Toyota Corolla's $1,999 Wheels Make Little Sense

That's right, folks: compact car shoppers can outfit the thrifty 2013 Toyota Corolla with $1,999 worth of upsized alloy and rubber. The Corolla, a vehicle with no optional high-performance engines and a suspension that can rock a baby to sleep, is an odd fit for accessory 18-inch wheels that cost nearly 12% of the vehicle's $17,025 starting price, including destination.

What's the Most Affordable Compact Sedan?

A 2013 Toyota Corolla S rolled into the Cars.com test fleet fitted with attractive five-spoke wheels any gearhead or enthusiast would want on their own car. They're available from performance accessory division Toyota Racing Development in silver or black on all trim levels. Our minds wandered and, below, digital imagining shows what the wheels would look like if painted gunmetal gray and installed on our 2013 Subaru BRZ long-term tester - in short: good. 

Back on topic, the Corolla isn't a rear-wheel-drive sports car, nor does it have any traits of sportiness, so it's baffling that these wheels exist as an option.

2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: First Drive

When it appeared in 2011 to counter rivals like the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid generally didn't fare too well in head-to-head matchups. Complaints of a lack of refinement in the hybrid powertrain and braking feel were cited, and the Sonata routinely under-delivered on the fuel economy front. Hyundai seems to have been listening, as these are exactly the areas the company focused on for the 2013 Sonata Hybrid, and the result is a top-notch, fully competitive hybrid sedan ready to take on the competitors.

Changes start with the powertrain: The same 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine remains, but it now makes slightly less power, 159 horsepower compared to the 2012 model's 166. This is made up for by a more powerful electric motor, rated at 35 kilowatts instead of the last model's 30. Net power thus drops from 206 in the 2012 model to 199 in the 2013, but this is the only trade-off for superior performance, fuel economy and cargo room. The 2013 Sonata Hybrid's lithium polymer battery has a higher capacity, but it's also lighter and better packaged, allowing the trunk's cargo room to grow from 10.7 to 12.1 cubic feet.

2014 Scion tC to Debut at 2013 New York Auto Show

Scion just announced it will roll out an all-new Scion tC at the 2013 New York International Auto Show next Thursday.

There was no additional information on the car but we expect it to remain a more affordable, front-wheel-drive sports coupe to offset the more performance oriented Scion FR-S.

Find out what other cars will debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show

Scion tC sales are down 15% through the first two months of the year. There is slightly more competition lately in the compact coupe segment from the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte Koup along with Honda's Civic.

The latest version of the coupe is the 2013 Scion tC Release Series 8.0 shown above. There are currently 3,340 new tCs in Cars.com's national inventory, about the same number as new Hyundai Elantra coupes but roughly half the number of Honda Civic coupes.

Shoppers looking for a deal as Scion phases out the tC won't find one. Scion continues a no-haggle pricing policy on new cars.

We Bought a 2013 Honda Civic, And It Wasn't Easy

The Cars.com long-term fleet expanded this week with the addition of a brand-new 2013 Honda Civic. We picked the Civic out of dozens of possible new vehicles introduced for 2013 because of the updates that Honda went through to make what is one of the best-selling cars in the country more competitive.

Follow Our Long-Term Fleet

Unlike the silky-smooth purchase of our long-term Subaru BRZ in December, navigating the waters to get the best deal on a more readily available car was quite an adventure.

We encountered "end-of-the-month" issues, potential gender bias and a dealer who wouldn't budge on price. Here's how we finally got our deal.

The Dodge Dart Stereo Is Almost Perfect

There is nothing that can salvage a brutal commute to work like a good "shuffle" from your iPod. It can be even better when piped through a great car stereo. And lately vehicle multimedia systems let you view album artwork and change tracks by using voice commands.

The 2013 Dodge Dart I recently tested surprised me with just how good even a compact sedan can sound today.

