Reviews : Car News And Reviews

Volvo has long been known for the safety and reliability of their vehicles, but it wasn’t until the past decade that they’ve really stepped up their design game. Following in the footsteps of their stellar XC90, S90, V90, and XC60, Volvo is back with another winner – a vehicle that envelops the best of Swedish sensibilities in a single package.

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. So even though I find many of them boring, or with looks like they were drawn by a seven-year-old, I have to come to grips with reality.

There are two classes of vehicles out there: the kind that needs to be thoroughly reworked, and the kind that needs to be left untouched because it’s already pretty darn good. I recently had the chance to hop behind the wheel of a vehicle that falls into the latter category, the 2019 Mazda MX-5.

While plenty of car manufacturers like to slap the “GT” moniker on cars that are anything but Grand Tourers, Kia actually got it right with the Stinger GT. This is the very definition of a GT car, offering performance, comfort, handling, and enough room to bring all the luggage you need to take a cross-country road trip through the twistiest and most scenic routes you can find.

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.

For years, Honda has teased us with glimpses of the Civic Type R ripping around on foreign soil; a 4-piston piece of Japanese engineered agility and hi-revving revelry with zero interest in sitting on American sales floors.

What is there to say about the Honda Civic Type R that hasn’t already been said? It’s lightning quick, only comes with a manual and a clutch pedal, can stow all sorts of stuff inside its oh-so practical Honda hatch, and looks like a high school kid’s rendition of what a tuned Japanese rocket ship should look like in real life.

“Sam, you need to grow up,” said numerous friends and every family members who are still alive. My response is always an ardent, “No.” Look, I don’t want to grown up, I’m a Toys R’ Us kid and while Toys R’ Us is out of business, Hot Wheels is not.

For as long as it has existed in the Hyundai lineup, the Veloster has been a fun little car to look at. I’ve always loved its low and lean hatchback styling, and its quirky, asymmetrical 3-door layout.

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? Simple, the 2018 Kia Rio belongs here at 95Octane because despite its entry-level nature, it doesn’t suck.

Once you’ve reached the pinnacle of your profession and made your first billion, why not let everyone know about it? One of the best and most comfortable ways to do that is in the ultra luxurious, ultra quiet, ultra comfortable, and ultra expensive Rolls-Royce Phantom.

If you look around at the numerous sport utility vehicles on the market, their marketing campaigns are often associated with an adventurous lifestyle. While most SUV owners will never leave the paved roads of their cities and suburbs, most will tell you they just like knowing their vehicle COULD go off-road in the event of a zombie apocalypse. 

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). But I did enjoy my time in the redesigned Q5 as well.

The first time we saw the Hyundai Kona, it was being revealed at the LA Auto Show, and while some applauded the automaker’s investment, many people really didn’t know what to think of it. America’s small CUV segment is already riddled with options, and for whatever reason Hyundai has remained out of the race… until now.

I’m not going to bang the gavel and proclaim that the Hyundai Veloster is the right option for everyone shopping the sub-compact sport hatch segment, but I will admit that I have long had a soft spot for the vehicle.