2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Review

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"The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK's small footprint and nimble, refined driving experience stand out, despite its otherwise dated luxury experience," says Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Expert Review

Cars.com photo by Joe Bruzek

By Jennifer Geiger | March 9, 2015 | Comments (1)

Recall Alert: 2015 Hyundai Genesis

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Vehicles Affected: Approximately 24,400 model-year 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedans manufactured from Feb. 21, 2014, to Jan. 24, 2015

The Problem: Water may leak into the rear combination lamp assemblies and cause an incorrect gear to display on the instrument panel or cause a delay in engaging the selected gear when shifting from Park to Reverse or Drive. If an incorrect gear is displayed, the vehicle may move in an unintended direction, increasing the risk of a crash.

The Fix: Dealers will apply pads to prevent water from leaking into the lamp housing for free.

What Owners Should Do: Hyundai has not yet released an owner notification schedule; owners can call Hyundai at 855-671-3059 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 888-327-4236.

Need to Find a Dealer for Service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find your local dealer.

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By Jen Burklow | March 9, 2015 | Comments (0)

Recall Alert: 2013-2015 Nissan Altima

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Vehicles Affected: Approximately 625,000 model-year 2013-15 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2014. This is an expansion of a previous recall and the number of vehicles affected could change. "Nissan is continuing to investigate the number of vehicles involved and will update the affected population when final numbers are available," the automaker said in a statement to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Problem: In these vehicles, the secondary hood latch could remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The Fix: According to NHTSA, the manufacturer has not yet provided a remedy plan.

What Owners Should Do: Nissan has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners can call the automaker at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236 for more information.

Need to Find a Dealer for Service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find your local dealer.

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By Jennifer Geiger | March 9, 2015 | Comments (1)

It's Time to Buy a Fuel-Efficient Car

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As gas prices have slumped to five-year lows, car shoppers have acted like kids gorging themselves on free candy, and have turned in droves to gas-guzzling big SUVs, pickup trucks and performance cars.

Related: More Fuel-Efficiency News

But, if you're looking to save money over the long haul, there may be no better time to buy a fuel-efficient car than now. Because low gas prices have reduced demand for fuel-sippers, many automakers are offering big incentives to move them off the lots. You'll not only save money on the purchase price, but when gas prices creep back up, you'll be sitting pretty as you pass gas station after gas station.

While there are plenty of examples, here are three that highlight what we're talking about:

By Patrick Olsen | March 9, 2015 | Comments (9)

2015 Toyota Yaris Review

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"The restyled 2015 Toyota Yaris packs undeniable value, but the driving experience and a lot of other aspects feel half-baked," says Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays.

2015 Toyota Yaris Expert Review

Cars.com photo by Evan Sears

By Jennifer Geiger | March 6, 2015 | Comments (6)

Toyota Cancels the Venza

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Well, our crystal ball was right. Toyota announced it is canceling the Venza, No. 6 on our list of vehicles we predicted wouldn't see model-year 2016. Part wagon, part crossover, the Venza never really found popularity; in fact, it landed in last place in Cars.com's $38,000 Midsize SUV Challenge. Sales of the model have been sinking for some time. It was introduced in 2008 and at its peak in 2009, Toyota sold 54,410 units. In 2014, the automaker sold just 29,991 Venzas.

Related: Research the Toyota Venza

"After careful consideration, Toyota has decided to wind down production of the Venza at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK). No jobs will be lost at TMMK as a result of this move," Rick Bourgoise, Toyota Midwest spokesman, said in a statement to Cars.com.

Instead of the Venza, the facility will manufacture the Avalon and Lexus ES, the first time a Lexus will be produced in the U.S.

Don't worry, Venza fans, it looks like there's still a decent amount of new models out there; there are more than 5,300 new Venzas listed in Cars.com's inventory.

Cars.com photo by Evan Sears

By Jennifer Geiger | March 6, 2015 | Comments (8)

VW Announces Cheaper e-Golf Limited Edition Trim

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Volkswagen has announced it's adding a less-expensive version of its all-electric e-Golf compact hatchback EV to the lineup: the e-Golf Limited Edition. It will sticker at $34,270 (including an $820 destination fee), almost $2,000 less than the higher-spec SEL trim level. It will be available for lease at $229 per month, according to the company.

