Reviews
388 articles in this category
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When trying to describe Volvo, you may use terms such as sensible, anonymous, or different. The Swedish automaker has always gone down a different road than everyone else and at times it has proved to be a success. But at other times, it has put the automaker behind the pack. Currently, Volvo is on the upswing with the XC90 SUV that shocked everyone with its handsome looks, polished interior, and a comfortable drive. This has garnered a lot of attention from the press as the XC90 walked away wit
The automotive equivalent of comfort food
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 7, 2012 Mitsubishi, a brand that was riding high in the early to mid-nineties with vehicles like the Eclipse, Galant, Montero, and Diamante has fallen into obscurity very rapidly. In the same time frame, the crossover utility vehicle has become the ubiquitous go-to car for many American shoppers. As arguably one of the mostly hotly competitive sales segments, Mitsubishi's challenge is to make a stand out vehicle for shoppers drowning in a
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 6, 2013 Chrysler has a habit of building a car that can cause everyone to go gaga and have the desire to own one. In the early 2000s, it was the PT Cruiser that caused many people to go crazy with lust. Then in 2005, lighting stuck once again with the introduction of the 300. Its bold styling and available HEMI V8 struck a chord with people. Here was a vehicle that looked like a million bucks, but was very much attainable. However the 3
The affordable dream car returns for an encore performance.
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Badge engineering. Mention this term to anyone in the automotive industry and you are sure to get a look of disgust. This comes from past attempts where a number of automakers seemed to rightly mess it up. The classic example is GM’s A-Body vehicles from the eighties where each brand’s version looked very close to one another. This led to the infamous Fortune Magazine cover showing this. But when done correctly, badge engineering can actually do a lot of good. You’re probably wondering how badge
A Mazda in Scion Clothing
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 27, 2013 What if I hadn't driven the Mazda CX-5 and Kia Sportage? That was a thought that kept popping into my head when I was driving around in the 2013 Nissan Rogue a couple weeks ago. The Rogue is the oldest model in the compact crossover class, introduced back in 2007 and getting a refresh in 2011. But having driven the CX-5 and Sportage recently, could the Rogue stand up? The Nissan Rogue doesn't really shatter the status quo in d
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Subcompact crossovers are the hot thing at the moment and automakers are trying to make their models stand out. Whether it is using sleek styling, sporty driving dynamics, or value for money, every automaker is trying their best to get their vehicle noticed. For Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, they’re going for a two-prong attack in the class with models from Fiat and Jeep. The Jeep Renegade is aimed at those who want a subcompact that can tackle a trail, and the Fiat 500X provides some chicness for
Missing the mark in the subcompact crossover class
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One thing Jeep is very good at is providing different variations of their models to fit a buyer’s desire and budget. The Grand Cherokee is an excellent example with seven different models on offer. Jeep is using this same strategy for the Cherokee with seven different trims ranging from the base Sport to luxurious Overland. We spent some time in the Overland to see if a luxury version of the Cherokee makes any sense. The Overland model stands out from other Cherokees as the lower body cla
Almost $44,000 for a Cherokee?!
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 25, 2012 My name is William Maley and I love pickups trucks. I’m not sure why I love them. I don’t work on a farm or a construction site, tow an RV, carry an ATV, or anything else you do with a pickup. Maybe it’s their large size, brooding V8 engines, and the ability go anywhere and do pretty much anything. Or maybe it’s due to me riding in many pickups as a child. Something about them just makes me smile. So I was excited when a Chev
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August 7, 2012 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor CheersandGears.com A couple of weeks ago William gave us his review of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE 2.5. While William loved the roominess and quality of the interior, he was less impressed with the 2.5 liter gasoline 5-cylinder motivation. I have driven the Volkswagen 5-cylinder in the Passat and a few other vehicles and I'm inclined to agree with him. In response to that, the Passat is taking another turn in the CheersandGears.com garage this w
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The end of an era is upon us. After this year, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution will be no more. The model which was first introduced back in 1992 for the Japanese marketplace, was a technological tour-de-force with a turbocharged four-cylinder, all-wheel drive, and a limited slip differential. From there, Mitsubishi would introduce a number of new technologies such as traction control, YAW control, and a dual-clutch automatic. But Mitsubishi hasn’t done much with the Lancer Evolution in the past
The Last Samurai
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The last-generation Chrysler Sebring/200 was the punchline to a bad joke. Whenever you saw one driving around, you could easily assume that it was either a rental car or the person got a smoking deal. Not a good sign when you’re playing in one of the highly-competitive classes in the marketplace; the midsize sedan class. So what do you do? For Chrysler, it was to start with a blank sheet and get some help from Fiat. The result is the 2015 Chrysler 200. So how does new 200 stack up against the mi
Has the Chrysler 200 gone from Zero to Hero in the Midsize Sedan Class?
