2016 Civic gives Honda’s reputation a needed boost

What has happened to legendary Honda quality – the bullet-proof reliability and dependability that has allowed Honda to creat a huge pool of stunningly loyal owners? I asked myself that very question as I re-booted (for the second time in just seven days) the new infotainment system in the re-made 2016 Honda Civic – a …

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Playing the villain in Merc’s G-Wagon

I am embarrassed to confess the joy of driving a fancy army rig, one that is the choice ride of cinematic villains (and some heroes), along with an assortment of obnoxious celebrities. Let me explain. The truck is the infamous G-Wagon and my tester was the G550 V-8 biturbo. Of course, there are other versions of …

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2016 Volt: remade into a sporty city car that happens to have a plug

The original Chevrolet Volt was an intriguing, progressive, thoughtful and wonderfully utilitarian plug-in hybrid. It truly was a ground-breaking vehicle and it should have had a profound impact on the market. But it didn’t. The Volt that went on sale in the United States in late 2010 fizzled. It failed to capture the imagination of …

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Review: 2016 Buick Encore deserves respect; 2017 version looks better

If you spend five seconds in and around the Buick Encore, you will understand why Buick is killing the Verano compact sedan in the Canada and the U.S. The Encore, a small crossover wagon aimed at slightly upscale buyers – perhaps even over-achieving Millennials, if you believe the ads — is a completely sensible rig …

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2016 Escalade: $107,000 dinosaur — and guilty pleasure

The Escalade is the one vehicle that certainly won’t be at home at the new Cadillac House in New York City. This hulking, powerful and luxurious SUV (sport-utility vehicle) may be Caddy’s priciest, most profitable and most recognizable vehicle, but it’s not the future. The future of Cadillac is not a pickup-based truck that shares much …

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