GuideReviews Index

2010 Lexus HS 250h
Lexus bills the HS 250h as the first dedicated luxury hybrid. This oddly-styled compact sedan combines the platform of the European-market Toyota Avenesis with the powertrain of the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the techno-gizmos of the Lexus RX, all wrapped up in an attractively-priced package that, frankly, makes little sense to this reviewer. Does the HS 250h work any better out in the real world? Read on. 2010 Lexus HS250h: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2010 Mazdaspeed3
The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 is the hot-rod version of Mazda's fantastic Mazda3 compact. The Mazdaspeed3 features a 263 horsepower turbocharged direct-injected engine, go-faster body trim, and a very attractive price -- just under $24,000. The previous Mazdaspeed3 was one of the best sport-compacts on the market. Can the all-new 2010 Mazdaspeed3 uphold the old car's reputation? Read on. 2010 Mazdaspeed 3: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2010 Nissan Altima
When the current version of the Nissan Altima made its debut in 2007, it quickly became my favorite mid-size car -- but as more of the Altima's competitors started offering standard electronic stability control, the Altima fell from grace. So here we are in 2010, and the Nissan Altima has gotten a mid-cycle refresh -- including standard ESC. Is the Nissan Altima back on my list of faves? Read on. 2010 Nissan Altima: Tested by Aaron Gold, your Guide to cars at About.com.

2010 Nissan GT-R
[p]The Nissan GT-R sees a raft of changes for 2010. Power is up 5 hp to 485 and the price is up $4k to almost $82,000. Side airbags are now standard and the 2010 GT-R's suspension and transmission has been retuned. Subtle updates, but do they make a difference in the way the 2010 Nissan GT-R goes down the road? Read on. 2010 Nissan GT-R: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Audi A6 3.0T
I've always thought of the A6 as the Toyota Camry of big German luxury cars. It's got all the details that make German cars so endearing, but I just never found it all that thrilling to drive. Audi, it would seem, agrees with me, because they've given the 2009 A6 a round of updates designed to make it more posh and more involving to drive. Did the changes work? Read on. 2009 Audi A6 3.0T: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
Last year, Nissan put the 370Z Coupe on a diet and fitness program. For 2010, they've given the 370Z Roadster the same treatment. Like the Coupe, the new 370Z Roadster is shorter, wider, and lighter than the car it replaces. And like the coupe, it's a heck of a lot of fun to drive. But does it deserve a place in your driveway? Read on. 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Pontiac Solstice
Forty years from now, when the Pontiac brand is a distant memory and the Solstice GXP Coupe is a valuable and much-sought-after collector's item, I expect its fan base to hate me. The truth is that the Solstice Coupe, despite its good points -- all two of them -- is a thoroughly dreadful little car. 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

Turtle Wax Black Box cleaning/waxing kit
Black cars look great when they're clean -- but keeping them clean can be a major pain. Turtle Wax has a product called Black Box, a cleaning and waxing system designed specifically for black vehicles. I put Turtle Wax Black Box to the test with a worst-case scenario -- read on to find out if Black Box came out shining.

2010 Acura TSX V6
Acura is attempting to turn up the excitement level of its entry-level Acura TSX with a new engine -- a 280 horsepower 3.5 liter V6. Can the V6 add the excitement that the 2010 Acura TSX so badly needs? Read on. 2010 Acura TSX V6: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i hatchback
The Subaru Impreza 2.5i is my favorite choice for new and nervous drivers, because it’s the only small, affordable car with standard all-wheel-drive (AWD). AWD gives the 2009 Subaru Impreza a stronger grip on the pavement than front- or rear-wheel-drive cars. For 2009, Subaru has made the Impreza 2.5i's safety package even better -- but does being the safest make it the best? Read on. 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i hatchback: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2010 Ford Taurus SHO
Twenty years ago, Ford unleashed the Taurus SHO: Sensible family car on the outside, renegade on the inside. 2010 brings an all-new SHO built around Ford's new EcoBoost V6, a 3.5 liter engine with direct fuel injection and twin turbos that develops 365 hp. The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO sounds good on paper, but how does it work on the street? Read on. 2010 Ford Taurus SHO: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
Pontiac introduced the rear-wheel-drive G8 GT in 2008 with a big 6.0 liter 361 horsepower V8. For 2009, there's a bigger fish: The G8 GXP, with a 6.2 liter V8, 402 hp, 6-speed transmission and even-stiffer suspension. The explosively-fast G8 GXP truly is the last of the Pontiac muscle cars -- but is it worth getting? Read on. 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Audi TTS Roadster
Available as either a coupe or convertible, the new TTS features a 265 hp/258 lb-ft version of the base TT engine (65 hp/51 lb-ft more than the standard 2.0T and 15 hp/22 lb-ft more than the optional V6), Quattro all-wheel-drive, lightweight components, two-mode magnetic-ride suspension, electric power steering, and twin-clutch automatic transmission. Was the TTS worth waiting for? Read on. 2009 Audi TTS Roadster: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Hyundai Elantra preview drive
The Elantra Touring is a new model from Hyundai, based on the European-market i30. Though Hyundai plans to market the Elantra Touring as a 5-door compact, the Elantra Touring isn't really all that easy to classify -- it combines the attributes of a compact hatchback, a mid-size sedan, and a station wagon. I got a chance to take a short spin in the Elantra Touring, and came away with the impression that this is a very promising little car. Tested by Aaron Gold, your Guide to cars at About.com.

