Brian Sy

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September 11, 2008

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C Class

  

  

  Not much new, but somewhat improved.

  The prior generation of the C-class seemed to be a bit of an experiment. Throughout its seven years, there were sedans, wagons, hatchbacks, and a whole bunch of different engines (including an odd …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Mazda Mazda3

  

  

  A cut above the other compacts.

  Most automakers are content to let their small cars serve as basic transportation and little else. Mazda is no longer one of them. When the time came to replace its old Protégé in 2004, the …more

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September 10, 2008

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Jeep Wrangler

  

  

  The world's most legit SUV.

  Off-roading. You hear about it, you see it in commercials, and you know it sells SUVs. Not nearly as many people ever actually tackle the wilderness, but those who do have long known the one SUV …more

  Comments (2) |50% of 2 people found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Jeep Liberty

  

  

  Squared off and bulked up for the new year.

  Despite the presence of the new Compass, Patriot, and four-door Wrangler, Jeep chose to keep the long-running Liberty a part of its now-massive SUV collection. It's understandable, since its …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee

  

  

  A legend off-road -- but only off-road.

  Aside from its classy looks and strong yuppie appeal, the Grand Cherokee has primarily been famous for its off-road prowess. The truth of this has never been in doubt. Jeep does, after all, offer …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Honda Accord

  

  

  Possibly too much of a good thing.

  Those of us who have followed the Accord through its seven previous generations were sure its perpetual growth had finally stopped. Back in 1998, the Accord became a genuine mid-size family sedan …more

  Comments (3) |60% of 5 people found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Ford Mustang

  

  

  Much muscle for the money.

  Over the past ten years or so, all the cool kids have either been picking revvy high-tech ricers or all-wheel-drive turbo rally cars as their chariots of choice. Hey, fashions change. Still, there …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Ford Fusion

  

  

  Bringing some shine to the blue oval.

  In recent years, many of Ford's sedans have been criticized for being old or uninspired. Whether or not that's a fair generalization, it sure doesn't apply to the Fusion. This is the most freshly …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Ford Focus

  

  

  A refresh of a refresh.

  Cosmopolitans of the car scene have long known (and mostly complained) that the Ford Focus in Europe got a full redesign some years ago while America's version dragged on with a design that predates …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Ford Explorer

  

  

  An appealing member of a dying species.

  There was a time when the popularity of the Ford Explorer outstripped the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and every SUV in the nation. Those days are long gone. Even with massive rebates, Explorer …more

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September 9, 2008

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Ford Expedition

  

  

  A rational purchase for demanding lifestyles.

  As everyday transportation, monstrous sport-utilities will one day be remembered as just another laughable cultural curiosity -- and rightfully so. No matter how far they fade from the mainstream, …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Ford Edge

  

  

  Basically solid, though lacking a real edge.

  Sales of Ford's classic SUVs may be tanking, but the Edge is a safe bet as to where many of its would-be owners are ending up. As Ford's first mid-size, car-based SUV, the wildly popular Edge makes …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan

  

  

  A van with choices.

  It ain't easy being a minivan these days. Sales are down, the players are stronger, and the passing of time has given everyone a chance to copy each other's best features. Things have gotten so …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Dodge Charger

  

  

  A muscle car for the whole family.

  Whatever deserves to be said about the Dodge Magnum -- bold, original, a chance Dodge was right to take -- it was also a major fumble (apparently, nothing can make a station wagon cool). Luckily, …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Dodge Caliber

  

  

  Born from low-caliber ambitions.

  Dodge's decision to replace its long-running Neon with the Caliber seemed strange at the time. After all, why trade a known entity for a no-name car wearing an unfashionable body? So far, however, …more

  Comments (4) |100% of 2 people found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Dodge Avenger

  

  

  Style over substance.

  The Avenger comes to market with at least one major point of distinction: looks. Bold, sharp, and unmistakably a Dodge, the Avenger has a presence that's noticeably absent in today's crop of family …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chrysler Town & Country

  

  

  A van with choices

  It ain't easy being a minivan these days. Sales are down, the players are stronger, and the passing of time has given everyone a chance to copy each other's best features. Things have gotten so …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

  

  

  A stylish ride with a good helping of substance.

  Like the Prowler, the Beetle and the Thunderbird, Chrysler's PT Cruiser is one of those nostalgic-flavored novelty cars that commanded sky-high prices in its early years. Unlike the others, though, …more

  Comments (0) |0% of 1 person found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer

  

  

  A dud since day one.

  Lately, the Chevrolet TrailBlazer's been getting singled out for being the oldest model in its class. That's true, but age is only one of several factors that add up to a wholly unsatisfying SUV. …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet Suburban

  

  

  As big as they come and as good as they get

  SUVs don't get any bigger or more serious than the Suburban. Measuring 222 inches long, this monster Chevy stretches beyond any car, SUV, or minivan on the market, continuing a decades-long tradition …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

  

  

  Competitive and comprehensive.

  V8 engines, monster payloads, big rig styling, and 4-wheel-drive. That used to be all that mattered in a truck -- next to the badge on the hood, of course -- but today's truckers have a much more …more

  Comments (1) |67% of 3 people found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

  

  

  GM's first mainstream home-run.

  What's new for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Redesigned; new model. Everyone knows GM's traditional strategy, right? Take the same handful of mediocre cars, give lightly altered copies to its myriad …more

  Comments (0) |100% of 1 person found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet Impala

  

  

  Decent car, decent deal.

  This is a car with history. From its 1950s roots as a stylish cruiser up through the menacing muscle sedan of the 90s, the Impala made its mark on the world as one of the great classic Chevys. Not …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet HHR

  

  

  A modern take on classic concepts.

  After years of watching the runaway success of Chrysler's PT Cruiser, GM decided to make a retro-themed ride of its own. Dubbed the HHR (for Heritage High Roof), Chevy's creation essentially takes …more

  Comments (1) |0% of 1 person found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox

  

  

  At least it's roomy.

  After many years of serving the cute SUV market with the Suzuki-supplied Tracker, Chevrolet eventually came up with its own product, the Equinox. Though it borrowed its underpinnings from another GM …more

  Comments (0) |0% of 1 person found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet Colorado

  

  

  Outgunned, outclassed, and outright outdone.

  When the Colorado was new in 2004, it got a good deal of praise from the press. After all, it surpassed the Chevy S-10 that preceded it, and all of the rival trucks at the time had grown old and …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt

  

  

  The C-student of the compact class.

  When the time came to replace the not-exactly-lustworthy Chevrolet Cavalier in 2005, GM came up with a clean-sheet design based on an all-new platform, and supposedly poured their hearts and souls …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Buick Lucerne

  

  

  Best reserved for loyalists.

  Most of Buick's customers, currently in their 60s and 70s, grew up driving big domestic cruisers, are brand loyal, and by now have amassed a healthy supply of discretionary income. For them, Buick's …more

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• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Audi A3

  

  

  An unnecessary redundancy.

  With so many Volkswagens and Audis crowding around the same size and price segments, it's easy to get confused on where the Audi A3 fits in. While looking like a stubbier Audi A4 Avant, the A3 …more

  Comments (0) |0% of 1 person found this useful

• Brian Sy reviewed a 2009 Acura RL

  

  

  Great car, if you're not picky about powertrains.

  Remember how everyone used to dog on the original Acura RL of the mid-90s? The critics cried for more power, a different look, and something else besides front-wheel-drive. The RL got all that (and …more

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