Monthly Archives September 2014

Today Honda released information regardint its hot-selling compact sedan – the 2015 Civic.

Compared to the 2014 model year, the 2015 Civic does not has siginificant changes or updates. One major point in the press release is the addition of the Special Edition model (Civic SE).

Basically speaking, the Civic SE packs some upgrade options with a discounted combined pricing. The SE trim comes with automatic AC, an upgraded audio system with LCD display and also the Honda LaneWatch system. The Civic SE has very similar features to the 2015 Toyota Corolla, but is $1,475 more expensive.

The Civic has advantages such as better performance in the IIHS crash test, fully independen...

Review Index

2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 1 (Exterior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 2 (Interior)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 3 (Interior – Electronic Features)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 4 (Powertrain)
2014 Toyota Corolla LE – Part 5 Chassis and Suspension)

For Corolla’s market position and price level, you will not find fancy features in the cabin; but it still meet customer’s expectation for those who are buying this kind of automobile.

Easy-to-read gauges, an audio system with USB input, AC are what you need in a basic car.

It may be a surprise for the consumer that the Corolla LE come with automatic air conditioning as standard, which typically is see...

Safety is always one of Mercedes-Benz’s selling point. So you will understand back in August.14, 2012, when IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) released its first batch results for the small overlap frontal crash test on several entry-level compact luxury sedans, in which the Mercedes-Benz C-Class got the lowest “Poor” rating, Mercedes-Benz quickly release an official response expressing its strong objection of the IIHS test, by saying:

“As a leader in automotive safety, we have full confidence in the protection that the C-Class affords its occupants — and less confidence in any test that doesn’t reflect that”

Compared to the US IIHS, people in the European ...

When you are considering to buy a luxury-brand car, I bet most of you will not think Volvo has the same prestige image as the three German brands (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi).

The reasons for this is quite complicated, but one of them is the fact that, Volvo does not has a “real” full-size sedan in its product line at this moment. There is an implicit rule in the industry that, a brand that does not has a full size large luxury sedan, cannot be considered to be a “real” luxury brand (of cause there is always exceptions like the Bugatti – but even it is considering a sedan model now, please read our previous report).

The largest sedan in Volvo’s product line is the S80...

If you are following Honda USA’s product plan, you may have already known in this winter, Honda will release a new compact SUV called the “HR-V”.

The HR-V shares the same platform as the redesigned Honda Fit, and will be build at Honda’s Celaya, Mexico assembly plant. The HR-V is positioned lower than the Honda CR-V and Honda Pilot. Below is image of the HR-V:

In fact, the HR-V is not called “HR-V” in oversea markets. For example in the Japanese domestic market, its name is “Honda Vezel”. Below is image of the Vezel:

In China, Honda is going to sell another version of the HR-V (or Vezel), and its name is “Honda XR-V”...