2014 Acura RLX Advance: A showpiece that doesn’t show off

May 11, 2013

It is a car beautiful in its simplicity and finish, crowned with jewel-like headlamps that practically sparkle. Its elegantly done interior speaks to luxury without …

Infiniti M37xS: Thinking too much, in a car that tries too hard

May 4, 2013

Thinking can ruin a good ride, which is what happened to me during my week with the 2013 Infiniti M37xS sedan. I was distracted by …

Jaguar’s four-cylinder XF offers easy price, plush ride

April 27, 2013

Calling a $47,000 car cheap might seem crass. But it’s a rare day to find a Jaguar for less than $50,000, especially one that looks …

Detroit automakers seen gaining U.S. market share

May 1, 2013

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — For the first time in two decades, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler pulled off a sweep in the first three months of …

A great car for a one-track mind

April 20, 2013

BMW’s marketers brag that their company’s new M5 sports sedan was “developed on the racetrack for everyday use.” They are being cheeky. Everyday streets are …

2013 Kia Rio SX: The truth of small things

April 13, 2013

NEW YORK — Tom Libby is a numbers guy, the senior forecasting analyst for R.L. Polk & Co., a research and marketing firm for the …

2013 Hyundai Sonata: Would higher price make it a better car?

April 6, 2013

NEW YORK — The concept of luxury historically has resided in notions of exclusivity. The more exclusive something is the more desirable it becomes. Exclusivity, …

2013 Honda Civic EX: A race against expectations

March 30, 2013

GENEVA — I’m leaving Geneva’s 83rd International Motor Show with the usual frustration, trying to reconcile a global automobile industry that enthusiastically supports polar-opposite markets …

In electronics, some cars are more equal than others

March 23, 2013

GENEVA — The very rich get richer. For those who prefer to drive themselves, there are the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta …

The joy of German automotive engineering — and diesel-powered

March 16, 2013

The joy of German automotive engineering is the toy of it all. That’s not a misprint. I meant t-o-y. Consider the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI …

Decisions, decisions with Subaru and Mini: All-road vs. all cute

March 9, 2013

There is no apparent end to the spousal debate over replacing one of two aging workhorses in our family fleet. But a freak snowstorm and …

2013 Honda Accord Coupe: Going for sporty over sedan

March 2, 2013

Honda kept it simple for its 2013 Accord — a difficult task in its risk-nullifying effort to please everybody. Consider, for example, the coupe version …

Subaru Forester: An easy-to-love station wagon

February 23, 2013

Those of us who love station wagons, and we are many, will love the all-new-for-2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Premium. Ignore Subaru’s marketing attempts to portray …

Range Rover LR2: From lofty heights, a nod to economy

February 16, 2013

MONTREAL — Four cylinders have replaced six in the new Land Rover Range Rover LR2 sport-utility vehicle. That might seem a mistake in anything wearing …

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek: A worthy snow job

February 9, 2013

An objective of good marketing is to yield satisfaction in the face of apparent contradiction. In that regard, the people at Subaru hope you will …

Valley car lots see boost in sales

January 28, 2013

YAKIMA, Wash. — Before the Great Recession took hold, McKenna Motors in Union Gap sold about 50 cars a month. When the economy hit rock …

2013 Audi S5 Quattro: Compromise never felt so powerful

January 26, 2013

NEW YORK — It was a joyful drive, nearly 300 miles from my Virginia home to this throbbing city. It was an instructive drive, too. …

It’s the year of the truck

January 21, 2013

DETROIT — In the waning days of 2012, car dealer Gordon Stewart’s Chevrolet showrooms were jammed with tire-kickers he hadn’t seen in a while: truck …

His 2013 Fusion Titanium has many bright spots, one not so

January 19, 2013

Little problems can be a big deal. Consider the 2013 Ford Fusion Titanium midsize family sedan. It is a beautiful car, often likened to an …

Toyota retakes global auto sales crown from GM

January 15, 2013

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota has once again dethroned General Motors as the world’s top-selling automaker. The Japanese company sold 9.7 million cars and trucks worldwide …

2013 Ford Focus ST: Much more than just enough for city

January 12, 2013

NEW YORK — I needed a car that could maneuver through the madness of New York’s holiday traffic. There were three choices at home in …

Carmakers let app developers drive innovation

January 11, 2013

LAS VEGAS — Googling the nearest gas station, sending email from your smartphone or booking a table at a restaurant: Those are all things you …

2013 Malibu: GM turns an also-ran into a winner

January 5, 2013

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is faith rewarded. It is the belief that excellence in automotive engineering and design can be found in any car company, …

Audi takes on Google with permit to test a self-driving car

January 8, 2013

Although Google Inc. has a leg up on automakers in the development of self-driving cars, it is becoming clear that the car companies don’t plan …

