Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i MotorTrend

I’ve always had a place in my heart for the downtrodden. I attended Northwestern University back when the football team was so awful that defeating equally cruddy Illinois was cause for tearing down the goalposts and for the campus radio to play Tom Petty’s “Even the Losers.” I’m also a fan of the Cubs baseball and Tottenham soccer clubs—organizations with well-worn records in futility. But rejoicing when your lovable losers finally succeed is that much sweeter. As a sports journalist earlier in my career, I much preferred interviewing the losing team—more pathos, more pithy quotes, and more determination to get back out on the damn field the very next day. Eventually, they know they’re gonna win it all. For that reason, I’ve enjoyed watching automotive backmarkers elbow their way into…

A model for the masses The Tesla Model 3 (“Intake,” October) sounds like an incredible car. My only concern is that if this is a car for “the masses,” standard rear-drive even with traction control is problematic in bad weather. The customers Tesla is hoping to attract are I suspect mostly front-wheel-drive owners and are used to having better adverse-weather drivability. In my opinion the Model 3 should be a FWD car with AWD as the option. I appreciate the performance and sporty experience they are trying to present, but in reality that might take a back seat to better control in the snow and rain. GEORGE CARACOST CENTREVILLE, VIRGINIA No one car best suits “the masses.” The masses have a variety of preferences. The Model 3 is trying to…

On the surface, the Q5 has a lot going for it: a future-is-now instrument panel, high-style interior details, and a rip snortin’ SQ5 performance model. What it doesn’t have—or at least our tester didn’t—was properly operating stability control and collision-avoidance software. The Q5 had a startling habit of slamming on the brakes mid-corner in response to nonexistent threats, a behavior every judge experienced when driving moderately quickly on the handling evaluation loop. Audi technicians later reported a busted “level sensor,” which reads how much the vehicle is pitching or yawing and informs the stability control’s response. Audi says it’s never seen this problem before and that it was unique to our tester. Unfortunately, we were not able to repair the Q5 on-site or acquire a replacement vehicle during our evaluation.…

Tlhe Enclave is Buick’s first model to carry the Avenir badge, a subbrand that will bring more luxury to future vehicles in its lineup. Our judges praised its unique styling and ride quality but were disappointed in its equipment levels for a premium SUV. Seabaugh observed that the Enclave Avenir “still suffers from the same hard plastics below the beltline as the Chevrolet Traverse” despite looking somewhat luxurious at first glance. Loh said the package wasn’t stellar: “The Enclave’s third-row headroom suffers due to the rounded roofline. My head hits the roof, and it doesn’t in the Traverse.” On the other hand, the Avenir received praise for its handling on the winding track and for its well-balanced suspension. “The big girl comported herself with unbelievable grace,” Markus said. “I was…

The new Chevrolet Equinox is worlds better than the version it replaces, but for every step forward it takes, the competition takes two. Although significantly smaller than the version it replaces, it feels bigger inside. Thanks to the Equinox’s new platform, Chevy was able to boost rear-passenger space, even engineering away that pesky drive shaft hump in back, making the middle seat actually usable. Chevy also revamped the Equinox’s powertrains. We only had access to the 252-hp 2.0-liter turbo I-4 engine paired to a nine-speed automatic and optional all-wheel drive, but Chevrolet also offers a 170-hp 1.5-liter turbo I-4 and a fuel-efficient 1.6-liter turbodiesel I-4. The top-shelf engine has plenty of power on tap, and the new nine-speed shifts quickly and decisively. The Chevy handles well, too, with exceptional…

When Jeep launched the Compass, we praised its styling and the direction the off-road brand was taking by replacing two old vehicles (the previous Compass and the Patriot) with one. The 2017 Jeep Compass is by far better than its predecessors, but a gutless engine leaves us with a desire for more. Our two testers (in Limited and Trailhawk trims) featured a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine generating 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque and mated to a nine-speed ZF transmission. Every judge complained about the Compass’ slow, hesitant acceleration, which Priddle characterized as “loud and painful, suggesting the Tigershark engine is struggling to deliver.” And the lackluster build quality, such as the yawning panel gaps and cheap interior plastics, was inexcusable. But off the pavement, most of the judges enjoyed…

Not quite an off-roader, not quite a wagon, not quite a sports car—the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe is near the top of the list of pointless things. But it shows how far SUVs have evolved from jacked-up two-box trucks with off-road capability. It’s difficult to make something tall and bulky look sexy and low-slung, but the GLC Coupe carries off the idea with more élan than the larger GLE Coupe. Even so, it’s polarizing. “This is a compromised GLC,” Seabaugh said, referencing last year’s winner. “And for what? A dopey-looking roofline?” The well-appointed interior drew more unanimous praise, however. “Super premium and hugely impressive,” Loh said. Added Priddle: “You feel special as you buckle in.” The entry-level version is powered by a 241-hp turbo-four, and the AMG-massaged GLC43 model is powered…

The C-HR generated endless debate about whether it qualified as an SUV. We even asked Toyota if it ought to compete in Car of the Year instead, but Toyota insisted it’s an SUV. MacKenzie disagreed: “To call it an SUV is as cynical a piece of marketing as has ever been perpetrated on unsuspecting car buyers. The C-HR proves there are limits to what should be labeled an SUV.” Indeed, the C-HR has 0.8 inch less ground clearance than a Corolla sedan and fails three of five EPA criteria defining an SUV (axle clearance, running clearance, and approach angle). A fourth measurement, breakover angle, is not provided in the spec sheet, but the C-HR likely fails that, as well. Moreover, the C-HR is only offered with front-wheel drive in the…

