Toyota recently announced it will discontinue its youth-aimed Scion brand, a not so surprising move for one of the world’s top automakers. One of the brand’s newest models, the 2016 Scion iA sedan, will continue as a Toyota model. But it’s not really a Toyota, either. The iA is actually built by Mazda and sold elsewhere as the Mazda2, a […]

My next-door neighbor occasionally flags me down to check out the Ride of the Week. He recently mentioned that he prefers cars that are a bit offbeat, a sentiment I can certainly appreciate. He and I aren’t the only ones. Bruce Weiner, owner of the now-closed-to-the-public Microcar Museum in Madison, Georgia, reportedly turned to weird little cars after becoming bored […]

I opened the passenger-side door of the BMW M4 and flipped the front seat forward. My six-year-old daughter climbed into her booster seat in the back and buckled up, and I jumped in the driver seat and hit the starter. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see her expressionless face as she waited for me to get on the […]

What constitutes a luxury vehicle? Is it an esteemed nameplate with a long history of producing fine automobiles, like Mercedes-Benz or Cadillac? Is it technology like the electric propulsion system of a Tesla? Or do certain features define a luxury vehicle, like a panoramic sunroof or a heated steering wheel? If the last definition is your idea of luxury, you […]

Precision. That’s the word that kept coming to mind as a drove the 2014 Porsche Cayman S. This is a sports car that delivers precise performance in every aspect, from the fit of the well-bolstered seats to the crisp gear changes and glorious mid-mounted six. A colleague said the Cayman S may be “the best sports car at any price,” […]

You’ll hear no complaints from me when the Ride of the Week can make the following claim: under the hood of this little sedan is the most powerful production 4-cylinder engine in the world. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG builds on one of the luxury brands newest models, the compact CLA sedan. It’s another so-called “four-door coupe” that joined the […]

“It doesn’t have the badge.” My car recommendation to a friend flunked his test drive, even though he reported no specific dislikes about his experience behind the wheel. He wanted something swankier, and the budget allowed it. Chalk one up for the Germans. They do make a damn fine automobile. I understand the sentiment. But I also know this: for […]

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 […]