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 26, 2012 Toyota is in the midst of a sea change. The company who is currently known as the brand who builds bland, boring, and reliable vehicles has been issued an edict by CEO Akio Toyoda to design and build vehicles with passion. We’re beginning to see some of the fruits of this edict bear out with the Scion FR-S and Lexus GS. Now, Toyota has introduced the next vehicle to follow this in the form of the 2013 Avalon. You might be wond
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“Despite the positives, the Ioniq finds itself between a rock and hard place.” That was how I closed my review of the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq SEL earlier this year. Despite me finding a lot to like about this hybrid, I found myself struggling as determining whether it was better or worse than the Toyota Prius. A few weeks ago, another Ioniq arrived in my driveway for a weeklong evaluation. This particular variant is the base Blue model, which is positioned as the mileage champ in the Ioniq lineu
Low cost and high fuel economy figures
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Volvo is known for a few things: Safety, boxy designs, and wagons. Volvo also happens to be known for a specific engine, the T5. Introduced in the 850 in the mid-nineties, the T5 was a turbocharged and intercooled five-cylinder engine unbeknownst to the company, this engine in its various forms would go on to power a number of models and take number of race wins in Europe. The T5 engine would become part of a rarified company of engines that have long lives such as GM's 3800 V6 and Nissan's VQ e
Saying Farewell To The Turbocharged Inline-Five
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Being the car guy in the family is sometimes a difficult thing. Case in point is when someone asks for your help with buying a car. About a year or two ago, my dad asked me for some help with buying a new midsize sedan. He had two contenders in mind to replace his 2006 Ford Fusion - the new Fusion or the Nissan Altima. At the time, I had just reviewed the Altima and thought the four-cylinder powertrain needed a bit more refinement. The Fusion had its own set problems as the 1.6L EcoBoost four-cy
Was it better to go with the old one and not the new one?
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Many automotive journalists have been flummoxed by the popularity of the Toyota Camry. The model trails the pack in a number of key areas such as design, handling, and performance. But I know the reason why the Camry is beloved by many; it is a no hassle midsize sedan that will go the distance. But there is a change that endangers many midsize sedans. Buyers who previously brought sedans are now trending towards crossovers and SUVs as they offer a number of traits such as a higher ride hei
Can a Camry be exciting? Well, yes.
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We are currently on our way to Ann Arbor in the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI we are reviewing. My first four days with the Passat in swamped and gridlocked Pittsburgh driving netted me 26.9 mpg. While that is lower than the EPA city rating, all non-hybrids get 0 miles per gallon while idling in traffic. Over the next three days, we will be doing almost exclusively highway cruising across Northern Ohio and up into Michigan. You have two chances to win one or two of two $10 fuel gift cards. Your fi
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The last time I drove a Fiat 500C Abarth, it with six-speed automatic. I found it to be quite a cheeky vehicle with an exhaust note that makes you think you’re driving something a bit more powerful and a look that helped it stand out. But I couldn’t help but wonder how the Abarth is with the manual transmission. About a couple of months ago, I slipped behind the wheel of another 500C Abarth, this time with the manual. The end result was a bit of a letdown. The manual transmission in quest
What's the Abarth like with manual?
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American automakers haven’t been known for building good compact vehicles. Previous attempts have faltered when compared to those from the likes of Honda, Mazda, and Toyota. But this perception began to change when Ford brought out the Focus in 2000. It seemed progress was being made in making a decent compact vehicle thanks to their European branch helping out. Seeing this, GM decided to follow the same path. They called in their Korean and European offices to help out with the development of a
Chevrolet's updated compact sedan is kind of a big deal
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 27, 2012 If there is one vehicle that has been talked about more than any other since I've been writing here at Cheers and Gears, that vehicle would be the new Cadillac ATS. There are a number of threads speculating, arguing, complaining, and talking about this compact luxury sedan. Well the day has come. We finally have an ATS in for an interactive review. This ATS comes equipped with the 3.6 DI V6 producing 321 HP and 275 lb-ft of
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 13, 2013 The past few years has seen Hyundai rise as a dominant player in automotive marketplace. Vehicles like the Sonata, Elantra, and the Accent have shown how far the Korean automaker has come and being rewarded for their efforts. There is one segment that Hyundai hasn't quite cracked yet; crossovers. It's not for the lack of trying. Hyundai has been trying its darndest since the first-generation Santa Fe rolled off in 2002. Some of
Hyundai Splits The Santa Fe In Two. We Drive the Smaller One.
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If you were to ask me what midsize I would recommend for most people, I would say the Honda Accord. It may not be the most exciting or best looking midsize sedan on sale, but it gets the basics right. From a comfortable and spacious interior, to a powertrain delivers excellent power and fuel economy, the Accord got the basics right. I wasn’t sure if anyone could challenge the Accord. But on a cold December afternoon, a 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium drove up for a week-long review. Could this b
Could the Subaru Legacy be a credible alternative to the stalwart Honda Accord?
