CVT Topic Hub

$20k 2016 Honda HR-V Arriving Now! Trims, Pricing + All Colors in Animated Turntables

Welcome to the ultimate Honda HR-V colors guide! 300-plus images, eight turntable animations and even the full pricing and trims list. The first HR-V’s are rolling into dealerships this week, but will be snapped up almost instantly by other eager shoppers. Why? Great style and design, posh cabin with cool new tech, plus pricing from a base of just $19,000 for the LX model. The EX-L Navi with AWD and an automatic transmission tops out the model range around $27,000. Our pick? The most-loaded manual transmission model in EX FWD form. With the cool available machined alloys and the Sport …

May 27, 2015 Read more

2015 Honda S660 Is JDM Mid-Engine Targa With Turbo Triple Engine + 6-Speed Manual

Honda’s renaissance in sporty cars might be topped by the NSX supercar, but the effects of a sporty focus runs up and down the range. This K-car is a very positive step forward for Honda, even if it is primarily aimed at the Japanese Domestic Market. With style and LEDs like much pricier and more powerful sports cars, the S660 is the most affordable way into a mid-engine, open-top thrills. Weight distribution is 45-percent front, 55-percent rear, promising much of the light nose and nimble thrills of the Porsche Boxster for perhaps a quarter of the price. Power comes from …

Apr 05, 2015 Read more

2016 Chevrolet Spark Brings New Turbo Engine + Lower, Sportier Style and Handling

Chevrolet is not likely to admit this, but the Spark’s success in the US market has been a huge surprise. 2014 Calendar Year sales topped 39,000, making the Spark the best-selling subcompact in the US. It dominates the Mitsubishi Mirage, Mazda2 and Kia Rio easily. Combined with its Sonic big brother, the Spark has made Chevy the main player in minicar sales since its launch in 2012. The latest Spark will continue this trend with a more refined and tech-infused cabin, a new turbo 1.4-liter engine, and a sportier driving position. This lower feel from the drivers seat comes with …

Apr 05, 2015 Read more

Road Test Review – 2015 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4WD

2015 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4WD Review INTRO The funny thing about most crossovers and SUVs these days is that comfort is generally a very relative term. Sure, you might have every bell and whistle imaginable in the new Escalade, and searing performance in the new BMW X5 M. And while those crossovers might be extreme examples, others in the price bracket also qualify. Vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango, for example, are prime competition for the massive, three-row Nissan Pathfinder. What is one thing that none of the above machines can actually deliver in a luxurious way? Road …

Feb 16, 2015 Read more

50 New Photos! 2015 Lexus NX300h and NX300h F Sport Are Best-Looking SUVs of the Year

Updated 10.24.14 with 50 New Photos These latest photos from the UK show the hybrid NX Lexus in an absolutely beautiful light. The complex and emotional creasing of the surfaces is endlessly entertaining to the eye, while the practicality of this mid-size crossover pair belies their base price in the mid-$30,000 ballpark. It is surprising and welcome to have an F Sport version of the Hybrid. This is definitely a car to worry both the BMW X3 and X5. The Lexus NX will be in dealerships in just a few months, with a December arrival projected nationwide. 2015 Lexus NX300h …

Oct 24, 2014 Read more

2015 Subaru Impreza Brings Fresh Nose Design, New Lighting and Refined Interior Details

America’s most winterized and adventurous compact car range is slightly freshened for 2015! This brings a new nose to include the grille, front bumper and headlamps, while out back the hatchback gets a new spoiler and the sedan switched to LED lighting for its CHMSL. Subtle changes, but effective at keeping the Impreza clean and stylish versus its powerful WRX siblings. 2015 SUBARU IMPREZA® GETS NEW LOOK, NEW REFINEMENTS AND NOW OFFERS EYESIGHT® DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY Revised front styling with new headlights, grille and bumper Enhancements make cabin quieter New infotainment systems and features Upgraded interior trim Improved mileage …

Sep 25, 2014 Read more

2014 Honda CR-Z Buyers Guide: Colors, Prices, Specs and HPD Options

While putting together the below HPD Supercharger option, the amazing value and fresh style of the 2014 CR-Z caught my eye. When did the CR-Z become so sexy? Included below are the full CR-Z Specs, Pricing and Color guides! 2014 Honda CR-Z – COLORS HPD CR-Z That headline pace? Estimated at a fantastic 6.5-seconds from 0-60-mph. That is down from the latest, upgraded 2013-2014 CR-Z’s 9.0-seconds with the manual six-speed and 130-horsepower. The 2013 cars also jumped in battery strength from 10-kW to 15-kW — so the CR-Z is already much quicker than it ever was in …

