In 2001, Dodge was struggling as a brand. Pickup trucks were the only profitable part of the its lineup. And the merger with Daimler (parent company of Mercedes-Benz) to form DaimlerChrysler was struggling to bear fruit. But the new siblings at Dodge and Mercedes-Benz were getting along and cooperating behind the scenes. A big showing of that cooperative spirit was had when the Super8 Hemi Concept was unveiled.

Mazda's great-looking new CX-90 replaces the aging CX-9. The latter was an excellent three-row crossover, but it was outdated compared to the rest of the market. By contrast, the CX-90 definitely has a more modern appeal.

Of all the automakers, Toyota is the most conservative. Taking big risks has not generally been the company’s style. Because of this, Toyota vehicles usually aren’t what anyone would call “edgy.” Toyota’s overall corporate mantra has almost always seemed to be “Boring is reliable. People like reliable.” Occasionally, though, despite that, something eye-catchingly unusual happens.

As Toyota’s first serious foray into electric vehicles, most of us expected the bZ4X to be ... well, something else. Instead, what we got was a confusingly-named station wagon crossover with a puzzling array of capabilities under a tall price tag. To remember the ridiculous bank-PIN-sounding name of the bZ4X, I have to repeat the word "Buzzforx" in my head. That’s not good marketing.

As Toyota’s first serious foray into electric vehicles, most of us expected the bZ4X to be ... well, something else. Instead, what we got was a confusingly-named station wagon crossover with a puzzling array of capabilities under a tall price tag. To remember the ridiculous bank-PIN-sounding name of the bZ4X, I have to repeat the word "Buzzforx" in my head. That’s not good marketing.

A new study from NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) has “found” that automakers are to blame for a lack of low-cost electric vehicles in Europe. The study found that only 17 percent of electric vehicles sold in Europe are B-segment (compact) vehicles and only 40 fully electric models were launched in the compact (A and B) segments between 2018 and 2023. Compared to 66 launched in large and luxury model segments (D and E).

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class got a few updates for the 2024 model year. Including some exterior styling changes, a little more power under the hood of a few models, and better infotainment. Those changes to the luxury three-row SUV are great upgrades to an already great GLS.

Toyota has a reputation for treading carefully. In general, that pays off and is a big reason the company also has a reputation for dependability and value. But sometimes, wariness is the wrong approach. Sometimes, one needs to throw caution to the wind and take the risk and stretch. So it should have been with the badly-named bZ4X.

Toyota discontinued the Avalon premium sedan in 2022 as sales for the car steadily fell. Now it’s been replaced with the new Crown, which is a much more exciting car that fills that niche with a younger appeal.

The Kia Carnival (not-a-minivan) is receiving a mid-cycle refresh to styling and technology for the 2025 model year. The upgrades will include a hybrid powertrain option powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, and 54 kW electric motor. Total system output will be 242 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque.

The 2023 Versa is our best value pick for the subcompact sedan segment. It’s low cost, has good reliability expectations, high fuel economy, and a versatile design. The new styling introduced this year adds a contemporary and upscale look that wasn’t there before.

Ski-doo is best known for personal watercraft. But it's also well known for snowmobiles. Yellowstone National Park is known for its geysers, wildlife, and herds of tourists in the summer. Combining Ski-doo and Yellowstone makes for a bucket-list trip. Located in western US, Yellowstone resides largely in the state of Wyoming with portions of the park going over borders into Idaho and Montana. Yellowstone is about 3,500 square miles (9,064 sq km) of protected wilderness, plus several thousand more acres of surrounding forest reserve. It’s arguably the most protected wilderness area in the U.S.

Have you ever wondered why the cargo bed of large pickup trucks is separate from the cab of said truck? The engineering reason, and the notable exceptions that proved it was needed, are an interesting story.

