Biography
Jim Mateja became the Chicago Tribune's automotive writer in 1970, three years after joining the paper the day after graduating from Western ...
Jim Mateja
Cash is king for boomer car buyers
January 8, 2013
When your first job dictated a cheapo economy car, you survived having to commute in a compact bucket of bolts. You lived through the humiliation of the station wagon when the kids came along, and escaped with only minor wounds when you graduated to the minivan.
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Certified pre-owned: More than a used car
June 30, 2011
When is buying a certified pre-owned car the right thing for you? To decide, you first need to understand the differences among used cars.
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Car leasing tips: How leasing a car has changed
September 18, 2010
Domestic automakers' financial subsidiaries have cut back their leasing programs, thanks in large part to lower used-vehicle values, especially for big pickups and SUVs that gulp gas.
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9 questions and answers for the road
April 27, 2010
This Letters column first appeared when something was needed to fill a last-minute hole on the auto page (succeeded by Transportation and, now, Rides). Meant as a one-time filler, readers saw it as an invitation to write more, and that they did, including one letter retrieved from the cigar box it has been stored in for almost four decades. Since this is the last Letters column, had to get it in:
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Hyundai's latest success story
April 26, 2010
If anyone can appreciate how Toyota feels, it's Hyundai, whose little $4,000 Excel set a first-year sales record in the mid-'80s before quality issues swept Hyundai from penthouse to outhouse.
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Cute, cost-conscious Kia Forte Koup
March 18, 2010
With a nip here, a tuck there, Kia transformed its staid Spectra into a larger sedan catering to older motorists looking for fashionable styling and a roomy, comfortable cabin that they can slip into without taking a deep breath.
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Revamped 2010 Nissan Altima retains good looks, affordability
March 4, 2010
A variety of vehicles have enjoyed their day in the sun: Wagons until they gave way to minivans, which gave way to SUVs, which bowed to crossovers.
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BMW 550i Gran Turismo blends attitude with luxury
February 25, 2010
It's called a "refined, elegant SAV," which in BMW speak means a sports-activity vehicle with an attitude toward luxury and performance.
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Addition of Mazda5 not a plus for lineup
February 18, 2010
Mazda had a great idea — to create a smaller, higher-mileage, affordable vehicle called the Mazda5 with three rows of seats for those folks getting out of larger, lower-mileage and pricey SUVs.
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Raft of upgrades paired with lower cost give Cadillac SRX a major boost
February 11, 2010
Cadillac's chances of deposing the king of luxury crossovers is a lot better now that consumers, the media and even the government have taken to labeling Toyota as a villain, the role those same consumers, media and government bestowed on General Motors the last few years.
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Bigger, better Subaru Outback a few tweaks light
February 7, 2010
The Subaru Outback has come thisclose to getting it right.
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Acura ZDX loaded with luxury
January 28, 2010
Acura waved the magic wand and turned a sport ute into a sedan.
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Volkswagen GTI appeals to fast crowd
January 19, 2010
The Volkswagen GTI is an acquired taste, like skydiving, bronco riding, sword swallowing or watching the Cubs and Bears.
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4Runner beast burdened by weight
January 15, 2010
It's been 25 years since Toyota added a truck-based 4Runner sport utility to take on the domestics.
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Honda keeping upscale in-house
January 10, 2010
An upscale Honda Accord.
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Nothing fancy about 2010 Ford Transit Connect, but it does what it needs to
January 3, 2010
Quiet?
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4-door Panamera is still all Porsche
December 27, 2009
Many years ago, a novelty was hidden in the bowels of the original McCormick Place for Chicago Auto Show visitors to find: a weird four-door Chevrolet Corvette. Even weirder is why anyone would do such a thing.
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Kia Sorento of the future coming soon
December 20, 2009
Call it the United Nations of crossovers.
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GMC Terrain mostly smooth, with a few rough spots
December 13, 2009
The Chevy Equinox is selling as fast as the trucks arrive, and General Motors hopes its cousin GMC Terrain will have similar success.
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Lincoln MKT's parking ease on new plane
December 6, 2009
If the U.S. runs 18.6 gallons short of gas this year, blame this scribe.
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Wagon ho! Cadillac going off on new trail with CTS Sport Wagon
November 29, 2009
The midsize CTS helped ignite the rebirth of Cadillac, with its dynamic design and good appointments.
