2022

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2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe Review: Purists’ joy

For some BMW purists, the 8 Series sedan isn’t enough. Fine. How about the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe? It’s quick, stunningly attractive and rare with about 2,000 manufactured for those with discriminating tastes, the need for more performance and possessing deep pockets. Founded in 1965, Alpina, the German customization specialty company, and BMW have maintained a long business relationship. The former works independently but it’s also permanently partnered with BMW. The collaboration morphs into vehicles greater than the sum of the two companies. Key Takeaways Powertrain: a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 612 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, an Alpina-tuned eight-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive. 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 201 mph.

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2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 580: Value-priced, Ultra Luxury

Like sports cars and economy vehicles, what defines a luxury car is blurred in marketing materials and manufacturers’ whims. An ultra-luxury car may be easier to pinpoint since fewer are made. The 2022 Mercedes-Maybach qualifies without any squabble. After its long tumultuous tenure, Maybach ceased as a standalone manufacturer in 2013. Two years later it became a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz. Beginning in 2021, Daimler began to make ultra-luxury editions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and GLS-Class using the name Mercedes-Maybach. The 2022 edition is available in S 580 and S 680 trims. The reviewed S 580 features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 496 horsepower. Both trims have all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The S 680 has a 12-cylinder engine,

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2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance Review: New, upscale, worthy

The automotive industry is always expanding with new niche markets unveiled within broader style segments. Welcome the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance. It’s a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive small luxury sedan. The new Lexus is a few cars in one. It’s ideal for buyers seeking an upscale comfortable and capable sport sedan. The top-performing model in the IS lineup, the 500 F Sport features the same non-turbo V8 engine as its siblings, the LC 500 and the RC F coupes. It also has 472 horsepower, a power surge further bolstered in key areas. A sport-tuned adaptive suspension, Torsen limited-slip differential, larger brakes and 19-inch Enkei wheels fitted with performance tires are also part of the touted performance push. Key Takeaways

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2022 Mazda MX-5 still best-value roadster at age 34

The Mazda MX-5, then called the Mazda Miata, arrived as a diminutive, lightweight roadster in 1989. It’s now reached relic status, a near automotive dinosaur. With its attractive design and low-to-the-ground driving, the MX-5 became the best-selling, two-seat sports car in history in 2000. The one-millionth MX-5 sold 16 years later. Key Takeaways Test car: the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring RF, with a 155-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. $36,105 total price. 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds. 26 mpg city and 34 highway on the figures in the review. Standard safety: forward collision warning, blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. Driving: The MX-5 Miata is at its best while advancing on winding country roads with the top down. The 2022 Mazda

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2022 Genesis G70 challenges luxury foes

Four model years after it received more honors than its upstart manufacturer could have imagined, the Hyundai Genesis G70 is still an unheralded small luxury sedan. Sales are stagnant as the worthy upscale beauty stumbles along against its longstanding rivals. With its makeover for 2022, the underdog is trying again. The Genesis G70 remains in its first generation but much has changed. Key Takeaways Test car: the 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters. $42,100 MSRP and $51,945 with an upscale trim, two option packages and other added features. 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. 18 mpg city and 27 highway by EPA estimate. Equipment: A hefty supply of

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2022 Volvo XC60 Review: 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. Key Takeaways Test car: 2022 XC60 B6 AWD R Design, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 295 horsepower and a mild-hybrid system. $65,890 as tested, up from a $55,100 base price with two option packages. 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds; 21 mpg city, 27 highway. Towing: 3,500 pounds, and Volvo recommends only dolly towing. Trims: Momentum, Inscription

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2022 Toyota GR86: It’s back, it’s flawed, it’s fun

If the criteria for purchasing a new car is driving fun but without supreme acceleration, carrying cargo or children, environmental concerns, the latest technology, comfort or a quiet, serene ride, buy a 2022 Toyota GR86. Its seemingly sole purpose is pure joy. The GR86 scoots around in city driving with ease and it deftly maneuvers along country roads because that’s what it does best. For all practical purposes, the pleasure can be shared with no more than one passenger. Key Takeaways Test car: the Premium trim, with a 2.4-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder making 228 horsepower. $28,635 Base and $31,325 Premium. 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, with the quarter-mile in 14 seconds at 101 mph. 21 mpg city and 31 highway.

