This edition of the Odyssey also received some safety goodies You know what they say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. At least that was Honda’s attitude when it came to the Odyssey minivan, which, for 2015, was essentially unchanged from the year before … and the year before that … aside from a…
This gas guzzler is big and cumbersome, hard to move around, and of limited practical use What’s in a name? Well, if the name in question is taken from one of the greatest naval disasters in history, quite a lot. But that seems to be the case with the Nissan Armada, which, for reasons only…
Has held its value reasonably well, going from the high teens to the low $20,000 range
Based on the Honda CR-V, the Acura RDX was the first Acura to have a turbocharger. It was also the first turbo model ever in Honda/Acura’s regular production line-up. It was and is built in Marysville, Ohio. But in 2013, that went away, and it received a V6 engine as well as a six-speed transmission.…
Today's Volvos bear no resemblance to the Volvos of my youth
If you read this space on a regular basis, you may have noticed that I tend to complain about interior controls and layout on “today’s” cars ... a lot. Seems to me manufacturers are focusing too much on gimmickry and glitz and less on functionality and user-friendliness. Some cars – no matter how often I…
The Elantra N-Line starts at just over $32,000
Every car manufacturer, it seems, needs to inaugurate a performance division of their products to truly validate themselves. What some call a skunk works, where the company’s technological and engineering prowess is on full display. BMW has its “M” series, Nissan NISMO, Toyota has TRD, Ford has its Ford Performance Racing, Mercedes has AMG, and…
One owner experienced a sudden catastrophic engine failure at 119,091 km
By 2012 the Hyundai Sonata was in its sixth generation and benefited from a restyling job and drivetrain changes from the year before. Equipment level was still pretty high, with features like air conditioning, power windows, and heated seats becoming standard. Available extras included a leather interior, a Navi system, and satellite radio. You had…
Nissan has discovered technology that stifles viruses, including coronavirus
Sounding like something out of Blade Runner or Star Wars, Nissan recently announced that it has helped develop technology that “inactivates viruses using catalyst active species for aerobic oxidation.” In a nutshell, Nissan has discovered technology that stifles viruses of various types – including, apparently, coronavirus – by hitting them with catalysts the company discovered…
Consumer Reports appreciated its affordability and “decent” performance
By 2013, the Kia Soul was firmly embedded in the North American market. It joined the new breed of stubby compact “urban crossover” wagons, such as the Nissan Cube, Scion xB, Honda Element, Ford Flex and so on, and was an instant success. Sometimes it seemed like every other vehicle on the road was a…
The Toyota Mirai feels like any other upscale electric car
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, when alternate fuel technology was at a fever pitch, one of the possibilities that seemed the most promising was hydrogen power. It’s clean burning, abundant, and fuel efficient, and a slew of manufacturers, including Mazda, BMW, and Toyota, spent enormous amounts of time and money pursuing the idea of…
A thumbs up from Consumer Reports, but mixed results for JD Power
Benefiting from an additional seven horsepower, the 2013 Mazda3 was still in its second generation and pretty much business as usual for the Japanese company. Most of the changes from the previous year were in the form of refinements and interior upgrades, and you could get Mazda’s new thrifty SkyActiv drivetrain for the first time.…