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All of the hot hatches and sport compact cars owe their existence to one car - the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The engineers who worked on the first model during the mid-seventies didn’t know their little project would make massive waves in the industry. For six-generations, the GTI was the benchmark that many competitors were measured against. But with fresh blood arriving in the form of the Ford Focus ST and Subaru WRX, Volkswagen knew it was time to ready a new GTI. Thus last year, the seventh-gener
The Father of the Hot Hatch Learns Some New Tricks
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Cadillac has changed a lot during the past decade and a half. Once considered the brand that old folks would buy for their comfort and plushness, Cadillac has grown into a real competitor for the Germans. To see how the brand became a threat, all you need to do look at the CTS. The first and second-generation CTS models showed real promise as Cadillac got the handling and design characteristics right. But there was always something lacking that kept it a few rungs down, whether it be the interio
Cadillac To Other Automakers: You've Been Put On Notice
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The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla: the two best-selling compact models in the U.S. month after month; the two are on the top of the charts, usually one of the models being number one while the other sits in second place. It’s something that has confounded many automotive writers and enthusiasts as they believe there are better options out there. What they tend forget is those two vehicles have a reputation that very few can even dare match, which for most buyers counts massively. So what is it
Dueling Compact Sedans
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 2, 2012 If you have been wondering why there has been a lack of news here on Cheers & Gears for the past couple of days, I can explain why. Right now I'm in Austin and just finished up driving the new Dodge Dart. I will have a first drive report sometime next week, but I wanted to give some quick impressions about it. Compared to the Caliber, the Dart is a drastic 180 turn. The Dart's overall look has a lot of Italian influence with
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Like life, reviewing vehicles sometimes mean having a curveball thrown your way. Originally, I was going to be reviewing the Chrysler 200 before its production run would end. Sadly, the 200 was pulled out of Chrysler’s test fleet before I was able to drive. But sometimes, that curveball can be a positive. In this case, a Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn would take its place. More importantly, it would be equipped with the 3.0L EcoDiesel V6. We like this engine in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. How would it f
Living out cowboy dreams with a bit of diesel
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At the end of my Lexus NX 300h review last year, I said this, “You’re better off sticking with the regular NX 200t and having that extra $5,000 going towards some options.” Recently, I had the chance to put part of that ending line to the test as a 2016 Lexus NX 200t F-Sport came in for week’s evaluation. The NX F-Sport follows the formula of other F-Sport models with a more aggressive look. Up front is a new mesh grille insert and a lower air dam to give it some aggression. Lexus ha
What it is like to drive Lexus' first turbo engine?
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The 2012 Jetta GLI went back and we were supposed to get a Passat in its place. However, the Passat encountered some unfortunate incident in the hands of another journalist so instead Volkswagen sent us this 2012 Beetle Turbo with DSG and Navigation. So far I've done almost entirely city driving in the Beetle and while the DSG is very smooth above first, I'm finding it a little jerky in stop and go city traffic. After you get it out of crawling speed, the DSG opens the Beetle's wings and allows
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On the day I was getting the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport for a week-long test, meteorologists were calling for a massive snowstorm in Metro Detroit. Depending on where you lived, snowfall was expected to range from six inches to almost a foot. As I was signing the paperwork and getting the key, the snow was beginning to fall at a heavy rate. It would be an interesting week with one of oldest crossovers on sale. The current Outlander Sport has been with us since 2011 and it still stands out f
This Old Crossover
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 16, 2013 Can there be strength in numbers? In the compact car class, no one can really agree on that. All agree that having a sedan is very important. From there it gets somewhat unclear. Some manufacturers stick with just a sedan; others go with either a hatchback or a coupe. Hyundai is one the few automakers who offers all three with their Elantra lineup. You have the Elantra sedan, coupe, and GT (hatchback). The GT is the company's late
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August 17th, 2012 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com A few months ago, you had Chris Doane's take on the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and now it is my turn. I am at the disadvantage that I haven't driven the recent Volkswagen GTI, since that would the GLI's direct competitor. Will my blindness to the capabilities of the GTI have me reach different a conclusion than Chris did? My 2012 Jetta GLI came in the proper car color of Darth Vader Helmet Black incorrectly listed as “Deep Bl
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It feels a bit odd to be spending some time in the 2017 Cadillac ATS coupe after driving the CT6 earlier this year. In a way, it felt like I was stepping back into the past where Cadillac was making some dumb decisions that ultimately would hurt their vehicles. The ATS coupe is a prime example of this where Cadillac had a legitimate challenger to likes of the BMW 3/4-Series and Audi A5 in terms of performance and handling. But some bone-headed decisions would regulate it to the mid-pack.
I could have been a contender
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 8, 2012 The war of heavy duty pickups has been raging on for many years with Ford, General Motors, and Ram one upping each other with more powerful engines and towing capabilities that could embarrass certain commercial trucks. Now, a new branch of this war is emerging; the luxury heavy-duty truck. Gone are the steel wheels, vinyl seats, rubber floormats, and grey dashboards seen on many a truck. In their place are large chrome wheels, l
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In a class that is highly competitive such as the compact luxury sedan segment, trying to make yourself stand out is a tough ask. Some can do it just on reputation, while others must rely on price, design, features, or overall drivability. Infiniti is using technology to have their Q50 sedan stand out in this crowded field. We spent a week in the Q50S 3.7 to see if any of this new technology makes a difference. In terms of styling, the Q50S sits right in the middle of the compact luxury seda
Too Much Computer Love?
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 17, 2012 This time at the Cheers & Gears Detroit Garage is a newcomer, the 2012 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS AWD (takes breath). For $26,404 (the pricetag on the car) 2.4L inline-four, CVT Transmission, AWD, sunroof, dual-zone climate control, an appearance package, and a banging 425 watt Rockford Fosgate sound system. The Kizashi sits in a interesting position in the new car field. Its size and pricetag puts somewhere between a compact
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In the past two years, I have driven three variations of the Volkswagen Golf; the GTI, SportWagen, and R. But I never had the chance to drive the standard Golf. That is until a couple of months ago when a Golf Wolfsburg Edition rolled up. For 2017, the Wolfsburg is one of the two trims on offer (the base S being the other) and comes with lots of equipment for a surprising price. But this is only the cherry on top of an impressive compact hatchback as I would find out. Let’s begin with tha
A Golf that won't break the bank
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 18, 2013 Hyundai is building a competitor to the Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class? That was my first thought when the Korean automaker announced their luxury flagship, the Equus was coming to the U.S. a few years ago. I was wondering if Hyundai was bitting off a bit more than they could chew. Going after the stalwarts of the luxury flagship was not an easy task, just ask the Volkswagen Phaeton. However the Equus has turned out to be mo
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The Kia Niro is the Korean automaker’s first dedicated hybrid vehicle. But if you look at any of marketing materials, you will notice that ‘hybrid’ doesn’t appear anywhere. Take for example this line from a TV ad: “We call this the Kia Niro, but that’s only because ‘breakthrough, game-changing crossover that gets over 40 miles per gallon combined and is really fun to drive’ just wouldn’t fit on the back.” It is a smart move by Kia as more people are buying crossovers like they’re going
Is it a hybrid? A hatchback? A Wagon? Somewhere in the middle?
