2021 Kia K5 Review By TestDriveNow Car Critic Steve Hammes. Not long ago, the family sedan was the standard bearer of the auto industry. It’s where we Americans turned for our next ride and the competition was fierce. But as cars continue crossing over into SUVs the significance of the midsize sedan has been greatly diminished. Yet for those of you who have kept the candle burning, the choices have may have been reduced but the vehicles themselves are better than ever. Case in point; the car formerly known as the Optima – this is the all-new Kia K5.
So the K5 comes out of the gate with a new name, spunkier attitude and more polish.  It’s said you never get a second chance to make a first impression and this one has been stellar.  And that full-fledged GT model coming in November should be a real treat. 

2020 Mazda CX30 Quick Takes. Mazda has always adopted a human-centric approach to building cars. With the U.S. debut of the all-new Mazda CX-30, the brand has taken this approach to another level. The CX-30 has a feeling of oneness that extends beyond the drive. It is a five-seat crossover made for a wide range of fans, especially young people who are approaching significant life transitions. Mazda wants the CX-30 to be able to help these fans enjoy those milestones to the fullest and become an essential partner in their daily lives.

CX-30 is the second model to adopt the latest evolution of Kodo design, a more mature interpretation of the striking design ethos. Based on sleek and bold styling, CX-30 is meant to evoke creativity in one’s life. Realizing two contrasting expressions, the compact crossover has the flowing beauty of a coupe and the bold proportions of an SUV. Mazda’s signature wing takes on a sharper and deeper form to achieve a strong, refined front end that is suggestive of forward motion. The diagonal angle of the rear window gives the vehicle a coupe-like silhouette while the narrowed arch shape of the liftgate makes the body look shorter and wider for a powerful stance. This allows for purposeful design of the trunk that maintains its usefulness without giving the CX-30 a box-like appearance. Offered in seven body colors, including Polymetal Gray, which was recently introduced for the 2019 Mazda3. Going beyond beauty, CX-30 is meant to look compact on the outside, but spacious on the inside.
The CX-30 is a new compact crossover that combines the bold proportions of an SUV with elegant styling that embodies Mazda‘s Kodo design language. The development team hoped to create a car that would enrich customers’ lives by helping them and their loved ones make new and stimulating discoveries within their daily lives.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Quick Takes.
The Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) enters 2020 with new standard safety equipment, a restyled dashboard and updated option and trim packages that increase the value, safety and overall aesthetic of the world’s best-selling PHEV.

The Outlander PHEV is a perfect culmination of Mitsubishi’s 100-plus-year history of automotive excellence: over 50 years of electromobility and four-wheel drive technology that goes back to 1937 when the company built Japan’s first four-wheel-drive vehicle, and subsequently honed on the international rally circuit. Featuring a highly efficient 2.0-liter gasoline engine coupled with two high-performance electric motors, along with Mitsubishi’s advanced Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV delivers SUV capabilities and EV efficiency.

The Outlander PHEV represents a fusion of the EV technologies developed by Mitsubishi for models such as the i-MiEV, a strong understanding of the S-AWC system from the Lancer Evolution, and SUV know-how gained from the Montero.

2020 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT QUICK TAKES. Building on the success of the current generation’s combination of copious amounts of interior space, creature comforts, and Volkswagen’s signature fun-to-drive nature, the new 2020 Passat offers more of what matters—bolder design, upgraded technology, and enhanced access to convenience and driver-assistance features. The 2020 Volkswagen Passat is available in four trim levels. Pricing starts at $22,995 MSRP for the Passat S with the standard 2.0T engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. Destination for all Passat models is $920.

2020 Honda Civic Si Quick Takes.
The Civic Si Coupe and Sedan both benefit from exterior styling enhancements befitting the model’s aggressive driving dynamics. These include revised styling to the lower bumper fog light housings, which now feature gloss black surrounding trim and a body-color crossbar. The Honda-signature “wing” grille crossbar is also updated, and the headlights for Si Coupe and Sedan are now multi-element LED lamps with a wider and longer light beam. Civic Si also receives new LED fog lights. In the rear, Si Sedan gets a new lower bumper treatment to match the new front design, with gloss black surrounding trim and a body-color crossbars. All Civic Si models now ride on new matte black 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-season performance tires, with summer tires available as a factory option.

Inside, both Civic Si Coupe and Sedan feature updated sport seats with red accents on the seat bottom and seat back. Also, there’s new red trim highlighting the instrument panel. The changes compliment interior upgrades made last year that included an updated Display Audio system with physical buttons and a volume knob, bigger cupholders and more.