Automotive Reviews

2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia

2018 Alfa Romero Giulia

Car & Driver:

The Giulia is absolute proof that the legendary performance brand can deliver the goods. An athletic chassis, crooning turbocharged four-cylinder engine, available adaptive suspension, quick steering, and tenacious brakes make the Giulia a joy to drive—for novices and professional drivers alike. Within its muscular body lies a cabin that can be dressed in either a sporty or chic motif. To calm the nerves of potential buyers, we’re happy to report that Alfa’s initial build-quality issues seem to have been resolved. Giulias that have recently visited our office performed flawlessly without any mechanical or electrical glitches that plagued earlier examples. The Giulia is the real deal: a total-package sports sedan that's on Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars list for 2018.

Following its much-anticipated introduction in 2017, the Giulia sees a sort of expansion of its lineup for 2018. Last year’s entry-level Giulia and Giulia Ti each spawn additional models based on last year’s Lusso and Sport option packages to create a five-model lineup: Giulia, Giulia Sport, Giulia Ti, Giulia Ti Lusso, and Giulia Ti Sport. Other changes are minor and include a handful of new wheel designs and chrome rings around the door speakers on base and Sport trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard on all Giulia models, front parking sensors are now bundled together with blind-spot monitoring and auto-dimming exterior mirrors, and a new Cargo Convenience package adds grocery-bag hooks, a cargo net, and tie-down hooks inside the Giulia’s trunk.

2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

2018 Alfa Romero Giulia Quadrifoglio

Edmunds:

Audi. BMW. Mercedes. These are the popular brands people reflexively shop when looking for a luxury sedan. But what if you find them to be a bit boring or complacent? That's where the 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia comes in. This luxury sedan newcomer isn't well-known, but once you see it, it's hard to ignore.

On the outside, the Giulia looks like nothing else on the road thanks to its taut styling and classic Alfa Romeo grille. The beauty is more than skin-deep, too. The underlying hardware is competitive, with the base Giulia and Giulia Ti receiving a lively 280-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels through a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

It's the top-of-the-line Giulia Quadrifoglio trim, however, that truly makes its presence known by aggressively gunning for top performance honors of the class. It comes outfitted with a powerful Ferrari-developed turbocharged V6 engine, weight-saving carbon fiber, articulating aerodynamics, and a whole host of other speed-enhancing features to win over the hearts and wallets of performance fans.

https://www.edmunds.com/alfa-romeo/giulia/2018/quadrifoglio/

2018 Ford F-150 SuperCrew

2018 Ford F-150 SuperCrew

Edmunds:

Today's Ford F-150 offers the performance and power that personal and professional truck buyers require. Under the hood, the F-150 offers a choice of four different engine options, fuel economy of up to 22 mpg combined, and towing capacity rated up to 10,800 pounds. The F-150 also boasts a refined, modern touch with a well-crafted interior and helpful tech such as the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system, which allows you to control trailer direction via a dial on the dashboard. There's also the F-150's impressively quick Sync 3 infotainment system and amenities that range from utilitarian to luxury. Aluminum body panels and an aluminum bed (rather than traditional steel) help make the 2018 F-150 the lightest truck in its class, too.

With hundreds of available configurations, you'll have an easy time finding a 2018 Ford F-150 that meets your needs. Overall it's a comprehensive package that makes the F-150 one of our favorite trucks on the road.

https://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/2018/supercrew/

2018 Ford Focus

2018 Ford Focus

Edmunds:

The 2018 Ford Focus is a well-rounded and competent small car. It's available in a variety of flavors, including a no-frills commuter machine, a high-performance hatchback and, yes, even as an EV.

The core appeal of the 2018 Ford Focus, however, remains its comfortable ride along with enjoyable handling and a quiet interior. We also like the available Sync 3 infotainment system. It's fast and powerful and supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ensuring your commute won't lack entertainment.

The Focus sedan's compliant ride and quiet cabin make it a segment favorite for relaxed cruising. It is still one of the most comfortable cars in its price range.

https://www.edmunds.com/ford/focus/2018/review/

2018 Honda Accord

2018 Honda Accord
Car & Driver:

We have given a 10 Best Cars award to the Honda Accord so many times (31, to be exact) that it’s natural to wonder if the hype is real. But if you’ve ever experienced an Accord—and with more than 13 million sold in the United States over its 41-plus-year history, chances are you have—you probably understand what we’ve been talking about all this time. Beyond its vaunted reputation for quality, and even beyond being consistently fun to drive, what has impressed us most about the Accord is how well it has always fulfilled its core mission: to be an affordable, spacious, and comfortable conveyance for people and stuff. The new Accord’s more fashionable looks show that Honda designers understand that a solely left-brain approach doesn’t cut it anymore.

