Saturday, 23 November 2024
Matt M. Myftiu

Matt M. Myftiu

Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.

Competition is tough in the luxury sedan world these days — with stout offerings available from upstarts like Genesis as well as long-standing segment leaders such as Audi and BMW.

One brand that always puts up a good fight in this arena is Mercedes-Benz, and their midsize sedan offering, the E-class, should never be left out of the discussion of top luxury rides.

The E-class slots between Mercedes’ smaller C-class and larger S-class. WIth a history of offering sharp looks inside and out, a powerful and smooth ride, as well as leading tech and safety options, it has a strong past to live up to.

The 2022 E-class model sees some minor upgrades in terms of features offered, as well as some new paint schemes — but it’s core competencies remain strong. It’s a sporty ride masquerading as a family sedan, featuring exquisite design and powerful performance.

The 2022 E-class is available as a sedan, coupe, convertible or wagon. I recently spent some time behind the week of a 2022 Mercedes-Benz E450 sedan, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up vs. its luxury competition.

Mercedes-Benz is one of the leading contenders across the board in the luxury vehicle category, and one area where the luxury brands are battling for supremacy is in the flagship three-row SUV category.

The Benz offering here is the GLS class — which goes head-to-head with U.S. stalwarts like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, as well as global SUV offerings from BMW, Audi, Infiniti, Lexus and Range Rover.

A three-row luxury SUV with comfortable seating for seven people, the GLS pulls out all the stops in a bid for category supremacy. But is it enough?

I recently spent some time in a 2022 GLS 450, and I’m back with a full report.

When it comes to sporty compact SUVs, Mazda has no shortage of offerings for potential customers — all providing the rare SUV combination of driving enjoyment and vehicle utility.

In addition to their long-standing CX-5, Mazda recently introduced the CX-50 — a more off-road inspired offering with higher ground clearance.

For the 2022 CX-5, Mazda has made all-wheel drive standard, improved engine options, made minor exterior design changes, and also upgraded the suspension.

I recently tested out the 2022 CX-5, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up to its competition both outside and inside the Mazda lineup.

Fifteen years is an eternity in the automotive industry.

But before the release of the 2022 Toyota Tundra, that’s how long it had been since the brand’s biggest truck had gotten a new look. With as much innovation as its competitors have seen in the years since, this move was long overdue.

Packing some strong tech upgrades, new power plant options including a hybrid offering, and an exciting new look, the 2022 Tundra is sure to bring a spark into Toyota’s efforts to grow in the full-size truck segment as it takes on the Detroit Three’s heavyweight contenders.

I recently spent some time in the redesigned Tundra and I'm back with a full report.

Compact SUVs are one of the most reliably successful sellers in today’s automotive ecosystem, putting up some of the biggest overall numbers once you get past the top-selling trucks.

Chevy’s Equinox competes in this tough segment — battling a bevy of competitors including the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.

For those buyers who remain loyal to the U.S. “Big Three” options, the Equinox emerges as one of the top competitors in the segment. While not completely redesigned, the 2022 Equinox does get some minor refreshes and offers a bold new RS trim level.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2022 Equinox RS, and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up in the segment.

 

Subaru enthusiasts love to drive and are loyal to their brand, and their patience has paid off with the arrival of a long overdue redesign of the WRX for 2022, nearly a decade since the previous generation was unveiled.

This sporty, compact hot rod looks better, drives better and sounds better than its predecessors. It also holds up well against tough competition such as the Honda Civic SI and Volkswagen Golf GTI, among others.

I recently tested a 2022 Subaru WRX, and I’m back with a full report. 

 

“Wow. That’s a Nissan?”

This was a common expression I heard all week when people would walk by and stare at the 2023 Nissan Z I was test-driving.

The long-awaited vehicle — the 7th generation of the Z model aimed at driving enthusiasts — has finally arrived this summer, offering a more affordable option to fans of speed and power who don’t want to spend luxury dollars for a rear-wheel-drive coupe offering a pure thrill ride. With few true competitors — most notably the Toyota GR Supra — the latest Z has a great shot at drawing a significant fan base among devoted enthusiasts. 

In an era where most big launches are electric vehicles, the arrival of the new Z is a big deal.

The 2023 Nissan Z is the 7th generation of the Z legacy, which stretches back all the way to 1969. I was able to test a prototype of this highly anticipated sports car, and I’m back with a full report on the vehicle — which aims to continue the Z’s historic styling and sporty nature while adding in some modern tech features.

In the world of luxury crossovers, one of the growing sectors is coupe-style designs that aim to offer a slick look while maintaining practicality.

Infiniti is one of the luxury crossover brands fighting for buyers in this segment — debuting its QX55 model for the 2022 model year and battling against other coupe-style SUVs from brands including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Genesis.

This model has its origins going back to the long-time Infiniti FX model, which had its run from the early 2000s to 2017, and shares many interior, powertrain and suspension elements with Infiniti’s QX50 SUV, but offers an improved exterior design.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2022 QX55, and I’m back with a full report on how it stacks up to its luxury rivals.

The compact SUV class is one with limitless options for car buyers, but one key element that is usually missing from these vehicles is power. Many of them are well-designed but lack oomph when you’re behind the wheel.

But one brand that has never lacked oomph is Mazda, and they offer several options in the compact SUV class — including the CX-5, CX-30 and CX-50.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 is essentially a lifted version of the Mazda 3 hatchback. Slight changes have been made to the model lineup for 2022 (including a new Carbon Edition trim level), and all-wheel-drive is now standard on all CX-30 trims.

I recently spent some time driving a 2022 CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus edition, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up vs. the competition. 

Volkswagen’s wee but consistently-lauded Golf has long been a favorite of driving enthusiasts — a vehicle focused on providing a truly joyous driving experience to enthusiasts who appreciate what a vehicle can do and don’t want to shell out luxury-level bucks to get that ride quality.

This vehicle helped bring about the “hot hatch” category that is both performance focused while attempting to retain some level of practicality. It faces stiff competition from Hyundai, Honda, Subaru and MINI hatchback models, but has always been a standout in the category.

Returning for 2022, the Golf GTI debuts the 8th generation of this popular and sporty ride, boosting performance and retooling some physical elements of the car’s design and tech setup.

I recently spent some time in a 2022 VW Golf GTI, and I’m back with a full report on how well it holds up in the realm of hot hatches.

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