Posts by Michael Hines

Inside the 2020 Jeep Compass: A CUV With The Soul Of An Off-Roader

The 2020 Jeep Compass is compact and stylish. That suggests it’s built strictly for city streets. However, it’s actually one of the most capable off-roaders in the ultra-crowded compact crossover class. With available all-wheel drive that features low-range gearing, hill descent control, and a terrain management system, the Compass is surprisingly versatile. In addition to…

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Inside the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek: Capable, Affordable, and Safe

The Subaru Crosstrek is extremely popular. How popular, you ask? Subaru has sold over 750,000 Crosstreks since the model first hit dealer showrooms in 2012. At that rate, there’s a chance Subaru could sell over one million Crosstreks in just 10 years. The Crosstrek is so popular largely thanks to its affordability, capability, and wealth…

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Inside the 2020 Lexus NX: Aging But Still Eye-Catching

There haven’t been a lot of substantial revisions made to the Lexus NX since it first debuted in 2015. Despite the stagnation, the 2020 Lexus NX is still a pretty competitive offering in the compact luxury SUV segment. It’s priced right, comes with a slew of standard safety features, and has a well-appointed interior that…

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Inside the 2020 Lotus Evora GT: The Purist’s Choice

There’s a good reason why you don’t see a lot of Lotuses on the road. The English automaker actually only sells one car in North America. However, the Lotus Evora GT is one hell of a sports car. It’s the perfect example of founder Colin Chapman’s approach to engineering: simplify, and then add lightness. The…

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Inside the 2020 Volvo XC90: As Safe and Luxurious As Ever

It’s highly unlikely that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” translates easily into Swedish. However, the 2020 Volvo XC90 serves as proof that the uniquely American saying may actually be somewhat popular in Scandinavia. The current-generation XC90 debuted in 2015. Since then, not a whole heck of a lot has changed. The XC90 is…

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Inside the 2020 Nissan GT-R: The Performance Racing Icon Persists

The Nissan GT-R — which gearheads affectionately refer to as “Godzilla” — was a revelation when it hit the market in 2008. The Japanese supercar-killer offered 480 horsepower, a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and impeccable handling, all at a starting price of $70,000. A lot has changed since then, but the Nissan GT-R’s…

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