Sport Utility Vehicles

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2022 Lexus NX 350h: Improved SUV drives well, looks ugly

The 2022 Lexus NX 350h is an automotive dichotomy. Now in its second generation and eight years removed from its debut, the futuristic-looking sport utility vehicle is categorized as a subcompact luxury crossover. The description is contradictory and inaccurate. Luxury in vehicles was once determined by spaciousness, top-end construction, top-line materials and a handsome, confident and powerful presence powering along the highway. The NX 350 is none of that. Lexus remains the luxury brand of Toyota. Its upscale offerings were vaulted to the top of the J.D Power & Associates in 1991, the car maker’s third model year. More than 30 years later, the brand’s SUV lineup gets similar industry ratings. But as represented to an extreme by the NX

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2022 Toyota Highlander: maturing SUV remains worthy

The Toyota Highlander turned age 22 in 2022 and it retains its status as a respected midsize sport utility vehicle. Its consistency and versatility have provided long-haul clout. Last year, the Highlander had its best sales year since the three-row family hauler’s debut. Key Takeaways Highlander posts record sales year in a crowded segment: Now in its fourth generation, Toyota’s three-row SUV delivered its best annual total since its 2000 debut despite strong rivals in the Telluride, Pilot, Pathfinder, Ascent, Atlas, and Traverse. 295-hp V6 with eight-speed automatic powers all six trims: Every Highlander gets the 3.5-liter V6, plus Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes standard. Price range stretches from $35,205 to over $50,000: The front-drive L trim opens

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2022 Hyundai Tucson: new, bold, worthy

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, the debut of the small sport utility’s fourth generation, is the South Korean manufacturer’s finest effort to compete against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. It’s a worthy challenger. Unheralded and 13th in small SUV sales in 2021, this year’s Tucson has been redesigned with a sculptor’s bold ideas. It has squared wheel arches, sharp bodywork creases, a radical headlight design and a snarky-looking front grille. More important, the Tucson for the first time is available in three powertrains, a gasoline engine, a standard hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. The latter has a maximum 28-mile electric-only range; the standard hybrid is rated at 37 miles per gallon in city driving, 36 mpg on the highway. Seven

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2023 Toyota Sequoia: vast upgrades for plush, powerful SUV

After five years of only slight changes, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia will debut this summer as a new generation of the large SUV with interior upgrades, technology improvements and a more powerful powertrain. The Sequoia will be offered in two-wheel drive or the available part-time four-wheel-drive system on SR5, Limited, Platinum and Capstone grades. The TRD Pro will be offered only in four-wheel drive. The part-time four-wheel-drive system relies on a transfer case, controlled via a lever on the center console to select between two-wheel-drive, four-wheel-drive high or four-wheel-drive low. One powertrain will be offered, the same i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain in the Toyota Tundra. It will include 437 horsepower and 583-pound feet of torque. The towing capacity has been

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2022 Volvo XC60 worthy wagon as steady as steady gets

Now in its early teens, the Volvo XC60 is the Swedish manufacturer’s best-selling vehicle in the United States and globally. The luxury compact sport utility vehicle reached its tenure-best last year, with sales of about 41,500 in this country. The Volvo XC60’s second generation was introduced in 2017 as a 2018 model. The carmaker describes the 2022 model as the most significant upgrade since. Changes are aplenty. Exterior styling improvements include: subtle differences in the front and rear-end designs, new exterior color options and new wheel designs. Mechanically, a mild-hybrid powertrain is new and optional. The infotainment center has been improved to include an Android operating system and new sensor systems for driving assistance. Volvo XC60: Versatility Reigns What remains

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2022 BMW X4 M: It’s an SUV race car but why?

