Posts Written by Jimmy Dinsmore

I’m conflicted this week. I really am. I often dislike compact crossovers. If find many of them lacking in distinction or personality. But I also generally like quirky and small vehicles that have pep and good handling.…

In the past few years, Lexus has been going through quite a renaissance. They’ve shaken their stodgy, conservative reputation for one that is bolder and more aggressive.…

It’s time to face the facts. Compact crossovers aren’t just a flash-in-the-pan trend, they’re a juggernaut within the auto industry. They’re not going anywhere any time soon.…

Few things typify the American way more than big SUVs. Just like the big pickup trucks that they share platforms with, the full-size SUV is like a throwback to what the auto industry used to be before crossovers took over.…

95Octane’s tagline is “Cars that don’t suck.” So, then how can I review a subcompact car with a price tag under $20k and a little four banger with a puny amount of horsepower?…

Earlier this year, I reviewed the 2018 Audi Q5. I wasn’t used to Audi SUVs as I generally get behind the wheel of their sedans (and thoroughly enjoy myself).…

The band Haddaway had one of the most infamous one-hit wonder songs of all time called What is Love? Now that that ear worm is in your head (you’re welcome), it made me ask the question, with A Night at the Roxbury’s theme song as the backdrop, “What is luxury?”…

My test car this week is very near and dear to my heart. It’s iconic to everyone, not just to me. This week I’m reviewing the 2018 Ford Mustang.…

It’s no secret that demand for SUVs is higher than it’s ever been, and cars here in the US are passé. But this doesn’t mean that all SUVs are popular.…

It is not my job or responsibility to shill for one car brand over another. I see a wide variety of vehicles, and have driven almost every major brand on the road today.…

For those who read my reviews regularly, which is probably just my wife and my parents, you’ll know I have enjoyed almost every Audi sedan I’ve driven.…

We are two years away from 2020, and despite what we thought when we were kids, we’re nowhere close to flying cars, or even Back to the Future-like hoverboards.…

You might think I’m trying to pull a fast one over on you if you look at this review. I did, in fact, review a very similar car late last year when my review of the BMW440i ran right here on 95Octane.…

Every single automaker needs a three-row SUV to compete in today’s crowded market. After a couple of years with some less-than-positive headlines, Volkswagen needed a win from their first-ever three-row midsize SUV.…

Driving a lot of different vehicles, I’ve develop a mental checklist of things I notice and enjoy. And certainly, I’ve developed some personal biases toward certain types of vehicles.…