Author: Matthew Keegan

Take one Corolla hatchback and give it the GAZOO Racing treatment and you’ll find the most powerful compact built by Toyota yet. That’s exactly what Toyota did when they created the 2023 GR Corolla, a potent compact model based on…

Rock Creek comes to the Nissan Pathfinder line. Automotive manufacturers are heavily invested in utility vehicles and for good reason: they’re the family vehicle of choice these days. An important subset in this segment is off-road skilled models or at…

The Toyota GR86 isn’t a sports car, although it certainly looks like one. Based on the Subaru BRZ, this rear-wheel drive 2+2 model makes up for handling acumen where it lacks in performance. Even so, the GR86 is a fun…

Alfa Romeo remains a niche player in the US market, with just two models offered – the Giulia sedan and the Stelvio utility vehicle. Soon, though, a second SUV will join the fleet when the compact Tonale PHEV arrives in…

It was quite a day on the second Monday of November 2022 as drive time on the “Tail of the Dragon” came into focus. Representing a slice of US 129 starting in Graham County, NC, and ending in Blount County,…

We did it! We navigated the famous “Tail of the Dragon” and have the tales to go with it. The “we” part of this story is the Southeast Regional Automotive Media Association (SERAMA), an Atlanta-based media group. Formerly known as…

Revised: October 16, 2023 The Kia Optima is a midsize, five-passenger, front-wheel drive sedan. Known as the Kia K5 in most markets, the Optima name lasted for four generations until it assumed the global K5 naming convention in 2021. Regardless…

The Mazda 6 is a midsize sedan, the largest car sold by this Japanese brand. The 6 follows a succession of Mazda midsize models and is also one of the few vehicles in its class also offered as a hatchback….

The Kia Telluride remains one of the most sought-after vehicles in its class. This three-row, midsize crossover utility vehicle rolled out in 2020 to critical acclaim. Consumers prize it for its rugged looks, upscale interior, robust powertrain, and decent value….

Among midsize sedans, the Chrysler 200 was one of the smallest. This model was introduced in 2011, effectively a mid-product-cycle overhaul and name change for the Chrysler Sebring. Offered as a sedan and convertible initially, only the sedan was made…

The Chrysler Pacifica is a minivan, a multipurpose vehicle with room for as many as eight. Introduced in 2017, the Pacifica is available in gas and hybrid versions. Although the segment is a fraction of its previous self, Chrysler continues…

The midsize, two-row crossover utility vehicle market is Boom City for manufacturers, as customers continue to abandon sedans for them. Hyundai is no exception as sales of its midsize Sonata sedan plunge. The good news is that customers are migrating…

Audi’s smallest sedan is affordable and offers a pair of performance upgrades. The market may have shifted to utility vehicles, but several premium manufacturers remain engaged with sedans. Certainly, Audi has its share of “Q” utility vehicles, but the company…

Lexus represents the pinnacle of Toyota Motors’ luxury, a world-class marque with a wide range of vehicles. Like the eponymous Toyota brand, Lexus offers numerous hybrid models, building on the company’s prowess and leadership in that category. The compact Lexus…

Honda made a name for itself through two models – the compact Civic and the midsize Accord. Each model was among the top models in their respective segments for decades. But with cars giving way to utility vehicles, a host…

Mazda has been making a name for itself these past few years. The company, though somewhat of a niche player, has become a premium operator among mainstream brands. That’s especially evident in its most recent new model, the CX-50, a…

Revised: October 16, 2023 Beginning in the 2000s, several manufacturers developed boxy-style vehicles to appeal to young buyers. Honda, Scion, and Nissan were well represented, with the Kia Soul entering the fray in 2010. Today, every model except the Soul…

The Hyundai Tucson is a compact, five-passenger crossover utility vehicle. For 2022 it is completely new and gains a pair of hybrid variants. As such, the Tucson is better poised to battle it out against the tough competition, namely the…

Imagine our surprise when we learned that a follow-up Nissan Z model was added to our test fleet. This writer evaluates new models as received from manufacturers through a pair of distributors. Our Atlanta distributor handles Nissan and delivered the…

The Chevrolet Camaro is a muscle car, one with a long history, albeit interrupted by an early 2000s cancellation and later revival. The Camaro is available as a coupe or a convertible and occupies a narrow segment of the industry….