The Finalists If the first two days of SUV of the Year are a sprint through 37 vehicles, the last two are a marathon through seven finalists. Over the next 48 hours, we’d each drive our 27.6-mile Of The Year loop 11 times, thanks to the extra Crosstrek, Discovery, and XC60 variants that help us assess the breadth of their given lineups. After 303.6 miles on highways, rural back roads, canyons, city streets, and industrial byways, we’d each be ready to put our heads together and pick our 2018 SUV of the Year. Proving grounds are great places to test lots of vehicles in a controlled environment over a short period of time, but performance in the uncontrollable real world can make or break a finalist. For example, issues such…

Crawling up and over the hoods of the rest of the field, the relentlessly capable Land Rover Discovery was an easy choice as finalist. We used it to smooth ruts in the deep sand so other contenders didn’t get stuck. With its air suspension, the handsome, capable Disco reduced a jump to a bump and railroad tracks to ripples in the pavement. The fifth generation drops the integraded body-on-frame of the LR4 for unibody architecture with aluminum-intensive bodywork. It also comes with a choice of a 254-hp 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 with 443 lb-ft of torque or a 340-hp 3.0-liter supercharged gas V-6 with 332 lb-ft. The diesel was quieter and more refined, and the eight-speed automatic transmission shifted better, but the gas engine was quicker. Taller sidewalls on the Td6…

With three powerplants, Volvo offers three flavors of XC60. The T5 with a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 and steel suspension has plenty of power and performed best on abrupt bumps. “This is a great SUV to be the base model,” Cortina said. Ayapana liked the price: “There’s a lot of value here.” The T6 adds a supercharger. Ayapana called it the best powertrain here. On the winding course, Loh said its “balance and responsiveness shrunk the T6 down like a little ball into and out of corners.” Markus applauded the weighting of the steering and the “added pleasure of zipping down an engaging twisty road while getting a high-speed, high-intensity Swedish massage” from the seats. The T8 plug-in hybrid can travel 18 miles on electricity, after which the handoff from EV…

If there were a dark horse candidate for this year’s Truck of the Year title, it would’ve been the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. The Colorado has won the Calipers before, and Chevy has made extensive changes to create an impressive off-road version from this dimensionally tidy truck. The new ZR2 gets aggressive bodywork, a suspension lift, Baja-ready Multimatic DSSV dampers, and locking front and rear differentials—making it our trailblazer of choice. “It absolutely crushed any off-road challenge,” Rechtin said. Added Nishimoto: “It glides over rocks and ruts effortlessly.” Under the hood, the 186-hp 2.8-liter turbodiesel I-4 and six-speed auto are untouched, but the 308-hp 3.6-liter gasoline V-6 and its eight-speed auto are new, gaining a few hp and fuel-saving tech to boot. On pavement, the ZR2’s manners are exceptional, its handling…

Avant-badged wagons have disappeared from Audi’s Stateside lineup, but the Allroad name still survives. The A4 Allroad combines standard all-wheel drive with crossoverlike body cladding and more ground clearance than the A4 sedan. The Allroad’s 252-hp turbo-four is paired to a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic that’s responsive and makes the most of the engine’s abilities. From behind the wheel, the picture is basically the same as in the A4 sedan—a car that placed a strong second in an eight-car Big Test comparison in 2017. The available virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster display looks cool, and the interior is sprinkled with smart touches. More than one judge, however, saw room for improvement with the suspension tuning over harsh or otherwise imperfect road surfaces. “It has lots of bounce and rebound,” Seabaugh said…

Those were the golden years, back when BMW’s E39 edition of the 5 Series stormed our shores. But today’s rendition seems to be a softer interpretation as BMW attempts to move away from sport and toward luxury. Part of that has to do with the 5 Series’ roots, sharing its platform with the 7 Series luxobarge. And although its design is a return to the “same sausage, different size” language of the past, the thrill of those old Bimmers is lacking. Nearly every judge was stunned by the lack of feedback from the steering wheel and suspension. “There is an anodyne feel about the car that permeates all of these 5 Series entries,” Markus said. “They have slowly drained the viscera from the driving experience.” That said, the 5 Series…

Usually, a Sport badge on an economy hatch means next to nothing. But the Elantra GT Sport gets more power, bigger brakes, and a multilink rear suspension—making it surprisingly fun to drive. MacKenzie called it “a genuine Golf GTI-lite,” and Seabaugh said it was “a better Civic Si.” The Si comparisons didn’t stop there, either. “The Elantra’s driveline is smoother, the shifter is smoother, the ride is smoother, and so what if it’s a little slower and needs a limited-slip to keep the inside tire from spinning?” Walton said. “I still had a blast on the winding track.” Not everyone agreed, though. “Great package,” Loh noted. “But it’s not the class leader like the GTI. And I prefer the handling of the Civic to this.” He also suggested adding a…

Although Toyota’s egregiously weird Prius Prime shrieks “Hybrid!” Kia’s vanilla Niro whispers “small, practical family wagon.” The Niro’s design is utterly conventional and oddly nondescript for a Peter Schreyer–era Kia. The badges are the only clue it rolls on a dedicated hybrid platform shared with Hyundai’s Ioniq hatchback. Interior room is the Niro’s strong suit. The tall roofline really helps the interior package, allowing plenty of rear-seat leg- and headroom. As with the exterior, the interior execution is pragmatic, especially in the entry-level EX model. “Lots of relentless hard-grain plastic almost everywhere I touch,” Markus said. The load space is wide but shallow. The drive experience falls short of that of the Ioniq. “It’s adequately powered, but passing power just isn’t there,” Seabaugh said. Rechtin noted the suspension transmitted a…

Although electric vehicle historians will inevitably point to GM’s EV1 as the dawn of the modern electric car, its real origin—at least as far as the mass public is concerned—was the appearance of the original Nissan Leaf in 2011. It’s the best-selling electric vehicle in history (with roughly 115,000 sold in America since day one). All of which has created a hushed anticipation for its follow-up, this second-generation Leaf (particularly in light of the 238-mile Chevrolet Bolt EV, which grabbed last year’s COTY Calipers). So when the car’s specs were recently released, one number among them eclipsed everything else. It’s range: 150 miles from its 40-kW-hr battery. (A 60 is expected next year.) Back in the BB-era (Before Bolt), this would have ignited celebrations. We question if it’s enough. Nissan…

