Volvo is a curious brand to most Americans. While the Swedish by origin but now Chinese-owned brand has a reputation for safe and reliable vehicles, it’s generally not thought of in the same breath as the traditional big names in the luxury segment.

Volvo continues to double-down on trying to change that view, even if they recognize that they won’t match the mostly German segment leaders in terms of pure performance most of the time, and part of that effort is focused on groundbreaking safety and tech features, in addition to creating a luxury look and feel.

I recently spent some time in a 2018 Volvo S60 sedan, and I’m back with a full report.

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Volvo’s exteriors have never been too audacious and this is no exception. Compared to some in the luxury realm, they are downright tame, though the Volvo nameplate up front and fan-blade style grille do grab your attention.

The interior is where we start to approach the luxury level a bit more.  Front seats are high end and comfortable via their leather upholstery, and the back seats aren't far behind. You will find some nice wood grain features worked into the interior design, and no materials feel cheap inside this vehicle. Speaking of comfort, the Climate package offers heated everying: front seats, rear seats, steering wheel and even the windshield washer nozzles.

Special editions are often a topic of debate among automotive aficionados -- some see them as gimmicky and unnecessary, but others applaud the diversity of models that they bring.

One particular trick that you see automakers pull out from time to time is the all-black look, and that’s what Hyundai did for its “Night” edition of the 2017 Tucson, which I recently spent some time in.

So what’s the verdict? Read on for the details.

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As you might guess from its name, the Hyundai Tucson Night is black all around. That includes the exterior (Black Noir Pearl to be exact, a particularly striking shade of black), its 19-inch alloy wheels and their black finish, and black interior seating.

Put me in the camp of loving these special editions, especially when they come together this well. The Tucson Night looks super sharp, by any measure. It’s got an almost aggressive look to it, which fits well with the paint scheme.

A mainstay of the compact car segment for a quarter-century, Hyundai’s Elantra comes in many forms, from its base SE model to the Eco version to the Sport version, and a few in between.

But for 2018, the lineup gets another shakeup, this time with the introduction of the Elantra GT, a compact hatchback which ups the performance aspect a bit compared to the other choices.

I recently spent some time in an Elantra GT, which is based off the European version of the Elantra, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up against other small hatches.

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Being a hatchback, a form which is growing more common in this segment, the focus is going to be on storage space, and the Elantra GT delivers. You get ample trunk room (55 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, 25 with them up; numbers that rival some small SUVs).
But as far as using the back seat, you better have some kids or short adults sitting there. Such is the woe of the compact car segment -- you usually have to choose between more trunk or more back seat, and rarely if ever do you get both.

On the plus side, front seats are quite roomy and comfy, interior materials are above average quality, and the exterior of the Elantra GT is somewhat attractive for the segment, particularly up front. The vehicle offers 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, and projector headlights.

And for a smaller vehicle, there is a generous amount of storage locations for your keys and wallets and drinks and things (unlike some other vehicles, where that seems like an afterthought, or something not even thought about).

BMW has announced the first-ever BMW X2, the newest addition to the BMW X family featuring an unmistakable design with sporty yet urban genes. The car’s specifically tuned chassis and xDrive, BMW’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system, promise undiluted driving fun. The cutting-edge BMW TwinPower Turbo engine strikes the ideal balance between sporting dynamics and exceptional efficiency powering this Sports Activity Coupe in just 6.3 seconds from 0-60 mph. The latest digital services from BMW ConnectedDrive and BMW ConnectedDrive Services add the necessary technology for the first-ever BMW X2 to fit perfectly into a seamlessly connected lifestyle.

Even next to its bigger brothers, the BMW X4 and BMW X6, the BMW X2 makes a distinctive impression with its unique design language. The main contributing factor is the car’s exterior design, which essentially combines the fast-moving body language and low-slung proportions of a coupe with the robust construction of a BMW X model.
“The BMW X2 represents an expression of modern and extrovert vehicle dynamics,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design, in describing the first-ever BMW X2. “Its standalone vehicle concept brings a new, fresh and exciting facet of the BMW to the compact segment.” On the road, the BMW X2 has the poise of an athlete in peak condition. This is true for the basic version and even more so for M Sport X models. The BMW X2 M Sport X package combines design elements from BMW M and the BMW X family.

The first-ever 2018 BMW X2 will be available in Spring 2018 with pricing to be announced closer to market launch.

Mazda was not the first brand to get into the compact SUV segment -- far from it in fact.

But when they did arrive in the segment, they brought a unique angle to the game: An enjoyable ride.

While other brands focused on the utility of the vehicle while often ignoring the need for  a strong performance, Mazda decided it could do both with its crossover, the CX-5.
And while its sales numbers are nowhere near segment leading, the CX-5 has still been a remarkable success due to the fact it’s been able to offer that driver satisfaction in a package where that’s normally not found.

After spending some time in a CX-5, i would say it’s easily one of the best handling and most fun to drive SUVs available.