On the Road Review: Subaru Outback Wilderness Edition
The Wilderness Edition expands on the original premise of the Outback wagon: higher ground clearance, more rugged looks, different driving dynamics.
Auto reviews
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On the Road Review: Lexus IS350 AWD Sedan
This year’s IS350, the middle of three IS models Lexus now offers, is the strongest contender yet. While exterior modifications are limited to the expressive styling that existed, the IS gains better handling, improved driver assist hardware, plus easier-to-use infotainment screens.
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On the Road Review: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited
As Bob approaches me with the latest review vehicle from the press fleet, the only audible sound is the crunching of the grit under the tires as the car comes to a stop on the paved lot. That’s how silent the new Sonata Hybrid is. Hybrid-powered cars, as well as the current BEV — battery …
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On the Road Review: Lincoln Navigator Reserve Edition
Full-size SUVs, like this week’s Lincoln Navigator — the largest sport utility vehicle from Ford’s premium car division — still offer traditional American-style luxury. Unlike crossovers, the Navigator truly offers spacious comfort for six to seven adults in three rows of quiet luxury, plus, it can tow up to 8,700 pounds of horse trailer, camper, …
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On the Road Review: Toyota Venza Hybrid
Toyota’s second-generation Venza, now available after a three-year gap in production, returns as a hybrid-powered offering only. A slightly stretched version of the RAV4 — 6 inches longer — Toyota claims the Venza remains a midsize crossover despite interior measurements no larger than the compact class RAV4. Endowed with styling that will remind many of …
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On the Road Review: Toyota Highlander Limited
If we can assume that today’s three-row crossovers are the modern-day equivalent of the family station wagons of the 1960s, then we can also stop pretending that these AWD soft-roaders aren’t anything more than replacements for the minivans that proliferated through the 1990s — without the sliding side doors. Functional, versatile and comfortable, full-size crossovers …
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On the Road Review: Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy
The day that our top-of-the-line Santa Fe arrived, all refreshed for 2021, the Wall Street Journal featured a comprehensive report: “Are Electric Cars Better for the Environment?” The short answer is yes, yet digging into the details reveals some startling information about the total cost of building, buying and operating an EV versus a comparable …
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On the Road Review: Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
Yes, regular readers, we recently reviewed an SRT Durango. We have actually experienced several of the current generation Durangos over the 10 years or so Dodge has been building this model. Yet none of the others has been close to the potent performance offered in this limited production SRT. Wearing a luscious Redline Pearl paint, …
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On the Road Review: 2022 Acura MDX Advance
Regular readers of this space, a hearty thank you to all 10 of you, will recognize a certain preference for enthusiastic power, comfortable and flexible cabins, plus adroit (sporting) handling and nimble ride dynamics, or put another way — a vehicle that is engaging and fun to drive, yourself. Tickling the nerve endings at the …
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On the Road Review: Lincoln Corsair Reserve
America’s auto industry is facing many changes, and many challenges. Economic swings, pandemic shutdowns, computer chip shortages, escalating regulations, plus a forced shift to battery electric vehicles, all are keeping managers (and employees) up at night. Three voices here express other thoughts. “I believe the industry is focused way too much on the curiosity around …
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On the Road Review: Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid
America’s best-selling vehicle didn’t earn that honor by standing pat, resting on previous laurels. And while being a leader also means lots of slings and arrows coming your way, the Ford F-150 has proven to be able to repel competitive assaults with a certain resiliency. For 2021, the F-150 moves the pickup’s powertrain offerings up …
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On the Road Review: Toyota Avalon AWD
Toyota Motor Co. is the largest automaker in the world, selling vehicles on every continent. Akio Toyoda, great-grandson of the founder and now the man in charge of this sprawling industrial giant, has brought excitement to the fringe products produced by Toyota (think Supra sports car and NASCAR racing) as well as innovation and solidity …
