Toyota’s RAV4 is the carmaker’s top selling SUV and the top seller in its segment. And the 2026 model has been made even better and more attractive with significant upgrades. In AWD configuration, RAV4 is offered in LE, SE, Limited and Woodland trim models. 

For starters, RAV4 has been redesigned as its front end takes on a chiseled, almost Lexus look with LED projector headlights. More significantly, the 2026 is now only offered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. We tested the hybrid. 

But that’s now all. RAV4’s interior is ultra-classy with a new 12.9-inch infotainment display, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster and heated/ventilated Softex trimmed front seats along with heated rear seats. 

Then there’s the RAV4 Woodland trim that offers added ground clearance and beefy all-terrain tires for serious off-road jaunts. 

Aside from its good looks, RAV4’s interior is more what you’d find in a luxury sedan. Front seats are heavily padded with good lateral support and are ventilated for hot days. The large 12.9-inch infotainment screen serves a host of apps, functions and features such as drive mode selections, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto wireless connectivity, XM satellite radio, HVAC controls, Rear, front and 36-degree cameras, and lots more. 

The console houses a toggle type gear selector for the CVT automatic transmission. It’s surrounded by a phone charging pad on the lower stack and its nestled between two pods of sort. On the left is the Econ/EV mode switch which allows full electric motoring for short trips, and on the right, are switches for Trail, Snow and Normal drive modes. It’s an all-encompassing design. The only feature I’d like to see is an AWD Lock mode when the going gets extra tough and nasty. 

Over on the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, it not only emits traditional information, but also serves to display drive modes, functions, alerts and more. 

Step-in into the back seat is a mere 19-inches with easy ingress/egress thanks to wide opening doors. And because of an almost flat transaxle hump, there’s decent leg room for a third or middle passenger. And the seats are nicely padded with excellent headroom.  

RAV4’s cargo area is quite spacious with a 27.5-inch lift-over onto the cargo floor. With the second-row seats upright, there’s 37.8 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 38 inches deep, 43 wide and 31 high. Flip the second-row seats and space expands to 70.4 cubic feet for 72 inches of loading depth. There’s some small item storage beneath the cargo floor where items can be stowed within the space-saver spare tire, and in spaces on either side of it. 

Under the hood is a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder that generates a combined (with three AC motors) 236-hp and 163 lb./ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of an impressive 43 city, 37-highway mpg. So powered, RAV4 AWD comes with a 3,500-pound tow rating. In EV mode, RAV4 performs like a full electric car in that acceleration is quick, quiet and head snapping. 

Ride wise, RAV4 is a bit on the taut side but with good handling traits. The 2.5-liter moves this 3,920-pound SUV with ease. 

And with an appreciable 8.1 inches of ground clearance, RAV can handle mild off-roads and modest snow depths. 

For a base price of $43,300, this comes with a host of safety features like panoramic view monitor, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front/rear parking assist with auto braking (a much-needed accident preventer), front cross traffic alert, lane change assist and advanced park (auto parking), rain sensing wipers, plus several more items already mentioned. 
With the only options being head-up display ($600), carpeted floor/cargo mats ($339), door sill protectors ($99), wheel locks ($90), rear cargo hatch lamps ($425), mud guards ($160), low profile cross bars ($320) and delivery ($1,450), they  took the bottom line to $46,883. 

RAV4 is covered by a limited warranty of 3 years/36K miles; powertrain warranty of 5 years, 60K miles; Hybrid components covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles; and complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles. 

With all this, RAV4 is not only a capable, proven SUV, but it offers the best of both worlds of a hybrid powertrain coupled to an EV all-electric system for a quiet, economical ride. It’s a compelling buy. 
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Honda’s Pilot has been the carmakers top selling mid-size AWD SUV for more than two decades. It’s a compelling, three-row family hauler that combines handsome styling, utility with the latest technology. The only Honda vehicle that comes close is their popular, compact CR-V crossover. 

For 2026, Pilot is offered in Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite (that we tested), Black Edition and in FWD and AWD. 

Aside from its exterior good looks, Pilot sports a spacious, attractive cabin with an interior that is classy with heated/ventilated leather trimmed front seats, heated second row seats and a heated steering wheel. A 12.3-inch infotainment display is low profile and doesn’t obstruct forward view. It serves a host of features, functions, navigation, rearview/front view cameras, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, built-in Google access and Wi-Fi Hotspot connectivity.
 
It’s pleasing to see Honda uses large and familiar type HVAC controls instead of putting them on the touchscreen. In fact, Automotive News, the industries newspaper, reports that many carmakers are going back to hard switches as that’s what car buyers prefer. And hard switches don’t take drivers’ eyes off the road as is often needed with display controls. 

