By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Two powerful and fuel-efficient engines
• Stabilitrak standard on all models
• Flexible and Usable
• Options Galore

Dings:

• Poor visibility out rear window
• Rev limiter kicks in right at redline
• Options Galore

Ruling: For those who like options with their small utility vehicle, look no further.

When the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix - sister cars built through a joint venture in Fremont, CA - were released in 2002, they represented a new direction in practical yet fun cars. When people first saw them, some were confused as to what they were supposed to be. It looked part minivan, part hatchback and part sports sedan. Some call it a “small crossover”. Whatever the classification, after six model years of successful sales, the Vibe and Matrix have sold quite well. But like any car that’s gone six years without a redesign, it’s look has become a bit tired. So when GM designers and engineers sat down to create the 2009 Pontiac Vibe, they wanted to make sure the ‘part minivan’ part no longer registered in the minds of potential buyers, so they styled it, contoured it and chopped a little off the roof. They also focused on improving it’s ride quality, powertrain options and interior noise levels. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Raucous 361 HP 6.0 Liter V8 for under $30K
• Rear-Wheel Drive
• Active fuel-management system
• No Navigation

Dings:

• No manual tranny and no paddle shifters
• Oil and volt gauges out of a 1984 6000 STE
• No Navigation

Ruling: Chalk one up for the merits of Globalization. Read the rest of this entry »

by Gary Chan

Pros

• Comfortable seats
• Quiet cruising
• Smooth acceleration

Cons

• Gas mileage (no where near 27 mpg)
• Brake dive
• Plastic interior not well implemented

Read the rest of this entry »

by Alex Kramer

Screaming fast turbo-charged engine? Check. Wide grippy tires? Check. Wind in your hair convertible top? Check. Head turning design? Check. New respect for Saturn from the car enthusiast crowd? Check!

Pros:

• Grin inducing acceleration
• Well balanced suspension
• True high performance tires
• “Look at me!” exterior design
• Lots of speed for little cash

Cons:

• Automatic transmission needs a manual mode
• Finicky convertible top
• Cheap interior plastic
• No cargo room

Read the rest of this entry »

Editor’s note: The following is a detailed review submitted by LarryQW who recently purchased a Taurus X. Larry, whose background as an engineer, family man, and avid mountain biker, gives us his impressions of the Taurus X. Larry also wrote a review of the SYNC system and will be published very soon.

Options Installed

• Navigation System
• Family Entertainment System (with rear DVD player)
• Auxiliary Climate Control
• Limited Convenience Group

Major Pros:

• good handling and power
• large flexible interior for big family and cargo
• electronics haven

Major Cons:

• cheap hard-plastic dash
• low Navigation screen
• only 2000 lb towing
• only 5.1” ground clearance

Read the rest of this entry »

By Twain Mein

Pros:

• Very smooth ride
• Plenty of power
• Yep-18 miles per gallon

Cons:

• Expensive
• Susceptible to winds
• WIDE

Introduction
This is GM’s bold entry into the Hybrid SUV market. At first glance, the all black beast was intimidating yet “friendly” with its hybrid decals plastered about. What would it be like?

Read the rest of this entry »

by Francis Cebedo

Blings:

• Smooth and powerful V6 powerplant
• Supple ride quality combined with above-average handling abilities
• Excellent interior design and construction
• Very good steering wheel and dashboard controls in terms of ergonomics and quality
• Microsoft SYNC
• Third row seats are comfortable and easy to access.
• Third row seats fold down flat and disappear into the floor area
• Rear passenger center console is big and convenient
• 2nd row passenger heated seats is a nice touch
• Sound system and integrated DVD system works very well
• Very quiet interior
• Instructions for folding down the seats are printed right on the seats

Dings:

• Top of the dashboard is hard plastic and not up to par at this price level
• Chrome wheels look cheap
• Exterior styling is bland and uninspired.
• Material for the back of the third row seats should be a more robust material than the carpet offered.

Ruling:

This is one of the finest US cars we’ve driven. Crossover, XUV, SAV,or whatever you want to call it, this is a fine automobile. Its form is adapted to the active family lifestyle and it works. It seems like cars are finally maturing as the Taurus X just transports the family in comfort through all the activities through all weather conditions. We’ve driven minivans, SUVs, wagons and trucks. This form of vehicle crosses all borders and works very well.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Francis Cebedo

Setting the bar… that’s what the Honda Accord specializes in and that’s exactly what it does with the new 2008 Honda Accord EX-L

I’ve driven the past four generations of Honda Accords and was not to eager to try out the new 2008 model. They had a tendency to keep going and going in a utilitarian but uninspiring way.

But when I got this new Accord for review, I was stopped in my tracks. It is gorgeous inside and out. It seems that Honda has really put in an effort to build cars that have a personality. They do their job well but now they’re interesting and inspiring to drive. Then Honda Element, Odyssey and Fit are fine examples of this.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Holly R.

Pros:

• LOTS of room inside
• Sits up higher than standard cars - easier to see up the road over traffic
• For only having 166 HP, it feels like it can really get up and move
• Due to the size, it’s really easy to park (pretty much anywhere)
• Voice recognition system

Cons:

• Not-so-smooth shifting which leads to some jerkiness
• Didn’t like the placement of the gear-shift knob (on lower dash)
• Volume control for stereo in non-intuitive location
• Side mirrors are small, which led to head check view between the B pillar and a small sliver of the rear window (eek)
• Voice recognition system

Read the rest of this entry »

What is on Farley’s mind other than thinking about his next bag of oats? Parked next to Farley’s corral is the new GMC Yukon Hybrid featuring GM’s 2-mode hybrid system. The 2008 Yukon Hybrid boasts a 332 hp, 6.0L Vortec V8, a NiMH 300V battery, two 60KW motors in the transmission, and nifty software that controls the whole caboodle. Not only can you pack in 8 passengers utilizing the 3rd row seating, but this 4×4 hybrid has the capacity to tow 6,000 pounds. Translation: mom can take the team to soccer practice during the week and dad can tow the family boat to the lake on the weekend.

Read the rest of this entry »