A week of testing the 2018 Mercedes Benz E 400 4MATIC Cabriolet left me: staggered by the density of its features list; awed by its massive digital instrument/infotainment screen/s; dulled by the actual driving experience; pleased by the creature comforts; and, confounded by this question: Why was I so bored by such a beautiful automobile? …
Mercedes-Benz S 560: opulence and excess in a dream car that practically drives itself
Some have suggested that the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC sedan is the very definition of luxury on four wheels. Others have praised the car’s gadgets, gimmicks and astonishing array of electronic contrivances with the enthusiasm of true believers in the wonders of technology. The S-Class is, indeed, loaded with computer power – to the …
The 2018 Hyundai Kona tops the small crossover class
The Hyundai Kona is a very small SUV/crossover with superb crash test scores, very competitive pricing and, the evidence suggests, excellent quality. The Kona also has an eye-catching design and is very fuel efficient. This new wagon is more entertaining to drive – quick, nimble, balanced – than rivals such as Honda’s HR-V, Toyota’s C-HR …
Driven: Jeep Compass not the Bear Grylls of SUVs — and much less reliable
The toughest, the raunchiest, the gnarliest terrain a Jeep Compass is ever likely to encounter is a crowded parking lot at your local shopping mall. On a snowy day, say in December as the Christmas rush descends. The Compass, if we’re being fair and honest, is a faux Jeep, a station wagon with ground clearance, …
Prius plug-in hybrid ready for Prime time
The 2018 Prius Prime ($32,900 base) is a brilliant example of what Toyota does best: mix known and proven technology with decades of diligent and careful car-building expertise, stir in a little cleverness, and through a little alchemy and much hard work create an incredibly refined vehicle that is likely to shoulder on, trouble-free, for …