All posts in: Economy Cars

Recall recap: Flushmate toilet systems, Dole bagged salads, and Chevy Cruze

By Rita Colorito on June 28, 2012 in

Series 503 Flushmate III Pressure Assist flushing system

Exploding toilets, contaminated food and loose fuel tanks pose problems for consumers this week. Read on for the details. Read more

All cars, all day at IMPA "Spring Brake"

Automotive
By Alex Nunez on May 25, 2012 in

IMPA Spring Brake 2012

Last week, I drove out to New York's Bear Mountain State park for the International Motor Press Association's (IMPA) "Spring Brake" event, at which a variety of manufacturers have a selection of cars and SUVs for IMPA members to sample throughout the day. The only bad thing about the event (which was blessed with ideal driving weather: warm temps and sunny skies), was that there were more cars on hand than there was time to sample every one. So I mixed it up, trying out rides that ranged from around $20,000 to well over $300,000. Read on for a quick take on each one.

While I was there, I also taped an appearance for Gary Gastelu's Fox Car Report on FoxNews.com, which you can watch below. Gary aptly describes the event as "speed dating for auto journalists." Can't say I disagree. Have a look and weigh in on the cars in the comments.

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Recall recap: Viking dishwashers, Office Depot and West Elm chairs, Ford Focus and Chrysler Jeep vehicles

By Rita Colorito on April 12, 2012 in

Viking dishwasher

With all the food calls this week, better check to see which  edibles in your kitchen are safe. Something else in your kitchen that may be a danger: Viking dishwashers-- which were recalled because of a fire hazard. And if you have an office nook, make sure you aren't sitting in certain Office Depot or West Elm chairs, which were recalled because they may land you on your rumpus. For details on these and other recent recalls, read on. Read more

Hands-on with four good, cheap new cars

Automotive
By Alex Nunez on February 1, 2012 in

2012 Chevrolet Sonic

I get to drive a lot of different cars throughout the year, and they run the gamut from Powerball-winner hardware to basic, affordable transportation. Sure, the glitzy stuff is a lot of fun, but some of the best new cars I've had the opportunity to try are also among the least expensive.  This is good news if you want to buy a new car but have a modest budget to work with. Four good examples that I've driven follow. Read more

Green for a day: 2011 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

Automotive
By Alex Nunez on May 25, 2011 in

2011 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

Electric cars are "in" right now. And why not? Gas is over four bucks a gallon, so anything that promises a less painful experience at the pump is attracting attention. These include increasingly gas-stingy economy cars and hybrids, as well as cars that partially or completely eschew gas pumps for electrical outlets. Smart USA arranged for ConsumerSearch to play with one of the latter for the day: a 2011 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive. There are currently 250 of them in the U.S. (1,500 worldwide) as part of Smart's ongoing electric-vehicle testing program. We drove around for a few hours to get a feel for Smart's newest (and greenest) offering. 

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Stylish, efficient, feature-rich economy cars set new standard

Automotive
By Ethan Handel on May 9, 2011 in

2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited

Economy cars - the term brings to mind a certain collection of attributes; cheap, basic, bare, utilitarian, prosaic, dull, undistinguished, and so on. In all fairness, these could be accurate descriptors of a host of small cars from the last few decades.  For many years, automakers let their small cars languish when compared with their larger sedans and SUVs. Read more

Important economy car debuts scheduled for New York Auto Show

Automotive
By Alex Nunez on April 6, 2011 in

2012 Nissan Versa

When the lights go up on the 2011 New York Auto Show in a couple of weeks, there should be no shortage of important debuts aimed at the mainstream economy car buyer. For instance, it's just been announced that the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza will be on hand. Honda has already confirmed that it'll pull the wraps off the 2012 Honda Civic family, and the rumormill suggests that the equally-new 2012 Nissan Versa will also be premiered. Absent detailed info, which is still being kept under wraps for the time being, we can still discuss what we do know about these new rides. Read more

2011 Ford Fiesta: Hands-on review

Automotive
By Alex Nunez on November 10, 2010 in

Ford Fiesta

The 2011 Ford Fiesta is one of the most talked about new economy cars this year. Already a success in Europe, Ford’s new subcompact is now available in North America as either a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback, bringing an interesting mix of style, fuel economy, and features to a highly competitive segment. I recently spent a few days with the hatchback. Here are my impressions. Read more

2011 Scion tC: First Drive

Automotive
By Alex Nunez on September 24, 2010 in

2011 Scion tC

Reviewers mostly liked the 2010 Scion tC (and its largely identical predecessors), calling it a stylish, comfortable value. Scion's coupe-shaped hatchback also took its fair share of reviewer criticism, however. Fuel economy wasn't particularly noteworthy, it wasn't as fun to drive as some rivals, and important safety tech (specifically,  traction and stability control) was unavailable. The 2011 Scion tC is a brand-new car, arriving in showrooms on October 1, 2010. Does it keep the good stuff while addressing prior complaints? I recently took it for a spin and got the lowdown on the changes. Read more

2011 Volkswagen Jetta unveiled in Times Square

By Alex Nunez on June 15, 2010 in

2011 Volkswagen Jetta

Earlier this morning, we were among the crowd of media (and curious New Yorkers and tourists) gathered in Times Square for the official unveiling of the all-new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. After a few words from Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, the sheets were pulled off the cars on hand, revealing the latest iteration of the compact sedan. (The 2010 version is a runner-up in our latest report on the best reviewed economy cars.) Then Jacoby kicked things over to pop singer Katy Perry for a three-song set. Read more

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