If you think you’ve been hearing about the Volkswagen ID.Buzz for a while, you would be correct.

First unveiled as a concept vehicle at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, it is finally available for sale in the U.S. after a long journey and first debuting in Europe.

First things first, what exactly is the ID.Buzz?
Is it a microbus? A minivan?

Whatever you want to call it, this nostalgia-inspired offering harkens back to VW’s 1960s microbus heritage (the kind you might have taken to Woodstock). Brought into the present, it is a wholly unique entry in the U.S. automotive landscape. There are just a few large fully electric SUVs that can be considered competition (Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Rivian R1S), and some minivans that are offered in hybrid versions that could be cross-shopped, but none of the alternatives are in the exact class of the ID.Buzz — it’s truly its own category in many ways. 

Doubters will be tempted to write off the ID.Buzz as a trendy offering, but there is plenty of capability and versatility offered by the vehicle that should silence them. It’s got plenty of power, lots of cargo space and room for 7 passengers, and a versatile design to accommodate various needs.

I recently got some time behind the wheel of this long-awaited VW revival, driving a 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz Pro S Plus, and I’m back with a full report for all who may be interested in taking one home.

The 2025 model year brings a new addition to the Mazda lineup … well, sort of new if we’re being honest.

The Mazda CX-70 is a five-passenger midsize SUV that is essentially the same as the CX-90 SUV, minus the third row of seats.

I recently tested a 2025 Mazda CX-70 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus model, and below are the top 5 things you need to know when deciding if the CX-70 is a vehicle that will meet your needs.

When it comes to taking the plunge in the electrification of their vehicle offerings, some car brands jumped into it head-first, while other brands are being more cautious.

Mazda is one of the brands taking a more reserved approach, having no full EVs yet (and none expected until 2027), and really just starting to offer hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in its lineup.

One of those initial offerings is the 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV, a plug-in version of the brand’s largest, three-row SUV — featuring standard all-wheel drive, and room for up to 8 passengers. This is the second year the plug-in option has been offered on the CX-90.

There are few true competitors to this vehicle — though Volvo offers a plug-in hybrid of its XC90 (which is more expensive) and Kia offers a plug-in version of the Sorento (which is less powerful). Many leading three-row SUVs, including the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, have no plug-in hybrid offerings as of now.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2025 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus model, and I’m back with a full report on how it looks and drives, and who might want to take one home.

Boldly designed while simultaneously upscale, the Mazda CX-50 occupies a unique position in the realm of compact SUVs.

Introduced a couple years back as a curious addition to Mazda’s lineup, offering a more rugged design and adventurous nature than Mazda’s popular CX-5 offering, the CX-50 has proven itself to be a worthy contender in the busy compact SUV segment.

Between its sharp looks, upscale interior features, tremendous handling and overall driving experience, this relative newcomer has emerged as a leading contender to meet the needs of SUV buyers.

New for 2025 in the CX-50’s third year is the arrival of a hybrid powertrain offering, as well as upgrades to standard tech features on all trim levels. It does a balancing act between pushing boundaries and maintaining Mazda’s reputation as one of the more upscale non-luxury brands.

Read on for a full breakdown of the 2025 Mazda CX-50, where it shines, and where improvements can be made as Mazda takes on heavyweight competitors like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

SUVs don't have to be boring. In fact, some are downright thrilling.

Case in point: I recently tested the 2025 Audi SQ7, a rare vehicle that checks all the boxes that both driving performance lovers and family-focused buyers are looking for in a car.

The regular Audi Q7 is already an excellent three-row luxury SUV, and by adding in a powerful V8 motor and 500 horsepower, the SQ7 takes that experience to new levels.

There are few true competitors to the SQ7, though BMW and Mercedes-Benz do offer powerful, 500+ horsepower versions of their larger SUVs.
Read on for a full breakdown of what the SQ7 has to offer.

While other brands are bowing out of the sedan market to focus on SUVs, Volkswagen isn’t quite throwing in the towel.

For the 2025 model year, they continue to offer the Volkswagen Jetta, a budget-friendly compact sedan offering attractive styling and strong fuel efficiency.

Offered for the past 35 years, the Jetta is VW’s only remaining sedan, and gets a refreshed look on both the front and rear ends for 2025, but not a full redesign.

I recently tested a 2025 Volkswagen Jetta (SEL trim level), and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up against compact sedan offerings from Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda and more.

As drivers continue to embrace SUVs as the go-to vehicle, sedans continue to face a tough environment.

With that in mind, we are saying goodbye to another sedan in 2025, and this time it’s the Subaru Legacy, which is bidding farewell after more than 35 years and more than 1.3 million sales in North America.

The Legacy is a vehicle that’s easy to like. It’s capable of dealing with tough weather conditions, well-equipped with safety features, is quite roomy inside, and offers a strong turbo engine option.

I recently tested the 2025 Subaru Legacy (a Touring XT model), and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up to the remaining sedan rivals — from Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan — in its final year.

Yes Virginia, there is an SUV that’s actually fun to drive.

In fact, as we celebrate the holiday season, there’s actually a brand that is fully embracing a lineup that is far from bland, and aimed at people who love to drive well-handling cars that have some power under the hood.

I’m talking about Mazda, and more specifically it’s CX-5 compact SUV, the brand’s best-selling vehicle. There’s a ton of competition in this category, including some major top-sellers, but none of the CX-5’s top rivals can hold a candle to the genuinely fun and sporty drive quality offered by the CX-5 (which, FYI, is different than the CX-50 model that was more recently introduced by Mazda, and exists alongside the CX-5 in Mazda’s lineup).

I recently tested the 2025 Mazda CX-5 (a Carbon Turbo trim offering), and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up against the other small SUVs of today’s automotive world.

Though the current design is starting to get a bit long in the tooth, the CX-5’s looks, performance and fun factor are strong enough to make it stand out in the crowd vs. other less daring competitors in the segment.

With the compact SUV being one of the most popular options for car buyers, it’s important for brands to keep their entries in this class relevant.

Hyundai has an impressive overall SUV lineup, and that includes the compact Tucson, which gets some refreshes for 2025 — including design updates as well as an improved tech setup.

It also comes in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, which can entice eco-friendly buyers, and remains an option for the budget-conscious buyer due to its pricing and strong warranties.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2025 Hyundai Tucson — which faces tough competition from the Toyota RAV4, Chevy Equinox, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-50, Kia Sportage and more.

Read on for a full breakdown of how it holds up in the segment.

Volvo is taking the EV transition very seriously, helping to lead the transition to EVs in the luxury market.

They’re not alone of course — with everyone from Porsche to Audi to Genesis to BMW to Mercedes-Benz also diving head first into electrification. And that doesn’t even include the many EV options from non-luxury brands such as Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Ford and more.

I recently spent some time in a 2024 Volvo C40, a compact and upscale SUV battling in this growing EV Thunderdome, and I’m back with a full report. 

The stylish C40 packs quite a punch into a small package, and will surprise a lot of people with what it can do. (Note: To align with new brand naming schemes, the Volvo C40 will be renamed as the Volvo EC40 for the 2025 model year and beyond)