Awd

Ever since its 2018 redesign, the Toyota Camry has become one of my favorite sedans. Its design not only is more visually interesting than it has been in the past; the Camry actually has compelling driving characteristics that make it more engaging than previous generations and other everyday sedans.

Over the years, I’ve driven a number of vehicles based on FCA’s full-size car platform, which underpins the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Chrysler 300. Most of the models I’ve been in have been muscular rear-wheel drive cars with giant HEMI V8s, and crazy amounts of horsepower.

I recently had the opportunity to spend some time in the beautiful, snow-capped mountains of central Colorado, where Rocky Mountain Redline assembled a variety of all-wheel drive vehicles to demonstrate their prowess in wintry conditions. Among the cars and crossovers was one of the first ever 2020 Dodge Charger GT AWDs to roll off the assembly line.

It’s clear that there’s a difference between vehicles that can send power to just two wheels or all four of them, but the terms “all-wheel drive” and “4-wheel drive” actually mean different things. In a nutshell, an all-wheel drive vehicle can variably send power between the front and rear wheels, dynamically distributing power via a central differential.

Here in the midwest and other places where it gets cold and snowy, all-wheel drive vehicles generally outsell their front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive variants. While a good set of winter tires is always a help when driving on slick surfaces, being able to send power to all four wheels can be a big help in providing vehicle stability and control.

It’s been a long time since you could buy a new Land Rover Defender here in the U.S. Well, the wait is about to end. Land Rover has taken wraps off of its all-new 2020 Defender, and it looks to pack all of the capability and versatility we’ve come to expect, but complemented by lots of modern technology.

Chrysler discontinued the 200 midsize sedan. Ford announced that this will be the last generation of the Fusion midsize sedan. Sales of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord midsize sedans aren’t what they used to be.

If the Audi TT were an exotic animal, it would probably be a flying squirrel. Small in stature, yet ferociously unafraid of swift flight, it rambunctiously leaps from place to place; an adorable little acrobat with loads of personality and a “never-say-die” look in its eye.

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.

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.

Hyundai has gone from being labeled as the unreliable Korean alternative to world-class contender in record time. Like all success stories, there were some early year growing pains, as well as some awkward teenage moments (anyone else remember the Veracruz?),

To be completely honest, I was rather looking forward to revisiting Mazda’s micro-sized CX-3 crossover. It had been about a year and a half since I last reviewed a Touring model, and was overjoyed when I saw the “Dynamic Blue Mica” GT version roll into my drive. 

Station wagons have become quite the anomaly here in America, and for damn good reason. The minivan surprise attack of the 1980s was quickly followed by an SUV punch, and once crossover and hybrid sales began to climb, the quintessential family mover of yesteryear appeared to be on its last leg at the turn of the millennium.

It’s Reds season in Cincinnati, and it seems like every year I forget how gung-ho people are about baseball in this town. OK, so I guess having the first pro team in history technically labels Cincy as baseball icon of sorts, but did it have to spawn so many god-awful drivers?