2011 Chevrolet Aveo 5 d...

Buyers looking for an affordable car these days have many models to choose from. In days gone by, “cheap” meant low-grade materials, haphazard assembly and suspect reliability. Yes, these “affordable” cars were cheap to purchase and operate, but, sadly, they were also “cheap”...

2011 Acura RDX CUV

While not all new, the 2011 Acura RDX underwent a minor facelift for the 2010 model year. Even though the changes were not earth shattering, they did manage to keep it contemporary. Along with the refreshed front (meaning the addition of the familiar Acura “shield”, aka the beak) and...

2008 Audi A8

Since its introduction in 2004, the Audi A8 has earned a reputation for being as much a luxurious limousine as it is a pure driver’s car. The reason is that it pampers its riders and yet when driven quickly it does not feel at all cumbersome. The arrival of the V10-powered S8...

2008 Mini Cooper S

A lot of people took the time to check out the latest Mini Cooper S during my time with it. Most of them, after wandering around the car, said something along the lines of “boy, it sure doesn’t look much different.” Driving it, however, elicits a very different...

2006 Pontiac Solstice

The Solstice is a very different beast – not only for Pontiac, but also for GM. To begin with it drives its rear wheels, which puts it in an elite class within the General’s oversized portfolio. It is also different because it is the first car to take a serious swipe at the Mazda...

2006 Subaru Impreza Pre...

As a part of its mid-life rework, the 2006 Impreza becomes the second car in Subaru’s lineup to wear its controversial new “family” face. The good news is that it carries the oval grille and flanking air inlets with far more poise than the B9 Tribeca. Indeed, the new look...

2009 Mercedes Benz SLK

Having sold almost a half-million SLKs to date, Mercedes-Benz is revamping the second-generation car to keep it current. In all there are 650 new parts, the bulk of which, new look aside, key on the comfort and dynamic sides of the car’s split personality. As the first of the current...

2008 Cadillac CTS

In the not-too-distant past, Cadillac vehicles staring with the letter C – think Cimarron and Catera, were hardly memorable choices. The launch of the original CTS, in 2001, started what was to become nothing short of an amazing turn around. The second generation CTS takes the...