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Mazda has a big dream for itself. It is trying to stand out from the competition by becoming more premium. The first steps of this process took place last year with a refreshed Mazda6 sedan. As we noted in our review at the time, the 6 made great strides in improving noise isolation and material quality. Now, the premium dream is coming more into focus with the redesigned CX-5. Mazda is making some big promises with claims of improved refinement and an upscale look and feel for the interior. We spent a week in a 2017 CX-5 Grand Touring to see if those promises are met. The past few years have seen Mazda designing some distinctive looking vehicles and the redesigned C…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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The current crop of full-size sedans are venturing out of their comfort zone in terms of styling. But that wasn’t something you could say a few years back. Automakers played it safe with bland and boring design as not to scare buyers away. Hyundai decided to challenge the status quo when it came to designing the second-generation Azera full-size sedan. When it was introduced for the 2012 model year, the Azera was a shock to the system with sharp lines and a distinctive profile. Since then, other automakers have introduced full-size sedans that you would be glad to show off and not hide in the garage. But looks can only get you so far. How does the rest of the Hyundai …
Last reply by William Maley, -
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 14, 2012 April is turning out to be truck month here at Cheers & Gears. So far black-knight did a review on the 2012 Ram 1500 Express, I did an interactive review on the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Crew Cab (Review is incoming), and now I have a 2012 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD Crew Cab for this week. Originally, this was actually going to be another Denali model, the Acadia. However, a certain part for the vehicle wasn't able to make it time and the Sierra Denali took its place. We did an interactive review and comparison test with Ford F-350 back in 2010 and some minor changes have happened since then.…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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If I was to ask you to name a midsize hybrid sedan, what would you say? Most likely it would be the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, or even the Honda Accord Hybrid. But one that might not reach the lips of many people would be the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The first-generation model was a bit out there in terms of looks with a front end that seemed more at home in a carnival fun house. But the Sonata Hybrid was different for another reason. Unlike most hybrids which used a CVT, the Sonata Hybrid used a conventional six-speed automatic. The first-generation model wasn’t well received because of the odd looks, an unrefined powertrain, and lackluster fuel economy. So …
Last reply by William Maley, -
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There are two ways you can go when building an electric vehicle, either you start with a clean sheet design or you take a vehicle you currently build and modify it. Both methods have their pluses and minuses. Going with a clean sheet gives you the ability to design a vehicle with an electric powertrain in mind, but the costs can grow exorbitantly. The opposite is true when taking a vehicle and modifying it electrification. This was a decision Kia was faced with a few years ago when they began working on their first electric vehicle. Ultimately, the company decided to use one of their current vehicles. But which one would offer the least amount of problems in the trans…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Last week, I spent the morning with Nissan to check out the redesigned Armada SUV, refreshed Pathfinder crossover, and the all-new Titan half-ton pickup. Nissan says this year is the year of the truck. Considering last year was the year of the sedan and the mixed reaction we had to it, we’re somewhat worried how this ‘year of the truck’ would land. A brief note before we dive into our impressions of the three vehicles. I only got about 30 minutes with each vehicle, so I can’t give you a definitive opinion. What I can do is give my first thoughts on them. Let’s dive in. 2017 Nissan Pathfinder Nissan worked on making the 2017 Pathfinder look a bit more SUV-…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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There is a running joke in the automotive world that the perfect vehicle for an enthusiast is a rear-drive station wagon with a diesel engine and manual transmission. The closest we ever got to this ’nirvana’ was the Volkswagen Jetta and Golf SportWagen. While not rear-wheel drive, the Jetta and Golf wagons did offer a diesel and manual transmission combination. Not only did they become one of the darlings of the automotive press, but consumers would soon jump on the diesel wagon bandwagon thanks to Volkswagen’s ‘clean diesel’ ad campaign. But we would learn this ‘clean diesel’ campaign was a fallacy as Volkswagen was found to be using illegal software that allowed …
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 4, 2012 Hybrid vehicles usually fall into two completely different categories. The first category is filled with vehicles whose main purpose to use a hybrid powertrain is to eek out every drop of gas, which typically means they lack the fun to drive factor. The second category is the opposite; vehicles which use their hybrid powertrain, using a smaller engine, to produce the power and fuel economy of a larger engine. There are a few automakers who have figured out how to balance these polar opposites with a hybrid powetrain. The latest automaker who thinks it has got the balance correct is Infiniti with the hyb…
Last reply by smk4565, -
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I wasn’t too keen on the redesigned Hyundai Elantra I drove last year. In the review, I said it didn’t really do enough to compete with the likes of the Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic. But maybe the model could redeem itself with the introduction of the Elantra Sport. Hyundai made some key changes such as adding a turbo engine, revised rear suspension, and slight tweaks inside and out. I was really excited to check it out and spend some quality time with it. But life had other plans. The day I was supposed to get the Elantra Sport, I took a tumble down a flight of stairs, causing a fracture in my right leg. Because of this, I really didn’t get to spent a lot of tim…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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In a person’s life, there will be an event that happens on a rare occurrence. Seeing a comet streak across the sky or watching the Detroit Lions have a winning season. For those who care about the automobile, seeing a new Bentley or Rolls-Royce model being introduced counts as one of these events. Similarly, seeing an automaker introduce a new minivan can be put on that list. Very few automakers compete in the minivan class as it's dominated by the stalwarts such as Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna. But once in a blue moon, a new minivan comes around to challenge them. Case in point is the 2015 Kia Sedona. Kia’s minivan underwent a massive revisio…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Like it or not, crossovers are dominating the automotive landscape. This is nowhere more apparent than the compact crossover class as it seems a month doesn’t go by without a new model, redesign, or refresh being announced. Case in point is the vehicle seen here, the 2016 Subaru Forester. Just a few weeks after we drove it, Subaru announced mid-cycle refresh which brings a slightly revised exterior, new interior bits, and an upgraded EyeSight system. Now is that going to stop us from reviewing the 2016 model? No. Here is what we thought of the pre-refreshed Forester. In the spectrum of crossover design, the Forester would be at the boring end. This is a model that doe…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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http://media.cadillac.com/media/us/en/cadillac/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2017/jun/0605-cadillac-sales.html At this rate.. its very likely Cadillac could pass the 320K mark by end of year
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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How do you set yourself apart in the compact crossover class? At the start, it was an easy task. You could build a vehicle that was similar in terms of power, equipment, and even design to competitors. It would sell because there was a small number of them. But in the past few years, the market has exploded with consumers buying crossovers like they are going out style. It seems every automaker is announcing either a new or redesigned model to take advantage of this. But there comes a problem with the expansion, how do you stand out? For Nissan, they decided to make their compact crossover very practical with a large cargo space and a third-row option. Thus, we have the 2…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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We're now at the end of our 2014 review wrap-up which deals with the largest group of vehicles I dealt with this past year: Crossovers. Next: Dodge Journey Crossroad Let us go back to the most recent dark age of Chrysler. During the floundering years of DiamlerChrysler to Cerberus ownership, Chrysler produced some of the worst vehicles to ever appear. Models such as the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Caliber, Jeep Compass, and Patriot left a bad taste in buyer’s mouths and would be one of the factors that would lead the company into bankruptcy. But after going through bankruptcy and being under the guidance of Fiat, Chrysler would rise from the ashes. One of the first…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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The Hyundai Elantra has been quite the success since the Korean automaker introduced back in 2012. With distinctive styling, impressive feature set, and value that very few competitors can match. But since that time, competitors have been introducing new and refreshed compact models into the marketplace to challenge the Elantra. What does Hyundai decide to do? They introduced a refreshed version Elantra for 2014. I spent some time in a 2014 Elantra Limited sedan to see if it still is a formidable challenger. This being a mid-cycle refresh, the Elantra doesn’t have any dramatic changes inside or out. The Elantra’s exterior still has the ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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While this year at Nissan is all about the pickup truck, last year it was the ‘Year of the Sedan’. We saw the introduction of the redesigned Maxima, along with refreshes of the Altima and Sentra. There was one slight problem. Compared to the Maxima which stood out with a sharp design, the Altima and Sentra just existed with no real item of note. But maybe there is something to either model that is hidden away. I decided to find out as a 2016 Nissan Sentra SR came in for a week-long evaluation. Nissan isn’t going to take home any awards for the design of the 2016 Sentra. Designers took the 2013 model and made some small changes such as adding a new front clip to help b…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Through The Lens: 2015 Subaru WRX STI Launch Edition This is one of those cars that, as I was growing up, was always considered forbidden fruit. After learning of them via Gran Turismo, I lamented the fact that we couldn't buy one. Then, after the start of new millennium, things started to change. Subaru first gave us the WRX with the second generation Impreza; a sort of taste test for the real beast. It wasn't until Mitsubishi sent over its 8th Lancer Evo that Subaru gave us the STI. It's now been over 10 years, and STI's have been a regular sight around my home town for some time. In fact, thanks to the various STI's and the more civilian WRX's, the unmistak…
Last reply by Cory Wolfe, -
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Has it really been almost four years since we last took at the Kia Optima? Going back through our review archives, the answer is yes with the 2012 Optima Hybrid. Since this time, we have driven the full gamut of midsize sedans that have impressed us (Honda Accord EX) or ended up to be a big dud (Chevrolet Malibu Eco). The Optima hasn’t been resting on its laurels during this time either. Kia has been improving the sedan over time with new features and trim levels. Last year, the company introduced an all-new Optima which looks similar to the previous one. So we wondered what changes had been made and if it still remains one of our favorite midsize sedans. Compared to …
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Quick Drive: 2016 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 2.4L 6A While my parents were away, I took a little time to use their second car to offset some of the mileage on my lease. The Sonata they leased was their first lease ever, and honestly they got it for a steal. The car is nicer than their last Sonata, a 2006 with the 3.3L V6 and a 5-speed automatic. Having spent a couple of hundred miles on both highway and city driving, over the course of 2 weeks, they’ve made dramatic improvements in a decade. They styling I’m not at all crazy about. Frankly, I think it’s ugly and a step back from the previous generation which I thought was very nice and contempora…
Last reply by Paolino, -
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You have to wonder what is in the water at Nissan’s headquarters when you first glance at the Juke crossover. This subcompact crossover/hatchback/thing was very polarizing when it first introduced back in 2010. I was one of those people who thought the Juke was an ugly beast and wondered if Nissan was being mind-controlled by aliens. But since then, I have warmed up to the Juke and appreciated that someone was willing to take a chance on a design that stood out. Would this feeling continue if I was to ever to drive a Juke? Well, I can answer this question after spending some time with a 2015 Juke SL AWD. The Juke’s design is no shrinking violet. The overall shape look…
Last reply by William Maley,
