By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The 2015 Toyota 4Runner feels exactly like you would expect a body-on-frame truck to feel — very truck-like. In fact, the 4Runner is one of the few sport utility vehicles left that harkens back to the 1990s possessing loads of utility including considerable off-road prowess. The two other contemporary vehicles in direct competition with the 4Runner that come immediately to mind are the Jeep Wrangler and Nissan Xterra.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

When Nissan introduced its first crossover more than a decade ago it stormed into the market with a flashy, aerodynamic design penned in its North American studios. The 2003 Murano broke new styling ground with a rounded eye-catching appearance that looked ahead of its time. The design has aged well through two generations, but even with some significant updates, it has become dated.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Has Toyota been hearing giant footsteps gaining on them, feeling the hot breath of segment competitors as they gain ground on the perennial best-selling mid-size Camry sedan? We ask this question because the lifecycle of most Toyota vehicles, including the Camry, is five to six years with only mild mid-cycle refreshes. Yet the current-generation Camry — only in the third year of its cycle — has been criticized for falling behind in styling, performance and personality, has been endowed with major updates for 2015 including new exterior styling, improved handling, and better interior materials.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Chevrolet's goal was to leapfrog the competition with its all-new 2015 Colorado mid-sized pickup. Actually that's not such a lofty goal. There are only two major players left in the shrinking segment — the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier — and neither have undergone any significant upgrades in nearly a decade.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The Infiniti Q50 (formally known as the G37) is a good example of how to improve an already first-class mid-sized luxury sedan enhancing the car's driving behavior, modernizing exterior and interior styling, and adding cutting-edge technology and safety features taken to the next level.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

There's been much hype during the past year over the all-new version of the iconic pony car, and the flood of superlatives over the 2015 Ford Mustang are mostly true. This sixth-generation Mustang, now in its 50th year of production, is, indeed, the best Mustang ever.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Luxury automakers have been answering a question that seemingly nobody had asked, pushing ahead with an incongruous design called the SUV crossover coupe. This is proof that you can call anything a coupe, even a high-riding fastback four-door hatchback. And it's further proof that in today's wacky world of automobiles you can call anything an SUV.