Reviews

William Maley-Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com Drew Dowdell - Chief Editor - CheersandGears.com contributing March 27, 2012 General Motors doesn’t have a great track record with subcompact cars. One only needs to read through a list of names of former Chevrolet subcompacts to see the trail of disappointment; Vega, Monza, Chevette, Sprint, Spectrum, Metro, and Aveo. But, at last year’s North American International Auto Show, GM introduced a new subcompact car - one that would hopefully banish away the bad reputation GM was known for this class. The car was called the Sonic. Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing said at the time, "The all-new Chevrolet …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 20, 2013 If you have been paying any attention for the past few weeks here at Cheers & Gears, you know I had the chance to drive two top selling compact luxury crossovers; the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac SRX. Both of them left me wondering why they are so popular. The Cadillac had a great design and tech, but the engine was somewhat pokey and the fuel economy left a lot to be desired. The Lexus had an exciting exterior and very impressive fuel economy, but driving dynamics were a mixed bag and the feature set for the price left me scratching my head. There had to be a compact luxury crossover that didn't leave me w…

When I learned that I would be getting a 2014 Nissan Titan 4X4 in for a week’s evaluation, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to fully test its capabilities. The reason is because this particular model was the Pro-4X which features a number of off-road tweaks such as Rancho performance shocks, lower final drive ratio, electronic locking rear differential, and other items. Well the week I got the pickup, Mother Nature decided to drop half a foot in snow. Thank you Mother Nature I thought as I got into the truck. Driving the Titan Pro-4X through the snow was a very fun experience. With a 5.6L V8 engine making 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque, and the 4WD set …

Interactive Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid For our first entry from the Ford media fleet, Ford decided to put one of it's best feet forward. They sent Motor Trend's car of the year in Light Ice Blue Metallic. So gear up your questions for our Interactive Review. 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Photo Gallery

As I landed in Denver, I was thinking about the long weekend ahead of me. I came to town to help some friends in a bad situation, the trip sponsored partially by their family. As I perused the car rental lot, there were loads of new Nissan Frontiers, Toyota 4-Runners and Tacomas, and of course the rows of mini-vans. But tucked in the back with a sign on top that said, "I'm Electric!" was a 2022 Kia Niro EV. With a mind on my sponsor's costs and knowing I'd be spending a lot of time in granola-hippie Boulder, Colorado, I piled my luggage into the back and verified with the gate attendant that I did not need to return the vehicle "full". 2022 is the final model year…

For awhile, the best Buick you could buy was a Lexus ES. Lexus was able to take the formula that Buick had worked so hard on proving a smooth and comfortable car and just do it better. But Buick is back on the upswing. The recently refreshed LaCrosse shows that Buick is back and wanting to challenge the ES on territory it once held. So which is the better model; the LaCrosse or the ES? I spent some time in the 2014 ES 350 to try answer this. The ES 350’s exterior looks awkward as it seems Lexus was trying to make the ES look somewhat sportier, while retaining some of the handsomeness of previous models. The front has the spindle grille with flat bars running across and a…

I happen to be a big fan of the Kia Soul. Its daring looks, spacious interior, and overall value make it an interesting option in the compact class. It seems many others would agree as the Soul is one of Kia’s best selling models. To help keep it up there, Kia has introduced a new turbo engine for the top-line Exclaim (!) model along with minor changes for 2017. Let's see how these changes affect the Soul. Aside from the turbo engine, Kia made some design tweaks to the Exclaim to have it stand out from other Soul trims. This includes a new front bumper, red accents, 18-inch alloy wheels, a twin-tip exhaust, and exclusive colors like this copper color seen here. Th…

To say Hyundai grabbed everyone’s attention when they launched the Genesis at the 2008 North American International Auto Show is a true understatement. Here was a model that came with rear-wheel drive, a choice of either a V6 or V8 engine, many luxury appointments and features, and the value the company was known for. The Genesis left many wondering what the devil the company was doing, but Hyundai had a plan. The Genesis was a model they thought would not only bring new people into the Hyundai fold; it would raise the allure of the brand. That’s just what the model did. Consider this: In 2009 when Genesis was on sale for a full year, Hyundai sold 13,604 Genesis models. I…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 30, 2013 The last time we reviewed a Cadillac SRX, it came with the choice of two different engines, an interior lifted from the Cadillac CTS, and coming close to being second in sales in the small luxury crossover arena. Fast forward two years and the SRX has undergone a bit of a change; there is now one engine, a revised exterior and interior, and coming very close to the Lexus RX in sales... (RX: 95,381 units. SRX: 57,485 units) A revisit it seemed was in order. That’s what happened a few weeks ago as a 2013 Cadillac SRX AWD Performance Collection was dropped off for a week’s evaluation. The overall design…

I’m going to list out some auto manufacturers and I want you to tell me which one doesn’t belong. Ready? Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Kia, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz. If you said Kia, then you'd be correct. Why is Kia on this list? For a very good reason. Like its sister car company Hyundai, Kia has introduced a luxury flagship. Called the K900, this is the automaker’s attempt to take on the old guard in the luxury flagship class. It may seem like a joke; Kia taking on the likes of the Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. But after spending a week in one, I think Kia has a very legitimate chance in this market. Before we fully dive into the vehicle itself, let’s tal…

(Author's Note: As was pointed out to me on Facebook, the diesel engine is nowhere to be seen on the consumer site or the configurator. Yet, it appears in FCA's media materials. In an email sent this afternoon, Ram Trucks spokesman Nick Cappa said the option has been dropped for 2018. This review has been updated with this new information. -WM) I’ll admit that I was a bit crazy requesting a 2018 Ram ProMaster van for review. Ever since it was introduced, I have been interested in this rebadged version of the Fiat Ducato van sold elsewhere. Unlike most vans that use a rear-wheel drive layout, the ProMaster uses a front-wheel drive one. I wanted to know if this works f…

My wheels for the week are a 2020 Toyota Corolla XLE sedan. This one is well equipped with Toyota Safety Sense now standard, Toyota Entune with Apple CarPlay, Adaptive lighting system with automatic high beams, headed seats, and a JBL Premium audio system. It is rated for 29 city / 37 highway and we'll be putting that highway number to the test. We will be taking the Corolla to Northern Virginia for the weekend to visit family for the holidays. The XLE differs from the 2019 Corolla SE hatchback that @William Maley recently tested in that it has the 1.8 liter engine instead of the 2.0 liter. This engine puts out 139 horsepower at 6100 RPM and 126 lb-ft of torque at 3…

Full Review: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali AWD style="width: 472px; height: 354px;" alt="2011 GMC Acadia Denali grill" src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1293762611/gallery_63_386373.png"> January 25, 2010 Drew Dowdell - Chief Editor - CheersandGears.com GMC for 2011 has released a new "top shelf" version of their full sized Acadia crossover vehicle. Like the GMC Sierra wearing the Denali badge, it is entirely an appearance and comfort package with no performance enhancements. Exterior changes over a standard 2011 Acadia include: Chrome honeycomb grill, revised fascias, high intensity discharge headlamps, additional side mouldings, and a set of v…

It feels a bit odd to be spending some time in the 2017 Cadillac ATS coupe after driving the CT6 earlier this year. In a way, it felt like I was stepping back into the past where Cadillac was making some dumb decisions that ultimately would hurt their vehicles. The ATS coupe is a prime example of this where Cadillac had a legitimate challenger to likes of the BMW 3/4-Series and Audi A5 in terms of performance and handling. But some bone-headed decisions would regulate it to the mid-pack. The ATS Coupe is still quite the looker. It features the classic rear-wheel drive proportions of a long front end and a short rear deck.The low roofline and raised belt line give o…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 2, 2012 If you have been wondering why there has been a lack of news here on Cheers & Gears for the past couple of days, I can explain why. Right now I'm in Austin and just finished up driving the new Dodge Dart. I will have a first drive report sometime next week, but I wanted to give some quick impressions about it. Compared to the Caliber, the Dart is a drastic 180 turn. The Dart's overall look has a lot of Italian influence with smooth surfaces and sexy curves. But the Dart is still a Dodge and lets you know about it. The front carries Dodge's crosshair grill. Step around the back and the back light bar f…

