By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We like sedans, particularly mid-sized sedans that offer just-right five-passenger size, useful cargo space, decent handling and performance, affordable gas mileage, family friendly prices (compared to crossovers), and pleasing styling. We are thankful that there are a few mostly Japanese companies who continue to advance sedan design despite American automakers’ best efforts to totally eliminate them from the marketplace. Nissan is one of the companies that has not given up on sedans. Nissan officials say studies show that Gen Z and Gen Y buyers still favor sedans over crossovers.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

While the popular BMW 3 Series has grown bigger and more expensive over the years, the German company known for its "ultimate driving machine" has filled the space once occupied decades ago by a smaller 3 Series with the compact 2 Series giving buyers the opportunity to purchase a smaller point-and-shoot fun-to-drive car.

Sold as a coupe or convertible, the 2 Series has been on the market since 2014 and now comes in two standard formats — the 230i with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and the M240i with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder making 335 horsepower and 396 pound-feet of torque.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Step back in time when the family sport utility vehicle — now known as a crossover utility — was built on a body-on-frame truck platform, was loaded with interior plastic, usually came with a spacious cargo area but tight rear-seat accommodations, and tended to wander on the road without constant inputs from the driver. You can have much of that same experience today at your neighborhood Toyota store. Ask for a test drive in a 2019 4Runner.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Usually our time spent researching all aspects of a vehicle including test driving in all sorts of situations from heavy city traffic to winding mountain roads is a rewarding — and revealing — experience. But there are exceptions. One of those exceptions was piloting a 2019 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty dually with an eight-foot bed through crowded city streets and into restaurant and mall parking lots. It was a white knuckle experience.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

With sedans and coupes all but gone from the Ford lineup — Mustang being the lone exception — Ford's performance team has no choice but to work their magic on SUVs, crossovers and trucks. Meet the 2019 Ford Edge ST, which replaces the Sport in the Edge lineup, and becomes the first ST-tuned Ford crossover. This is one very fast — for a mainstream crossover — vehicle, but it falls short if you are looking for a true replacement for ST-tuned cars.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Traditional sedans have been caught up in a massive avalanche of crossover SUV sales that threaten to all but eliminate the conventional passenger car from the North American marketplace. But take heart sedan lovers, there are still some very interesting and pleasing choices available if you look in the right places.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Many things have changed in the two decades plus since that initial RAV4, not least the RAV4 itself, which enters its fifth generation with the 2019 model. It reinvents itself with a bigger, more fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine; a more rugged appearance especially with the Adventure trim level; more driver assist technology; and with a new hybrid powertrain that feels quicker than the gas-only version.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We liked the all-new 2019 Hyundai Veloster when we tested it a few months back with its upgraded styling inside and out, sport-tuned suspension, a larger cargo area than the previous iteration, and a very healthy 201-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. And now we are pleased to report that Hyundai has taken it up another notch becoming the first American car to get the company's performance N treatment.