By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

When you start contemplating a mid-sized luxury sedan purchase your first inclination may be to test drive German brands such as the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes E-Class. All are certainly worthy of consideration. But we think — after spending several weeks and hundreds of miles behind the wheel of an all-new 2016 Jaguar XF — that you would be remiss not to also seriously consider the English-built car.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Ford Motor Company is loaded with sport utilities and crossovers ranging from compact to extra large and with two and three rows of seating. You can make your choice from a variety of vehicles, one of the most attractive being the two-row mid-sized Edge completely redesigned in 2015 for the first time since its introduction as a 2007 model.

By David Finkelstein

The 2016 small “city size-cutesy” SUV Jeep Renegade is a vehicle that builds on the Jeep Wrangler’s powerful reputation featuring fresh, new artistic styling and a rugged body design that offers an aggressive yet charming look. It seats five and has a winning combination of best-in-class off road capabilities together with outstanding fuel efficiency on the highway. The approach and departure angles are purposely designed to deliver what Jeep owners demand and certainly welcome.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

If you are looking for an affordable convertible that can carry four adults in a smattering of luxury and a measure of comfort take note. While the Chrysler Sebring and Toyota Solaria drop tops served the purpose of offering four-passenger open-air transportation for more than a decade, there's currently a void in that segment.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Despite the problems Volkswagen now faces with its diesel engine emission scandal, which will end up costing the German company billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of near-term vehicle sales, it actually has nothing to do with the modern diesel engine. The newer, clean diesels now showing up on a variety of vehicles in North America offer exceptional fuel mileage without the need for hyper-milling, and with exceptional torque ratings increasing the towing capability of trucks and SUVs.

By David Finkelstein

Developers take a lot into consideration when thinking through a workable formula when considering the building blocks for an exciting new automobile. Considerations include giving it a modern flair, adding a touch of cutesy, raising the bar when it comes to style, giving it spirited acceleration with notable fuel mileage, placing the level of safety high on the engineering list and positioning it with an attractive price point.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The old adage "old soldiers never die, they just fade away" could be aptly applied to the Nissan Frontier mid-sized pickup. The current Frontier has been on the market since 2005 with few changes, an eternity in the ever-changing automotive landscape.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We found the sub-compact 2016 Mazda CX-3 crossover an appealing little hatchback for a variety of reasons not the least of which is its cornering and handling attributes, displaying a remarkable composure on the twists and turns with a precision steering feel more like a small sporty car than a family crossover.