Cars' Blog

2010 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid Mileage Announced

2009-01-08T10:49:55Z

Toyota’s redesigned luxury hybrid crossover, the 2010 Lexus RX 450h, will get an EPA-estimated 28/27 mpg city/highway with two-wheel drive and 28/26 with all-wheel drive. After introducing the crossover at the L.A. auto show a couple months ago, Lexus has yet to say how much it will set you back when it arrives at dealerships this spring, but the mileage it’s now announced is an improvement over the RX 400h (which was rated 27/24 mpg with FWD and 26/24 with AWD). The AWD version comes in just 1 mpg...(read more)

Toyota Supplants Dodge in Truck Sales

2009-01-08T09:31:07Z

Our sister site, PickupTrucks.com , made a pretty astonishing discovery when it broke down the sales figures for pickup trucks in 2008: Following GM and Ford, Toyota moved past Chrysler to become the third-largest seller of pickups in the country. Even though Tundra sales fell sharply in the second half of 2008, that model and the Tacoma helped Toyota push past Dodge’s heavy hitters, the Dakota and Ram. Toyota snatched up 14.07% of the U.S. pickup truck market, while Chrysler held onto only 13.57...(read more)

Hybrid Sales Cap Off Disappointing Year With a Bad December

2009-01-08T08:35:00Z

Hybrid sales hit their lowest mark since 2004, dropping nearly 43% in December to 17,698 units. Keep in mind that in 2004 there were considerably fewer hybrid models available, with the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid accounting for 95% of the market. In 2008, there were at least 20 hybrid models on sale. The decline caps a year of unexpected difficulties for hybrids, which saw high demand in the summer months, only to fall off a cliff later in the year, along with gas prices. The Prius — the...(read more)

Toyota to Debut Answer to OnStar

2009-01-08T07:46:00Z

A telematics service that connects you to a GPS system in case of an emergency — sound familiar? Toyota will introduce its answer to OnStar, which it calls Lexus Enform — yes they spell it that way — in its Lexus luxury brand, and Safety Connect in select Toyota vehicles. The service includes Automatic Collision Notification, an SOS button, Stolen Vehicle Location and roadside assistance. The Lexus Enform service also includes Destination Assist, which connects drivers to a live operator who can...(read more)

Chevy Beat Coming to Detroit Auto Show

2009-01-08T06:39:42Z

GM dropped a huge surprise on NBC’s “Today Show” this morning. We in the press had been told that GM would have three new production cars debuting at the Detroit auto show – our live coverage kicks off Sunday morning, well before any NFL playoff games. This morning, however, Ed Welburn, GM’s design chief, showed Matt Lauer the front end of the upcoming production version of the Chevy Beat which will join the 2010 Cadillac SRX , 2010 Buick LaCrosse and 2010 Chevy Equinox on stage Sunday. You might...(read more)

Reader Review of the Week: 2009 Acura TL

2009-01-08T04:13:00Z

If you’ve had to drive a big car for a while because your family requires the space, it can be refreshing to get behind the wheel of a car that can really move. At least, that’s what PADriver from Pennsylvania found after purchasing a 2009 Acura TL. According to this driver, the TL was the right car for the right price. The flaws are evident, but the combination of speed, practicality and a good deal makes it a winner. Read the full review to find out why the TL beat out the Accord and Camry in this...(read more)

2010 Buick LaCrosse at 2009 Detroit Auto Show

2009-01-07T20:00:00Z

Competes with: Acura TSX, Lincoln MKZ, Lexus ES Looks like: Buick might have hope yet Drivetrain: 255-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 or 280-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 with six-speed transmission; front or all-wheel drive Hits dealerships: Late summer 2009 Buick is hoping its complete redesign of the LaCrosse sedan will be as successful at bringing in new buyers as its Enclave crossover was last year. After perusing the specs and these eye-catching pics, we’d have to say it’s got a shot, especially compared to the model...(read more)

2010 Kia Soul Will Start at $13,300

2009-01-07T12:28:46Z

Today, Kia officially announced pricing for its all new Soul hatchback which goes on sale this spring. A starting price of $13,300 before destination charges ($695) is considerably low, especially considering air conditioning is standard. Move up to a higher trim level and stability control is also standard. Mileage for all models is expected to be more than 30 mpg. There are four trim levels with odd naming structures: Soul, Soul+, Soul! and Soul Sport. Each model adds more standard equipment and...(read more)