1993, truck drivers had no choice but to depend on domestic automakers for work-ready pickups, and only Ford and General Motors offered competitive haulers. That all changed a year later when Dodge set the pickup truck market on its leaf springs with the introduction of its all-new Ram. ...

First Drive: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost has soul of a sports sedan, controversial looks 1 month ago on Autoblog

In 1998, Lincoln's overall sales made it the number one luxury brand in America. The Navigator, Continental and Town Car weren't exactly world beaters – let alone an enthusiast's cup of Darjeeling, but the typical Lincoln buyer was getting precisely what he or she expected: soft, cozy, ...

Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL aims upmarket and almost hits target 1 month ago on Autoblog

With great fanfare, General Motors has introduced the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, a vehicle with which the automaker hopes to jump-start a sweeping brand transformation for the tired Tri-Shield. For Buick to be a success in GM's post-bailout, post-bankruptcy era, the brand must dump its well-deserved ...

First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA is wicked and this way comes 1 month ago on Autoblog

It's taken nearly four days to wrap my head around the 2011 Lexus LFA, and if I'm honest, I'm still not halfway there. The combination of a decade-long gestation, a half dozen prototypes comprised of two different materials, a high displacement V10 that cuts fuel at 9,500 RPM and a $375,000 ...

Review: 1970 Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger causes smiles lasting longer than four hours 1 month ago on Autoblog

Before we begin, we have to state up front that we've rarely – if ever – had more fun with a car than we had with the Hotchkis E-Max Challenger. And the loud yellow Dodge was in our possession for maybe five hours. Why are we cutting to the chase like this? Why not structure this ...

Review: Ducati Sport 1000 lives up to its heritage 1 month ago on Autoblog

Ducati. It's a name full of racing heritage and tradition, but it hasn't always been that way. The company's roots are much more humble, first by selling radio equipment before moving into the world of two wheels with a quaint motorized bicycle dubbed the Cucciolo – meaning "puppy" in ...

Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang is the real movie deal 2 months ago on Autoblog

H. B. Halicki was a used car salesman who wanted to make a movie. With a little money, one big idea, and a 1971 Mustang Mach 1, he made Gone in 60 Seconds. And in that particular way that movies, especially '70s movies, can be, it wasn't all that good, but it was awesome. Fast forward to Michael ...

First Drive: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi drives brand out of basement, into fast lane 2 months ago on Autoblog

Shut your eyes and say the word "Suzuki" out loud. Unless you're a moto-head or one of those rare Geo Metro fanatics (they exist, trust us), the image that springs to mind isn't very nice. Odds are that the car your subconscious conjures is tiny, cheap and bizarre. It's probably named something ...

First Drive: 2010 Volkswagen Golf evolves the German hatchback 2 months ago on Autoblog

Outside of North America, the Golf has been Volkswagen's bread-and-butter model for more than three decades, making the diminutive hatch one of the best selling global vehicles since its mid-Seventies launch as the Beetle's successor. But in the States, it's a totally different story. Except for ...

Quick Spin: 2010 Nissan Altima a well-mannered sedan without surprises 2 months ago on Autoblog

As the company's number-one global volume vehicle, the Altima is instrumental in keeping the lights on at Nissan HQ. Now in its fourth-generation (last redesigned for the 2007 model year), the made-in-the-USA model is sold in both sedan and coupe variants with a choice of two gasoline engines or ...

Review: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox sets the tone for New GM 2 months ago on Autoblog

It's fitting that General Motors has a vehicle named after an astronomical phenomenon that marks the seasons. The first Equinox came from the "old" GM during the autumn of its long slide. Since then, the General has emerged from a government-funded chrysalis, and the Equinox has followed suit ...

Quick Spin: Superformance GT40 MkI is vehicular sashimi, raw and delicious 2 months ago on Autoblog

As much as we enjoy piloting modern machinery, there's something special about vintage vehicles, and that something is the pure, unvarnished connection between man and machine. But it's not always good. Things get dicey when the driving experience is a little too vintage. Despite our supreme ...

Review: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost turns it up to 11 2 months ago on Autoblog

We were headed on a road trip, because that's what you do when the summer draws to a close and something as gigantic as the Ford Flex rolls into your driveway. Destination: Brooklyn. Five miles into the journey, the Sony audio system belts out the Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," and the ...

First Drive: 2010 Volkswagen GTI reminds us why we like hot hatches so much 2 months ago on Autoblog

Performance Icon. That two-word phrase is bandied about so often there's hardly any meaning left in its 15 letters. After all, if a Porsche 911 is rightly referred to as a performance icon, can we call a Honda Civic Si the same? And are we talking any old 911/Civic Si, or just certain years and ...








Autoblog Podcast #157: Mike Levine trucks along with us.

Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com joins Chris, Sam, and Dan this week and gets a chance to talk about cars, too! 

 
 

Subscribe via: iTunes | RSS


Featured Galleries

  • Spy Shots: 2011 Lincoln MKX
  • Spy Shots: 2011 Ford Edge
  • MINI Beachcomber concept
  • Gold Mercedes-Benz SLS for Dubai Motor Show
  • 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
  • 2011 Audi A1 Graffiti Teasers
  • Reader Spy: SRT-prepped Dodge Journey R/T
  • 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is
  • Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta
  • 2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X
  • First Drive: 2010 Lexus GX460
  • Hennessey Performance Venom GT in the shop
AOL Autos

Find Your Next Car

Autoblog Video


Autoblog Green

BloggingStocks

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum