SUVs

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Little Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 SUV is big-time

Mercedes-Benz and its uber-luxury sidekicks AMG and Maybach offer 31 vehicles in 2022 models. Coupes, convertibles, electric vehicles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, roadsters and wagons are all in the mix. Add multiple trims in each segment, and whether via abacus or app, keeping track of the German manufacturer’s extended family of vehicles is a task. Mercedes-Benz Offers Lots Of Choices Even connoisseurs of the carmakers’ stoic vehicles might need a chart to differentiate the GLA 250, GLB 250 and GLC SUVs. The former is a luxury subcompact; the latter is a luxury compact. The Mercedes-Benz GLC is among the competitors of the GLB, which seats as many as seven. Now in its third model year, the 2022 GLB 250 continues

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2022 Ford Bronco Raptor: Beauty of an Off-Road Beast

It’s not for everyone, but there’s something appealing about conquering muddy, boulder-laden lake beds, climbing awkwardly formed rock clusters or boldly going where only a few have gone before. It’s why the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor exists. It’s for those who viewed the 2021 return of the standard Bronco after a 24-year absence as a pedestrian effort. The debuting Raptor is the real deal. It’s huge, a monster off-roader equipped with a 418-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6. It produces 440 pound-feet of torque. It’s propelled with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel-drive system that features selectable G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) mode and 37-inch BFGoodrich K02 all-terrain tires. It will tow 4,500 pounds and the maximum payload is

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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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Concept cars: back to the future again — maybe

Concept cars, also called prototypes, are showcased at auto shows to test media and public interest. The idea began in 1938 with the Buick Y-Job, a specialty vehicle presented as a vision of how future cars might look in 20 years. The idea of forecasting the automotive future stuck. Nearly 85 years later the practice remains, including during the LA Auto Show. Its 10-day run, the show’s first edition since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, ends today at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Themes presented in concepts change. Sometimes a one-off creation is so bizarre its only job is to attract attention. Sometimes, concepts are nearly identical to the production vehicle about to debut. Concept Cars: Will they be

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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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#205, 2021 LA Auto Show back with electric vibe

After one delay and one cancellation, the LA Auto Show is back for the first time in two years. Like many businesses, the automotive industry has suffered. But its first major auto show since the Covid-19 pandemic began will be held Nov. 19-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. David Fortin, Head of Consumer Marketing for the event, is our guest on Episode #205 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Fortin the pending show and the expected highlights. LA Auto Show: It’s Back Founded in 1907, the LA Auto Show has built its reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious auto shows. It hasn’t been held since November 2019. As it did

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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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