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.

Enthusiasts, aka people who really love to drive powerful and sporty vehicles, are often forgotten about as brands attempt to reach the largest market possible.

But luckily for this group, Buick has not forgotten them and offers a unique option in their 2018 stable: the 2018 Buick Regal GS (Gran Sport).

This sporty sedan is a niche offering, a faster and more performance-focused version of the 2018 Regal Sportback. It has a European pedigree, as the Regal GS is basically a rebadged Opel Insignia, and that’s easy to identify through its sporty look and performance.
I’m back with a full report after spending some time in a Regal GS.

LOOKS

The look on the Regal GS is more aggressive looking, both up front and in the rear, and there is a rear spoiler.

The five-passenger, four-door hatchback has a back seat that is pretty tight for grown-ups but not overly uncomfortable. You get 31.5 ft of cargo room, 60.7 ft with seats down. The flashy, red Brembo brakes stand out visually, and you’ll feel them working too.
The GS features keyless start, interior ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a power moonroof is a $1K option.

The Appearance package offers wireless charging, LED headlamps and cornering lamps.

As a whole, the Audi vehicle lineup is focused on pure driving experience, but it's not one size fits all. In my experience, the middle of the Audi A-series range is where the sweet spot sits, including the A5, which I recently spent some time in.

I'm back with a full report on the 2018 Audi A5 sportback and where it fits into the luxury car landscape.

LOOKS

Redesigned for 2018, and bigger than the tighter fits of the A3 and A4 sedans, you can accommodate rear passengers more comfortably in the A5 Sportback, though it remains a bit tight with a tall driver and passenger up front. There are three versions of the A5 -- two-door coupe and convertible options plus the new four-door Sportback.

The A5 Sportback is a four-door hatchback version of the A5 coupe that was inspired by the A7 Sportback. It sits low like a sporty ride should, and features an eye-catching exterior design, from the lines down to the wheels.

Inside the A5 Sportback, you get beautiful wood trim (high gloss dark brown walnut wood inlays, to be exact) and comfortable leather seating. Even the air vents have a sharp design. In Audi’s tradition It's a simple but classy interior and exterior design, as opposed to flashier-looking rivals like Lexus, and trunk space impresses for the segment.

The A5 Sportback comes with 18-inch 10-spoke dynamic design wheels with all-season tires, LED interior lighting, power sunroof, three-zone auto climate control with digital rear display.

For about $1K you can upgrade to a 19-inch wheel package with multi-spoke design wheels, summer tires and a sport suspension.