Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged AWD
2012 Honda Pilot
Jan 21st
Honda’s Pilot comes off as family-values motoring at its finest. It’s big and purposeful, with a blocky design that’s more curb appeal-friendly than a minivan’s but enough smooth edges that it’s not mistaken for a self-indulgent, fuelish SUV. Those slab sides also project an impression of strength and a willingness to protect the seven passengers within.
And that’s just from the outside. An environment-friendly 3.5 liter V6 engine, generous safety and comfort features and improved fuel economy for 2012 are on hand to put the Pilot near the top of any family’s list. More >
2011 Lexus RX 450h
Oct 31st
Appreciating the Lexus RX 450h requires a keen sense of the subtle. What Lexus has done with this vehicle is taken the relatively simple process of propelling a car down the road, made it impossibly complex, and then refined it so that it seems simple again.
Confused? Just check out the power-flow display on the dash, a prominent feature in all of the Toyota/Lexus family hybrids. The complicated dance of electric and gasoline power, battery charging and regenerative braking as well as engine shutoff and re-start, is evident only in the constantly changing power-flow arrows of the display. Without it, you’d never know what this luxury hybrid crossover was up to.
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 >