Comparo: 2013 Nissan Juke SV AWD vs. Subaru XV Crosstrek Touring

Photos and story by John LeBlanc At this year’s Detroit auto show, you had your obligatory American performance car debuts (i.e. a new Chevrolet Corvette) and big, pick-em-up trucks (i.e. Ford’s Atlas concept). However, stuck between these traditional heavy-metal Motor City show bookends were hordes of car-based, crossover utility vehicles (CUVs).

Dear John: Help me find the right luxury CUV

Story by John LeBlanc With hundreds of vehicles available to choose from, today’s new-car buyers have never had so much selection. Even educated buyers find the differences between models are slimmer than a hipster’s wallet. To help new-car buyers with that burden of choice, I welcome you to Dear John, my new-vehicle consultation column.

Road Test: 2013 Kia Sportage SX

Story and photos by John LeBlanc If evolution is supposed to improve the breed, how did we end up with the crossover-utility vehicle? Taller, heavier, thirstier and less cargo-accomodating than the station wagons they’ve essentially replaced, here we are 13 years into the 21st century and there are more crossovers on new car dealer lots […]

Comparo: 2013 Ford Escape versus Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Story and photos by John LeBlanc Station wagons aren’t dead. They’ve just been reincarnated into crossovers, essentially a taller, beefed-up version of what our parents were chauffeured around in when they were kids. Two of the biggest sellers in today’s compact crossover segment are all-new for 2013: the Ford Escape and the Hyundai Santa Fe. […]

First Drive: 2014 Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost

Story by John LeBlanc SANTA MONICA, California – Do you know anyone that orders half an enchilada? Of course not. But that was the consensus when Ford brought back its Fiesta subcompact to North America three years ago. While lauded for offering both four-door sedan and hatchback models, good (if not great) fuel economy, “big” […]

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