When we think of Jeeps, it conjures up thoughts of freedom, fun and for us, the beach. So it was entirely appropriate that we took a Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4x4 to Myrtle Beach for a quick weekend getaway.

The Renegade is exactly what we wanted. The smallest of the Jeeps, the Renegade, was agile for weaving in and out of traffic and had sharp steering and enough power when we floored it on the highway. And, we looked cool when driving. While we didn’t use the 4x4 capabilities and go off road, we looked that long stretch of beach and imagined taking a spin on the sand. The Renegade’s new look is tall and upright with details that are anything but subtle with a touch of military, a nod to Jeep’s heritage. The headlights feature a seven-bar grille, the wheel arches are large and trapezoid-like and inside the dashboard and console features are large, easy to use and pop out proudly.

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The Prius liftback has a lot more to offer than what you might think at first glance. So Bumper2Bumpertv went back to take a deeper look at the features offered in the top of the line trim package of the hybrid.

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 The Honda Ridgeline truck got a much needed redesign for 2017 including a new trim level. But can it compete in the light duty pickup truck segment? Bumper2Bumpertv has a first look at what it brings to the party.

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 The latest version of the Shelby Cobra GT packs quite a bite with a power plant that redefines performance. Bumper2Bumpertv got an up close and personal view of the iconic vehicle when the Ford Performance tour took their show on the road.

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Infiniti QX50 is a sporty, valued-added Crossover

We always are a bit shocked when we drive an Infiniti. Across the board Infinitis are great cars that handle fantastically and have all the extras that one needs (and wants) in a luxury car. So what’s the problem? The price always shocks us. We expect it to be higher.

Yes, The Infiniti, for a luxury vehicle, crams a lot into a relatively low price. We drove the QX50 V6 RWD for a week and reveled in the warm, rich leather, the hi definition screen that clearly showed us every angle when we backed up and the roomy back seat. And, even with the added options that put an extra $9,000 or so on the price tag, we were still amazed. For $43,535 this car is truly a champagne car for a beer budget.

The QX 50 really is a refined car, especially since its overall length was increased by 4.5 inches resulting in an additional 8.3 cubic feet of interior volume. That is welcomed news for backseat passengers (who benefit from an extra 3.9 inches of knee room) but every inch inside this car feels roomy, welcoming and warm. The maple accents mesh nicely with the steel-like accents and the curves around the dashboard and sides.

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Increasingly trucks are becoming the family car. Yes, they are work horses but a good truck is just a plausible family-toting, dog carrying, sports equipment lugging vehicle as the next. The challenge is finding the right one.

Admittedly, many great trucks are simply too big for Atlanta and its tight roads and parking spaces. Out in the wild blue yonder it would be a different story. So the quest is to find a truck that can report for family duties and be city friendly and, if needed turn into a work horse that can lug and tow with the best of them.

Meet the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X Crew Cab.

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 The Mazda CX9 gets a new top end trim level and some tweaking to the power plant for 2016 as it moves into the premium vehicle world. Bumper2Bumpertv has a look at the crossover and its functionality.

 Volvo , Uber and Ford are moving ahead with plans to make autonomous automobiles a common sight on the roadways. And as Bumper2Bumpertv tells us other auto makers are not sitting by idly as the technology changes.

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 The Tundra half ton truck is trying to compete at the luxury level. Bumper2Bumpertv has a look at the top of the line model named after the ranch which once operated on the land where the truck is assembled in San Antonio.

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One thing that most car guys/gals have in common is that we work on our own stuff. We may grumble about it or put off repairs we know will be a pain, but in the end we buckle down, grab our tools and take care of business. I firmly believe that working with your hands is one of the keys to a long life. But at some point it gets too hard to get under a car to do an oil change, or arthritis makes gripping a wrench almost impossible. The old car guy spirit is willing, but the body could use a rebuild. At this point you must now find someone you trust to do the things that you once did with so much pride. The other week I was that person for an old friend from church, and I was honored...

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