Top 5 Vehicles for Graduates

Is someone you know graduating this spring? Why not reward their academic achievement with the gift of mobility? Or, if you can't afford to give them a car, give them some good advice about which rides they should consider. This list might help.

Subaru Forester

This small SUV offers practicality, reliability, decent fuel economy and a nice style. And its safety ratings are excellent, so you can have peace of mind.

Chevrolet Cruze

A couple of years ago, Chevy decided to pay attention to small cars again, and thankfully it created one as nice as the Cruze. Good gas mileage and a reasonable price tag are two of the key qualities of this pleasant sedan.

Buick Encore

This small crossover SUV offers a little taste of luxury, but at a reasonable price, starting in the mid-$20s. It has the elegant styling that Buick has become known for in the past few years, but is unpretentious.

Mazda2

The Mazda2 gives a pretty dynamic driving experience for a small, economy car. But you would expect nothing less from Mazda, the leader of the Zoom-Zoom movement.

Toyota Yaris

The Yaris got a restyling a couple of years ago that made all the difference in the world, taking it from a homely little econobox to a sporty, cool, subcompact. It gets great gas mileage (30 mpg city, 35 highway) and tops out at under $20k.

Affordable fun: The 2013 Scion FR-S

Sports cars don't have to cost a ton of money. A recent example of one that doesn't is the 2013 Scion FR-S.
This car takes the youthful approach that Scion has become known for, and adds a bit of race-car styling and performance driving ability to present a cool little package of fun.

Toyota, owner of the Scion brand, worked with Subaru to develop the FR-S, which the latter company also produces under its own badge as the BRZ.
The FR-S is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 200 horsepower and 151 pounds-feet of torque.
The transmission comes as a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
The test drive model had the manual, and shifting was smooth and orderly.
Fuel economy is rated at 22 mpg city, 30 highway with the manual and 25 and 34 with the automatic.

Driving dynamics on the FR-S could well be described as peppy and energetic. Behind the wheel, you won't mistake it for a BMW or Audi. But remember, when you make your car payment each month, you also won't mistake it for a BMW or Audi.

Acceleration is smooth, braking is swift and sure and handling is solid.

Toyota made sure to keep the FR-S's weight down to assist its nimbleness.
And the FR-S has a very low center of gravity, which allows you to feel the road, but at the same time you won't be too beat up after a moderately lengthy commute.

However, this is quite a low-slung vehicle, so taller drivers and passengers, or those who have lost a bit of flexibility (we fit into both categories), might not always find comfort in ingress and egress.

The FR-S has four seats, but only two of them are really inhabitable by most humans. Maybe the tiniest of folks could fit in the rear two.

The FR-S starts at around $24,500 and goes to about $27,000.

That's a somewhat reasonable price for a sporty, stylish car. But frankly, we thought that around that price point, you might get a few more "goodies" thrown into the mix.

Overall, however, the FR-S is a good, rear-wheel drive sports car that stands out from the pack, and if that's what you're after, with a reasonable price tag, you get it.

Top 5 Vehicles for Mom

Mother's Day is almost here, and if you're like most people, you'll be buying Mom a new vehicle.




OK, so very few people are actually able to do that.



But if you're one of those lucky (and thoughtful) few, or if you just want to help Mom shop next time she's in the market for a new ride, this list has a handful of helpful suggestions.

Toyota Prius v

Mom will certainly love how little she has to spend at the pump when driving this hybrid, plus she'll have enough room to tote around the kids and the groceries.

Honda Odyssey

Yes, it's a minivan, but so what? It still has great styling, and you can't beat the practicality and functionality.

Acura TSX

This compact luxury car is available as a sedan or a wagon, and lets Mom ride in style.

Mazda5

It looks like a little minivan, but it's so much cooler than that, because it has great driving dynamics and is super affordable.

Chevrolet Traverse

 

  The Traverse is a crossover SUV that is not too large and not too small, with a third row of seats that actually can hold regular-sized people.

2013 BMW 7 Series is Like Two Cars in One

Getting a BMW 7 Series sedan is almost like getting two cars in one.


Or maybe it’s like that cereal commercial from a few years back in which one side was sweet and coated with frosting and the other side was healthy whole wheat.

In any case, whether you get the 740, 750 or 760, you’re getting a full-size luxury sedan with a silky smooth ride, but also a hyper-performance tuned large sports car that can knock your socks off on the road.

Any way you get this car – with four or five seats, with the six-cylinder engine or the V-12, at regular or extended length – you get a substantial package of performance, comfort and luxury.

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2013 Nissan Sentra: No Boredom, Just a Great Buy

The Nissan Sentra has always been a pretty good compact car that was economical, mostly reliable and maybe a little boring.


For 2013, Nissan has given the Sentra a makeover that keeps it economical, thanks to strong fuel efficiency and a reasonable price, and definitely loses the boring, thanks to a stylish redesign.

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