sport sedan

First Drive: 2019 Mazda6

2019 Mazda 6 Grand Touring The Mazda6 sedan is more than a pretty face. With sharp-handling, a classy cabin, and optional turbo four-cylinder, the Mazda6 is both entertaining and economical. By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor, Car-ED.com | Jan 2019 Can a family sedan be kind to your car shopping budget, but still provide actual excitement when you're behind the wheel? The Mazda6 is engaging to drive, but remains a high-value proposition when faced against rivals like the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima. What is this vehicle? The 2019 Mazda6 is a sedan that wants to prove you don't need to sacrifice driving excitement for practicality. For many car shoppers, the default choice when shopping for a new vehicle is a compact to midsize SUV. With that in mind, Mazda has several great alternatives (CX-5, CX-9) if you're determined to buy a sport-utility. Yet, when it comes to taking on rivals like the highly-regarded Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the Mazda6 presents a unique spin on the traditional family sedan. That's because this midsize four-door has sharp handling that pays more than a passing resemblance to Mazda's own MX-5 Miata sports car. The 6 is much bigger and doesn't have a folding convertible top, of course. But there is an energetic personality lurking beneath the surface of this elegant Mazda sedan. And while we're talking about surfaces, let's point out that [...]

2019-02-11T18:13:31-05:00Jan 2019|Car Reviews|

First Impressions: 2018 Volkswagen GTI

2018 Volkswagen GTI Finally, a sports car the whole family can agree on (and fit into). By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor, Car-ED.com | July 2018 What is this vehicle? The 2018 Volkswagen GTI proves compromise is still possible, at least when it comes to finding a car that's functional and fun-to-drive on a daily basis. Beneath the GTI's stoic four-door body, and tucked somewhere behind its handy hatchback, is a feisty side that loves to play whenever you punch the gas pedal. Granted, this isn't a Hemi-powered, chest-thumping kind of sports machine. If a Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger are the heavyweight boxing bruisers of the affordable performance world, think of the VW GTI as more of a world-class fencer or slalom skier. For starters, the VW's 220-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine gets you going, quickly. But if smoky burnouts and look-at-me driving shenanigans are what you're after, the GTI could leave you feeling suddenly very...sensible. For the 2018 model year, the GTI is only available in four-door format, as the coupe model sadly got the heave-ho from the lineup. A six-speed manual is the standard transmission, though many buyers will probably spend extra for the available six-speed automatic (which is how our test car was equipped). While we're proponents of manuals, the automatic does an excellent job of smoothly delivering power to the front wheels. Inside the cabin, the materials feel a cut above the [...]

2018-07-30T16:29:45-04:00Jul 2018|Car Reviews|

First Impressions: 2019 Genesis G70

2019 Genesis G70 Hyundai's luxury brand delivers a world class sport sedan. By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor, Car-ED.com | July 2018 What is this vehicle? The 2019 Genesis G70 sport sedan is the first product from Hyundai's new luxury division engineered specifically as a stand-alone model, a car developed from the start to take on a wide range of luxury rivals, including the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Lexus ES350 and Acura TLX. Entering the luxury field can be a daunting task, especially when you consider how much weight is given to badge prestige and name recognition. Say the name "Genesis" to most car shoppers and, let's admit it, you're going to be hard pressed to find someone who immediately thinks of a Korean luxury brand, not a 1980's pop rock group. While the Genesis name has graced several high-end Hyundai sedans over the past few years, the G70 is the first model introduced now that Genesis is its officially a spin-off brand. Will Hyundai be able to convince luxury car buyers to consider giving its upstart sport sedan a chance? Based only on the G70's spec sheet - which is chock full of available performance goodies, like a twin-turbo V6 and 6-speed manual transmission - the initial impression is that the established luxury players could be in for a surprisingly strong new challenger. Who is this vehicle for? The Genesis G70 [...]

2018-07-17T18:50:47-04:00Jul 2018|Car Reviews|

2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti RWD

2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti RWD Standing out among performance luxury sedans has never been so fun! By Nick Kurczewski, Car-ED.com | May 2018 What is this vehicle? Let’s get it out of the way, because we know you’re dying to ask: The Alfa Romeo Giulia turns heads and is a thrill to drive, but rival compact luxury sedans from BMW, Lexus, Mercedes and Audi represent more sensible car buying choices.  So, is it worth taking a chance on this fun-loving Alfa? The answer: an emphatic ‘Yes!’ (but with a couple caveats added into the mix). We can’t give away the entire plot in the first few lines of a car review, right? The Giulia is the Alfa Romeo brand’s attempt at cracking into the compact performance luxury sedan field, which is currently dominated by cars like the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus ES, Cadillac CTS and Audi A4, to name a few. Available in rear- or all-wheel drive format, the Giulia comes powered by 280-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission. A range-topping performance model, called the Quadrifoglio, has a total of 505 horsepower and is the only Giulia model not to offer the option of all-wheel drive. Who is this vehicle for? You’re not exactly shy if you’re considering the Alfa Romeo Giulia, that’s for certain. The Giulia is a sport sedan for someone who [...]

2018-06-07T00:14:39-04:00Jun 2018|Car Reviews|
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