Sometimes bigger isn’t always better. Large SUVs don’t always fit in garages, and they cost more, especially at the pump. And because high-end technology is no longer limited to luxury models, even small SUVs come with tons of affordable features. But what if you actually do need the room? Is it worth the upcharge? Honda’s …
Despite the popularity of off-road SUVs like the Wrangler, muscle cars still loom large. Perhaps the best example is the Dodge Challenger, unchanged in 13 years. But its sales have grown with the help of high-powered models like the Hellcat and Demon, and it’s also earned above-average reliability scores from Consumer Reports. In contrast, the …
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a lot to offer. But while it’s a reliable luxury off-road SUV, with features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, compared to other Jeeps, it’s lacking that little spark of insanity. True, the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk offers the 707-hp 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8. But there are Wranglers with 6 wheels, …
Sometimes, older vehicles can still keep up with their newer counterparts. Even off-roaders: a used 4Runner is just as capable as a new one, for example. However, while used off-road SUVs can be bargains, their technology is also dated. This even applies to the Mercedes G-Wagon: the luxury off-roader has really only seen two significant …
Charging, arguably more so than battery capacity or chemistry, is one of the biggest limitations to widespread EV adoption. Supercapacitors could theoretically cut charge times, but they’re not production-ready. And although hydrogen fuel cells can refuel as quickly as ICE vehicles, the infrastructure isn’t there yet. New fast-charging stations, and fast-charging EVs like the Porsche …
Mercedes is no stranger to oddball ideas. This is the automaker that grafted an extra axle and pickup bed onto a G-Class, after all. There’s also been E-Class pickups, G-Wagon pickups, and a luxury Unimog. But for although the German company can do luxury well, there’s one type of vehicle that doesn’t appear in its …
When it comes to reliable off-road SUVs, the Toyota 4Runner has a lot to offer. New or used, the body-on-frame SUV, especially in Toyota TRD Pro trim, can keep up with icons like the Jeep Wrangler and Land Cruiser. However, family trips in the 4Runner can be inconvenienced by the tiny 3rd-row—that is, if it …
As pickup trucks have grown, there’s been a demand resurgence for trucks that scale closer to cars. Car-based trucks, aka ‘utes’, like Chevy’s El Camino, once formed a popular segment, though it’s been dormant for some time. Chevy first attempted to bring it back with the SSR. Honda and BMW then made some functional one-offs …
Chasing racing success and improved performance helps motorcycles, too. Harley-Davidson made great waves with its flat tracker bikes. Honda’s bikes have won the Paris-Dakar 6 times now, and its CB750 was the first to be called a ‘superbike.’ But there’s one brand that’s perhaps the most-closely tied to racing: Ducati. Over the years, the Italian …
The original Willys Jeep inspired the creation of quite a few iconic off-roaders. Not just the Jeep Wrangler and its CJ predecessors, but the Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, the original Land Rover, and Nissan Patrol. The original Jeep design was so popular, Mitsubishi even built a licensed version of it. Unfortunately, one company’s decision to …
In recent months, the electric pickup truck market has gained new competitors. Hummer’s coming back in all-electric truck form, and GM’s Lordstown plant has been recommissioned for electric pickup production. Perhaps that’s the motivation behind Rivian’s latest announcement. Fresh off the heels of new investments and feature introductions, the company has revealed the R1T electric …
Porsche’s current reputation has much to do with the iconic 911. It’s evolved from a simple sports car into something that can out-accelerate and out-handle some supercars. And classic 911s aren’t some delicate garage display, either. Singer restores them into over-engineered works of art, for one. And for another, it was the 911’s presence in …
Sometimes, automakers use legal loopholes to skirt emissions and crash-test standards. Other times, it’s those very standards that keep some very sweet wheels out of our hands. This means, usually if you want a non-US-spec vehicle like a Nissan Patrol, Toyota Century, or Toyota Celica GT4, you have to wait 25 years. However, there are …
New or used, the Toyota 4Runner tends to be an amazingly reliable SUV. The SUV’s reputation and off-road capability mean even older models tend to retain their value. However, not every Toyota 4Runner is bullet-proof. The 4th-gen, 2003-2009 models tend to be the most problematic, especially the early ones. Although rust and paint issues are …
It’s hard to find an SUV that has a reputation like the Toyota Land Cruiser. It can off-road like the 4Runner, with luxury like a Range Rover—only it’s way more reliable. And it comes with 3 rows of seats, so the whole family can get in on the experience. Unfortunately, new Land Cruisers start at …
Rallying has created some very cool vehicles. Mitsubishi, Nissan, Mercedes, Fiat, and Lada, have all duked it out in Paris-Dakar. Porsche took its famous 911 sports car rallying and inspired a massive trend. Through the World Rally Championship, Lancia arguably helped create the modern car. And your AWD SUV wouldn’t exist without the Audi Ur-Quattro. …
