Showing posts with label design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label design. Show all posts

Sunday, February 22, 2026

2026 Chevrolet Trax: A Budget Conscious Entry-Level Crossover

 

Highlight: The Chevy Trax shares a platform with the Buick Envista.


Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $29,385 (Base LS MSRP): $23,475

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; a rear camera; stability control system; lane keep assist with lane departure warning; and a tire pressure sensor

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus AWD: The Brand’s Compact Crossover

 

Highlight: A hybrid CX-50 is also available.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $44,620 (Base Mazda3): $31,395

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; rear view monitoring; stability control; traction control system; a blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system; a lane keep assist system; a rear cross traffic alert system; a hill start assist system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

2026 VW Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo AWD: The Fastest Compact Crossover In The Segment

 

Highlight: The Tiguan SEL R-Line AWD adds a 268-horsepower.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $44,560 (Base MSRP): $31,670

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; a rear camera; a blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system’ hill descent control; a tire pressure monitoring system; and a spare tire

Monday, January 12, 2026

2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy AWD: A Three-Row Crossover Offering A Larger And Bolder Design Language


Highlight: The Hyundai Palisade is available with a built-in dash cam. 

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $58,800 (Base SE Trim MSRP): $40,535

Seating Capacity: 7 or 8

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a backup camera; a blind spot collision avoidance assist; rear cross traffic avoidance; a lane keep assist system; a lane following assist system; a high beam assist; a forward collision assist system; a vehicle stability system; a tire pressure monitoring system; a hill start assist; a hill start assist system; Bluelink; dash camera; a temporary spare tire and a tire pressure monitoring system

Friday, January 9, 2026

2026 VW Jetta SE: The Brand’s Affordable Compact Sedan

 

Highlight: This is one of the few vehicles that starts under $30,000. 

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $28,715 (Base MSRP): $25,720

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; a rear camera; a blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system; hill descent control; a tire pressure monitoring system; a spare tire

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

2025 Volkswagen Golf R Black Edition: The Track-Inspired Hatchback Designed for Drifting

 

Highlight: The Golf R is the performance version of the German model’s GTI.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $53,731 (Base MSRP): $48,325

Seating Capacity: 4 or 5

Standard Safety Equipment: a blind spot monitoring system; back up camera; a lane departure warning system; a rear cross traffic alert system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Sunday, December 28, 2025

2026 Mazda CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus: A Cozy Subcompact Commanding a Premium Price


Highlight: This entry-level Mazda’s is the premium-like brand most affordable crossover.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $40,135 (Base Mazda3): $27,470

Seating Capacity: 4 (with limited legroom for rear occupants)

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; rear view monitoring; stability control; traction control system; a blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system; a rear cross traffic alert system; a hill start assist system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

2025 Lincoln Aviator Black Label AWD: The Brand’s Midsize Luxury SUV w/Hands-Free Highway Steering


Highlight: The rear-wheel-drive crossover shares a platform with the Ford Explorer. 

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $90,070 (Base -Trim): $58,605

Seating Capacity: 6 or 7 passenger seating

Standard Safety Features: air bags; ABS; 360-degree camera; an electronic blind spot system; a lane keeping assist system and road edge detection; post collision braking; auto high beams; a brake hold feature; hill start assist; hill descent control; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Saturday, November 1, 2025

2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon AWD Goes All-Electric

 

Highlight: It’s the G-Wagon first all-electric model.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $182,450 Base MSRP: $162,650

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; rain-sensing wipers; a blind spot assist system; an active lane keep assistance system; a high beam assist system; a 360-degree camera; a stability control system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Thursday, October 23, 2025

2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend AWD: The Brand’s Customizable Compact Boxy Crossover

 

Highlight: The Bronco Sport, which shares underpinnings with the Ford Escape, is only available in an all-wheel drive configuration.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $37,160 (Base MSRP): $32,990

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; front passenger sensors; a rearview camera; traction control; stability control; all-wheel drive; a lane keep assist system; a blind spot electronic monitor system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

2026 Buick Envista Avenir: The Brand’s Upscale Affordable Compact Crossover

Highlight: The compact Buick crossover mimics in terms of exterior styling many of the higher end German and Korean crossovers from BMW, Genesis and Mercedes-Benz. 

