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Hybrid Cars
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:29
The Basics: Because of its reputation with the tuner crowd and, probably, its appearance in various racing games, the 2012 Lancer Evolution is likely by far the most easily recognized Mitsubishi in the U.S. The Lancer Evo, and the nearly look-alike (at least to the laymen) Lancer Ralliart, are performance legends to a certain set. While these...
The Basics: The 2012 Smart Fortwo two-seater is still rare enough on American roads to be a novelty--and a toylike one at that. Don't let that put you off too much; it's a real car—competent in the city, and actually fun to drive in urban traffic. But it's definitely a car with a lot of tradeoffs, and after understanding them, many...
The Basics: It may share some of its hardware with the Toyota Yaris, but the 2012 Scion xD has a completely different reason for existing. The Yaris (which is new for 2012) is aimed mostly at those who need an inexpensive commuter appliance, while the xD aims at younger buyers on a tight budget, but in love with the idea of high style, and a...
The Basics: The 2012 Toyota Highlander is one of the best-selling vehicles with a third-row seat, and it's easy to see why. For a base price of well under $30,000, the very substantial Highlander offers lots of usable space, a comfortable ride, and most of the features busy parents want. And for some extra loot, the Hybrid model brings fuel...
The Basics: Scion is shifting rather indiscreetly away from economy cars with its upcoming rear-drive FR-S sports coupe. But it's still focused on small cars done inexpensively, and one of its mainstays, the tC coupe, holds its entry price to under $20,000 while it tries to woo some of the performance-seekers who might be left behind by the...
The Basics: As the flagship model in Volvo's model line, the 2012 S80 showcases the Swedish-born brand's priorities of safety and technology, along with a very different notion of interior design, and wraps it all into a very comfortable luxury-sedan package. It's been several years since the S80 has been redesigned, but even when it last was,...
The Basics: Stylish and quick on its feet, the Infiniti G37 Coupe returns for another model year essentially unchanged, with all its poise and balance intact. The G37 Coupe--even more so than its hardtop convertible companion--is one of the few two-doors that can rival the likes of the BMW 3-Series, maybe with a dash less of mid-life crisis....
The Basics: For the first time in nearly a decade, Mercedes-Benz is offering a four-cylinder engine in its compact C-Class model line. It coincides with extensive changes throughout the model lineup, as well as all-new C-Class Coupe and high-performance AMG editions. Overall, it takes on entry luxury and sport models like the Audi A4 (and A5),...
The Basics: With the introduction of the new Mazda2 subcompact last year, Mazda filled a gap in its small-car lineup--but it didn't lose touch of any of its 'zoom-zoom' ethos here. If you opt for the manual gearbox, the 2012 Mazda2 ranks as one of the most fun-to-drive small cars. The 2012 Mazda2 remains related to the Ford Fiesta, but it has...
The Basics: With two roomy, well-designed body styles, a perky driving feel, and lots of features for the money, the 2012 Suzuki SX4 remains one of the stronger small-car entries for value-conscious shoppers--and one of the most often-overlooked possibilities for comparison shoppers. The 2012 SX4 is available in several different...
The Basics: When the Hyundai Genesis Coupe was first rolled out three years ago, it was considered a pretty bold move. Not only did it mark Hyundai’s entrance into an area of the market that Japanese automakers had long since abandoned (rear-wheel-drive sport coupes); it was also part of Hyundai’s strategy to be seen as more than...
The Basics: With the introduction of the XF lineup a few years ago—and reverberated by the new full-size XJ sedan last year—Jaguar has made a clean break from the overtly traditional shapes of the past, moving from ornate to rakish. Now for 2012, Jaguar has given the XF what amounts to a mid-cycle refresh, gently finessing the...
The Basics: As part sporty coupe, part chiseled hatchback, the 2012 Volvo C30 manages to spearhead Volvo's appeal to a more performance-minded and style-conscious crowd. No Volvo model has reached back and modernized a portion of Volvo's design heritage quite as successfully as the C30, which in some respects found inspiration from the early...
The Basics: The 2012 Audi Q7 is a big, luxurious all-wheel drive utility vehicle that a lot of what you want--luxury and on-road capability--and very little of the rugged off-road ability that you probably don't need. Although the Q7 is related to the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, it's somewhat longer than those two models, with an...
The Basics: The Mazda CX-7 was a bit ahead of its time back when it was first introduced, for 2007. At that time, most automakers still felt compelled to include rugged design cues, or some claim of off-road ability in their crossover vehicles, even though everyone knew that they were seldom if ever taken off the pavement. But the Mazda CX-7...
The Basics: The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK still may be the least honed, least intense of the trio of pricey German roadsters, but it's ripened over its 15 years and three generations. New for 2012, the latest SLK has pretty much steamrolled over any trace of its dainty past and hot-paved it with real, substantial, and sometimes intoxicating...
The Basics: Unabashedly boxy, the Scion xB splits most crowds in two. It's either a fashionable urban plaything--or it's the closest thing to a rolling refrigerator that Toyota sells here. No matter which side you choose, the xB still delivers a roomy cabin and compact size that makes it a good choice for city driving, though its outright...
The Basics: The Volkswagen Touareg is the German automaker's mid-size utility vehicle, and while it was known up until last year for its extraordinarily stout construction, it last year traded in some of its rugged, off-road image for more of a focus on suburban families. While the Touareg name is inspired by that of a nomadic people...
The Basics: Volkswagen has been synonymous with compact cars since the days of the original Golf, but the latest edition of the hardy hatchback perennial faces some problems. The Golf--unlike VW's newest Jetta and Passat sedans--was developed at a premium price point. It's still charming to drive, and has a premium feel that's pervasive and...
The Basics: Acura's TSX models are sporty compacts, just short of mid-size, and aimed toward those who want a premium look and feel with a little more comfort and practicality compared to traditional sport sedans like the BMW 3-Series or Infiniti G37. The TSX is sized in the same range as those models, but its interior is roomier than...
The Basics: Starting a car company is really, really hard. Starting a car company to build the world's first plug-in hybrid luxury sport sedan is even harder. And managing to pull it off by launching a car with truly jaw-dropping style, a car that causes people to stop in their tracks--and to make it run 30 miles or more on electric power from...