Driven Car Reviews

All New 2024 Lexus TX Is A Premium 3-Row Family Workhorse

To get the family over the river and through the woods, the 3-row Lexus TX will get the job done with a premium attitude. Available in three models (350, 500h Hybrid and 550h+ PHEV), it seats up to seven. And...

GMC Canyon AT4X Is A Deep And Capable Machine

For heading out into the wilderness (and making sure you come back) the GMC Canyon AT4X is ready to rumble right out of the box. It starts with extra ground clearance and underbody protection, 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires, upgraded front...

Toyota GR Corolla Is The Corolla Your Mother Warned You About

“Performance Corolla” is an oxymoron up there with “jumbo shrimp”, but the GR Corolla is not part of the Marvel alternative multiverse. It’s real, and loads of fun. Starting at just $36,995 with shipping from the specialized factory in Japan,...

Buick Envista Has The Style, Practicality And Affordability

Suffering from the sticker shock? Maybe you’d really rather drive a Buick. Seriously. The new Envista has style, practicality, and a price tag that will impress.  It’s not a high-performance machine but for people looking for solid transportation without a...

2024 Subaru Impreza RS Is Affordable And Practical Fun

All-wheel drive grip doesn’t have to break the bank. The Subaru Impreza starts at just over $24,000 so there’s no need to skimp on Fido’s food. The new RS model gets a sport-tuned suspension, unique interior and most importantly, a...

On The Trail With The New 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road

Many Tacoma owners push their trucks in the wilderness. The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma Off Road has enhancements that make it a better trail companion. 33-inch off road-oriented tires on 17-inch wheels, large front brakes, Bilstein monotube remote reservoir shocks...

All-New 2024 Toyota Tacoma SR5 Adds Refinement And Ditches The V6

It's been a long since since there’s been an all-new Tacoma. Generation four is quite the change. It gets a choice of bed and cabin sizes, a fully-boxed frame, multi-link rear suspension on many models plus new i-FORCE turbocharged 4-cylinder...

2024 Toyota Crown Signia and Camry Revealed. Bring On The Hybrids!

Toyota has unveiled the 9th generation Camry and the new Crown Signia. The big news for Camry is, it’s strictly hybrid going forward. All models will be available with either front or all-wheel drive. It gets updated design front and...

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally Is Ready To Get Down And Dirty

The new ­­2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is what happens when a Mach-E GT wants to play in the dirt. With extra shielding underneath and a new raised suspension that includes MagneRide shocks, the Rally should eat up your favorite...

The 2024 Buick Encore GX Gets Stylish Updates Inside and Out

The small Encore crossover has been Buick’s best-selling car for years now. The 2024 Encore GX (the smaller non-GX model is discontinued) gets the brand’s new face from the Wildcat concept vehicle, a new instrument panel and the reimagined Tri-Shield...

2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV is Speed, Grace and Technology

Electrification is perfect for luxury vehicles. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV adds performance and exclusivity to the premium experience. Dual motor 4MATIC all-wheel drive provides the traction to handle up to 677 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. And if...

Is The 2023 Chevy Colorado The State Of The Art In Mid-Sized Pickups?

The days of American brands falling short in the mid-sized pickup market are over and the new 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is proof. It’s handsome, capable, comfortable and powerful. Plus, it’s affordable. The Trail Boss model with standard 4WD and off-road...

The 2023 BMW 760i xDrive Is Packed With Luxury and Tech

If you believe in lucky numbers, the 7th generation BMW 7-Series is a good omen. Available with three different drivetrains (including the all-electric i7) it’ll appeal to a wide number of buyers… so long as they’re wealthy. Tom Voelk checks...

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Can Slash Your Gas Bill

On paper, the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid is what people want these days. It’s three-row SUV that will travel 38 miles on electric power so many owners can get by on a single tank of gas a year (seriously, I’ve...

2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Is Stealthy EV Goodness

The gas-powered GV70 is a well-regarded piece of transportation, but there are people that are still unaware of the Genesis brand.  Even those in-the-know might be surprised to find there’s a fully electric version. The Genesis Electrified GV70 doesn’t get...

Secrets of the Costco TP Trunk Test Revealed!

People have an awful lot of questions about my trunk measurement metric. Here's how it's done, why it's done, and what I do with all that toilet paper once I'm done. And yes, I've heard every joke and comment imaginable...

Best SUV Ever? 22 Vehicles Compete At Mudfest 2023 For The Title!

