Chevrolet killed the Camaro after 2024, and Ford's Mustang now stands alone as the last traditional pony car rival. So this would seem like the worst possible moment for Dodge to ditch the HEMI V8 that defined its muscle car identity for two decades. Yet here we are — the 2026 Dodge Charger arrives with a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder, standard all-wheel drive, and the kind of performance numbers that make the engine swap easier to stomach. ...

BMW's 2027 iX3 marks a pivotal step in the brand's electric journey, moving from an electrified version of the X3 into a fully re-engineered SUV built in the Neue Klasse platform. This architecture was designed specifically for efficiency and scalability, allowing BMW to deliver greater range and performance while reducing production costs. The headline figures are impressive: the iX3 produces 463 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque, giving it the muscle to compete in the crowded luxury EV segment. With an estimated EPA range of up to 400 miles (approximately 644 km), it positions itself as one of the most capable electric SUVs available. Its two most direct rivals are the Mercedes EQE SUV and the Audi Q8 e-tron. Mercedes leans into comfort and refinement, while Audi emphasizes technology and quattro confidence. Where the iX3 quietly pushes ahead is in its overall coherence. It feels like a single, unified product rather than a collection of individual systems. ...

Toyota has always been a strong pioneer when it comes to EVs. The Prius immediately comes to mind. Yet, the brand wants to create more EVs that resemble its traditional SUV identity, rather than being solely urban-focused. ...

The Grand Sport badge has always carried a certain weight in Corvette lore, born in the 1960s as a clandestine racing project, revived decades later as the model that split the difference between the everyday Stingray and the track-focused Z06. The 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport coupe doesn't just nod to that lineage; it leans into it with a 6.7-liter LS6 V8 that churns out 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque. Those figures aren't just numbers on a spec sheet; they're a reminder that the Grand Sport has always been about balance: enough muscle to thrill, and enough refinement to live with. It finds itself in a familiar arena, trading blows with the Germans and the English. On one side of the ring sits the Porsche 911 Carrera, a benchmark of German precision engineering. ...

Within the modern auto industry, model designs are changing rapidly. This is not the case with Mazda, as the Japanese manufacturer has stuck with the design of the CX-5 SUV since 2017. Yet, despite the arrival of newer and more modern rivals, even within its own stable, thanks to its larger CX-50 sibling, the CX-5 seems to hold its ground. With up to 256 horsepower on offer from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, it delivers more punch than you might expect. Other rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 may edge ahead when it comes to practicality, but the CX-5 still makes a compelling case for itself. ...

8.8/10

The 2025 Audi Q5 Sportback will actually only be introduced a little later in the year, with the carryover version of the second-generation remaining on sale until such time as it is introduced in the USA. Once this happens, the same four-cylinder engine will be tuned up, pushing outputs to 268 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This should help close the gap between the Audi and chief rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and BMW X3. But there are more changes than just a stronger engine, as the suspension is getting re-tuned, and the entire exterior and interior are being redesigned. All of this should definitely launch the third-gen 2025 Q5 Sportback to the top of the pack, where a competent, compelling, and practical SUV should be, even if it does make some sacrifices in the name of style. ...

8.0/10

Ferrari’s most affordable car is never really allowed to feel entry-level, and that is the challenge the Amalfi now inherits from the Roma. Maranello’s lineup has become a very different place in the last few years: the 296 GTB and SF90 push hybrid performance into supercar territory, the 12Cilindri keeps the naturally aspirated V12 alive for the faithful, and the Purosangue proves Ferrari is willing to stretch its own rulebook when the market demands it. Sitting beneath all of that, the Amalfi has a quieter but arguably more difficult job. It has to be the approachable Ferrari without feeling like the lesser Ferrari. ...

The 2026 Honda Pilot continues to play it safe in the midsize, three-row SUV segment, which is not necessarily a bad thing. This family-focused SUV still offers generous space for up to eight passengers, a comfortable ride, and general practicality. For 2026, it arrives as a somewhat refreshed model, bringing subtle styling updates, improved tech, and more standard features to keep it relevant in an increasingly competitive market. ...

