2014 Nissan Versa: Hard to Beat its Affordability

If it's economical transportation you want, you'll be pleased with the 2014 Nissan Versa sedan because of its low price and tiny appetite for fuel.
The Versa gives you an interior that's surprisingly roomy and a fairly large trunk.

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Atlanta Media Choose Top Family Vehicles

Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) named winners at its second-annual Family Choice Challenge event held last week at Lake Lanier Islands Resort north of Atlanta. Automotive and lifestyle journalists chose the2015 Hyundai Genesis as Top Family Choice, while five other family-friendly models earned category awards.

Hyundai's impressive Genesis sedan is completely redesigned for the 2015 model year. The Genesis earned high marks from judges thanks to its handsome styling, comfortable and spacious cabin, technology-rich features and strong overall value. An average score of 31.2 (out of a possible 35 points) outpaced nineteen competitors to earn top honors.

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Thanks, GAAMA

2014 Lexus CT200h: Style Meets Sustainability

The Lexus CT200h is a hybrid hatchback that has gotten a refreshed styling for the 2014 model year.
The result is a sportier looking car that retains great fuel efficiency.

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2014 Infiniti QX70: Quiet Quality

Quizzically is how I responded when I first learned of Infiniti’s plan to rename its vehicles so that they would start with the letter Q.
Quirky, I thought; why do such a thing?
Quickly, though, after getting into the QX70 luxury crossover, I realized that by any name, this is a pretty good vehicle.
QX70 is the new name for what used to be called the FX37 or FX50.

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Toyota Recalling 6.4 Million Vehicles

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 6.39 million vehicles globally for a variety of problems spanning nearly 30 models in Japan, the U.S., Europe and other places.

No injuries or crashes have been reported related to the recalls announced Wednesday. But two reports of fires are linked to one of the problems, a defective engine starter that can keep the motor running.

Some vehicles were recalled for more than one problem. The recall cases total 6.76 million vehicles for 27 Toyota models, the Pontiac Vibe and the Subaru Trezia, produced from April 2004 through August 2013.

The Pontiac Vibe, which is a General Motors Co. model, is also involved because Toyota and GM made cars at the same plant in California and the recalled model is the same as the Toyota Matrix. It was recalled for a problem with a spiral cable attached to an air-bag. It is unrelated to a separate GM recall over ignition switches linked to at least 13 deaths.

Subaru is partly owned by Toyota, and the model was the same as the Toyota Ractis.

For the recall, Toyota also reported problems with seat rails, the bracket holding the steering column in place, the windshield-wiper motor and a cable attached to the air-bag module.

The recalls affect a large range of models, including the Corolla, RAV4, Matrix, Yaris, Highlander, and Tacoma.

By region, the latest recall affects 2.3 million vehicles in North America, 1.09 million vehicles in Japan and 810,000 vehicles in Europe. Other regions affected by the recall include Africa, South America and the Middle East.

Toyota was embroiled in a massive recall crisis in the U.S. starting in late 2009 and continuing through 2010, covering a wide range of problems including faulty floor mats, sticky gas pedals and defective brakes. In response, it has become quicker to issue recalls.

Last month, the Japanese automaker reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to pay a $1.2 billion penalty for hiding information about defects in its cars. It earlier paid fines of more than $66 million for delays in reporting unintended acceleration problems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration never found defects in electronics or software in Toyota cars, which had been targeted as a possible cause.

The focus in the U.S. auto industry has recently shifted to another major recall problem, this time with defective ignitions in compact cars made by GM.

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2014 Lexus ES 300h: Fuel Economy Star in a Luxury Package

The Lexus ES 300h is a luxury hybrid sedan that was introduced in the last model year and has so far been very well received.
It's not hard to see why.
On the inside, five passengers can sit comfortably in a roomy space that is luxurious, but not overdone.
The car runs on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine linked to electric motors and a high voltage battery pack, a combo that kicks out 200 horsepower and 156 pounds-feet of torque. The transmission is of the continuously variable automatic sort, with a front-wheel drivetrain.

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