Now that the Sonic and Cruze have launched, by all accounts, successfully, Chevy is eager finish up the upper two models in its family car lineup. This 2013 Malibu Eco marks the three quarter mark on this refresh project while the Impala awaits its turn for 2014. The outgoing Malibu was on the large end of the mid-size scale, nearly approaching big brother Impala in overall size. And, while not the most feature laden of family cars, it offered a good combination of space, performance, efficiency, and value. In fact, even when viewed next to more modern designs like the Kia Optima and Toyota Camry, the 2012 Malibu was still an attractive and handsome car, especi…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 5, 2013 This is how I think a conversation would go with someone about the 2013 Kia Sorento SX V6 I had in for review. “Hey William.” “Hey.” “So what are you reviewing this week?” “The 2013 Kia Sorento SX V6.” “Didn’t Kia introduce a refreshed Sorento?” “Yes at the LA Auto Show. It will be a 2014 model coming out sometime in the first quarter of 2013.” “Why are you reviewing the 2013 model if the 2014 model is coming soon?” “Well for two reasons. One: I have a point of comparison when I get the chance to check out the 2014 model. Two: I want to see if a person should wait to get the 2014 model or go …

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 13, 2012 All of us have had the experience of something not meeting our expectations. Whether it’s an expensive hotel that provides the same service of a Motel6, a nice restaurant that serves the equivalent of Burger King, or a highly recommended mechanic that somehow charges $650 for an oil change. This happened to me with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco. When it arrived onto my driveway for a few days, I was excited at the premise of the Eco model. However when my time with the Malibu Eco was up, I was a bit deflated. Onward to the exterior Exterior When I first saw the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu at the Nort…

A few weeks ago, I wrote a comparison test between the 2018 Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas. It was a close fight, but the Atlas ended up being the victor as it proved to be the better all-around three-row crossover. I find myself comparing these two brands once again, this time with their compact crossovers. Like their larger brethren, the two models take different approaches. The Mazda CX-5 goes for something that provides a premium feel and exciting drive, while the Volkswagen Tiguan uses space and comfort as its guide. Which one of these crossovers Which one of these crossovers is right for you? Exterior Mazda’s design team believed evolution would be the r…

This Just In: 2010 Cadillac SRX Turbo AWD Premium I just turned in the GMC Acadia SLT-2 and in turn received a 2010 Cadillac SRX Turbo AWD Premium. One of the first things I noticed as I was getting into the car were the door sill plates with the Cadillac script lite in white with brushed stainless surround. Very classy looking. The interior looks mostly lifted out the the CTS on first glance. I took it for a quick run around the highway. I was disappointed when I put the hammer down as it didn't feel like much of anything.... then you look down and you're at 80mph. I'll have more for you later, but in the meantime, line up your questions for this Interactive Review …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 21, 2012 One nameplate that has seen its share of ups and downs in Nissan’s lineup is the Quest. Introduced back in 1993 as a contender in the Minivan marketplace, the Quest came out of partnership between Nissan and Ford. For nine years, the Quest enjoyed success as being an alternative to the stalwarts of the class; the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. When it came time to introduce the next Quest, Nissan went down a very different path. Arriving in 2003, the second generation Quest did ‘shift’ what a minivan could be. The styling was out there for a van, looking like Nissan asked…

Back in November, I drove a 2013 Chrysler 300S for a review. After spending a week in it, I came away mightily impressed. So a few weeks after, I spent some quality time with the sister car, the 2014 Dodge Charger. Would I feel the same way as I did in the 300S or I would come away with a different opinion on it? Like the Chrysler 300, designers at Dodge decided to keep the basic shape of the Charger and make small improvements here and there. The front end features a crosshair grille and scalloping along the hood to give the Charger a bit of meanness to it. The front doors have a large groove that begins where door meets the fender. This is a definite callback to the 1…

Before the full madness of the New York Auto Show comes upon us, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about this week's test car and spill some thoughts on it. The vehicle in question happens to be the 2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler, which is a special edition model for the 2015 model year. Based on the Sport model, the Willys Wheeler gets such features as rock rails from the Rubicon model, 17-inch wheels, a new rear differential, and a number of decals on the outside. I like the exterior treatment with the grey paint, blacked out wheels and grille; and decals that harken back to the original Jeep from the 40's The interior is somewhat cramped due to the short…