While he sedan segment might be seeing a slow global decline, Hyundai remains at the forefront with their Sonata model range. For 2025, the model sees a slight facelift, while buyers will have a choice of three powertrains, starting with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower. The Sonata N-Line trim adds a turbocharger to a different 2.5-liter engine, kicking the power output up to 290 horsepower, while the Sonata Hybrid combines the 2.0-liter gas engine with an electric motor for a total output of 192 horsepower. It is quite a broad lineup for the South-Korean manufacturer, allowing them to compete within the sportier, efficient, and cost-effective sedan brackets. It therefore rivals the two Japanese leaders in this segment, namely the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. ...

9.0/10

Chevrolet is bringing the Bolt back because the industry still has not solved the affordable EV problem nearly as well as it likes to pretend. Not everybody wants their “affordable” EV to be a crossover, and not everybody wants to pay crossover money. The first Bolt mattered because it made long-range electric driving feel ordinary, and the 2027 Bolt matters especially now that the easy tax-credit era is gone and buyers have become a lot less patient with expensive “entry-level” electrics. ...

8.8/10

The Defender name dates to 1983, when Land Rover used it to describe its core product, a utilitarian body-on-frame off-roader built for military use and rough terrain. That original model ran for 33 years before Land Rover discontinued it in 2016. The nameplate was revived for 2020. The 2025 Land Rover Defender model is a midsize luxury SUV available in three body styles. It sits above the Discovery in Land Rover's lineup. All three versions are available with multiple engines ranging from a 296-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder to a 626-horsepower twin-turbo V8 in the new-for-2025 Octa. The Defender competes with the BMW X5, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The X5 leads on fuel economy and on-road refinement, the Land Cruiser matches the Defender in terms of off-road capability at a lower price, and the G-Class is the stronger brand statement but costs significantly more. ...

7.6/10

The 2025 GMC Yukon and its extended-wheelbase sibling, the Yukon XL, remain two of the most compelling options in the full-size SUV segment. It is built to balance both its rugged capability, and excellent comfort. Being GMC's flagship SUV, it also offers plenty of space, a strong towing capacity, and a range of engine choices. ...

8.5/10

After the 2024 overhaul, Porsche expanded the Cayenne lineup in a meaningful way, and for 2025 it does that again with the return of the GTS. The range now stretches from a refined turbocharged V6 to powerful plug-in hybrids and the track-focused Turbo GT, giving the Cayenne one of the widest performance spreads in the luxury SUV segment. ...

8.6/10

With the Polestar 2 aging out of the U.S. and the larger Polestar 3 moving farther upmarket, the 4 is the car now doing the real brand-defining work. It arrives in America after an awkward delay, now built in Busan, South Korea for this market, and that extra time may actually have helped it. The Polestar 4 already had the chance to be criticized, tweaked, and sharpened before U.S. buyers ever saw one in serious volume. ...

When BMW launched the X1 in 2009, the goal was simple: bring the brand's driving DNA to the growing compact luxury SUV segment. Positioned beneath the X3, it gave buyers a smaller, more attainable entry into BMW's SUV lineup without losing the road manners the badge is known for. The 2025 model keeps that spirit alive with a turbocharged four-cylinder producing 241 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That's enough muscle to keep pace with key rivals like the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. ...

8.6/10

The 2025 Hyundai Venue is a subcompact SUV which sits at the entry point of Hyundai's lineup, below the Kona and well below the Tucson. First introduced for 2020, the Venue was built to give Hyundai a presence at the budget end of the small SUV segment. The Venue effectively replaced the role of the Hyundai Accent hatchback as demand shifted from small cars to small crossovers. The 2025 model is available in three trim levels and powered solely by a 121-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive. The Hyundai competes with the Kia Soul, Toyota Corolla Cross and the Nissan Kicks. The Soul offers more cargo room, while the Corolla Cross offers a more powerful engine and the Kicks offers AWD. ...

7.5/10

The Tesla Model X first debuted in 2015 as Tesla's bold attempt to prove that an electric SUV could combine family practicality with supercar-level performance. With the 2025 update, Tesla refined the formula: improved aerodynamics, extended range and a Plaid trim delivering up to 1,020 horsepower. This refresh aims to keep the Model X competitive in a crowded luxury EV market, balancing everyday usability with dramatic design and headline-grabbing speed. Rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and the Audi Q8 e-tron emphasize serene luxury and refined balance, but Tesla's goal is different: to maintain the Model X as the SUV that can haul a family, turn heads with falcon-wing doors, and still deliver acceleration that rivals sports cars. ...

8.6/10