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $32,385 (Base MSRP): $25,995

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; a rear camera; forward collision alert; lane keep assist with lane departure warning; front pedestrian braking; lane change alert with side blind zone alert; and tire warning system

Friday, August 15, 2025

2025 Lexus LC 500 Convertible: One Of The Sexist Drop Tops On The Road

Highlight: The power convertible top can be closed or opened while driving up to 31-mph.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $115,654 (Base MSRP): $108,300

Seating Capacity: 2

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bag; pre-collision system with pedestrian protection; lane departure alert; an automatic high beam system; an electronic blind spot monitor; a left-turn detection braking system; a 36-degree camera; and tire pressure sensors

Thursday, May 1, 2025

2025 BMW M3 Competition Sedan: For Thrill Seeking 3 Series Performance Driving

 

Highlight: This high-performance 3 Series pushes out 503-horsepower.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $105,875 (Base Model 3-Series rear wheel drive): $46,675

Seating Capacity: 4 to 5

Standard Safety Features: air bags; ABS; active knee protection: front and rear parking distance controls; forward collision mitigation; a lane keep assist system; 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes; a mobility kit; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Standard Equipment (M3 Competition): 19/20 inch wheels; non metallic paint; an aluminum hood with a power dome;  a sport exhaust system with quad tailpipes; a carbon fiber roof; an adaptive suspension; M sport differential; wireless device charging; power folding heated side mirrors; a leather wrapped steering wheel; a radar activated cruise control system; a curved voice activated navigation system; a keyless entry system; a multi-zone ventilation system; leather seats; heated front seats; and trunk spoiler

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

2025 New York International Auto Show: 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback And 2026 Kia EV4

The stylish Kia EV4, which will be available in 2026 is the brand's first all-electric sedan.


The EV4 will have a standard and long range battery available in several trims.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

2024 Acura TLX Type S: The Brand’s Stylish Flagship Performance Sedan


Highlight: Acura engineers retuned the 2024 TLX Type S' Sport+ mode to deliver quicker throttle response.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $59,942 (Base Model Sport Hybrid: $46,595)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; traction control; a forward collision warning system; a collision mitigation braking system; a lane departure warning system; a lane keep assist system; a road departure mitigation system; a radar activated cruise control system; an electronic blind spot system; a lane change alert system; a rear cross traffic monitor; an auto high beam system; a back up camera; hill start assist; a tire pressure monitoring system; and a tire kit

Sunday, January 7, 2024

2023 Kia EV6 Wind Long Range RWD: The Brand’s Sporty Compact EV Hatchback

 

Highlight: The EV6 provides a mechanism which allows the driver to charge up everything from electric household items to an electric bike.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $52,290 (Base Model: $50,025)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a forward collision braking system; a blind spot collision avoidance assistance; a rear cross traffic collision avoidance assistance; a lane keep assist system; a lane forward assist system; a parking distance warning system; a tire pressure monitoring system; a hill start assist and a tire mobility kit

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

'Auto Trends' Talks One-On-One with Ford's First Black Female Car Designer (Two Shows)

 

Emeline King designed the interior of the 1994 Ford Mustang. (Photo Credit: EK)

As we celebrate Black History Month, Auto Trends with Jeffcars.com, a multicultural syndicated automotive program, shines the high beams on Emeline King, Ford Motor Company’s first Black female car designer. King, who was hired in 1983, was one of the first Black female car designers in the auto industry. Marietta Kearney Ellis, who was hired one-year earlier by General Motors, was the first in the industry.

Currently, there are approximately 30 Black car designers globally. Black car designers barely make up a fraction of this exclusive club of creative innovators. In fact, one has a better chance of being drafted at .03%, according to sports sources into the NBA, than becoming an automotive car designer.  

Sunday, December 11, 2022

2022 Infiniti QX60 Sensory AWD: An All-New More Upscale Design Theme

 

Highlight: The vehicle can be outfitted with a co-pilot assist steering system.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $60,745 (Base Model Pure): $50,395)

Seating Capacity: 6 or 7, depending on trim

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection; predictive forward collision warning system; rear automatic braking; rear view camera; an electronic blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system with a haptic steering wheel; a hillstart assist system with a brake hold feature; a tire pressure monitor system; and a spare tire

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

2022 Lexus IS 350: A Bolder Look For The Athletic Compact Sports Sedan


Highlight: There is a new IS 500 model which packs a 472-horsepower, V8 engine.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $55,385 (Base Model: $40,275)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: ABS; rear back up camera; pre collision system with pedestrian detection system; a lane departure alert system with steering assist; a radar activated cruise control system; first aid kit; a tire pressure monitoring system; a blind spot monitor system and a rear cross traffic alert system

Standard Equipment RX 350 F Sport: 18-inch wheels; an-8 speed automatic transmission; side mirrors with integrated turn signal; push button ignition system; rain sensing windshield wiper system; a variety of driving modes; a dual zone automatic climate control system; heated front seats; heated and trim F sport steering wheel; power driver’s seat with lumbar support; perforated leather-like interior; and an 8-inch infotainment screen

2026 Hyundai Palisade XRT Pro AWD: The Fullsize Three-Row Crossover Designed for Off-Road Adventure

Highlight: The Hyundai Palisade XRT, which is not available with a hybrid powertrain, offers 8-inches of ground clearance.   Test Vehicle...