On the surface of things, it’s easy to dismiss Nissan’s claim that the 2012 Maxima is “the 4-door sports car.” Altima-based, with front-wheel drive, less than 300 horsepower, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and big flat front seats, the mid-size Maxima’s spec-sheet reads more like a typical family sedan than a sports car.
Funny thing is, when you shift
When last I reviewed a Fiat 500, my complaints were limited primarily to its dearth of motive force, its lack of rear seat space, and its uncomfortable driving position. The new performance-oriented 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth model resolves the power problem, and by a wide margin.
FIAT invited Vehix to sample the 2012 500 Abarth (emphasis on the “ah”)
Commonly, and often derisively, associated with chrome-encrusted faux luxury cars featuring soft, pillowy rides, Buick has improbably survived an historic General Motors bankruptcy and emerged as one of four GM brands that are still available for 2012. Do you know whom you have to thank for this continued availability of vehicles wearing tri-shield badges? Chinese consumers.
Why Buick Still Exists
Buick
Mazda’s recent advertising asserts that if a car is not worth driving, it is not worth building. Now that the ancient Tribute SUV has been sent packing, Mazda’s new brand positioning is supported across the entire lineup of cars and crossovers, from the iconic MX-5 Miata to the Mazda5 mini-minivan to the three-row CX-9 SUV. Even
Let’s be clear about something right up front. With few exceptions, I think the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan might just be the perfect small crossover SUV. It might not share the bulletproof dependability ratings of a Subaru Forester or a Toyota RAV4, but it gets a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and
When it comes to buying a family vehicle, parents often look for something safe, something roomy, something dependable, something capable in a variety of weather conditions, and something that delivers genuine value. If it also happens to be stylish, well, that’s a bonus.
Top Crash-Test Scores
The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse is one solution to the family transportation conundrum that meets almost
If you were to look up the word “appliance” in a car-themed dictionary, a photograph of the Nissan Sentra would likely be used to illustrate the term, as applied to the automotive market. This is surprising from a company that has typically positioned itself as the exciting Japanese brand, a company that uses “Shift” as a marketing tagline, a
The last Ford Ranger rolled off an assembly line at the end of 2011. The workhorse Ranger, a popular choice for companies and businesses because it was cheap and reliable, joins the Dodge Dakota, Mazda B-Series, Mitsubishi Raider, and Subaru Baja in the big scrapheap in the sky, leaving four compact or midsize trucks on the market. You’ve got the
When last we test drove the redesigned 2012 Ford Focus, our sample was a sedan all decked out in Titanium trim and equipped with a full load of features. At that time, we said the Focus possessed tremendous realized – and unrealized – potential, and our primary complaints centered on the
The Lincoln MKS is the flagship sedan for this luxury division of the Ford Motor Company, a big, comfortable, American car hailing from Chicago, conservatively styled and understated in its expression of luxury. It shares its component set with the Ford Taurus, and that
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