Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged sport sedan
2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T
Dec 20th
It’s not quite a Cinderella story, because the Hyundai Sonata’s been getting steadily better for the past decade or so. The most recent evolution is certainly the most eye-catching, though, thanks to a new, dynamic face and extravagant styling.
After twenty-three years in the North American market, the Sonata seems to have finally developed a personality, and it’s cutting-edge. The Sonata features dramatic, sporty lines, fuel-efficient powertrains and dramatic improvements in road manners and comfort. Hyundai has expanded the Sonata lineup to include a hybrid, and there’s a turbocharged version as well. More >
2011 BMW 550i
Jul 13th
This is an automotive truth: BMWs are happier with manual transmissions. I have yet to drive a BMW that wasn’t dramatically more fun when equipped with a stick. I sampled the all-new 550i last spring and came away generally unimpressed; it was a competent luxury sedan that could tackle the twisties with aplomb, but not markedly cooler than a comparable Audi A6.
Drop a six-speed manual transmission into the equation, however, and the 550i is transformed into a serious piece of driving equipment. BMWs aren’t about being comfortable when stuck in rush-hour traffic, in the end. This is a car that demands driver engagement. Even the cupholders are inconvenient, an afterthought. More >
2011 Volvo S60
Jun 3rd
A sexy, ultra-modern sedan showed up in the driveway, painted a handsome metallic burnt-orange and looking like it had been driven out of a science-fiction movie set four or five years in the future. Without any overt performance styling tropes like massive fender flares or spoilers, the car communicated a quiet sense of capability that was backed up by the familiar circle-and-arrow logo in the grille. Remember when Volvos were boxy, forgettable cars?
Volvo’s S60 gets a style update for 2011, as well as a horsepower boost and a bunch of new technology. Though the tweaks are subtle, they’re telling ones, and this capable European luxury sedan is suddenly looking like a show car come to life. More >