News By Topic: Carey Russ

2016 Nissan Maxima SR Review +VIDEO

Mar 28, 2016

The 2016 Nissan Maxima combines distinctive style with good performance and fuel economy DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Nissan's Maxima has always been different from other Japanese-marque midsize sedans. It debuted in the 1980s with the engine from the original 240Z -- in a slightly lower state of tune -- in a ... Continue reading

2016 Toyota Camry SE Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Mar 5, 2016

Handsome, Sporty And With All The Usual Camry Virtues DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS After major revisions for model year 2015 that saw more expressive styling, improved road manners, and upgrades to electronic information and entertainment systems, Toyota has still found room for improvement to its ever-popular ... Continue reading

2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4T SE Review by Carey Russ

Feb 15, 2016

Small displacement is beautiful in the case of Volkswagen's new 1.4-liter direct-injected turbocharged engine in the 2016 Jetta DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS There are important changes to the Volkswagen Jetta for 2016. VW has long been known for evolutionary rather than revolutionary product development, with ... Continue reading

2016 Honda Pilot Elite AWD Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Feb 7, 2016

Featuring significant improvements for 2016 DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Since its debut for 2003, the Honda Pilot has become a benchmark in the "small" three-row crossover class. The third generation debuts for 2016, and life for the competition just got harder. The 2016 Pilot offers seating for up to eight p ... Continue reading

Minivan Review: 2015-16 Ford Transit 150 LR Wagon XLT Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Feb 7, 2016

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Ford's NEED Solver If a three-row SUV or a minivan is just too small for your needs, what can you do? Think big! As in a Ford Transit. Introduced to North America a year ago as a replacement the long-running Econoline/E-Series full-size van, the Transit has long been a mainstay of ... Continue reading

2016 Subaru BRZ Series HyperBlue Review by Carey Russ

Feb 1, 2016

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS The Subaru BRZ is still one of the best-ever affordable sports coupes There have been few changes to the Subaru BRZ 2+2 sports coupe since its debut in 2012. Which is a major non-problem. If you get it right, don't mess it up. The BRZ, and its fraternal twin in the North American m ... Continue reading

2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jan 31, 2016

Toyota's Highlander Hybrid is all about efficient, un-ostentatious luxury. And function...plenty of function. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS As one of the first car-based crossovers in the days of truck SUVs, Toyota's Highlander was almost revolutionary when it made its debut fifteen years ago. Three generations ... Continue reading

2016 Honda HR-V AWD EX-L Navi Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jan 24, 2016

A longer, more thorough assessment DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS As individual models of automobile get larger in response to customer demand, fashion, marketing, and whatever else, new space is opened at the small-size end of a manufacturer's lineup. Case in point: Honda's crossovers. The CR-V looks like it ha ... Continue reading

2016 Scion iM Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Jan 14, 2016

The Price Point May Be Low, But Design, Execution, and Materials Are High DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY If not reinvention, Scion's lineup has had a major makeover for 2016 with the iA sedan and iM hatchback joining the rear-wheel drive FR-S and front-wheel drive tC sports coupes for model year 2016. The second-gene ... Continue reading

2016 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0 AWD Review by Carey Russ

Jan 14, 2016

The 2016 Ford Escape is still a benchmark in its class DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS To say that Ford's third-generation Escape compact crossover has been a success is understatement. And no surprise, as the Focus-based machine wraps a roomy, convenient interior in a stylish body that has an easy-to-park footpr ... Continue reading

Another Wrinkle On Autonomous Driving - Additional Commentary

Dec 13, 2015

AUTO CENTRAL - A couple of weeks ago, we published an editorial regarding the future of autonomous driving, and how the event might wind up killing the public's love affair with the automobile (read that editorial HERE). Today, Larry Nutson, our Chicago Bureau Chief, calls our attention to a recent story published in t ... Continue reading

2016 Honda Accord Sedan EX-L Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Dec 3, 2015

Roominess, comfort, excellent fuel efficiency and responsive handling make the newest Honda Accord is the best ever. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS After the debut of the ninth generation back in 2013, Honda's ever-popular Accord gets its first mid-product cycle freshening for 2016. It's still offered in sedan a ... Continue reading

2016 Acura MDX AWD Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Nov 25, 2015

New features keep the 2016 Acura MDX at the front of the large-midsize luxury crossover class DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS If the 2016 version of Acura's crossover flagship MDX looks just like the 2015 or 2014 models, it is. On the outside. Underneath its distinctive skin, the previous six-speed automatic tran ... Continue reading

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Review by Carey Russ +VIDEO

Nov 13, 2015

The newest Mazda MX-5 Miata is the best ever DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS "Simplify and add lightness" was the motto of Colin Chapman, founder of the Lotus sports car company. Lotuses of the Chapman era were known for light weight, extreme agility, and performance far above what their small size and mostly sma ... Continue reading

2015 Ford Mustang 2.3 EcoBoost Review +VIDEO

Oct 18, 2015

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY This Ford Mustang is the best yet. By far. The term "all-new" is overused in the auto industry. But it's true, and possibly even understatement, in the case of the 2015 version of Ford's iconic Mustang. For the first time ever, independent rear suspension is standard on all series-produ ... Continue reading