Reviews : Car News And Reviews

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.

Tesla, there’s a killer cat about to pounce and a stomp on your tail, and it’s called the Jaguar I-PACE. The Coventry car builder’s first ever pure-electric ride is a fantastic entry into the fledgling luxury EV space, offering plentiful power, sports car handling, cabin comfort, and tech that’s at the top of its game.

The first Mitsubishi that I ever came into close contact with was my dad’s Colt hatchback. Rebadged as a Dodge, the five-door was a daily-driven delight. With a manual gearbox, stellar fuel economy, room aplenty for baby seats, and nary a mechanical issue to be seen over multiple years.

Stomp around in someone else’s backyard just to see what happens. Throw the traditionalists for a loop with turbocharged antics and all-wheel drive agility, then back it all up with a jaw-dropping list of standard features for a fraction of the competition’s asking price.

Since it first debuted back in 1989, Lexus has sold over 2.18 million of its mid-size ES sedans. The car is not only a critical revenue generator for the brand, but it’s been one of their most middle-of-the-road vehicles, which is a direct reflection of its popularity, and vice versa.

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 not a rare car. Heck, they’re everywhere.

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. These days, the smaller, sleeker, sometimes cutesy SUVs and crossovers are all the trend.

Have you ever seen the film Lost in Translation? The one where a completely washed-up Bill Murray goes to Tokyo in order to ride whatever fame he has left in his sad career by selling his image via Japanese whiskey commercials?

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. So, I consider myself “informed.”