Like many new car offerings, Honda uses touch switches for its 10-speed automatic transmission gear selector  that’s mounted on a flat console and is supplemented with paddle shifters on the steering column. Joining it is a Drive Mode toggle switch for Econ, Sport, Snow, Tow, Trail and Sand drive modes. There’s also a phone charging pad in front of the gear selector. 

Over on the 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, it serves a host of functions including displaying selected drive modes and alerts. 

Back on the heated second row seats that have a low 19.5-inch step-in, they’re cushy soft and slide forward to allow easy third-row access that in a pinch, two adults could be seated in the third-row seat. However, it’s more suited for children. The rear of the console has convenient HVAC controls for second row passengers. 

Back in the cargo area, and with a lift hatch that can be opened by merely swinging a foot under the rear bumper, a low 32-inch load height eases loading heavy, bulky items. 

With the third-row seats upright, there’s 22.4 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 18 inches deep, 45 wide and 30.5 high. The third row folds and slides forward for added space. Fold the third row and capacity expands to 60.1 cubic feet for 50 inches of loading depth. And when folding the second row, space increases to 112.1 cubic feet for 82 inches (6.3 feet) of cargo loading depth. 

With a 3.5-liter V6 under Pilots hood, it generates 285-hp and 262 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 19 city, 25-highway mpg. Coupled to the 10-speed auto trans, Pilot carries a 5,000-pound tow rating. 

While Pilot is a hefty 4,678 pounds, the V6 moves the SUV with ease. Power is linear until switching to Sport mode and pressing hard on the accelerator. At 50 mph, the kick-down gets this beauty sprinting with the best of them. 

Parking is a breeze too with a 37.8-foot curb-curb turning radius. And the ride on Bridgestone 20-inch tires is not only quiet, but smooth. Unimproved railroad crossings and nasty road imperfections are mere ripples inside the cabin. This is a true family highway cruiser. The only feature I’d like to see is an AWD Lock switch for when the going gets extra tough, despite Pilot’s appreciable 7.3 inches of ground clearance. 

With an extremely long list of most wanted standard features such as Blind Spot Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Warning, Traffic Jam Assist, Remote Engine Start (nice for cold winter mornings), plus Cabin Talk, for all this and lots more, Pilot Elite carried a base price of $53,495 with the only extra cost being for delivery ($1,495) that took the bottom line to $54,990. This is less than the going price for competitive three-row AWD SUV imports. Plus, there’s Honda’s top build and quality. 
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But this isn’t all. Pilot Elite got top government 5-star safety ratings with a five for an overall score, four each for driver/passenger frontal crash, five for front/rear seat side crash, and four for rollover. These scores alone make Pilot a compelling buy. 

If you’re a car lover and enjoy seeing customs and the rumble of cars of yesteryear, mark your calendar for Aug. 28-30 for the annual Wheels of Time’s 47th Jamboree custom car show. 

The show features rods and customs from 1996 and older. It’s the only show of its kind in Lehigh Valley featuring a long list of events for all family members. 

For those new to the area, Wheels of Time Jamboree started in 1977 by a small group of street rodders that had been “Hot Rodders” back in years the term was used to describe them. They felt a need for an organization to promote Street Rodding in the Lehigh Valley. 

The group started small by meeting in garages with all of them sharing the same ideals and interests. And from that was spawned this three-day event at Macungie Memorial Park. 

Aside from beautiful custom cars and rods, there will be the famous “Teeter Totter” balancing beam where car owners can compete for a prize to see who can keep the beam balanced for the longest time. It’s a great family event. 

There will be hard to find car parts booths for shopping as well as the “Car Corral” for cars on sale, over 200 Swap Meet and  100 Craft Vendors. 

Added family treats include a basket raffle, ladies workshop, bingo, cake and snack walk for the ladies and even kids games including a kids candy toss. All for a full family event. There’s even a church service on Sunday. 

This year’s entertainment will include Bruce Larson’s Nitro Start-Up Friday though Saturday firing up 2 USA-1 Nitro Cars; the Audio Files on Friday at 11:30 AM; New Normal band, Friday at 3 p.m.; Flight Risk at 6:30 p.m. and the show wouldn’t be complete without Flamin’ Dick and The Hot Rods, Sat. at 6:30 p.m. Also on Saturday, Scott Marshall and The Highway Souls at 11 a.m. followed by  Avenue 16 band at 3 p.m. 

For the kids and adults, the Dialed BMX Stunt Show takes place on Sat. with shows at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

All weekend on display will be the car from Fast and Furious, The Mummy Machine car and Keystone Quarter Midget race cars and meet Steve Darnell Friday through Saturday signing  autographs. 

