Car Reviews

The Mazda CX-5 was a turning point for the brand. After years of rebranding the Ford Escape under the Tribute moniker, the 2013 CX-5 showed the world what Mazda was capable of when left to the brand’s own volition. The compact SUV was stylish, premium, yet wholly capable as a family hauler. It catapulted Mazda to the forefront of the segment.

Forget the S-Class: if you want to make a statement, the current BMW 7 Series is the limo to do it with.

Ford is recalling 18,124 examples of the 2017 Escape SUV for a second time. These Escapes were part of a previous recall that did not solve the issue at hand: power-operated windows that may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. They sound like quite the finger pinchers.

The V8 resurgences is alive and well at Stellantis. After a brief period of electrification dabbling, it appears the North American arm of the global manufacturer is once again going all-in with eight-cylinder brutes that scream freedom and bald eagles.

Options. In the compact SUV field, the more the better.

Competitors don’t always seem obvious at first glance. In the world of mid-size SUVs, there is such a variety of interpretations within the class, we’ve had not one, but two different segment-wide comparison shootouts.

Before I undertake this review, let’s address the detractors. Yes, the Dodge Durango is old. The current generation of the SUV has been on sale long enough now that it could apply for a driving learner’s permit in most states. But just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s past its prime. Vehicles don’t have expiration dates, and the fact is, there’s still a lot to like about the Durango: not just the ridiculous torque monster V8 engines. To prove this point, I grabbed a 2026 Dodge Durango GT Plus (with the V6) for a week’s worth of evaluation.

Who doesn’t like a little bonus now and then?

A big family SUV that can handle off-roading may seem like an odd combination, but it works. Plus, besides making the Acadia more capable, we’d wager the AT4 package is the best looking version of this SUV, even more so than the Denali. The blocky all-terrain tires, front skid plate, exposed tow hooks, and AT4 badges give it a tougher look. But it still seems a bit ordinary and pedestrian compared to the Explorer Tremor.

The Cadillac Escalade was one of the first super luxury SUVs. In the 1990s, it set a new standard for premium excess in a large, three-row people hauler. Although it remains a great lavish full-size SUV to this day, a new sub-set of uber-luxury SUVs have eclipsed it. Vehicles like the Range Rover SVR, Mercedes-Maybach GLS, and BMW Alpina X7. These SUVs are over the top in every way, oozing power, premium features, and opulent interiors.

Last fall, I had the honor and privilege to attend a first drive event for the Lamborghini Temerario in the car’s hometown of Bologna, Italy. The plug-in hybrid supercar impressed me with its style, performance, and surprising livability. But I was in the beautiful foothills surrounding the brand’s head office, driving picturesque roads with countless Italian citizens cheering me on as I passed by. How could I not be dazzled and mesmerized by all this?

LA JOLLA, California—With the latest generation of ES, Lexus is taking big swings again.

The 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ doesn’t fit neatly into one category. It blends luxury SUV comfort with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that works differently than most rivals, and that gives it a distinct personality. Recently, Managing Editor Mike Schlee spent a week with the 2026 Lexus NX450h+. During his time behind the wheel, he found that while the NX 450h+ delivers strong efficiency, premium comfort, and impressive technology. But, some parts of the driving experience don’t quite match the polished luxury feel Lexus is aiming for.

MINI cars are meant to be fun. That may not have been the original premise of the car when first launched several decades ago, but it didn’t take long for these diminutive hatchbacks to charm their way deep into owners’ hearts.

BARCELONA, Spain—Smart seatbelts, smarter pricing, and… a crab bucket?

BMW’s M lineup of vehicles is iconic. It’s the high-performance standard in which most other performance luxury sub-brands are compared. The brand has built a solid reputation and fan base over the decades by offering the right blend of performance, luxury, and refinement.

Welcome to our latest mega comparison brought to you by Weathertech. Rugged is the new cool. That’s the case at least when it comes to crossovers and SUVs. It seems every major automaker is launching some form of rugged, off-road ready sub-brand. Names like Tremor, TrailSport, Wilderness, and AT4 are just a few examples.

Like others in the MINI family, the John Cooper Works (JCW) Hardtop is all-new for a fourth generation in 2025. Available in both two and four-door variants (three and five-door in Canada), these MINIs receive a load of changes covering everything from styling to tech to power output.

If you’ve been waiting for Infiniti to recapture the magic of the original FX, the wait may be over. The 2027 Infiniti QX65 has officially arrived, and it isn't just a QX60 with a haircut. It’s a calculated, style-forward play for the driver who values presence and road manners over third-row utility.

Testing the 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport to see if it really is the last truly reliable luxury car you can buy in 2026.

It’s an outrageous beast.

The 2026 Volkswagen Golf R continues to position itself as a more refined alternative in the hot hatch segment. While rivals lean heavily into aggressive styling and raw performance, the Golf R blends strong capability with a more mature personality. Following a recent refresh that added power and updated features, it remains a practical, upscale performance hatch that balances everyday usability with serious handling and speed.

During a recent road test of the 2026 Volkswagen Golf R, we found a lot we liked about the vehicle, and few things we did not. Below are our PROS and CONS to the car.

The 2027 Infiniti QX65 has arrived as a style-focused alternative to the traditional luxury SUV. By removing the third row and leaning into a "coupe-over" aesthetic, Infiniti is aiming for buyers who prioritize design and driver engagement.

