With the 135is, BMW took a less-is-more strategy — and to good effect. The compact coupe delivers an entertaining driving experience with refreshingly few frills, says Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley. Its potent turbocharged inline-six engine and slick-shifting six-speed manual make it engaging; its simple interior layout and gadget-free control system keep the focus on the driving.
The 2013 Toyota RAV4, which spent the first three months of 2013 atop our most-read reviews list, is once again at No. 1, overtaking the also-popular 2014 Subaru Forester. Following its long reign, the RAV4 relinquished its throne to the Forster to hold the No. 2 spot for a month before returning to the top spot for a week – before losing it again to the Forester last week only to reclaim it this week … whew! The other significant change this week is at No. 10, where the 2013 Nissan Altima returns to the list.
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1. 2013 Toyota RAV4Getting along with the 2013 Dodge Journey means being able to compromise, says Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman. The crossover hasn't seen much exterior updating since its 2009 introduction, but its looks have held up well. Its fuel economy lags behind competitors, but it's thousands of dollars cheaper in some cases while offering significantly more standard features. Legroom could be better but cargo space is competitive. If you're OK with giving a little, Bragman says, you might find that the Journey gives a lot back.
The Enclave's combination of good looks outside and roomy comfort inside won over Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek. Buick's three-row crossover was redesigned for 2013 with flashier exterior styling and upgraded cabin materials. While it's not the most luxurious crossover in the class, Bruzek says the Enclave offers a winning blend of premium features and family-friendly comfort.
After relinquishing the No. 1 spot for a week to former longtime champ the 2013 Toyota RAV4, the 2014 Subaru Forester reclaimed its position this week atop our list of most-read reviews. Farther down the roster, this week’s order might be a little different, but the names are all the same.
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1. 2014 Subaru Forester
With the redesigned 2014 IS sport sedan, Lexus is trying hard to appeal to buyers intent on getting a compact luxury car that's not only luxurious and well put-together, but also fun to drive. So focused is Lexus on this goal that it's holding regional media drive events at racetracks around the country for journalists to sample the IS' current variations on closed road courses.
We already reviewed the new 2014 IS earlier this year at its launch in Austin, Texas, but we're not going to pass up the opportunity to drive sport sedans around a track. So I trekked out to the media gathering Lexus held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., a track familiar to NASCAR Sprint Cup fans as the home of the Pure Michigan 400 and other races.
The course laid out for us took us onto an infield road course before dumping the cars onto the front stretch of the oval track and then back into the infield course at the end of pit lane. It was a relatively simple course, but it provided a good opportunity to see just how well Lexus has tuned the new IS as an enthusiast's option.
The Silverado 1500 got a more sculpted looking exterior and upgraded interior materials for 2014; three new powertrains round out the big updates to Chevy's pickup truck. Our friends at PickupTrucks.com recently drove the new model and while they admit it's not the perfect truck, it's "probably the single biggest model improvement over the vehicle it replaces in a long time." Click here for the First Drive.
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Coupe and convertible body styles plus three engine choices make the redesigned-for-2012 VW Beetle a versatile vehicle. If you pick the convertible, however, you'll be opting for style over practicality and even driving fun, says Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. The power soft-top is quick, but visibility is bad; the cabin is full of ergonomic comfort issues, and a clumsy ride takes the fun out of any drive, Mays says.
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Just when we thought it was out, readers pull it back in. The godfather of persistently read reviews — the 2013 Toyota RAV4 — muscled its way back to the head of the family this week after being relegated to the No. 2 spot on our list of most-read reviews for a month by the 2014 Subaru Forester. Before that, the RAV4 enjoyed a three-month reign at No. 1 that we were beginning to think might never end. Ousted by a measly 109 page views, the Forester had to settle back into second place. Meanwhile, the 2014 Mazda CX-5 returns at No. 8 after a brief absence, while the 2013 Dodge Dart comes in at No. 10 after a long one.
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1. 2013 Toyota RAV4Ambivalence abounds in our review of the 2013 Honda Crosstour. Cars.com reviewer Kristen Varela finds the five-seat hatchback's newly restyled exterior eclectic, to put it kindly — she calls it "some crazy experiment from a chop shop." Somehow, though, that oddness translates into impressive practicality with regard to ease of entry and cargo space. The front seats are terribly uncomfortable, though the backseats easily fit three children across. Its heated leather seats suggest luxury, but much of the interior screams cheap. Read Varela's conflicted critique below.
2013 Honda Crosstour Review
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