We had high hopes for the Impreza after the Crosstrek fared so well in our SUV of the Year program. After all, both nameplates have a lot in common, including the hatchback chassis, automatic powertrain, and refined suspension setup with noticeably superior dampers. “These fancy shocks feel better than most of the family sedans here,” Markus said. “This car handled the worst bumps as well as or better than everything in its price range. Nothing on this drive so far has elicited a rattle or squeak.” Although sharing the suspension, interior bits, and capable CVT turned out to be a blessing, the common 152-hp flat-four continued to be an Achilles’ heel. “There’s no polite way to put this: The Impreza is slow,” MacKenzie said. Markus agreed. “As a base engine…

We continue to swoon before this lovely wagon and nestle into a cabin Rechtin called a cocoon of comfort. “Boasting the same extravagant dash-to-axle ratio, taut surfacing, and crisp character lines as the S90 sedan, the V90 wagon exudes the same confident stance and studied elegance,” MacKenzie said, “though this time it’s infused with just a dash of sportiness, thanks to those rakish D-pillars and the slightly shorter rear overhang.” The 2.0-liter’s initial surge from the supercharger is addicting, and the turbo kicks in just as the supercharger wanes, Seabaugh noted. The V90 handled uneven surfaces better than the other wagons in the field and had less tire squeal and body roll on the handling course, Markus said. But the ride could be more refined. It’s rock-solid at high speeds,…

We should have expected something was up when Walton, tasked with introducing us to the Civic Type R, refused to discuss details. “You just gotta drive it,” he said, eyes alight. He was correct. We liked it so much that we made the unprecedented decision to elevate the Type R to finalist status while leaving the Civic Si behind. There’s no one thing that makes the Civic Type R special—it’s the holistic approach to Honda’s hot hatch that made it so hellacious. And for $34,775, it’ll blow away cars that cost multiples of that amount. “It’s unlike any front-drive car I’ve driven; it’s unlike any hot hatch I’ve driven,” said Walton, who has tested thousands of cars in his career. “This will be remembered for a long time as the…

If Car of the Year were awarded solely on the basis of design, the Lexus LC would drive off with this year’s Golden Calipers. “The design has a lightness and proportion that is nicely gestured and blends with some beautiful surfaces,” Gale said. Added Theodore: “The Lexus LC 500 is a startling sight on the road, with great proportions and a sleek profile.” Many questioned the goofy grille, Insane Clown Posse headlights, and bizarrely shaped A-pillar, though. Design, however, encompasses both the outside and the inside, and the LC 500’s gorgeous interior is about as good as cars get. Said Markus: “I find the finished product striking and engaging—especially on the inside.” As a group, we were smitten by the blue and orange interior trim with white leather seats on…

Speculation and pontification—not to mention about 450,000 preorders. That’s the Tesla Model 3 in a nutshell. Having the chance to spend some time with the car was akin to interviewing an infamously reclusive celebrity. Would it live up to the paparazzi’s stratospheric expectations? In a great many regards, it did. The Model 3’s punchy torque and laserlike handling impressed every judge who buckled in—though at the price of decidedly firm ride quality. The 310-mile range (from the up-level battery pack) is killer. However, the $60,500 price of the fully loaded long-range car put Lieberman in fits over this supposedly affordable EV. Personal aesthetics aside, the Model 3’s design is relentlessly clean and airy (particularly with our car’s optional glass roof). Its interior was more polarizing—some enchanted by its Scandinavian austerity,…

Vast and loud and colorful, the Frankfurt Motor Show displayed the swaggering might of the German auto industry. But although there were plenty of interesting and significant production vehicles making their debuts across the sprawling Frankfurt Messe complex, the buzz was about all the hybrids and electric vehicles we’ll be driving in the next five years. 2017 was the year the future arrived at Frankfurt. Glimpses of that future were everywhere, from the show-stopping Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar with its 1,000-hp hybrid powertrain to a production version of the all-electric, all-wheel-drive, 400-hp Jaguar I-Pace hiding in plain sight under wings and spoilers and a race car paint job on the Jaguar Land Rover stand. These were tangible expressions of product strategies now in play as automakers get ready for what…

THE CRITERIA ADVANCEMENT IN DESIGN ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE PERFORMANCE OF INTENDED FUNCTION EFFICIENCY SAFETY VALUE This is not a comparison test. There is no way to properly evaluate how a $20,000 hatchback measures up against a $75,000 sports car or how a luxury soft-roader would fare against a ladder-frame rock-stomper. Rather, the Motor Trend Car, Truck, and SUV of the Year are an evaluation of every vehicle’s place in the automotive spectrum. All contenders are judged against our six testing criteria relative to their competitive set, thus evening the playing field. In the end, only one vehicle is deemed the finest of its category. Similarly, in naming our Person of the Year, we look at the achievements of the industry’s stars over the past year—the winner being someone who clearly defines…

I’m stuck. Inconceivable. I unclip my seat belt and step out of the molten orange Rogue Sport and into the silty sand of the Mojave Desert. It’s hot. Oppressively so. Especially considering the other 10 judges and I began our evaluations at the Honda Proving Center only an hour earlier. As I step back to evaluate my sandpit predicament, international bureau chief Angus MacKenzie rolls up, bemused, in a blue Maserati Levante. I wave him by and watch as the Levante disappears behind a swirling rooster tail of dust before turning my attention back to the ensnared Nissan. The other judges are busy cycling through the 37 SUVs we have on hand, and our photo and video teams are hard at work capturing the action. I don’t want to bother…