The previous Accord sedan’s upright greenhouse has given way to a fastback-like roofline, which combines with a pronounced crease just below the beltline to give the car a sinewy, athletic stance (the two-door coupe model is no more). A 2.1-inch-greater wheelbase, on a vehicle that’s actually 0.3 inch shorter overall, allows for tighter front and rear overhangs and makes the new car look considerably longer than before. It’s certainly the most elegant-looking Accord since the sleek, pop-up-headlight model from the late 1980s.

Even with its longtime archival at the top of its game, though, Honda appears to have hit yet another home run. Like nearly all the Accords that came before it, the newest example remains a beautifully engineered, high-quality, and affordable automobile. Only now it’s even more alluring to look at, to drive, and to sit inside. We can’t say what the future will bring for mid-size sedans, but for now the Honda Accord continues to lead the charge.

2018 Honda Civic Hatchback

2018 Honda Civic Hatchback
Edmunds:

It's hard to overstate how much we like the 2018 Honda Civic. Equipped with the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, it's one of the best cars in its class for delivering both impressive acceleration and high fuel economy. Inside, it has plenty of room for passengers, clever storage solutions and more cargo space than most competitors in any body style. It also offers technology features that put some other compact cars to shame and safety ratings that are among the best.

Available as a sedan, coupe or hatchback, the Civic has a version for every niche, and all of them are good. Want more sauce? There's the sportier Civic Si, as well as the absolutely bananas Civic Type R. Just as impressive, neither one sacrifices the qualities we love about the standard variants.

https://www.edmunds.com/honda/civic/2018/hatchback/

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Edmunds:

The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV offers a reason to take another look at this family SUV. While the regular Outlander lacks the comfort and refinement of its many competitors, the new PHEV model is one of the first vehicles to bring plug-in recharging capability to the SUV class.

Mitsubishi has sold the Outlander PHEV in other global markets for two years. Now it makes its debut in the United States. Starting at about $35,000 before applicable tax credits, the Outlander PHEV looks pretty much the same as its gas engine-only counterpart.

It's a different story under the hood, where a four-cylinder gas engine joins electric hybrid components. The engine and electric motor combination drives the front wheels, while a second electric motor drives the rear wheels. Sophisticated computer processing determines the best way to dole out power to all four wheels, although drivers can also manually engage a four-wheel-drive lock mode when desired.


https://www.edmunds.com/mitsubishi/outlander-phev/2018/suv/

2018 Nissan Altima

2018 Nissan Altima
Kelly Blue Book:

Comfortable, sporty and sophisticated, the 2018 Nissan Altima has been improved with new safety technology and features. Every new Nissan Altima now comes with standard Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning. A popular family sedan, the Altima sedan is available in four trim levels, and unlike many competitors, Nissan offers a choice between a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder and a potent V6. The V6-powered Altima 3.5 SL, with 270 horsepower, is one of the most powerful sedans in the midsize-family-sedan class. Both engines work with a smooth continuously variable automatic transmission.

If you’re looking for a stylish and comfortable family-friendly sedan with a solid reputation for reliability and value, you’ll like the 2018 Nissan Altima. Drivers wanting a little more performance will like the 2.5 SR trim level, which adds a manual mode to the automatic transmission, paddle shifters, a sport-tuned suspension and larger 18-inch wheels and tires.


2018 Nissan Armada

2018 Nissan Armada
Edmunds:

Surprisingly luxurious and easy to drive, the 2018 Nissan Armada offers ample power, room and utility. With three rows of seats, robust towing limits and sophisticated four-wheel-drive capability, the Armada capably handles both the daily grind and the road less traveled.

Some of the Armada's special sauce comes from the Armada sharing its bones with the upmarket Infiniti QX80. It's the same SUV from Nissan's luxury division. There are some differences between the two models, but overall the design and fit-and-finish rises above those of a standard SUV.

There's also plenty of room to highlight all that interior goodness. The Armada's total cabin space is larger than many of its competitors and offers 16 cubic feet of luggage space behind its upright third row. Folding all rows opens-up nearly 95 cubic feet of cargo space, which is better than average. The Armada also brakes, steers and handles with surprising coordination, and the 5.6-liter V8 engine delivers hearty acceleration.

2018 Nissan Leaf

2018 Nissan Leaf

Edmunds

Though the Nissan Leaf has received incremental changes over its lifetime, 2018 brings the most comprehensive rework of the car to date. The new car's styling is a complete departure from the previous Leaf, although under the skin the cars are very similar aside from the larger battery capacity and additional power.

The Leaf hasn't become more expensive in the bargain. In fact, the new car is actually less costly than the outgoing model when you factor in the differences in feature content. As such, it offers more range for the same price as other similar EVs, such as the Volkswagen e-Golf. Only the more expensive Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3 offer more driving range.

