Drive It! checks out updated models from BMW and Ford, and goes off road with a beloved old AWD classic.

Every May, the Italian city of Brescia goes car-crazy, as hundreds of vintage models gather for the Mille Miglia. The original rally (1927-1957) featured the latest racing cars. Today, the event is more about faultless navigation and precise driving.

The Outback is a classic crossover. Subaru’s flagship combines the strengths of a station wagon with those of an SUV. And that fusion of the best of two automotive worlds is not just limited to its appearance.

Ford rolls out the latest edition of the sportiest Fiesta: the ST. There’s been a minor revolution under the hood, with the preceding model’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine being replaced by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder unit with cylinder deactivation.

Less than four years after its launch, BMW presents the updated X4. That entails the new edition now sharing its platform with the latest X3. Of the two models, the X4 looks longer, brawnier and more distinctive.

From a family-sized SUV to a perky subcompact, we cover lots of ground in a variety of vehicles! Two of the cars we test-drive build on their predecessors’ success. We also pay tribute to a legendary if clunky vintage French car.

In the R4's 33 years, over eight million were sold - more than any other French car ever. This boxy little hatchback was practical, robust and cheap. It had been tested in the scorching Sahara and wintry Minnesota before it hit the market.

Smaller than its brother the Ateca, larger than the Ibiza, the Seat Arona is part of VW Group’s crossover offensive. The car hit showroom floors last fall, and its 68 color combinations and full connectivity appeal primarily to young car buyers.

Audi is about to roll out its 2nd-generation A1. The re-worked 5-door compact looks leaner and meaner and boasts some technical upgrades. A number of features can be customized. The new version aims to build on the success of its predecessor.

The Fiat 500 was launched in 1957, a cheap car for the masses. It has been reinvented several times, and is now more of a cute retro-lifestyle statement. It’s bigger and technically up-to-date. We test the high-end Mirror trim with a fabric soft-top.