Reviews : Car News And Reviews

Chevrolet recently kicked off an epic 48-state tour of the U.S. with a convoy of its new 2016 Camaros leading the way. I was fortunate to be chosen for the trip, and got to drive the leg that kicked off in Salt Lake City, Utah, and ended in Bozeman, Montana.

The first generation Audi TT was about as much of statement car as you could make in the modern age. Perhaps even more than an exotic supercar like a new Ferrari or Lamborghini flagship because power and beauty is what’s expected from them.

When you think Toyota and hybrid, likely the Prius probably comes to mind first. However, at 95Octane we like our hybrids with a little more to them than the Prius. So, I am glad to get to review a hybrid that’s more my style and more well-suited for 95Octane.

Everyone loves to mention it. ‘Body roll.’ Apparently the car is so good, that it is judged mainly for the way it pitches into a corner. You know… suspension doesn’t have to be rock hard in order for a car to negotiate a curve.

Someone once said to me: “The Audi S7 is just an overpriced version of the A7.” Something more factually incorrect has never been said. While there are significant similarities between the less expensive A7 hatchback, a fine and exquisite car in its own right, the 2016 Audi S7 is most definitely better in all the ways that matter.

When you enjoy a car this much, relating that joy into words becomes increasingly difficult. How do I explain that a car – one which has a modest 160 horsepower – left a perpetual smile on my face?

Say the name “RAV4,” and most people think of a compact grocery getter for the soccer mom set. But the last several days have shown me that the Toyota RAV4 is much more. I had the opportunity to take the 2015 RAV4 on a Pacific Northwest adventure, going off-road, and even witnessing a RAV4 run a rally race.

One could argue that the third-generation Kia Optima is the car that truly reinvigorated the Kia brand back in 2010. Under the watchful eye of design boss Peter Schreyer, the completely redesigned Optima kicked off the brand’s style renaissance, with great looks, and a decidedly more sporty and modern aesthetic than past Kia products.

When you think of the Buick brand, a day at the track isn’t exactly the first thing that pops to mind. But I’m here to tell you that Buick is waist-deep in the midst of a renaissance, offering cars that aren’t just more stylish than ever before, but are actually enjoyable to drive. 

Audi continues to evolve their small car offering. In the 2015 model year, the A3 sedan changed body style, moving away from a hatchback toward a sporty four-door. Likewise, Audi makes this vehicle even more exciting by adding a 2+2 cabriolet (aka convertible) to the lineup.

Midlife crises are weird. They manifest themselves differently in every guy between the ages of 40 and 55 who needs to assert himself as still virile, still capable or just not quite dead yet. Back in the day, it was about cars.

The “standard” Range Rover Sport Supercharged is plenty fast all on its own. 510 horses from its 5.0-liter V8 will rocket it to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds, almost half a second faster than a Porsche Cayman, a car that weighs about 2,400 pounds less than the performance SUV.

Hey kids, who wants to go off-roading today? Okay, that is likely not a conversation most dads will have with his family on a Sunday morning. But those who own a Toyota 4Runner COULD have that conversation.

Now in its 25th year of production, the Ford Explorer really was the vehicle that created the whole SUV industry. What originally started as not much more than a pickup truck with an enclosed bed is now a sophisticated and steadfast daily driver for millions.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a beloved fairy tale. Perhaps it was a favorite of the engineers at Honda. With the 2016 Honda HR-V, they’ve re-created their own version of the Three Bears. Papa Bear being the Pilot, Mama Bear being the CR-V and the brand new HR-V being the Baby Bear.