In this Q&A episode, I answer Brent's question about gasoline versus hybrid efficiency. Using some explanations and examples, I outline how much more efficient a hybrid can be and how efficient it should be if you're going to spend the extra to buy one.

In this Q&A, Mark asks if the automotive awards seen in commercials are like movie awards given in Hollywood. I answer this question with a "Pretty much, yes" but then explain why some of the awards might be important and how those awards are given.

The 2019 Kia Forte is an all-new version of the compact sedan that’s really set a new bar for the segment. With the compact sedan market beginning to level off as crossovers encroach on their status as entry-level mainstays, the small sedans are beginning to feel the pinch. Kia revamped the Forte to meet the new expectations of today’s buyers and to make the Forte far more competitive. In the process, they created one of the most well-done options in the segment. At a price that’s right.

This is cool news. Volvo has released information about their new-generation self-driving vehicle, based on the all-new XC90 crossover-SUV. The autonomous car will be both a production model and a model exclusively for Uber. Really, really cool! For more: https://www.media.volvocars.com/globa... SHOW MORE

In this shaky cam interior review, http://www.AaronOnAutos.com gets into the 2019 Buick Envision midsize crossover. With lots of posh and plenty of bling, it's a beautiful vehicle.

Having spoken with consumers, it’s several things.

In 1987, BMW debuted a touring car in the 3 Series model line. That wagon proved to be popular as a compact option in the larger overall market with over a million of those cars sold as the 3 Series evolved. Looking to replicate that success, BMW is launching an all-new 3 Series Touring.

I took the family on our annual Father's Day pilgrimage to Gering, Nebraska for the Father's Day Classic car show. There, I gave my 9-year-old daughter Heidi a GoPro camera and let her film whatever she wanted. Here's the results. Enjoy!

In this shaky cam interior review, http://www.AaronOnAutos.com gets into the 2019 Toyota Camry in its Hybrid variant. Check out this great car with its over 50 MPG and more.

The holdup for electric vehicles is not necessarily what many may believe. The holdup is in batteries. Not the technology, but in the making of the batteries themselves. Journalist John Goreham at TorqueNews calls this "Peak Battery." And I agree with him. Here's the skinny.

Because ethanol is less energy dense than the gasoline it's meant to replace, MPG numbers are lower in vehicles that are using it. Here's how it affects your mileage. A great question from a fan. Answered!

The question I get asked most often is "How do you get these cars you drive?" The answer is simple. Or not. Depending on how much detail you want. Most of it comes down to the symbiotic relationship between automotive manufacturers and automotive journalists. Here's the skinny.

While the current-generation Lexus IS has been around for about 5 years now, that age hasn’t worn it much, so the brand is keeping the 2019 Lexus IS 350 going with a few upgrades for this year. This may not be the sportiest or fastest-paced sedan around, but the Lexus IS is for sure one of the more comfortable small touring options on today’s luxury market.

The best-selling vehicle in North America is a pickup truck. The world might roll their eyes at that American fact, but there's good reason for it. Americans like big, capable, and luxurious. The 2019 F-150 in its Limited package sets the benchmark for all of those things.

Here I talk about my friend Jimmy Dinsmore's book Mustang by Design, which includes not just the story of the Ford Mustang pony car, but also one of the chief designers behind it: Gale Halderman. Halderman worked in Ford's design department for his entire career as a vehicle designer and the Mustang is one of his most iconic and well-loved works. You can find a full written review of the book here: http://www.carnewscafe.com/2019/03/mu... Find the book on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Mustang-Design...

A new industry survey sheds some light onto the problems being faced by battery makers and developers for electric vehicles. This illustrates the EV bottleneck and the issues inherent in this. Most of the trends are unsurprising to those familiar with research and development work. Survey link at Voltaic: https://blog.voltaiq.com/voltaiq-rele... The Battery Bottleneck video this follows up on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIDZ-...

In this question and answer video, http://www.AaronOnAutos.com answers a fan question about used car warranties and extended warranties. The answer isn't simple, but I try to cover the reality of things.

In this fan question, I'm asked about automotive core design teams. Who are the key players in a design team for a new vehicle and how do they all coordinate? I give a design process overview and list the people who're usually involved.

Despite my having lobbied continually for a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Hellcat minivan, Chrysler did not unveil one at their special event in Michigan. Instead, they unveiled a new Hellcat muscle car and a new version of the Pacifica called the Chrysler Voyager. Here's my highly disappointed self giving the skinny.

Italian manufacturers have a distinct approach to automotive design and Alfa Romeo, the most accessible of Italian luxury marquees in North America, is no exception. So does Alfa's flagship Giulia sedan deliver?