Sep 01, 2014 Read more

2014 Honda CR-Z HPD Supercharged Hits 197HP and Sprints 2.5s Quicker to 60MPH

That headline pace? Estimated at a fantastic 6.5-seconds from 0-60-mph. That is down from the latest, upgraded 2013-2014 CR-Z’s 9.0-seconds with the manual six-speed and 130-horsepower. The 2013 cars also jumped in battery strength from 10-kW to 15-kW — so the CR-Z is already much quicker than it ever was in its first-gen series. This latest power jump from HPD is fully-authorized by Honda and is only for manual-transmission cars. The engine internals and intercooler bring this balaced sport compact the power it has always dreamed of, with the battery in back providing a hugely entertaining and flexible handling …

Sep 01, 2014 Read more

Updated – 2014 Nissan Sports Sedan Concept Is Almost-Exact 2015 MAXIMA 4DSC!

Updated 7.8.14 New photos and two new colors, white and titanium grey. Changed the color from orange on the computer, because the orange it a little overpowering. Without the bright autoshow color, the car looks … EVEN BETTER! Very, very promising indeed. Previous update: Just updated this article with all the 2015 4DSC concept photos; sans the previous burnt photo error =] i think all the designers use Macs — and all the rest of us use PCs… ? ANYWAY Next Maxima is set to be just 0.3-inches taller than the GT-R. But will a manual box join the …

Jul 08, 2014 Read more

2015 Lexus NX200t and NX300h Are Ultra-Modern Inside and Out

The 2015 Lexus NX200t and NX300h instantly make all other compact crossovers look 1000 years old. This is a seriously new and innovative take on the design of Lexus SUVs – and we love it. The surfacing is the most-notable point, with interesting creases throughout that make light bounce around inside the door panels and fender flares. It is totally fresh in a way that a mainstream, or even luxury model, has not been in at least a decade. Overstating things a bit? Perhaps – but the NX200t is extremely good-looking. This is one car where the F Sport trim …

Jul 07, 2014 Read more

2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Revamped with Cool LED Running Lights, Extra MPGs and Quieter Cabin

Quick! Name a mini crossover that is fun, cheap, sporty and reliable!? Did you get any? My immediate answer to those criteria would be the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. This chuck-able little crossover is just about the coolest way to enter the stylish AWD SUV segment on a compact-car budget. The tradeoffs are less than ever this year for the 2015 model, which adds miles-per-gallon stats to its roster via a new automatic transmission. The exterior is now offered in this shiny metallic blue paint, which goes well with the SE model’s new LED daytime running lights in the lower corners. …

Jun 11, 2014 Read more

Off-Road Test Review – 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid is Surprisingly Silent + Very Capable

As shown by the Toyota 4Runner off-roading article earlier this week, we know I am a total wimp when it comes to off-roading. Despite my grand ambitions to be a Bowler Wildcat-running mudder in my own 2005 Subaru Legacy GT — all efforts to date have seriously damaged the car. I am on my fourth set of wheels, for example. But what would even lead me to take my beloved Subie off-road? One word: grip. The Subaru AWD system is seriously unflappable. In wintertime this year, I was fortunate enough to have a 2WD Chevy Silverado press loaner in my …

Jun 05, 2014 Read more

2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 60 High-Res Photos + Video Walk-Around

The 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO is incredible value at just above $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans. Sunny Day Gallery Rainy Day Gallery

Jun 03, 2014 Read more

2014 Nissan JUKE is Still Best New Car from $20k

Nissan JUKE is Cool New Car from $20k As a car writer, one of the most popular questions I get asked is: what car should I buy? I have a few default answers based on the price range and buyer needs discussed with that person, but is there one fall-back for people who might want an SUV, AWD, and a great value-for-money? Yes, yes there is. The Nissan Juke. From about $20,000 even for the front-drive models with a CVT, up to a max of about $28,000 as the Juke NISMO RS — the Juke really does have something for …