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Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS get a needed boost
November 22, 2009
Ford Motor Co., has a solution for those who like the Taurus and Lincoln MKS but would be happier if the sedans could motor from the light at full speed.
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E coupe a near coup for Mercedes
November 15, 2009
With the auto industry undergoing an overhaul, it is a good time to freshen product lines.
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Audi A5 cabriolet turns up the heat
November 8, 2009
It will warm back or butt like many others, but what sets the Audi A5 cabriolet apart is that it will warm your melon as well.
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Entry-level Lexus IS carries hefty fee
November 1, 2009
The Lexus IS sedan gets a sib for 2010, a retractable hardtop version that gives the luxury automaker an entry-level coupe and convertible for the first time.
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Jaguar XFR: An $80,000, high-performance missile
October 25, 2009
Piloting a machine powered by a supercharged 5-liter, 510-horsepower V-8 able to burst from a standing stop to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph, won't win over many, if any, environmentalists.
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Suzuki Kizashi is big on excitement, accessories
October 18, 2009
Kizashi!
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Hyundai Genesis coupe gets off to stylish start, but a little short on legroom, trunk space
October 11, 2009
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan surprised many when it captured the North American Car of the Year award from the nation's automotive wordsmiths.
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A better Legacy for Subaru buyers
October 4, 2009
All you have to do is ask.
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Lexus HS250h saves gas costs for those who can easily afford to buy it
September 27, 2009
In its quest to "minimize emissions and maximize mileage," Lexus is offering its first 4-cylinder econocar for the well-heeled, the 2010 HS250h.
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10 for '10: Cars to watch
September 27, 2009
General Motors and Chrysler filed for bankruptcy even after borrowing billions from the government to keep the lights on.Then the same government paid consumers up to $4,500 to swap their clunker for a new car.
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Lexus LX570 has it all, for a price
September 20, 2009
It can pilot the family on the open road or climb a hill and ford a stream, while cooling a couple cans of pop and a sub sandwich for either.
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LaCrosse leading off new Buick lineup
September 13, 2009
General Motors' cupboards aren't bare.
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Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: Long live the King
September 6, 2009
Centuries from now when archeologists unearth the remains of this civilization, we hope among the countless Prius statues they will find at least one 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
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Nissan Cube aims at young buyers from right angle
August 23, 2009
Move over, Aztek. You've lost the ugly crown to the Cube.
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Mustang slow out of gate
August 16, 2009
Chevy Camaro made its long-awaited return for the 2010 model year, prompting Ford to tweak Mustang. Who says you can't teach a 45-year-old pony new tricks?
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Bigger and better is Kia's Forte
August 9, 2009
A wave of the magic wand, and the compact Spectra sedan is replaced by the longer, wider, beefier Forte.
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Taurus redo aims to recapture early success
August 2, 2009
Taurus captivated the public with its weird styling when introduced for 1986 and captured the auto sales crown from the Honda Accord.
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2 for the road from Pontiac
July 30, 2009
Pontiac came so close to getting its act together.
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Chevy Equinox offers balance of luxury, mileage
July 19, 2009
The midsize TrailBlazer had to go. And take its 12 to 14 m.p.g. city and 16 to 20 highway mileage, depending on the model, with it.
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Fusion hybrid a solid meld of green technology and performance
July 12, 2009
Ford sometimes fails to deliver on the hype.
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Free-spirited Mini Cooper S convertible a joy ride
July 5, 2009
We've found that not only is the Mini cute and cuddly, but also that its owners will come back carried on their shields defending the coupe made by BMW.
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2009 New Car Best Buys
June 28, 2009
The economy is in the dumper, jobs and mortgages are in jeopardy, and there's doubt about how many automakers will survive.
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Improvements keep Prius as the hybrid to beat
June 28, 2009
The Toyota Prius that debuted in the U.S. in the 2001 model year has become the nation's best-selling hybrid.
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Aston Martin or Rolls? It's Dad's choice
June 21, 2009
What better once-a-year salute to dads than a pair of once-in-a-lifetime machines: the Aston Martin DB9 Volante and the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
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Grand Caravan remains a minivan for the ages
June 14, 2009
I will never forget the look on Lee Iacocca's face when the Chrysler chairman strolled into McCormick Place for the 1984 Chicago Auto Show, spotted the truck-like rear-wheel-drive Chevy Astro and Ford Aerostar rivals to his car-like front-wheel-drive Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager and broke a broad smile that lifted his glasses off his nose.