Sound standards proposed for hybrid, electric vehicles

January 8, 2013

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators say it may be time for hybrid and electric vehicles to pump up the volume. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration …

2013 Jaguar Portfolio: Intersection of excess, practicality

December 29, 2012

MONT TREMBLANT, Quebec — I now know the meaning of luxury. It is the 2013 Jaguar Portfolio XJL all-wheel-drive sedan. It is wonderfully, totally unnecessary, …

2013 Nissan Sentra: High achievement at the low end

December 22, 2012

I make no attempt here to compare the 2013 Nissan Sentra, a subcompact economy car, with something from the ranks of substantially more expensive, bona …

2013 Buick Enclave: Something worth striving for

December 15, 2012

CORNWALL, N.Y. — That automotive nameplate does not carry the prestigious oomph those people usually demand. Does BMW do it? Yes. What about Mercedes-Benz and …

2013 Dodge Dart: Not quite hitting the bull’s-eye

December 8, 2012

Taking the lead is difficult in a field of top-notch competitors. You have to be better than the best. The 2013 Dodge Dart is admirable. …

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander: It’s in the details, man

December 1, 2012

WASHINGTON — I wish Mitsubishi would pay more attention to its motor vehicles, or, at least, as much attention to its cars and trucks as …

2013 Ford Escape: An American approaches the head of its clas

November 24, 2012

The Japanese-sponsored Honda CR-V, a compact crossover-utility vehicle famous for its impeccable build quality, cute design and excellent road performance, finally has a genuinely worthy …

2013 Toyota Corolla LE: The new normal

November 17, 2012

SAO PAULO — I’ve traveled the world in search of the future of the automobile. My conclusion: Both the world and the car are getting …

2013 Hyundai Elantra: A coupe de grace

November 10, 2012

It is a beautiful car, a stunning coupe. It is agile in the city and delightfully competent on expressways, joys enhanced by its fuel economy: …

2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SV: No gaffes, but no zingers

November 3, 2012

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama should have studied the development of the 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SV sedan before taking the stage against Mitt Romney …

Most automakers report sales jumps despite storm

November 2, 2012

DETROIT — Most major automakers reported sales increases in October despite losing at least three days of business to the punishing rain and wind from …

Toyota on top in latest Consumer Reports survey

October 30, 2012

DETROIT — And the winner is ... Japan. Japanese brands took the top seven spots in Consumer Reports’ annual reliability rankings, pushing aside their U.S. …

2012 Honda Civic LX: Just plain good

October 20, 2012

Sex sells. It also dupes. When duped, you erroneously assess things, especially those, such as cars, requiring some kind of intelligent commitment. I was duped. …

Toyota announces huge recall due to fire risk

October 11, 2012

DETROIT — The largest recall in Toyota’s 75-year history could undermine the carmaker’s comeback from natural disasters and embarrassing safety problems. The company on Wednesday …

2013 Audi S4 Quattro: A speedily movable feast

September 29, 2012

RHINEBECK, N.Y. — It was a motorized celebration of the lightness of being, driving U.S. Route 9 through New Jersey and New York, stopping long …

Electric cars sell, if they’re cheap

September 23, 2012

DETROIT — General Motors rolled out the Chevrolet Volt two years ago with lofty sales goals and the promise of a new technology that someday …

2013 Chevrolet Spark: Small and sensible wins the race

September 8, 2012

NEW YORK — It was a tough day in the city. The George Washington Bridge was a congestive horror show thanks to a noontime construction …

Audi Allroad Quattro: Beauty is in the eye of the practical

September 1, 2012

Wagons make sense. Most are versatile, equally capable of carting people and cargo. That makes them practical, which should make them attractive in today’s dicey …

Chrysler Town & Country Limited: A reliable minivan

August 25, 2012

NEWPORT, R.I. — We parked atop a hill at Fort Adams State Park, overlooking Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. We opened the windows of the …

U.S. gasoline a bargain as motorists pay 63% less than Norwegians

August 31, 2012

NEW YORK — For all the complaints about gasoline prices, Americans spent 63 percent less at the pump in July than Norwegians did on a …

New Infiniti FX37: A hood of its times

October 27, 2012

I conflate cars and politics. That might seem an extreme combination. It isn’t. The two are inseparable. Consider this week’s subject vehicle — the 2013 …

Volvo XC60 T6: No dragon tattoo here

October 13, 2012

Corporate takeovers can be beneficial. It all depends on the purpose of the takeover. If it is to improve what is good, and do so …

Where to find your copy of Wheels

December 27, 2012

Want to know the best car deals in the Yakima Valley? Pick up a copy of Wheels magazine. Wheels is published every other Friday and …