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2012 Hyundai Veloster Review

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2012 Hyundai Veloster - 3/4 front view - snowy road MPG-o-Matic 2012 Hyundai Veloster Review Summary: The 2012 Hyundai Veloster hits the sweet spot with style, ride and technology and falls just a wee bit short when it comes to oomph, efficiency and creature comforts. Shortcomings aside, the Veloster is a huge hit in an Eco Sport segment that includes the Chevy Sonic Turbo, Ford Fiesta, Honda CR-Z hybrid, and Fiat 500. Further refinement and more horsepower are due for the Veloster in the 2013 model year for those willing to save a few dollars more and wait.

The Veloster is equipped with a direct-injected 16-valve Dual-CVVT 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 138 horsepower (HP) and 123 foot pounds of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters is optional. A significantly more powerful turbocharged engine is in the works for 2013.

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How to Read OBDII Codes with an iPhone

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Do check engine lights freak you out? Want to know what’s going on before you bring you car into the shop?

Some folks get extremely upset when the Check Engine light comes on in their car. Sometimes it’s a big deal. Sometimes it’s not. What gets people riled up is that they think they have to go back to the dealer to get those codes read. And you know what? That’s not true anymore.

If your car is getting lousy gas mileage and there’s an engine light lit up on the dashboard, take note. Your car may be trying to tell you something. A quick scan can tell you exactly what’s wrong.

Reading error codes is no big deal these days, thankfully. Every vehicle manufactured after 1998 has an On Board Diagnostic (OBD) port under the dash. Anyone can access their vehicle’s OBDII port with the right gear. There’s no need to rely on the dealer or repair shop for a quick scan.

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2012 Kia Rio 5-Door Review

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2012 Kia Rio 5-Door 3/4 Front Profile MPG-o-Matic 2012 Kia Rio Five Door Review Summary: If there’s one word to describe the 2012 Kia Rio 5-door, it’s “value.” In the old days, folks referred to inexpensive fuel-efficient hatchbacks as “economy cars,” and they were spartan and rarely attractive affairs. The Rio turns that notion on its head with an abundance of style and features at a base price starting under $14,000.

The Rio is equipped with a direct-injected DOHC CVVT 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 138 horsepower (HP) and 123 foot pounds of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is only available in the base LX model. A six-speed automatic with overdrive is optional in the LX and standard in both the EX and SX. The automatic transmission features a manual shift mode.

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2012 Mazda3 Skyactiv Review

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2012 Mazda3 Skyactiv - 3/4 front profile MPG-o-Matic 2012 Mazda3 Review Summary: Mazda boldly touts the 2012 Mazda3 Skyactiv as “the first 40 MPG car worth driving.” While that might seem like a lot of hype, it’s not too far off the mark. The Skyactiv3 delivers a class-topping combination of MPGs and driving dynamics.

The new Skyactiv-G engine is offered in the Mazda3’s i Touring and i Grand Touring trim. The direct-injected DOHC VVT 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine produces 155 horsepower (HP) and 148 foot pounds of torque. It’s a solid motor, but the whole Skyactiv story is about more than just the power plant. Mazda’s more conventional 2.0 and 2.5-liter engines continue to be offered in the i SV/i Sport sedan and s Touring/s Grand Touring trim (both sedan and five-door), respectively.

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