The 2019 Chrysler 300 is big and very American. It features sharp exterior design in a low-and-luxurious motif and an exceedingly quiet ride. With some of the best technology available, some beautiful engine and drivetrain options, and a big, comfortable ride, the 300 is the last of the truly American rear-wheel drive sedans. And we love it.

The two-row family-hauling business is full of competition right now, but few can claim the everyday classiness of the 2019 Murano from Nissan. This upscale without being upscale crossover feels as good as it looks and provides excellent daily drive comfort. The Murano has some downsides, but not very many and it’s the most comfortable ride in the segment.

For the 2019 model year, though, Ford felt it was time to re-enter the North American market with the Ranger. The Ranger being sold here is nearly identical to the global truck with the exception of its powertrain. Being an international rig now, the 2019 Ford Ranger has a few points that aren’t on par with what Americans might expect from a small pickup truck. It’s also got a lot of high points.

The anticipation for the new Chevrolet Corvette has been palpable, with leaks and guesswork going around as the unveil neared. Chevy finally unveiled the new 'Vette with introductions from astronauts and other Apollo Mission tie-ins to further pump up the occasion.

Like a girl with a nose ring and a master’s degree in engineering, this is the Volkswagen that you can bring home to mamma and not feel like a sell-out with.

Introduced to market this year, the XT4 is a new luxury compact crossover from Cadillac. It's aimed at being an affordable entry option for the segment, and is clearly a Caddy inside and out. Like the larger Escalade that sets the tone for Cadillac's SUVs though, there are some odd misses in its design.

Introduced as a new model this year, the Honda Passport is a slightly smaller version of the very popular Pilot crossover. The Passport is a two-row, five-seat SUV that sits between the smaller CR-V and the three-row Pilot. It’s a midsize offering that’s made to fit just right with people who don’t need a big three-row and who aren’t enamored with compact crossovers.

There is something purely American about a big sedan with a rumbling engine and a bold, Al Capone look. The Chrysler 300 embodies that and as such is truly the last of the truly American-styled sedans. A sort of throwback to the heyday of Detroit when huge slabs of stamped metal and interiors the size of European condominiums were the norm.

The GMC Acadia is a solid-selling, midsized crossover in the premium market. As one of the first sport utilities in the segment, the Acadia became popular for its strong build, interior luxury, and capability. The Acadia was redesigned in 2017, saw a light upgrade last year, and enters 2019 unchanged from there. This SUV drives well, gets good fuel economy for its size, and has a less busy cabin than some luxury options. It's not as luxurious as its price might bear, however, and some competitors are more daily-usable than is the Acadia.

The 4Runner is a traditional body-on-frame (truck-based) sport utility, but competes in an arena full of more modern crossover (car-based) utilities. The 2019 4Runner continues with the now long in the tooth design of this-generation 4Runner, introduced in 2010. Compared to most crossovers, the 2019 4Runner is far more off-road-ready and muscular in capability as a traditional SUV.

This quick look at the all-new 2019 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty in its Limited package shows how this big, bad pickup truck is not only more capable than ever, but it’s also extremely comfortable. It’s also nice to look at.

Honda has reinvented the Passport of old as a new, more modern and everyday crossover-SUV. The 2019 Passport is technically the third generation of the SUV, but is a complete overhaul from the previous generations and their body-on-frame designs. It's also amazingly well done. Even with its quirks.

Introduced as a new model this year, the Honda Passport is a slightly smaller version of the very popular Pilot crossover. The Passport is a two-row, five-seat SUV that sits between the smaller CR-V and the three-row Pilot. It’s a midsize offering that’s made to fit just right with people who don’t need a big three-row and who aren’t enamored with compact crossovers.

The Buick Envision has often been overlooked as a little “ho hum” among the current crop of premium and luxury small crossovers. But for the 2019 model year, the Envision offers some excellent improvements to what was already a good base. The greatest improvement is with drivability, thanks to a peppy new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and nine-speed automatic transmission option. For those of you unfamiliar with the Envision, it’s Buick’s small premium crossover, and it is right-sized for those who need a bit more space in the back seat, but prefer a vehicle that is easy to find parking for. This year, Buick also did some restyling for the Envision, and kept the high tech standards and great interior of the crossover’s current build.

The Nissan Kicks arrived for the 2018 model year as a compact crossover fitting underneath the Rogue Sport and replacing the outgoing Juke. Not much has changed for 2019 except some power dampening.

Bison belong on the open prairie running through tall grass, over hills and scrub. That's the picture many of us have of the American High Plains thanks to countless western movies. Chevrolet concocts that imagery for the Colorado mid-sized pickup truck through a partnership with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV).

