With some auto brands, there’s often debate about how to classify them. With Buick, the debate centers on whether it’s truly a luxury brand (like fellow GM stablemate Cadillac) or something less -- perhaps more of a premium brand that’s more plush than Chevy but not quite at a Cadillac level.

Either way, it’s really all semantics. Because in the end, what matters is that a vehicle is well-built, performs well and looks great. And with the vehicles Buick has been putting out in recent years, they are certainly meeting that expectation.

I recently spent some time in Buick’s largest SUV -- the three-row Buick Enclave, which can be considered the crown jewel of the Buick lineup -- and I’m back with a full report.

There seems to be an endless stream of midsize sedans available these days, so it’s easy to lose sight of some of the better options. One such diamond in the rough is the updated 2018 Hyundai Sonata, which faces tough competition but holds its own against the Camry/Accord/Fusion/Mazda6, etc. brigade.

Here are a handful of key points you need to know about the Sonata if you’re shopping for midsize sedans.

Stellar safety ratings

Let’s talk crash test numbers. You get a 5-star government safety rating overall; and 5 star ratings for front crash (driver and passenger sides) and side crash (front and rear seats); The only non 5-star rank is the 4-star rollover rating. Not too shabby.

In addition, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert  is now standard equipment on the Sonata. That’s something that’s only optional on the competition, so it’s a score for the Sonata. Other safety features such as forward collision warning, lane keep assist and auto emergency braking are optional.

Long overdue for an upgrade (it hasn’t had one since being introduced in 2009), the GMC Terrain compact SUV finally gets one for the 2018 model year.

In a segment that continues to be hot and see more entries, it’s critical to stay fresh.But is it fresh enough? I recently spent some time in a 2018 Terrain and I’m back with a full report.

LOOKS
Less boxy and rigid, and more sleek and aerodynamic, than its predecessor, the 2018 GMC Terrain is seriously upgraded in exterior looks for 2018. It’s not so extreme a change that it blends in with the crowd now (the grille still screams GMC), but it’s enough of a change that you definitely won’t confuse it with the prior version. In the process of the upgrade, the Terrain lost a few inches of length and shed several hundred pounds of weight.

The interior is high-end and comfortable, especially on the Denali model, which is at near luxury level. It’s one of the most comfortable small SUVs you will find on the market.
It also feels surprisingly roomy for a small SUV, not claustrophobic like some of them can be. A power sunroof is offered too.

In the world of non-luxury hybrid vehicles, the Toyota Avalon hybrid is a unique animal. With the vast majority of hybrid sedan offerings being in the midsize or compact realms, this is the only hybrid offered to U.S. buyers among full-size sedans. And considering that full-size sedans are already a rare offering, the Avalon hybrid is sort of a rarity within a rarity.

I recently spent some time in this unicorn and I’m back with a full report on my experience.

LOOKS

The Avalon is the largest sedan offered by Toyota, and you can tell when you get inside. It’s spacious all around, and feel very comfortable for all passengers. My only complaint on size is that the trunk could have been bigger. Materials used are quite high-end, as least when compared to all other non-luxury sedans (and even some of the entry-level luxury models).

Appealing to everyone is the goal of some vehicles. Those are the ones that generally top the sales charts.

In the meantime, there are plenty of other vehicles that focus on what they do best, and aim for their niche market, and the Toyota 4Runner is one of those. This longtime favorite of drivers who love to go off-road continues to play to that crowd and remains successful, because it knows what it is and builds on those strengths.

I recently spent some time testing a 2017 4Runner 4x4 TRD Off-Road, and here’s my report on what it has to offer. (Note: the 2018 4Runner is essentially the same vehicle)

The midsize sedan is a key battleground for hybrid vehicles, with everything from the Fusion and Malibu to the Camry and Accord and Sonata in the mix. But there’s another contender that saw some major upgrades for the 2017 model that is looking to stake its claim -- the Kia Optima hybrid.

I recently spent some time in an Optima hybrid and I’m back with a full report.

LOOKS
The exterior of the Optima is one of the better looks in this class, in particular if you opt for the all glass panoramic roof. The interior can also be one of the most well-appointed for the class.

Dual-zone auto climate control with rear vents is standard, and you can opt for leather trimmed seating, heated and ventilated front seats, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated rear seats.

Space inside the Optima hybrid is about standard for the segment, and rear passengers will be comfortable. Five can be seated without any complaints.

16-inch wheels come on the base model, but you can upgrade to 17 inches.

“Go big or go home!” is a saying I seem to hear often these days, with everyone from poker players to “Jeopardy!” contestants spouting this all-or-nothing wisdom.

But when it comes to buying a vehicle, the good news is you can go big AND go home -- you just need to get one of the few remaining truck-based full-size SUVs that are still available to consumers to do so.

One such entry in this small (but very profitable) segment is the 2018 Chevy Tahoe, which I recently had a chance to test. I’m back now with a full report on how it compares to the other remaining big boys on the battlefield including some others from within the GM stable (which collectively dominate this segment in sales) and the Ford Expedition.

The iconic Mercedes G-Class, known for its unique look and off-road capability for nearly four decades, is about to get its biggest makeover in a long time, including an updated interior.

Interior

That this is a contemporary interpretation of a legend is also evident, for example, from the car's clear, geometric lines: climbing aboard the G-Class reveals styling elements from the exterior transposed into the interior. The shape of the round headlamps, for instance, which is reflected in the air vents on either side. Or the design of the iconic indicators, found again in the shape of the loudspeakers.

Hallmarks of the G-Class include the grab handle in front of the front passenger and the chrome-highlighted switches for the differential locks, positioned in clear view. Both have been meticulously optimized and retained as characteristic features.

When it comes to high-end vehicles, there are luxury sedans, and then there are flagship luxury sedans -- the creme de la creme full-size vehicles that will shine brighter than the rest of the crowd.

For Cadillac, that flagship is the Cadillac CT6, which has been around since 2016 and competes against the likes of the Audi A8, BMW 7 series, Lexus LS, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. That’s stiff competition, but after testing a 2018 CT6 I can say with confidence that Cadillac pulls through in style, power and technology to make it a very fair fight. Read on for a full report.