Cars.com Reviews the 2008 BMW M3

In the video I shot for the new M3, I say something to the effect that I have the best job in the world because I get to drive cars like the M3. Let me make myself clear: I did not mean to rub that fact in anyone’s face. I was just trying to make a joke. In the video, it sure doesn’t sound that way.

So, did you know I have the best job in the world? Check out the full review to get my take on the all-new M3 and you’ll find out why. I had a manual sedan for a week here in town, and then was able to test a dual-clutch-equipped coupe on the track at Road America before trying out the convertible around the track in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

2008 BMW M3 Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Infiniti M35

The Infiniti M35? That’s not a hot new model like all the other reviews we’ve been delivering the past month. What’s going on? Well, Infiniti did make some minor changes to the M last year, especially its Sport trim, which is what we had a chance to review. Kelsey Mays got the assignment, but only after an earlier loan of the car in February ended with it getting stuck in a few inches of solid ice on my street. In better weather, Kelsey had an easier time delivering a review.

20008 Infiniti M35 Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman S

Both the base Mini Cooper Clubman and the sportier Clubman S recently spent time in the Cars.com test fleet. Winning the race to the full review treatment was the Clubman S. Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder spells out the differences between the elongated Cooper and the original Mini, including where its better and where it falls short. He also reiterated all the Cooper line’s faults, which also follow the Clubman S to production. Check out the review and video below.

2008 Mini Cooper Clubman Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant

If you’ve seen that oddly entrancing/annoying commercial that features two young women set to go clubbing in a new Mitsubishi Galant, you’ll be eager to read Mike Hanley’s review of the slightly revised sedan. If you’re a shopper who just wants to make sure you’ve checked out all the competition in the midsize sedan segment, it’s also a must. That said, it doesn’t sound like the 2009 iteration of the Galant will sway any Toyota Camry or Honda Accord loyalists.

2009 Mitsubishi Galant Expert Review

First Drive: 2008 Buick Lucerne Super

The Lucerne is Buick's large passenger sedan, and for 2008 a new Super trim level debuts. I had a chance to drive this new V-8-powered trim on country roads near Lake Geneva, Wis., recently and found the sedan as likable now as I did a few years ago when I last tested it.

The previous Lucerne I tested was a CXS model, which was the top-of-the-line version at the time and featured a 275-hp, 4.6-liter V-8. The new Lucerne Super also has a 4.6-liter V-8, but it makes more horsepower: 292. Like the CXS, the Super offers plenty of power for daily driving. The Super also has a rather loud (for a Buick) exhaust note that makes a hearty rumble every time you give it gas. A four-speed automatic remains, but it's a well-mannered, smooth-shifting transmission. Estimated gas mileage is 15/22 mpg.

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Land Rover Range Rover

It’s always odd to write, read or say the phrase “Land Rover Range Rover.” It just sounds silly, doesn’t it? Well, the $77,000-plus luxury SUV isn’t such a silly vehicle when you take it off-road or on the street. This seriously British Rover has ruled the roost of big and bad SUVs for a number of years, but there’s plenty of new competition hoping to see that its days atop the heap are numbered, as editor Kelsey Mays explains in his new review.

2008 Land Rover Range Rover Expert Review

First Drive: 2008 Pontiac G8 V-6

Pontiac recently loaned us the keys to its new G8 GT, a V-8-powered sport sedan that Cars.com senior editor David Thomas reviewed, but it wasn't until this week that we got our hands on the base V-6 version of the car. So how does the V-6 hold up to its big brother?

The first thing you notice is how similar the base sedan and the GT model look; both have thin slits in the hood, wide fender flares and aggressively styled twin-kidney and lower grilles. They do have different wheels, taillights and exhaust outlets, though.

At the Track, Via Twitter

I’m at a special event for Midwestern journalists up at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for the next two days. Automakers unleash all the new models — over 90 this year, including things with M, AMG and Gran Tursimo in their names — for us to test on the Road America track and local streets. Follow the cars I’m taking on the track via Twitter or in this post as the updates stream live.

Twitter Updates

follow me on Twitter

Cars.com Hybrid Mileage Challenge: Part 1

It’s official: At $4.20 a gallon in some areas, gas costs more than a cup of the fancy stuff at Starbucks. That's why Cars.com has revisited its ongoing look at the real-world gas mileage today’s cars are getting. In our last mileage challenge, we took an SUV, a minivan and two sedans on a highway trip around Illinois and Wisconsin, and we concluded that the cars’ EPA highway ratings were easy to achieve. This time around, we wrangled four hybrids — two SUVs, one sedan and one hatchback — and their renowned ability to return extraordinary city mileage numbers to see if they could handle everything Chicago could throw at them.

