The secret is out! For years, Mazdas have delivered poor fuel economy when compared to their rivals. With compacts promising as much as 42-mpg and a 38-mpg highway rating becoming the industry norm, last year’s Mazda3 managed a best of 25/33-mpg. And that was the smaller 2.0-liter engine. Upgrade to... more
Road Tests
Mazda3 SkyActiv Review
October 18th, 2011, 9:33am
2012 Honda Civic Si vs MazdaSpeed3 Track Test
September 25th, 2011, 7:14amUnlike the Honda Civic Si’s dominance of the sport compact scene during the ‘80s and ‘90s, these days the more powerful and aggressively styled MazdaSpeed3 rules the front-drive roost (and the VW Golf GTI isn’t far behind). But with the introduction of the all-new 2012 Civic Si, Honda has a golden... more
Audi S5 Review (video)
September 11th, 2011, 10:01amSitting in traffic, an E550 Coupe crawls onto the highway and parks just a few cars ahead and a few lanes over. It certainly is original looking, but you can’t help but feel a little sorry for the folks at Mercedes. How can you compete with a car as beautiful as the Audi S5? Read More →
Audi R8 Spider
June 4th, 2011, 9:05amAudi won hard-earned respect with its R8 sports car – despite the initial questions about its similarities and overlap with the Lamborghini Gallardo, it’s managed to carve out its own niche among customers. Read More →
2011 BMW 528i Review
May 21st, 2011, 12:05pmThe official car of ballers on a budget, the 528i is back for 2011 delivering a BMW at a price low enough to finance – not lease. There is of course one major trade-off, and the car’s badge says it all. Read More →
2011 Jeep Wrangler Review
April 5th, 2011, 10:52amAs the ‘need-to-be-somewhere’ crowd heaved shovelfuls of snow in back-busting unison to create exit paths for garage-stranded vehicles, the smiling ‘just-want-to-have-fun’ driver of a 2011 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon left tire tracks across a snow-congested driveway. Read More →
2011 Lexus IS-F Review
February 8th, 2011, 10:31amThe IS-F is the first bone fide attempt by Lexus to enter the intensely competitive arena of small high performance sedans. With ample doses of their hallmark precision and refinement in craft and performance, Lexus has produced a sedan that is a viable competitor to such über marques as Audi, Mercedes... more
2012 Ford Focus Review – First Drive
February 1st, 2011, 7:21amJust north of Los Angeles there’s no shortage of great roads, from Topanga to Mulholland, and Latigo Canyon to Kanan Dume. And we’re driving them all; fast at first, but then at a more leisurely pace, enjoying the scenic views in an attempt to keep the codriver’s lunch in his stomach and off what... more
2012 Fiat 500 Review: First Drive
January 28th, 2011, 9:57amA sign of the changing times, the Fiat 500, or the more fun to say ‘cinquecento’, might be evidence of America’s changing perceptions of small cars. More practically, however, it has come to market as the result of Chrysler’s savior Fiat, which took over the American auto giant and ensured its... more
2011 Dodge Challenger Review
January 25th, 2011, 7:51amIt’s amazing how the muscle car wars – all but dead a decade ago – have reached pretty amazing heights. Both the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang get better each model year, with power boosts, chassis changes and visual tweaks bringing a steady flow of news and anticipation from the collective... more
