Some vehicles, I really look forward to driving. Others, not so much.

And then, there are the special ones. The ones that have something the others just don’t. The ones in which you truly enjoy every minute behind the wheel.

The 2019 Cadillac CTS-V is one of those special ones, a vehicle aimed squarely at people who love exploring just how much a motor vehicle can do.

Aimed at a very niche market of enthusiasts and taking on tough competitors from the other side of the pond, Cadillac needs to come with its A-game on this performance offering.

Crossover is the buzzword of the past decade (even Lamborghini made one, for chrissakes), but body-on-frame SUVs have not yet gone the way of the dodo bird.

Yes, these massive relics live on, including the GMC Yukon, due to their extreme storage capacity and versatility.

There’s a limited number of contenders here, and the Yukon is primarily taking on its own GM brethren (Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban) as well as the Ford Expedition and some foreign entrants that are smaller players in the segment (Lexus GX, Infiniti QX80, Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Armada).

I recently tested a 2019 Yukon — which saw its last major design overhaul back in 2015 and sees only minor changes for the 2019 model year — and I’m back with an update on how it competes in this old-school segment.

Audi of America showed off the brand’s all-new 2019 sedans, SUVs and the first all-electric Audi e-tron at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month. On display were the all-new Audi A8, A7, A6 sedans, and Q8 SUV. The fully electric Audi e-tron was on display in L.A., following its global debut in September.

Audi e-tron
The Audi e-tron is the first all-electric production model from the brand and is a spacious five-seater, electric mid-sized premium SUV that is very well equipped to meet premium buyer expectations. The model will arrive in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2019 and is available now for U.S. customers to place reservations.

The Audi e-tron reflects fundamental Audi design – translated into the electric age by new, stylistically refined aerodynamically focused details. Consistent with the brand’s SUV models, the Audi e-tron bears the octagonal-design Singleframe grille with vertical struts. Its uniquely enclosed grille is presented in platinum gray – identifying it as a fully electric model.

Subcompact SUVs seem to be growing on trees lately, and there’s yet another one in town. The Kicks is the latest vehicle in Nissan’s lineup, replacing the Juke at the low end of their SUV lineup.

I recently spent time in a Kicks and I’m back with a full report on what this little lifted subcompact has to offer.

LOOKS

By the very nature of being a subcompact SUV, the Kicks is small and the back seat is tight. It’s best for people who don’t plan to have a lot of folks in the back seat regularly. Storage space is decent for the class if you put down the rear seats. The materials used inside were pretty basic, nothing fancy, and the comfort level of the driver’s seat was a bit disappointing.

Exterior design looks sharp on the Kicks, much better than the funky-looking design of the Juke. The Kicks comes with 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Two-tone color schemes are offered to attract more buyers.

There’s a seemingly endless list of SUVs out there to choose from, in case you haven’t noticed.  But a handful of them rise to the top of the sales charts every year, and for good reason, as they’re the real deal.

One of those is the Chevy Equinox, which underwent an attractive redesign for 2018 and sees only minor changes for the 2019 model. I’m here with a full report on what it has to offer and how it holds up to the competition.

LOOKS

While most SUVs aren’t too thrilling to look at, the Equinox’s look is one of the better designs in class, and my test vehicle was helped along by its sharp “Orange Burst Metallic” paint scheme.

The Equinox is classified as a compact SUV (the Trax being the subcompact in the Chevy family, the Traverse the midsize). I found the space situation in the Equinox to be roomy, but not a class leader. You get a grand total of 63.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.

Rebirthed onto the auto scene in 2008, a decade later the classic-reboot Dodge Challenger continues its role as one of the leaders of the muscle-car rebellion taking place amid the inevitable move toward automation and electrification and SUVs.

Translation: Raw power hasn’t been completely forgotten, despite those trends taking over most of the industry.

I recently spent some time in a 2019 Challenger GT and I’m back with a full review on what this blast from the past has to offer.

LOOKS

More than 90 percent of today’s vehicles can’t be called unique, as if you squint they look like half a dozen others. But you can’t say that about the Challenger, which features a bold design unlike anything else on the road, and truly screams “look at me” even from a distance.

It’s a little tight in the rear seat, but you can actually fit four adults in here, unlike the Challenger’s rivals.