First Drives

Not very long ago, automakers didn’t pay too much attention to the subcompact car category. Considered poor cousins without much potential for profit, these little cars rarely had the same research and development budgets as other car types. Needless to say, that was reflected in the overall product quality. If …

When the new SLS AMG coupe arrived on the market a few years ago, it practically became an instant classic. Its shape, inspired by the legendary 300SL Gullwing, immediately put this luxury coupe in a class all by itself. However, this newcomer was more than just style: it was a …

The brand new Chevrolet Sonic is replacing the Aveo, which will hardly be missed. If all that matters to you is whether or not the Sonic is better than its predecessor, the answer is a resounding YES, so you can stop reading immediately. But if you want to know if …

Korea really never ceases to amaze us! For some time, this county’s automakers have been coming out with some very stylish vehicles. While Kia recently surprised us with the introduction of the Optima, Hyundai followed with the launch of the 2012 Veloster, a vehicle that stands out in the automobile …

Think of Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology, unveiled in September 2010, and reduced fuel consumption immediately comes to mind. But while it’s true that when paired with new engines and transmissions it helps substantially lower fuel consumption, that’s not all SKYACTIV technology does. Indeed, its overall design touches on all of the …

We would have liked to introduce you to the new 2012 Camry earlier, but we were under a strict embargo until August 23. In theory, this embargo applied for all of North America, and since our policy at The Car Guide is to respect the publication dates demanded by the …

If you’re among those who still have a negative bias toward this brand, you should know that a lot has happened at Cadillac over the last decade. At one time, this division of GM was recognized as the gold standard for quality, but Cadillac gradually slipped into mediocrity to become …

In the early 80s, Chrysler broke new ground with the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. Over time, these vehicles grew in size, in keeping with trends. Just a few years ago, Mazda unveiled its 5, a modern version of the minivan. Then Kia followed with the Rondo. Then Dodge with …

By putting too much emphasis on affordability, Nissan, creator of such exotic cars as the Cube and the Juke, forgot that a little flash makes all the difference. So here we are, already complaining about the car that, at $11,798, is THE least expensive car on the market. After all, …

A young Camry tries to keep up after being passed by the new Lexus GS that I’m driving down the sinewy roads of the Azusa Canyon near Pasadena, California. One corner was all it took to convince the Camry that keeping pace with the GS was not such a good …