The 2020 Nissan Sentra is all new and a massive improvement over the outgoing model. But the competition is fierce. How does it compete with Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta? Well, Nissan is clearly playing the value card with Sentra. Even the base S model comes with push button start and automatic emergency braking. Tom Voelk checks out a loaded top shelf SR model that retails for $25,170 (which can be the price of options on some luxury cars).

The 2020 Nissan Sentra is all new and a massive improvement over the outgoing model. But the competition is fierce. How does it compete with Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta? Well, Nissan is clearly playing the value card with Sentra. Even the base S model comes with push button start and automatic emergency braking. Tom Voelk checks out a loaded top shelf SR model that retails for $25,170 (which can be the price of options on some luxury cars). 

Driven Car Reviews

The 2020 Nissan Sentra Grows Up! (Is It Now The Sedan To Beat?)

What’s better than an Infiniti Q60 performance coupe? A special edition Q60. There are five “Edition 30” models that celebrate three decades of Infiniti’s existence. It adds tech and unique trim at a lower price than a similarly equipped Luxe model. Is it worth the three decade wait? Tom Voelk takes it for a drive on some very rainy roads.

What’s better than an Infiniti Q60 performance coupe? A special edition Q60. There are five “Edition 30” models that celebrate three decades of Infiniti’s existence. It adds tech and unique trim at a lower price than a similarly equipped Luxe model. Is it worth the three decade wait? Tom Voelk takes it for a drive on some very rainy roads.    

2020 Infiniti Q60 Edition 30 Is Three Decades In The Making.

There are many luxury 3-row SUVs fighting for “one percenter” bucks. Is the V8-powered Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 the one to beat?  It’s luxurious, stylish and… a hybrid. It also attracts a lot of attention when put into Free Assist mode. It’s also stuffed with tech. Tom Voelk checks out this not-too-big (for a 3-row machine) SUV.

There are many luxury 3-row SUVs fighting for “one percenter” bucks. Is the V8-powered Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 the one to beat?  It’s luxurious, stylish and… a hybrid. It also attracts a lot of attention when put into Free Assist mode. It’s also stuffed with tech. Tom Voelk checks out this not-too-big (for a 3-row machine) SUV.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 Lives Large (And It’s A Hybrid?)

You asked for it, you got it! Land Rover is bringing the all-new Defender back and it arrives on U.S. shores in the spring of 2020. On the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Land Rover brought it out for the press to see. Plus Defender fan and owner John Mayer was there to help.

You asked for it, you got it! Land Rover is bringing the all-new Defender back and it arrives on U.S. shores in the spring of 2020. On the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Land Rover brought it out for the press to see. Plus Defender fan and owner John Mayer was there to help.

The Land Rover Defender Is Back!

Car are expensive and that’s one of the reasons Millennials aren’t buying them the way Boomers did. Enter the all-new 2020 Hyundai Venue crossover. It starts at about half the price of the average cars sold these days. And it’s not a penalty box. Tom Voelk travels to Miami, Florida to check this small hatchbacky crossover out. Full disclosure, Hyundai provided travel and lodging for this event but as always, Tom’s opinions are his alone.

Car are expensive and that’s one of the reasons Millennials aren’t buying them the way Boomers did. Enter the all-new 2020 Hyundai Venue crossover. It starts at about half the price of the average cars sold these days. And it’s not a penalty box. Tom Voelk travels to Miami, Florida to check this small hatchbacky crossover out. Full disclosure, Hyundai provided travel and lodging for this event but as always, Tom’s opinions are his alone. 

2020 Hyundai Venue- Small Crossover. Big Value.

Audi’s small Q3 crossover is new and it gets a welcome nudge up the size ladder. Now built on the Volkswagen group’s well-regarded MQB architecture, it has a different dynamic. Tom Voelk checks out a well-equipped Q3 S Line Premium Plus model to find out if it’s worth nearly $44,000.

Audi’s small Q3 crossover is new and it gets a welcome nudge up the size ladder. Now built on the Volkswagen group’s well-regarded MQB architecture, it has a different dynamic. Tom Voelk checks out a well-equipped Q3 S Line Premium Plus model to find out if it’s worth nearly $44,000.

2020 Audi Q3 S Line Premium Plus. Bigger? Sure. (But Better..?)

Crossovers have become all things to all buyers. Looking for something on the sporty side? The RDX is up to the task. Equipped with active torque vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, it puts the “sport” in Sport Utility Vehicle. It’s also priced right. Tom Voelk checks out the A-Spec performance trim version and takes a close look at the True Touchpad interface that can be a deal maker, or breaker.

Crossovers have become all things to all buyers. Looking for something on the sporty side? The RDX is up to the task. Equipped with active torque vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, it puts the “sport” in Sport Utility Vehicle. It’s also priced right. Tom Voelk checks out the A-Spec performance trim version and takes a close look at the True Touchpad interface that can be a deal maker, or breaker.

2020 Acura RDX A-Spec puts the “sport” into SUV!

Land Rover’s Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition come with the longest name in the automotive world. Darned if it doesn’t make short work of all conditions. Yes, this 550 horsepower SUV sprints to 60 miles an hour in just 4.3 seconds, but it never forgets its Land Rover roots. Tom Voelk drives it in the hills of California where he answers “yes” to the question “would you take your $100,000 performance SUV off road?”