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Now that the Sonic and Cruze have launched, by all accounts, successfully, Chevy is eager finish up the upper two models in its family car lineup. This 2013 Malibu Eco marks the three quarter mark on this refresh project while the Impala awaits its turn for 2014. The outgoing Malibu was on the large end of the mid-size scale, nearly approaching big brother Impala in overall size. And, while not the most feature laden of family cars, it offered a good combination of space, performance, efficienc
August 20th, 2012
Drew Dowdell
Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com
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Americans can’t seem to get enough crossovers. A study done by IHS Automotive showed that one out of every three vehicles sold in the U.S. is a crossover of some various size. Hence why it seems a week doesn’t go by without an announcement of a new crossover from ‘x’ automaker. One area that seems to have new or redesigned models coming fast and furious is the compact crossover class. New models are wanting to take a nice chunk of sales from the stalwarts such as the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester,
Hyundai Compact Crossover, Take 3!
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While this year at Nissan is all about the pickup truck, last year it was the ‘Year of the Sedan’. We saw the introduction of the redesigned Maxima, along with refreshes of the Altima and Sentra. There was one slight problem. Compared to the Maxima which stood out with a sharp design, the Altima and Sentra just existed with no real item of note. But maybe there is something to either model that is hidden away. I decided to find out as a 2016 Nissan Sentra SR came in for a week-long evaluation.
Does Nissan's compact sedan have something special?
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2017, a year many people would like to forget for one reason or another. Here at the Cheers & Gears Detroit bureau, it has been an excellent year in terms of the vehicles I have driven. Compared to last year, the number of vehicles that stopped by our garage dropped (35 vs.44 from last year), But most of the vehicles in one way or another proved to really impressive. This year, eight models would earn the honor being named a favorite. Cadillac CT6 Platinum Why is the CT6 a fa
35 Vehicles Reviewed in 2017, which ones made the cut to be named a favorite?
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During the late forties and early fifties, Buick had a unique tagline in their ads which was “When better cars are built, Buick will build them’. This was to tell possible buyers that if you wanted a quality vehicle, look at a Buick. But this tagline also poses an interesting question. When General Motors exited bankruptcy just a few years ago, the brand that was the rising star was Buick. Sales were improving and the perceptions of the brand being an old person’s vehicle were changing thanks to
Is The 2014 LaCrosse A Better Model From The One It Replaces?
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If you ever wanted to get a group of automotive writers angry and upset with you, just say or write the following words: I like the Mitsubishi Mirage. When I posted a picture of the vehicle and said those very words in a Facebook post, many automotive writers thought I had lost my mind. But I really did like it and began to wonder if I really had lost it or if everyone else missed the point of the Mirage. That’s what I decided to find out. Let's get something out of the way, the Mirage really d
The Little Car That Can
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Every automotive writer has a wish list of absurd ideas they would like to do. I have been very lucky to cross one of those items off my list - driving a $130,000+ vehicle for a week. A couple weeks back I was able to cross another item off that list: Driving a open-top vehicle in the winter. What vehicle afforded me the chance to accomplish this wish? It happens to be one of the smallest and sportiest open-top vehicles on sale today; the 2015 Fiat 500C Abarth. The Fiat 500 is one of the most i
Driving a drop top during a frigid week
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 21, 2012 One nameplate that has seen its share of ups and downs in Nissan’s lineup is the Quest. Introduced back in 1993 as a contender in the Minivan marketplace, the Quest came out of partnership between Nissan and Ford. For nine years, the Quest enjoyed success as being an alternative to the stalwarts of the class; the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. When it came time to introduce the next Quest, Nissa
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Last fall, I had the chance to drive a Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack for a week and fell in love. It was basically an SRT Charger, minus a few items for just under $40,000. This fall, another high-performance Charger came in a week’s stay and it was packing more heat. 707 horsepower to be exact. Yes, I finally got my hands on a Hellcat. What was it like? It was fast, but you want more information than that. That 707 horsepower figure comes courtesy from a 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8. Torque i
707 horsepower in a sedan!