I need to get something out of the way before diving into the review of the 2018 Toyota C-HR. Originally the C-HR was to join Scion’s lineup, but the C-HR would become a Toyota as the Scion brand would shut its doors in late 2016. With this change of brands, does this leave the C-HR with an identity crisis? The C-HR is short for ‘Coupe High Roof’ and the design makes that very clear. Proportions are very similar to a coupe with a long front and stubby back. Other coupe details to be aware of are a set of wider fenders, a sloping roofline, and a rear spoiler. It makes for a very polarizing design that many will agree catches your eye for better or worse Toyota’s …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 27, 2013 What if I hadn't driven the Mazda CX-5 and Kia Sportage? That was a thought that kept popping into my head when I was driving around in the 2013 Nissan Rogue a couple weeks ago. The Rogue is the oldest model in the compact crossover class, introduced back in 2007 and getting a refresh in 2011. But having driven the CX-5 and Sportage recently, could the Rogue stand up? The Nissan Rogue doesn't really shatter the status quo in design. In fact, the Rogue could be classified as the status quo. The profile of the Rogue mimics Nissan's larger Murano crossover in every which way. Up front is unique front grill…

For the longest time, the Volkswagen Jetta has had it all to itself. I’m of course talking about the diesel compact sedan marketplace. Since the first Jetta came over the to the U.S. in the eighties, Volkswagen has offered a diesel engine as an option. Within the past few years, the popularity of the Jetta diesel has skyrocketed. But this past year, another contender has come in to challenge the Jetta’s dominance in this small niche. That would be the Chevrolet Cruze Turbodiesel. How does it stand up to the Jetta? Much like the Jetta TDI, the Chevrolet Cruze Turbodiesel doesn’t scream out that it's a diesel at all. The only clues that reveals its true identity are a set …

Interactive Review: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro LT Convertible RS It's still a bit cold to take our top off, but joining us this week is a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible LT RS. Being a V6, it's a step down in power from last week's Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, but not many 4-seat cars below the CTS's price range can match it's power output anyway. Two of my first impressions are these: 1. You can feel the weight gain over the standard coupe. 2. This car needs a reverse parking camera more than the CTS Coupe does mostly due to the undersized mirrors that are a styling necessity on this car. Media Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

When I last reviewed the Acura MDX back in 2014, I mentioned that it and the RDX crossover made up a majority of the brand’s sales. That’s still true in 2017 as both models currently make up 63.8 percent of Acura’s sales through the end of March. In closing my review, I said Acura focused on fixing the issues that hurt the MDX before and left other things well alone, creating a balanced luxury crossover. But does that still hold up in a field that has become very competitive in the past couple of years? It seemed a revisit was in order. Acura did a significant refresh for the 2017 MDX with the biggest change being the design. Up front, Acura has swapped the shield …

The X2 is BMW’s entry into the compact crossover vehicle segment. It’s based on the X1, but with a lower roofline and more car-like characteristics. While the base X2 28i comes with a 228 horsepower 2.0-liter engine with either front or all-wheel drive, I got my hands on one with the M badge at a meeting of the Mid-West Automotive Media Association at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet Illinois. The M badge brings a default of BMW xDrive and increases engine horsepower to 302 and the torque to 332 lb.-ft. BWM claims a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds and 29 mpg. With that much power coming from a 2-liter engine, there was bound to be a bit of turbo lag and while rolling th…

Interactive Review: 2011 Cadillac SRX Turbo Premium While I get caught up writing the reviews for the 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe, a 2011 GMC Acadia Denali, and the 2011 Ford Fiesta. They finally sent me a Cadillac in the only proper color for the car and I have to say the look has really grown on me. Think up some questions about this 2011 Cadillac SRX Turbo Premium AWD. Media Gallery:2011 Cadillac SRX Turbo

With 2014 coming to a close and your's truly still having a number of vehicles that need to have reviews written up, I thought it would be a good idea to finish up the year with the remaining vehicles from the 2014 model year. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting a number of quick reviews. This will be leading up to my favorite vehicles I drove in the past year. Let's begin with the smallest vehicles that I reviewed: subcompacts and compacts. First Up: 2015 Honda Fit EX If there was one model that defined the current subcompact class, it would have to be the Honda Fit. When it was first introduced back in 2006, the Fit featured a clever back seat to increase the pr…