Mercedes-AMG has introduced the 2025 E 53 HYBRID, a plug-in hybrid model that produces a total system output of 577 horsepower with some options raising that to 604. Torque is a combined 553 pound-feet and 0-60 mph sprints are 3.7 seconds, Mercedes says. Top speed is electronically limited to 174 mph with 87 mph of that available in all-electric driving.

American Rheinmetall Vehicles and Rheinmetall Canada have conducted live-fire capability demonstrations for the U.S. Marine Corps in Fort Clinton, Ohio. The Rheinmetall Mission Master is a family of autonomous, unmanned ground vehicles (A-UGV) paired with the Fieldranger Remotely Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS). These weapons are designed to support troops on dangerous missions whatever the terrain or weather conditions.

Toyota introduced the new Grand Highlander for the 2024 model year as an expansion of the lineup for those who need a larger three-row option. Previously, this role had been filled by the truck-based Sequoia and Land Cruiser. With the Grand Highlander’s unibody design, however, interior space, comfort, and fuel economy improve greatly.

When Land Rover announced the return of the Defender and then unveiled what it would be, we were relieved that it was not going to be some kind of nameplate shift to something unrelated to its history. The 2020 Land Rover Defender was everything we could ask for in a Defender comeback.

We really like the new look and design of the 2023 Range Rover Sport. It offers access to Rover’s legendary off-road capability in a modern curbside package.

Lexus has long had a hole in its lineup, sitting right between the smaller two-row crossovers and the big, truck-based sport utilities. The TX, which debuted this year, slots into that spot, offering three rows in a unibody crossover format.

The compact luxury segments are hot and the new Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class really sets the standard for them this year. This second-generation further inculcates the GLC as the go-to for luxury and style.

Automotive columnist Aaron Turpen writes, “The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz offers all the truckiness small truck owners need and looks good in the process. The Santa Cruz shares the comfort and smooth driving quality of that SUV, but adds a truck bed and better-tuned all-wheel drive system.”

The new Dodge Charger was unveiled as the electrified future for the company. The Charger takes on its previous two-door design from the 1970s and its overall look relies heavily on the late 1960s models. Performance numbers are touted at 670 horsepower and a 3.3-second 0-60 mph sprint. That’s using the PowerShot feature, a short burst of higher power output for speed.

Hyundai has unveiled a new off-road model in the form of the 2025 Santa Cruz XRT. The automaker also showcased new designs for the Tucson crossover and the standard Santa Cruz truck last weekend at the New York International Auto Show.

The Stelvio was introduced in 2018 and saw some styling upgrades a couple of years ago. Now the most beautiful of small crossover-SUVs gets a couple of new trim levels, an upgraded instrument cluster, and a new limited-slip differential.

Simple luxury is the hallmark of the Infiniti brand. Not really known for sportiness or flamboyant luxury, the QX60 is a well-done, value-oriented luxury SUV.

Even Mazda’s larger vehicles, like this all-new CX-90 model, must have the signature Zoom Zoom. This one delivers that plus a premium-level interior experience as well.

Genesis, Hyundai's luxury vehicle arm, has unveiled several eye-catching concepts ahead of the New York International Auto Show. The covers were pulled from the vehicles at Genesis House, a dealership and showplace in New York City.

Columnist Aaron Turpen writes, "Going to Yellowstone in the winter is a bucket list item. I’ve been to Yellowstone a few times. Always during tourism season. This was the first time I actually heard Old Faithful when it erupted."

In today’s market, the sub-$30k category is pretty slim. The 2024 Nissan Sentra is a stellar entry into that category, with improvements for this model year to keep that going.

Unveiled today at the San Felipe 250 rally, the new factory racing rig from Polaris is a complete redesign. A new one-piece chassis with a stronger, stiffer frame begins those changes. Upgrades also include new bodywork for lightweighting and stiffness and new electronic componentry.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz C300 is the entry level for the luxury sedan series, but doesn’t skimp on posh appeal or technology.

The Canyon AT4 strikes a nice balance between on-road comfort and off-road good times. Its clackety-clack engine isn’t fun to listen to, but it’s certainly capable of pushing limits.

