The latest new car reviews 

The all-wheel drive Ioniq 5 sees big gains in range even on the XRT example 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman After driving a mildly refreshed ID.4 Pro S and noting some improvements for the German brand, Hyundai serves a reminder of just how far behind Volkswagen remains. Past Ioniq 5s tested by The Road Beat suffered from relatively weak real-world range, but recent updates bring a greatly improved and more consistent dis

The Prius impresses with its plug-in hybrid powertrain 2026 Toyota Prius PHEV review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman I almost couldn’t believe another yellow Prius had arrived on my doorstep. A standard Prius Nightshade in this same mustard hue visited earlier this summer, and I had to make sure it wasn’t back for a repeat and duplicate stay. Relief came only after spotting the extra charging port on this plug-in hybrid example, but the same unfortunat

Dubbed the 1958, this basic SUV shares the same engine, clever 4WD system, and fundamental off-road chops as its pricier siblings, but skips the often unnecessary luxury.

This is not a truck for everyone, and to many, they won’t even consider it a truck at all.

Great gas mileage is not enough to take this hybrid over the amazing inline six version 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman TL;DR: Don’t bother with the PHEV version of the otherwise excellent CX-90 SUV. For a deeper dive into why, check out my review of the standout CX-90 powered by its glorious inline-six engine. Otherwise, stay here for comments and criticisms explaining how the pricier plug-in hybrid ends up being the worst

The interior is gorgeous not just in how it looks but in how it feels to both driver and passengers, and that’s before even mentioning the exterior

2026 Toyota Crown review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman Looks should never singularly define a car, but when a car resembles the Toyota Crown, resisting judgment becomes difficult. Even though Toyota has had recent design successes like the Prius, the brand proves they're still not afraid to serve us something truly mortifying. The self‑pronounced aesthetician of the 20th century, Lord Henry Wotton, said, "...Real beauty ends where an intellectual expr

Now that it matches Tesla’s range, this stands as the best EV at that coveted and fiercely competitive $50,000 price point.

2026 Honda Passport Trailsport review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman I’d been eagerly awaiting a revamped Honda Passport, and when it comes to visuals, this new edition dressed in Trailsport guise nails the mission brief. Purposeful yet not outlandish, this wannabe off-roader channels a bit of Defender-lite flair and finally gives the formerly incognito Passport some well-deserved presence. Unfortunately, despite its rugged makeover, the latest Passpor

The CX-90 continues to wow with its impressive blend of luxury and driving excellence.

This aging lite pickup has its charms, but can't hide its age 2025 Honda Ridgeline Trailsport review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman Honda’s Ridgeline is not a truck that excites upon first greeting, but instead grows on you over time. I haven’t exactly given glowing reviews of Ridgelines in the past, but a reintroduction to Honda’s midsize pickup was welcome after recent drives in Toyota’s new Tacoma—a truck that has ballooned in price with its latest

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman Hyundai’s meteoric rise in quality over the past...

Just avoid the yellow paint. It's far worse in person. 2025 Toyota Prius Nightshade review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell...

A 2025 Monterey Car Week Special by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman Recapping the 2025 edition of The Quail, a...

Progress has robbed the GTI some of its past magic 2025 Volkswagen GTI review by The Road Beat Words and pictures: Mitchell Weitzman In the quest for insatiable speed , the venerable Volkswagen GTI has lost some of its intangible mojo that made past iterations pure enthusiast dynamite. From the humble original to the revolutionary MKV model nearly 20 years ago, the GTI has been a hot hatch mainstay, embodying the highly practical, approachable, and highly attainable performan

A look at some of The Road Beat's favorite pictures taken at the 2025 Monterey Motorsports Reunion A pair of 997-generation 911 GT3s race...

A bland crossover SUV, the luxurious Lexus RX is perfect for those who seek careful transportation 2025 Lexus RX 350h review by The Road...

This is the quickest-accelerating car to 60 mph I’ve ever driven. If you want to melt faces at legal speeds, the Ioniq 5 N considers that mission accomplished in three fleeting seconds.

Unfortunately, all Tacoma TRD Pros come standard with Toyota’s new so-called i-FORCE MAX hybrid engine setup, adding to the bloated cost.

While Toyota's offering was just updated with several improvements including a standard hybrid powertrain, it lacks the charming character and quality of the Accord.

There are areas where it is leaps and bounds better than its geriatric forebear.

Little known to man is more fun than an MX-5 Miata, a stick shift, and an open road 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF review by The Road Beat...

If Honda and Toyota’s latest hybrid sedans just aren’t doing it for you, Hyundai is ready to pick up the slack.

I expected to like the Civic more than I did. Despite ticking the correct boxes for an affordable performance car, a few nagging annoyances left me puzzled, and at times, irritated.