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2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz goes big in a smaller way

Introduced as the manufacturer’s first pickup truck, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz addresses a niche market. It’s a pickup truck for buyers who don’t want a truck or at least as previously defined. Available last June as this year’s model, the four-door, front-engine, all-wheel drive is marketed as an Adventure Sport Vehicle. Like the Honda Ridgeline and Ford Maverick, the Santa Cruz has a unibody chassis design, not the ladder frame featured on most pickup trucks. The back seats are comfortable only for children or petite adults. The standard Hyundai Santa Cruz engine is a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder setup with 191 horsepower, 181 lb.-ft. of torque and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s based on its sibling, the Tucson crossover sport utility

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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 Test car: 2022 BMW X4 M Competition, a 3.0-liter six-cylinder with 503 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic. $74,395 MSRP and $90,645 as tested, with the Competition Package, Malachite Green Metallic paint and the Executive Package. 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds. 15 mpg city, 20 highway. Highway: It’s a freeway beast, maneuvering through traffic with authority. Seating: Seating is satisfactory for four adults, tight for

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What’s in a price? Good is cheap in electric vehicles

Cars.com has compiled a comprehensive list of the top 11 current cheapest electric vehicles. It’s a varied list; nine manufacturers are represented. Starting prices range from $28,375 to 44,445. The average price of a new car in the United States for the first time recently surpassed $45,000. Most of the vehicles are eligible for federal and state tax credits and, in some instances, local rebates. The current cheapest electric vehicle available in the United States is the 2022 Nissan Leaf. It has a starting price of $28,375 and has a range of 149-226 miles, with the official estimates to be determined. 11 at $45,000 or less Here’s what Cars.com wrote: “The news for 2022 is that the standard-range Leaf has

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2022 Genesis GV70 Review: 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. Key Takeaways Reviewed engine: 3.5-liter V6 with 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Base engine: 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. $52,600 MSRP, slightly more than $64,000 with

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2022 Mini Cooper Review: Lots of driving fun, logic removed

Twenty-two years ago, several years after it acquired the naming rights, BMW reintroduced the Mini. It was different but with a heritage still affixed to the original two-door compact city unveiled by British Motor Corporation in 1969. The traditional Mini became an icon of British automotive culture. It’s the best-selling British sports car in history. It’s had starring automotive roles in movies and a successful racing career. Its sporting cuteness and unabashed driving fun defined its popularity. Key Takeaways 1.5-liter turbo inline three-cylinder with 134 horsepower, a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic. $22,900 starting MSRP for the two-door hardtop; Signature starts at $26,900 and Iconic at $30,900. 27 mpg city and 37 highway. Four-door hardtops cost $1,000 more than the

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2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid: country’s best new car value?

Car buyers often maintain their brand and style preferences for decades. It’s among the reasons hybrid and all-electric vehicle sales have increased slowly. As an example, the Toyota Prius is now 21 years old. As the first mass-produced hybrid in the United States, it once dominated the country’s alternative fuel vehicle annual sales. But that still represented less than four percent of all auto sales. Key Takeaways 53 mpg city, 52 mpg highway: the Corolla Hybrid’s overall rating is one mpg less than a Prius. Powertrain: a 1.8-liter four-cylinder, two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery, for a total output of 121 horsepower, with a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive. One trim: the hybrid is sold only in the

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Auto Safety Technology That Will Change Driving in 2022

According to an investigation by US DOT (United States Department of Transportation), approximately 94 percent of all car accidents are caused by human error. The remaining two percent occur as a result of mechanical failure.  Improved auto safety helps. This means a considerable number of all driving-related deaths and most traffic accidents are preventable. Fortunately, vehicles have become much safer. Lane departure, forward collision, rear cross traffic and blind spot warning, together with automatic emergency braking, are features currently used, as reported by the NHTSA. Some emerging vehicle safety technologies under development or improvement: 1. Connected Vehicles technology – cars that “talk” to each other A communication system allows vehicles to “talk” to each other wirelessly using a short-range communication

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2022 Honda Civic Review: Best got better at age 50

Fifty years ago, the Honda Civic was introduced as a two-door or four-door subcompact sedan, a three-door or five-door hatchback and a five-door station wagon. It had starting cost of about $1,400 and weighed 1,411 pounds. Simultaneously, not much and everything has changed. The debut Civic’s four-cylinder, 61-horsepower engine, was propelled by a four-speed manual transmission. It advanced from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 10.5 seconds and it had a top speed of 90 mph. The new Civic had a spacious interior, and it quickly built a reputation as environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient and reliable. Key Takeaways Civic Sport: 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 156 horsepower and a continuously variable transmission. $24,095 for the Civic Sport with destination fee. 0-60 mph in slightly

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2022 Acura RDX (Special Edition)

The 2022 Acura RDX, marketed with “refined exterior and interior styling, a dramatically quieter cabin and a retuned suspension,” will debut Sept. 26 at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (California). A hand-crafted, limited-production 2022 RDX PMC Edition will be available at launch. Each 2022 RDX PMC Edition will be adorned in Long Beach Blue Pearl paint with Orchid Milano leather interior, both colors shared with the electrified 600-horsepower NSX Type S supercar. With production limited to just 200 units, it will be Acura‘s most exclusive PMC Edition yet. Each of the vehicles will be individually numbered with a serial plaque on the center console denoting the special edition. According to the carmaker, the standard technology will include wireless

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