The CarGurus Blog

Daily coverage of the world of cars.

Foreign Cars

Has Hyundai Built the First True 3 Series Killer?

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Everyone wants a piece of the BMW 3 Series.

The legendary car has been in the U.S. since the 1970s, but reached its pinnacle in the 1990s, which has propelled the car all way into the 21st century with little competition to worry about.

Notice that I didn’t say with little competition. I said, “little competition to worry about.”

Automakers from Audi to Mercedes-Benz and Lexus to Jaguar have fielded competitors to the mighty 3, but none have outshined the Ultimate Driving Machine.

In test after test, the BMW has reigned supreme over other luxury compact sedans. Now, though, the Germans might have reason to start looking over their figurative shoulders, because there’s a Hyundai in the rear-view. Continue reading >>>

Toyota Ups Performance with Gazoo

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If you needed a car for reliable transportation and practical usability, and you didn’t care much for driving dynamics or performance, which brand would you choose?

One of the first to come to mind might be Toyota.

The automaker’s reputation for quality and reliability is legendary. Its design, however, has leaned toward the bland, while performance has been perfectly calibrated to handle any speed limit America could throw at it. Practical, but not exhilarating.

That could change with the introduction of the Gazoo Racing Series. Continue reading >>>

Will the Tesla Model 3 Kill Off the BMW 3 Series?


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Tesla has very high hopes for its midsize Model 3 sedan.

It doesn’t just hope to survive and sell enough copies to make the investment worth it—the electric carmaker plans to revolutionize the auto business by selling a hundred thousand or so every year.

That’s a lofty goal. All of those sales would have to come from somewhere… and the BMW 3 Series could be the sacrificial lamb. In fact, one investor believes sales of the 3 Series could “go to zero.” Continue reading >>>

How Much Do You Love Kia’s Design Right Now?

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My disdain for their logo aside, Kia’s design has evolved into one of the most head-turning and appealing shapes on the road today.

How many times per day does a Kia make you do a double-take? There’s the strong and sporty stance of the upcoming Stinger, the grand K900, the stout and strong Sorento, and just about anything else wearing that oval travesty of a Kia logo.

I can’t think of another affordable automaker with looks as consistently good as Kia’s. In fact, I would place it right up there with Audi in terms of design, which makes sense considering the company’s lead designer made a name for himself with the German automaker before being wooed by the South Koreans.

And if Kia’s design wasn’t good enough already, another jaw-dropping concept is on the horizon. Will it go into production? Continue reading >>>

Alfa Romeo Outsells Volvo and Jaguar

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Coeur d’ Alene is a small sleepy city in north Idaho with a population of about 50,000 people. It’s nestled between mountains and a large alpine lake and serves as a summer playground for boating enthusiasts and a winter wonderland for ski bunnies. Its downtown is lined with mom-and-pop shops and locally owned restaurants.

Not much happens in Coeur d’ Alene, but it’s a popular escape from the crowds of Southern California and Western Washington. Aside from the mansions lining the lake, there’s no real indication that Coeur d’ Alene is a city with money. In fact, driving through town suggests quite the opposite.

So you can imagine my surprise when I drove by a dealership, in a part of town surrounded by convenience stores and fast-food joints, lined with row after row of Maseratis and Alfa Romeos.

You know those large Toyota dealers in big urban areas that are packed with acres of cars? That’s how this dealership looked. It was an exceptionally out-of-place sight and left me wondering why all those cars are there and who’s buying them.

I looked to Google for the answer. Continue reading >>>