Mid-Size SUVs

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2015 BMW X6 Debuts Tech-tastic 445HP xDrive50i and New Rear-Drive sDrive35i

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One issue with BMW’s rapidly-evolving technology suite in all models is that the existing cars can feel a bit left-behind by mid-cycle. Luckily, BMW is also rolling out models far quicker than Mercedes-Benz and especially Audi/VW. While the new GTI has finally – finally! – arrived in US dealerships this week, BMW has made its long-time best market a priority, especially for the Spartnburg-built X5, X4, X3 and X7 models. We truly get them first. The gravy train keeps rolling and even picks up speed today, with the second-gen X6 debuting online ahead of its expected arrival in stores by …

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Off-Road Test Review – 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid is Surprisingly Silent + Very Capable

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As shown by the Toyota 4Runner off-roading article earlier this week, we know I am a total wimp when it comes to off-roading. Despite my grand ambitions to be a Bowler Wildcat-running mudder in my own 2005 Subaru Legacy GT — all efforts to date have seriously damaged the car. I am on my fourth set of wheels, for example. But what would even lead me to take my beloved Subie off-road? One word: grip. The Subaru AWD system is seriously unflappable. In wintertime this year, I was fortunate enough to have a 2WD Chevy Silverado press loaner in my …

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Future SUV Rendering – 2016 GMC Denali VIP Concept – Black Trim, Wheels + Extra LED Lighting

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If you read the glowing review of the 2015 GMC Yukon Denali this morning, you know we are big fans of this big truck. It is everything the Tahoe has, and almost everything the Escalade brings to the table — but with extra under-the-radar coolness as standard. The Escalade is a pop-culture phenom at this point – which is great news for resurgent Cadillac. But the Escalade being the ride of choice for young Hollywood does not universally enhance its appeal.What about those seeking ultimate style without the Cadillac badge? Is the Denali the price ceiling for GMC? Our hunch …

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2015 Porsche Macan Turbo Is Fast, Athletic and Nimble in 50+ Real-Life Photos

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  I’ve been a huge fan of the Macan since first seeing the finished show cars last Fall. With Macan S and Macan Turbo variants in the USA launch line-up — it seems like it is hard to go wrong with this latest — and sportiest-so-far — Porsche crossover. But how does its $49,900 base price feel in real life? Is that a bit steep considering the Cayenne also carries that same base price for 2014? The base pricing, as many Porsche owners know, is really just a starting point. Finding a car without a single option would be like …

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Road Test Review – 2015 GMC Yukon Denali Is 6.2-Second, 6.2L V8 Dream SUV

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The GMC Yukon Denali has been a pet project of mine since the trio of next-gen GM SUVs debuted in September of 2013. I went from auto writer to fan-boy: creating color turn-tables, pouring over the equipment lists, and generally fawning over the machine. Some seat time only confirmed my strong desire for the Denali as the sweet-spot of the Tahoe/Suburban/Escalade line-up. I deeply enjoyed the Denali’s plush leather and interior mood, while relishing the benefits both the Tahoe and Yukon bring to the table for 2015. Let’s dive in with the usual categories: Exterior, Interior, Driving Experience and Summary. …

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 60 High-Res Photos + Video Walk-Around

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The 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO is incredible value at just above $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans. Sunny Day Gallery     Rainy Day Gallery      

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VIDEO Review – Off-Roading in the 2014 Toyota 4Runner SR5 – Guess Who Chickens Out First…

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Okay, in my defense: every off-roading I have tried to do so far has drastically damaged my car and my pride. I am just nervous and a total amateur when it comes to hitting the muddy trails. Despite driving the impressive and very capable 2014 Toyota 4Runner SR5, underthe direction of Land Rover’s off-road instructors — My internal gyroscope said no to the steep side-angled trail of the mid-ranked Blue trails in this little excursion. BIG WIMP-OUT – EXTERIOR CAM BIG WIMP-OUT – INTERIOR CAM I know rationally that the car was fine on this exact trail, but fear is …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Acura MDX SH-AWD Is Premium and Posh 7-Seat Cruiser

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Let’s say you are on a road trip. But you are in the back seat! Ahhh! You are not just a grown-up like Tom Hanks in BIG. You are just a large, tired human. Best stretch-out-comfy cabin this side of Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class? The Acura MDX. New for this year, the MDX really excels in its smooth, confident and quiet luxury crossover mission. This is a car for people who need to feel fewer jabs in the ribs in general — let alone paying the a German SUV to bounce you around choppy pavement. For these shoppers, the …

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Rendered Mashup – GMC Denali Plus Rolls-Royce Wraith

