Isaac Bouchard It is rare—and refreshing—to get a basic model of any new vehicle to test. Most of the time, car manufacturers send journalists loaded versions of their wares, hoping all the lashing of luxury, power and cool trimmings will make our reports more positive. So when a “work truck” spec half-ton Ram showed up, … Read more
Isaac Bouchard For the first few days I had the 2013 MINI Cooper S Roadster I kept muttering, “I’m getting old.” The little sportster’s rough ride, invasive road noise and playful character were at odds with my middle-aged disposition. Yet gradually, like a German/British fountain of youth, the MINI began to bring my vitality and … Read more
Isaac Bouchard The first letter in the name of Cadillac’s newest could easily stand for “audacious.” Here is a car that unashamedly attempts to quantify the best from BMW’s back catalogue so as to offer serious sports sedan buyers the type of machine the Bavarians can be accused of no longer building. It is sized … Read more
Isaac Bouchard The first time I climbed behind the wheel of the BMW X1 it felt as if I’d stepped into an alternate reality, so similar was its cockpit to our beloved—but long gone—2008 BMW 335i. Same wonderful sports seats, steering wheel, shifter, climate controls. The robust heft of the steering wheel during parking maneuvers … Read more
Isaac Bouchard Let’s get this out of the way up front: the Acura RLX doesn’t ride as well as a luxury car should. There, now that we’ve covered that, we can discuss how good an automobile it is otherwise. I had low expectations for this new model. It didn’t look good under the lights at … Read more
By Isaac Bouchard The first Korean to take a run at the classically American Pony Car formula was the Genesis Coupe, and it is interesting to revisit it after its first serious update. Outside there’s a new, “corporate” nose that many like, though I preferred the earlier frontal visage. Other external changes are minor; present … Read more
Isaac Bouchard Honda has always had a knack for making the Accord not only a completely practical four door family car, but also for imbuing it with a dash of dynamic élan beyond most competitors. It is rewarding to enthusiasts yet doesn’t intimidate or exact penalties from those who could care less about on-the-limit handling … Read more
Isaac Bouchard Kia has been on a roll the past few years, and only a lack of production capacity has kept it from setting new records for sales in the U.S. Aside from the coverage they’ve received for overstating the mileage many of their vehicles get, most all their press has been positive, and the … Read more
Isaac Bouchard Acura’s second attempt at a midsize, midpriced luxury crossover, the RDX, is dead on target. The original version tried so hard to be sporty that it turned off many buyers; it was also undermined by its obvious derivation from the Honda CR-V. For 2013 it has become more mainstream, and in this case, … Read more
Isaac Bouchard One of the Santa Fe Sport’s most intriguing features is Hyundai’s new, cellular-based BlueLink system. Combining features consumers will be used to already from GM’s OnStar, such as real-time navigation, weather forecasts and enhanced road-side assistance, with abilities like voice text messaging and even the compatibility to work with Apple’s Siri, it is … Read more
