The latest new car reviews 

2026 Toyota RAV4 review by The Road Beat No matter what I say here, the new Toyota RAV4 is going to sell in droves. It's been America's best-selling conventional crossover for years, and that likely won't change as long as Toyota can make enough of them. Yet a big redesign—the first since the 2018 model year—should usher in some excitement for such a stalwart presence on American roads. Instead, even with the attractive exterior makeover and impressive hybrid-only powertrain,

The refreshed interior should have happened three years ago 2026 Honda Pilot review by The Road Beat When the Pilot received its major and long-overdue overhaul in 2023, the interior was just not nearly nice enough to properly compare with some heavyweight rivals. It always drove really, really well, but the cheap and downmarket cabin was unbecoming of a brand-new SUV costing well over $50K in the trims tested. Fast-forward three short years, and the interior has been the sub

This is actually a pretty solid crossover, but $38,225 is just too much for an SEL 2026 Volkswagen Taos SEL review by The Road Beat Inflated to $38,225 as-tested, this Taos SEL has trouble justifying a premium price for the small crossover it is. Actually, it's considered a 'subcompact' on paper. Luckily, the Taos starts a helluva lot lower if you can do without some trivial luxuries, which many buyers should consider anyway when shopping for an affordable car. At this as-tes

The cute hatchback from Hyundai is one of the cheapest cars on sale in America today. And I loved it. 2026 Hyundai Venue SEL review by The Road Beat Life can be as complicated as you make it. In an age of overwhelming technology and excess that increasingly seems to mirror the Roaring Twenties of the prior century—how'd that end again?—cheap, cheerful, and simple are a welcome return to form. Remember, this is what normal life used to be like for cars, back when they weren't

This specification is not one I'd personally recommend, but as a supremely comfortable and relaxing driving experience, it really doesn't get much better than this.

The green paint only makes this beauty better 2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo review and photos by The Road Beat It's no secret I'm rather fond of Mazdas, be it their charming sedans, the irreplaceable MX-5 Miata, or their overachieving SUVs. There isn't a better-driving family crossover than the CX-50, and even a few years on from its debut, its core values remain special enough to ward off refreshed challengers, including Mazda's very own CX-5. Picks Vehicles that occupy the space a

Gli Itialiani know a thing or two about car design. A recap of the 2026 edition of the Concorso Italiano from Monterey Car Week Soul. Zest. Intensity. Emotion. These are just a few words that come to mind when thinking of an Italian thoroughbred. They're also what you might find when you ask an internet search engine for synonyms of 'passion.' As stereotypical and trite as it is to call out such overplayed hyperbole, there's simply a reason for their overabundance and use: Th

Features and tech finally worthy of the decade are nice, but even if this TRD Off-Road model can excel in its namesake habitat, it's unfortunately too coarse in the real world.

Then there's the fact that the GTI is now automatic-only. No more manual transmission. I can't help but think adding a clutch pedal and gear lever back into the equation would immediately inject some personality and interaction into the experience.

It's with a genuinely disappointed heart, then, that my first review of a Range Rover leaves such mixed feelings. Not because it's a bad SUV, but because it's so incredibly close to being a truly great one. Many of its shortcomings feel entirely avoidable.

Luxury vehicles should be comfortable in every sense of the word. While the seats and cabin are exceptionally comfy, the ride quality occasionally falls short of expectations. Around town it's smooth and composed, but larger potholes and even some expansion joints send surprisingly harsh shudders through the body instead of cleanly isolating the impact.

nother sign of a well-balanced chassis is how rarely the traction control intervenes because it simply doesn't need to. You can get on the throttle early while still holding your intended line.

I don't plan on owning a crossover or SUV anytime soon, but if I had to choose one, the latest Santa Fe comes remarkably close to my ideal everyday SUV. It's neither too big nor too small, looks fantastic inside and out, and now offers a hybrid powertrain that delivers respectable fuel economy.

The second-generation Solterra is a massive improvement 2026 Subaru Solterra review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman To say that the first version of the Subaru Solterra (and its Toyota bZ4X identical twin) was a dud is not an exaggeration. Thankfully, Subaru has made the Solterra better in virtually every measurable way. Most impressively, it also represents genuinely good value compared with much of its electric competition. This isn't the crossover th

A Ram 1500 with the Hurricane engine does not disappoint 2026 Ram 1500 Express Hurricane review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman It may lack the rumble of a V8 Hemi (as well as the infamous "Hemi Tick"), but the new Hurricane engine available in the Ram 1500 is frankly a bit of a revelation. From both an engineering and productivity standpoint, this first attempt at an all-new twin-turbocharged inline-six is slightly sensational. And with the DT-generati

A typically quality and luxurious Lexus is undermined by poor electric range 2026 Lexus RZ 550e review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman Shame the RZ is so limited by range, because the rest of it is far from a disaster. As a luxury crossover, there's genuine appeal here, helped by a lower-than-expected price for a well-built premium EV. Meaningful updates such as native Tesla Supercharger compatibility through a standard NACS port are welcome, but aren'

Real-world performance is also greatly enhanced. The combination of turbocharging and electric assistance fills in the low end of the rev range, precisely where the old V6 struggled. As a result, even if output rises only modestly to 324 horsepower, the Palisade never feels caught between gears and is readily available to work.

Now the full facelift has arrived, and unfortunately, my experience with this XC90 T8 proved more disappointing than expected.

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.