Car of the Month
Each month, MotorWeek host John Davis selects a vehicle to highlight that has the potential to be a game-changer, sets a new benchmark in its class, or exemplifies the latest trend in the automotive world.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu 2.01.2016
You likely have seen recent television commercials that highlight the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu in a blind encounter with consumers. The car they are shown is without badging to indicate a name or origin, and they are asked to guess what it is. Most think it is an imported mid-size sedan, with many guessing luxury brands. So, you can image their surprise when it… Read More
2016 Nissan Titan XD 1.05.2016
One of the main reasons American roads are filled with light duty full-size pickup trucks is that, for today’s consumers, these once-workhorses are just as suitable for personal use as they are for daily chores. Indeed, in many towns you are likely to find more big pickups in the mall parking lot than at all the local worksites combined. Still, that doesn’t mean… Read More
2016 Toyota Prius 12.01.2015
When it comes to hybrid gasoline-electric cars, there is only one model to credit for starting this modern trend, the Toyota Prius. Despite most other volume brands also having jumped on the hybrid bandwagon, the compact Prius remains the gold standard for efficiency and durability. Now, that standard is getting a new shine with the 4th generation, 2016… Read More
2016 Lexus RX 10.02.2015
No nameplate has done more to put luxury crossovers on the map than the Lexus RX. Over 3 generations, this Camry-based, mid-size people mover has set the standard as to what it takes to run around upscale suburbia. Now, 2016 sees an all-new RX series with more style, comfort, technology, and perhaps, more impact. But, Lexus knew better than to mess too much with… Read More
2016 Nissan Maxima 9.01.2015
Not too many cars are around long enough to reach their 8th generation. But, that’s the case for the all-new 2016 Nissan Maxima. In addition, Nissan claims, although not for the first time, that this redesign also brings back the driving enjoyment of a “Four Door Sports Car”. When Nissan first used that tag line for the Maxima in the early 1990s, it was a boast… Read More
2016 Fiat 500X 8.03.2015
Since Fiat returned to America with the tiny 500 hatchback, they’ve brought with them a welcome splash of Italian style, and a fair amount of substance, to the small car ranks. Well, now they’re looking to do the same in the exploding subcompact crossover segment with the 2016 500X. Having Jeep as a corporate cousin is a great way to get a head start in that… Read More
2016 Honda Pilot 6.03.2015
For an unprecedented second month in a row a Honda vehicle is our MotorWeek Car of the Month. In May it was the fresh from the ground up Honda HR-V subcompact crossover utility that garnered our undivided attention. Now, this month, we turn our gaze to a new take on an old favorite, the mid-size 2016 Honda Pilot. It’s probably safe to say that there aren’t too… Read More
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2016 Honda HR-V 5.01.2015
With few exceptions, Honda has not made it a habit to rush into a new market segment. Their general philosophy seems to be to let others be pioneers, and if volume warrants, then launch a model that bests the early entrants. Right on cue, as the subcompact utility niche rapidly turns into a significant slice of the vehicle pie, Honda is entering the fray with the… Read More
2016 Kia Sorento 4.01.2015
The all-new, 3rd generation 2016 Kia Sorento is clearly not a major departure from its previous generation in that it still is a unibody supported crossover utility. That alone makes it a far cry from the original, rough and ready, body-on-frame Sorento that was introduced way back in the 2003 model year. Indeed, the latest redesign is more directed at… Read More
2015 Lexus RC F 3.09.2015
When you say “Lexus”, most buyers will respond with adjectives like “luxurious”, “quiet”, and if you’re a car enthusiast, “boring”. But, while the widely held perception of Toyota’s luxury brand is still a pretty plush one, there is a not so quiet revolution going on that may change how Lexus is perceived and received in the near future. Perhaps it’s a holdover… Read More