Editor Mike Hanley heaps high praise on the redesigned crossover from GM, saying “the redesigned Equinox offers an excellent balance of size and efficiency, roominess and utility, quality and price.” But he also points out some flaws, like a firm ride and even firmer cloth seats. Overall, the Equinox stands out as a big winner. We’ll have more here on the blog next week regarding the 2010 Equinox’s iPod interface and family friendliness.
When purchasing a minivan, who is it more important to please, the passengers or the driver? Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley makes the point that if you’re in the market for a minivan, it’s probably because you want an effective way to shuttle your kids around, not because you’re looking to bask in a fantastic driving experience. In this sense, the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country succeeds with a slew of creative features. But about that driving experience — well, read his full review to find out.
Do you like fun? Do you enjoy enjoying things? If so, Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder has the car for you. The Mazda MX-5 Miata pretty much gives Wiesenfelder a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and he makes no bones about the fact that it’s one of his favorites. Check out his full review to find out why the Miata puts such a smile on his face.
2009|Mazda|Miata MX-5
The Chevy Impala may not set your heart fluttering, but what can you say? The Impala sells — well and consistently. Sure, much of that can be attributed to fleet sales, but at a time when GM is reeling, can you really argue with success? Nevertheless, Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek takes on the 2009 Impala and refuses to pull any punches. Read his full review to find out why the Impala is the definition of vanilla on beige, and why it also maintains that strong sales record.
2009|Chevrolet|Impala
As Cars.com reviewer William Jackson points out, you don’t buy a minivan to make a fashion statement, but that doesn’t mean a minivan like the Toyota Sienna can’t be an incredibly useful vehicle and a good reason one should get past his or her minivan-fear. Read Jackson’s full review of the 2009 Toyota Sienna to find out why it ranks at the top of his minivan list.
2009|Toyota|Sienna
You know you're not living in ordinary times when an automaker touts the gas mileage of its new 510-hp, supercharged V-8, but that's what Jaguar did when it visited the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Ill., with a 2010 XKR coupe and convertible and XFR sport sedan in tow. The event was designed to showcase these models’ performance capabilities to potential customers, but Jaguar let us lowly auto journalists drive both cars, too. The early judgment on the new supercharged V-8? It’s an enthralling blend of power and refinement.
Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays admits up front that it’s very possible he’s a 75-year-old man trapped in the body of a young car reviewer. He also admits that he’s doing nothing to dissuade friends and co-workers from this idea by copping to how much he likes the Toyota Avalon. Does he make a few good points about the Avalon, or is his endorsement strictly a byproduct of his Benjamin Button syndrome? Read Mays’ full review to find out.
Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays compares the 2009 Audi Q5 with pistachio-mint ice cream. Why, you ask? Mays believes that for Audi faithful, the Q5 will be an instant winner, but if you don’t like the taste of mint all that much, well, you’ll end up on his side of the fence. Read Mays’ full review to find out why the Q5 didn’t send him into a tizzy and which other luxury SUVs rank higher in his estimation.
The 2010 Lexus HS 250h — the company's first stand-alone hybrid — won't hit dealerships until September, but my first drive of some pre-production models left me confident it will be a solid hit.
When you break it down, the two most important facets of any hybrid are its mileage and its price. The HS 250h is EPA rated at 35/34 mpg city/highway, with a combined rating of 35 mpg. Though the price won't be set until closer to the on-sale date, estimates put it in the mid-$30,000 range. Compared with the 2010 Toyota Prius' 51 mpg and the midsize Ford Fusion Hybrid's 41 mpg ratings (both in city driving), 35 mpg doesn't seem too impressive, but in the world of luxury cars, it's unbeatable — especially because it calls for regular gas, not premium.
As an automotive journalist, the criteria for what makes a car good dramatically changes once children are thrown into the equation. Or born into it, I guess. I went through this metamorphosis last year, and I've been casually detailing on my personal blog how my son, Carter, has fit into what I drive every week.
I don't consider myself a child-seat expert, and I certainly haven't raised a brood yet (like the fine reviewers at MotherProof.com). But Carter is 16 months old now, and just two weeks ago welcomed a baby girl into the family. That means the opinions below should be taken for what they are: The picks of a dad who needs to ferry a child to day care then get his butt to work. Carter also gets lots of seat time on the weekends when I need to get testing miles in.
I would guess that there are lots of other guys like me out there who need a car both to get to work and to pull double-duty for the kids more often than just in a pinch. These picks wouldn't replace a minivan or crossover (except for the crossover picks), but they need to be serviceable for transporting the kids, even on longer drives. So here goes.
Cars.com LinksCategoriesReal-Life Car Reviews
Recent PostsFind an Automaker
|
|
Cars.com Home |
About Cars.com | Employment Opportunities | Become a Cars.com Dealer
|
|
By using this site, you agree to our terms of service ©2009 Cars.com | Privacy Statement |
| Visit our partners: Apartments.com | ApartmentHomeLiving.com | Homescape.com | CareerBuilder.com |
Recent Comments