Reviews | autoinsane

2011 Chevrolet Cruze is the game changer the compact segment has needed for years

Published August 2, 2010 by Zane Merva

Up until recently, the US consumer really couldn’t expect much from the compact car segment. Did it have four wheels, a cheap price, and get decent fuel economy? If so, then that was all you could really ask for. Special features like USB ports, heated seats, or a decent comfortable interior were, at most, a pipe dream. Small cars were only for folks who couldn’t afford a larger one. The 2011 Chevy Cruze changes all that.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze First Drive photo gallery

Published July 28, 2010 by Zane Merva

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Although we’re under embargo for our driving impressions of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, we are allowed to share with you all the photos we took on our drive of the new compact competitor yesterday.

First Drive: 2011 Buick Regal delivers smooth style & solid European handling

Published June 3, 2010 by Zane Merva

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Last week I had the chance to sample the completely new 2011 Buick Regal on the roads and highways of Southern California. We’ve been foaming at the mouth at a chance to get behind the wheel of the Regal ever since it was introduced in LA last year. Could the car that was almost a Saturn really deliver as a Buick? Lets find out.

2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee: One last spin in the original off-road SUV

Published March 22, 2010 by Zane Merva

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In a short few months Chrysler is set to bring a totally new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee to market. With the 2010 model still on the lot and on sale, we wanted to give the current iteration one last spin before it made its way into the history books this summer. In a world of crossovers the Grand Cherokee is the original SUV; and yes it’s got a HEMI.

2010 Volkswagen GTI: The perfect mashup of price and performance

Published March 17, 2010 by Zane Merva

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Every year over a dozen new car models are released in the US. Very rarely does one stimulate the the mind, body, and wallet all at the same time. All too often it’s a choice between performance, fit/finish, and economy. Almost never do you get more than one of these at the same time. Never do you get all three, let alone in a base model. Well, that was until this year, when Volkswagen introduced the heavily redesigned 2010 GTI. Prepare to be impressed.

Photo Gallery: A detailed look at the 2010 Volkswagen GTI

Published March 17, 2010 by Zane Merva

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The detailed photo gallery companion to our full road test review of the 2010 Volkswagen GTI 2-door

Locked out of cloud 9 – How one day in a Dodge Viper went so wrong yet turned out so right

Published March 9, 2010 by Zane Merva

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The plan for the day was simple. My brother Josh and I would take the extraordinary opportunity of being loaned a Dodge Viper and turn it into an epic driving day trip. We would leave our small office in central New Hampshire on an early September morning and barnstorm north towards the White Mountains. During our mission we’d hit two key attractions well known to the northeast motorist; the Kancamagus Highway and the Mt. Washington auto road.

Volkswagen’s Black Beauty: The 2010 GTI

Published December 21, 2009 by John Pardoe

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VW has spiced up their line-up in recent years, from the introduction of the EOS a few years ago to the sexy and sleek looking CC last year. For 2010 the GTI gets a face lift and some interior refinement. That would make any critic happy. The front fascias’ devilish grin gives you a hint of what’s to come. While this black beauty is not the most powerful of the hot hatches on the market, it is definitely the most refined.

Trapster app alerts drivers to speed traps, red light cameras

Published December 8, 2009 by Eric Moretti

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Trapster app alerts drivers to speed traps, red light cameras

It’s inevitable. You’re driving along all of a sudden the familiar outline of a Crown Vic is sitting at the side of the road. All of a sudden the hyper-sensitivity to anything you could possibly be doing wrong kicks in and your brain starts listing off every minor traffic violation you’ve committed in the last fifty miles. If you happen to be going slightly faster than speed limit because you weren’t being judicious enough in monitoring your speed, or you were trying to pass or maybe you just had the Motorhead up too loud you might panic and pump the brakes, slowing down to below the speed limit “just to be safe.”

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid – the best executed hybrid yet?

Published October 26, 2009 by Zane Merva

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Hybrids have seemingly been on the cusp of mainstream fame for years now as the US consumer searches for ways to reduce fuel consumption. But, could it be that the car of the future is actually already on sale today?