Author Archive: Nick Yost
2012 Nissan Titan Crew Cab 4X4 road test: Still a powerful player after all these years
The big, brawny 2012 Nissan Titan full-size crew cab pickup truck more than filled a tight supermarket parking space, and it towered over lesser sport-utility vehicles and sedans. It seemed to be practically begging someone, anyone, to “please put me to work.” Alas, as its temporary handler I was ill equipped to approve such a [...]
2012 Cadillac SRX Premium Collection road test: Luxury crossover is even better than before
The buyers and critics have been somewhat at odds since its introduction, but the sales figures have proven the wisdom of General Motors ways, and the upgraded 2012 Cadillac SRX luxury crossover vehicle should remove the biggest objection of the naysayers. What the critics didn’t like, at least at first, was that Cadillac down-sized the [...]
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ road test: An attractive, enjoyable subcompact that’s ready to make small big
Okay, subsonic would be a more accurate description of this car, but the five-door 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ does not need blinding speed to attract buyers looking for a feature-laden subcompact sedan. Before we even start our examination, though, let’s erase any thoughts you might have about that late Korean-made dud, the Aveo, which the [...]
2012 Chevrolet Equinox FWD 2LT road test: A roomy, comfortable, compact cruiser
The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox is pretty much a carryover from the highly regarded and popular 2011 model, but there is a significant difference among models in the product line-up that is worth examining. Does it make sense to buy an extra-cost 2012 Chevrolet Equinox with V-6 power when a reasonably competent four-cylinder model is available [...]
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4 x 4 road test: Rough, ready and . . . refined?
The Jeep has been called a lot of things since its days as a World War II go-fer — tough, rugged, versatile, fun, etc. — but more than 70 years later the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport and its more upscale Wrangler brethren may have earned a new one — refined. No, not refined as in [...]
2012 Fiat 500 Abarth road test: A Mighty Mite that’s feisty, fun and frugal
First to arrive in the United States last year was the Fiat 500, a tiny Italian cutie that is best suited for duty in crowded urban areas or as a suburban runabout. And, then, along came the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. Oh, what a difference! Thanks to Abarth, the Italian manufacturer’s performance division, that sluggish, [...]
2012 Buick Verano road test: An upscale compact for a downsized world
With rising gasoline prices and and upcoming tougher fuel-mileage requirements, small could become the new big in the automotive world. If that’s the case, the 2012 Buick Verano should be well positioned to capitalize on a change in buyers’ preferences.. The all-new compact Verano has the ability to show many traditional bigger-is-better American car buyers [...]
2012 Cadillac Escalade road test: Still bold, but feeling old after all these years
No question about it, I enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the 2012 Cadillac Escalade. I loved the satisfying burble and growl of its powerful 6.2-liter V-8 engine. I enjoyed the smoothness of its six-speed automatic transmission, I marveled at the ease with which its 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque could authoritatively [...]
2012 Audi A6 3.0T road test: This German can wow the driver and the passengers
At first glance, the changes to the new 2012 Audi A6 don’t look that major, but a closer look at the German manufacturer’s newest generation mid-size sports/luxury sedan proves that the development team was hard at work. Although the 2012 sedan’s profile remains unmistakably Audi, you may notice immediately that there is a new front [...]
2013 Ford Taurus SHO first drive: Its eager disposition shines through on a dreary day
Three years into its product cycle, the 2013 Ford Taurus has received a number of refinements, revisions and upgrades designed to make it more appealing to the buyer of a full-size-sedan. There have been some design revisions — Ford calls them refinements — to give the SE, SEL and Limited models a more athletic appearance.. [...]