This might sound crazy, but this pint-sized South Korean–built and Opel-engineered American crossover is a compelling little vehicle. Buick ditched the old jelly bean styling for handsome new sheetmetal, cleaned up the cluttered interior by installing a slick Apple CarPlay– and Android Auto-friendly IntelliLink system, and added a slightly more powerful 154-hp 1.4-liter turbo I-4 to complement the base 138-hp engine. For being a stubby, tall crossover, the Encore is surprisingly nice to drive. Sure, the standard six-speed automatic transmission prefers to think of gears two through five as vestigial organs, but once it kicks down, the updated engine is, as Evans put it, “surprisingly stout,” though the little engine gets noticeably coarse as it nears the upper reaches of the tachometer. The Buick handles pretty nicely, too, driving more…

GMC got a lot of the fundamentals right on this one, Evans said of the improved Terrain with a more spirited chassis, quiet cabin, and nicely appointed interior. The bone of contention: reimagining the gear shifter as a row of buttons on the center stack, which you pull for drive or reverse but push for neutral, park, and low. Seabaugh applauded the move to be different. Rechtin and Evans felt it was reason enough to disqualify the SUV. Evans predicted it won’t survive a midcycle refresh. The 252-hp 2.0-liter I-4 paired with GM’s new nine-speed automatic transmission drew appreciation for nice power delivery and quick shifts, though. The interior also got mixed reviews. “It’s quite elegant, almost European,” Loh said. Markus liked the selection of colors and materials, but MacKenzie…

Maserati is a bit late to the luxe-SUV party, yet it’s reaping the rewards—already accounting for 38 percent of the brand’s U.S. sales in the first half of 2016. It will likely become the company’s best-selling model worldwide. What Maserati got right, they really did right: styling, a multisensory driving dynamic, and just a touch of premium interior materials such as the Zegna Mulberry Silk inserts on the seats, door panels, and headliner. It’s even good off-road when adjusted to the right drive settings. This all supports the brand’s reputation and values. All of our judges were impressed with how well the 4,900-pound Maseratis acquitted themselves on the winding road course with their 50/50 weight distribution. The Q4/SQ4 also made good use of that mass and their standard air-spring suspension…

Built on the same platform as BMW’s X1, the new Mini Countryman is bigger and better mannered than the model it replaces. It’s also better groomed inside and out. “The new Countryman presents more practicality in a larger car that is still more fun to drive than most in the segment,” Priddle said. With a lively chassis, the 2.0-liter Cooper S is the most entertaining of the Countryman lineup to drive. Disappointingly, the 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that powers the Cooper and is the ICE component of the Cooper S E plug-in hybrid is a shuddering drudge. Although technically interesting and seamless to drive, the hybrid—the heaviest, most powerful, and most expensive of the Countryman lineup—will confuse consumers expecting a fuel miser. It does deliver superior city efficiency. Everywhere else the…

After nearly 10 years on the same compact platform, the Tiguan finally received a redesign, and it grew by a whopping 10.6 inches in overall length. That allowed Volkswagen to add a third row—not that you’d ever want to use it due to its cramped nature. At its heart, the Tiguan is still a compact SUV. The diminutive Ayapana was brave enough to climb in the back, which he called “an adventure.” Loh described the seating position as “basically on the floor … knees very high and head touching the headliner.” MacKenzie said it was “useless for all but small children.” Although a five-seat version is available with 4Motion all-wheel drive, front-drive Tiguans only come with seven seats. Bummer. The third row wasn’t the only place where our judges showed…

This tasty Italian treat fully embraces the “sport” proposition of sport utility. It is thrillingly quick, nimble around corners, and surprisingly supple over road crud. Yet its off-road competence is questionable, and the infotainment system clearly trails its luxury rivals. Then there’s the nagging question of Alfa Romeo build quality, which we experienced firsthand. Seabaugh perfectly sums up the Stelvio experience: “The Alfa’s existence boils down to moments of brilliance punctuated by others of bewilderment.” Perhaps most impressive is the performance delivered by the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine mated to an eight-speed automatic. (The 505-hp Quadrifoglio version arrives next spring.) But anyone who thinks SUVs can’t be exciting will be instantly converted the moment that second gear kicks in while making an aggressive exit from the dealership parking lot. It’s among…

With base prices of just over $23,000 (Crosstrek Premium) to a few dollars over $27,000 (Limited), the lifted Impreza wagon carries a burly demeanor and playful color palette. This all-wheel-drive problem solver will safely and comfortably get you around town with its new EyeSight safety suite, fuel-sipping 2.0-liter direct-injection engine, and newfound infotainment connectivity—but it also has the capability to get you to the ski slopes, trailheads, and fishing holes as well as any full-scale SUV would. The 2018 Crosstrek impressed the judges with its smooth and sorted ride, its true off-road capability, its 8.7-inch ground clearance, and the prompt and smart responses from its revised CVT. The novelty of the available six-speed manual quickly wore thin, however, because it emphasized the Crosstrek’s biggest liability—a real lack of power. The…

Whether it’s a car, truck, or SUV, the winners of Motor Trend’s Golden Calipers tend to fall into two categories. There are the dashing, dazzling disruptors such as Nissan’s GT-R or Tesla’s Model S. Then there are the quiet achievers: mass-market vehicles with thoughtful engineering and design, rigorous attention to detail, and a deeply intuitive understanding of the demands and desires of the customer. The 2018 Motor Trend SUV of the Year, the Honda CR-V, falls into the latter camp—a supreme example of calm, confident composure that delivers in all categories. “Honda made sure it kept its crown jewel ahead of the field by paying attention to a wide range of details,” Detroit editor Alisa Priddle said. “Others might excel in certain fields, but others don’t put the whole package…

