By Don Hammonds

Toyota’s venerable RAV4 isn’t so venerable any more–because it’s been heavily  transformed.

It’s got snappy new looks to entice buyers who may mistakenly think they will find the same model in Toyota showrooms that they’ve seen before.  It’s somewhat roomier than previous models. And the interior materials and presentation have been stepped up considerably.

Power comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. You will find that the  six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and  you …

By Don Hammonds

The calendar says summer is well past the midpoint now, so if you want to get in some sun, better hurry!

Or you can wait for fall; we think that’s a much better time for top down driving.

And if you’re looking for a companion, look no further than the 2014 VW Beetle Convertible R-Line with Sound and Nav.  That’s a mouth full, we know.  But it won’t take you nearly as long to fall in love with the car.

 The …

By Don Hammonds

I can remember when the Toyota Prius seemed to be such a futuristic car.

From the out of this world hybrid gas electric hybrid system to its exciting looking future world dash board to the shape of the dashboard to its gee whiz profile, the Toyota Pruis, seemed like it was from a galaxy far. awayNow, in the year of Our Lord 2014, theres little that differentiates Prius from other hybrids onthe road. And today, Little has changed with …

2014 Volkswagen CC: German stunner

By Don Hammonds
 
When it comes to automotive luxury, more than two can play the game. Any number of elegant  sedans with four door coupe styling are on the market these days  and you don’t even have to be a luxury sedan maker to play. Consider Volkswagen’s gorgeous 2014 CC R Type, a people pleasing sedan for the five people who get to ride in it.

 Elegant, yes. Fast? To be sure.  Fastback, sexy four door coupe styling? Yep. …

By Don Hammonds

Jeep’s new Cherokee, the replacement for the venerable Jeep Liberty, has gone upscale and refined on us.

The Liberty certainly was a popular crossover but those who know the auto industry will tell you that the Liberty, while pleasant enough,was both rather unrefined and getting long in the tooth.

Now, enter Cherokee, a name with a long and rich history at Jeep.

But this newest Jeep has little in common with the Liberty, and certeinly even less in common with the

Cherokee …

By Donald Hammonds

The French say that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Could that really be true of the 2014 Nissan Altima?  We think it is.

And that’s a good thing.

The  2014 Altima is what it always has been:  Roomy, ultra quiet, and a car that appeals to the performance minded family person. Only Honda’s Accord and to a slightly lesser extent, the Ford Fusion, can go to the mat with Altima on the performance angle.

     If you’re …

By Don Hammonds

Lucky for buyers of entry level luxury sports sedans!

Each of the entries has its own niche, its own personality and market. To us at Automobile Journal, its not so much that one model is better than another, rather, its more important that you know which one of the models on the market suits your personality and needs best.

BMW Three Series is clearly the choice for those wanting a dyed in the wool,  high performance sedan with superb handling and a pedigree  …

     By Don Hammonds

     If we had to describe the 2014 Lincoln MKZ it would the word “futuristic.”

     I can’t think of a single piece of usable new technology that this car  does not have, and if Lincoln officials are ;looking for a new way to sell it, that’s the angle to use as far as we aer concerned.

      When you enter this car, you notice the unusual contour of the seats, the sweeping dashboard and console that look as …

By Don Hammonds

There are so many things to say about the 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo.

That’s because more than some of the BMWs we’ve tested, this one is an enigma to us that we find at once fascinating, and yet so hard to pin down.  That’s not because of anything negative, but  because it has so many wonderful qualities it’s hard to figure out how to categorize it.

     You could call it an incredible performance sedan because of its …

   By Don Hammonds

The 2014 Infiniti QX80 isn’t for everyone.

And it’s not meant to be for everyone.

      Thanks to the sheer bigness of it, the unusual exterior design and the challenges of driving it in crowded settings, some people in the marketplace might shrink from it, to be honest.

      But if you’re a luxury full size buyer, need the room for people and things,  you need strong towing capacity for a boat, and you’ve got money to pay for the …