We don't understand why Mazda sells only on average about 100,000 units a year of its Mazda3 sedan and five-door hatchback in North America. Granted, that's not an insignificant number. But when the Mazda3 is compared to its top two competitors, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, it's a modest number. Both the Civic and Corolla approach and sometimes exceed 300,000 almost every year. We simply can't figure out how a car as good as the Mazda can trail the Honda and Toyota nameplates.
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Don't call it a premium station wagon even though it has all the ingredients: sleek wagon styling with rear-tailgate access; compliant car-like ride and handling; excellent storage room and comfort for four or five people and all their things. The third generation Volvo XC70 is more than a wagon, but at the same time doesn't march to the same beat as the new generation of so-called crossover vehicles.
It's hard to find fault with any aspect of the new Land Cruiser's on and off road credentials. We saw first hand that it had lost little if any of its famous off-road capability that has made it a vehicle of choice since the early 1950s for people navigating the Sahara Desert or an African jungle. And it's as powerful, comfortable and quiet as anything in the luxury SUV class when driven on pavement.
The newest Pontiac has a muscular yet conservative stance. The lines are clean, totally devoid of the tacky body cladding and other add-ons that have adorned recent Pontiac products. And there's no boy-racer wing attached to the trunk lid. An aggressive front air dam with foglights and twin hood scoops enhance the go-fast look. Two dual exhaust pipes speak louder than a wing.
Whatever advantages the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey had gained over the past couple of years have been erased by the 2008 Town & Country and Caravan. While most of the recent minivan innovations have come on the inside in the form of passenger comfort; ease of use; and entertainment technology, we were equally impressed with the Town & Country's improved driving dynamics.
The high-riding Range Rover oozes luxury from its stately exterior to its rich leather, wood and chrome adorned interior. And it's one of the most capable off road vehicles in the world. In an effort to make that point, Land Rover has built three challenging off-road venues - in North Carolina, California and Canada - to offer the "Land Rover experience" to anyone who enjoys learning the proper way to play off road.
The Sequoia is an excellent example of how to build a big, stylish SUV. It has incredible performance for a three-ton vehicle when pulled by the 5.7-liter V-8, mated to a six-speed automatic.
RENO, Nev. - As we eased along at a sedate 60 miles per hour behind a line of traffic on a two-lane Nevada highway, the veteran automotive magazine writer behind the wheel of the Nissan GT-R noted how he could never use the car as a daily driver.
We hope Cadillac dealers who have scads of 4.6-liter 320-horsepower Northstar V-8 models on their lots don't get too upset. But dear reader, forget eight cylinders if purchasing a new STS. This is a rare situation where 302 is better than 320.
For those folks and others who seek a more modern sophisticated hot hatch experience, the R32 has been returned to our shores after a three-year hiatus, again in a limited run of about 5,000. And now it's the premium (and once again) Rabbit, the Golf name dropped in a complete remake of the squared-off hatch in 2006.