Every year the show donates a portion of proceeds to local charitable organizations. In addition, and to perpetuate and support development of car mechanic skills, Wheels of Time will award a $750 scholarship per semester to those who intend to further their education in the areas of Auto Mechanics, Auto Body and Welding. WOT will also award $750 tool scholarships for those graduates entering the automotive workforce directly. Applicants must live within 50 miles of Allentown, PA to be considered. For more information on this program and the entire show check WOT’s website at www.wheelsoftime.org. 

Gates open each day at 7 a.m. with a $15 admission fee with kids free. A 3-day pass can be had for $30. Active military service members are free with I.D. card. 
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Hyundai’s 2026 Tucson Hybrid compact SUV offers the best of all worlds by offering good economy combined with utility, top safety scores and attractive design for a compelling family go-to vehicle. 

The Tucson is offered in a gas-only version, a hybrid we tested and a plug-in hybrid. The latter is a good compromise for a fully all electric model and it reportedly can provide up to 32 miles on a full charge. 

There’s no mistaking a Hyundai when it’s coming at you on a roadway with its dual vertical array of running lights on its front end. Even its back end with its slick, sculpted styling that ends with a dual pair of arrow-head-like taillights are all Hyundai design. It’s a stance that makes the Tucson look like it’s moving 55 mph standing still. And with 8.3 inches of ground clearance, Tucson can handle modest snow depths. 

Tucson Hybrid is offered in Blue SE, SEL, SEL Convenient and Limited that we tested. 
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Tucson’s interior, with a low 20-inch step-in, is classy and functional with heated/ventilated leatherette front seats, a one-piece, 25.5-inch display that combines a 12.3-inch infotainment screen on the right and an equal size digital gauge cluster on the left. It’s a neat, easy to view, modern design. Added to that, the stalk-type gear selector for the 6-speed automatic transmission is mounted on the steering column and is supplemented with paddle shifters. HVAC controls are touch sensitive and combined with large dials for easy operation plus a phone charging pad atop the console. A toggle Drive Mode switch offers Snow, Eco, Sport and My Drive modes. And there are two features that the competition doesn’t offer and it’s the side view cameras built into the outside mirrors. They’re helpful in avoiding an accident when a motorist of bicyclist sneaks up on the blind sides. These round out a sexy, eye-grabbing cockpit. 

The rear seat is soft and comfy with decent leg room provided the fronts aren’t racked well-rearward. An almost flat floor allows a short-legged passenger to be seated in the middle of the rear seat. Rear passengers also get the pleasure of a full-length moonroof so they can enjoy a skyward view.  

Back in the cargo area, that has a low 29.5-inch high loading height, and with the rear seat upright, there’s 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 38 inches deep, 43 wide and 29.5 high. Flip the rear seatbacks and capacity increases to 80.0 cubic feet for 72 inches of cargo loading depth. 

Beneath the cargo floor is a hard foam bin with a Tire Mobility Kit and shallow bins for small item storage.

As a hybrid, Tucson Limited is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that generates a combined 231-hp and a combined 271 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 36 city, 37-highway mpg. 

As a hybrid, Tucson is exceptionally quiet and when the turbo 4 kicks in, it’s still a relatively quiet SUV with a lot of gusto when needed. And Tucson is a smooth rider on Michelin 19-inch tires. Road imperfections and unimproved railroad crossings are merely ripples inside the cabin. 

With a long list of standard safety features such as  forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning and many more, the only extra cost was for floor mats ($240) that took the base price of $41,823 to, and as Hyundai’s TV person-person whisper portrays …. “See that Hyundai Tucson over there, I only paid ($43,865”). Seriously, the Tucson is an all-encompassing and affordable AWD hybrid SUV. 

And if potential buyers need any more assurance, Tucson Hybrid received top 5-star government safety ratings for an overall score of five stars, four for driver frontal crash, five for passenger, five for front/rear side crash and four for rollover. 

Just as attractive, Tucson comes with the best warranty in the industry of 5 years/60K mile New Vehicle Warranty, 10/100K Powertrain; 10/100k Hybrid System Components; 10/100K Hybrid Battery; 7/Unlimited Anti-Perforation; 5/Unlimited Roadside Assistance.

​With all these assurances, Hyundai Tucson is an unbeatable, compelling deal. 

While crossovers and SUVs are the most popular sellers right now, Toyota’s 2026 AWD Crown sedan offers an alternative if you have an SUV or pickup and want a second or family sedan that offers more than your typical sedan.

Crown is a medium size sedan that almost borders on large. It comes with standard AWD and a hybrid powertrain. It has a slick, raked roofline that gives it a coupe-like look, and with a higher ride height, it allows for 5.8 inches of ground clearance to handle modest snow depths. This is almost as good as some crossover/SUVs. Its LED headlights are tucked under a full-width lid of sort for a custom, sleek appearance. And bumped-out fenders give a racy, sporty look. 