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A few weeks ago, I wrote a comparison test between the 2018 Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. It was a close fight, but the Atlas ended up being the victor as it proved to be the better all-around three-row crossover. I find myself comparing these two brands once again, this time with their compact crossovers. Like their larger brethren, the two models take different approaches. The Mazda CX-5 goes for something that provides a premium feel and exciting drive, while the Volkswagen Tiguan uses spa
Mazda v. Volkswagen, Part 2
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When you’re buying a luxury flagship sedan, you are making a statement to the world. Drive an S-Class, 7-Series, XJ, or other sedans and the impressions can range from being someone important to just having a lot of money. But for some people, they don’t want their luxury sedan to make itself known to the world. They want to enjoy the features available on their sedan, but without making so much noise. That’s where the Genesis G90 could make some inroads. Part of Hyundai’s new luxury brand, the
The equivalent of a fancy dinner at a Wal-Mart price
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December 3, 2012 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com It is Buick Week here at Cheers and Gears this week and each day we will be featuring an article about one of the new Buicks. We start off with Buick's re-entry to the compact segment, the 2013 Buick Verano. Buick has dabbled in the compact sedan market off and on since the 1960’s. After an initially successful run with the Special/Skylark in 1961, Buick’s compacts quickly grew in size and out of that segment of being true co
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Drastic changes are hard for a lot of us. Whether it's moving to a new state or country, the arrival of new family member, the prospect of a new job, etc: we wonder if this change will be good or bad for us. The same is true for any automaker. If they have a vehicle that is doing very well in sales and/or reputation, or are planning to resurrect an iconic nameplate, they know that a huge change could make or break the vehicle. Consider the Jeep Cherokee. The off-road brand built the Cherokee f
Classic Nameplate, Reborn
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Scion appears to be growing up. The brand which launched in 2003 with non-mainstream vehicles, a unique buying process, and a marketing campaign aimed at young buyers was a breath of fresh air. But the industry collapse back in 2008 and an aging lineup has seen Scion lose their key audience and drift into obscurity. So what does a brand aimed at young people that is treading water do? For Scion, it was time to get creative and work somewhat outside the box. Thus at New York, Scion introduced the
Building A New Car With Some Help From My Friends
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December 4th, 2012 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com Day two of Buick Week. Yesterday we gave you a review of the 2013 Buick Verano, up today is a First Drive of the 2013 Buick Enclave. Buick first introduced their jumbo-sized Enclave crossover in 2007 for the 2008 model year. The Enclave quickly made a name for itself as a true luxury ride and also brought down Buick’s average buyer age dramatically. Though that body generation of Enclave just completed its fifth year on t
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The holiday road trip: A time where the family fills up the vehicle with presents and luggage to head out and enjoy time with relatives and friends. But for many, the trip becomes a miserable experience with kids arguing and getting into fights over the stupidest things, while the parents begin yelling at their kids to stop it or we’re pulling to the side of the road. Such was the case of many holiday trips I took as a child. So this past Christmas, my parents asked if I would be willing to dr
Dashing Through The Snow, In A 400 Horsepower SUV
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Here is something to consider; the current Buick Enclave has been with us since 2007. In that time, Buick has sold almost 500,000 Enclaves and stands as one of the best-selling models for the brand. The most impressive part? The Enclave hasn’t changed that much. Usually, a vehicle’s lifecycle involves a refresh within two to three years and a redesign in about six. The Enclave has only received minor changes - new V6 and small changes for the exterior and interior. Everything else is much the sa
Trying to figure how a nine-year old crossover is still one of Buick's bestsellers
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 11, 2012 Spending the next few days here in the Cheers and Gears Detroit garage is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco. This is Chevrolet's second hybrid sedan; the first being the last generation Malibu Hybrid sold from 2008-2009. The Malibu Eco comes equipped with GM's eAssist mild hybrid system. The system provides a 15 HP and 79 ft-lb of torque boost to the 2.4L four-cylinder engine's 182 HP and 171 lb-ft of torque. So how does it drive?
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 24, 2013 Stopgap. Standby. Stand-In. Makeshift. Temporary. Interim. Placeholder. All of these words in one way or another have been used to describe Cadillac's current flagship, the XTS. When the XTS was introduced back in 2012, it filled the gap left by the DTS and STS. It also became a vehicle to serve as the flagship until the long-rumored rear-wheel drive flagship appears. But do all these words hurt the XTS? Is it something more tha
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The Nissan Versa Note is a competent subcompact. I know, that sounds like damning praise. But the Versa Note has a lot of good points to it. The model is efficient on fuel, has loads of space, and comes with a fair amount of tech features for the low price. But the Versa Note is a bit dull in terms of design. Nissan has decided to address this issue by introducing the Versa Note SR. This model boasts a number of sporty touches to make the Versa Note more appealing. Let's see if this fixes the du
The Nissan Versa Note, NOW WITH MORE SPORT*
*Sporty Looks
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 24, 2012 This is a momentous occasion here in the Cheers & Gears Detroit Garage. For one, we welcome another new brand into fold. Also, its our first 2013 model year vehicle. Please welcome the 2013 Mazda CX-5 crossover. (I had a brief drive in a CX-5 back in May at the MAMA Spring Rally. You can check out my thoughts on it by clicking here.) This CX-5 is the mid-level Touring FWD model which starts at $23,895. That nets you a 2.0L
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December 5th, 2012 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheerandGears.com I am running a bit late with today’s Buick Week entry because I spent the day running around the countryside surrounding Atlanta, Georgia putting a few 2013 Buick Encores through the paces. That review will be available for you to tomorrow. In case you missed it, yesterday we went on a First Drive of the 2013 Buick Enclave. On the first day of Buick week I took you on a full review of the 2013 Buick Verano. Today we are going
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When I last reviewed the Acura MDX back in 2014, I mentioned that it and the RDX crossover made up a majority of the brand’s sales. That’s still true in 2017 as both models currently make up 63.8 percent of Acura’s sales through the end of March. In closing my review, I said Acura focused on fixing the issues that hurt the MDX before and left other things well alone, creating a balanced luxury crossover. But does that still hold up in a field that has become very competitive in the past couple o
Revisiting one of Acura's most popular models
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 27, 2013 Back in the late nineties and early 2000s, hybrid vehicles were seen as being on the fringe of the automotive marketplace. Built with fuel economy in mind, the first hybrid vehicles were for those who wanted to stand out while getting impressive fuel economy. Fast forward to today and hybrid vehicles are now part of the mainstream. A number of manufacturers are offering hybrids in different types of vehicles. From compact cars
Is it a wagon? Is it a van?
