First Look

2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FIRST LOOK BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES Now entering its 4th year, this 3rd generation 3-row Highlander receives significant updates for 2017. Highlights include a more powerful engine, extra gears for the automatic transmission, a new Stop/Start…

2017 KIA SOUL TURBO FIRST LOOK BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES The hamster cage just got a bit more exciting. Kia introduces a new turbocharged engine for the Soul lineup. The 2017 Soul Exclaim features a 1.6-liter turbo-4 making 201…

2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA HYBRID FIRST LOOK BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES Chrysler’s new Pacifica minivan has turned the segment on its ear with the introduction of sexy styling and a plethora of smartness. And now to advance that narrative, Chrysler…

FORD ECOSPORT FIRST LOOK BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES Automakers can’t have enough hot-selling crossovers in their lineups these days and Ford has a vacancy for something smaller than the Escape. Enter the EcoSport; a subcompact runabout which has been…

2018 JEEP COMPASS FIRST LOOK BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES When it arrived in showrooms a decade ago, the Compass became Jeep’s first-ever car-based crossover. Not intended for severe off-road adventures, it shared a platform with the Dodge Caliber and…