General Motors has recalled 4,296 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles from model year 2012, because some may be missing the front brake (inner or outer) pad, which could result in reduced brake system performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recalled vehicles were manufactured between June 2 and November 21, 2011.
GM will notify owners about the recall, [...]
Filed under: Cars on December 31st, 2011 | No Comments »
Drivers in various states around the country will need to be aware of some new driving laws that affect seat belts and cell phone use that go into effect on January 1st.
California has a new child restraint law aimed at further protecting children. All children age 7 and under who are less [...]
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We were pretty impressed with the redesigned-for-2012 Hyundai Accent GLS sedan we tested. It proved to be a substantial improvement over the model it replaced. Now we bought a second Accent to test, this time a well-equipped SE hatchback with a manual transmission.
Its $16,695 sticker price includes a lot of content-full power accessories, iPod control, [...]
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The biggest news about the 2012 Impala (besides it being 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart’s ride) is that it now has a modern 302-hp, 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. Other than that, we’ve found this relic of a car– the platform dates back to 1988–wanting.
As you might imagine, acceleration [...]
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Most of us try to be good, courteous drivers, but somehow bad habits creep up, which can put ourselves and others in danger. Make 2012 the year you resolve to change your dangerous driving behaviors. You can even start today.
The most important step to reducing vehicle fatalities is to start with [...]
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When Toyota updated their top-selling midsized sedan for 2012, they addressed what needed to be improved without messing with the Camry’s recipe for success.
Consumer Reports bought three Camrys from local dealers to test at our track. The volume model is a LE four-cylinder; with an optional power driver’s seat, it stickered at $23,830. We also [...]
Filed under: Cars on December 30th, 2011 | No Comments »
New Year’s Eve is a few days away, but now is the time to plan your night out, especially how you will get home if you are too drunk to drive.
A designated driver is the best way to get home safe if you plan on drinking this holiday weekend. If you don’t have [...]
Filed under: Cars on December 30th, 2011 | No Comments »
One of the staples of the luxury SUV market, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class is redesigned for 2012. While this M-Class feels like an evolutionary change from the previous generation, it’s easy to forget that it once was a trendsetter.
“Is This the Future of SUVs?” suggested the cover line of the September 1998 issue of Consumer Reports, [...]
Filed under: Cars on December 30th, 2011 | No Comments »
A month after we drove the new Mazda CX-5 on the sidelines of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Mazda lent us another CX-5 to get a closer look before the car goes on sale. It proved beneficial to drive the car on our local roads.
For a decade, Mazda had a gaping hole in its [...]
Filed under: Cars on December 29th, 2011 | No Comments »
Volkswagen’s recent redesign of the Jetta-bigger, less nimble, cheaply-trimmed inside – left us concerned about the 2012 redesign of the Passat. The good news: The Passat is a lot more competitive than the Jetta. But we’re not exactly putting it on any Consumer Reports “Car of the Year” lists, either.
We bought three Passats to test [...]
Filed under: Cars on December 29th, 2011 | No Comments »