Inside, heated/ventilated leather-trimmed seats are comfy and sensibly bolstered. Rear seats too are heated with ample leg and head room. And the doors open wide for easy ingress/egress. 
A 12.3-inch touchscreen sets within what looks like a one-piece display that includes the 12.3-inch instrument cluster. The touchscreen offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, satellite radio, JBL audio, apps, rearview and front view cameras and more. Below it are easy to operate HVAC controls comprised of piano keyboard style push-buttons that more carmakers are swinging back to because of touchscreen controls that may be confusing and unsafe to use while driving. 

Over on the digital gauge cluster, and since it’s a hybrid, the tachometer was replaced with a power gauge for Charge, Eco and Power settings. This is helpful in that when keeping it in Eco mode, it provides the best driving economy. The gauge also displays driving modes, alerts, functions and features. In front of it and on the column of the heated steering wheel, is a sensor that keeps an eye on driver head movement and will give off a warning if it senses the head is turned away from center and the road ahead. 

On the console, a stubby gear selector controls the 6-speed automatic transmission that’s supplemented with paddle shifters on the steering column. It’s  joined by a toggle switch for Custom, Sport, Normal, Eco and Rr Comfy modes, with selections displayed on the gauge cluster. 

In front of the shifter is a vertical wireless phone charger that is nicely designed as the phone merely needs to be stood up in it, as opposed to laying it down as on many other chargers. 

Back in the trunk and with the rear seats upright, there’s 15.2 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 47 inches deep, 43 wide and 20 high. Flip the rear seatbacks and cargo loading depth expands to 75 inches. Beneath the trunk floor is the space saver tire, jack and tools, but no free space to stow small items. 

Crown Hybrid Max gets its spunk from a 2.4-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder that gets paired with front and rear electric motors to produce an impressive net combined 340 horsepower and a whopping net 400 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 29 city, 32-highway mpg on the Platinum model. There’s certainly no want for power especially in Sport mode and when turbo kicks in. It’s a push-you-back-in-the-seat effect. And the engine was especially quiet in spite of all this grunt. 

Ride wise, Crown was all sedan with smooth, quietness especially when in hybrid mode. Handling too was impressive for an AWD sedan as Toyota’s Adaptive Variable Suspension keeps the Crown planted in sharp turns and it smooths rough roads and unimproved railroad crossings that produce a mere ripple. 

For a base price of $54,990, you’re not only getting AWD but a gas saving hybrid system that includes Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 w/pre-collision, blind spot monitoring w/rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, traffic jam assist w/Drive Connect, front/rear parking assist w/automatic braking, Advanced Park (Crown can park itself), and more. The only option was for Premium Paint ($475) that with delivery, took the bottom line to $56,600. A competitive price for a sedan that goes above and beyond your typical sedan, some of which don’t offer AWD or hybrid technology - the latter of which Toyota has perfected. 

But that’s not all. Crown Platinum earned top government safety scores of a perfect 5 stars as an overall score, 4 for driver frontal crash, 5 for passenger frontal crash, 5 for front/rear seat side crash and 4 for rollover. Quite an incentive when considering an all-encompassing family sedan. 
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Mazda is becoming known as the carmaker with the most crossover/SUVs on the market. There’s the CX-30, CX-30 Hybrid, CX-50, CX-50 Plug-In Hybrid, CX-70, CX-90, CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid and CX-5. And all of them are winners that cater to a wide variety of buyers ranging from singles to families, all of which have a variety of needs. 

We were privileged to test the CX-30, a subcompact crossover that couples luxury accommodations and design with sporty performance characteristics that make it a fun to drive AWD crossover. It also comes with top 5-star government safety ratings. 

CX-30 is offered in 2.5, 2.5S, Select Sport, 2.5 S. Preferred, 2.5S Carbon Edition, 2.5S Premium, 2.5 Carbon Turbo, 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus and new Turbo Aire Edition we tested. 

CX-30 has a handsome stance with smooth, slippery, aerodynamic, elegant styling lines with LED head and taillights. Its rear end has a sporty touch with large diameter tailpipe extensions and a liftgate that sports a slight spoiler look along with LED taillights. 

Inside, CX-30’s cabin is workable in design with familiar, traditional controls and sumptuously padded heated/cooled front seats with synthetic suede inserts for a luxury look and feel. A heated steering wheel is standard. Front seats are nicely supportive and deeply padded.  

Turbo Aire Edition came with a 10.25-inch infotainment display that is controlled by a rotary dial on the console. The display provides Bose audio, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa connectivity along with Mazda Connected services and a host of apps, plus it displays rear and front camera views. HVAC controls below the display are satisfyingly simple and easy to view and use. 

