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On the whole, the 2026 CX-5 feels like a former standout midsize crossover compromised by a reboot led by boardroom decision-making.

Despite the V6’s characterful sound and enjoyable top-end power delivery, outright performance is underwhelming by modern standards and with limited flexibility.

Past Tucsons always came with a rather large “but.” This latest Tucson has the fewest compromises yet.

There may not be a perfect car in this segment, but in realistic terms, nothing else under $40K brings together this level of style, engagement, and quality. Even without major updates, the CX-30 Turbo continues to punch above its weight in 2026—and remains an easy recommendation.

Toyota simply making a car too good was not on my bingo card. Ever. And yet, here we are. With the GR (Gazoo Racing) Corolla —an all-wheel-drive (GR-Four), turbocharged hot hatch—Toyota has built something that feels like a modern echo of Group B homologation specials. It’s about as un-Toyota as a Toyota can get, especially from the same company that gave us the Prius.

Sure, the beige color doesn’t help, but beneath this deeply unfortunate exterior lies a remarkably good EV—and a surprisingly convincing BMW.

There’s nothing revolutionary about what the Uncharted sets out to do—but it’s surprising how well it executes on the whole still and as a notable step up from the gen-1 Solterra.

It doesn’t take long to recognize a defining trait of modern Lincoln Motor Company products: they’re supremely comfortable. The Nautilus impressed with its front therapeutic seats, and that excellence carries over into the Aviator.

As my second Subaru tested for The Road Beat, I’m starting to notice a surprising and welcome trend: they drive quite well. While not class-leading—Mazda still owns that title for outright driving engagement—the Outback delivers a level of directness and responsiveness that puts it ahead of many a comparable Toyota.

Inside, the dominant theme is screens. Lots of them. If you enjoy screen-heavy interiors, the Nautilus will certainly oblige. For others, the design may feel excessive.

After a week with the Forester Wilderness, I realized something simpler: Subaru fans aren’t part of a cult. Rather, they just might have good taste.

Handling was a revelation for mainstream crossovers when this generation launched, and it remains impressive today. Even as competitors have improved, few feel as composed and eager when the road turns technical.

That said, the real winner here is the consumer. Mazda gives buyers a choice—and depending on priorities, either version may be the right fit.

The NX 450+ is an underwhelming experience that frustrates and disappoints when it comes to the small details that buyers actually have to live with.

Frequently driving in 40-degree weather with the heat cranked, I averaged an astonishing 47 MPG over a week of mostly highway driving, hilly highway driving at that. That’s genuinely impressive and beats recent Priuses for mileage which benefited from more favorable conditions.

Despite the excellent fuel economy of Toyota’s compact hybrid crossover, the niche it fills (half-full) is simply too narrow to earn a mainstream recommendation.

Toyota has quietly made the strongest case yet for what a big family SUV should be. Without resorting to the bloated, luxury-leaning excess of American full-size offerings, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max delivers about as complete a package as you’ll find for $60,000 and less.

Extremely good looks are ready for the TikTok generation 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman TikTok has a pronounced effect on contemporary consumerism. Favoring aesthetics before substance, it won’t be long before endless clips of the new Volkswagen Tiguan flood feeds, buoyed by its genuinely striking looks. And on that front, the Tiguan will win plenty of hearts. But those quick-hit videos and surface-level 'reviews' won’t sh

Yes, modern Volvos are global products, but the lack of outright cohesion here feels deeper than its complicated logistics would even suggest. The end result is a car so uncomfortable that it’s hard to believe anyone truly drove it before signing off.

Against my own expectations, I’ve grown to genuinely love my Nissan S15—converting this longtime skeptic of a drift-era icon into a true S-chassis enthusiast.

Updates have arrived for the VW EV, but it's still trailing key rivals 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman I haven’t enjoyed any stint with the ID.4 since its initial launch five years ago. Four previous examples have underwhelmed, especially when stacked against sometimes superb competition. The 2026 updates have certainly improved the ID.4 in top-spec Pro S trim, but there are still fundamental shortcomings that prevent i

This electric crossover is ballistically fast and reasonably priced, but that's it 2025 Volvo EX30 review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman Well, that wasn’t on my bingo card for 2025 — but then again, neither was cervical disc replacement. For some, especially the unsuspecting, the sheer speed of the Volvo EX30 may be enough to cause potential disc issues of their own. Insurance companies likely won’t love the rapid spread of hypercar‑quick, mainstream e

The standard V6 version tested here is sadly no longer relevant. 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman As beautiful as the Palisade is on the inside, this may be an instance of Hyundai simply going too far. The real trouble with the Palisade has always been the Kia Telluride, its better-looking twin sister. Styling changes have made the new Palisade nearly unrecognizable compared to the 2020 original, and its attempt t

2026 Volvo XC90 T8 Ultra review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman I had really high hopes for the updated and supposedly improved “2025.5” Volvo XC90, but a week with it left me disappointed—mostly by how much hasn’t changed, and the fact that the few changes made actually verge on going the wrong direction. It’s easy to blindly celebrate Volvo for merely existing as a less pretentious Swedish alternative to the typical German luxury fare, but the fundame