Test Drives, Trends & Events

Ford keeps pushing the envelope by creating a brand and lineup high in demand and always ahead of the competition. They take classic success models and turn them into powerhouses time and time again. The 2011 Ford Taurus Limited (as test driven) is the ultimate package. With a strong, yet graceful exterior look that makes you wonder if it classifies as sporty or luxurious, and jam packed with advanced technology in its class, this vehicle left the drivers at NADAguides fighting for the driver’s seat.

Equipped with a V6 3.5L engine and 263 horsepower under the hood, the Ford Taurus drives smoothly and is very easy to handle. It is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift. The rear suspension is multi-link fully independent suspension with coil-over shocks and a stabilizer bar and the front suspension is independent, MacPherson struts with rear-facing lower L-arms with a stabilizer bar; this makes for a pretty solid ride. The Ford Taurus gets about 18city/28hwy which isn’t the best fuel efficiency in its class, but unless you want to spend more money, you can’t really beat this at this trim level when compared to other vehicles. As for safety, this vehicle made i...

Who knew the Toyota 4Runner could be anymore further enhanced for off-road conditions; but it seems Toyota has done it and done it very well. The 4Runner not only comes in a SR5 and Limited trim, but is now also available in a Trail edition 4x4 4.0L V6 and is more than well-equipped to take on any situation on or off the road.Sharing a few of the off-road touches of the FJ Cruiser, the 4Runner Trail has protruding taillights, and stronger, more distinct lines giving it a muscular appeal making it look fiercer than ever before. All exterior assets, such as bumpers, mirrors, door handles, mudguards, grille and utility roof rack are black adding more 4x4 appeal; let’s face it chrome or painted assets might make it a little too prissy amongst Mother Nature’s rugged animals.

The 2011 Toyota 4Runner Trail comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels and a part-time 4WD system with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) which compensates for wheel slippage and loss of traction in off-road conditions. Most off-road vehicles would be expected to have a more rugged feel and slightly rough around the edges in terms of drive and ride, however the 4...

Considering it has been quite a while since we reviewed an SUV, we thought May would be a good time to look into what SUVs are out there and what’s competitive in today’s market. Our search for the right SUV, however, came with a twist. It was less about finding the newest SUV on the market and more about which SUV is having the largest impact with buyers. After looking over the sales numbers, the decision was obvious and the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox was the clear victor and worthy of our “Car of the Month” for May. The 2010 Chevy Equinox expands GM’s roster of competitive crossover SUV’s and after two generations it appears that GM’s finally got it right as the Equinox is perfect for the usual family tasks such as family hauling, cargo carrying and commuting without sacrificing on comfort, style and a quiet ride. This is good for GM because the automotive stalwart needs all the good news it can get.

First Drive
From our first impression it is obvious that the ride and handling characteristics have substantially evolved with the 2010 Equinox, as the overall feel is much more of a car than an SUV. The steering is light and the bod...