I am bleary-eyed and emotionally edgy after a crack-of-dawn flight to Dulles. Dragging two young kids across the country has a way of doing that to me. As I scan the long aisles of the rental lot, I pray that spot 179—my spot—is filled with something interesting. I booked a full-size sedan, so my bar… Continue reading Review: 2019 Lexus NX 300 is Solid but Sparkless
Well, this is a surprise. My family from the heart of conservative trucks-and-guns Pennsylvania just took delivery of an EV. A 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E, to be precise. Now I’m wondering, is this a harbinger of red America going green? Not that selling EVs in the heartland should be hard. EVs pair the torque of… Continue reading Review: 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E (vs. Tesla Model 3)
Kia has been on a tear recently. It’s moved well beyond its basic-economy past to producing beautiful, advanced, segment-leading vehicles like the Stinger, Telluride and EV6. My interest is piqued, and so I’m filled with anticipation when the rental counter assigns us a 2021 Kia Sportage LX. When we finally locate the Sportage in the… Continue reading Review: 2021 Kia Sportage LX isn’t Kia’s Bright Future
Parked in front of me is a 2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i. Its key is in my right hand. I look at its squinting eyes and flared nostrils and think, “what a strange bird!” The X1 looks like a safari-ready 3-series, a wagon with a lifted suspension and raised roof. I open the driver’s door, wondering… Continue reading Review: 2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i is the Safari 328i
In less than five minutes of exploring the cabin of the 2021 Tesla Model Y, I have my thesis: The SUV is a vertically-stretched Model 3, but its rear bench and trunk don’t offer enough additional space to tempt me out of my beloved Model 3 sedan. I’m pretty confident about my (premature?) verdict, but… Continue reading Review: 2021 Tesla Model Y (vs Model 3)
I haven’t been this excited to test a new car in a long time. Why? Because the new metal is a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4. When it was released, the GT4 brought lustful tears of gratitude to the eyes of journalists. Now it’s my turn to drive the legend. So please hide my checkbook and… Continue reading Comparison: 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S are Complementary Sports Cars
I have 24 hours with a Mercedes GLC 300 4Matic. This should be prime one-on-one time for me to explore Mercedes’ best-selling model of 2020, but I have a problem. I’m preoccupied with its little brother, the GLB 250 4Matic. When I drove it last year, I concluded that the GLB was sufficiently luxurious yet… Continue reading Review: 2021 Mercedes GLC 300 4Matic isn’t the Family Benz
Dark wood and silver metal shine purple, red, pink, then blue. Let me direct your attention to the Mercedes E-Class. You should know it as a stalwart of the Mercedes range. For generations, the E-Class was the quintessential luxury sedan, the best in its segment if you wanted impeccable quality and comfort conveyance for four… Continue reading 2019 Mercedes E300 is a Black Jacket with Fuchsia Lining
My inlaws are on their fourth Dodge Durango. They started with a first-generation 2001 Durango and ran it for nearly 200k miles. Their second, third and fourth Durangos were back-to-back leases from the SUV’s third-generation. What started as the truck for a family-of-five and a toy puller is now their empty-nester runabout. I’ve borrowed their… Continue reading Review: 2021 Dodge Durango GT The Big Stick Steps Lightly
After a short and troubled stint with a 2016 Mercedes C450 AMG, my brother has punted on his silver-star sedan and picked up a 2018 Audi S4 Premium Plus. The move from Stuttgart's stormy skies to Ingolstadt's greener grass trades one luxury ride for another, and I'm curious to see Audi's take on the sports… Continue reading Review: 2018 Audi S4 is a Quiet Stunner
Mike's Steering Column 