Everything I could throw at it from my digital music collection sounded robust, whether it was punk rock, heavy metal or alt-country. Even more surprising is that this six-speaker system is standard in all trims from the $18,790 SXT up to the $20,790 Limited model I drove. Both prices include the $795 destination charge. The 8.4-inch Uconnect display with navigation is a reasonable $495 option.

There were two tiny flaws that drove me nuts, though.

2013 VW GTI Gets Limited Editions Before Redesign

The 2013 Volkswagen GTI gains two limited editions in its final year before a redesigned 2014 Golf and higher-performance GTI go on sale. It’s not an enthusiastic sendoff as the GTI Wolfsburg Edition and Driver’s Edition include minor interior appointments and unique wheel designs. Both limited editions are four-door GTIs only — not the two door GTI — and paint choices are limited to Candy White, Carbon Steel Gray and Deep Black.

More 2013 Chicago Auto Show Coverage
 
Wolfsburg Editions go on sale in the first quarter of this year and start with a base model GTI. The package adds 18-inch Laguna wheels, a throwback golf-ball shift knob with golf-ball-like dimples and red-stitched floormats. Pricing starts at $25,890 with a manual transmission and $26,990 for the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; both prices include a $795 destination charge. A base GTI four-door with a manual transmission starts at $25,390 and includes 18-inch wheels, though with a simpler five-spoke design.

2014 Kia Cadenza at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show

• Competes with: Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Azera
• Looks like: Kia is getting back into the full-size sedan game
• Drivetrain: 293-hp, 3.3-liter V-6 engine with six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Spring

Kia hasn't had a full-size sedan in the U.S. since the Amanti's departure following the 2009 model year, but the automaker returns to the segment for 2014 with the debut of the Cadenza, a front-wheel-drive sedan that comes standard with V-6 power. It offers a host of available technology and convenience features, and it hits dealerships this spring.

More 2013 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

For a large sedan the Cadenza has relatively athletic lines. Kia's familiar front grille is set apart from the angular headlights, giving it more prominence than in Kia's other models. The rear is tidy with wraparound LED taillights and dual oval exhaust tips tucked below the bumper.

Marchionne: Dodge Dart May Get Nine-Speed Transmission

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said today that the Dodge Dart's disappointing-to-him performance in the U.S. should be improved once Dodge gives the compact sedan more powertrain options, and that may include a nine-speed transmission the automaker is developing.

More 2013 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

Marchionne said that the automaker used "powertrain solutions that, in today’s world and in hindsight, were not and are not the ideal solution." Dodge started sales with a manual transmission, which few American buyers choose, and then followed that with a double-clutch automatic, which Marchionne described as an approach that is more appealing to European drivers, not U.S. shoppers. The solution, he said, is for Dodge to expand the Dart’s powertrain offerings.

2014 Lexus IS: First Look

• Competes with: BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G, Cadillac ATS
• Looks like: A scaled-down Lexus GS
• Drivetrain: Specifications are TBA, though the IS 250 and IS 350 trims return
• Hits dealerships: Second quarter 2013

There's no more waiting to see what the 2014 Lexus IS will look like. Lexus gives us a look at both the interior and exterior of its fully redesigned compact sports sedan ahead of the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Lexus clearly took inspiration from the attractive LF-CC concept coupe shown at previous auto shows, though as of now, a coupe body style isn’t shown in the photos or mentioned in the initial announcement.

Regardless, this is an all-new IS sedan with fresh exterior and interior. Lexus says the new IS is wider and sits on a longer wheelbase for additional backseat comfort, plus the front seat is thinner for best-in-class knee room. The previous generation’s backseat was so small it made our Car Backseats to Avoid list.

Five Cars Perfect for Golf Foursomes

The Ryder Cup starts this week at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill., and signals that — for much of the country — golf season is at an end. But before you pack up your clubs for the season — or if you're lucky enough to live in a state conducive to year-round golf — here are five cars that are perfect for a golf foursome thanks to a roomy cabin and most importantly, a giant trunk.