Author Archive

Mar
09
2020 Toyota Highlander

2020 Toyota Highlander

Consumer Guide Automotive

Toyota’s Highlander has long been a top-seller in the hot midsize-crossover class, at least in part due to the host of accolades it has received (though wearing a Toyota badge doesn’t hurt, either.) It gets a redesign for 2020 that brings an additional 2.4 inches of wheelbase and overall length, a host of new tech features, and a decidedly more miserly Hybrid variant.

Dec
16
2020 Nissan Sentra, 2020 Sentra, Monarch Orange

2020 Nissan Sentra

Consumer Guide Automotive

When the redesigned – and decidedly upmarket – Nissan Versa was introduced earlier this year, one of the biggest questions surrounding it was, “Will this spell the end of the Sentra?”

It didn’t take Nissan long to answer.

Dec
13
2020 Mazda CX-30

2020 Mazda CX-30

Consumer Guide Automotive

This is a vehicle Goldilocks may have influenced.

While the burgeoning popularity of crossovers has caused some hair-splitting additions to model lineups of late, the new Mazda CX-30 fills a surprisingly large gap between the company’s CX-3 subcompact and CX-5 compact. And it fills that gap nearly dead-center, as its 173-inch length falls almost midway between the 168- and 179-inch spans, respectively, of its stablemates.

It also fills a gap in price.

Nov
15
2020 Nissan Titan

2020 Nissan Titan

Consumer Guide Automotive

In a class that divides roughly 2.4 million annual sales between just six entries with average transaction prices reaching $48,000, Nissan’s Titan has long run a distant last. While it’s unlikely this recent update will change that, it may well result in a bigger slice of this very lucrative pie.

Oct
29
20119 GT500

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Consumer Guide Automotive

Just how many ponies does a pony car need? Well, certainly not 760 ….

That will undoubtedly raise the eyebrows of my fellow enthusiasts, to whom “too much power” is a phrase bordering on blasphemy. But honestly, it’s really hard to make use of that much power on the street … at least, for very long.

Oct
16
2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody

2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

Consumer Guide Automotive

Even in this new age of muscle cars, it’s still surprising that one of the quickest and fastest of them is a 4-door sedan. And that the 4-door sedan in question costs just $70,000.

But that’s the story behind the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.

Oct
14
2020 Lincoln Aviator

2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve

Consumer Guide Automotive

Seems that Lincoln – once synonymous with luxury cars – is putting lots more focus on its luxury crossovers.

Lincoln has been completely redesigning its slate of SUVs of late, starting with the all-new full-size Navigator for 2018, followed by an update of the midsize MKX that was renamed Nautilus for 2019. Next came the midsize, 3-row Aviator – the subject of this report – which just went on sale as a 2020 model, soon to be joined by the new 2020 Corsair (based on the redesigned 2020 Ford Escape), which is the replacement for the compact MKC.

Got all that?

Sep
12
2020 Dodge Charger, 2020 Dodge News

2020 Dodge Charger

While there are no new or redesigned cars in the FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) fleet for 2020, there are a number of notable updates to existing ones … along with a deletion. Covered here are the corporation’s automotive makes; Jeep, Ram Trucks, and Ram Commercials are covered in a separate post.

Aug
26
2020 GMC H-D

2020 GMC Sierra Denali Heavy Duty

Consumer Guide Automotive

There’s a lot new in the redesigned 2020 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups, but five things stand out:

  1. Maximum towing capacity of the 1-ton 3500 has been raised an astounding 52 percent to an equally astounding 35,500 lbs.
  2. For those who tow – and GMC says 93% of heavy-duty pickup buyers do – the Sierra offers up to 15 different camera views, including remote cameras that can “see” inside of and behind the trailer.
  3. Buyers opting for the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine – which most do – will find it’s now mated to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission.
  4. All models are available with GMC’s exclusive MultiPro tailgate.
  5. Newly available is a large, multi-color head-up display, along with a rearview camera that can project its image into the rearview mirror (which keeps things like rear-seat passengers or tall cargo in the bed from blocking your view straight back).

Okay, maybe that’s six things. And yet there’s still more.

Aug
06
2020 Nissan Versa Review

2020 Nissan Versa

Consumer Guide Automotive

Since its introduction for 2007, the Nissan Versa’s claim to fame has been that it was often the least expensive new vehicle on the market. So the biggest question going into the preview for the redesigned 2020 model in Nashville was, “Will it remain so?”