The big thing for luxury automakers for the past ten to fifteen years has been the crossover. First was the midsize crossover. Then came the full-size. Now the latest craze is compact crossovers. Many luxury automakers have been introducing them within the past few years as a way to draw buyers in. The latest one is Lexus with the NX crossover. This small luxury crossover hopes to carve a nice slice of a growing market. We recently spent a week with the NX 300h to see if it has a chance of pulling this off. The NX’s overall shape looks to be a smaller version of the last-generation RX crossover mixed with some elements of Lexus’ L-Finesse design language. The front en…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 16, 2013 Last year, I had the great fortune of going to the Midwest Automotive Media Association's Spring Rally. The rally brings automotive media and manufacturers together for a couple days of driving new vehicles. During my time there, I had the chance to slip behind the wheel of the recently launched Lexus GS 350. But this wasn't any ordinary GS 350. It happened to be the new GS 350 F-Sport model. When I wrote my wrap-up of the event, I said this about the GS: "Has Lexus created a vehicle that can give everyone in the midsize luxury sedan class something to worry about? Oh very much so." Bit of a bold procla…

Interactive Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS For my trip back from the 2010 NAIAS, I was turned in the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon you see in the background and was given this 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS. Sixty miles into the trip I am very impressed... this is far too much fun to be healthy. The seats are supportive and comfortable, the stereo provides your own personal dance club, and the car is a very willing and able dance partner. This kicks off the Interactive Review for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS. So, while I get back on the road back to Pittsburgh and eventually finish the reviews of the 2010 Buick Lacrosse CXSand 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon, and upload lo…

Interactive Review: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SE Due to incredibly crappy weather here in Toronto - Stock Jetta Photo Shown I'm in Toronto this week for training. Work policy dictates that if I need to drive more than 200 miles, I am to rent a car instead of using my own. The nice lady at the rental counter gave me my choice of 2011 Chevrolet Impala, 2011 Ford Fusion, or 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. I thought "Hey, the Jetta would make a good car for an interactive review since it's been debated so much already". I got all of 5 miles before I regretted not going with the comfort of the Impala..... so just remember the sacrifices I go through for you lot. You better…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 2, 2013 In 1999, Lexus introduced the first luxury car-based crossover named the RX. It became a huge success for the company and defined the compact luxury crossover class we know of today. But since that time, the competition has been improving. Vehicles such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz, and even the Cadillac SRX have been making inroads and slowly cutting away the RX’s sales lead. Lexus has been on the attack to stop the advance of competitors by introducing a refreshed 2013 RX, which includes a new F-Sport model that promises a more capable and sporty RX. Does the new F-Sport model help or hurt the RX…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 26, 2012 Toyota is in the midst of a sea change. The company who is currently known as the brand who builds bland, boring, and reliable vehicles has been issued an edict by CEO Akio Toyoda to design and build vehicles with passion. We’re beginning to see some of the fruits of this edict bear out with the Scion FR-S and Lexus GS. Now, Toyota has introduced the next vehicle to follow this in the form of the 2013 Avalon. You might be wondering, the Avalon?! Well yes, Toyota wants break the adage that Avalon is for old people by giving the new Avalon a very sleek look, new interior, and a sporty ride. Does the chang…

The quintessential off-road vehicle in the United States is the Jeep Wrangler. From its humble beginning as vehicle to go anywhere in the heat of World War II to a well-loved off-roader by many when it entered the civilian market, the Wrangler has earned the honor of being an icon . But many Wranglers it seems are mostly on the road, not tackling some trail. Is the Wrangler built for this kind of duty or is it just a fish out of the water? I spent some time in the 2015 Wrangler Willys Wheeler to figure this out. The Jeep Wrangler may be the most recognizable vehicle around the world. The reason for this is simple, the basic shape of the Wrangler hasn’t changed much si…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 4, 2013 Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the first Cheers & Gears Interactive Review of 2013: The 2013 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4x4. This particular Tacoma stickers at $30,580 (originally $31,005, but Toyota takes off $425.00 due to value package) thanks to the SR5 Extra Value package, towing package, an optional radio with USB and AUX, running boards, and a few odds and ends. Power comes from a 4.0L V6 producing 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. That is sent through a five-speed automatic down to either the rear or all four wheels thanks to a part-time 4WD system. Positives The 4.0L V6 has a…