The best part about electric vehicles has nothing to do with the environment. The Mach-E brings fun driving and quick pacing as core principles. That’s what EVs are really all about.

You know what’s better than a pickup truck? One that’s made to go off-road. The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in its ZR2 off-road package is a sweet, sweet off-road truck. It’s sensible, in that it’s still on-road comfortable and #truckstuff ready. Plus the ZR2 can now have the diesel engine, which is a purring beauty that we think is well worth the upgrade price.

Luxurious off-roading is a thing. The Sierra 2500 AT4X does that and adds on a lot of towing and cargo hauling to boot.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a cruck (car-truck) that matches what a majority of small truck buyers really want and need. And the new XRT package makes it a favorite.

Toyota has unveiled the new sixth-generation 4Runner sport utility in three formats: a standard model, a hybrid model, and a trail-ready overlanding model. Not everyone is a fan, however.

For a little over a year, Tesla has been marketing its Full Self-Driving technology (mainly software) to automotive manufacturers at large. The new version twelve (V12) of the software is being touted as ready for deployment. The 45-minute video Elon Musk made (hosted on his X platform) to promote his product, however, was pretty rough and showed clear flaws in the system.

A new Gallup poll shows that electric vehicle ownership is still on the rise, with a four percent gain in EV ownership from 2023-2024. It also shows that consumers who don’t currently own an EV and are shopping for a new vehicle are far less interested in an EV purchase than they were a year ago.

Three-row utility buyers haven’t had a lot of non-truck options, especially from Toyota. Now that three-row fever is satiated with the new Toyota Grand Highlander, which debuts for the 2024 model year.

Ford has changed the timing for electric vehicle rollouts and plans to include more hybrids and plug-ins in its electrification mix. By the end of the decade, Ford says, it will be offering hybrid powertrains throughout its entire lineup in North America.

According to J.D. Power & Associates consumer surveys, consumers are less interested in electric vehicles. A trend that has been going on for months. The number of consumers “very likely” to consider an EV dropped by 24.4 percent from January to February this year while the number who are “very unlikely” to consider an EV climbed by 22.2 percent that same period.

Since 2010, quality problems in new cars have doubled. New cars are seeing as many as five issues per car now. And the trend is getting worse instead of better. It’s a known problem, but it’s one that cannot be easily solved. And no manufacturer is immune.

One of the largest automotive shows in the world, the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) happens every year in New York City. For decades, it's been the home of the World Car of the Year awards and a fulcrum for automotive unveils in North America.

Having driven a lot of pickup trucks, it’s easy to fall into the habit of comparing them to one another instead of thinking about what consumers buy them. I was broken out of that “trucks are trucks” mindset with this Honda Ridgeline.

Ryder System has released a quantitative analysis of the potential economic impacts of converting commercial diesel vehicles to electric vehicles in today’s market. Ryder says its customers frequently ask about transitioning to zero-emission vehicles in fleets. Especially the cost-benefits of doing so. As a result, Ryder published Charged Logistics: The Cost of Electric Vehicle Conversion for U.S. Commercial Fleets.

Electrified vehicle sales are dropping in California, to the tune of almost 18 percent in the past two quarters. Most of the losses are in battery electrics, offset by some gains in other options, with hybrids gaining significant share.

The British are known for things like putting milk into hot tea and adding extra vowels to words. They are not, however, known to bring back nostalgic nameplates just for the marketing of it, which is why I test-drove the Land Rover Defender.

Not often talked about in the hubbub of automotive is the reliability issue. Currently, most are wondering why the cost of new cars has jumped so much since the pandemic. This distraction has led most of us away from looking at what may be a bigger issue: new car reliability sucks.

The well-received Hyundai Ioniq 5 crossover has been followed up by.. a sedan? Sure enough, the new Ioniq 6 electric car is a sedan rather than another crossover-SUV. Yet somehow it fits perfectly and is one of the best cars we’ve driven so far this year.