Hyundai Sonata Hits the Right Notes

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 05:09 AM EDT

The previous generation Hyundai Sonata was a fabulous package but plain looking. The redesigned and re-engineered 2011 model is a swan. It can spread its wings as an elegant and emotionally styled car in a mainstream segment not known for rich-looking choices.

But the attraction is not superficial. Sonata has one of the largest interiors in the segment, a direct-injection, four-cylinder engine that gets 35 mpg on the highway, and it has thoroughly modern applications from transmission, to safety and quality. Read more

Overachieving Outlander

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, March 03, 2010, 06:56 AM EST

2010 Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander doesn't redefine automotive expectations, but clever and considerate engineering make it an overachieving family vehicle that is wrapped in top, five-star crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The five- or seven-passenger crossover has been given a midlife touch-up that includes an aggressive facelift from the Lancer line and a more refined interior. There's also a new, top-of-the-line GT model that is performance tuned with full-time all-wheel drive, Sportronic six-speed automatic and V-6. Read more

Suzuki's Largest Midsize Sedan Uses Styling and Sportiness to Stand Out

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 07:04 AM EST

Suzuki's Kizashi

Every few years American Suzuki makes a run at the midsize sedan segment.

In the mid-1990s it was the Esteem, which tried hard but trembled at the competition. And in 2004, there was the Verona, a lightly reworked Daewoo model (from South Korea), which was pushed on its dealers from Suzuki's partnership with General Motors. Verona dried on the vine, and GM and Suzuki are now divorced. Read more

Lancer Sportback Ralliart is the Crossover with Kick

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, December 02, 2009, 06:48 AM EST

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback

The Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback is a hot hatch with a fierce, pavement-eating face and a performance option to back it up.

It is a step-up model from the Lancer sedan and is sold in two trim levels -- the front-wheel-drive GTS and the all-wheel-drive Ralliart, today's test car. Read more

Aston Martin's DBS Volante is a Work of Art on Wheels

By Mark Maynard Friday, November 13, 2009, 05:50 AM EST

Aston Martin DBS Volante

If I owned the Aston Martin DBS Volante, I'd put a garage door in my living room and park it inside at night, so I could spend time just looking at this sensuously skinned convertible.

This is a $300,000 piece of 12-cylinder artwork. It is a statement and it makes one. It is as if designer Marek Reichman and his team captured a living being and encased its soul in aluminum, magnesium alloy and carbon fiber. Read more

Four-Seater Faithful to Porsche's Performance Standards

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 05:31 AM EST

The Panamera

"Now it's my turn," said professional racer Bob Faieta, who was my mentor around the Road America racetrack for the media launch of the 2010 Porsche Panamera.

Faieta was among several past and present Porsche racers, including Hurley Haywood and Patrick Long, who pushed or reined in journalists on a day of hard driving. Read more

Hyundai's Roomy Midsize Might Not Get Recognition It Deserves

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 06:03 AM EDT

Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata is a well-done package of space, accommodations and comfort, but a little too stealth to get the recognition it deserves.

Recently in the parking lot at work, a colleague gave the car a look and said: "Nice looking. What is it?"

When I answered "a Hyundai," the response was: "Really!" Read more

Mini Cooper Clubman Combines Fun and Function

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 05:57 AM EDT

Mini Cooper Clubman

The Mini Cooper is like Cinderella's slipper. A lot of people want to wedge a size-12 lifestyle into this lithesome little four seater, but it just doesn't fit.

Mini came out with a shoehorn in 2008 with its Cooper Clubman, today's test car, which is a stretched version of the hardtop Mini. Read more

Ford's Raptor Pickup Can Hold its Own on Ragged Trails

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 05:16 AM EDT

Ford Raptor

Twenty-two miles in 25 minutes isn't a commute time worth bragging about — but it's a brisk clip behind the wheel of a Ford Raptor on the San Felipe Wash of the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area in San Diego County.

Ford was at the off-road area recently for the media debut of its V-8 powered Raptor SVT, a modified F-150 pickup. Read more

Chevrolet's Compact Crossover has Economy, Engineering to Excel

By Mark Maynard Thursday, September 17, 2009, 09:34 AM EDT

2010 Chevrolet Equinox

As American consumers learn to do more with less, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox crossover makes economic sense.

It has more room than a midsize sedan but comparable pricing and fuel economy. The standard model of Equinox has an EPA fuel economy rating of 32 mpg on the highway from a sophisticated four-cylinder engine. That's one mpg less than the Malibu sedan — and a notable accomplishment for any vehicle that weighs close to two tons with a couple of passengers. Read more

Soul has Spirit: Kia Loads Economy Model with Style and Comfort

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, September 09, 2009, 05:19 AM EDT

Kia Soul

The more they design cars for young people, the better they fit old people. Think Pontiac Aztek, Honda Element, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Scion xB, Suzuki SX4 hatchback and, more recently, the Nissan Cube and the Kia Soul.

Auto marketers cringe when their trend-setting, versatile vehicle could be labeled an old-person's car, but function and comfort have no age limit. Young people will be comfortable in the Soul, and old people will like being seen in a young-person's car. Read more

Prius Not Just a Gas Pincher Anymore

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 05:08 AM EDT

Toyota Prius V

The new Prius has matured from green car poster child to a nicely refined, midsize hatchback that happens to be a gasoline-electric hybrid that is EPA-rated for 51 mpg around town.

Most people know this pop-culture icon as a hybrid and a Toyota, but the redesigned 2010 model may be less of a rebel. Read more

Cadillac Scores Winner With CTS-V

By Mark Maynard Wednesday, June 03, 2009, 10:09 AM EDT

2009 Cadillac CTS

The Cadillac CTS-V is a proud performance statement from General Motors, but after GM received a bridge loan from the government, there was some confusion that the high-performance division was going to be dismantled to avoid the appearance of evil.

Would this be the end of the line for an American-made, world-class, supersport sedan? Read more

Aston Martin Vantage Carries on Luxury Brand's Debonair Reputation

By Mark Maynard Thursday, April 23, 2009, 05:10 AM EDT

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is love at first sight. It is a beautiful car in an era of design that doesn't value beauty.

Evocative styling today is often confused with a bone-in-the-throat reaction to cement brand recognition. Read more

Major Appeal

By Mark Maynard Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 05:52 AM EDT

Mini Cooper

The modern Mini Cooper "is the instigator of optimism," says Mini USA Vice President Jim McDowell. And who couldn't use a little optimism these days?

The Mini has been a phenomenon of marketing and a pretty good little car, finding rave popularity in the past year for its 36 mpg on the highway. Read more

Hyundai Sonata Hits the Right Notes

Overachieving Outlander

Suzuki's Largest Midsize Sedan Uses Styling and Sportiness to Stand Out

Lancer Sportback Ralliart is the Crossover with Kick

Aston Martin's DBS Volante is a Work of Art on Wheels

Four-Seater Faithful to Porsche's Performance Standards

Hyundai's Roomy Midsize Might Not Get Recognition It Deserves

Mini Cooper Clubman Combines Fun and Function

Ford's Raptor Pickup Can Hold its Own on Ragged Trails

Chevrolet's Compact Crossover has Economy, Engineering to Excel

Soul has Spirit: Kia Loads Economy Model with Style and Comfort

Prius Not Just a Gas Pincher Anymore

Cadillac Scores Winner With CTS-V

Aston Martin Vantage Carries on Luxury Brand's Debonair Reputation

Major Appeal

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