May 03, 2014 Read more

2015 Subaru Outback Is All-New with Better MPG and Refinement – Turbo XT or Non-CVT Both Missing

In most business segments, the term “all-new” is actually a highly regulated figure of speech intended to convey 100-percent new content. The car business is an exception to this marketing rule – obviously. All-New? Ummmm… ‘Facelifted’ is probably more accurate, Subaru, but let’s move on. Definite improvements in efficiency for the four-cylinder and CVT combo, but the rest of the additions to tech and refinement are not exactly Earth-shattering. Blind-spot warning, touchscreen navigation and a quieter cabin are all mandatory safety features that the Outback lacked altogether until the 2014 model year. The car is more attractive, with less of …

Apr 20, 2014 Read more

2015 Nissan Murano Brings a Hypercar-inspired Restyle! Flowing Surfaces Accented With Macho Wheel Flares and Low Roof

The new 2015 Murano is here and looking very stylish! It wears a very similar style to that previewed by the Detroit 2014 Sport Sedan Concept — but where the car-like forms of the Maxima are soft, the Murano’s are much crisper and more masculine. Another distinction? This is the real deal. Not a concept. The Murano will make its public debut on Wednesday in New York before hitting showrooms in November of 2014. Favorite angles abound on this five-seat crossover — from the “outta my way” nose aggressiveness, to the blacked-out pillar treatment for the floating roof, to my …

Apr 14, 2014 Read more

2015 Nissan Versa Sedan Debuts Ahead of NY Show — Priced from $12k And On Sale April 16th — Same Day As Debut!

Well, this is innovative! Very rarely can an auto show launch be synced with the availability of the actual road cars. The rare exception is when deposits are taken by executives — and even then, usually only in cases where the public floods the auto show stands with checks in hand. Even these cash buyers have to wait months to actually take delivery. And even in the deposit or cash-sale scenario, it is exceptionally rare. The Citroen DS in 1955. The Ford Mustang in Queens, New York at the World’s Fair 50 years ago exactly. A few Ferrari and Lamborghini …

Apr 12, 2014 Read more

Okay Now! European JUKE Nismo RS Features Matching LEDs Above and Below The New Round HID Lamps

The recent European Nissan JUKE article spent a faintly absurd amount of words and on the color choice of the show car, as well as the LED lighting functionality of the JUKE Nismo. Hiding on my desktop is another Geneva debut I have yet to cover: The JUKE Nismo RS with the solution to both the LED and icky color problems! This photo of the JUKE Nismo RS for Europe confirms: all three lighting elements can now be used simultaneously. Perhaps a trivial distinction, but one that American JUKE Nismo owners will understand. The JUKE Nismo RS in …

Apr 01, 2014 Read more

188HP Turbo Standard — 2014 Nissan JUKE Midnight Edition — 6-Sp Manual FWD From $19,000 — AWD Auto from $21,000

The Juke S is the most affordable spec in the trim lines that also include SL, SV, Nismo and the new-for-2014 Nismo RS model. While loving the 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO recently, and giving it the Best Turbo Sports Car, Under $25,000 Best Of Award here on CarRevsDaily, we realized something else. What was that discovery? In the latest new-for2014 paint colors like this triple black: this is a car that looks and feels like it is worth at least $10,000 more than its $24,000 total price. The NISMO is $24,000, but honestly represents such good value for this style …

Feb 14, 2014 Read more

Empire Records Generation — 2014 Accord Hybrid EX-L on Sexy Sugar High to Battle Mazda6 and Ford Fusion

Shock me, shock me, shock me… with that deviant behavior. – Empire Records (1995), Warner Bros. 2014 might be the year hybrids really start to blossom as a tech option that does not have to ruin your style like a light-green Prius. Case in point is the deceptively handsome Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L – shown in silver here – and even the Accord Hybrid Touring is a bit less dorky for this year. [Wearing nothing but a MusicTown apron] Gina: Welcome to MusicTown, may I service you? That is great news for Honda. Have you seen the Ford Fusion …

Feb 07, 2014 Read more

2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i and 3.6R Sedans — Much Quieter — Far More Tech Inside — Finally Some Exterior Style — Even 36MPG Highway!

