CATEGORIES
Safe at First
Highs: Taut yet compliant suspension, airy interior, solid roster of features. Lows: Modest power, so-so range, federal tax credit expiring soon.
IS THIS REALLY THE LAST GAS(P)?
There is no doubt that we are in the beginning/middle/end (you pick) of an automotive era. We have seen your letters complaining about too much electric-car coverage-they're in an overflowing postal bin marked "Angry Letters to Santa." We get it. Unfortunately, many of the new vehicles being introduced are electric or electrified. But, most isn't everything, nor does it mean the next time you head to a dealership you'll have to buy a vehicle with some variation of the following words: "Eco i Lightning tron ID Prime Dream." There are still some great gas-burning machines coming to showrooms soon, and we've carefully selected 12 that we think are worth the wait. After you buy one of these models, consider keeping it for the long run because vehicles of this ilk will become increasingly rare in the coming decades.
NICE F-ING TRUCKS
IF YOU WANT TO INVEST IN THE NEXT BIG THING, HERE ARE FOUR NFTs THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO HAVE YOU LIVING LARGE
Dollars and Scents
Highs: A whiff of the leather-lined interior, listening to the audio system, on-demand silence or thunder. Lows: Ride harshness, rearseat legroom, close relatives cost half as much.
Closing Time
Highs: The joy of devouring corners, steering sharpness, 94 decibels of V-6 song. Lows: No quicker than before, yawn-inducing Normal mode, big-and-tall shoppers may find it tight.
Challenging the Establishment
Genesis's new luxury compact crossover, the GV70, made a bold entrance. Now it faces off against segment leaders from BMW and Lexus.
Buying Culture
Does the Ford Maverick, with its bargain price and thrifty fuel economy, make the small car obsolete? We fire up a 2022 Honda Civic sport and head to Costco to find out.
Work Shift
The automotive industry is facing a new battery-powered world. How fast is it coming, and how will it affect the engineers of today and tomorrow?
40K 2019 Tesla Model 3
Long-term test. After tracking every charge, service, problem, complaint, dent, and dog hair, car and driver presents the 40,000-mile evaluation. Beyond the noise
Turning Over
More than a decade after the original Leaf, Nissan rolls out its second EV.
Sartorial Utility Vehicle
Highs: Red-carpet-level glamour inside, smooth and silent ride, pin-you-to-the-seat acceleration. Lows: All that grille with nowhere to go, funky-shaped steering wheel.
The Big Glide
Updates to Lincoln's flagship SUV allow the Navigator to navigate itself.
GRUN WITH ENVY
IT MAY SHARE AN ENGINE WITH THE GT4 RS, BUT A MANUAL GT3 IS PROOF THAT GETTING INVOLVED IS BETTER THAN WORSHIPING NUMBERS.
Lotus Operandi
As always, the tiny British carmaker has ambitious plans, but a major investment from Chinese giant Geely means this time they might happen.
Dear Buick
Highs: Spacious cabin, supple ride, highway serenity. Lows: Mistakes blandness for luxury, high price of Avenir trim.
EV Meets ORV
With the new Solterra, Subaru brings some off-road cred to the mainstream-EV segment.
LAST SHOT AT LOVE?
2022 SUBARU WRX LIMITED
Great Aspirations
The Acura MDX Type S's turbocharged 355-hp V-6 makes it a contender in the luxury crossover segment.
GOING NOWHERE FAST
PORSCHE'S FAMOUS GT DIVISION CREATED THE 718 CAYMAN GT4 RS, SO WE NATURALLY PIT IT AGAINST ONE OF SOCAL'S FINEST DEAD-END ROADS. MORE EVIDENCE THAT IT ISN'T THE DESTINATION, IT'S THE JOURNEY.
GRIND HARD AND PUT AWAY WET
A TEAM OF YOUTUBERS TAKES AN OFF-ROAD-MODIFIED SALVAGED TESLA DOWN THE MOJAVE ROAD.
The Affordable-sports-sedan Segment Isn't for Everyone, but It's Definitely for Us
Decades ago, meals looked very different. People would scarf down something called creamed chipped beef, then, without missing a beat, mix canned tuna with Jell-O to create a tuna mold.
The Last Time
Highs: Quickest car we've ever tested, probing its lofty limits is easy, 16 cylinders (16!). 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
Six Paces and Turn
This plug-in supercar combines V-6 power with electric assistance to devastating effect.
MONEY SHOT
LUCID CREATES A CUTTING-EDGE CAR OUT OF THIN AIR AND GIVES US A RARE LOOK AT JUST HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO DO SO.
Small, Sporty, Satisfying
Highs: Sharply dressed, energetic acceleration, compliant ride. Lows: Snug back seat, infotainment woes, the VW Golf R exists.
CATCH THE BUZZ
THE 2024 ID. BUZZ IS VW'S EV REINTERPRETATION OF THE '60S MICROBUS.
Solo Truck
Highs: Strong engine, smooth ride, wider appeal without abandoning Land Cruiser roots. Lows: Sticker shock at the fuel pump, top model has only four seats and a staggering price.
Blues Brothers
Maserati's stage-setting mid-engine MC20 meets Porsche's apex-predator 911, the Turbo S Lightweight.
Back-Seat Driver
Highs: Roomy rear seat, stunning style, torque-rich engine. Lows: Half-baked infotainment system, ride quality diminished on rough roads, slower than its predecessor.