2006 Acura RL

The original Acura RL was not one of my favorite cars, not only because it represented everything that was wrong with the luxury car market at the time, the look was boring, the handling vague but it also pushed the accomplished Legend off the dealer’s lot. Its only saving grace was ...

2005 Toyota Matrix

The launch of the Mazda Protegé5 brought a raft of imitators and competitors – the Toyota Matrix and its Pontiac Vibe clone being among the first out of the blocks. The appeal of these vehicles is simple: The five-door hatchback design brings most of the versatility of a small SUV and...

2005 Toyota Echo sedan

The Toyota Echo sedan when it first debuted in 2000 was designed for strong youth appeal with styling and packaging that departs from the norm. It was a subcompact car with a tall and narrow stance and the lack of proper proportion brought a gawky look to the exterior styling. The...

2005 Pontiac G6 GT

One of the first things to understand about the Pontiac G6 is its lineage – basically it shares its platform with the Saab 9-3 and Chevrolet Malibu. The importance of this is that it brings a rock-solid foundation to the car, one that allows the rest of it to function as intended. It...

2005 Kia Sportage

Of the 1,000 or so cars I have tested over the past 20 years the original Kia Sportage ranks as one of the worst – it took the touch of a master chef to stir your way through the manual gearbox and taking a corner at anything more than walking pace felt as though the vehicle made famous...

2005 Jeep Grand Cheroke...

Since its introduction in 1992, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has earned quite a reputation, as it blends on-road civility with off-road ability without forgetting about the luxury quotient demanded of a modern sport-utility vehicle. The third-generation takes all of these attributes and ramps...

2005 Dodge Caravan Mini...

Since its inception in 1984, the Dodge Caravan has been at or near the forefront of the minivan market both in terms of actual sales and innovation. With the introduction of Stow’n Go seating in the 2005 Grand Caravan, DaimlerChrysler hopes to fend off an assault on their sales from...

2005 Chrysler 300 HEMI

By now most of you have seen or heard of DaimlerChrysler’s new line up of vehicles, most notable is the all new Chrysler 300. I was quite skeptical when word of these vehicles began leaking out at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show. What a mistake it was to underestimate this car, which was...