2012 Toyota Camry SE: Redesigned, still on top

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 09 February 2012 12:13

2012 Toyota CamryFor quite a few years, the Toyota Camry and Ford Taurus were the Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali of the automotive world, slugging it out every year for dominance. The choices in the midsize-sedan segment are a lot more complicated now, Yet, the Camry remains the champion, having finished its 10th consecutive year as the top-selling car in the United States.

What keeps the Camry on top, in a country where consumer tastes can veer in unexpected directions with bewildering speed? Chalk it up to Toyota’s longstanding reputation for quality, and fast-paced lifestyles that steer consumers toward tried-and-true alternatives.

2012 Buick Enclave AWD Premium Group: Luxury and safety; fuel economy, not so much

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 02 February 2012 11:56

The last time we test-drove a Buick Enclave, the midsize sport-utility vehicle drew only one major complaint: lightfooted drivers found its engine performance downright boggy. Buick has corrected that problem without seriously compromising fuel economy … which isn’t precisely to say that isn’t a problem as well.

The SUV fans among our drivers loved the Enclave. Built on the Lambda crossover platform that underpins the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, the Enclave is every bit as luxurious as the premium Japanese SUVs. It also handles more crisply and rides at least as smoothly. The Enclave has much of the ruggedness of an SUV to go along with the smooth road manners of a minivan.

2012 Toyota Prius V Three: The obvious move makes sense

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 26 January 2012 13:53

The next step for Toyota in the development of its fuel-sipping Prius line has been obvious for quite a few years now. Eventually, consumers would demand a bigger Prius. The second-generation Prius made a big splash after the original model was widely panned for bland styling and a cramped interior; now comes the Prius V, a compact wagon featuring the familiar Prius styling cues and loads of interior room.

2012 Buick Regal GS: European roots show

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 19 January 2012 12:04

The 2012 Buick Regal GS.Long stereotyped as a purveyor of land yachts, General Motors’ Buick division is trying something fresh with its sports sedan, the Regal, now in the middle of its sophomore year. The Regal is functionally similar to the midsize LaCrosse, but their personalities are distinctive.

The LaCrosse, for all its modern suspension and power-train accouterments, is a classic stately Buick that pampers its occupants with the mellowest of road manners. The Regal seasons its high level of refinement with a decidedly sporty character.

2011 Nissan Quest 3.5 LE: Conventional hauler, athletic feel

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 12 January 2012 13:49

The 2011 Nissan Quest.

In years past, the Quest was an inexpensive, compact minivan that got better fuel economy than the big dogs of the minivan world. But compact minivans have never done well in the U.S. market; only the Mazda5 survives today. So the Quest went on hiatus in 2003 and returned the following year as a bigger, aggressively styled minivan. Six years later, the Quest went out of production yet again, this time re-emerging somewhat meekly (for Nissan) as a square, function-over-form luxury minivan.

Choices for ‘Cars of the Year’

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 05 January 2012 11:46

What separates our Cars of the Year from the dozens of also-rans we drive every year? The selection process is simple and subjective: We go over the list and select those that made a favorable impression.

Now and then, we indulge in thinly disguised rooting for the home team, as we did when we named the mediocre Chevrolet Cobalt a Car of the Year in the compact-sedan category. (To be fair, the Cobalt was a marked improvement over its predecessor, the Cavalier.)

2012 Nissan Juke SL AWD: Small SUV, big style/fun quotient

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 29 December 2011 14:09

Nissan has been turning out some truly daring automotive designs in recent years, and some have even produced imitators — witness the Nissan Cube, which begat the Kia Soul. But Nissan must have taken its most creative designers and locked them in a back room somewhere, and the inevitable result was the Juke.

So what is a Juke? It’s a lot of things: sporty subcompact, small SUV, well-equipped economy car, commuter car (in a pinch), conversation piece. You can even put a couple fairly compact adults or average-sized children in the back seat, and make a day of it in reasonable comfort and style.

2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid: Good meld of comfort and driveability

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 22 December 2011 11:28

Having weathered the Great Recession without needing a federal bailout, Ford Motor Co. is glimpsing a return to good times. Sales were up 13 percent in November, and one of the leading figures in the sales burst is the Fusion, a Mexican-built, American-badged car with a European personality.

We’d heard good things about the Fusion before test-driving a 2012 Fusion Hybrid, an impressive midsize car whose main claim to fame is an EPA-rated 41 mpg in the city, 36 highway. The gasoline-electric hybrid reveals but doesn’t flaunt its high-tech qualities, while maintaining essentially the same performance and comfort levels drivers have come to expect from the conventional gasoline-powered Fusion.

2012 Hyundai Accent SE Hatchback: High quality and value

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 15 December 2011 11:16

One of our relatives inexplicably continues to own, and drive, a 1998 Hyundai Accent. The styling is bland; performance, lacking; reliability, dubious; overall package, decidedly lacking in refinement. Even the fuel economy is nothing special. But the 2012 Accent is nothing like its uninspiring predecessor.

In short, today’s Accent is priced right, nicely styled and loaded with amenities. We sensed that Hyundai engineers compromised on the side of comfort rather than sharp handling when setting up the suspension, and likewise sacrificed performance potential in the name of fuel economy. But the broader impression is one of high quality and value.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic 2LT Five-door: A definite upgrade, built in America

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 08 December 2011 14:48

Thanks to a fortuitous car rental in Florida and lucky press-fleet scheduling, we got a rare opportunity to test-drive a new model and the one it’s replacing a few weeks apart this fall. For Chevrolet, the transition from the subcompact Aveo to the Sonic should be a happy one.

The Sonic costs more than the Aveo, but then, it’s a much more desirable car. It has sharper driving dynamics, a smoother and quieter ride, a stronger engine and better fuel economy. Best of all, it’s built right here in America, at a Chevrolet plant in Lake Orion, just north of Detroit. The Aveo hailed from South Korea.