Those of us old enough to remember the 1990s can remember the Pathfinder as a body-on-frame, small SUV that competed with the Toyota 4Runner for off-road capability. Unlike the 4Runner, however, the Pathfinder has evolved with the times. The 2019 Pathfinder is now a crossover-SUV with three rows of available seating and more family vibe than adventurous wanderlust. To bring back some of that wayward appeal, Nissan has added a Rock Creek package to the Pathfinder. The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek has a bit more ground clearance, more aggressive tires, and some trim additions that boost the crossover’s nostalgia and capability.

Hyundai is launching its first car with a solar rooftop as part of the vehicle's charging system. The solar panels in the new Sonata Hybrid's roof are expected to provide up to 60 percent of the car's battery charging per day and provide over a 1,000 km of EV range per year.

Three years ago, the BMW Z4 was discontinued and we feared the fun little driver's car would never return. Luckily, we aren't good at predictions, and BWM brought back the Z4 as an all-new design. It's little, it's a drop-top, and it's still fun to drive. Now it's also comfortable.

Mercedes-Benz Classic, the restoration arm of Mercedes, has reconstructed a streamlined race car from 1932. The SSKL will be showcased at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2019 as part of the event's "125 Years of Motorsport" theme. A 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 n combination coupe (W 142) will also be shown.

This quick review of the Giulia from Alfa Romeo shows how Italian design, exclusivity, and an automaker taking my advice can make for a great combination.

A full look at the 2019 Honda Passport, Honda’s new midsize crossover fitting beneath the larger three-row Pilot and the compact CR-V. Here I find the good, the bad, and the not so bad.

Chevrolet has announced official pricing for the new mid-engined 2020 Corvette Stingray. The car will, as promised at its unveil, be priced at under US$60,000. In a unique twist, though, the total price tag for the entry-level 2020 Corvette as announced includes destination fees.

McLaren has announced a new, limited-run model for the Ultimate Series at the Pebble Beach Concours. The open-top roadster will debut in 2020 and only 399 units will be built. The car will be priced between the Senna and Speedtail models.

Lamborghini has presented two new supercars at Monterey Car Week in California – the Roadster version of last year's Aventador SVJ 63 Coupe and the Huracan EVO GT Celebration, a tribute to Lamborghini's racing success.

This quick review of the 2019 Buick Envision includes my impressions of the crossover as a daily driver, for fuel economy, and more. All in all, a nicely done premium crossover in the small sized segment.

Even car buffs often aren't aware of the Jaguar E-Type's special Low Drag Coupe model. The car was so rare that it's often overlooked in books and magazines in favor of the now-iconic E-Type roadster. But the Low Drag Coupe model is still fondly remembered and one was just fully remade. And it's beautiful.

The Rover Sport is a midsized SUV that's a bit smaller than the Discovery and a little larger than the Evoque. In its SVR format, it's also a muscle car inside in a luxury SUV package. This means you are couched in posh surroundings as you scream "OMG" laying rubber down the pavement.

The Ford F-150 is the best-selling pickup truck in America and has held that title for decades. The truck saw a refresh in 2017 and for the 2019 model year, it gains a new diesel engine plus the addition of a high-output engine to the Limited package. Ford has also added advanced safety equipment to all F-150 models as standard equipment. The 2019 Ford F-150 is a big, spacious, full-sized pickup truck that is offered in a myriad of trim levels with several engine options, cab and bed size options, and customization choices. The key changes mentioned above augment the F-150's considerable lineup. The 2019 F-150 has three cab style choices, three bed lengths for cargo, and six engine choices. Most of which are available as options in the six trim level choices for the F-150. It's a lot to choose from, but this level of configuration and optioning is a large part of what makes this Ford pickup truck so popular. There is almost assuredly an F-150 to match most any need.

Completely redesigned for 2019, the Santa Fe has a new look inside and out and now includes a two-row design without using the Sport model name. This marks the fourth generation for the Hyundai Santa Fe and it remains a choice abundant with features and quality for the price paid. The renaming of the Santa Fe may be confusing to some. The "Sport" title has been dropped altogether and the Santa Fe is now a two-row midsize crossover by default. The three-row model is now designated the XL. The two models are almost identical except for that third row addition in the XL and the slightly larger body dimensions that result. The new Santa Fe is much larger than the previous-generation Santa Fe Sport and more on par with the full-sized Santa Fe instead. Big improvements to the 2019 Santa Fe include a larger interior, more smartphone integration for infotainment, and lots of standard advanced safety technologies. There are a few downers too, like the anemic four-cylinder base engine and the large roof pillars impeding the driver's view. Still, in all, the new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a very well-made crossover with a lot of upsides. The Santa Fe comes in two model designations (Santa Fe and Santa Fe XL) and five trim levels (SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, and Ultimate). There are two engine options and either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.