The 2016 Honda CR-Z sets out to do what only a few vehicles in history have done: blend high efficiency with a high-style, hot-hatchback profile. Like the BMW i8—only not so extravagantly engineered—the CR-Z mashes up its fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain with the profile sporty two-seater. It ends up not terribly convincing in either aspect. It’s not all that entertaining to drive, and its gas mileage is handily outpaced by bigger, more accommodating hybrids. Its sporty credentials lie almost … [Read more...]

Ten years ago, the Hyundai Elantra was an also-ran in the compact-car sales sweepstakes. It wasn’t anywhere near the ranks of the best sellers or best performers—cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Ford Focus. A 2011 redesign changed all that, and today the Elantra is one of our top-rated economy sedans, in the same league as the Focus, Mazda 3, and the brilliant new Honda Civic. The 2011 Elantra scored heavily with its edgy styling, and backed up that promising shape with a spacious … [Read more...]

The 2016 Ford Explorer has received for this year a significant refresh, including smoother bodywork, an improved feature set, quieter interiors, and a stronger, more widely available 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that joined the lineup. Over the nearly 25 years the Explorer has been sold (2016 marks that anniversary), it’s gradually moved on, up and beyond its practical roots. It once was a rather basic, family-oriented rugged wagon; in its current form, it’s exchanged its … [Read more...]

Up until last year, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe carried two quite different torches. On one side it was a lean, simple sports car—even aimed toward those who might want weekend track time—while on the other side it stood truer to its Genesis badge, acting as a lower-priced alternative to sporty luxury-brand coupes. With last year’s dropping of the turbo four and a reconfiguration of options, it’s clear that the latter approach won out. And while Hyundai might have a different sports-car model in … [Read more...]

The Escalade is the Cadillac of GM SUVs, and that is no small thing. It's quieter than in the past, it's smoother, it's more attractive, and it's more fully equipped, just like GM's other upgraded SUVs and the pickup trucks that spawned them. Of all of them, the Escalade has the most substantial standard powertrain, cabin, and technology upgrades, as well as some truly swanky touches. Completely redesigned last year with generous improvements to refinement, technology and comfort, the 2016 … [Read more...]

The 2016 Lexus GS F is the fourth model in Lexus' performance-oriented F sub-brand. It follows the IS F of 2008, the 2012 LF A, and the 2015 RC F. A mid-size four-door sedan, the GS F fires its salvo at rivals like the BMW M5, Mercedes-AMG E63, Cadillac CTS-V, and Audi RS 7. Styling is far more aggressive than base versions of the GS sedan, mostly in the name of cooling and aerodynamics. The front end is unique from the A-pillars forward. The front fenders are wider and feature air outlets … [Read more...]

The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V is the American answer to Germany’s luxury/sport sedans and coupes: the BMW M3/M4 and the Mercedes-AMG C63. While taking on established brands on their own territory is tough work, the ATS-V is armed to the teeth for just such a battle. At first glance, the 2016 ATS-V, whether in coupe or sedan form, has a visual presence that clearly marks it out as something more than the ordinary luxury car. Wide, flared fenders, low, aggressive aerodynamics, and a high-flow, yet … [Read more...]

The Buick Verano was a timely addition to GM's premium-brand lineup. Buick decided to take an existing GM architecture, and make it more powerful, quieter on the road, and richer in feel. As a result, it has a truly distinctive offering in this new segment, one worth shopping if the sporty edges of the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class are a turn-off. From a styling point of view, "carryover" is fine—the Verano fits neatly in the Buick spectrum, with just enough hints of its heritage in the … [Read more...]

The Hyundai Equus gives the South Korean automaker a place at the executive-luxury table. While it can't compete with the best big four-door sedans from Germany, it's a pleasant, plush luxury car that should give pause to buyers who don't put as much weight on the badge as they do on striking value. With a base price in the low $60,000 range, the Equus offers some of the best service and warranty coverage in the industry, and with its powerful V-8, it's as serene and swift as a Lexus LS. It's … [Read more...]

The 2016 Subaru Legacy is no longer the specialty sedan it was in the past, and it's only time before mainstream shoppers find it in the way that they've already flocked to Subaru's Forester crossover and Outback utility wagon. With standard all-wheel drive, a recent full redesign, and some impressive active-safety features that don't break the bank, the 2016 Subaru Legacy adds up to quite the value, especially in its four-cylinder versions. That's part of why, this past year, we named it out … [Read more...]