Land Rover’s Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition come with the longest name in the automotive world. Darned if it doesn’t make short work of all conditions. Yes, this 550 horsepower SUV sprints to 60 miles an hour in just 4.3 seconds, but it never forgets its Land Rover roots. Tom Voelk drives it in the hills of California where he answers “yes” to the question “would you take your $100,000 performance SUV off road?” 

2020 Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition Is Speed, Beauty and Rarity

The wait is over, the all-new fourth-generation Toyota Highlander is hitting dealerships now. The hybrid model that carries up to 8 passenger is EPA rated at 36 miles to the gallon (and yes, this is a three-row crossover). Tom Voelk travels to San Antonio, Texas to dive both the V6 and hybrid models. He’s joined by Kelsey Mays from Cars.com.

The wait is over, the all-new fourth-generation Toyota Highlander is hitting dealerships now. The hybrid model that carries up to 8 passenger is EPA rated at 36 miles to the gallon (and yes, this is a three-row crossover). Tom Voelk travels to San Antonio, Texas to dive both the V6 and hybrid models. He’s joined by Kelsey Mays from Cars.com.

2020 Toyota Highlander V6 (and the Hybrid is rated at 36 MPG)!

Can’t decide on grabbing the svelte new Hyundai Sonata now or waiting for the performance boosted N-Line due out late next year? Tom Voelk checks out the 1.6T Limited and SEL Plus, but also gets a sneak peek at 2.5-liter turbocharged N-Line! Either way, the 8th generation Sonata is doing everything it can to get buyers to walk past crossovers and SUVs and stay with a more traditional sedan. Plus, it’s available with “phone as key” and a driverless “summon” feature.

Can’t decide on grabbing the svelte new Hyundai Sonata now or waiting for the performance boosted N-Line due out late next year? Tom Voelk checks out the 1.6T Limited and SEL Plus, but also gets a sneak peek at 2.5-liter turbocharged N-Line! Either way, the 8th generation Sonata is doing everything it can to get buyers to walk past crossovers and SUVs and stay with a more traditional sedan. Plus, it’s available with “phone as key” and a driverless “summon” feature.

2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited, SEL Plus and N-Line

There’s a lot of automotive tech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sony shocked everyone by bring a car, the Vision S. But there was more to check out at the show. Hyundai brought an aircraft. Nissan brought ice cream. Tom Voelk walked the floor for hours so you don’t have to.

There’s a lot of automotive tech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sony shocked everyone by bring a car, the Vision S. But there was more to check out at the show. Hyundai brought an aircraft. Nissan brought ice cream. Tom Voelk walked the floor for hours so you don’t have to.

Sony Shocked CES 2020 With A Car!

The 2020 Subaru Legacy Sport is perfect for buyers that need traction in sloppy weather but don’t want to drive an SUV. It’s a sedan (remember those?) with the company’s symmetrical all-wheel drive. It has a low center of gravity that’s made capable by Subaru’s flat profile Boxer engine, but is the Sport really sporty? Tom Voelk checks it out.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy Sport is perfect for buyers that need traction in sloppy weather but don’t want to drive an SUV. It’s a sedan (remember those?) with the company’s symmetrical all-wheel drive. It has a low center of gravity that’s made capable by Subaru’s flat profile Boxer engine, but is the Sport really sporty? Tom Voelk checks it out.  

2020 Subaru Legacy Sport Is AWD Without The SUV

The Porsche Taycan Turbo on the Angeles Crest Highway (In Other Words, Heaven).

For the first time in over 50 years, Jeep puts a diesel engine in its most capable vehicle (in the US, Europe has had a smaller one for years). With impressive fuel economy and 442 lb-ft of torque available at 1,400 RPM, the 3-liter EcoDiesel and Wrangler are like chocolate and peanut butter. They go great together. Tom Voelk takes it on and off-road in Utah near Zion National Park.   Travel and lodging were provided by FCA.

For the first time in over 50 years, Jeep puts a diesel engine in its most capable vehicle (in the US, Europe has had a smaller one for years). With impressive fuel economy and 442 lb-ft of torque available at 1,400 RPM, the 3-liter EcoDiesel and Wrangler are like chocolate and peanut butter. They go great together. Tom Voelk takes it on and off-road in Utah near Zion National Park.   Travel and lodging were provided by FCA.

Jeep Wrangler Gets The Diesel It Deserves!

Porsche’s all-electric Taycan is an impressive road machine. But its high performance continues even when it’s parked. Tom Voelk travels to a Walmart in Burbank, CA where Taycan Specialist Calvin Kim demonstrates the speed of Electrify America’s 800-volt 350kW charging system. It’s another leap forward in the acceptance of EVs.

Porsche’s all-electric Taycan is an impressive road machine. But its high performance continues even when it’s parked. Tom Voelk travels to a Walmart in Burbank, CA where Taycan Specialist Calvin Kim demonstrates the speed of Electrify America’s 800-volt 350kW charging system. It’s another leap forward in the acceptance of EVs.

800-Volt System Makes Quick Work Of EV Charging

New York Times contributor and Emmy Award-winning automotive journalist Tom Voelk looks at all things cars.

hubhopper

Driven Car Reviews

hubhopper