Interactive Review: 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco 6-Speed Manual Well, I've been a bit remiss getting the next interactive review up after swapping out of the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS 45th Anniversary Edition last week, but I have a good excuse. I've been on the road since Wednesday for my day job, spending the last 4 days in New Haven CT. This week's Interactive Review will be, by necessity, a bit shorter. This week we swap into the opposite end of Chevy's performance spectrum, trading high performance for the high fuel efficiency of a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Eco with 6-speed manual. Fortunately, unlike some people, I have more than enough credit line on my man card to d…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 24, 2012 This is a momentous occasion here in the Cheers & Gears Detroit Garage. For one, we welcome another new brand into fold. Also, its our first 2013 model year vehicle. Please welcome the 2013 Mazda CX-5 crossover. (I had a brief drive in a CX-5 back in May at the MAMA Spring Rally. You can check out my thoughts on it by clicking here.) This CX-5 is the mid-level Touring FWD model which starts at $23,895. That nets you a 2.0L SkyActiv-G four-cylinder producing 155 HP and 150 lb-ft of torque and a six-speed automatic. Other standard equipment includes seventeen-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, a 5.8…

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 8, 2012 The war of heavy duty pickups has been raging on for many years with Ford, General Motors, and Ram one upping each other with more powerful engines and towing capabilities that could embarrass certain commercial trucks. Now, a new branch of this war is emerging; the luxury heavy-duty truck. Gone are the steel wheels, vinyl seats, rubber floormats, and grey dashboards seen on many a truck. In their place are large chrome wheels, leather seats with heating and cooling, carpeting, and different color dashboards trimmed with wood. Ford, GM, and Ram have thrown their competitors into the ring and are now battl…

American Honda CEO Tetsuo Iwamura told reporters at Tokyo Motor Show in November that his biggest challenge is Acura. Sadly, it's easy to see why Iwamura says this. Most of Acura's lineup are either half-baked ideas or showing their age. Even with those issues, sales for the brand were up 5.9 percent at the end of 2013. Thats thanks to Acura's refreshed SUV lineup which includes the MDX and RDX. These two models made up 59 percent of Acura's total sales for 2013. This begs the question of what is the automaker doing right with their SUVs. To find out, I spent a week with the 2014 Acura MDX. There are two ways to describe the 2014 MDX's design. Its either a last-generatio…

Trucks are a big deal in the U.S. Last year alone, 15 percent of the more than 17 million vehicles sold were some sort of truck. Case in point is the Chevrolet Silverado. So far in 2017, Chevrolet has sold 212,425 Silverado trucks. So what is it about the Silverado that makes it one of Chevrolet popular models? A key reason might be the large number of configurations on offer. The Silverado offers five bed and cab configurations, eight trims, three engines, and two drivetrain choices. That’s before you start looking at the long list of options. Our test truck is a prime example of what you might find a dealer - an LTZ crew cab with the short bed (5-foot). We’…

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21542578" width="601" height="338" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href=" Cadillac CTS-V Coupe (HD)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2368410">Chris Doane</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 19, 2012 Updated: July 25, 2012 Well, the Mitsubishi Outlander GT S-AWC and Volkswagen Passat 2.5 SE have left the Garage and in their place is this; the 2012 Nissan Quest LE. The Quest LE comes with a 3.5L V6 producing 260 HP and 240 lb-ft of torque, and is equipped with a CVT. First Impressions: Woah, this is very distinctive. I feel that the Quest's design is a love it or hate it. I like it myself. I've been in houses that aren't as nice as the Quest's interior. V6 and CVT combination is a surprise. Really can get the Quest moving at a surprising rate. Don't like the Quest's transmission gate. Think I'm…

When you go to buy a Volkswagen, their best cars almost always have three letters or numbers at the end of the model name: GTI, TDI, VR6. The sixth generation, 2011 Jetta, on sale for a little over a year now, has been met with some pretty strong criticism. Reviewers took one look at 2011’s cheapened interior, and suspension, and had three letters of their own: “WTH??” Now, the sportier, 2012 Jetta GLI has gone on sale and looks to undo some of the ills of the standard Jetta. But can those three letters make up for the heap of hate dished upon this car? GTI with a trunk? First, a confession. I was hoping that the Jetta GLI would amount to a Golf GTI in sedan guise. …