Sharing the console with the 6-speed automatic transmission gear selector is a toggle drive mode switch for Sport and Normal modes. It’s flanked by a wireless phone charger. 

Over on the gauge cluster, it has three large, easy to read instrumentation. It displays drive modes, alerts and functions. 

CX-30’s rear seat is soft and supple but leg room is tight, especially if fronts are racked well rearward then its non-existent. Head room is fine except for tall passengers then it’s a head scratcher. 
Back in the cargo area, it’s rated at 20 cu/ft with the rear seats upright that measures 31.5 inches deep, 40 wide and 30 high. If carrying a golf bag, or two, the rear seatbacks must be folded. When folded there’s 45 cu/ft of space with 60 inches of loading depth. The cargo area has a low 30-inch lift-over onto the cargo floor under which houses a space saver tire, jack and tools, but no room to stow small items. 

CX-30 gets its potent power from a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that generates 227-hp and an impressive 310 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 22 city, 30-highway mpg. Performance is impressive as well, especially when the turbo kicks in. It’s a push-you-back-in-the-seat experience. There’s certainly no lack of passing power when overtaking 18-wheelers.
 
Handling is athletic in that is takes sharp hairpins like a sports car. And it stays planted throughout with Mazda’s G-Vectoring control and i-Active AWD system. 
CX-30 rides quietly and smoothly on Bridgestone 18-inch tires. Its ride feels more like a larger crossover. 

Price wise it’s a huge surprise in todays car market. With a standard feature like lane departure warning, lane keep assist, driver attention alert (notifies driver is eyes are taken off the road ahead), rear cross traffic alert, smart reverse brake support (automatically applies brakes if a vehicle or pedestrian suddenly appears behind when backing), blind spot monitoring, tire pressure monitoring, dynamic stability control and lots more, CX-30 Turbo Aire carries a base price a base price of $34,410. Add to that a cargo cover ($165), illuminated door plates ($575), ceramic metallic paint ($595) and a delivery charge of $1,495, and the bottom line reflected $37,240. An exceptionally affordable price for this much content enveloped in a fun to drive, AWD, potent crossover. 

But that’s not all. CX-30 earned a full five-star government overall safety score, five stars for driver/passenger frontal crash, five stars for front/rear seat side crash and four stars for rollover. All exceptional scores that beckons competitive comparison. 

CX-30 is an all-encompassing, affordable AWD crossover that makes a terrific commuter, college student, retiree and all-purpose family car. Take one for a test drive and you’ll agree. 

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Toyota’s 4Runner has been an iconic SUV for 41 years after debuting in1984. And now, in its sixth generation, it has been updated with the latest technology and freshened design along with a hybrid version that we tested.   

The 2026 4Runner shares the same platform as Toyota’s Land Cruiser, Sequoia and Tacoma pickup. And it’s offered in SR5, TRD Sport Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro and Trailhunter Hybrid that was tested. 

4Runner has a tough looking, go anywhere chiseled exterior. After a tall 25-inch step-in over rock rails that are needed protection when traversing rocky terrain, 4Runner Hybrid Trailhunters’ interior has long-wearing, heated/ventilated, supportive, SoftTex seats. It’s a pleasing cockpit that sports a 14-inch infotainment display that serves a host of functions including Wi-Fi, some voice control, a rearview camera with a close-up rear view, a revolving camera, Multi-Terrain monitor, XM Radio, apps and lots more. 

Below the display are hard switches with rotary dials for HVAC controls that are a pleasure to use instead of display selections that are far too common on cars today, and are often difficult to use at certain times.  

4Runner Trailhunter Hybrid comes with Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 functions that include 4G, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and Trailer Reverse Assist. 

A burly console mounted gear selector for the 8-speed automatic transmission is surrounded by a wireless cell charger in front, and a rotary dial for Sport, Normal, Eco and Tow-Haul modes to its rear. The 4WD mode switch is also selected there for traditional 2H, 4H, 4L gearing. When the going gets extra tough, there’s a rear axle lock and a stabilizer bar disconnect for uneven, rocky terrain. There’s also a Crawl mode that acts like an off-road cruise control.  

Over on the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, it includes a driver information display for alerts, features and functions. And it’s easy to view at a glance.

With wide opening rear doors, they allow easy rear seat access for two adults, or three youngsters as the transaxle hump is low for appreciable legroom. Headroom is ample fore and aft.     

Back in the cargo area, that has a 36-inch lift-over, it has a hands-free liftgate with power rear window that is nice if having to carry long items that can protrude out the open window. 

With the rear seatbacks upright, the area offers 12.1 cubic feet of space that measures 43 inches deep, 46 wide and 29  high. Flip them and cargo space expands to 42.6 cubic feet for 72 inches (a full six feet) of cargo loading depth.      

