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The AutoGuide Five-Point Inspection is simple. We break down the top five things you need to know about each vehicle: the good, the bad and the important new features. Easier to digest than a full-length review, the Five-Point Inspection brings you everything you need to know, quickly and efficiently.”
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Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Ford Focus ST
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Ten years ago the so called “tuner scene” was in full affect. Every manufacturer wanted a piece of this compact performance pie and the possibilities seemed endless for consumers. But, like any automotive trend, time moves on, tastes change and only a handful of hopped up economy cars remain. That didn’t deter Ford. After years…
Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Chevrolet Impala
Sometimes, it is not hard to improve on a product. We can’t imagine there were too many developers at Microsoft who said “No sir, we can’t improve on Windows ME.” Same can be said for the designers at Chevrolet. Things most likely not heard around the office in the past three years “Nope. No way…
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Nissan Titan
Do you remember the “ooga” horn sound cartoon characters used to make when they saw something shocking? If you want to create a similar reaction, in real life, tell any Dodge, Ford or GM truckophile that you’re planning to buy a new Nissan Titan. For the most part, their arguments will be well grounded. Nissan…
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Honda Civic Sedan
Last year, the Honda Civic underwhelmed the critics. With competition in the compact market segment firing on all cylinders, Honda delivered something that was far behind in terms of quality and value. Coasting was not an option for the 2013 Civic, so Honda revamped the car in record time, improving it inside and out.
Five-Point Inspection: Ford MyKey
Hey kids, want to put the brakes on a first date? Ruin a road trip? Impress your friends by not speeding? Then most of the new Ford lineup is for you. That’s because the majority of Ford’s models come with MyKey, a system that lets parents program aspects of their car to restrict certain…
Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium Manual
It’s unwise to purchase a home without having a qualified expert give it a thorough going over, why should new cars be any different? Top-to-bottom, front-to-back, inside-and-out, the 2014 Subaru Forester is on the receiving end of AutoGuide’s weekly Five-Point Inspection.
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 5
Up for Five-Point Inspection today is the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 5. This electrified 5 Series uses the brand’s 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder combined with an electric motor to send 335 hp and 330 lb-ft to the rear wheels.
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium
Looking for a small, but rugged crossover? Then the Subaru XV Crosstrek is a vehicle to take a look at. With its raised height over the Impreza, the XV is poised to confidently go where the Impreza can’t. We had a chance to drive the base Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium, which costs just $21,995 and…
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club
Winter: the perfect time to test crossovers, snow tires and convertibles, right? Well, maybe not that last one, but anyone who wants to buy a convertible, like this 2013 Mazda MX-5, should know how it fares in all four seasons, not just in drop-top temperatures.
Five-Point Inspection, the Counterpoint Edition: 2013 Chrysler 300C AWD
Up for inspection this week is the Chrysler 300C with all-wheel drive, or maybe we should say “300Cs.” The vehicle gods have smiled upon the humble editors of AutoGuide; stars aligned, a comet passed and the tarot cards gave a thumbs up because two of us have been graced with essentially the same car.
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
This Week’s Five-Point Inspection takes a look at the soon-to-be-overhauled Mercedes-Benz E-Class, what we love about it and what we’d like to see changed. About to become redundant, there is a mid-cycle refresh coming for the 2014 model year which will put the current E-Class out to pasture. This doesn’t mean the E-Class is necessarily…
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Chevrolet Traverse 2LT
This week’s Five-Point Inspection focuses on a large crossover from General Motors, the Chevrolet Traverse.
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Toyota RAV4 XLE FWD
For 2013 the RAV4 has undergone some major reconstructive surgery. The goal is to infuse a bit more life into this compact crossover that helped define the segment 17-years ago. Gone are both the V6 engine and 3rd row seating options. Thankfully, so is the antiquated four-speed automatic which has been replaced by a six-speed…
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye
The compact car segment is a hotly contested battleground, so is the Dodge Dart the secret weapon that the American automaker needs it to be, or does it miss the bulls-eye?
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350
This week, Autoguide.com takes a look at Mercedes’ GLK350 small crossover. The boxy trucklette gets mild styling updates for 2013 and promises mildly improved fuel economy over last year’s model. But what else is important about the square-looking Benz?
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Mazda2 Touring
Over the last five years, the battle of the subcompacts has been heating up in North America, and it now features no less than seven competitors, including the Mazda2. Starting at $14,720, the 2 substitutes some features compared to its competitors, in favor of staying cheap. Fully loaded with an automatic transmission, and the Mazda2 ends up…
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Honda CR-V LX
There’s a war happening in the crossover segment, with new revisions to the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe and Ford Escape all gunning for the popular Honda CR-V.
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 MINI Roadster Cooper S
Definitively unique, and plenty of fun to drive, is the MINI Roadster too quirky for its own good, or for that matter, too sporty? Starting at $29,250, is the MINI Roadster worth it?
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Audi S5
Ditching the V8 this year for a supercharged six, Audi’s S5 sport coupe still delivers thrills, albeit in a slightly different way than before.
Five-Point Inspection: 2012 Toyota Yaris LE
The subject of this week’s Five-Point Inspection is the cheapest car in Toyota’s North America lineup, the Yaris.
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Lexus GS450h
An alternative fuel vehicle, the Lexus GS450h is also a major alternative to the conventional V8-powered German luxury sedan. With exceptional fuel economy, luxury and solid power, it’s the subject of this week’s Five-Point Inspection.
Five-Point Inspection: 2012 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
When the second generation Cadillac CTS-V arrived, it featured a pair of new body-styles. Among them is the two-door coupe, which is the subject of this week’s Five-Point Inspection. With its supercharged V8, the CTS-V is a serious performance machine, referencing the days of comfy, yet powerful American muscle cars – though with a decidedly more…
Five-Point Inspection: 2012 Range Rover Sport Supercharged
This week’s Five-Point Inspection focuses on the Range Rover Sport Supercharged. This luxury SUV sits almost atop the Land Rover range, save the ultra-lux autobiography edition. A base Range Rover HSE starts at $60,895, while the Supercharged model fetches $76,495. Power comes from a 5.0-liter V8 engine complete with supercharger, the result being 510 hp of…
Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Scion tC Release Series 8.0
The Scion tC is a mid-range model in the Scion stable and has arrived this year with a new special edition called the RS 8.0, which is the subject of this week’s Five-Point Inspection. This special “Release Series” vehicle is limited to only 2,000 examples, and features a unique Fixe Axis Designed Body Kit as…