Related: Volkswagen Prices First Electric Car; 2015 e-Golf Will Cost $36,265

Like the SEL trim, the e-Golf Limited Edition will feature a 24.2-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, standard DC fast charger system, an 83-mile range and a host of standard features like navigation, keyless entry with push-button start, automatic climate control, an electrically heated windshield, rearview camera, and front and rear parking sensors. It will differ from the current e-Golf in that it will feature 16-inch steel wheels instead of aluminum ones, halogen headlamps instead of LED lights, cloth seats instead of faux leather and the deletion of a heat-pump system meant to speed cabin warmth on cold days.

These minor de-contenting changes should help the car find a few more buyers as it becomes more widely available, but one has to wonder what these changes might do to the car's practical energy usage - LED headlamps consume less energy than incandescent halogen ones, and the lack of a heat pump could reduce the car's cold-weather range considerably. When the e-Golf was first released, VW said that adding the heat pump increased the e-Golf's winter range by nearly 20 percent, so eliminating it might be best suited to warm-weather climates.

Manufacturer photo

By PickupTrucks.com Staff | March 6, 2015 | Comments (4)

Gas No Longer Under $2 in Any State

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The national average for regular unleaded gas has increased 38 days in a row, the longest such streak in more than two years, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, and has climbed 41 cents per gallon during that period.

AAA said Thursday the national average for regular was $2.45, up 11 cents from a week ago. The average for premium gas was $2.85, 12 cents higher than last week, and for diesel it was $2.92, up 3 cents from a week ago.

Related: Research Fuel-Efficient Cars

The U.S. average for regular reached a low of $2.03 per gallon on Jan. 26 after dropping for a record 123 consecutive days. Prices have increased every day since. Whereas regular gas averaged less than $2 in 27 states six weeks ago, today the lowest statewide average is $2.14 in Wyoming. South Carolina and Utah are the next lowest at $2.16. Motorists who had their pick of stations offering gas for less than $2 may now have only a handful of choices — or none in many areas.

By Rick Popely | March 5, 2015 | Comments (1)

2016 Hyundai Tucson to Debut at 2015 New York Auto Show

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One of the oldest models in Hyundai's lineup is getting a complete redesign. Fresh off its European debut earlier this week at the Geneva International Motor Show, Hyundai's new Tucson will hit the U.S. at the 2015 New York International Auto Show. For 2016, it looks like the automaker's smallest SUV gets much more aggressive front styling with a taller, more sculpted version of the brand's hexagonal grille and a new, sweeping LED headlamp design.

Related: More 2015 New York Auto Show News

Inside, the automaker promises more soft-touch surfaces and higher-quality materials throughout the cabin. Hyundai says the new Tucson is built on an all-new platform, and it will offer more passenger room and cargo space.

The model that debuted in Geneva also boasts some new safety features, including an autonomous emergency braking system, lane keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot detection, a speed limit information function (monitors speed limit road signs) and an active hood system (hood rises during a crash with a pedestrian to reduce impact). No word yet on feature availability for the U.S. version, but we'll know more when the compact SUV meets the U.S. press in early April.

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By Jennifer Geiger | March 5, 2015 | Comments (0)

Used Luxury-Car Prices Fall Again in February

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Sellers dropped the average asking prices on luxury cars in February, and it's led to prices that are now thousands of dollars lower than we saw at the beginning of the year.

Related: More Used-Car News

Buyers looking for a used BMW 5 Series midsize sedan are among those in luck. Through the first two months of the year, prices for the 528i and 535i have fallen to $36,866 and $42,430, respectively. That's a price drop of 7.7 percent ($3,082) and 6.9 percent ($3,148). Audi A8 prices have also tumbled; the full-size sedan's $57,688 asking price at the end of February is 6.4 percent ($3,966) less than it was on Jan. 1.

The charts below detail used cars from the 2012 to 2014 model years with the biggest price drops and increases. To be eligible for the lists, a model had to have at least 250 cars in Cars.com's national search listings.

By Mike Hanley | March 5, 2015 | Comments (1)

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