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It has been quite awhile since we did an interactive review (two years). But I thought it was time to bring it back. You might have questions for a particular vehicle and I can do my best to answer them. It also gives you guys a preview of what will be coming round the car review docket. So let us begin with this week's test vehicle - the 2015 Fiat 500L Easy. This is the biggest model in the Fiat lineup (until the Fiat 500X hits dealers), which really isn't saying a lot. I haven't spent a lot t
I have a 2016 Fiat 500L Easy this week, and you have questions.
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If you needed a cargo van in the past, you could only get one in either large and extra-large. There wasn’t really an option for something smaller, which left a number of business in a tough spot. They needed something that could carry deliveries or equipment, but be somewhat maneuverable and get decent gas mileage. Sure, some automakers offered a cargo version of their minivans. But they were not big sellers and some worried about the overall durability. In 2009, Ford introduced the Transit
The White Van From Italy*
*By Way of Turkey.
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December, 6th 2012 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor – CheersandGears.com Day 4 of Buick Week and we're talking about Buick's new 2013 Encore Buick Week: Day 1 – 2013 Buick Verano Review Day 2 – 2013 Buick Enclave First Drive Day 3 – 2013 Buick Verano Turbo First Drive Day 4 - 2013 Buick Encore First Drive Buick is betting that the next big thing in the crossover category is being little. Little SUVs and CUVs in the past have not sold well or grew up in size until their sales numbers incre
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 6, 2012 In for review this week at the Cheers & Gears Detroit garage is the vehicle that started the hybrid revolution. I'm of course referring to the Toyota Prius. Our test Prius is the Prius Four, which is the almost top of the line model in the lineup. As tested price for this $33,118.00 (includes $760.00 destination charge) thanks mostly to a Deluxe Solar Roof Package which adds a solar powered ventilation system and a load of
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 16, 2012 As the Chevrolet Malibu Eco leaves the Cheers and Gears Detroit garage, another vehicle arrives to take its place. The vehicle is the smallest Buick of them all, the new Verano. The Verano is equipped with a 2.4L four-cylinder producing 180 HP and 171 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed automatic. First impressions so far: The Verano is very, very quiet. Something I appreciate very much. Also, I'm finding the 2.4L to be an ok powe
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Space, the final frontier. Besides being one of the well known lines in pop culture, it’s a perfect description for the Nissan Versa. When the automaker first introduced the Versa, it promoted that the model had a lot of space for not a lot of money. With this combination, Nissan was able to take a nice chunk of the subcompact marketplace. But as time went on, the subcompact marketplace got more competitive with automakers introducing brand new models that offered more than a low price. However
Is Space and a Low Price A Good Plan For A Subcompact?
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The Subaru Outback has followed a formula of taking a wagon and making it somewhat capable off the beaten path. This formula has proved to be a massive success for the brand with the Outback being one the top sellers year after year. So what happens when this formula is applied to a smaller vehicle? Let’s find out as a 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek came in for a weeklong review. Starting with the Impreza Hatchback as a base, Subaru makes a few key changes to make the XV Crosstrek more rugged. The
A Compact and Rugged Crossover
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“You win for bringing the most inappropriate vehicle,” said Drew as I was coming into our rental house for the Detroit Auto Show. I couldn’t say he was wrong. The vehicle in question, a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring, isn’t what I would call the perfect vehicle for winter or be in traveling to an auto show. But here I was with a Miata parked on the street. I should explain how I ended up with a Miata over the winter. It goes a few months back to a conversation thread I was somehow looki
Who in their right mind would drive a convertible in the middle of winter?!
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Last week, we introduced to the Scion iA. This model is part of a two-prong attack for Scion to get themselves out of the dark hole they currently find themselves in. The second prong to this attack is the Scion iM. Like the Scion iA, Scion turned to another maker - in this case Toyota - to see about using a current model to help revitalize their lineup. What they got was the European-market Toyota Auris hatchback as a replacement for the boxy xB. We came away impressed with the iA, will the iM
Heading Into the Mainstream
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 18, 2012 In 2008, Chrysler was dreaming about their possible future. The economy was in the tank, sales were down, and they were losing money in every which way. Development had come to a standstill as everyone in Chrysler headquarters wondered the same thing: could we pull off a Hail Mary like we had done many times before? The answer was yes and the Savior would come in the form of Fiat. Since then, Fiat/Chrysler has been hard at work
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 30, 2012 If there was an automaker who closely followed Mitsubishi’s story in the U.S. to a degree, that automaker would be Suzuki. Suzuki, much like Mitsubishi was a rising star in the 1990’s and early 2000’s with vehicles like the Swift, Sidekick, Grand Vitara, XL7, and SX4. However in the late 2000’s, Suzuki began a fast decline into obscurity. Magazine and television ads began to disappear slowly, dealers either closed up shop or turn
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 4, 2013 When Toyota introduced the refreshed Yaris subcompact last year, they also introduced a new tagline which is somewhat questionable. The tagline was "Yaris, it's a car!" So we know the Yaris is a car and not anything else, but is it one that you should go out and spend your money on? I spent a week with the 2013 Yaris L three-door to find out. Let's start with the obvious: This particular Yaris is a three-door model, which happe
IT'S A CAR! Okay then...