The Second City certainly obliged. You might call it the route from pothole hell: Drive north 140-plus blocks, east eight blocks, south 115 blocks. Repeat. All told, we spent more than nine hours behind the wheel — 12 hours if you count stops for lunch and Mother Nature — and, thanks to a Cubs game and enough rush-hour traffic to discourage even the Californians among us, we averaged speeds of only about 20 mph.

Details on the cars below.

Cars.com Reviews 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550

The Mercedes-Benz S550 is already a Cars.com Best Bet, and it took the prize as Best Car for the Boss in the 2008 installment of our annual Lifestyle Awards. Clearly, the biggest Benz deserved a full review for the 2008 model year, and reviewer Mike Hanley was just the man to do it. In terms of power and refinement, the S550 is at the pinnacle in its class. Plus, the interior is as elegant as it gets. 

2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 Expert Review

Cars.com Faceoff: 2008 Ford Focus, 2008 Honda Civic, 2009 Toyota Corolla

In honor of graduation season, Cars.com took three of the most popular compact sedans on the market and decided which one should get a big bow put on top. Even if you’re a Hoops McCann and no one gets you a car for your hard work, these three are sensible first-car choices for the newly employed, too. But which one takes the cake? See if the Honda Civic can stand up to the redesigned Ford Focus and all-new Toyota Corolla.

Cars.comparison: Graduation Gifts

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

This might be the first review Cars.com has ever run of a car that is completely sold out. If you haven’t already put down money on a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, you probably won’t be able to find one – without a huge markup, anyway. Still, senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder’s review is a great read right from the start, and the car will remain virtually unchanged for 2009. And yes, you can sign up for a 2009 now and expect delivery in the fall.

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Expert Review

First Drive: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai's popular midsize Sonata sedan receives some significant updates for the 2009 model year. The changes are focused on where the car needed them most: the inside. I had a chance to drive the new model recently in the outskirts of Chicago and found that the changes are just what this model needed.

The 2009 Sonata gets an all-new dashboard design that can now go toe-to-toe with the best in the segment, like the Honda Accord, in terms of material quality and fit and finish. It's a vast improvement over the previous design, which was my primary complaint with the 2008 model.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Nissan GT-R

Hold on to your hats … senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder calls the much-heralded 2009 Nissan GT-R not fun to drive! Can you believe it? The audacity. The sacrilege. The gall. 

Well, really he’s just talking about the daily driver’s meaning of fun. Those who live and die for track time, on the other hand, might have found the perfect vehicle for their right-footed flights of fancy. Check out his full review of every aspect of the GT-R, from track-day companion to comfortable real-world vehicle.

2009 Nissan GT-R Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Dodge Journey

I had the tough task of reviewing Dodge’s new crossover, the 2009 Journey. Why was it so hard? Well, for one, this thing crosses over a lot of segments for a single vehicle. Due to its low introductory price and available third row, it can compete with everything from a Chevy Equinox to a Toyota Highlander. There was a lot to like about the Journey, but I also had quite a few gripes, too. Check out the full review with video to find out more about Dodge’s all-new Journey.

2009 Dodge Journey Expert Review

Video: 2009 Nissan Murano

Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder reviewed the new Nissan Murano a few weeks ago, but now he gets the new crossover in front of the camera for this video. The rundown shows off the Murano’s features, including a slightly odd cover for the rear cargo area and power-raising rear seats. Very nifty.

Video: 2009 Nissan Murano
2009 Nissan Murano Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews 2009 Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla has long been one of the best-selling cars in the U.S. Even last year, when its design was clearly showing its age, it saw increased sales, mainly due to high gas prices. Toyota has finally redesigned the compact car for 2009, and Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays put it through its paces in a full review, as well as in a video. Surprisingly, the new Corolla isn’t the slam-dunk economy choice anymore, even though there’s still plenty to like.