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These are nothing more than simple entertainment – there is no link between GMC and Rolls-Royce today, and both brands would likely be horrified by the results shown here. But a cross-breed can be fun to explore visually: Simply because it is so outside the norm – so unlike anything you see on a daily basis. In that fun and silly and non-speculative note, here is a rough, rough mix of Rolls-Royce Wraith and GMC All Terrain and Denali styling — on one mutant vehicle. The more I look at these, the less I want to publish them…. But so …

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Scion xB and xD Roof-Chop Renderings Bring Gangster Look

Scion xB and xD Roof-Chop Renderings Bring Gangster Look

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Here is the fruit of a few hours in PhotoChop. Would such small windows ever offer enough outward vision? Perhaps – with camera assistance and active safety systems. CarRevsDaily.com – Exclusive – Chopped Roof CarRevsDaily.com – Exclusive – Chopped Roof BONUS: this one did not turn out very well, but shows a speculative preview of Kia’s upcoming 2+2 sports car via a chopped and re-imagined Forte Koup. The concept is set to debut at Detroit in January, and promises genuine driver thrills.

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2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Shows Its Trail Rated Skills Off-Road

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When someone or something is world-renowned for a certain skill – it is only natural to want to see it performed up close. It is why we all want to hear a band or musician’s greatest hits mixed in with whatever those weird songs are from the new album. It is the reason Justin Bieber will be belting out “Baby, baby, baby… Ohhh!” until he withers away into dust. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, and all Jeeps for that matter, have made their Trail Rated prowess a key selling point. No matter how soft the road settings can be to keep …

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Best of Awards: 2014 Nissan Rogue Seats 7 – Featuring M.I.A. XXXO

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The all-new Rogue is a huge hit so far: with seven seats and pricing from about $24,000 — this compact crossover nails a huge swath of buyer priorities. Its new LED lighting up front sets the tone, while the Nissan V-bar grille is just foreshadowing. Enjoy this early reveal of the Nissan Rogue in “Full-Throttle Action.” My favorite part? Seeing our pilot’s high-heel shoe mash the throttle to the floor before she uses an on-ramp to jump onto a train’s roof. All in a day’s work for the on-trend and stylish Rogue. This Nissan commercial seems to channel Sri Lankan …

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Updated with Real-Life Photos! 302HP 2015 GMC Canyon Easily Best-Looking Mid-Size Pickup

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2015 GMC Canyon All-Terrain – Article Updated 5.27.14 The Canyon All-Terrain took the stage last week with the GMC team at Road America for the Midwest Automotive Media Association’s Spring Rally – and it looks just as good in the flesh as it does in the previews!   The 2015 GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado are shaping up to be huge news in a stagnant segment: mid-size trucks. Compact trucks? Not a “thing” anymore. Everybody who is anybody is going mid-size. As the Toyota Tacoma grew in size markedly to match the (long-gone; not missed) Dodge Dakota in size, others …

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2015 Volvo XC90 Interior Is Official! 7-Seat Comfort, Luxury and Tech

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Volvo has rediscovered all of its best brand attributes – and is bringing them to market this fall with the very promising 2015 XC90 SUV. The slow drip of the launch has taken the form of three outstanding concepts since Frankfurt 2013: the Volvo Concept Coupe, the Concept Estate and the XC Coupe Concept. All have shown the firm to be on an exceptional path toward restoring its brand luster. This is a company that is poised for greatness — all by going back to its core roots: stylish but subtle, efficient and safe, and comfortable on the North Pole …

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Travel Adventures – 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE Visits USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier

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PART TWO OF FOUR: 2014 Toyota Highlander TRAVEL ADVENTURE SERIES We’re still preparing the full review of the outstandingly smooth, easy and relaxing 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE. But there is a slight problem! Far too many great photos! =] Granted, it is a good problem to have. Especially for a new and sleek machine like this Highlander. The 2014 Highlander might be a bread/butter crossover model to many people, but to owners: it is a godsend. Small(ish) on the outside, huge on the inside. The new Highlander is extremely affordable but luxurious – and even really hustles on the roads with the XLE’s standard 270-horsepower …

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Travel Adventures – 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE Visits Old Oaks of Colonial Plantation

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PART ONE OF FOUR: 2014 Toyota Highlander TRAVEL ADVENTURE SERIES We’re still preparing the full review of the outstandingly smooth, easy and relaxing 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE. But there is a slight problem! Far too many great photos! =] Granted, it is a good problem to have. Especially for a new and sleek machine like this Highlander. The 2014 Highlander might be a bread/butter crossover model to many people, but to owners: it is a godsend. Small(ish) on the outside, huge on the inside. The new Highlander is extremely affordable but luxurious – and even really hustles on the roads with the XLE’s standard 270-horsepower …

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Concept Flashback – 1997 Nissan Trail Runner – Inspired Peugeot’s 2015 DAKAR Entry?

