It’s no unibody crossover. The capable body-on-frame Lexus GX 550 is all-new and ready to conquer tough terrain, tow up to 9,000 pounds or deliver a family of seven to the movies. The tough looking sheetmetal rides on a new fully boxed frame architecture that's shared with Tundra, Tacoma and big brother LX. The V8 is gone. Until the hybrid powertrain arrives, all GXs get their motivation from a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 that pumps out 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque mated to a 10-speed automatic. Tom Voelk travels to Tucson, AZ to drive a GX 550 Premium + model in Nightfall Mica.

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 yes, adults can sit in the wayback. Built on the same platform as Toyota Grand Highlander, the TX is assembled in Indiana. Tom Voelk checks out the entire lineup in Austin, Texas and finds there are some key differences between each powertrain.

Lexus provided transportation and lodging for this TX event. Opinions remain purely Tom’s.

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 and rear e-locker differentials plus Multimatic DSSV dampers. Add nearly every technology and feature GMC offers and you get a rugged truck that never makes its owner to walk out of the woods. This does come at a cost though. Tom Voelk takes a loaded AT4X on and off road.

“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, the GR is a performance bargain. 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and structural improvements all help to make it the most potent Corolla to date. And the Gazoo Racing visuals get attention… not always welcome. Tom Voelk checks out a Circuit edition that MSRPs at around $44K.

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 budget brand badge, Buick offers a lot of value here. Tom Voelk drives a mid-tier Sport Touring model optioned up with sunroof, heated seats and steering wheel plus an upgraded rear suspension.

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 more powerful 2.5-liter 4-cylinder. Tom Voelk checks out a fully optioned model in Oasis Blue and finds it frisky and affordable fun, as long as you don’t crave a manual transmission.

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 and an optional sway bar disconnect. Tom Voelk checks out a pre-production unit near Malibu, CA with off road driving instructor Matt Frohlich on a course that’s tougher than it looks (cameras never show how severe terrain is).

Note- these are pre-production truck and some of the finishes and trim were not finalized at this press launch.

Tom attended a manufacturer sponsored event that provided travel, food and lodging. Opinions remain his and his alone.

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 engines. The segment’s 500-pound gorilla is a better truck in every way. But how does it stack up to Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Gladiator, GMC Canyon, and Nissan Frontier? Tom Voelk travels to Malibu, CA to check out a Tacoma SR5 Double Cab 4x4 that retails for around $46,000. 

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 rear plus a more inviting cabin. The Crown Signia is an SUV-like machine that replaces the Venza. It might remind people of Volvo’s XC 70 Cross Country and the Mercedes-Benz E Class All-Terrain. It is also strictly hybrid, and only comes with all wheel drive. Crown Signia will be available in the summer of 2024, Camry should show up on showroom floors in the spring of 2024. Pricing will be announced closer to vehicle launch.

Tom attended a Toyota sponsored event for this preview. 

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 forest service roads. Plus, it gets more sustained power, something that was a bit controversial with the GT. Tom Voelk previews the Rally that should start at around $65,000 when it arrives in early 2024.