Auto News & New car review

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a practical-size vehicle for prowling the suburban savanna. It’s the larger of Hyundai’s two compact SUV’s, large enough for three-row seating, which the smaller Tucson is not.

Technically, both vehicles are crossovers, meaning they are built like cars, using unibody construction, instead of the body-on-frame technique of a traditional truck. That could prove to be a disadvantage in, say, the Paris-to-Dakar rally; or while outmaneuvering an unwanted military incursion. But in most ways it’s better for everyday driving. Read the rest of this entry »

The Volkswagen Passat is a mid-size sedan similar in size to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It was completely redesigned for ‘06, and is unchanged for model year 2007, though wagon versions have been added to the model lineup.

The 2006-07 Passat is longer and wider, larger and more mature than previous-generation models. It offers more interior room, particularly for back-seat riders, so a six-foot passenger can now sit behind a six-foot driver. It boasts generous standard content and a beguiling mix of high-tech and haute couture. And while the previous model was among the safest cars in America, the structure of the new Passat is substantially improved. Read the rest of this entry »

The Volvo S40 continues to enhance Volvo’s reputation as a maker of superb sports sedans. The S40 looks and acts like a sports sedan. The Volvo V50 is the wagon version and our impressions carry over here. The V50 looks like a sport wagon and drives like one, which is to say it drives just like the sedan.

Volvo is a leader in safety engineering and it’s clear the company put a lot of effort into building a structure designed to protect its occupants. The S40 and V50 models come loaded with active and passive safety features to help drivers avoid accidents, then protect them if there is a crash. This may be the safest car in this size class. Smaller than most luxury sedans, the S40 is much easier to park in tight spaces and it’s easier to maneuver on narrow roads. Read the rest of this entry »

Skoda’s UK network of over 130 retailers is now taking orders for the fabulously frugal 1.4 TDI Fabia GreenLine.
Boasting nearly 69mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 figures of 109g/km, GreenLine models not only do their bit for the environment but should also make forecourt trips mercifully infrequent. Read the rest of this entry »