For the 2017 model year, GM gave its heavy-duty trucks a new engine, but neither the Chevrolet Silverado HD nor the GMC Sierra HD were ready in time for last year’s Truck of the Year competition. The updated HDs missed out on a battle royale with the Ram HD and Ford Super Duty—but that might have been for the best. For this year’s competition, GM sent a Sierra 3500 HD dually, which packed the new 6.6-liter turbodiesel Duramax V-8, which makes 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque (up 48 hp and 145 lb-ft) and came mated to a six-speed Allison automatic transmission. That engine felt great when the truck wasn’t under load. “This truck is properly fast,” Seabaugh said. “It has plenty of horsepower from this diesel and an…

The 2018 Motor Trend Car of the Year program started out as so many of them have for the past seven years: with me stopping off to grab three bottles of good whiskey—to be consumed in the evenings once our cast and crew were safely ensconced at our hotel, naturally. As James Joyce wrote in Ulysses, “The bards must drink and junket.” To put it in the parlance of our times, we had 46 cars to test and evaluate in two weeks of intense Mojave Desert heat and wind. Do you know how much bickering that could entail? A good stiff drink or two is essential for inspired debate. Before the editors arrived to judge the field subjectively, our hard-bitten advance team of testing director Kim Reynolds, road test editor…

This is probably the best Civic Si in years, Seabaugh noted. “But that’s admittedly not saying much.” He’s right, and much of that goodness is in the bones as a result of the 2017 redesign and its 1.5-liter turbo-four. Regarding performance, however, we looked up 1999–2014 Si coupes and sedans that we tested, and this eighth-generation Civic Si landed literally midpack. Progress? It barely matches its own benchmarks. Admittedly, the 2017 Civic Si’s fuel efficiency trounces its predecessors (check that box), but is that the mission of an Si? When fitted with the optional summer tires, all the judges complimented the car’s grip and largely neutral attitude on the winding track, with some even remarking on the electric-assist steering’s ability to relate the front tires’ information to the driver. Where…

The Hyundai Ioniq is available in three flavors, a gas-electric hybrid version, a plug-in hybrid (not available in time for Car of the Year), and a fully electric car. We mostly liked the Ioniq, but no one fell in love with it. Why? Have you ever heard the old saying that a camel is a racehorse designed by committee? That applies here. “To fit both a gas tank and an internal combustion engine meant that Hyundai had to put the battery under the rear seats, which means the electric version doesn’t have as much range as it could have, and the hybrid/PHEV versions have to have structural accommodations for the bigger, heavier battery that they don’t have,” Seabaugh said. Long story short, the Prius is better as a hybrid, and…

Unlike Europe’s luxury automakers (and Cadillac), Lincoln has long ignored the temptation to make its luxury sedans sporty. Lincoln stays in its posh lane with the new Continental, and its flagship four-door is all the better for it. The Lincoln Continental is the brand’s first proper full-size luxury sedan since the Town Car. Unlike the V-8-powered and rear-drive Town Car, the Continental is available in front- and all-wheel drive, powered by your choice of a trio of V-6 engines offering 305, 335, or 400 hp—and the latter gets 400 lb-ft of torque. All three V-6s are mated to a six-speed automatic. The Continental might have revived the legendary nameplate, but most judges found it missed the presence of its forebear. “There’s a generic look about this car that neither harks…

The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are all grown up, and both have come together to form the 718 family. Although the Boxster and Cayman names live on to denote roadster and coupe models, Porsche’s revamped entry-level sports car gets extensive changes underneath the tweaked sheetmetal. The biggest change in the 718 family: the two new engines mounted behind the driver’s seat. Gone are the flat-six engines, and in their place sit your choice of turbocharged flat-fours, either a 300-hp 2.0-liter or the far superior 350-hp 2.5-liter. Both engines power the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a PDK seven-speed twin-clutch automatic. The base 718 Cayman makes good power, but it’s the less charming of the two engines. The gearing on our PDK-equipped example felt a touch too tall…

Most editors agree: This is one giant leap for the Camry. The TNGA platform underpinnings make this car lighter, stiffer, roomier, and better-handling. It looks better, too. Gale praised the car’s overall gesture and improved stance, but he found some details overwrought. Still, in a vacuum—or an underinformed marketplace—it shines and will sell like Patti Cake$. But side-by-side comparisons with the Honda Accord reveal disappointing lapses in the Camry’s refinement. The doors slam with a tinny clang, the idling four-cylinder vibrates the car, and the automatic electric parking brake actuates noisily. MacKenzie: “The Camry appears expensive from a distance, but when you look closely, the fit and finish isn’t all that great.” Seabaugh saw some interior issues. “This infotainment system is quickly lagging behind the competition—you can’t even get CarPlay,”…

The Finalists The next morning began our standard finalist drive loops. Because we had gotten our high-speed thrills out of our system at the proving grounds, for the most part the loops were uneventful. (I got pulled over by a friendly Tehachapi officer for something or another but was let go with a warning.) The talk at lunch was mostly about how good all the finalists are and how the argument the next day should be a knock-down, drag-out type of affair. I developed some sort of flu and headed back to my room as soon as the loops were done. Everyone else went off on a photo shoot and then dinner. A pounding on my door woke me up at around 9:30 p.m. It was Ed and Frank. They…

It might seem surprising to see a budget subcompact hatchback reach the finals of our Car of the Year competition. But every one of our judges walked away from the Kia Rio impressed with how much car you get for well less than $20,000. After all, it’s a lot harder to build a great car for $20,000 than for $40,000. “The Kia Rio is a great value: good looks, great interior, spritely, quiet, and can be fun to drive,” Theodore noted. Priddle was similarly impressed. “The Kia Rio might be the sleeper of the group,” she said. It shows the maturity of the automaker that it can offer a high-quality starter car. Of note was the color selection of the Rio’s interior trim pieces. No longer merely cheap and cheerful,…