2009 Toyota Corolla Expert Review
2009 Toyota Corolla Videos

2008 BMW M3: Daddy Driven

Now that there’s a little Thomas in the house, the wife and I are no longer DINKs so the way I look at cars I’m reviewing has changed. The addition of a child seat alters the entire framing of how I view the cars in our driveway and how I live with them. I routinely am the one to drop the little guy off for daycare in the morning, and if the test car can’t handle our seat — or I mistakenly leave the extra base in a different test car — my wife is not too happy. That frames the debate: What cars can a dad get away with owning? Obviously a big sedan or SUV will get the job done, but what about the cars dads lust over?

The shiny, white 2008 BMW M3 sedan sure looks like it can handle the task. But does it pass the test?

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Infiniti EX35

Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder had the tough task of figuring out what exactly Infiniti was thinking when it built the all-new EX35. Sure, on the surface it seems to be a BMW X3, Acura RDX, Land Rover LR3 competitor, but underneath the sexy skin rests a performance vehicle, not a utility one. Check out his full review to learn exactly how that happened.

2008 Infiniti EX35 Expert Review
2008 Infiniti EX35 Videos

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Honda Pilot

Here it is folks. The review you’ve all been waiting for. OK, the single guys and gals out there probably weren’t waiting for it, but a lot of families out there will be interested to hear what Mike Hanley has to say about the redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot. It has two things going for it right out of the gate — more horsepower and better fuel economy. That’s hard to beat.

2009 Honda Pilot Expert Review
More on the Honda Pilot (KickingTires)

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Toyota Matrix

It’s not all about the Honda Pilot this week. In fact, another all-new-for-2009 model recently graced our test fleet — the 2009 Toyota Matrix. Kelsey Mays spent some significant seat time in the hatchback. We won’t ruin the plot, but the key seems to be all about “bang for the buck.” See if the Matrix passes that test.

2009 Toyota Matrix Expert Review

Friday Fleet Notes: 4.11.08

This week's fleet notes takes on two competing hybrids, the Honda Civic Hybrid and the current champ, the Toyota Prius. In addition the Ford Focus makes an appearance, so if you're interested in how our staff felt about the Sync system, this might be a Friday fleet note you don't want to miss.

Toyota Prius

• Having driven a rental Prius in Denver a few months back, I was dreading the worst: an uncomfortable ride, a whiny engine at freeway speeds, a brake pedal that felt like a steel rod pressing up against the tires. Boy, was I surprised. This non-rental Prius could not have been more different. It was a much smoother ride. The engine, even at 70 mph, purred quietly. The brakes still felt a little funky, but I wasn’t in any doubt about their abilities and I still managed to get around 50 mpg. This experience gets the Prius off my hit list. — Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief

Weekend Athlete: 2008 Mazda5

I've seen the Mazda5 pop up at all my ski and bike races, and after a stint in the new 2008 version I can see why. A lot of cars look practical but really don't deliver. The Mazda5 largely delivers, even though, as always, there are things that could be better.

Cars.com Reviews 2008 Mazda5

Mazda went out and gave the Mazda5 some slight tweaking for the 2008 model year. Cars.com’s Mike Hanley took that revised 2008 around the Chicago metropolitan area for a week of mini-minivan testing, and returned with a review complete with informative video. However, I highly question his omission of the Kia Rondo as a valid competitor because it has no sliding doors. Actually, I just like saying Rondo whenever possible.

2008 Mazda 5 Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews 2008 Chevrolet Suburban

Even in these days of sky-high fuel prices, there are still folks out there who need to tow and need room for cargo and kids. That’s where the Suburban excels. Check out the latest review of the model that was redesigned for 2007 and see if it’s the right fit for you.

2008 Chevrolet Suburban Expert Review

Driving the Nissan Cube

The Nissan Cube has the distinction of being the Japanese box on wheels that didn't come to the U.S. first and become a surprise hit. That honor goes to the Scion xB, which appeared in 2004 and unexpectedly outsold its more conventionally shaped stablemate, the xA, thereby launching a whole new brand.

Nissan has committed to selling the Cube here starting in the spring of 2009. Now, to be clear, that model will be a whole new generation, not the version Nissan let us play with for a day. All the same, I thought you'd like to get a feel for the Cube, and I never miss an opportunity to wipe the windshield every time I make a turn. You see, this is a Japanese-spec model, which means the steering wheel's on the opposite side of the car and the turn signal stalk is on the opposite side of the steering column. If you've ever switched to a right-hand-drive car, you know exactly what I mean. Fortunately, it was raining when the Cube came, which gave me a day of "I meant to do that”s.

