acura

The wagon lost popularity in the U.S. for a time but looks to be making a comeback, as people scrapping their SUVs for more economical vehicles still find the need for useful cargo space. Acura hopes to capitalize on this trend with the wagon version of the TSX, new for 2011.

Acura invited a group of journalists to spend a day with the new car in Northern California. Wagons have always been a popular type of vehicle for automotive journalists; the cars can combine sporty driving and practicality. It was a happy group that went out driving.

In some … Read more

Throughout 2010, CNET Car Tech editors drove thousands of miles reviewing more than 80 cars. We punched addresses into the navigation systems, talked to the cars through voice command, listened to music from a variety of audio sources, and even made calls to see how well Bluetooth phone systems worked. We took the cars onto twisty roads, bumpy roads, up steep hills, into stop-and-go traffic, and sped long distances on freeways to get a sense of fuel economy, handling, ride quality, and acceleration. We tested lane departure systems, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, and automated braking.

Now, at the end … Read more

Correction: We incorrectly reported that the Consumer Reports survey predicted the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country would rank as the least reliable car. In fact, Consumer Reports predicts that the 2011 Audi A6 3.0T will be the least reliable car for that model year. Chrysler brand vehicle are predicted to be the least reliable overall. We have changed the photo at the top of this blog to reflect our correction.

Consumer Reports published predictions for reliability of 2011 vehicle models based on what car owners told it of previous model year performance. Consumer Reports' survey asked 1.3 million … Read more

Acura tends to design its cars with an eye toward practical midluxury transportation, with nothing too ostentatious or extreme, except one car. In our opinion, the TL SH-AWD is the best car that Acura currently makes.

This hotted up version of the TL sedan gets a 3.7-liter V-6 engine, a sport suspension, and a performance-oriented all-wheel-drive system. It is as comfortable in day-to-day driving as it is capable for high speed cornering. With its six-speed-manual transmission, we could not get enough of it.

Although we like its cabin electronics, the TL SH-AWD doesn't break any new ground, covering … Read more

Nissan says it can make the Prius look like a pig, BMW jumps on the best kept secret of iPhone 4, the new traffic tool coming soon to your Blackberry, make the Acura TL less ugly, and we drive the Goldilocks of BMW's: The 335is.

• Nissan claims it will make today's hybrids look like gas guzzlers

• BMW surfaces the best kept secret of the iPhone 4

• Artist sticks 25 GPS nav devices to his windshield (video)

• Car for the blind will hit the track at Daytona… Read more

Tesla goes public and revises its Roadster; the new Mini gets revised electronics; the FAA moves forward on flying cars; another Toyota recall for the exact opposite of acceleration; Chevy Volt headed for New York City and Austin, Texas; and we drive the Acura TL SH-AWD.

SHOW NOTES

We think of SUVs as lumbering beasts rolling sedately down the road, approaching slight turns with trepidation lest there top-heavy bodies tip them. However, a few models stand apart. They can tear through corners as if they were plot twists on Lost. We found five SUVs that, despite their bulky bodies and high riding style, handle better than most cars do.

Technically, all of these vehicles are crossovers. Although they have typically SUV-like bodies, they all have a  unibody, rather than body-on-frame, design. Having a unibody construction helps them with handling, but all of these vehicles use technology to … Read more

NEW YORK--Gearheads appreciate a good wagon, but they've been in short supply for decades. That sad fact seems to be changing, as four new wagons launched at the 2010 New York auto show. Ranging from a badass hauler to an economy hatchback, these wagons all feature good cabin tech and a whole lot of cargo space, without having to sit up at SUV height.

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Cadillac continues to expand the CTS lineup, having previously launched a sedan and coupe. And, as each one of those models got a high performance V model, so does the Sport … Read more

A 2010 model update gives Acura's MDX only minor styling changes but serious new tech. We enjoyed the upscale cabin on this crossover SUV, along with adaptive cruise control for effortless freeway driving. Voice command for iPod playback is a new and welcome feature, and the ELS audio system delivers on the sound.

Our biggest surprise was the new suspension technology. In Sport mode and coupled with the smart all-wheel drive, the MDX cornered like a sports car.

Read our review of the 2010 Acura MDX.