Test Drives, Trends & Events

The Chevrolet Stingray concept car - A vision of the future Corvette?

Auto show season is officially upon us and to kick things off the NADAguides.com team traveled to the 2009 Orange County Auto show. Most of the automakers save their big product reveals for a little later in the year at shows like the LA, Chicago, Detroit, and New York event. This year however the Anaheim convention center is filled with some great concepts and a few surprises. More...

The 2009 Infiniti FX50 is a crossover SUV that thinks (and acts) like a sports car.

Close your eyes and stick out your hand. I am going to put a set of keys in your palm and give you some quick stats about which car they belong to. A seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and downshift rev matching. This is linked to a 5.0L DOHC V8 engine pushing out 390 horses and 369 lb-ft of torque to an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system. Dual stainless steel exhaust pipes bellow out a raucous symphony and large brakes to bring the large wheels and tires to a stop. What kind of car is this? Trick question, it’s not a car; it is the 2009 Infiniti FX50 – a luxury crossover SUV. More...

The 2009 Nissan Rogue SL.

Another day passes and another crossover utility vehicle appears on the automotive horizon. The market is flooded with them and I have never been much of a fan. In my eyes, a CUV is what happens when an automaker takes two useful vehicles, a wagon and a sport utility vehicle, smashes them together and calls it a day. So here I am sitting in a 2009 Nissan Rogue SL wondering what purpose this vehicle serves other than to fill a niche in their otherwise wonderful lineup. More...

The 2009 Subaru Forester is the grown-up version of the Impreza.

What happens when the Subaru Impreza grows up? It gets fatter and a little slower…and turns into a Subaru Forester. After driving the 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited, I can tell you that this is a good thing. Let the kids have their rally-car styling and stiff ride; the adults will love the Forester's comfortable interior, 5-star safety ratings and clean design. More...

The 2009 Nissan Murano is a capable crossover…ready to handle whatever Southern California's wine country can throw at it, including marauding hot air balloon gangs.

The 2009 Nissan Murano is dubbed "The Future of the Crossover" by the folks at Nissan. It says so right on the window sticker they gave me. I have never been a big fan of the crossover movement in the automotive industry. I feel automakers should make wagons and SUVs, and that there is really no need for a middle ground. However, if this Murano really is the future of the crossover, then maybe I am ready to reconsider… More...