Porsche’s Panamera looks like a four-door sports car. It drives like one, too. But the real genius of the Panamera is it’s also a practical limousine when you need it to be. With the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive on the base model, three body styles (regular, the wagonlike Panamera Sport Turismo, and the Executive, which features a longer wheelbase) and five powertrains (including two hybrids), Porsche offers an impressive 15 Panamera models ranging in price from $85,000 to $194,800. Bandwidth? This Porsche has it. Michael Mauer’s redesign has removed the hunchback look of the previous model. With tighter proportions, a better stance, and, as Gale noted, surfaces and graphics that are “all Porsche,” this Panamera is a looker. The interior is contemporary, elegant, and finished with great materials,…

It’s become de rigueur to declare driving dead. If we are headed for autonomous transport, ask the pundits, why bother having fun behind the wheel? Just clamber into your soulless people hauler, select “Stultifying Ambient Tedium” on your Pandora playlist, and tune out. At Motor Trend, dear reader, we are not ready to give up the fight even if the morning commute is more slog than slalom, more torture than torque. We contend that a schlep through shoreline traffic should not extinguish individuality. Driving great distances because you can is a deep-rooted American tradition. It is the declaration of independence of the industrial revolution. It is our automotive destiny. We embrace the decreasing-radius corner, the back road’s unexpected undulation, the hairpin with a dusting of gravel at the apex. At…

Tesla’s product unveilings are notoriously wild nights. If you’re with the press, you’re outnumbered by a rooting section of invited owners who show up psyched, chic, and ready to party. Hors d'oeuvres waft by every 15 seconds. A rock beat pounds away, the lighting in nightclub mode. When Elon Musk finally takes the mic 90 minutes late, his halting improvisation only adds to the edginess. But he’s preaching to the faithful, and they don’t care if he’s polished or not. WORLD EXCLUSIVE The Model 3 is a celebrity on wheels, injected into the middle of the general public’s consciousness. In the case of the Model 3, Tesla engaged in a moment of stagecraft genius: a real-time reservation counter appeared on the screen behind the three cars rotating on their turntables.…

Two years ago, Mazda stole the Tokyo auto show with the RX-Vision concept, and Japan’s lithest automaker is back for a repeat with the stunning Vision Coupe and Kai concepts. The Vision Coupe is sure to draw the most attention; it’s a classically proportioned four-door coupe concept Mazda says is a statement on the future of its Kodo design language. Much of the look is inspired by the RX-Vision, including the long hood, rear-drive dash-to-axle ratio, fastback roofline, deconstructed grille, and small, round taillights. Mazda says a “less is more” philosophy drove the design, leading sculptors to emphasize curves and minimize hard lines. Particularly striking features include the low hood, quad exhaust, all-glass roof, and restrained use of polished metal accents. Mazda has given no indication as to what powers…

Chris Bangle has designed cars for Opel and Fiat, but he’s best known for his controversial work as design chief for the BMW Group from 1992 to 2009—whereupon he left BMW and the industry. He formed a design firm and is getting back in the automotive space, helping an unnamed client create a “natural” car, with details still to come. We spent time with the outspoken designer at the Frankfurt auto show in September. Interview I would like to see every brand evolve based on research and question-asking. I’d like to see it based on new technologies and ways of doing things.” What did you think of the cars at the Frankfurt auto show? There are some interesting concept vehicles. I think the most outstanding one is probably the Borgward…

THE LINEUP Alfa Romeo Stelvio . Audi Q5 . BMW X4 . Buick Enclave . Buick Encore . Buick Envision . Chevrolet Equinox . Chevrolet Traverse . GMC Terrain . Honda CR-V . Hyundai Santa Fe Sport . Jeep Compass . Land Rover Discovery . Maserati Levante . Mazda CX-5 . Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe . Mini Countryman . Nissan Rogue Sport . Subaru Crosstrek . Toyota C-HR . Volkswagen Atlas . Volkswagen Tiguan . Volvo V90 Cross Country . Volvo XC60 THE JUDGES Ed Loh, editor-in-chief . Mark Rechtin, executive editor . Angus MacKenzie, international bureau chief . Alisa Priddle, Detroit editor . Christian Seabaugh, features editor . Scott Evans, associate editor . Frank Markus, technical director . Chris Walton, road test editor . Erick Ayapana, associate road test editor…

Like them or not, we have BMW to thank for the onslaught of fastback SUVs sweeping the industry. Seeking to keep things fresh, BMW updated the X4 lineup with the X4 M40i, powered by a 355-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 mated to an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive. It joins the base X4 xDrive28i’s 240-hp 2.0-liter turbo I-4 in the lineup. Fastback SUVs are designed to be sportier and more fashion-forward than their more traditional counterparts. To that end, the X4 misses the mark. Sure, the two X4s are fast, but more important than that, they aren’t much fun to drive. Both X4s ride harshly and have poor body control. More worryingly for a brand whose tagline is The Ultimate Driving Machine, steering feel is unnecessarily heavy with little in the…

Buick sold 2016 model year Envisions, so why is it vying for the 2018 SUV of the Year? Good question! The media was not invited to drive it until deep into 2017, which suggests a lack of confidence in the readiness of this Chinese-designed and -built CUV for the U.S. market. Was greater confidence warranted? Sound level and on-road ride quality seem brand appropriate. “It’s noticeably quieter at idle than the Equinox or Terrain,” MacKenzie said. Dickie observed that “ride quality on the 110 freeway was rounded and controlled.” But Evans likened the seats to “a leather-wrapped park bench: hard, flat, and uncomfortable,” with the back seat enjoying vast amounts of legroom but compact shoulder room. Multiple editors noted how different the interior looked relative to the other Buicks—most found…

Tlhe Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is essentially a short-wheelbase, five-seat version of the Santa Fe. Competing directly against the Nissan Murano and the Ford Edge, the Santa Fe Sport has two engine options and features a two-tone interior. First, although many automakers send us tarted-up versions of their entries, kudos to Hyundai for having the guts to send a proper base model. Our 2.4-liter tester came with a dual-tone interior composed of cheap, hard plastics and a price tag of $26,310. “Hyundai does a better job than GM of making cheap materials look lush,” MacKenzie said. On the other hand, the Ultimate AWD tester was decently equipped, and we preferred its performance. Markus said its 2.0-liter turbo “makes all the difference in the world,” adding that “it’s much more fun…

