By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Even though its last complete makeover occurred four years ago, the large Infiniti QX80 luxury sport utility vehicle has many attributes that continue to please buyers in the market for large, comfortable people movers that can haul a lot of cargo and tow big toys. Look no further than the 2015 J.D. Powers APEAL Awards — a ranking of what owners find most appealing — for proof. The QX80 was ranked the top Large Premium SUV among a field of "big" stars.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

As the small family crossover segment heats up, the Volkswagen Tiguan — despite the lack of a major redesign since its inception in 2009 — remains very relevant and a solid competitor against both the new breed of sub-compacts and compacts in both the mainstream and entry luxury segments.

By David Finkelstein

Have you ever noticed that the more sophisticated the vehicle is, the owners manual comes out to be larger in size with more pages to go over? Well, when it comes to a “sophisticated automobiles” Lexus comes to mind and as expected, the owners operating manual is quite beefy.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Regal GS has lost some of its luster within the Buick ranks, but it still remains the hard-edged driver's car that brings European-like performance to the General Motors brand. It's not that the GS has actually lost anything — in fact, it has gained even more competence with the addition of an optional all-wheel drive system — it's just that Buick has elected to put the same performance-happy turbocharged four-cylinder engine in nearly all of its Regals.

By David Finkelstein

Competing in the emerging sub-compact/specialty SUV segment for 2015 is the all new and versatile Chevrolet Trax. It's packed with welcomed technology making it a smart choice for first-time buyers seeking an entry level vehicle at an attractive price point. The base MSRP is $21,870 including destination charge for the LS trim configuration.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Volvo has endowed a version of its excellent V60 luxury mid-sized wagon with 2.6 inches of additional ground clearance, added front and rear skid plates, included standard equipment roof rails, and made all-wheel drive standard equipment. Presto! Now we have the 2015 V60 T5 AWD Cross Country for those among us who are forced to handle nasty winter weather or who want a more traditional wagon with the capabilities of a crossover to tackle light-duty off-roading.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Perhaps the new 2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco is mislabeled. Yes there's an element of "Eco" — as in economical — to the new model, but we also discovered more than a hint of performance from the rather unique combination of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

By David Finkelstein

A recent road test of the 2015 Challenger coupe certainly helps to cement ones thoughts that Dodge is clearly the leader with performance-oriented vehicles stateside. The Challenger is positioned up against the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro as candidates likely cross-shopped in this specialty class of two door, rear wheel drive automobiles.

By David Finkelstein

The Jeep Wrangler now has a wider appeal due to a long list of factory options and build combinations for the 2015 model year. It's still positioned as one of the most capable and recognized vehicles on the globe, but Jeep marketing has suggested that the 2015 version offers even more — the allure of open-air driving freedom, off-road capability and on-road refinement. This has thrust Jeep Wrangler’s notable popularity to an all-time high.

Manufactured at its Toledo, Ohio, assembly facility, the Wrangler is offered in a number of appealing body styles that are sure to appeal to wide customer base.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Minivan sales peaked around the turn of the century and have been steadily retreating for more than a decade in the face of formidable competition from sport utility crossovers. Over the years, Ford and General Motors ceased building the people movers as Chrysler — and to a lesser extent — Honda and Toyota gained domination of the remainder of the market.