For 2016, Acura has essentially rebooted its entry ILX model—dropping the surplus of powertrain variants and focusing this small sedan under one sporty combination, with more of an underlying performance-car flavor throughout. Up until now, it's fair to say that the ILX has required the use of a lot of qualifiers. That’s because while this compact entry-luxury sedan was quite well designed—and it could be quite appealing—the lineup was a mishmash of models, not all of them all that luxurious … [Read more...]

Ranging from the cost-effective V-6 and potent V-8 SS, to the track-ready Z/28 and lightning-quick ZL1, to the well-rounded 1LE V-8, the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro can be had in a lot of ways. Regardless of which way you choose, the Camaro lives on as a bold expression of America's passion for muscle cars, even as the world shifts its attention to other kinds of performance cars. It's a polarizing vehicle, no doubt, with outrageous lines and an almost cartoonish exterior–so much so, that the … [Read more...]

It’s already been 25 years since Buick’s last convertible, the hand-crafted Buick Reatta, aimed to be the long-aspiring GM premium brand’s ‘halo car.’ This time it’s looking to drop the top with something a little more attainable: the 2016 Buick Cascada. With a turbo four-cylinder engine, automatic transmission, and what we’ll assume is a very comfortable interior and ride, with just a bit of sportiness tuned in, the Cascada is poised to hit the market after an astonishing number of … [Read more...]

The 2015 Toyota Camry has been given a very extensive refresh, just three model years after the debut of the current generation of this longtime best-selling sedan model. Why already? Chalk it up to some healthy rivalry; today the Camry faces even stronger competition from recently refreshed versions of the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, and others. Toyota is in effect not resting on its laurels; it’s given what it calls a sweeping redesign to the Camry for 2015—with a completely … [Read more...]

With many luxury brands now dipping into the accessible end of the entry-level premium market, can Acura compete with a vehicle that is both affordable and desirable? That's exactly what the 2015 Acura ILX aims to do—attract hip retirees and up-and-coming young professional—with its somewhat sporty, fuel-efficient small sedan. And, it comes with the service you'd expect from a luxury brand, too. The 2015 Acura ILX is barely a luxury car if you go by its sticker price—or its not-so-distant … [Read more...]

The previous Hyundai Sonata was an especially bold move—one that's paid off, drawing attention to Hyundai with its daring yet practical design, strong yet efficient engines, and good overall value. Now it's new again, in its seventh generation, the third built in Alabama. Once again, it competes against a squadron of well-qualified family four-doors--Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, and Chevy Malibu—as well as the VW Passat, Kia Optima, Chrysler 200, Subaru Legacy and … [Read more...]

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade is all-new, with an exterior design that sparkles and shines even more than ever, and an interior that’s more refined, comfortable, and high-tech than before. The Escalade remains a monument to excess, but it does so with more panache—and even a touch of restraint. This is, of course, a great thing. Some other luxury utes have faded into the woodwork, and others aren't quite up to the most extreme tasks. GM makes the Escalade precisely for the folks who want … [Read more...]

Updated powertrains, new fold-flat rear seats, and a sharper, trimmer look make the 2015 GMC Yukon the most impressive Yukon yet, building on the core of the new Sierra 1500 but diverging from the pickup more than ever before as well. The Yukon family of SUVs--Yukon, long-wheelbase Yukon XL, and luxurious Yukon Denali--adopt many of the changes applied to the Sierra, though GMC points out that the related SUVs don't share any body panels with the new full-size trucks. The Yukon and Yukon … [Read more...]

The Chevrolet Malibu mid-size sedan received a welcome redesign in 2013, but with a slew of excellent contenders in the segment–including the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, and Mazda 6–the 2014 Malibu received a surprising number of upgrades for a year-old car. This year's changes are few, but the OnStar system now offers 4G LTE connectivity with the ability to create an in-car WiFi network. Even with its long list of features and improved styling, the Malibu still falls just a … [Read more...]