Four doors are better than two — at least in the minds of some car buyers.

So it makes sense that BMW is bringing back a redesigned 4-series Gran Coupe for 2022. This vehicle is a sort of hybrid between its two-door 4-series coupe, and its 3-series sedan, aiming to be a best of both worlds type of vehicle.

The goal here is to create more accessibility and room for rear passengers without compromising the driving aesthetic that BMW’s reputation brings.

With two powerful engine options, the Gran Coupe delivers — which is essential in the extremely competitive luxury car genre.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2022 BMW 430i Gran Coupe, and I’m back with a full report on whether it achieves its goal of maintaining driving excellence while increasing practicality.

BMW has a variety of popular models, but even for this sports-car focused brand, SUVs are increasingly stealing the spotlight.

Case in point: The BMW X3 — a compact luxury SUV offering — is now the brand’s best-selling model in the U.S. with over 75,000 vehicles sold in 2021.

That’s a tremendous success considering the strong competition in this sector from brands including Genesis, Benz, Audi, Cadillac, Lincoln and more.

I recently tested the 2022 BMW X3, which features design upgrades as well as tech improvements, and I’m back with a full report.

Due to sheer numbers, much of the conversation surrounding luxury SUVs focuses on non-domestic models.

But it’s important to remember that Detroit’s automakers are still holding their own in this popular segment.

One of those domestic brands battling for buyer loyalty in the luxury realm is Lincoln, Ford’s luxury arm, and one of the weapons in their arsenal is the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, a two-row midsize luxury SUV — based originally on the Ford Edge — which continues to impress even against tough competition from Audi/Benz/BMW/Lexus/Cadillac/Genesis and other competitors.

Sitting between Lincoln’s smaller Corsair SUV and larger Aviator SUV in the lineup, it keeps the updates to interior design and infotainment that were first introduced for 2021, with no major changes for the 2022 model. 

I recently spent some time in a 2022 Nautilus, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up in the intense luxury SUV battlefield.

As large as vehicles have gotten these days, with the biggest SUVs looking more and more like monster trucks than ever, there is still a strong market — particularly among younger people and those who drive mainly in urban areas — for smaller and more maneuverable vehicles that don’t take up so much space.

That’s where vehicles like the 2022 Nissan Kicks — a subcompact crossover first introduced a few years back — come into play. WIth a no-frills approach that’s the polar opposite of the ultra luxury offerings available today, it’s focused mainly on offering an attractive, tech-savvy ride that is also affordable.

I recently tested the 2022 Nissan Kicks (in the top SR trim level), and I’m back with a full report of what it offers and how it compares to the myriad small SUV offerings available to today’s car-buying public.

Returning a nameplate from the 1990s and early 2000s, Honda announced the Passport SUV would be returning a few years back, slotting in between the CR-V and the Pilot in its SUV lineup. Since then it has served as a popular vehicle for loyal buyers looking to trade up to larger vehicles within the Honda brand.

To keep things fresh, with the arrival of the 2022 Passport, an upgrade to the exterior design has been applied. But the biggest news is the offering of a new TrailSport trim level — which both looks more aggressive and performs more impressively in light off-road conditions.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2022 Honda Passport TrailSport, and I’m back with a full report. 

Cadillac has revealed the Project GTP Hypercar that previews the luxury brand’s third-generation prototype race car.

In 2023, Cadillac will contest the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“The Project GTP Hypercar is a unique convergence of form and function and showcases Cadillac’s future performance aesthetic,” said Chris Mikalauskas, lead exterior creative designer, Cadillac. “We have plenty more to come, from the upcoming race car to amazing production vehicles.”

Since 2017, Cadillac has been competing at the forefront of American sports car racing in the IMSA manufacturers championship achieving numerous wins, podiums and championships in the Cadillac DPi-V.R. 

“Competing for the overall win at Le Mans with an iconic American brand like Cadillac is an honor,” said Laura Wontrop Klauser, GM sports car racing program manager. “The entire team is excited to continue building Cadillac’s racing legacy by competing against the very best internationally and in the world's toughest race.” 

After the highly successful debut of Genesis’ initial SUV offering, the GV80, it was obvious that more SUVs were coming in the pipeline from this upstart luxury brand.

The first of those new SUV offerings to drop was the 2022 Genesis GV70, a smaller but equally impressive luxury crossover from this upscale branch of the world of Hyundai.

Just as the GV80 — with its attractive interior and exterior design and a powerful and smooth ride quality — instantly made a strong impact in the competitive midsize luxury SUV category, the GV70 follows that template to a tee. Add in some extremely impressive tech features, and this compact SUV can hold its own against the very best in the segment — including solid offerings from BMW, Lexus, Volvo and beyond.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a GV70, and I’m back with a full report on the GV70, which is based on the design of the G70 sports sedan but offers higher seating and more cargo space.

The luxury SUV battlefield features some of the fiercest competition you’ll find in today’s automotive landscape. A luxury vehicle really needs to shine to stand out in a field that features Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and other well-respected brands.

But some brands can still take the heat. With its RDX model, Acura had pulled off what many thought they could not — continuing to sell at numbers that rival and even top some luxury competitors.

It’s not resting on its laurels either, as for 2022 RDX gets a sportier design, an upgraded and more insulated interior that all five passengers will enjoy, and an improved suspension and ride quality.

I recently got behind the wheel of the latest RDX, and I’m back with a full report on how it fares vs. the luxury competition.

LOOK

Eye-pleasing changes have been made to achieve a bold and sporty front end design of the 2022 RDX, from the grille to the lighting setup to adding larger air intakes. 

My test vehicle featured an attractive Apex Blue Pearl paint job, but a wide variety of colors from white to violet to black are also offered. The panoramic moonroof is a very nice feature that luxury buyers have come to expect, and the RDX features Jewel Eye LED headlights and LED tail lights. 

When a vehicle has been around for 50 years, like the Honda Civic can boast, it obviously has some good things going for it.

But even a popular model like the Civic needs to change now and then, and for 2022 the Honda Civic has undergone its latest reimagining — the 11th overall generation of the vehicle.

The results have paid off, with this compact ride being selected as the 2022 North American Car of the Year.

The redesigned Civic — which comes in sedan and hatchback versions — encompasses an upscale and roomy interior design, a sharper looking exterior, and the inclusion of additional safety features to bring the vehicle into the modern era of high-tech cars.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2022 Honda Civic, and I’m back with a full report.

There’s no shortage of luxury SUVs available today; in fact they seem to be growing in number.

But if you want one with a body-on-frame, trucklike construction that will let you get out of the city and into the great outdoors, the number of options is significantly smaller in the luxury realm.

One option that’s been around for many years is the Lexus GX 460, a 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger luxury SUV that aims to please both on-road and off-road.

It would seem to be a strike against the GX 460 that it hasn’t seen a full refresh since the 2010 model, literally an eternity in car years. Surprisingly though, it holds up quite well despite its old age — though some buyers may be swayed by more modern-looking competitors in the luxury realm.

One bright spot for 2022 is the new Black Line Special Edition — which brings a fresh new design approach to the GX lineup.

I recently spent some time in a 2022 GX 460, and I”m back with a full review.