Mazda gets us. This is, after all, an enthusiast magazine that also speaks to consumers, so when an SUV turns up that handles like a sporty sedan, we get excited. “Mazda brings the fun, even to SUVs,” Priddle said. “The CX-5 is sized to appeal to a wide band of consumers. It accelerates nicely, tackled the winding course with vigor, and sounds and feels good while doing it. The back end wants to step out for an extra little dose of fun.” A touch too much fun for some consumers, we suspect. The CX-5, particularly the up-spec Grand Touring trim, is eager to rotate when cornering aggressively. Although stability control prevents things from getting out of hand, it’ll catch some buyers off guard. This is an enthusiast’s crossover through and…

It’s a tricky segment: Larger than a subcompact SUV and smaller than but priced nearly on top of a compact. That’s the niche Nissan is seeking to fill with the city-friendly Rogue Sport. Dickie described it as “a perfectly decent car for empty nesters who want to get away for the weekend.” The Rogue Sport suffers from being underpowered, with a mere 141 hp underhood. Seabaugh described the Rogue Sport’s acceleration as “like a boat … it confidently and capably saunters forward, gathering speed.” But it’s hardly quick, and the CVT moans like an old man getting up from his favorite reclining chair. The ride, with a planted chassis unperturbed by road crud or washboard, is excellent for a SUV of this size. Unfortunately, once off-road in our silty approximation…

The judges all want to own this wagon, but we would be a minority. Despite its gorgeous lines, chic interior, and off-road prowess, few people will discover this beauty on their way to buying a more traditional SUV. “This is an excellent all-around vehicle that makes a strong case for the superiority of the all-wheel-drive wagon over the traditional SUV,” Evans said. The 316-hp I-4 mated to an eight-speed auto does well on a winding road, cruising and dicing like a luxury sedan. The Volvo’s 8.3 inches of ground clearance make it adept off-road, too. “There’s something about this that screams, ‘Drive hard, put away wet,’ ” Seabaugh said. However, MacKenzie said the ride does not deliver the poise and serenity that its fabulous design promises. The seats are spacious…

We expected a typical generational upgrade from the dozy last-gen Traverse, but we found ourselves awarding the newbie high marks in nearly all of our criteria. Chevy’s sharp new look translates surprisingly well to this full-figured CUV. The weight loss and superbly tuned nine-speed automatic advance its efficiency standings, and in terms of performance of intended function it trumps the rival VW Atlas. Here’s a sampling of the love. Seabaugh: “The interior materials quality is noticeably higher than in the VW Atlas.” Evans: “The handling is excellent for the size and weight, and the new automatic maximizes power delivery without always grabbing the highest gear no matter what.” MacKenzie: “The Chevy proved better on the off-road sections than the Volkswagen—quieter, smoother, more comfortable, and more enjoyable. Linear steering with meaty…

Statistics suggest that minivan customers are regular defectors to big three-row SUVs. So the intended purpose of these jumbo utes is to serve as socially acceptable minivans. And although none perfectly matches both the passenger and cargo capacity of a minivan, VW’s new Atlas comes about as close as any to carrying people with equivalent ease and comfort. “If space is your No. 1 concern and a minivan is off the table,” Seabaugh said, “it’s tough not to recommend the Atlas.” Its savvy packaging quickly earned it a finalist bid. “It’s huge,” Loh said. “Like really, really, really big. The room inside is ridiculous.” We praised the Digital Cockpit, infotainment touchscreen, and the third row fit for adults (but without vents or USB ports). The interior materials quality was likened…

THE JUDGES: Ed Loh, editor-in-chief ▪ Mark Rechtin, executive editor ▪ Alisa Priddle, Detroit editor ▪ Christian Seabaugh, features editor ▪ Chris Walton, road test editor ▪ Alex Nishimoto, associate online editor ▪ Miguel Cortina, Motor Trend en Español editor THE LINEUP ▪ Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 ▪ GMC Sierra HD ▪ Ford F-150 Fancy suspensions, high ground clearance, and knobby tires. Our 2018 Truck of the Year competition bordered on Off-Roader of the Year, thanks to three entrants packing hardware aimed at rock crawling and desert racing. Although they’re specially equipped, that doesn’t entail a free pass from the rigorous towing drills or extensive judging criteria applied at every TOTY competition. Chevrolet was eager to send two examples of its off-roading midsize Colorado ZR2 armed with Multimatic shocks—one featuring a…

Ford gambled more than $1 billion and abandoned seven decades of steel bodywork to create a 2015 F-150 with an aluminum body. Dropping a claimed 700 pounds would improve fuel economy, increase towing capacity, improve power-to-weight ratios, and create a truck with fewer parts subject to rust. The move was bold and expensive. Two truck plants closed for 13 weeks each to gut the body shop. Months of downtime meant the lost sale of 60,000 trucks valued at $40,000 or higher, followed by a slow rollout. Ford endured a year of lost market share and profits. Critics called it an unnecessary and costly mistake. Once the new F-150 arrived, Ford had to fend off GM's allegations that aluminum wasn't as tough as Chevy steel. And Ford still was trailing the…

THE LINEUP Alfa Romeo Giulia . Audi A4 Allroad . Audi A5 . BMW 5 Series . Honda Accord . Honda Civic Si . Honda Civic Type R . Honda Odyssey . Hyundai Elantra GT . Hyundai Ioniq . Infiniti Q60 . Kia Niro . Kia Rio . Kia Stinger . Lexus LC . Lincoln Continental . Mercedes-Benz E-Class . Nissan Leaf . Porsche 718 . Porsche Panamera . Smart Fortwo . Subaru Impreza . Tesla Model 3 . Toyota Camry . Toyota Prius Prime . Volvo V90 THE JUDGES . Ed Loh, editor-in-chief . Mark Rechtin, executive editor . Angus MacKenzie, international bureau chief . Jonny Lieberman, senior features editor . Alisa Priddle, Detroit editor . Christian Seabaugh, features editor . Frank Markus, technical director . Kim Reynolds, testing…