The 2022 BMW X4 M and the more powerful X4 M Competition are siblings among a handful of vehicles competing in the high-performance sport utility vehicle niche. It’s a difficult automotive segment to fathom. What’s the purpose of a family-oriented vehicle with 503 horsepower and acceleration from zero-to-60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds? Key Takeaways 503-hp performance SUV questions its own existence: The X4 M Competition delivers supercar acceleration (0-60 in 3.3 seconds) in a family vehicle, but the reviewer finds the performance largely impractical for real-world driving. Highway excellence, city compromise: Open-road composure is a BMW forte here, but the stiff ride punishes backseat passengers over every bump. Premium tech with usability gaps: The 3D head-up display impresses

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2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Yes, It’s A (Great) Mustang!

Introduced slightly more than two years ago, The Ford Mustang Mach-E, a battery-electric compact crossover SUV, went on sale a year later to a resounding, universal reaction — that’s a Mustang? Mustang purists scoffed at the 2021 debut model describing it as automotive sacrilege. Other car buyers viewed the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) as innovative — what’s this new Mustang all about? 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: It’s Different Ford viewed its new vehicle with its Mustang nameplate, Mustang identifiers and a Mach-E moniker as a way to differentiate itself from other EV newbies. It’s succeeded. Ford’s first fully-electric crossover SUV offers good looks, comfort, performance and economy. It’s just a Mustang of another breed. The rear-wheel-drive Mach-E with a standard

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2021 Ford Escape PHEV delivers as new SUV option

Following global semiconductor delays, the long-promised 2021 Ford Escape PHEV debuted a few months ago, adding to the longstanding sport utility vehicle’s lineup. It’s a strong addition to the always-expanding segment of family-oriented vehicles. Sales of SUVs are nearing 50 percent of yearly vehicle sales in the United States. With the new Escape, buyers can combine the utility of a family and small business vehicle with the economy of electricity for short excursions. It also continues Ford‘s early entry into the hybrid SUV marketplace, an option that began in 2005. The Escape is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The SUV has a 14.4 kWh battery pack with an EPA-estimated 37 miles of electric-only range and

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New GM troubles, massive lawsuit claims faulty transmissions

The eight-speed transmissions installed in numerous Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, including several trucks and SUVs manufactured by General Motors, are faulty. According to a new class-action lawsuit against GM in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, the automaker shipped vehicles with transmissions with that: “Slip, buck, kick, jerk, harshly engage, suffer abnormal internal wear, sudden acceleration, delay in downshifts, delayed acceleration, difficulty stopping the vehicle, and eventually require replacement of the transmission or its components.” Vehicles affected include: Cadillac ATS (2016-2019), Cadillac ATS-V (2016-2019), Cadillac CTS (2016-2019), Cadillac CTS-V (2016-2019), 2016-2019 Cadillac CT6, Cadillac Escalade/Cadillac Escalade ESV (2015-2019), Chevrolet Camaro (2016-2019), Chevrolet Colorado (2017-2019), Chevrolet Corvette (2015-2019), Chevrolet Silverado (2015-2019), GMC Canyon (2017-2019),

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Welcome back, Ford Bronco: better looking, off-road savvy

It’s been 25 years, but the Ford Bronco is back. The sixth generation of the former compact off-road-geared utilitarian vehicle has re-emerged. It’s available for the first time as a mid-sized, two-door sport utility vehicle. Used Bronco prices have dramatically increased with buyers perhaps remembering the family workhorses from decades ago. The Bronco debuted in 1965 as a 1966 model and as the first SUV. Its fluctuating success was matched against the Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout. The Bronco’s demise was often attached to the notorious 1994 low-speed police chase of former NFL running back O.J. Simpson. He was the back seat passenger in a white 1993 Bronco XLT driven by Al Cowlings on Interstate 405 in Southern California.

