On a quiet side street, a driver easing a vintage hatchback into a tight parking space wrestles the wheel with both hands.

No technological advance is without drawbacks, which is also true for vehicles. Modern engines give us better gas mileage and efficiency, but without the charm or control of a manual transmission.

While many hydraulic-assist steering systems are available, engine-makers are pushing fly-by-wire steering. In fact, for many applications, we wouldn’t be surprised if digital steering replaced ...

Modern vehicles rely on a host of fluids to send us down the road. Some, like engine oil and coolant, are well-known, while others, like differential fluid, are less-familiar to average motorists.