The X Factor: The 2017 Fiat 500X Trekking FWD

The 2017 Fiat 500X Trekking.

A couple of years ago, the Phoenix Bureau reviewed the Fiat 500X, in Pop trim.  We're here to say that review pretty much nailed it.  Whatever your pre-conceptions of the Fiat 500X, if you haven't driven it, you're probably wrong.

An Offer We Can't Refuse: The 2017 Hyundai Elantra Value Edition

2017 Hyundai Elantra.

There's no denying we here at TireKicker are big fans of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra.  Since its introduction as a very early 2017 model in early 2016, we've been impressed by the handling and agility of this compact sedan...so much so that we've not even blinked at the $27,710 bottom line of a loaded Hyundai Elantra Limited or at the $25,010 tab for the 201-horsepower Elantra Sport.

But now, Hyundai's gone and done it...sweetening the deal with a best-of-most-worlds model called the Value Edition that starts with a low one-price-no-options-beyond-floormats number, then immediately carves four figures off of that with an "Elantra Value Edition Standard Equipment Discount".

The Time May Be Right: The 2017 Kia Cadenza Limited

The 2017 Kia Cadenza Limited.

Three years ago, Kia launched the new-for-2014 Cadenza.  The ad campaign called the car "impossible to ignore".  Car shoppers managed.  I can't find the '14 sales figures, but in 2015, they sold all of 7,343 of them, which puts it in Buick Cascada territory.  2016 was worse, with sales down to 4,738, which makes it the 225th best selling car in America (the list only goes to 298), outselling the Porsche Panamera but running behind its similarly targeted cousin, the Hyundai Azera.

Part of the problem, as I wrote at the time, was that Kia was promoting the '14 Cadenza as a luxury car when, in fact, what they'd built was a very good full-size family sedan with several features usually found on more upscale cars.  Commendable, especially at $35,100, but not a luxury car.  Even with another six grand-plus worth of options that took the bottom line to $41,900.