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Lexus still has RX for crossovers
June 7, 2009
The funny-looking Toyota concept Sport Luxury Vehicle bowed at the 1997 Chicago Auto Show as an alternative to the station wagon and minivan.
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Sprinter fashioned for extended uses
May 3, 2009
To some, like the politically correct police, an eight-passenger Chevy Suburban or Ford Expedition SUV is too big.
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Hi-yo, Silverado: Hybrid a way to save gas
April 26, 2009
You can carry 240 cans of pop on ice in the walls of the Dodge Ram pickup.
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Kia baring its Soul before youthful carbuyers
April 19, 2009
When piloting the 2010 Chevy Camaro sport coupe through the Detroit 'burbs, jaws dropped, eyes popped and one loyalist was so moved he broke into a gallop to try to catch up with it for a closer look.
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BMW 335 diesel delivers power, range without raising a stink
April 12, 2009
When putting fuel-efficient vehicles on a shopping list, most wouldn't mark down any BMWs, which are better known for 0-to-60-m.p.h. performance than for sipping liquid energy.
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Porsche 911 Carrera a guilty pleasure
April 5, 2009
Tired of all the dreary news?
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Camaro-o-h-h-h: Coupe hits showrooms
March 22, 2009
PLYMOUTH, Mich.—Three years since the concept bowed at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, the Camaro coupe hits showrooms this week.
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BMW wagon's power, perks come at a price
March 15, 2009
Most automakers turned to SUVs and crossovers to carry a load of people and their possessions because most people want a machine far more stylish than a station wagon.
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Bigger A4 not better in every way
March 8, 2009
Audi followed the accepted formula in redesigning its compact A4 sedan.
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Suzuki packs a lot in little SX4 crossover
March 1, 2009
Suzuki is a bit player on the auto industry stage.
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Even non-hybrid Fusion a pleasant diversion
February 22, 2009
The 2010 Ford Fusion offers all the flavors.
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Make room for Patriot—by fiat
February 15, 2009
General Motors and Chrysler failed to march to the altar, so Chrysler is now holding hands with Fiat.
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Neither mud nor gravel nor snow will stop LR2
February 8, 2009
Before turning to Washington, Ford turned to India for help.
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Roughneck Wrangler opens 2 more doors to adventure
February 1, 2009
If there was any doubt a four-door Jeep Wrangler makes sense, you need only look at the numbers.
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Vanilla Equator stands out in name only
January 25, 2009
The obvious question is why Suzuki added a midsize pickup for 2009 when trucks are losing favor.
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Arguments for H3T piling up
January 18, 2009
It wasn't until the snow topped 14 inches that Ma Nature took a nap and let mortals undo the damage.
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TL joins Acura's AWD charge
January 11, 2009
The flagship Acura RL sedan now has an all-wheel-drive companion for 2009: the midsize TL sedan that adds AWD for security when roads are wet and snowy and sure-footedness when they're dry.
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Toyota says sedan; we say Lexus light
January 4, 2009
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it still could be a pheasant, maybe a lion, if you adhere to the gospel of Toyota.
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Unearthing the secrets of the Matrix
December 28, 2008
The Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe are fraternal twins, basically the same car with different looking skin.
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Distinctive Murano now incredible bulk
December 21, 2008
If events of the last several months have taught automakers anything, one should be that big no longer is better.
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6 degrees of zoom, zoom from top-of-the-line Mazda sedan
December 14, 2008
Within an hour of taking to the road in the 2009 Mazda6, we were stopped by a 20 something and then a 50 something, both asking whether it behaved as good as it looked.
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Mercedes singing the BlueTEC with ML
December 7, 2008
Now that the petroleum industry has cleaned up its act, the auto industry has, too.
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Pontiac builds m.p.g. excitement
November 30, 2008
Pontiac has trouble deciding what it wants to be when it grows up.
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Kia goes truckin' with V-8 Borrego
November 16, 2008
Another in the growing list of nameplates offering three rows of seats to hold Dad and Mom, their kids plus someone else's.
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Zippy, thrifty Escape hybrid is truly politically correct
November 9, 2008
Why would President-elect Barack Obama trade in his sporty and luxurious, Hemi-powered Chrysler 300C on a 4-cylinder and battery Ford Escape hybrid compact SUV?
