Automotive News, Car Reviews, and Podcast
The 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 utilized 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 represents continual evolution in the subcompact luxury crossover segment. This model year 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
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: These 14 vehicles represent distinct visions of what driving should become, exploring both their standout characteristics and advanced technology. Whether that’s electrified muscle, luxury, or hybrid capability wrapped in off-road armor, each model tells a story worth understanding, creating unique positions within their respective segments. 2025 Acura
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
Read moreThe 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo represents the flagship variant of Kia’s new compact sedan lineup, replacing the outgoing Forte with a vehicle that delivers substantially more power, technology, and refinement. Priced at $31,445 as tested with the Technology Package, this turbocharged sedan offers a compelling value proposition in a segment dominated by the Honda Civic and Mazda3. Engine and Performance The GT-Line Turbo distinguishes itself from lesser Kia K4 trims with a 1.6-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb-ft of torque available from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. This represents a significant upgrade from the standard 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine that produces just 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque found in LX
Read moreThe 2025 Subaru WRX tS stands as the most capable and focused WRX ever sold in North America. Priced at $46,875 including destination, this “tuned by STI” variant combines STI-developed suspension, upgraded Brembo brakes, and aggressive summer tires with the WRX’s proven 271-horsepower turbocharged boxer engine. For enthusiasts who have been waiting for Subaru to deliver something closer to the discontinued WRX STI, this is not an STI. It does not have more power. But it might be exactly what you need. What tS Means The lowercase “t” and uppercase “S” stand for “tuned by STI,” referring to Subaru Tecnica International, the motorsport division founded in 1988 that brought Subaru three World Rally Championships and 47 WRC wins. This naming
Read moreThe entire lineup of the 2026 Chevrolet Corvettes introduces a thoroughly reimagined interior that marries cutting-edge technology with elevated craftsmanship, effectively addressing one of the most controversial elements of the C8 generation while maintaining the vehicle’s driver-focused DNA. This significant refresh affects the entire Corvette family-Stingray, E-Ray, Z06, and ZR1-bringing larger displays, fresh colorways, and improved ergonomics that promise to cement the iconic American sports car’s leadership position for years to come. For the 2026 model year, Chevrolet has completely redesigned the Corvette’s cabin, addressing driver and passenger needs with an emphasis on both functionality and luxury. Most notably, designers have eliminated the controversial “button wall” that divided the driver and passenger compartments since the C8’s introduction in 2019. This
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