Awesome Car Reviews

Carving out a fresh space in the Swedish automaker’s performance EV line, the Polestar 4 doesn’t just have a sleek fastback profile; it ditches the rear window entirely. That change might sound odd, but it brings real benefits in passenger space. With a modern, comfy cabin, top-tier tech, a robust powertrain and great handling, it’s a unique and compelling vehicle.

Toyota’s most popular vehicle is even better in its 6th-gen form. The 2026 RAV4 has two new personalities to complement its existing grades. The Woodland offers rugged looks and off-road chops, while the powerful GR Sport was inspired by Toyota’s motorsports team. The new models come solely in hybrid and PHEV variants with horsepower and range upgrades.

Maserati built its legacy on V12, V8, and twin-turbo V6 engines that roar with power and torque. But what will aficionados of this storied Italian car brand think about watts replacing gasoline? Maybe when they strap into the 2025 Maserati GranCabrio Folgore EV and experience its blistering, head-snapping 2.7-second sprint from 0 to 60, their smiles will say it all.

While our sister-site 95Octane headed to Oregon’s woods to test the new Subaru Forester Wilderness, we stuck to Chicago and its suburbs with the everyday Forester Touring Hybrid. Subaru is now offering its popular compact SUV with a fuel-efficient powertrain that puts it toe-to-toe with the competition, while retaining everything that makes it a Subaru.

We were never big fans of the Nissan Murano thanks to its peculiar exterior design. But the latest Murano is new from top to bottom, with crisp, modern looks outside and in. The mid-size crossover offers a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride with up-to-date technology. It its Platinum trim, it sports a cushy cabin that’s as spiffy as more expensive luxury vehicles.

The AMG badge carries expectations of sharp performance, luxury, and a certain level of theater. Mercedes-Benz takes that formula in a new direction with the AMG E53 plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The result? A sleek sedan that blends traditional AMG muscle with electrified efficiency—though not without some compromises.

The current-gen Land Rover Defender blends off-road prowess with upscale refinement. Powered by a mild-hybrid I6, the Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE offers solid performance and terrain-conquering tech. Inside, it’s rugged yet premium, with cast metal trim, ample storage, and comfy seating, making it one of the most capable and versatile luxury SUVs around.

It’s been out for a couple of years now, but this is the first chance we’ve had to drive Ford’s electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning. Offering excellent torque and good driving range with the Extended-range battery pack, the Lightning doesn’t try hard to be futuristic and offers everything you’d expect from a premium F-150, minus the fuel cost and emissions.

If the last few years of Toyota trucks and SUVs felt like a slow-motion teaser reel, the arrival of the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner Trailhunter is the full theatrical release. Built atop the same TNGA-F platform as the redesigned Tacoma, this overlanding-ready rig brings all the off-road upgrades of its pickup sibling and wraps them in a purpose-built SUV body.

For 2026, Genesis turns up the heat on its GV70, adding a crisp new 27-inch OLED screen and a handful of smart updates that make this luxury SUV better than ever. After a week with this beauty, it’s clear Genesis has packed serious performance, head-turning style, and impressive tech into a compact SUV that’s every bit as refined as it is exciting.

We spent a week driving the most potent version of Lexus’ luxury crossover, the NX 450h+ AWD. This well-rounded plug-in hybrid impresses with sharp, modern styling, a quiet and comfy cabin filled with upscale appointments, and a smooth, responsive ride. It’s capable of driving short distances on pure electric power, enhancing its refined performance.

If one type of vehicle nails the balance between fun, performance, and everyday practicality, it’s the hot hatch. After a week with the 2025 VW Golf GTI, that belief is only reinforced. With its punchy turbo engine, sharp handling, and accessible price point, this latest iteration of this German icon proves it still delivers where it counts.

Hyundai calls its new flagship, the IONIQ 9 EV, “pretty at every angle”. We agree. In a sea of SUV styling sameness, we love the Teutonic styling cues borrowed from sleek jets, the windswept, aerodynamic profile, clipped boat-tail inspired back end, and the parametric pixels that punctuate the exterior lighting.

Volkswagen has a long history with vans, dating back to the 1950s. The 2025 ID. Buzz is a modern reinvention of the Microbus that’s roomier, more practical, and much quicker than the O.G. thanks to an electric drivetrain. Now that we’ve spent two weeks driving one, we can confidently say that it’s a fun and functional ride that leaves other minivans in the dust.

The Toyota GR Corolla has all the makings of a great hot hatch: a small, turbocharged engine with ample horsepower, all-wheel drive, performance brakes and suspension, and aggressive styling. For its first two years, it came solely with a manual transmission. Now, a new, fast-shifting automatic does not disappoint and opens the car up to many more buyers.

The V8 HEMI-powered Durango has been a staple of the Dodge brand for two decades. To celebrate this occasion, the performance brand created a special edition of the three-row SUV and loaded it with upgrades including Brass Monkey wheels, performance brakes, sharp graphical accents, and a tricked-out cabin with high-end finishes.