Toyota’s longest playing nameplate is also its most expensive model. The very first Toyota Land Cruiser was introduced in 1951, a Jeep-like vehicle built under contract to the US military for use in Korea. Based on the original Willys theme, the first “Toyota Jeep BJ” was larger and more … Read more
Nissan’s roomy midsize Pathfinder receives numerous improvements. The 2017 Nissan Pathfinder has been refreshed, the first significant change since the current-generation model debuted in 2013. More forceful styling, enhanced safety and technology features, and an updated engine are among the changes evident in this three-row, midsize crossover SUV offering room … Read more
Nissan catches up to the competition. Introduced in 2004, the Titan gave Nissan its first full-size truck. That move trumped Nissan’s arch-rival, Toyota, which was still three years away from bringing a larger and more robust Tundra to the market. But an odd thing happened along the way — Nissan … Read more
The second-generation Armada has sailed into port. Few manufacturers build full-size, traditional body-on-frame sport utility vehicles these days. Count Nissan among the few. Among mainstream brands, the Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe, and the Ford Expedition are your choices. Of the five, the Armada is the newest … Read more
To the hills with a highly capable Tacoma 4×4. The 2016 Toyota Tacoma kicked off the latest generation for this venerable midsize pickup truck. Although its footprint remains unaltered, the current model sees some important changes, including a new V6 engine, updated transmissions, and a refreshed cabin. The new model … Read more
A diesel-driven Titan XD Crew Cab 4×4 in SL garb visits the Auto Trends drive. Oftentimes, it is the second opportunity with a vehicle that paints a clearer picture of its capabilities. Following my introduction to the all-new Nissan Titan XD seven months earlier, I welcomed a 2016 Nissan Titan … Read more
Less bling, more substance for the grandest of all Cadillacs. The Cadillac Escalade is as large as the notoriety that precedes it. This full-sized SUV was launched in 1999, following the Lincoln Navigator to the market by one year. But it is the Cadillac model, not the Lincoln, which has … Read more
Behind the wheel of Toyota’s largest pickup truck. How do you like your pickup truck — small, medium or large? Small pickup trucks are no longer sold in the US, having morphed into midsize trucks beginning about two decades ago. With the Ford Ranger’s retirement in 2011, consumers were left … Read more
A new entry-level model has fueled even greater interest in all things Jeep. The Jeep brand is marking its 75th anniversary this year. Founded just prior to the United States’ entrance into the Second World War, Jeep was a Government Purchase (GP) vehicle based on the Bantam Reconnaissance Car, a … Read more
Large SUVs are back or at least consumer interest in them continues to rise as fuel prices fall. The GMC brand is well positioned to respond to consumers’ changing car-buying habits. Nourished chiefly by lower fuel prices, GMC sales increased by 11.3 percent in 2015, nearly double the 5.7 percent … Read more