Other aspects were decidedly Japanese — most notably the engine, a 1.4-liter four-cylinder that comes admirably close to producing 100 horsepower.

Cars.com Reviews 2008 GMC Sierra

GMC Sierra or Chevy Silverado? Mike Hanley takes a look at the new Sierra and likes what he sees compared to the remarkably similar Silverado. The Sierra’s upscale interior and smooth ride won him over, as did its class-leading fuel mileage. For more on the Sierra, including a video starring Mike himself, check out the full review. 

2008 GMC Sierra Expert Review

Ford F-450 Saves the Environment

Our friend Mike Levine over at PickupTruck.com has penned one of the best stories we’ve ever seen on how and why large pickups like the Ford F-450 exist and who uses them for what. We’d guess most owners aren’t helping out wildlife conservatories every day, but it’s interesting to see that when an environmental group needed help, it also needed a truck this big with its capabilities. 

Levine used the F-450’s 5,720-pound payload rating to haul two cubic yards — or 4,500 pounds — of donated topsoil 40 miles. No half-ton or three-quarter-ton trucks could handle that task.

The story illustrates one of those points we routinely try to make to people who think there’s no need for vehicles like this to exist. Those folks genuinely believe these are being used for commuting, but there are many legitimate uses for such trucks. Heck, even if every home built was completely green, builders would need something to get the supplies to the site.

Nature's New Friend Road Test: 2008 Ford F-450 Super Duty (PickupTruck.Com)

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL550

Mercedes-Benz knows how to wrap a driver in luxury. With the new GL-Class, the company is trying to wrap the driver, the driver’s significant other, their two kids and a few friends in luxury. In the top GL550 trim, all that luxury comes attached to a powerful 5.5-liter V-8 engine. Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays delves into where the GL550 ranks in the luxury SUV strata, and lets potential buyers know why they should do their research.

2008 Mercedes-Benz GL550 Expert Review

2008 Subaru Outback: Long-Term Update

We don’t have an official long-term fleet here at Cars.com, so I’m always willing to offer up my own new car for the role. As some might remember, my wife and I purchased a 2008 Subaru Outback in July 2007. We were looking for a low-$20,000 vehicle with all-wheel drive and some utility. 

The odometer is still under 5,000 miles even after seven months of ownership. There are a few reasons for that. One is that we live in the city, so my wife’s commute is pretty short in terms of distance. Mileage remains around the 20 mpg mark if not below, mainly due to so much city driving.

Since the last time I updated everyone on the Outback, one thing has changed that has drastically altered my opinion of the car: We’re no longer in the DINK category, as our first child was born in February. You know what that means — car seats and strollers. 

Cars.com Reviews 2008 Mazda RX-8

A slight redesign of the RX-8 is on the way for 2009, but Cars.com’s Mike Hanley got his hands on the 40th Anniversary model that Mazda is rolling out this year commemorating its rotary engine. Mike discovers the good and the bad of having radical rims and a sports suspension in city driving, as well as the drawbacks of that intriguing rotary.

2008 Mazda RX-8 Expert Review

Cars.com Faceoff: Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest

While most requests we hear from families involve wanting a car that has all the capabilities of a minivan but isn’t actually a minivan, there are still minivan shoppers out there. Cars.com’s Joe Wiesenfelder and Mike Hanley took on three popular models, including the newly redesigned Dodge Grand Caravan and slightly tweaked Honda Odyssey. Can the Nissan hold its own against such tough competition? Check out the Faceoff to find out.

Cars.comparison: Family Workhorses

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Pontiac G8

Not only did I travel to New York City to cover the auto show last week, I also got to test drive Pontiac’s all-new sedan, the G8. The finished review is now live, complete with a video, which you can also watch to the left. I must say I liked the G8 GT a lot, but it did have some eccentricities that people will have to get used to. Read the review and feel free to ask questions in the comments below.

2008 Pontiac G8 GT Expert Review 

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Acura TSX

The world just got its first up-close look at the redesigned Acura TSX at the New York auto show yesterday, but Cars.com’s Mike Hanley has already been in the driver’s seat. The sport sedan gets a new design inside and out and Mike pushes the engine — which has stayed pretty much as-is — to the limits for his full review.

