Lexus is no stranger to hybrids. Their GS and LS sedans, as well as the RX SUV come in hybrid variants. Problem is, the least expensive Lexus Hybrid sedan sets you back around $67,000, and the few other luxo-hybrids on the market aren’t any cheaper.

For 2010, Lexus changed this with their all-new HS 250h. The HS is a hybrid-only model, Prius style, and currently only comes with the same 2.4-liter four cylinder gas engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that we see in the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Starting at $34,200 with some impressive equipment and style, Lexus hopes to attract a younger, more affluent buyer to the HS 250h, giving them an option fancier than a Camry Hybrid without getting into the $60K range. Did they pull it off? Continue Reading…

Pickup trucks have become an interesting anomaly in the automotive world. These vehicles, with a cab for people and a bed used for hauling or towing, they were originally built to do manual labor. No frills, no fun. Just the ability to start on a cold morning and work all day on the farm or construction site without issue.

Today though, things are radically different. Sure, trucks these days still promise to fulfill everything expected of them, but they are now much more civilized and comfortable, offering many luxuries found on more expensive cars.

But do the fundamentals still work? Are these two four-wheel-drive behemoths, the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4TRX and 2010 Toyota Tundra Double Cab, capable of working hard all day, then take the family out to dinner in the evening in comfort? I got to spent some time finding out. Continue Reading…

Once upon a time, there was an Auto Journalist named Chris. Chris went for a walk to the local car dealer. Pretty soon, he came upon three sports cars in the dealership and decided to take a look.

Chris really liked the three coupes, and decided take them for a test drive. He drove the first car, a 2010 Chevy Camaro.

“This car is great,” he exclaimed, “but it’s not nimble enough for me, I want something smaller, lighter and tighter-handling.”

So, he drove the second sports car - a 2010 Nissan 370Z.

“This car is even better. It’s light, fun, nimble, and powerful.” he said, “but it only has two seats, and I need to drive it every day and carry things around. The trunk is too small for that.”

So, he drove the last sports car - a 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe… Continue Reading…

The 2009 Toyota Venza is quite an interesting vehicle. According to Toyota’s comparison website, the Venza’s main competitors are the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord, but the Venza is obviously no mid-size sedan. It looks more like a small crossover SUV, or maybe a wagon, but smaller than both. It’s the length of a Toyota Camry, the width of the Highlander, and in between the two for every other dimension. Despite never figuring out what the Venza really is, I found one important thing about it: it’s incredibly useful.

Sitting between the Toyota Camry and Highlander in size certainly has its upsides. Most people don’t need as much room as an SUV gives them, but need more versatility than a sedan, and that’s where the Venza comes in, essentially creating its own class of vehicle in between a car and SUV. Continue Reading…

The luxury crossover section has been a booming market since 1998 when vehicles like the Lexus RX and Mercedes ML sprang onto the automotive market. Since then, everyone from Europe, Asia and even here in America have been trying to take over the market.

The most notable car-based SUV from the states was the Cadillac SRX. When it debuted in 2004, it had some promise. Niceties such as a rear-wheel-drive chassis, leather interior and a Bose audio system were standard while navigation, all-wheel-drive, a Northstar V8, and a third row seat were options.

The SRX competed well with its competitors, with a good driving poise and room for both luggage and kids. However, it never overtook the perennial king of crossovers, the RX-series, with its squared-off body design and less-than-stellar interior. Cadillac hopes to change that with their new 2010 crossover and give the Lexus something to actually worry about.

Continue Reading…

When Toyota Motor Company introduced Scion to the American car scene in 2004, it had one goal in mind: Sell inexpensive, yet funky cars to the young Generation Y driver as a way to develop their loyalty to the brand. There was the tiny xA, the toaster-shaped xB, and the cute tC. As soon as these cars started rolling off the back of the delivery truck, they rolled right into people’s garages, being a frugal, fun and reliable choice over the competition.

Shortly after the sales numbers started coming in, two very big surprises popped up: one was the most popular model in the line-up was the box-on-wheels xB; the other was the average owner age was 46, nearly twice the age Scion had originally projected.

To us car nuts, it doesn’t really matter who is buying what, but why. What makes the Scion xB hatchback, now in its second generation, such a popular choice for a car? Let us find out. Continue Reading…