Acommon A5/S5 sentiment during the evaluation phase of our Car of the Year contest : “I like it. There’s really nothing wrong with it. I just don’t love it.” MacKenzie rightly posited that both of these cars feel evolutionary, not revolutionary. What they do well is what every new Audi does: showcase sheetmetal stamped and assembled with the exacting attention to detail otherwise found on Savile Row. You won’t find a single contender this year with lines so crisp, panel gaps so tight, and details so elegant (like the clamshell hoods’ cutlines, which start the crease that runs from tip to tail). The same elegant touch holds true inside. The A5 earns a majority vote for the cleanest, most sophisticated interior in the biz. We especially appreciate the engineering and…

Minivans frequently serve as innovation incubators, and Honda’s own imagineers are following up their fourth-gen Odyssey HondaVac breakthrough with CabinWatch and CabinTalk. The former lets parents keep a fisheye on middle- and third-row kiddos even when they’re in rear-facing child seats, and the latter broadcasts front-row voices of authority over the rear speakers or headphones. Loh found them “fun, if a bit gimmicky,” while Rechtin likened Talk’s fidelity to “doing a sound check onstage at Cabaret Metro in Chicago.” Honda’s fabulous 10-speed automatic earned big Engineering Excellence points by helping the Odyssey outrun a Chrysler Pacifica Limited by 1.1 seconds to 60 mph while ranking 1 mpg better in the city. Of course, the plug-in Pacifica Hybrid arguably overcompensates for such engineering deficits. Performance of Intended Function rules in the…

Most of us remember the Infiniti G35 from about a decade ago—a premium sports coupe that could put a smile on anyone’s face, thanks to its power and predictable handling. Now called Q60, the higher-performance Red Sport 400 model we tested is quick and stylish, but it lost its soul along the way. When looking at the current field of premium coupes, the Infiniti Q60’s unique and striking design immediately stands out. “I like the exterior styling a lot,” Loh said. “Buyers will be attracted to this because it presents as premium but doesn’t look like anything else on the road.” The best part—and an important one—about the Infiniti is the engine. The 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 is strong and responsive, providing quick acceleration. However, the coupe’s chassis has a hard…

Never in recent memory have two variants of the same model been so wildly divergent. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe and wagon are both heavily revised variants of the latest E-Class sedan, yet they both feel like they come from different planets. The E400 wagon is the more charming of the two. Although it shares its 329-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 and nine-speed automatic with the coupe, its longer wheelbase and less aggressive wheel and tire package make it an absolute sweetheart to drive. “It feels carved from steel and rebar-reinforced granite,” Lieberman said. The interior is special, as well, with thick leather and elegant pinstriping. The back seat’s space was disappointing, but Mercedes makes up for it with two old-school rear-facing jump seats in the spacious cargo area. “The E-Class sedan…

Smart is the name, and small is the game. Too small for most Americans, though. The Fortwo’s size makes sense in old, extremely dense European cities, but it doesn’t for wide-open North America. When you factor in the 58 miles of range, the math just doesn’t add up. The small size is great for maneuvering in and around tight spaces (we love the tiny turning radius) and for the fun handling it provides. The light weight coupled with the instant torque of the electric motor only complements the fun-to-drive factor. Some might like the quirky design elements, and the braking feel is great for an EV. But that’s where the success ends for the Smart Fortwo. The Smart’s rough ride and questionable highway driving characteristics can be partly attributed to…

If you want the best Prius Toyota offers, is the plug-in Prime the way to go? Opinions were divided on whether the Prime’s aesthetic changes from the standard Prius transformed the car into one that was less ugly or just a different ugly. Still, we admire Toyota’s dedication to differentiation—especially those too-cool taillights. Looks debate aside, the Prius Prime is a decent performer on efficiency and range considering a base price comfortably below $30,000. The Prius Prime can go up to 25 miles on EV power alone before the gas engine kicks in to help, for a total driving range well over 600 miles. The Prius Prime drove around the winding track “with less tire squeal and drama than the Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro,” Markus said. That doesn’t mitigate…

Ordinary midsize sedans rarely quicken the pulse, but the stylish and dynamic Honda Accord’s strong lineup of new engines and transmissions delivered it a strong runner-up finish. The EX trim offers a 1.5-liter turbo and seamless CVT with the feel of natural shift points and impressive fuel efficiency. Move up to the 2.0-liter Touring for a 10-speed automatic and a “lovely adaptation of the fiery Civic Type R motor into a John Doe car,” Walton said. We applaud the inclusion of a six-speed stick to the lineup, but the throws and clutch uptake could be more precise. With flat manners and quick delivery of power out of turns, the Accord is more fun to drive than most would expect from a midsize sedan, Seabaugh said. Gale noted the minimalist design…

Kia’s Stinger was one of six all-new COTY contenders this year, and other than the Model 3, it was the most anticipated. Since the Stinger’s debut at the 2017 Detroit auto show, Kia has been pretty mouthy about how its four-door coupe would lay wurst to the brats from Audi and BMW. Does it live up to the hype? Oh ja. “The Europeans better watch out because for a first effort at building a BMW beater, the Kia Stinger is impressively accomplished,” MacKenzie noted. Markus seemed to agree in his notes: “As grand touring conveyances go, this one ranks pretty highly in terms of grace, space, and pace. Korea is delivering German grand-touring performance at a substantial discount. High marks.” Opinions split on the performance of the turbo-four Stinger and…