2009 Acura TSX Expert Review

Weekend Athlete: 2008 Jeep Patriot

I took the Patriot out for a test recently, and it didn't score any better than its Dodge cousin, the Caliber. That's a shame, because I'd hoped a Jeep product would skew a little more toward the outdoors enthusiast than a Dodge. Still, it's a wagon-like vehicle and that means it has a few nice touches up its sleeve.

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Audi R8

Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder took delivery of an Audi R8 test vehicle in the middle of one of Chicago’s worst winters, and found the German supercar to be a blast to drive no matter the road conditions. (Serious snow tires didn’t hurt, though.) Don’t cry for Joe — the weather did break for a few days of spirited driving. In addition to Joe’s full review, check out our thoughts on driving the R8 on a track a few months back, and our impressions of the Bang & Olufsen sound system we tested in the Audi S8, which is similar to the R8’s optional system Joe was pining for.

2008 Audi R8 Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Subaru Forester

After a full photo gallery and early driving impressions, Kelsey Mays delivers his full report on the redesigned 2009 Subaru Forester. The SUV is now more SUV-like and a bit more attuned to mainstream buyers, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a solid improvement over the outgoing model. Check out Kelsey’s full review to find out why this new Forester is a worthy competitor to stalwarts like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

2009 Subaru Forester Expert Review

Weekend Athlete: 2008 Jeep Commander

I usually leave the three-row SUVs to the Suburban Dads who need them, but I thought the Commander might be fun. By and large, things worked as well as you’d expect with a large vehicle, but there are a few things Commander-shoppers need to examine before they buy.

Cars.com Faceoff: 2008 Mini Cooper S, Saturn Astra, Volvo C30

In one of the toughest Faceoffs in recent memory, Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder matched up three premium hatchbacks. It was a tough fight, with each car having strengths that won us over. The Volvo had the style, the Mini the go-kart goods and the Astra the practicality. Check out the winner and let us know if you think we got it right.

Cars.comparison: Premium Hatchbacks

2009 Subaru Forester Photo Gallery

Last week Kelsey Mays delivered his first thoughts on the all-new 2009 Subaru Forester. For the most part, he was impressed. Today he’s put together a photo gallery from the test-drive event he attended. We’ll bring you his full review later this week. Until then, check out the 50-plus photos below. If you have any questions for Kelsey, leave them in the comments.

Cars.com Reviews 2008 Toyota Sequoia

You don’t often hear an automotive writer asking readers for help, but senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder does just that in his recent review of the 2008 Toyota Sequoia. Joe delivers an extremely detailed report on the redesigned full-size SUV and notes that his test vehicle had an odd sound and vibration when driving around 60 mph. He asks readers who own the vehicle if they’ve experienced the same problem or if it was just our test model. Email Joe or let us know in the comments below if you’ve noticed the same thing, or if your Sequoia is free of such troubles. And don’t forget to check out everything else Joe discovered about the Sequoia.

2008 Toyota Sequoia Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Ford Fusion

In its third year on the market, the 2008 Ford Fusion still satisfies expert reviewer Kelsey Mays. While it may not be top dog in the family sedan segment, he says its low sticker price makes it a bargain for its category. Good handling and neat, "athletic" design go a long way toward helping the Fusion earn Kelsey's recommendation. Read his full review on Cars.com.

2008 Ford Fusion Expert Review (Cars.com)

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Jeep Commander

Expert reviewer Kelsey Mays takes on the 2008 Jeep Commander with a warning for potential buyers: Check around. Although the Commander may be the perfect car for you if you're planning on trekking over mountain roads or through heavy weather, if you don't need to haul 7,000 pounds on a regular basis, you may want to keep shopping. Read Kelsey's full review on Cars.com.

2008 Jeep Commander Expert Review (Cars.com)

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Honda Odyssey

When the keys for a new minivan come to the office we’re don’t rush over with the same enthusiasm as if it were a sports car. But after a week in the new Honda Odyssey — a fully loaded Touring model at that — reviewer David Thomas came away impressed by how luxurious this family-friendly vehicle was. Make sure to check out the full review with video.

2008 Honda Odyssey Expert Review

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Toyota Prius

Four years after he first stepped foot into the hybrid, senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder revisits the Toyota Prius. The 2008 model has seen some minor improvements over the years, but can they change the opinion of one automotive journalist? Turns out, more than just the car has changed — the buying public has as well, and that makes the Prius as intriguing now as it ever was. 

2008 Toyota Prius Expert Review