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Definitely ahead of its time, this 1997 Trail Runner concept. Nissan was ahead of Jeep and many others who started sensing this small/fast off-roader trend by the early 2000s. Other big guys threw more production muscle to make sketches like this car a real thing, but the results were shockingly-bad from Pontiac and Jeep. Yes, both the Pontiac Aztek and Jeep Compass were, in fact, really cool sketches and designs at first. But they were both D.O.A. in production thanks to tiny tires and no engine power to match the compact off-road racer premise. Time has finally come for these …

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Meet the Extremely Rare, 75-Total Jeep Wrangler Lilly Pulitzer Edition

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Lilly Pulitzer is a brand of fancy ladies apparel for the “resort” crowd — typically summery dresses and clothes with floral prints. But a full special-edition Jeep Wrangler? “Oh yes, we have one of those too. Right outside front, Ma’am…!” This 2008 special was offered to owners of a Lilly Pulitzer boutique, and is certainly as feminine as it gets. In terms of female-oriented special editions, this Lilly Jeep is quite an attention grabber, while declining to be as sexist as some of the others that have come before. This includes the Dodge LaFemme of 1955 and 1956, which was …

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HD Video Road Test Review – 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit V6 – Outstanding … But Cramped and Poor Value-for-Money

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Overall, as the video above shows and tells  – the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit is an incredible achievement for Jeep and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles overall. It is extremely rigid in the platform, with zero quiver or body flex evident. This is probably the biggest change versus any other Jeep GC that has come before. Many of the piecemeal tech and equipment updates from across the FCA Group really come together exceptionally well for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. These include the new 3.6-liter V6 engine, the new eight-speed automatic transmission, a cabin quality unreachable before, and even some nice handling …

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Bentley Confirms SUV Details with First Official Photos — Falcon or InterContinental? 600HP W-12 Expected

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The Bentley SUV is finally here! Real #NewBentley SUV: Above EXP 9F Concept: Below     After a long gestation period to overhaul the EXP 9F’s exterior, Bentley today revealed the first official image of its upcoming 2015 SUV model. Originally tagged the EXP 9F concept, we strongly predict the 2015 production model will be dubbed the Bentley Falcon. It builds on the more-youthful and less-polarizing style of the Bentley Continental V8 S significantly. 2012 EXP 9F Gallery     This name speaks to broad global interest in predatory animal names for car models — as well as a popular …

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Transformers 4 Truck Called Hound is Oshkosh Defense M1157 A1P2

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The GMC TopKick had a really good run with the Transformers franchise, surviving through the end of the third movie on the strength of Ironhide’s close friendship with our hero. But General Motors quietly exited the C4500 – C8500 truck classes altogether in 2009. Most of the larger trucks were absolutely ancient. Imagine a Frito-Lay extra-long delivery truck, and you’ve got it. The TopKick was a strong option for the films: huge, versatile with a dump-truck rear end, and looked great. Ironhide outlived the Hummer H2 BayWatch car and Jazz, the oft-mocked Pontiac Solstice character with a somewhat racist accent. …

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2014 Toyota Venza Limited Is Like An Allroad Avalon Limousine

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For shoppers with back-seat room and all-weather traction top-of-mind, the Toyota Venza is a compelling luxury sedan alternative. With dimensions that make this much like an ‘all-road’ Avalon, the Venza is able to maintain a truly hushed cabin for five. Roominess in back is even better than the Avalon, courtesy of extra recline angle in the back seat and a higher seat base. Overall access is far easier in a car like the Venza, which is unique in delivering an ultra-low floor and step-in height versus many other crossovers. The huge doors make ingress much easier than even the longer …

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Hot New Trucks: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo from $29,000

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We all know the new Jeep Grand Cherokee is the best truck ever to don the seven-slat grille. Watching the SRT GC’s launch control starts are intoxicating, and the latest LED style of a pinched horseshoe in the headlight graphic is very appealing. The top-spec Summit trim even brings some heavenly new open-pore woods and fine leathers to the cabin – but at a price. The top Grand Cherokee’s become quite expensive in the higher trim levels – even kissing $50,000 for the diesel engine in some trims. What about a GC for the rest of us? The 2014 Laredo …

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos

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2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos The Juke Nismo is incredible value at just below $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans.   Sunny Day Gallery     Rainy Day Gallery