2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Review – A Steady Performer in the Snow

Posted by Michael Waterman on April 13th, 2012

In skiing, a blizzard is a great way to separate the professionals from the pretenders. The sudden snow-blindness requires you to rely on instinct and feel more than a visual view. Great skiers thrive; marginal skiers head for the lodge to wait out the storm.

A blizzard is also a great way to separate the best all-wheel drive crossovers from the

READ MORE

2012 Audi A6 Rises to the Top with Latest Redesign

Posted by Christian Wardlaw on April 12th, 2012

Natascha McElhone and her gorgeous cheekbones are one great reason to watch “Ronin,” a 1998 John Frankenheimer movie featuring plenty of backstabbing and double-crossing and Irish dialect, but the better reason is to witness some of the most incredible car chase scenes ever filmed. Among them, a first-generation Audi S8 is careening around Europe at the hands of actor Skipp

READ MORE

Dear Jeep: Please Build the J-12 Concept

Posted by Michael Waterman on April 11th, 2012

I take photos of lots of cars and share them with friends and our Vehix audience. Some get strong reactions while others merit a been-there-done-that-boredom-drenched “meh.”

The recently unveiled Jeep J-12 Concept has inspired more passionate comments than I would have ever expected.

Phrases like “That is awesome” and “When can I buy the Jeep truck” are common refrains.

Here’s the sad part:

READ MORE

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Review – 26 MPG Over 900-Mile Road Trip

Posted by Michael Waterman on April 9th, 2012

The Dodge Grand Caravan minivan is easily one of the best options for a long road trip. With comfortable seating for seven, a rear-entertainment system, and enough space behind the rear seats to stow gear for a five-day jaunt to Southern Utah, we loaded up the car and headed for Moab for an annual spring break adventure.

We’ve reviewed the 2012

READ MORE

2012 Jeep Liberty Review – No Wrangler But Still Has Guts

Posted by Alex Callister on April 5th, 2012

Few things are better than watching the sun come up in the morning, especially with a few cups of coffee in the company of a friend while you’re off-roading in the 2012 Jeep Liberty Sport.

In order to partake in this early morning vision, a six a.m. wake-up call and 45-minute drive to Stansbury Island, in the Great Salt Lake

READ MORE

2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 Review – Great to Drive, But Light on Luxury

Posted by Christian Wardlaw on April 3rd, 2012

In a world where luxury cars are getting smaller and mainstream cars are getting more sophisticated, and in which competing models drive so much alike that choosing one often boils down to a preference in aesthetics, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a refreshing departure from the norm.

Read: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review

“Value” is Relative

A luxury car in name and

READ MORE

2012 Subaru Impreza Goes Mainstream to Appeal to Main Street

Posted by Christian Wardlaw on April 2nd, 2012

As luck would have it, the only big winter storm to strike Southern California with anything resembling a punch arrived during the week that I had the keys to a 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Limited Sedan. Redesigned for 2012, the Impreza is lighter and more fuel-efficient than the car it replaces, and it possesses upscale style inside and out.

READ MORE

Review: 2012 Kia Rio SX 5-Door Delivers Big Impressions In a Small Package

Posted by Thom Blackett on March 29th, 2012

“The Power to Surprise.”

That marketing line has been Kia’s way of telling car buyers that the Korean brand’s once-questionable lineup has been transformed, suggesting that shoppers who venture into a showroom will find more than they bargained for.

Problem is, after experiencing the premium style of the current Sorrento SUV, the torque-happy response of the READ MORE

First Drive – 2013 Acura RDX Built for Couples Without Kids

Posted by Michael Waterman on March 28th, 2012

Scottsdale, Arizona — The Acura RDX first arrived in showrooms back in 2006. The latest version of this compact crossover enjoys a redesign and some significant changes for 2013. Highlights include a new V6 engine, an improved cabin, slightly larger dimensions and a softer, but still responsive ride. Is that enough to persuade shoppers to choose Acura in the crowded

READ MORE

Mini Celebrates 10 Years in the USA

Posted by Michael Waterman on March 21st, 2012

Has it really been 10 years since Mini USA launched in the United States? Indeed it has, and the quirky sub-brand of BMW continues to turn heads and evoke passion in owners who like to think small.

Although Mini launched with a single model (the Mini Hardtop), today’s Mini buyers can choose from six different models:

The Mini Hardtop is the

READ MORE