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It may seem a bit odd to call the Nissan Murano a trailblazer in the crossover class. But when it launched in December of 2002 as 2003 model, it was quite the revelation. Here was a crossover from a volume manufacturer that was not only sharp looking, but had a lot of features were found on luxury models at the time. It proved to a winning formula for Nissan. With the second-generation Murano, Nissan focused luxury and refinement. But the Murano also lost some of the distinctiveness from the des
Stylish Crossover Enters Stage Right
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Before the full madness of the New York Auto Show comes upon us, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about this week's test car and spill some thoughts on it. The vehicle in question happens to be the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler, which is a special edition model for the 2015 model year. Based on the Sport model, the Willys Wheeler gets such features as rock rails from the Rubicon model, 17-inch wheels, a new rear differential, and a number of decals on the outside. I like the exter
I Have A Jeep Wrangler In For Review. Ask Me Anything About It.
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There is a running joke in the automotive world that the perfect vehicle for an enthusiast is a rear-drive station wagon with a diesel engine and manual transmission. The closest we ever got to this ’nirvana’ was the Volkswagen Jetta and Golf SportWagen. While not rear-wheel drive, the Jetta and Golf wagons did offer a diesel and manual transmission combination. Not only did they become one of the darlings of the automotive press, but consumers would soon jump on the diesel wagon bandwagon thank
The anti-compact crossover!
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Lexus might not be the first choice when it comes to a compact luxury coupe. But when I drove the RC 350 F-Sport back in 2015, we found it to be a very capable coupe. Aside from the creamsicle paint color, the RC impressed me with distinctive styling, punchy V6, and sharp handling. Two years later, I find myself revisiting the RC - this time with the base 2.0L turbo-four engine. As I would find out during our week, there is a lot to like about the standard RC. But there is one glaring issue that
A case of right car, wrong engine
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 11, 2012 If you’re a car company and you’re planning a new compact luxury sedan, sooner or later someone will bring up the elephant in the room: How is it going to fare against the BMW 3-Series? For the past twenty-plus years, the BMW 3-Series has been the benchmark of the compact luxury car class. Why? Because the 3-Series provided a balance of performance and luxury in one complete compact package. It was the vehicle that many automa
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It's not easy being number three. Especially in the class of the midsize sedan where the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry rule the roost. But there is a model which has been making itself at home in third place. That model would be the Nissan Altima. In its current incarnation, the Altima has been making a name for itself among the likes of the Accord and Camry. But why does the Altima end up sitting in third place in sales at the end of year? Well I spent a week with a 2014 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL an
It's Not Easy Being Number 3
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The end of another year is upon us and I’m in the process of picking my favorite vehicles from the year. But before we get to that, I need to give some vehicles their time in the review spotlight. Trying to crank a review or a two a week is a hard task for some folks, myself included. I tend to spend a week with a vehicle, driving it in my daily routine, taking notes and photos, and hopefully beginning the review before the vehicle leaves. But that last part is the thickest part as it doesn’t al
Closing out 2015 with the final reviews of vehicles from this year
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Last week, I spent the morning with Nissan to check out the redesigned Armada SUV, refreshed Pathfinder crossover, and the all-new Titan half-ton pickup. Nissan says this year is the year of the truck. Considering last year was the year of the sedan and the mixed reaction we had to it, we’re somewhat worried how this ‘year of the truck’ would land. A brief note before we dive into our impressions of the three vehicles. I only got about 30 minutes with each vehicle, so I can’t give you a def
We spend some time with Nissan's 2017 trucks and SUVs
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 7, 2013 "And the winner of Miss Fleet Queen 2013 is.... the 2013 Chevrolet Impala! There she is, Miss Fleet Queen for 2013." A bit harsh, but sadly it is true. The last generation Impala is known in the automotive world as being a fleet queen. Not many Impalas end up on driveways: Instead you can find them at your nearest rental lot, police station, or used car lot at very low prices. In fact, General Motors said that 70 percent of Impal
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 4, 2012 Hybrid vehicles usually fall into two completely different categories. The first category is filled with vehicles whose main purpose to use a hybrid powertrain is to eek out every drop of gas, which typically means they lack the fun to drive factor. The second category is the opposite; vehicles which use their hybrid powertrain, using a smaller engine, to produce the power and fuel economy of a larger engine. There are a few a
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The end of another year is upon us and I’m in the process of picking my favorite vehicles from the year. But before we get to that, I need to give some vehicles their time in the review spotlight. Trying to crank a review or a two a week is a hard task for some folks, myself included. I tend to spend a week with a vehicle, driving it in my daily routine, taking notes and photos, and hopefully beginning the review before the vehicle leaves. But that last part is the thickest part as it doesn’t al
Closing out 2015 with the final reviews of vehicles from this year (Part 2)
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Despite the popularity of compact crossovers, it seems somewhat odd there isn’t a large number of hybrid variants. In fact, there is only one available, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Going hybrid usually means a hit in performance and cargo space. But in the case of the RAV4 Hybrid, it is quicker than the standard model and cargo space isn’t greatly affected. I spent some time with the RAV4 Hybrid over the holidays where it was driven to Northern Michigan and back. This is what I learned. The R
What is it like to drive the only hybrid small crossover on sale?