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2022 Genesis GV70: An SUV star is born

Nearly 20 small luxury crossover sport utility vehicles are available in 2022 models — Acura to BMW, Infiniti to Mercedes-Benz. All simultaneously have unique and shared traits. The names change; the vehicles often don’t. Further, there’s no exact definition of what makes an SUV or any other car achieve luxury status. The luxury tagline is used to define vehicles offering better performance, plush interiors made with high-end material as well as top-line safety and advanced technology features. The luxury definition was once reserved for luxury-only brands, namely German stalwarts. Several manufacturers, some formerly consider economy-based, have changed the dynamic. Still, how can a new SUV find its place? Genesis GV70: Legitimate Contender Welcome the 2022 Genesis GV70, a debuting SUV.

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2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: Better but not good enough

After seven straight years of increased annual sales, Mitsubishi followed the industry trend in 2020 and stumbled nearly 28 percent, 12 percent more than the industry average. It was a mighty fall for the underdog manufacturer. It annually has the county’s lowest sales among major carmakers. But just when Mitsubishi‘s misfortunes in 2020 (about 88,000 yearly sales nationwide) seemed likely to further dim the brand’s reputation, good fortune arrived. The vehicle didn’t have a 2021 edition, but the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has provided hope. A modernized exterior design, including a streamlined one-window liftgate and bold new lettering (Range Rover-like) have eliminated the staid look of yesteryear. The revamped exterior look includes an increased length by 5.5 inches (including 4

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2021 Volvo XC90: Safe, handsome, EV oddity

Volvo makes cars that encompass the compelling characteristics of Scandinavian design — simplicity, minimalism and functionality. The 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 Inscription oozes with automotive modernism. A three-row, midsized luxury SUV offered for two decades, the XC90 is available in T5, T6 or Recharge (T8) options. The powertrains are mated to trim levels with marketing wizards’ think session wordplay. Momentum (called Inscription Expression for the Recharge powertrain), R-Design and Inscription. The 2021 offerings are largely carryovers from last year, with a few keen changes, for the second edition that debuted in 2016. The T8 plug-in hybrid model is now known as Recharge. The standard features list throughout the lineup is further extensive. Every Volvo model now had front parking

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2024 Honda Prologue SUV

The 2024 Honda Prologue, the first in a pending lineup of battery electric vehicles, will debut in less than three years as the carmaker continues to target its goal of a fully electric fleet by 2040. Few details of the sport utility vehicle were revealed in the recent announcement, but Honda said the Prologue will operate on GM’s Ultium batteries. It will be available in the United States and Canada. An all-electric Acura SUV will also debut in 2024. Honda previously announced its plans for its vehicles in the second of this decade to operate on a new “e:Architecture.” Honda Prologue Begins BEV surge Besides its 100 percent fully electric goal by 2040, Honda says its shorter-term goal is 40

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PREVIEW: 2022 Kia Telluride gets upgrades, new pricing

Prices and upgrades have been announced for the 2022 Kia Telluride, the increasingly popular sport utility vehicle. Introduced as a concept car in 2016, the vehicle debuted in the spring of 2019 as a 2020 model. Named after the town of Telluride, Colorado, the SUV is the largest vehicle Kia has manufactured in the United States. Kia Telluride: Top Sales, Awards Among other accolades, the Telluride was named the 2020 World Car of the Year as well as SUV of the Year. The large SUV had a 28 percent increase in sales from 2019 to 2020. It was the 11th best-selling SUV in the United States in 2020 among the nearly 50 large SUVs offered.   For 2022, the Telluride

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2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat reigns in SUV jungle

Being the biggest, baddest or fastest means a lot in the automotive industry. The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the most powerful sport utility vehicle ever made. It has a few horsepower nod over the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. What’s difficult to determine is why the designations are important. The SUV Hellcat is newly designed to join the other Hellcat sedan offerings. It’s aggressive-looking but not particularly handsome. But multiple badges (side views of an angered wildcat) vault it into a roadshow. The design derives from the name of the American Grumman F6F Hellcat, the main Navy fighter in the second half of World War II. A Hellcat also means “witch” or “a violently temperamental person.” If it’s an important

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