green living, smart spending
When the all-new redesigned 2014 Kia Soul goes on sale soon, its starting price will be a budget-priced $14,701, plus upgrades and options that bring the top, fully loaded model a blink over $20,000. But even the base model is far from a tin can on wheels, with normally pricey features included as standard, such
Read more
Snappy handling, smart styling, 39 mpg fuel economy, and a starting price of $16,050. No wonder the Ford Fiesta is the best-selling car of its size on the planet, and a top choice for first-time buyers and for millennials here in the USA. I just had the chance spend a day test driving the 2014
Read more
The 2013 Honda Accord and 2013 Honda Civic have both been named best sedans under $25,000 by KBB, on their annual top ten list. The Honda Accord is the #1 vehicle overall on the list, and the Civic is the highest rated compact. Both Honda models offer fuel efficiency, top safety ratings, and performance, which
Read more
The all-new 2014 Nissan Versa Note is a stylish, feature-packed, fuel efficient addition to the Nissan line, with a $13,990 starting price that’s hard to beat – especially because the new model is $680 LESS than the 2013 Nissan Versa Hatch it is replacing. What a concept – an auto manufacturer lowering instead of raising
Read more
The 2013 Toyota Prius C is a best buy with a starting price of $18,950 and a fuel-sipping overall fuel economy rating of 50 MPG, the highest of any vehicle without a plug. This is the smaller version of the best selling hybrid on the planet, an ideal choice for a first car for a
Read more
Get more car for your money with the all-new 2014 Kia Forte Sedan, with a starting price of $15,900, including as standard equipment safety and comfort features rarely found at this price. Even fully loaded, the top-of-the-line model still comes in under the $20,000 price line. The redesigned Forte is longer and wider than the
Read more
With a starting price of $15,995, and styling, technology and performance shared with corporate sibling Alfa Romeo, you can’t beat the 2013 Dodge Dart. Even fully loaded, with the award-winning 1.4 liter MultiAir Turbo, this spirited compact is under $23,000. That engine, by the way, was developed by another Chrysler sibling, Fiat. The 2013 Dodge
Read more
What are the best cars of 2013? The April issue of Consumer Reports tells all, with reviews of 281 models. Watch the CR video, below, or just read the winners by category. Budget car – Hyundai Elantra ($18,445). One of CR’s top-rated compact sedans, the well- rounded Elantra delivers a lot for the money. It’s
Read more
The new Cadillac ATS performance sedan has been named “Best of the Year” 2013 car by MotorWeek, the longest running automotive series on television. This award includes only vehicles made in America, on assembly lines operated both by Detroit based manufacturers and foreign companies including Toyota/Lexus, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan/Infiniti, which have been building cars
Read more
All new car models undergo strict crash testing. Some do better than others. What are the top safety picks for 2013? Here’s the list from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which is awarding its Top Safety Rating+ to just 13 models. Winners include the Acura TL; Dodge Avenger and its twin, the Chrysler
Read more