2009 BMW 335d
Bringing a diesel-powered BMW like the 335d to the United States poses a unique challenge: Not only do Americans have a low opinion of diesels, they have high expectations from any vehicle wearing a BMW badge, especially the much-loved 3-series. Can the 335d deliver BMW's carefully-honed image on a diet of diesel fuel? Read on. 2009 BMW 335d: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

Winter Driving School DVD
Every winter, the Bridgestone Winter Driving School sets up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to teach the fine art of driving in conditions that would keep most sane people at home. For those who can't make the trip to Colorado, the Winter Driving School offers a concentrated version of the course on DVD -- but can a 23-minute video cover as much as a full-day course?

iVoice R1 Bluetooth speakerphone
With more and more states adopting hands-free cell phone laws, many drivers are buying wireless Bluetooth earpieces for their mobile phones or buying cars with built-in Bluetooth speakerphone connectivity. The iVoice R1 is an alternative -- a Bluetooth speakerphone that mounts to your car's sun visor. How well does it work? Read on. Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Lexus ES 350 Pebble Beach Edition test drive
When the Lexus ES 350 was introduced in 2007, it earned a spot on our Best New Cars of 2007 list for its combination of comfort, luxury and value-for-money. Now in its third year of production, the Lexus ES350 is little changed -- as are the reasons to love it. But several new competitors have sprung up in the past couple of years -- so does the 2009 Lexus ES350 still stand out? Read on. 2009 Lexus ES 350: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2011 Ford Fiesta preview drive
Ford's subcompact 2011 Fiesta won't hit American streets until early 2010, but Ford gave me a chance to check out the European version of the Ford Fiesta. I got a good feel for the 2011 Ford Fiesta's styling and practicality -- and a good feeling that, if Ford doesn't change it too much, the 2011 Ford Fiesta is going to be a very successful car. 2011 Ford Fiesta: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Cadillac CTS-V follow-up test drive
My original CTS-V test drive took place at a very extensive press preview drive put on by Cadillac, and it was enough for me to not only give the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V a five-star rating, but to award it a place on our Best New Cars of 2009 list. Still, I wanted to see what it was like to live with the 2009 Caddy CTS-V as a daily driver for a full week. How did it go? Read on. 2009 Cadillac CTS-V test drive: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Toyota Yaris 5-door Liftback
Toyota has made a couple of important changes to the Yaris for 2009. First, they fixed my biggest complaint about the 2008 Yaris: Side- and side-curtain airbags and antilock brakes are now standard. Second, they've added a new 5-door version, which is based on the 3-door hatchback (as opposed to the slightly-larger sedan). So how does the 5-door 2009 Toyota Yaris stack up against its rivals? Read on. Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

RoadMice wireless optical mouse
Road Mice are optical computer mice shaped like cars. Road Mice are PC and Mac compatible and are available in wired and wireless versions with several body styles (link goes to photo), including the Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, Chrysler 300 and PT Cruiser, Ford GT and Mustang, and Dodge Charger SRT8 and Viper, each in several colors (including cop-car schemes for the Camaro and Charger). Are they any good? Read on.

2010 Honda Insight Hybrid test drive
Honda's all-new Insight is the hybrid for people who can't afford a hybrid, with a price range estimated in the $20k-to-$24k range, making it $2-4k cheaper than a Toyota Prius or a Honda Civic Hybrid. Along with its inexpensive (for a hybrid) price, the Insight brings a youthful (for a hybrid) character and fun-to-drive (for a hybrid) road manners. Is this a hybrid you'd actually want to buy? Read on. 2010 Honda Insight: Tested by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2009 Ford Focus SES Coupe test drive
Ford redesigned the Focus in 2008; for 2009 they've jazzed up the top-of-the-line SES coupe with subtle styling tweaks, a roof-mounted spoiler, and 17" wheels. Manual-transmission cars get a 3-hp bump while automatics get a lower final drive ratio to boost acceleration. Safety also gets a boost, with a new electronic stability control system and rear headrests. How does it all come together? Read on. 2009 Ford Focus Coupe: Tested and reviewed by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.

2008 Audi RS4 Cabriolet
Audi unleashed their awesome RS4 sedan last year; for 2008 they've added a convertible version called the RS4 Cabriolet. The Audi RS4 Cabriolet features a high-revving 420 horsepower 4.2 liter V8, six-speed transmission, all-wheel-drive, brilliant suspension, and an electronic stability control system tuned by enthusiasts, not lawyers. The RS4 sedan is my favorite family car, bar none. So how does the RS4 work as a convertible? Read on. Tested by Aaron Gold, your Guide to Cars at About.com.