Automotive News, Car Reviews, and Podcast
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Mazda CX-5 compared on price, MPG, cargo, and tech. Which compact SUV wins depends on how you drive.
Read moreEvery 2026 minivan compared head-to-head. Toyota Sienna, Kia Carnival, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica specs, pricing, fuel economy, and our verdict.
Read moreRivian's 2026 lineup explained. R1T, R1S, R2, and R3 preview with prices, range, seating, IIHS safety, and which Rivian fits which buyer.
Read moreThe 2026 Rivian R1T buyer's guide with price, range, Quad Motor performance, and how the Gen-2 refresh compares to the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck.
Read moreThe 2026 Rivian R1S buyer's guide with price, range, trim walk, Gen-2 refresh highlights, IIHS safety, and how it compares to the Kia EV9, Volvo EX90, and Tesla Model X.
Read moreRivian reliability in 2026, with three years of R1T and R1S owner data, Consumer Reports coverage, NHTSA recall history, and TWD's own reliability database findings.
Read moreThe 2026 Rivian R2 buyer's guide: price, release date, Launch Package features, range, and how it compares to the Tesla Model Y.
Read moreThe 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness stands as a capable refuge for those seeking to car camp off the beaten path. Its interior design and robust roof rails transform it into a mobile basecamp, ready to deliver you to remote forests and mountain valleys. With the rear seats folded flat, the cargo area opens to 69.1 cubic feet of usable space. That’s enough room for an under-6-foot adult to stretch fully while the rigid frame and reinforced structure keep you secure. The roof rails, designed to support rooftop tents with an 800-pound static load capacity, add another dimension to adventure. While I used the spacious cargo bay on my trips, other Forester owners in the community have successfully mounted lightweight rooftop
Read moreA flooring contractor with 30 years in the trade calls the ProMaster “by far the best vehicle I’ve had for work.” A mobile mechanic who has run every type of van over four decades says nothing matches it for cargo access. A plumber at 6’3″ walks the center aisle without ducking. These aren’t marketing claims. They come from owners who load these vans heavy, six days a week. The ProMaster’s advantage is structural: front-wheel drive eliminates the driveshaft tunnel, so the cargo floor is flat from wall to wall. The 21-inch load floor sits seven inches lower than the Ford Transit’s. The 75-inch interior width fits standard pallet racking. These dimensions shape every upfit decision, from shelf depth to partition
Read moreThree vans dominate the North American full-size cargo market, and each one reflects a different engineering philosophy. The RAM ProMaster prioritizes cargo width and low loading height. The Ford Transit has the broadest powertrain range. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bets on diesel efficiency and longevity. I spent a week with the 2025 RAM ProMaster 2500 High Roof, loading paddle boards and a steel workbench. The cargo versatility and parking-lot agility impressed me. But the Transit and Sprinter answer questions the ProMaster can’t, and whether that matters depends on your routes, your cargo, and your budget. All three vans here are 2025 models in High Roof configurations. Prices and specifications reflect base models before options and destination. Key Takeaways At a Glance:
Read moreThe ProMaster 2500 is the middle child in RAM’s commercial lineup, between the lighter-duty 1500 and the heavy-hauling 3500. The one I’m reviewing: High Roof, 159-inch wheelbase. That’s the configuration most buyers choose for its balance of standing room and cargo length without the extended-wheelbase overhang. Base price is $50,860. This one hit $63,225. The SLT Plus Package ($6,995) adds LED headlamps, a 10.1-inch Uconnect touchscreen with navigation, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, power-folding heated mirrors, remote start, and a 220-amp alternator. The Advanced Safety Group ($1,795) brought surround-view cameras, automated parking, lane centering, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. RAM also fitted the optional wood cargo floor ($495), upper and lower side-wall paneling ($590), and a Class IV receiver hitch
Read moreThe 2025 Lexus UX 300h brings an entirely new hybrid powertrain that delivers more power while maintaining the fuel efficiency Lexus hybrids are known for. Finished in Eminent White Pearl with a Palomino NuLuxe interior, the UX 300h demonstrates how Lexus positions its entry-level crossover against established German competitors. Lexus equipped the 2025 UX 300h with its fifth-generation hybrid system, shared with the redesigned 2024 Toyota Prius. The 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine produces 150 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque on its own. Combined with two electric motors in front-wheel-drive configuration, the system generates 196 horsepower. This is a 15-horsepower increase over the previous UX 250h. The new hybrid architecture uses a lithium-ion battery pack located under the rear seat,
Read moreFor 2025 Best of the Bay, Northern California’s top automotive journalists gathered in Petaluma, California, to drive and review 14 vehicles in a fast paced, real world environment, voting for the best vehicles across 5 different categories. Driving conditions ranged from urban streets to winding roads through wine country. Each vehicle received a 40 minute evaluation before journalists moved on to the next one. Categories voted upon included: Vehicles entered into the event: 2025 Acura ADX A-Spec Advance AWD Acura took a gamble with the ADX. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder produces just 190 horsepower. Yet, the A-Spec Advance trim makes its case through refinement rather than raw power. The 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system transforms the cabin into a
Read moreA Velocity Blue 2025 Ford Maverick XLT AWD pickup sits at the trailhead, splattered with the fine dust of a Foresthill Road descent. Behind it, 730 feet of air separates the Foresthill Bridge from the canyon floor below. This is exactly where a compact truck like the Ford Maverick XLT: not parked in a suburban driveway waiting for a Costco run, but pointed toward the next adventure, ready for whatever the road throws at it. Ford‘s smallest pickup has answered years of buyer demand with a single, significant upgrade for 2025: all-wheel drive is now available with the hybrid powertrain. Engine and Performance The Ford Maverick XLT AWD tested here runs the 2.5-liter hybrid engine paired with an electronic continuously
Read moreThe 2025 Subaru Forester Limited, finished in Autumn Green Metallic, pulled into the parking lot of a Dry Creek Valley tasting room on a Friday afternoon. Early June in Northern California’s wine country arrives with warm afternoons and lingering daylight stretching late into the evening. For the last week. this compact SUV became my partner for exploring the roads most wine tourists never discover. Narrow mountain passes leading to small-production wineries, then deeper into Mendocino and Sierra National Forests where old logging roads climb toward views worth the dust and effort. Each drive confirmed what drivers who explore beyond interstate highways already know: the Forester remains the practical choice for those who refuse to choose between pavement and wilderness. Northern
Read moreThe 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum RWD starts at $57,865 as tested in this configuration. It represents the latest iteration of a nameplate that has sold more than 8 million units since 1991, making it America’s best-selling SUV. This particular vehicle tested combines the Platinum trim’s luxury appointments with the optional Ultimate Package, which adds a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, 21-inch wheels, and premium leather seating. The result is a three-row SUV that delivers genuine performance capability without sacrificing the comfort and technology features that families expect from a modern luxury SUV. Engine and Performance The tested vehicle features the optional 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine, which produces 400 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 415 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm
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