Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, a 2013 Toyota 4Runner Trail. The 4Runner is one of the few remaining true SUVs. It’s a body-on-frame vehicle with available part-time or full-time four-wheel drive, a powerful standard V6 engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission. Optional third-row seating allows space for seven passengers, but most 4Runner drivers will […]

Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 XLE fwd. Compact SUVs and crossovers like the RAV4 are right-sized. They’re big enough to be practical but small enough to be fuel-efficient and easy to drive and park. In fact, shoppers in the mid-size sedan category should consider a smaller, 5-passenger SUV as well. […]

Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, the 2014 Toyota Tundra 4×4 Limited CrewMax. I’ve had an opportunity to drive several Tundra models lately, including the 2013 Tundra that was the Ride of the Week back in July. But for the 2014 model year, Tundra is redesigned inside and out – although platform and powertrains remain […]

Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week: the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. A small badge that reads “2.0TD” is mounted on the decklid of this compact Chevy sedan. It’s the only indication that this Cruze runs on Europe’s favorite fuel. To the casual observer, the diesel-powered version is identical to it’s gasoline counterpart. Drivers, however, will notice three significant […]

Last Sunday, my wife and children and I were headed to a kids’ birthday party in nearby Decatur. We were riding in the 2013 Buick Encore, a compact crossover vehicle, when an erratic and unpredictable move by another driver very nearly caused a crash. Once our vehicle came to a complete stop and each of my passengers assured me that […]

The latest Ride of the Week is a 2013 Buick Encore Premium FWD. The Encore is a compact 5-passenger crossover that debuted for the 2013 model year. Earlier this year I had an opportunity to get an up-close look at the Encore and take a short drive, but it wasn’t enough exposure to really get a sense of what this […]

The latest Ride of the Week is a 2013 Infiniti JX35 FWD, a three-row luxury crossover that debuted for the 2013 model year. For 2014, the JX35 becomes the QX60 to conform with Infiniti’s revised, Q-based nomenclature. A new hybrid version of the 2014 QX60 also joins the lineup soon. Priced at $42,245 including a $995 destination charge, the JX […]

Here’s a first look at the latest ride of the week, a 2013 Toyota Tundra Crewmax Limited 4×4. The timing on this drive of the second-generation Tundra pickup is perfect. The upcoming 2014 Toyota Tundra is completely redesigned, and this second-generation model provides a baseline for comparison with the redesigned Tundra. In a few weeks, I’ll have a chance to […]

I drive a lot of different cars, so it’s no surprise that friends and family members often ask me about my favorites. With the surprising fleet of new vehicles available today, picking a winner – one that stands out above all the rest – can be a challenge. It’s not enough to choose the quickest or most luxurious and name […]

Here’s a first look at the latest Ride of the Week, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi SEL. The C-MAX is a five-passenger gasoline-electric vehicle with an emphasis on fuel efficiency and practicality. Two versions are available, both pairing a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with electric motors and lithium-ion battery packs. The C-MAX Hybrid is a more conventional hybrid, generating all of […]