My week in the 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness provided my first taste of the latest generation of Subaru’s long-running crossover, which is moving ever farther away from being a wagon. In fact, Subaru now calls the Outback a midsize SUV. Chew on that.

Nashville, TN – Infiniti is back. That’s the message the brand is reiterating as the luxury manufacturer refocuses on the future, with an onslaught of new vehicles on the way. A sports sedan with a manual transmission, two body-on frame SUVs, a high performance QX80, and a hybrid SUV are currently in the works. First up though is the all-new, mid-size QX65.

Being mature does not equate to being boring. Just because someone likes the finer things in life doesn’t mean they need to have the personality of wet bread. In the automotive world, the same principles apply. A fun to drive car can be upscale and sophisticated. It doesn’t need to be rambunctious, at least all the time.

Style and practicality are typically mutually exclusive.

The 2026 Corolla FX Edition is a deep cut for Toyota nerds.

68 pieces a year. 

TRANSCRIPT:

Rarely does a manufacturer get it right the first time. But that’s the case with the Genesis GV60. As the brand’s first ever all-electric vehicle, the GV60 combined style, luxury, and performance in a well-executed package that wasn’t ostentatiously expensive. Our only real complaint was its somewhat limited range.

My eyes register that we’re moving, but my inner ear isn’t convinced.

TORRANCE, Calif.—The Proust phenomenon: when an unexpected scent or taste activates strong, autobiographical memories.

The Lexus NX 450h+ is a conundrum wrapped up in an enigma. Hard to classify and void of any direct competitors, it truly is a vehicle that walks to the beat of its own drum; for better or worse. Many of the unique features on the 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ we quite like, while some we could do without.

LOS ANGELES—The 2026 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is a cheat code.

New cars are expensive. This could be the official catch phrase for anyone looking to purchase a new vehicle in the year 2026. The degree that prices have increased over the past few years is alarming. Cars, trucks, and SUVs that once seemed attainable, no longer are so.

LOS ANGELES—Seven hundred and one horsepower should not be this controllable.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Rivian founder and CEO R.J. Scaringe wants to anchor his company as a software powerhouse, developing key features and expertise that extend far beyond Rivian’s models.

San Luis Obispo, CA: The automotive industry is at a bit of a crossroads. By now, the electric revolution should have been in full swing, Many brand aimed to have a fleet that’s mostly, or completely, electric in the coming years. But infrastructure, costs, and technology have slowed electric adoption. There’s still a very healthy market that yearns for an all-electric vehicle, but there’s also plenty of consumers not ready to make the leap quite yet.  

High-performance family haulers are objectively silly.

Taking a quick look at the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid to find out if it is the best SUV to buy.

Stowe, VT - Third time is the charm. This cliché may hold a lot of water when it comes to the new Dodge Charger. First introduced as the Daytona Scat Pack over a year ago, the 630 hp all-electric large sedan was very impressive during our first drive. But that car was always going to be a niche product with a limited market. What we were really waiting for was the gas-powered, SIXPACK variants.  

Westgate Village, CA - Don’t call it a comeback. No wait, that’s exactly what we should call it. After being discontinued following the 2023 model year, the Chevrolet Bolt is officially back. But this time, it’s a bit different.

VANCOUVER, B.C.—You wouldn’t expect a small brand like Mitsubishi to take any sort of sales chart crown, but the Outlander PHEV has done just that for three years straight.

By now, we were promised a world of affordable electric cars. True, there are some options, with the current field of low-priced EVs in North America being a jumble that includes the likes of the Fiat 500e city car, Nissan LEAF pseudo crossover, and Chevrolet Bolt tall hatchback. Absent though, are any regular small sedans. Conventional four-doors with a trunk. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 comes to close, but the funky styled sedan is a bit larger and priced accordingly.

When did the modern off-road movement really kick off? That tipping point in which everyone became obsessed with ruggedizing all the SUVs and crossovers on the market, from Honda CR-Vs to the Volkswagen Atlas? There may be no exact answer to this question, but in our minds, it was the introduction of the original Ford F-150 Raptor.

The Optiq now comes standard with rear-wheel drive, and, as suspected, it’s so much better to drive because of it.

The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross SE has me thinking about the Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse.

Laguna Beach, CA - Small, medium, and large. That appears to be Subaru’s electric SUV strategy for 2026 with three distinct vehicles that share many components but cast unique profiles. At the small end of the spectrum, is the spunky Uncharted. The elder statesman of the trio is the mid-size Solterra. Now, completing the trifecta, is the larger Trailseeker.

There is something uniquely luxurious about a big sedan.

Laguna Beach, CA - Can lightning strike twice? That’s what Subaru is hoping for with the brand’s new all-electric Uncharted SUV.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA—Of all the new bits I’d expect in the updated 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a supercar heart isn’t one of them.

ENCINITAS, CA. – Every now and again, a first drive comes along where we’re left thinking, “haven’t we driven this car before?”

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA—Welcome back, Jeep.

Look out, luxury brands.

Should the 2026 Volvo EX40 still exist?

OJAI, CA—You know when you see a friend after a spell and they’ve completely changed their entire way of life? That’s the 2026 Toyota C-HR.

OJAI, CA—Toyota is being sneaky, and I for one am here for it.

LARPing: it isn’t just for D&D nerds anymore.

LOS ANGELES, CA—Every modern Porsche follows a strict recipe, and the Macan EV is no exception.