Automobiles

The 2011 Toyota Avalon arrived at dealerships last year boasting a brand new, sophisticated design. The 2012 model retains last years' elegant look, while also delivering performance and fuel economy - a trio of features that can be difficult to find in a full-size sedan.

Available in two grades - Avalon and Avalon Limited – both 2012 models come well-equipped with leather-trimmed interior, eight-way power driver's seat, back-up camera, dual zone automatic climate control with air filtration, moonroof and 17-inch alloy wheels. Both models also come with a standard full-size spare tire on an alloy wheel -- a rare find in any segment. The Avalon Limited adds in heated and cooled front seats, an eight-way front passenger's seat with lumbar support, driver's seat cushion extension, rain-sensing windshield wipers and Smart Key. But that's not all. The Limited also includes HID, chrome outer door handles (versus color-keyed), outer mirrors have memory and puddle lamps, memory driver's seat and wood-grained steering wheel/shift knob/rear armrest box lid.

The Avalon grade can be upgraded with a JBL Synthesis sound system and heated front seats, and Navigation is an option for both Limited and Avalon grades. Base grade options also include memory package (outer mirrors and driver's seat.) Base grade customers can choose to get heated seats alone, or with memory package.Read more

A growing number of iPhone apps are helping drivers keep better track of service and maintenance records for their cars, according to Edmunds.com.

"These new smartphone apps are offering a convenient alternative to the clutter of oil-stained paperwork that drivers packed into their gloveboxes for so many years," says Doug Newcomb, senior technology editor at Edmunds.com. "Not only do the apps keep users on top of their maintenance schedules, but they also keep tabs on operating costs, which helps car owners manage their automotive budgets more effectively."

Edmunds.com tested and recommended four of these inexpensive apps, which range in price from 99 cents to $2.99:

Car Minder Plus ($2.99) – This app stands out by featuring all the essentials, including logging repairs, tracking fuel economy and keeping the maintenance records of multiple vehicles.

Car Care ($2.99) – The most impressive aspect of this app is "Vehicle Stats," which gives comprehensive data including average and total fuel costs, fuel economy, service costs per mile and even the user’s carbon footprint

Car Maintenance]($1.99) – The app consists of bare-bones iPhone list menus, so there's essentially no learning curve. Enter the vehicle info: make, model, year, license, VIN and mileage and you're on your way. Read more

Less than 11% of car owners plan to limit mileage on their primary vehicle to fewer than 75k miles, with the vast majority (68%) planning to drive that vehicle for 150k miles or more, according to a recent AutoMD.com survey(1). Meanwhile, strained new vehicle inventory and a challenging economy have inspired more and more consumers to turn to used vehicles, which all adds up to a lot of older metal driving up and down our highways.

So, what should owners of these increasingly aged, high-mileage vehicles do to make sure those vehicles continue to run smoothly and last longer? And, for those jumping into the used market, what should they look for BEFORE they purchase to make sure that high-miler will give them plenty more miles? Read more

As gas prices threaten to tick past $4 per gallon, Edmunds.com debunks popular gas price myths and offers some reasonable steps every driver can take to ease the pain at the pump in a new report.

Gas price myths:

• Rising gas prices are forcing families into bankruptcy. Edmunds.com looked at a hypothetical household earning $50,000 a year with two cars: an around-town hauler (larger SUV) and a commuter car for getting to and from work (a smaller more fuel-efficient vehicle). At $3.00 per gallon, annual fuel costs for this household comes to about 7 percent of the total household income, or about $3,500. At $4.00 a gallon, that proportion moves up only slightly to 9 percent of the household income, or about $4,500. "In short," says Reed, "if this family were to go bankrupt, steep gas prices would not be the main reason."

• Trading in an SUV for a hybrid will save a lot of money. This is a knee-jerk reaction that often proves to be a financial misstep. Say that your SUV has a $10,000 trade-in value while your new hybrid costs $25,000. It could take over 8 years to make up the $15,000 balance in gas savings. Of course, every situation is unique, so Edmunds.com offers a Gas-Guzzler Trade-In calculator at www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html to help you better understand whether trading in for a more fuel-efficient new car makes sense. Read more

Long recognized as one of the best mid-range luxury cars on the market, the BMW 5 Series has earned countless "Car of the Year" awards. The rich history of BMW's "bread and butter" model gives new generations much to live up to – and the sixth generation 5 Series rises to the challenge.

Its body stays true to BMW's classy, yet modern, design. No over-the-top flares, arches, or air vents on this sedan; it's all business. It is sure to turn heads with its aggressive styling curves and bold front, even as it carries traces of Chris Bangle's original hump-in-the-trunk. Rather than diverging drastically from the proven luxury sedan design, BMW relies on subtlety: Click "unlock" and "angel eye" rings glow above the headlights; tiny LED lights in the exterior door handles illuminate. Read more

Hyundai has made amazing progress as an automobile manufacturer. In just a few short years, the company has gone from being the punch line of jokes to the maker of well-respected, high quality, award-winning vehicles. It took the Japanese auto manufacturers many years to accomplish what Hyundai has achieved in relatively few.

The 2011 Hyundai Equus is one of the most interesting cars I have driven in quite a while. Hyundai's goal is to emulate what Toyota did with its Lexus brand: build a car that can compete with the likes of Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguar, etc., yet cost considerably less upon introduction. Toyota succeeded with this formula in 1990 with Lexus, which is now often considered the benchmark of quality. Now it's Hyundai's turn to try to duplicate Toyota's feat.Read more