Other advantages to the 2018 Leaf include its new e-pedal mode and a new suite of advanced driver assist features called ProPilot Assist. The e-pedal delivers stronger regenerative braking when you lift off the accelerator, making it easier to slow the car appreciably without requiring you to apply the brake pedal.

https://www.edmunds.com/nissan/leaf/2018/hatchback/

2018 Nissan Pathfinder

2018 Nissan Pathfinder
Edmunds:

Versatile, roomy and even somewhat rugged, the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder checks several boxes for shoppers looking for a three-row crossover SUV. It's got a classy, upscale interior and a V6 engine with plenty of power for towing. The Pathfinder strikes an excellent balance of quality and utility.

After some substantial upgrades in 2017 — among them, new engine technology for more power, fortified suspension and steering, and increased towing capacity — the Pathfinder carries into 2018 with only a few changes. One of them is noteworthy, however: The automatic emergency braking safety feature, previously available only on upper trims, joins the base model's standard equipment.

There's also a new Rear Door Alert, intended to remind the driver of people, pets or objects that might still be present when the driver exits the car. It works by registering whether the door was opened before a trip but not reopened at the end of that trip or ignition cycle. It's a nifty feature that proves its worth with just one use, and it comes standard on all Pathfinders.

2018 Toyota Camry

2018 camry
Car and Driver:

Redesigned for 2018, the Camry looks to remake its reputation with an expressive new look and a tauter, more responsive chassis. The inline-four’s output increases to 203 horsepower (206 in the XSE), while the V-6 offers a lively 301 ponies. Each engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission and sees fuel-economy gains. A hybrid is EPA rated at up to 52 mpg combined. Many active safety features now come standard.

The nearly two-inch-longer wheelbase helps preserve interior roominess, including generous rear-seat legroom and knee clearance, even as engineers lowered the roof and the seating position. They also lowered the hood and the beltline to avoid the feeling of sitting in the bottom of a barrel. This Camry is more adventurous with color, too, with the gray and tan interiors using multiple hues, while a red-and-black scheme can be had in the XSE.

It’s not just appearances that have changed; much of the hardware is new, as the Camry moves to Toyota’s TNGA architecture. Both engines are fresh, as well, although their layout and displacements are familiar. The direct-and-port-injected 2.5-liter inline-four has a longer stroke and a higher compression ratio than the previous four-cylinder, and it boasts variable valve timing that is now electrically actuated on the intake side. Output climbs from 178 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque to 203 and 184—or 206 and 186 in the XSE with its quad exhaust outlets, a Camry first. A 176-hp version of the same engine pairs with an electric motor/generator in the hybrid.

2018 Toyota RAV4

Toyota RAV4
Edmunds:

Originating in the latter half of the 1990s, the Toyota RAV4 was one of the first entries in the small crossover SUV market. Today's RAV4 is considerably larger than that pint-sized original, but the core appeal of versatility, good fuel economy and favorable on-road manners are firmly intact.

The RAV4 has been very popular with consumers through the years The newest third- and fourth-generation RAV4s are the most family-friendly and come with the most features, which appeal to young families and urban singles in search of a reliable compact crossover SUV.

In reviews, we've found that this Toyota RAV4 gets just about everything right. Its roomy cabin boasts more cargo room than most rivals and provides ample seating space for adults both front and rear. The overall interior design is modern looking, and the Entune system provides useful smartphone app integration. The RAV4's 2.5-liter four is refined and adequately powerful. Overall, we find the RAV4 to be an impressively well-rounded small crossover SUV with no major drawbacks.

2018 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

2018 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

Edmunds:

If excellent utility and off-road ability are priorities for your next vehicle, the 2018 Toyota Tacoma should be high on your list. The wealth of available configurations means there's likely a Tacoma that fits your needs, and some of them provide an impressive degree of trail-busting capability.

Alongside those specialized off-road Tacomas with their knobby tires, upgraded suspension and off-road driving aids, there are street-oriented versions of the Tacoma, too. Notably, even the more luxurious trim levels share their siblings' lifted stance. It creates a high step-in height and a slightly unusual seating position, but it also means every Tacoma is at least a little adventure-ready.

Overall, we think the Tacoma hits the spot for what most midsize pickup shoppers are looking for.

https://www.edmunds.com/toyota/tacoma/2018/double-cab/

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
Edmunds:

With the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, it looks like the German automaker is finally ready to offer a small crossover SUV that many Americans will want. Though entertaining to drive, the previous generation Tiguan fell short of the competition.

For 2018, however, the Tiguan is thoroughly overhauled. It rides atop a new platform that underpins Volkswagen models ranging from the compact Golf hatchback to the new three-row Atlas SUV. This Tiguan even shares its new muscular shape and style with the Atlas. It's also 10 inches longer than its predecessor, which VW uses for more cargo space, more legroom, and an optional third-row seat that's small but handy if you need to cart around a couple of extra kids.

Some of the Tiguan's traditional strengths carry over, including a quiet and comfortable ride, top-notch cabin materials, and a user-friendly tech interface that's now even easier and quicker to use. These upscale touches no longer exact a price premium either.

https://www.edmunds.com/volkswagen/tiguan/2018/suv/