Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged do-all
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Apr 2nd
Mitsubishi’s new compact crossover is typical of the breed; it’s got decent handling, decent fuel economy and is capable of hauling a fair amount of cargo. Really, it’s a glorified compact station wagon, but the advent of the SUV age made small wagons unfashionable. So, instead of a Mitsubishi Lancer wagon, we get the Outlander Sport. Essentially it’s the same thing, just a bit taller. My tester was a base model and lacked even all-wheel drive.
And then the season’s biggest snowstorm rolled through. Pretender to the SUV class or not, the Outlander Sport was on the spot. Eight inches of snow or not, there were errands to be run and a snowblower that wasn’t going to transport itself across town to help clear Grandpa’s walk. With just front-wheel drive and all-season tires, the Outlander Sport might as well have been a Toyota Camry. More >
2011 Ford Edge
Feb 25th
Somewhere at the intersection of family sedans, SUVs and the good old woody wagon, there’s the Ford Edge. Ford’s crossover utility vehicle didn’t completely change the game when it arrived in 2006, but it went a long way toward defining the segment. The Edge is the result of a generation of family cars asked to perform a wide and often unpredictable variety of tasks. It’s almost impossible to take this vehicle by surprise; the Edge is ready for anything the suburbs can throw at it and more.
For 2011 Ford’s crossover receives a freshening, gaining a less anonymous face, new high-tech engines and an exciting new information system that’s borrowed directly from Ford’s concept cars. The crossover market has gotten more crowded in the past twelve months, but the updated Edge still stands out. More >
2006 Pontiac Torrent
Dec 31st
I hope you’re happy. All of the carping and ridicule heaped upon Pontiac’s Aztek since its introduction has made the company bashful, and the introduction of a much more capable do-all has been made so quietly as to practically go unnoticed.
Maybe it’s just the hype surrounding the Solstice and G6 retractable hardtop, but it seems like the all-new Pontiac Torrent hasn’t gotten nearly as much attention as one would expect. It’s a sort-of SUV that fills the gap in the lineup left by the Aztek’s departure. It’s not the same size as the Aztek, but its multi-purposeful body and available all-wheel drive mean that it will appeal to similar buyers. It’s based (perhaps a bit too closely) on the Chevrolet Equinox, and Pontiac calls it an SUV but it’s more of a do-all than an off-roader. More >