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 12, 2012 The introduction of the new Cadillac XTS at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show marked the beginning of a new era. The XTS would be one the first Cadillac models to use their new CUE (short for Cadillac User Experience) infotainment system. Since then, CUE has made its way into new ATS and refreshed SRX. I sampled CUE in the 2013 Cadillac ATS 3.6 AWD reviewed yesterday. CUE is made up of four key components: a large eight-inch c
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It feels somewhat weird to be writing a review of the 2018 Ram 1500 as the 2019 model begins to slowly roll out to dealers. Ram is trying their best get the 2018s out the door. At the time of this writing, Ram is offering up to $12,356 bonus cash on certain 1500 models. Seems very tempting, but are there some other reasons to consider the older 1500 over the new one? Design is very subjective. One person may like the design of a vehicle, while the another may think it is quite ugly. Case
Taking a look at the outgoing model one last time
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Has it really been almost four years since we last took at the Kia Optima? Going back through our review archives, the answer is yes with the 2012 Optima Hybrid. Since this time, we have driven the full gamut of midsize sedans that have impressed us (Honda Accord EX) or ended up to be a big dud (Chevrolet Malibu Eco). The Optima hasn’t been resting on its laurels during this time either. Kia has been improving the sedan over time with new features and trim levels. Last year, the company introduc
Revisiting one of our favorite midsize sedans
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You have to wonder what is in the water at Nissan’s headquarters when you first glance at the Juke crossover. This subcompact crossover/hatchback/thing was very polarizing when it first introduced back in 2010. I was one of those people who thought the Juke was an ugly beast and wondered if Nissan was being mind-controlled by aliens. But since then, I have warmed up to the Juke and appreciated that someone was willing to take a chance on a design that stood out. Would this feeling continue if I
The Crossover from Planet Nine
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 15, 2012 I'm very excited with this week's vehicle at the Cheers & Gears' Detroit Garage since its a Volvo and very special one at that. This happens to be the 2013 Volvo S60 T6 AWD R-Design. Now, the R-Design adds some performance goodies to a normal S60 T6 AWD in the form of some changes to the body giving it a more aggressive look, a R-Design sport chassis, and some performance tweaks to the 3.0L turbocharged six-cylinder engine.
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 11, 2013 Whenever you have a conversation that revolves around the Hyundai Equus, two questions pop up: Hyundai is building a luxury sedan? Won't the Hyundai Equus end up having a similar fate as the Volkswagen Phaeton? The second question comes up a lot since the Equus and Phaeton share a lot of commonalities: Both come from automakers with modest lineup Both are/were the most expensive models in the lineup Both came
The $61,920 Question
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The Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX 570 are part of an endangered species: SUVs designed with the purpose of going off-road. It may seem somewhat mad to describe most SUVs as not off-road oriented, but most buyers don’t really take SUVs off the beaten path. Automakers have responded in kind by providing a minimum four-wheel capability while improving on-road behavior. The Land Cruiser and LX 570 haven’t gone down this path as they have a small, but loyal owner base that would cry foul if Toyota
What happens when you take off-road oriented SUVs onto payment?
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When I learned that I would be getting a 2014 Nissan Titan 4X4 in for a week’s evaluation, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to fully test its capabilities. The reason is because this particular model was the Pro-4X which features a number of off-road tweaks such as Rancho performance shocks, lower final drive ratio, electronic locking rear differential, and other items. Well the week I got the pickup, Mother Nature decided to drop half a foot in snow. Thank you Mother Nature I thought as I
This Old Truck Tackles The Snow
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 15, 2013 Answer: This vehicle in 2012 sold 404,886 units, making it the best selling passenger car in the U.S. for the past eleven years Question: What is the Toyota Camry? Why has the Toyota Camry been the best selling car in the U.S. for eleven years? After spending a week with a 2013 Camry XLE four-cylinder, I might have the answer to this question. The Camry's exterior design doesn't take any real risks. You won't find any distinct
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To say Hyundai grabbed everyone’s attention when they launched the Genesis at the 2008 North American International Auto Show is a true understatement. Here was a model that came with rear-wheel drive, a choice of either a V6 or V8 engine, many luxury appointments and features, and the value the company was known for. The Genesis left many wondering what the devil the company was doing, but Hyundai had a plan. The Genesis was a model they thought would not only bring new people into the Hyundai
Hyundai Genesis, Take 2.. and Action
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Over two years ago, I spent some time in then redesigned Hyundai Genesis. Unlike most of the test vehicles that come with everything minus the kitchen sink, the Genesis 3.8 I had was a base model with no options. It would prove to be “a damn fine automobile” as it offered many of items and driving experience you would expect in a luxury vehicle, minus the price tag. Since then, Hyundai has spun off Genesis into its own brand and the vehicle wearing this name has gotten a new one, G80. When it wa
Same Car, Different Name
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Back in 2010, I had gotten a phone call from my editor at an automotive website I was working for at the time. He wanted to know if I would be interested in helping out with a comparison test of the just launched Chevrolet Cruze versus its predecessor, the Cobalt. Of course I wanted to help out. It would be a great chance to try this new compact sedan that was being claimed as the best General Motors had ever done. I was nervous as my editor and I met up and drove to the dealership where the tw
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 6, 2012 Mazda is not in the best of health. The past year has been a struggle for the ’zoom-zoom’ brand; Mazda’s growing reliance on their plants in Japan despite other automakers leaving to other places due to the rising yen, leaving the production line at the Flat Rock, MI plant, laying off workers at their U.S. headquarters, and other troubling news, all contribute to a disconcerting future. The company is banking on two items that
