Automotive Reviews
Christopher Jackson
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Posts by Christopher Jackson
2011 Scion xD
Oct 11th
There’s some question as to if Scion has lost its cutting-edge mojo. The brand has gotten a bit conservative thanks to influence from parent company Toyota, and Kia and Nissan are fielding edgier subcompacts these days. The new microcompact iQ is interesting, but has limited appeal, the redesigned tC is an excellent car but arguably less in-your-face than it has been in the past, and the boxy xB has faded almost entirely into the woodwork thanks to an influx of cube-shaped vehicles from Kia, Nissan and others.
Somewhere behind the xB in terms of curbside crowd-drawing ability is the xD. Unchanged since 2008, the xD is perhaps exempt for the moment from the pressure to be the attention-getter of the family. In fact, there’s a chance it might’ve been cancelled by now if it weren’t for the upsurge in gas prices. And it’s precisely that upswing that keeps the xD, which isn’t fresh in hip-car terms, from being hopelessly out of date. More >
2011 Dodge Durango
Oct 5th
You might not have noticed, but Dodge’s Ram pickup trucks recently became a separate brand. The split is quietly indicative of what’s going on with Dodge’s mid-size SUV. In the past, the Durango was one of the truckiest sport-utes out there, carrying design cues and sharing engines with the pickups. Now, as if freed of the need to try and impress big brother Ram, the Durango is all-new for 2011 and seems to have finally come into its own as a suburban SUV that’s still tough enough to work hard. 
A platform change puts the Durango onto the same chassis as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, and as far as relatives go, being related to a Jeep is a Good Thing. The Durango’s now on a unibody platform, and its three-row seating has been improved. More >
2012 GMC Acadia Denali
Sep 26th
This may sound silly, but GMC’s Denali-branded vehicles remind me a lot of the way a Hollywood pirate ship often looks. They’re big, elegant vehicles, almost stately, rife with luxury trappings and plenty of special trim. Up close and under the skin, however, pirate ships and Denali trucks are working vehicles, sturdily-built and designed to tackle arduous tasks.
The new GMC Acadia Denali is no exception. The top-of-the-line Acadia features upgraded interior appointments and a more substantial look, as well as the power and poise that make this full-size crossover one of the most capable vehicles in its class. And what’s the Denali’s class? This truck is a big beast, but it’s not a body-on-frame working vehicle like the Suburan. The Acadia is more like a manly alternative to a minivan; it’s one of the few full-size crossover vehicles, and the Denali package adds a full complement of luxury items to the menu. More >