Currently, Toyota only offers the 4Runner with a V6. But the 4th-gen 2003-2009 Toyota 4Runner also offered a V8. The 4th-gen Toyota 4Runner has had some notable issues, rusting frames being particularly egregious, but the later 2007-2009 models are just as off-road-capable as new 4Runners. YouTube team Throttle House called the 4th-gen 4Runner’s V8 one …
For off-roading or family-hauling, the Toyota Land Cruiser has a long history of reliably doing both. Although its US sales have dropped as of late, the SUV enjoys a great reputation around the world for being able to conquer and survive practically anything. New ones aren’t exactly cheap, but they’ll keep working after Range Rovers …
Chevy has released a number of Silverado special editions in recent years. Some, like the Rally editions and Redline concept, focus more on improving the truck’s looks. Others, though, like the High Desert edition, are for people who like to off-road their Silverados. A few years ago, Chevy released the Silverado Realtree special edition, in …
Normally, driving a pickup truck on snow and ice requires some good snow tires for better traction. And if the roads are really bad, you either add wheels or take a Sherp ATV. But there is an alternative: ditch the wheels, and give your truck tank tracks. More than a gimmick, these tracks transform how …
Horsepower is actually pretty cheap these days. You can walk into a Dodge dealer and get a sedan with 707 hp. Soon, the engine that makes that crazy amount of power will be in an off-road pickup truck. Ford can crank 332 hp out of a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder–not to mention the 800-hp Dragon Snake …
Roush Performance has modified several Fords over the years. The tuner has boosted Mustangs, and its parts have shown up in SEMA Rangers. Recently, Roush unveiled several Ford F-150 packages. They range from minor off-road features to Raptor mods, to the F-150 Nitemare, a 650-hp truck-shaped missile. Now, the tuner is collaborating with 5.11 Tactical …
Normally, a Mercedes G-Wagon (aka G-Class) isn’t exactly a bargain. The SUV retains its value surprisingly well for a luxury off-roader, and even old models can sometimes sell for six figures. Usually, the only way to get a G-Wagen on the cheap is to get one from the military. However, it is still possible to …
The automotive world is no stranger to scandals. Some are the result of genuine product flaws or company misrepresentation, such as with Takata’s airbags and Volkswagen’s diesel vehicles. Others, though, like Audi’s unintended acceleration debacle, stemmed from driver error as much as product design. Which begs the question: which category does the Consumer Reports scandal …
Although EPA regulations may kill them, Ford’s Super-Duty trucks have been the base for quite a few impressive builds. EarthRoamer turned an F-550 into a carbon-bodied camper, and an F-650 makes for an impressive street-legal monster truck. But one thing you can’t get is a Super-Duty Raptor. Ford’s Tremor package, and Long McArthur Ford’s Baja …
In discussing possible ways Nissan could save itself, we briefly touched upon what made Nissan’s past products desirable: performance. Nissan has made some incredible high-performance vehicles, ranging from JDM forbidden-fruit to rally-conquering SUVs. But what set Nissan, and indeed, most Japanese carmakers, from brands like Porsche or Ferrari was how attainable their sporty vehicles were. …
Understatement of the year, but Nissan’s not feeling so hot right now. Beyond the scandals surrounding the former CEO, the automaker’s sales have slumped, and popular models like the Frontier, Pathfinder, and Armada struggle to stay competitive. Even the Titan full-size pickup truck is having a tough time. Nissan’s newest CEO, Makoto Uchida, recently came …
In the automotive world, a spark of insanity can sometimes be a good thing. It’s what brought about six-wheeled Mercedes G-Wagons and Jeep Wranglers. It’s what inspired one man to take a Mini Cooper pickup truck and put a twin-turbo V8 in the bed. And it’s why some people off-road tiny Japanese pickups. Now, that …
If you really want to prove how good your off-road vehicle is, you take it rallying. Porsche proved its Cayenne in the Transsyberia Rally; Ford, Honda, and SCG duked it out in Baja for similar reasons. Lancia and Audi achieved fame at the World Rally Championship. But for most of the world, the most grueling …
The EPA is getting more serious about emissions, especially from heavy-duty trucks. While it’s good news for those who have to suffer smog and coal-rollers, some aftermarket companies and automakers are worried it may affect their business. But there’s a new problem on the horizon. It’s not from the EPA, but emissions and air pollution …
Although the Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner aren’t built on the same platform, the truck and SUV do share a few things. They’re both body-on-frame, with V6s and a reputation for durability and reliability. That’s perhaps due in part to their shared ‘ancestor’, the Toyota Hilux. However, the Tacoma also shares one more thing with the …
If you prefer your off-road classic SUVs with a touch more modernity, it’s tough to get more capable than a Mitsubishi Montero (aka Pajero). These 90s Mitsubishi SUVs are rising in popularity, and if you can’t find one in the US, there are a bunch waiting to be imported at reasonable prices. Although the homologation …
It’s been called one of the ugliest cars ever. It failed to meet its sales goals, even after its redesign. And it’s arguably the best example of how badly General Motors understood its customers in the early 2000s. Yes, the Pontiac Aztek has always been an easy target for criticism, a lot of it deserved. …