Looking for the best SUV, crossover or pickup? 22 vehicles compete for the title in Mudfest 2023, a two-day battle royale put on by the Northwest Automotive Press Association. There are categories for 2-row, 3-row, luxury, extreme capability, value, and...

2023 Compass Trailhawk Is A Better Oriented Jeep

With a new engine, transmission and suspension setup, the 2023 Jeep Compass is an improvement over the outgoing model. If you really, truly, honestly believe you’re going off-road, the more capable Trailhawk is the one to choose. It adds skid...

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Is An Elevated Way To Haul It All

As the name implies, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is, well, grander than Highlander classic. There’s more room, crisper design and with the Hybrid MAX powertrain, significantly more oomph. There’s seating for up to 8, and for the first time,...

The 2023 BMW XM Is A Rorschach Test On Wheels

People will either love the 2023 BMW XM or loath it. For sure, it’s a grin a minute from behind the wheel. It’s a dedicated M vehicle, not an M variant like M3 or M5. Plus it’s a plug-in hybrid...

2024 Ford Ranger First Look (And Yes, There’s A Raptor Now)

The 2024 Ford Ranger is coming this fall but you can check it out inside and out now. Tom Voelk offers a preview of the next-generation mid-sized pickup that gets a Raptor version for the first time in the US....

Hands On With The All-New 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Trailhunter, TRD Sport and Limited

It’s been a very long time since Toyota has introduced an all-new Tacoma. At a special sneak preview on the big island of Hawaii, Toyota offered up a first look at the all-new (and it really is all-new) 2024 Tacoma....

The 2024 RZ 450e is the Lexus of Electric SUVs

It took time but Lexus has a new battery electric, the RZ 450e. Built on the e-TNGA platform found under the Bz4X, it’s strictly an all-wheel drive machine (that’s the DIRECT4 badge) with torque vectoring. It's stuffed with Lexus creature...

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid 2023 Gets Things Done With More Refinement

The Honda CR-V has always been a family favorite, the all-new 6th generation is ready to take the brood on their next adventure. The big news? There’s a new hybrid powertrain with more powerful electric motors that are mounted side-by-side...

2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Is The Corolla Cross To Buy

If you think adding a hybrid powertrain to the Toyota Corolla Cross makes it even more of a slug, no. In fact, it shaves nearly 2 seconds off the 0-60 sprint. And then it adds significant efficiency, all-wheel drive and...

2023 Toyota Prius Prime Is An Optimized Plug-In Hybrid

For some owners, a plug-in hybrid is the best of all worlds. There’s electric range to cover the commutes, switch to gasoline for easy long road trips. The 3rd generation Prius Prime (based on the 5th gen Prius Hybrid) is...

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 AWD is Art You Can Drive

Can’t decide between a Henry Moore sculpture and transportation? The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is art you can drive. The Streamliner design is one of the most aerodynamics silhouettes on the road, as low as .22 Cd. Look past the...

Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE is Impressive EV Tech With Weird Spelling

The all-electric Nissan Ariya is a big leap forward from it’s first EV, the LEAF. Competing with Tesla Model Y, Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4, Ariya has something they lack- e-4ORCE. It’s not an algebra...

The 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country Is More Capable Than You Might Think

SUVs and crossovers are in demand these days, but wagons make a whole lot of sense. Especially if it’s the Volvo V60 Cross Country. It runs with the B5 mild hybrid system, it’s easy to load and even easier to...

Lucid Air Grand Touring is an EV With Style, Power and 516 Miles of Range

Is the Lucid Air the most advanced EV money can buy? It’s certainly the most efficient. It also has the fastest charge speed if you travel often. And the EPA-rated range of 516 miles is the best in the business....

2023 Cadillac Escalade-V is Loud, Proud, Surprisingly Nimble and Unsurprisingly Thirsty

Escalade is Cadillac’s halo vehicle bringing in the brand’s youngest and wealthiest buyers. For the first time ever it’s getting the V treatment, which means it goes faster and handles better. Can a 6,200 pound body-on-frame SUV be enjoyable to...

2023 Acura Integra A-Spec Is Back-To-The-Future Fun

What’s in a name? Plenty when it’s Integra. Acura ditched the moniker at the turn of the century. Now that it’s back, can it live up to the lofty expectations that were largely set by the Type-R? Well, for starters,...

The All-Electric bZ4X Is A Pure EV Done The Toyota Way

It would seem that hybrid king Toyota has pushed back against battery electric vehicles. But it does make a BEV- the bZ4X. With a range of up to 252 miles, it’s available in front and all-wheel drive. How does it...