The 2018 Subaru Legacy finds itself in a difficult spot. Like other midsize sedans, the Legacy has been seeing its sales fall down as more buyers are trending towards trucks and utility vehicles. But Subaru is trying to stop the bleeding somewhat by introducing an updated Legacy with various improvements to the exterior and mechanical bits. Is it enough? Compared to the last Legacy I drove in 2015, the 2018 model has some minor changes. The front now comes with a wider grille, updated design for the headlights, and a new bumper. The 2.5i Sport adds blacked-out trim, fog lights, and a set of 18-inch wheels with painted inserts. This helps makes the very plain desig…

Nissan’s compact Sentra has been on the market for 35 years. For 2017, Nissan is improving the SR trim which adds a 188 horsepower, turbo-charged direct injection engine. The Sentra’s place in the market is that of a value leader. While it is roughly the size of competitors like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, the Sentra is priced against their smaller siblings the Fit and Yaris iA (nee Scion iA). Starting at $21,990, the value equation translates into the SR trim as well. The primary change for the Sentra SR is under the hood. In place of the standard 1.8 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder, Nissan has fitted the 1.6 liter direct injected turbo. This e…

This Just In: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon So today I turned in the keyfob for the 2010 Buick Lacrosse CXS and I have an article to write. But how can I write with a new 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon sitting outside? Instead of getting to work, I drove 7 hours from Pittsburgh, PA to Toronto, Ontario through a blizzard in a rear wheel drive car. This starts the Interactive Review for the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sportwagon. Gear up your questions.

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 27, 2012 If there is one vehicle that has been talked about more than any other since I've been writing here at Cheers and Gears, that vehicle would be the new Cadillac ATS. There are a number of threads speculating, arguing, complaining, and talking about this compact luxury sedan. Well the day has come. We finally have an ATS in for an interactive review. This ATS comes equipped with the 3.6 DI V6 producing 321 HP and 275 lb-ft of torque, a six-speed automatic, and the optional AWD system. Anyone who was hoping this was the Performance Collection model will be somewhat disappointed as this is the base Luxu…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 23, 2013 Whether it was deserved or not, the previous Beetle earned the dubious title of 'chick car'. It's easy to see how the Beetle earned this title; a bubbly design, flower shaped wheels, and a flower vase. This wasn't helped by the addition of the Beetle Convertible which only reinforced the 'chick car' mantra.. But Volkswagen pulled something short of a miracle with this current Beetle; made it look like the classic Beetle that we know and love without giving it any details that could make it a 'chick car'. Could they pull off the same feat with the new convertible? I spent a week with the 2013 Beetle Conver…

Cheers and Gears Drives: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ V6 FWD By: Drew Dowdell - Owner/Editor CheersandGears.com Photography: Drew Dowdell & Joe Joyner For our inaugural review after being granted access to the General Motors press test fleet, I was sent a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ. The Equinox is Chevrolet's entry into the swelling mid-sized crossover segment. The 2010 Equinox has been completely redesigned on an updated version of GM's Theta platform shared by the Saturn Vue, Opel Antara, and GMC Terrain. Chevy lists the Equinox's competitors as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, and Ford Escape. While that is generally true, the Equinox bases between $1,000 more…

By Chris Doane January 7, 2013 It’s midweek and I’m cruising down the interstate when I come up behind one of the Passat TDI’s diesel brethren from a few decades prior: An early 1980’s Mercedes 300D. The tortured Benz was loud, emitting a smoke screen, and judging from its’ lack of ability to pass a semi-truck, the non-turbocharged 300D. A quick look at the trunk lid badging confirmed that. Back in the 1980’s, I’m not really sure what the appeal of the 300D would’ve been. Gasoline was around $1.20 a gallon and luxury buyers wouldn’t have thought twice about filling up at that price. The 300D had 83hp, 120 lb-ft of torque, and without the turbocharger, looked to have “…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 23, 2012 Question: What is the second oldest nameplate in Kia's lineup? If you said the Sportage, you would be wrong. That happens to be the oldest nameplate. The answer is a tie between Kia's smallest and largest sedans: the Rio and Optima. For the time being we're going to focusing on the latter. Introduced back in 2000, the Optima was met with... well.. zero fanfare. If you told someone that you just bought a Kia Optima, they would look at quizzically and say "A What!" The only way you would know the Optima existed beside passing you're nearest Kia dealership was when you picked up one from car rental place for y…