News By Topic: Carey Russ

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jul 7, 2016

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS When you think “hybrid midsize sedan”, the first manufacturer to come to mind is probably not Chevrolet. So change your mind — the all-new 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid leverages technology from the plug-in hybrid/extended-range EV Volt to create a car that is not merely a good hy ... Continue reading

2016 Toyota 4Runner Trail Premium 4x4 Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jun 30, 2016

Rough and Tumble Capable, But Civilized Too DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Set the wayback machine to 1984. Toyota essentially took out the partition between the cab and bed of its compact pickup truck, added a detachable camper shell and removable rear jump seats to create the 4Runner. It was a two-door utility ... Continue reading

2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring FWD Review by Carey Russ

Jun 23, 2016

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Mazdas are different from other cars. Mazda is a small company and so differentiates its offerings in the marketplace rather than competing directly with the major players. It does that very well, with an emphasis on innovative engineering and cars and even crossovers with a fun-to ... Continue reading

2016 Buick Regal AWD GS Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jun 19, 2016

Regal GS combines comfort and performance to make it the most cosmopolitan Buick yet. And one of the best-performing. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS This is not your blue-haired grandmother's Buick. With a 259-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected engine driving all four wheels, making contact wi ... Continue reading

2016 Acura ILX Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jun 18, 2016

A strong and affordable contender in the entry-luxury/sport sedan segment DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Luxury automakers need to attract new customers, and that is usually the mission of their smallest and least-expensive offerings. Cars in the entry-luxury category need to balance exclusivity with affordabili ... Continue reading

2016 Honda CR-V Touring AWD Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jun 16, 2016

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS The CR-V gave Honda a presence in the compact crossover class in the late 1990s, when truck-based SUVs still ruled. Based on the Civic, it had the looks of a small truck and the comforts and ride quality of a Civic. No surprise that it was a hit then, or that its success has contin ... Continue reading

2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited AWD Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jun 9, 2016

Combining the useful functionality of a small crossover with hybrid efficiency DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS What took so long? Toyota’s RAV4 kickstarted the compact crossover class when it debuted twenty years ago. At a time when large truck-based SUVs were the most popular things on four wheels, the RAV4 ... Continue reading

2016 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Advance Package +VIDEO

Jun 3, 2016

Innovative technology meet luxury comfort DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Acura's claim for differentiation in the luxury classes has been technology. And while that word has been appropriated to mean the latest in electronic gadgetry for entertainment, information, and safety — which Acura is more than plea ... Continue reading

2016 Acura MDX AWD Review By Carey Russ

May 30, 2016

2016 Acura MDX AWD Review By Carey Russ ... Continue reading

2016 Kia Optima LX 1.6 Turbo Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

May 26, 2016

Economical and fun to drive DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS &#8226; SEE ALSO: <a href="">Kia Research and Buyers Guide</a> Kia Optima Turbo? Didn't I just test one a few months ago? Is it summer rerun time already? That's pretty much what I said when I saw "2016 Kia Optima LX Turbo" on the list of cars I'd be get ... Continue reading

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport GT 2WD Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

May 15, 2016

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS The Outlander Sport has been Mitsubishi's most popular vehicle in the US since its debut for 2011, and after a week in a front-wheel drive example of the range-topping GT model I'm not surprised by that at all. The Outlander Sport is a an honest and unpretentious compact crossover. ... Continue reading

2016 Honda Civic Sedan EX with Honda Sensing - Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

May 5, 2016

Bigger, better and safer than ever DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS The Civic was Honda's entry vehicle into the American automotive market back in 1973, and the nameplate is still with us. Nearly 22 million examples have been sold worldwide since its debut, with over ten million in the US. Nearly seven million of ... Continue reading

2017 Kia Sportage SX AWD Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Apr 28, 2016

An audacious upscale vehicle by Kia that meets or beats competitors on power and is comparable in specification...with no pricey option packages DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Kia Sportage as a premium compact crossover? Why not? If you still think of Kia in terms of its late-1990s offerings, times have changed ... Continue reading

2016 Volvo V60 Polestar Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Apr 21, 2016

The 2016 Volvo V60 Polestar combines the usefulness, versatility, and stealth of a wagon with the performance of a first-rate sports car DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS High-performance wagon? Isn't that an oxymoron of the first order, right up there with such clichés as "military intelligence", "bureaucratic ef ... Continue reading

2016 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring FWD Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Apr 20, 2016

Mazda's new CX-3 is the standout of the small crossover class DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Automotive evolution is fascinating. We're in the midst of what, in biology, would be called an adaptive radiation. The truck-based SUVs of the 90s gave way to car-based crossovers fifteen or so years ago, first in the p ... Continue reading