Overlanding usually features trucks and SUVs, prepped for off-roading and loaded with roof tents or bed campers. Or, if you’re really going off-grid, a specially-prepped Unimog. Equally as popular, though, is “van life”, which sometimes gets reduced—courtesy of Instagram—to be just about decorating an old VW van and sticking to “paved roads and parking lots,” …
Whether you’re buying a new bike or a used one, one of the first things you need to do is figure out what kind of bike to buy. After making sure you know how to ride it, that is. But what kind of bike should you buy? Generate a list of beginner motorcycles, and at …
Part of the Toyota Tacoma’s appeal is its old-school approach to pickup truck design. Its interior may have some flaws, but it has enough modern features, like Android Auto, to make it livable. And apart from some models’ rust problems, the Tacoma is an incredibly reliable truck. But Toyota makes a truck that some consider …
Up until now, we’ve only been able to compare the new Genesis GV80 from a features and design perspective. The mid-size luxury SUV just launched in South Korea, and won’t be coming to North America until later in the year. And it’s just the first in an expanded lineup that Genesis is bringing here. But …
Toyota makes two of the most reliable off-road SUVs available today, the 4Runner and Land Cruiser. Both offer four-wheel drive, three rows, and a strong defense against depreciation. But the 4Runner sells in massive numbers, while the Land Cruiser is barely a blip. That’s why the next-gen hybrid model might not make it to the …
What’s an easy way to make an SUV more ludicrous? Add wheels. Mercedes-Benz demonstrated this when engineers gave the outgoing G-Class an extra axle and pickup bed to create the G 63 AMG 6×6. And as an iconic off-roader, the Jeep Wrangler has had its share of extreme modifications. But Doug Demuro has located one …
It’s not only celebrities that are going electric. Classic trucks and SUVs are now being converted to electric drive, keeping classic utility without problematic powertrains. Swapping the engine out for an electric motor also makes affordable importable off-road SUVs easier to live with—fewer obscure parts to break. But SUVs aren’t the only off-roaders. Both Lancia …
Although it doesn’t sell in massive numbers, the Toyota Land Cruiser is an amazingly reliable and well-regarded SUV. The rugged 70-Series, first introduced in 1984—and never in the US—has been so popular, brand-new ones are still sold in Australia. It comes loaded with off-road features, is less prone to rollovers than the Jeep Wrangler, and …
When it comes to tough and reliable off-roaders, Toyota’s Tacoma pickup and 4Runner SUV are common choices. Although Jeep’s Gladiator and Wrangler can edge them out in rock-crawling, the Tacoma and 4Runner are better daily-drivers. That’s why, despite their age, they’re still popular, new and used. Used 4Runners hold their value better than almost any …
This is it, you have your new three-row SUV, with all sorts of room for activities. You get it home, and try to park it in the garage—but, oh no, it doesn’t fit. With how big SUVs and trucks have gotten, it’s not uncommon to find owners of F-150s and Silverados who can’t park their …
Genesis is out to prove you don’t need a hedge fund to get behind the wheel of a luxury SUV. We’ve known the automaker would release its first SUV, the GV80, sometime this month. And previously, we were only able to share a few design and interior details. But now, we have more information. Genesis …
While reliability (strangely) doesn’t appear in the top list of brand loyalty factors, it’s undeniably important to consumers. SUV owners wouldn’t hold onto their vehicles for so long if they couldn’t stand up to daily abuse. 3rd row SUVs especially need to be reliable, as they’re often used to transport families, although minivans are arguably …
In contrast to some other celebrity car owners, Fast & Furious star and rapper Ludacris keeps his collection relatively humble. One of his most well-known vehicles is a 1993 Acura Legend that he’s described as a “dream car.” He still dailies it, and it even shows up on an album cover. But that Legend may …
Mercedes has made some fairly wild pickups. Engineers took a last-gen G-Class, added a pickup bed and an extra axle, and created the G 63 AMG 6×6. Customizers created the closest thing to a factory E-Class pickup. And it’s still possible elsewhere in the world to buy a stripped-down G-Class pickup. But when it comes …
Since the new Land Rover Defender was officially revealed, the SUV has generated tons of questions. Considering the legacy of the original Defender, this was something Land Rover couldn’t really afford to screw up. Even though it now owns off-road expert Bowler, the Defender needed to be capable of off-roading right out the gate. Even …
Modern pickup trucks are quite luxurious. And while that makes them more usable day-to-day, more features also means more things that can fail. Today, it’s hard to find even a base Ford F-150 work truck that doesn’t have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. That’s one reason why the demand for classic trucks is growing, and …
Some of the most extreme versions of the Mercedes G-Wagon, like the G 63 AMG 6×6 and the G550 4×4 Squared, can seem more like Transformers than actual usable vehicles. When even a base G-Wagen offers more capability than many will tap into, it can turn these luxury SUVs into symbolic toys. But the G-Class …