The cargo underfloor has a full-width, 5-inch deep bin for small item storage. Toyota also included a compressor kit to inflate tires or a variety of inflatables.  

As expected from a sturdy high-stance 4WD SUV, the ride on Toyo 18-inch tall, 9-inch wide tires, is on the taut side. But it’s a planted assuring ride particularly in sharp turns and cloverleafs. 4Runner also parks easily thanks to electric power steering that allows a tight 19.7-foot curb-curb turn diameter. And with an impressive 9.1 inches of ground clearance, 4Runner Trailhunter can easily handle deep snow depths and nasty off-roads. 

Power wise, 4Runner’s iForce Max 2.4-liter hybrid turbo 4-cylinder puts out 326-hp and 465 lb/ft of torque which includes 48 contributing horsepower from the electric motor that uses a 1.87 kWh hybrid battery. And who knows more about hybrid technology than Toyota. So powered, Trailhunter Hybrid was independently tested at 6.7 seconds for a 0-60 sprint. Coupled to the 8-speed automatic transmission, 4Runner Hybrid is EPA rated at 23 city, 24-highway mpg, and carries a 6,000-pound tow capacity rating. 

The 2026 4Runner Hybrid Trailhunter came nicely equipped with a list of most wanted standard features too long to list. The only option was for floor mats ($199.00) that took the base price of $67,700 to $69,394 with delivery. This also includes a 36-month//36K mile basic new-vehicle warranty; 60 month/60K mile powertrain,  60 month/no mileage limitation perforation; Hybrid-related material for 8 years/100K miles whichever comes first; hybrid battery is covered for 10 years/150K miles and is transferable across ownership; plus Toyota Care for 2 years/25K miles covering normal factory maintenance; and 2 years/unlimited mileage for Roadside Assistance. 

4Runner Hybrid came with impressive 5-star government safety ratings of four for an overall score; four for driver/passenger frontal crash; five for front/rear seat side crash. 
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Now this is a lot of 4WD SUV for the money. It’s a good choice for all season, all weather driving, be as a commuter car, trips to Home Depot, or weekend jaunts to the outback for some off-roading adventures. It’s a versatile, hybrid, proven 4WD SUV. 

 






 

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We had the privilege of testing the 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid and found it to be one of the best hybrid SUVs on the market. It combines a good ride, comfy accommodations, an affordable price for its content, and it comes with an impressive warranty. Sportage is also offered as a non-hybrid and a plug-in hybrid version. 

Sportage has distinctive, bold, chiseled styling lines. Its front end has running lights that outline the headlamps and they take on the look of an abbreviated question mark. Sportage’s rear is equally as sculpted with brushed aluminum-look rear bumper that accents its sporty attributes. 

Inside, and with a low 19.5-inch step-in, Kia designers did a superb job featuring a one-piece, 26-inch long display that houses a 12.3-inch infotainment system and another 12.3-inch display next to it for the instrument gauge cluster. It’s a clean, sexy look. The display supports a host of features and functions including rear, front and revolving cameras with overhead view. And when activating left or right turn signals, outside mirrors have cameras that display those blind spots on the display, which is helpful for motorists or bikes sneaking up on that side. 

The infotainment display supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Kia connectivity, XM radio, Harmon/Kardon premium audio and much more. 

Heated/ventilated SynTex front seats are nicely supportive and sofa soft with suede textured inserts. They are enhanced with a console featuring a flush rotary dial gear selector for the 6-speed automatic transmission that is supplemented with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Another eye-catcher is flat bottom heated steering wheel that takes on the appearance of that in an IndyCar. On the steering wheel are two mode selector switches. One for Eco, Sport and MyDrive modes, the other Terrain switch for Snow, Mud and Sand modes. 

There’s also a wireless phone charger built into the fore portion of the console. And above this are touch sensitive HVAC controls that are easy to operate. 

A neat and thoughtful design are twin console mounted cup holders that swivel in to form a spacious bin for small item storage. 

On the heated rear seats, they too are soft and comfy with generous leg and headroom. And with a low transaxle hump, three passengers can be seated provided the center passenger has short legs. Rear seat passengers can also enjoy a full-length sun roof for an expansive view skyward.  

Sportage has one of the most spacious cargo areas in its class. With the rear seatbacks upright there’s 34.5 cubic feet of cargo space that measures 39 inches deep, 45 wide and 29 high. Flip the seatbacks and space increases to 73.7 cubic feet for a generous 72 inches (six feet) of cargo loading depth. Lift-over onto the cargo floor is a low 28.5 inches and with a smart liftgate. 

For ease of parking, Sportage had a self-park feature initiated via the keyfob. And when locking the car, the outside mirrors automatically power inward. 

