?2018 Ford EcoSport SES 4WD? A Small as in subcompact SUV with Basic Amenities ? OVERVIEW Ford?s newest entry into the SUV arena first appeared on our shores last year as the 2018 Ford EcoSport. It has been on sale in other global markets for a few years now. The 2019 model year will carry…
If we were going to give the new 2018 Toyota C-HR an initialism, we would call it an UAV (Urban Assault Vehicle) or perhaps a FUV (Fun Urban Vehicle). Toyota says the C-HR stands for Coupe High-Rider. It represents a stylish and sporty new design language and they?ve introduced it with some very cleaver fairytale-like…
?2108 Toyota C-HR XLE” A Fun, Mischievous approach to the Subcompact SUV What?s in a name? In the case of the 2018 Toyota C-HR, the name is somewhat ambiguous and contradictory. ?C-HR? according to the Toyota suits stands for ?Coupe-High Rider? That?s all well and good, but names, even in the form of acronyms should…
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer As people who like to drive, be it to the grocery store or on a road trip, we think cars should reward the driver with some type of attributes that add to the driving experience. While most of the new small cars fit the basic driver needs of being a…
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer San Jose, Calif. ? It was Christmas – time for our annual junket to see the grandkids and Barbara?s family in California. We always try to get a press car on these trips that we might not have yet had a chance to drive in the Northwest press fleet. This…
Nik J Miles heads to Puerto Rico to take a first drive in the Mini Paceman The Mini Paceman is the first Mini to have it’s name written across the back of the trunk. In years gone by you would have to recognize a mini just from the silhouette. But that’s not hard with the…
?2012 Scion IQ: Move over Smart? Seattle, Washington – Scion?s latest entry into the marketplace is the premium Micro-subcompact IQ. Scion claims that it is the world?s smallest four-seat production automobile. The IQ becomes the fourth vehicle to join the Scion family, and it is hoped that it will define the premium micro-subcompact segment and…
?Red rover, red rover, send Mazda2 over.? With U.S. subcompact sales expected to double in the next two years, Mazda is finally bringing their littlest car to the U.S. after a very successful three-year run in Europe and Asia. Originally launched in 2007, the Mazda2 has won 48 automotive awards, including ?Car of the Year…
The Mazda2 is long overdue. This car should have been brought to the United States in 2007 when Mazda was selling the previous generation of this model in Australia and Asia. I know, I know, 2007 was the fin de siecle for big gas guzzlers – when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth in automotive form….