2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro Takes The Family Anywhere

An all-new Sequoia doesn’t come around all that often. The third generation has a few surprises. For starters, it packs a hybrid powertrain with a 10-speed transmission. And the TRD Pro model gets forged-aluminum wheels wearing 33-inch all- terrain tires,...

Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Adds Toughness (But Not Too Much)

It’s no secret that buyers have migrated to crossovers and SUVs. Now it seems like people want a little more machismo from their machines, even if it’s just looks. Nissan adds a little extra bravado to the Pathfinder with the...

2023 Chevy Bolt EUV Redline- More Fun Or Fashion Statement?

The Chevrolet Bolt is a great electric vehicle with some 250 miles of range at a starting price of $26,600. The slightly larger EUV model can now be had in Redline trim. Is it just stripes and wheels or does...

Does The Lexus LX 600 Live Up To Its Ultra Luxury Reputation?

It’s been a while since the Lexus LX has been totally revamped. The all-new LX 600 is more powerful, better planted and runs with an all-new architecture with roots shared with the Tundra pickup. And there’s a new Ultra Luxury...

Kia EV6 GT Is A Fast And Furious Thriller (About That Range Though…)

The 2023 Toyota Prius Is A Fuel Sipper You’ll Want To Drive

It’s quicker, handles better, delivers up to 57 miles per gallon and you won’t feel the need to drive wearing a disguise. The 2023 Toyota Prius is better in almost every way and not by just a small amount. And...

The Best Cars and Trucks I Drove in 2022. And Many Are Affordable. Really!

I get to drive a lot of vehicles, some 80 in 2022. These 11 are the ones that I think are worth looking at, the cars and trucks that are a great combination of value, features, design and capability. The...

Does The Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD Really Get 35 MPG?

Three-row SUVs and crossovers offer families loads of flexibility and space. That’s great, until it’s time to fuel up. The all-wheel drive Toyota Highland Hybrid is rated by the EPA to get 35 miles per gallon in both city and...

2023 Kia Niro EV Has Range And Style. But Charging Speed?

The second-generation Kia Niro can be had as a fully electric vehicle with a solid range of 253 miles. It’s got style to put a smile on your face when walking up to it. And it’s a practical hatchback (though...

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB300 4MATIC EV Is A Smoother Operator

It looks like the GLB but the EQB300 delivers more of a Mercedes experience. That’s because the EQB is fully electric. It keeps the same utility as the gas-powered model but adds a smooth and substantial dynamic. Is it less...

2023 Kia Telluride X-Pro Goes Beyond Suburbia

The wildly popular Telluride 3-row SUV has become Kia’s flagship model. 2023 models get a mid-cycle refresh with the expected nip and tuck on the nose and tail. But it’s two new models that will get extra track- X-Line and...

Can The Cadillac XT4 Sport AWD Take On The Europeans?

The Cadillac XT4 Sport is a compact crossover positioned against Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Mercedes GLB. All of them are entry level premium vehicles. The American competes better than you might imagine, it just depends on what you want...

2023 Hyundai Palisade XRT Affordably Hauls The Crew

Hyundai’s Palisade is a 3-row SUV with room for everyone and a price that’s just right. In fact, the all-new XRT model costs less than the average vehicle and comes standard with seating for 7, lots of advanced electronic safety...

2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V8 Has Bark And Bite

The new Land Rover Defender 110 is rough, tough and leading man handsome. With the new 518 horsepower 5-liter supercharged V8 it adds power and a baritone voice that’s hard to resist. Tom Voelk drives a decked out 110 model...

All-New 2023 Kia Niro Is Affordable Style and Efficiency

The second-generation Kia Niro can be had as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid with 33 miles of electric range, and a full EV. The 2023 model is more efficient, more stylish and more tech savvy. And it starts at under $28,000...

2023 Genesis GV60 Performance Is EV Quick And Stuffed With Tech

The all-electric Genesis GV60 is the brand’s first electric vehicle built on a dedicated EV architecture. It has a completely different vibe than platform sharing Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. Quick, quiet, nimble and packed with tech features, the...

Audi A6 Allroad Hauls It All To The Campsite In Style

Americans (and the rest of the world) love the practicality of SUVs and crossovers. The 2023 Audi A6 Allroad has that plus the performance of a sport sedan since it’s a wagon. And since everyone and their mother is driving...