Sportage Hybrid gets it grunt from a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that generates 177 hp and 195 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 35 city, 36-highway mpg. So powered, Sportage carries a tow rating of 2,000 pounds with trailers brakes, or 1,653 without. And with a curb weight of 3,994 pounds, this little 4-cylinder moves Sportage with surprising ease and quickness. It was independently tested at 8 seconds for a 0-60 sprint. 

And the transition from gas to hybrid and back is seamless and goes virtually unnoticed. The 6-speed transmission is also a quick, smooth shifter. 

Shod with Hankook 19-inch tires, Sportage is a smooth, quiet rider. And it parks easily with a tight 19.3 curb-curb turning radius. With 8.3-inches of  ground clearance, Sportage can easily handle modest snow depths. In fact the week we tested Sportage, we had an appreciable amount of snowfall and with its AWD system, the SUV was sure-footed. It can also handle mild off-roads.

Sportage comes standard with a long list of safety and convenience features such as Lane Keeping Assist/Lane Following Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Warning (if opening a door and a vehicle speeds up upon you), Driver Attention Warning (gives a warning if turning the head away from road ahead) and lots more. In fact, the only extra cost option was for all-weather floor mats ($200) that took the base price of $40, 590 to a reasonable $41,985 with a delivery charge of $1,395. With all the standard content and hybrid powertrain, Sportage AWD Hybrid SUV is a powerful competitor and excellent buy. To make it more attractive, Kia offers a generous and untouchable warranty of 10 year/100K mile powertrain, 10/100K mile limited battery, 5/60K mile limited basic and 5/roadside assistance coverage. 

If you compare this to the competition, it’s a non-regrettable, compelling buy. Take one for a test drive and you’ll be convinced. 

I said it before and I’ll say it again. I have yet to test a Mazda I didn’t like. And that goes for their 2026 Mazda3 AWD hatchback crossover. 

Mazda3 is available in 2.5S, 2.5 Select Sport, S Preferred, Carbon Edition, Premium and Premium Plus that we were privileged to test. It’s also offered in 4-door sedan or 5-door hatchback. 

The Mazda3 AWD Hatchback had an aero swopping, slippery styling design that was enhanced with blacked-out rear spoiler and front air dam. Its interior is also upscale with premium heated leather trimmed, ventilated front seats, a low-profile 10.25-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto connectivity, built-in Alexa, online navigation through Mazda Connect Services, Bose audio, XM Radio and more. And it’s all controlled by a rotary dial on the console. It also serves rear and front view camera systems. 

HVAC controls are simple dials and switches that are easy to view and use. On the console below them, is a wireless phone charger and a hefty gear selector for the 6-speed automatic transmission that’s supplemented with paddle shifters on the steering column. And Mazda3 is one of the few crossovers that is still available with a 6-speed manual transmission. There’s also a toggle switch there for Sport and Normal modes, plus a sunroof. 

Kudo’s goes to Mazda interior designers as it’s one of the rarest cars to have a soft, cushioned dash. Most cars today only offer hard plastic dash boards. 

Over on the analog gauge cluster, the gauges are big and easily readable. That too is refreshing compared to digital one-gauge multiple use type gauges. 

Back in the rear seat, it’s a bit cramped for six-foot-plus passengers. And the rear doors could also open wider. But the seats themselves are soft and comfy. 

In the cargo area, and with the rear seatbacks upright, the area measures 36.5 inches deep, 39 high and 21 wide. It’s spacious enough for two overhead bin size suitcases. Flip the rear seatbacks and space almost triples to 94 inches. 

Mazda3 gets its spunk from a 2.5-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder that generates 227-hp and 310 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 23 city, 31-highway mpg. This powerplant easily moves Mazda3’s 3,417 pounds curb weight with ease. In Sport mode, rpm’s increase by 500 that makes robust and quick acceleration, especially when the turbo kicks in. 

Operationally, Mazda3 parks easily with a tight 17.4-foot curb-curb turn radius. Despite being a short wheelbase compact hatchback crossover, Mazda3 rides quietly and smoothly and its suspension easily absorbs nasty road imperfections. It can be tossed in the turns, and it remains planted. 

One nicety is that upon selecting Park gear, the parking brake automatically engages and disengages upon selecting Drive mode. It’s a thoughtful safety feature that few drivers rarely employ other than when parking on an incline. 

With its AWD system and 5.5 inches of ground clearance, Mazda3 can handle modest  snow depths. Mazda3’s only demerit was that the liftgate was manual, not powered as on some competitor vehicles. But it’s not a heavy gate, that can be lifted with one hand. 

Mazda3 came with an exhaustive list of standard features and safety features such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind stop monitoring, driver attention alert, rear cross traffic alert, rear seat alert, rain-sensing wipers, dynamic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and many more. For all this, Mazda3 carried a base price of $37,890. 