The all-new 2015 Legacy launched today in Chicago, with great news all around for Subaru fans. And even enough unique features to entice those curious about the cult-like following of these AWD cars. Subaru’s are fantastic and very rewarding to drive — with handling balance and sure-footed-ness no Camry can ever match. 2015 Legacy Summary points: — This is the Legacy Sedan only, in 2.5i and 3.6R flavors (equipment lists detailed below). — A future Outback is a sure thing, but is not part of today’s big Legacy launch. — A future Legacy GT may join the fun eventually, but …

Feb 06, 2014 Read more

Future Nissan Maxima Concept — 3.5-in Lower Roof — 2.1-in Wider Stance — Official Debut

Update1: Just updated this article with all the 2015 4DSC concept photos; sans the previous burnt photo error =] i think all the designers use Macs — and all the rest of us use PCs… ? ANYWAY Next Maxima is set to be just 0.3-inches taller than the GT-R. But will a manual box join the fun? With the Z06 hitting eight cogs as a manual, or the GT-R running its precious-metals DCT ….. might the next Maxima get a six-speed manual? I think it would help get people in the doors — even if they ultimately buy the V-spec …

Jan 21, 2014 Read more

2014 Civic Si Coupe – First Night Sighting: Great-Looking LEDs

Spotted my first white 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe on the road tonight near Chicago, and it looked really confident and sporty. While we sliced and diced in traffic, it was almost as if the Civic knew the horrible things I have written (and printed) about the Honda Civic … in the past. Ahh! While Honda and I do not always agree, we have a few important things in common. Honda also loves my fair Sweet Home Chicago, with the night-time visualizer on Honda.com showing the world-famous Wacker Drive on that rare, blissfully-traffic-free time of night. The 360-degree visualizer …

Dec 30, 2013 Read more

Best of 2013 Awards: Turbo Sports Car, Under $25,000 – Nissan Juke NISMO

The Juke NISMO as the turbo sports car of the year? In this budget range: you bet your alcantara headlining and carbon-fiber diffusers! The NISMO Juke makes no apologies for being different from the norm. After spending a week with the Juke NISMO earlier this fall, I discovered a fun-to-drive car that is nimble and toss-able in all situations. It also turned heads like a GT-R on roads filled with boring tan sedans. The unusual headlamp setup of the Juke is brought to life with the GT-R’s white LED accents in the lower bumper area. With the LEDs blazing white, …

Dec 09, 2013 Read more

2014 Civic Si Coupe – First Night Sighting: Great-Looking LEDs

Spotted my first white 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe on the road tonight near Chicago, and it looked really confident and sporty. While we sliced and diced in traffic, it was almost as if the Civic knew the horrible things I have written (and printed) about the Honda Civic … in the past. Ahh! While Honda and I do not always agree, we have a few important things in common. Honda also loves my fair Sweet Home Chicago, with the night-time visualizer on Honda.com showing the world-famous Wacker Drive on that rare, blissfully-traffic-free time of night. The 360-degree visualizer …

Dec 06, 2013 Read more

2014 Nissan Pathfinder – Reviewed in Video and 78 High-Res Photos

The Pathfinder is a real charmer. With lockable four-wheel-drive and seven seats, it checks many boxes right in the first block. The vastly improved CVT automatic is no longer a sore point, with polite but perceptible downshifts and great cruising refinement and economy. Powertrain and Towing Highlights A Hybrid model joins the ranks for 2014, but this press loaner was the loaded Platinum model, which focuses dollars more on luxury and technology in the cabin. Interior Amenities Highlights 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum – Exterior Sunny Day Animation 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum – Exterior Gallery 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum …

Nov 30, 2013 Read more

2015 Subaru WRX Nears 270 Horsepower, Looks Hot!

2015 Subaru WRX – Exterior Gallery 2015 Subaru WRX – Interior Gallery 2015 SUBARU WRX® MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW New platform offers a stiffer, more agile chassis for Subaru global performance icon New torque-vectoring system reduces understeer New 268-hp 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo BOXER engine New standard 6-speed manual transmission New Sport Lineartronic® CVT with manual modes Los Angeles – Subaru of America, Inc. today introduced the 2015 WRX, a more powerful and better handling version of the brand’s iconic high-performance model, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. …

Nov 20, 2013 Read more

2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos

2014 Nissan Juke NISMO in 57 High-Res Photos The Juke Nismo is incredible value at just below $25,000 all in, with a choice between a manual transmission and front-drive or a NISMO-tuned CVT auto and AWD with a “V” mode for extra shenanigans. Sunny Day Gallery Rainy Day Gallery

Nov 11, 2013 Read more