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Acura weds luxury and economy in TSX
October 26, 2008
The host of first-class amenities from power moonroof to leather heated seats to automatic climate control leaves no doubt that the Acura TSX is a luxury car.
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GM traverses crossover gap at Chevy
September 14, 2008
Gas at $2 a gallon is gone forever, and with it the best years for mid- and full-size SUVs.
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Electronic wizardry comes standard on 2009 Acura RL
August 31, 2008
If you want to know what the weather will be three days from now or whether there's an accident three blocks from here, the 2009 Acura RL is at your service.
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Genesis of a luxury car from Hyundai
August 24, 2008
Hyundai first made a name for itself in the U.S. in 1986 with a subcompact $4,995 Excel. After some fits and starts, Hyundai is ready to go upscale with a full-size $40,000 Genesis flagship for 2009.
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Unyielding Pilot running on all 3, 4, 6 cylinders
August 17, 2008
When a vehicle controls the number of cylinders in use based on its need for more or less power, you'd think the automaker would shout it from the highest mountain—especially with gas prices rising like CEO salaries.
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At long last, a hybrid from Chrysler
August 10, 2008
Better late than never?
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Redesigned Prius can arrive none too soon
August 3, 2008
A motorist turns off the engine to coast the final block home.
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Love/hate Flex hides many charms
July 27, 2008
Déjà vu all over again.
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What do you get when you cross tiger, iguana?
July 20, 2008
Don't ever let Volkswagen name one of your kids.
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MKS gives luxury a voice at Lincoln
July 13, 2008
Lincoln has launched a new flagship: the 2009 MKS.
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Ta-ta to Ford, hello winsome Jaguar
June 15, 2008
The time spent feeling sorry for Tata lasted only as long as it took to stroll around the 2009 Jaguar XF much less before slipping onto the sumptuous leather seats and watching the gearshift dial rise from the center console.
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Corolla at 40: A little wider, more solid
June 8, 2008
The Toyota Corolla has survived more than 40 years since its 1968 U.S. debut.
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No rushing the Chevy Volt
June 1, 2008
Q: Any news on General Motors battery-powered Chevy Volt? It seems that with gas at more than $4 a gallon, GM would be rushing this technology along. The car sounds promising.
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Strange BMW straight out of X-Files
June 1, 2008
The BMW X6 looks like a military weapon, with a front end that appears ready to take a chomp out of anything that gets in its way.
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It's no use skipping dealer
May 25, 2008
Q: Any advice or information on non-traditional methods to buy a new vehicle to save some money rather than just going to a dealer? How about buying on eBay or buying in Wisconsin rather than Illinois?
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Hood ornament can be an upfront sight for sore eyes
May 18, 2008
Q: I'm looking for a new compact and recently road tested two popular, highly recommended examples. Both had a lot going for them but came up short when I couldn't see any of the front of the car. No matter how I adjusted the seats or my neck, no car to be seen. Is this safe? I guess it doesn't bother others, but it bothers me. Am I nuts?
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Diesel doesn't add up at today's prices
May 11, 2008
Q: Wake up. You said diesels are smelly and noisy but they aren't smelly or noisy anymore.
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Sold cars listed online create a tangled Web
May 4, 2008
Q: I recently searched for a certified used Toyota via the Internet and found one at a suburban dealership. I e-mailed the Internet sales manager; he wrote back that the vehicle was in great shape and asked whether I'd like to see it. I said I'd be there that night. When I arrived the contact told me to wait in his office while he got the van to test drive. He returned to say the vehicle was sold the day before.
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Child safety locks good way to close the gap
April 20, 2008
Q: My daughter has a 2000 Ford Expedition SUV and drops her kids off here often. Our driveway has a slight incline to the garage. When the kids open their back-seat doors, there is a gap between the door and the pillar. This is an open space through which our grandkids stick their heads to wave hello. The doors are heavy and could close on their arms or necks. Is there an easy fix? Is there a piece of plastic webbing that could be attached with a few screws?
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Oh, baby, 1-Series is (sm)all BMW
April 13, 2008
A baby Bimmer.
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Mitsubishi's gallant effort comes up short
April 5, 2008
Sometimes it takes more than a pretty face and shapely body to attract attention—at least in the auto industry.
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A curious, but satisfying, Journey
March 2, 2008
Journey is the first midsize crossover in the Dodge family. Its recent arrival in showrooms is driven largely by estimates that sales of the car-based sport-utilities are expected to top 1.2 million by the end of 2009.