The options list included all weather high wall floor mats ($190), illuminated door sill plates ($575), Snowflake White Pearl paint ($595) plus an appearance package with a long list of features ($1,075) that took the bottom line to $41,560 with a delivery charge of $1,238. Not only is this a competitive price, but it excels with the amount of most-wanted safety features that are standard. The base model 2.5S can be had for a low $25,550. 

With all its attributes, Mazda3 is actually fun to drive and is market-value priced.  

The 2026 Mazda3 comes with a 60 month/60K mile powertrain, 36 month/36K mile new-car limited warranty, plus 24-hour roadside assistance. 

Mazda3 would make a terrific second car, commuter car, college-student or retiree all-weather AWD Hatchback crossover. It has to be driven to enjoy and appreciate all its attributes. 
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As Lexus’s best-selling car, and top selling luxury SUV over the past decade, their RX 350 SUV is a blend of class, quality build, with the latest in technological advancements.  
I must preface this review by admitting my wife owns a 2008 RX 350 and loves it. And with over 60,000 miles on the odometer, she has never had a mechanical problem other than it needed new tires. 

We were privileged to spend a week in the  2026 RX 350h Hybrid that’s offered in FWD and AWD and in seven grades of Standard, Premium, PremiumPlus, F Sport Handling, F Sport Performance and F Sport Design. There’s also a plug-in version.  
 
RX 350h has a bold and sculpted front that has a distinctive look all its own. There’s none like it on the roads. Its back end has chiseled lines that make it look like it’s moving 55 mph standing still. 

This classy theme follows through to the interior, especially the cockpit with NuLux heated/ventilated front seats that is complimented by a huge 14-inch infotainment display that requires some time spent with the owner’s manual to master it. It serves the gamut of HVAC selections, rear/front overhead view cameras, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto 4G connectivity, XM radio, drive mode selections that offer Eco, Normal, Sport and Custom modes, plus many more functions and features.

The console houses a stubby gear selector, with paddle shifters, that it shares with a wireless phone charger and an EV switch for all electric only power for short trips. 

Over on the single digital gauge cluster that hosts multiple purposes including a driver information display that gets signals from the sensor in the steering wheel column when it senses driver inattention to the road. 

RX’s interior door handles are unique in that you give a subtle push and the doors partially open. 

RX 350h’s rear seats are posh and nicely padded with good leg and ample head room and can actually seat three short-legged passengers as the transaxle hump is low profile. The rear of the console offers separate HVAC controls for back seat comfort. 

Back in the spacious cargo area with the rear seats upright there’s 29.59 cubic feet of space that measures 41 inches deep, 44 wide and 29 high. Flip the rear seatbacks and capacity increases to 46.19 cubic feet for 72 inches (a full six feet) of cargo loading depth. And like all Lexus vehicles, it includes a First Aid Kit. Beneath the cargo floor is a space saver tire and jack. 
RX 350h gets its grunt from a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder that combined with the electric motor, generates 246-hp and 233 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 37 city, 34-highway mpg and with a CVT automatic transmission. So powered, RX 350h carries a tow capacity of 1,000 pounds and Lexus tested provided a 0-60 time of 7.4 seconds, and that’s pulling a curb weight of 4,480 pounds. Needless to say, there’s no want for power. 

Ride wise, and inherent in all Lexus vehicles, it was smooth and super quiet, especially in EV mode. Handling was impressive as well as the RX parked easily and made nasty road imperfections a mere ripple. The RX also came with self-parking as can be seen on recent TV ads. 
As for its winter weather driving prowess, RX has an impressive 8.15 inches of ground clearance to handle appreciable snow depths. I’m surprised though that Lexus engineers didn’t include an AWD lock as my wife has on her RX 350. Another quirk, it would be nice if it had a rear window wiper like my wife’s car has. 

Price wise, the 2026 RX 350h came with a long list of standard features such as Lexus SafetySense System 3.0, Blind Spot Monitor w/rear cross traffic alert, Power moonroof, alloy wheels and more. 

RX 35h was base-priced at $56,530 but with the Convenience Package ($1,420) that included several niceties, 14-inch touchscreen as a 9.8-inch is standard ($1,105), and with Drive Connect/Cloud Navigation, Power Rear Door w/Kick Sensor ($150), wheel locks ($99) and Cross Bars in the roof rack ($475), they took the bottom line to $61,229 with delivery. 

To its credit, RX 350h came with impressive government 5-star safety scores of a perfect five for an overall score, four for driver/passenger frontal crash, five for front/rear seat side crash and four for rollover. 
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As said, the 2026 RX 350h offers Lexus quality build with prestigious luxury, and great envy by its competitors.