Harley-Davidson is nothing if not a manufacturer with a respect for its own heritage and traditions. But the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based motorcycle maker has chosen to break with tradition this year, by introducing two new models in the dead of winter, months earlier than their usual rollout. Fans of the status quo need not be concerned, though, because the breaking of new ground stops with the timing.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall alert for 2012 model year Honda Accord sedans and Honda Crosstour vehicles. The cars may have an air bag inflator that wasn't manufactured to specifications and may fail to deploy the driver's side- or passenger's side air bags during a collision.

The Fiat portfolio will expand next year when the larger, five-door 500L joins the Cinquecento range in the United States. This new model will make its world debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

Toyota is recalling 427 of its RAV4 vehicles from model year 2011 because one or both curtain shield air bags may not deploy due to the inflator potentially not performing properly. In the even of a crash, the air bags may not be able to properly protect an occupant, increasing the risk of injuries.

Heather Peters took on corporate giant Honda in a southern California small-claims court over the fuel economy of her 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. And she won.

With snow a rare sight in southern New England this year, Consumer Reports relied on the good folks at Jay Peak Ski Resort in Vermont (way up near the Canadian border) to provide the frosty conditions necessary to test 71 tire models. Plus, we still need to purchase six additional models, enabling us to evaluate 77 models this year. The tire types being evaluated include regular all-season (S- and T-speed rated) tires, performance all-seasons in H- and V-speed ratings, and winter tires.

Å small number—just over 200—Honda Ridgeline pickup trucks are being recalled by America Honda Motor Co. According to the U.S. National Traffic Highway Safety Administration, those 2011 and 2012 model year pickups have incorrect information regarding their spare tires, which could lead to tire failure and cause a crash.

When the Wrangler was redesigned for its current generation (aka JK), the iconic SUV saw its road test score more than triple. The larger, more powerful Wrangler had joined the 21st-century, though it remained a trail-bred machine lumbering in a world now dominated by civilized crossovers. As Chrysler Corp. has rapidly updated its models on this side of bankruptcy, we were interested to see if the new touches applied to the Wrangler could elevate its standing.

We’ve just completed a preliminary drive of the redesigned 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and on the whole, we came away impressed with this new family sedan. That’s a good thing, for the new Malibu will take on the upcoming redesigned Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima, battling for market share in one of the largest segments.

Toyota has expanded the coveted Prius brand by introducing this larger wagon, and it will soon flank the original Prius hatchback with the introduction of a smaller hybrid, the Prius C. The Prius V certainly seems like a good idea: Take a proven powertrain and fit it to a roomier vehicle, offering current Prius owners a step-up vehicle, well suited to growing families. But does it work? We bought a Prius V “Three Model” ($28,217) to see if Toyota got the formula right, or if it proved to, literally, be too much of a good thing.

At first look - not to mention the second and third - the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is rather appealing. But living with and thoroughly testing the car reveals a lot of flaws.

It’s not often we think of any SUV as being fun to drive. But consider this: The BMW X3 truly fits that description. And seeing as how the original X3 basically invented the upscale sporty compact SUV segment, it’s refreshing that the latest version continues this tradition, while adding functionality.

As people keep their cars longer, oxidation of commonly used plastic headlight lenses is an increasing problem. Oxidation creates a haze that is not only unsightly, but it can also reduce headlight illumination. This dulling happens over time, and it can be a true creeping danger. Fortunately, there are do-it-yourself products available to restore the shine. We recently tested four headlight cleaners to see how they measure up.

A latecomer to the small SUV market, Volkswagen introduced the Tiguan in 2009, after the segment pioneers were well into their third generation. Competing in a popular category that is seeing several key models redesigned, we bought an updated 2012 Tiguan SEL 4Motion to see how it has progressed and chart how it stacks up.

Gas prices are up around the country compared to the week before. The national gasoline average is $.34 above the price this time last year. Diesel fuel is about $.41 above this time last year. Premium fuel is $3.72, up seven cents from last week.