The Dodge Durango hasn’t undergone a major change in design for several years. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

It knows what it is (a boldly designed and powerful family hauler) and what it wants to do (provide a unique offering in a sea of three-row SUVs that can at times seem very generic), so there’s little reason to reinvent the wheel at this juncture.

Related in platform to Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango is a good mix of a powerful ride and a comfortable one -- a three-row SUV that you can be proud of. I recently spent some time in a Durango and here is a full report.

All automakers evolve, and the Range Rover Evoque is proof of that.

While the heritage of the Land Rover brand is the Range Rover -- a large and fully off-road capable vehicle -- the automaker was keen to expand their reach, so the smaller and more city-focused Evoque was born several years back. I recently tested the latest iteration of of the Evoque model, a 2017 Range Rover Evoque HSE, and I’m back with a full report.

LOOKS

Plain or boring are words that will never be used to describe the Range Rover Evoque (or any Land Rover vehicle in fact). No other vehicle looks quite like it, though some do try to copy in various ways.

The simplest way to put it is that the Evoque is one of the best-looking rides you’ll see on the roadways, especially when compared to other vehicles of a similar size. I heard more positive comments toward this vehicle’s design than I had heard in a long time about any vehicle. There’s something about it that just stands out.

BMW is not a name people take lightly. This is an auto company with a century of history, and a reputation that it must uphold.

One of their most popular vehicles in their midsize 5-series sedan, which has been redesigned for the 2017 model year to be more powerful and lighter. I recently spent some time in a 2017 BMW 530i xDrive sedan, and I’m back to let you know if it lives up to the company’s lofty name.

My first thought: Another hybrid? Do we really need that?

But wait. This one looks different …  It’s a crossover, has decent passenger room and actually has a little speed. And it’s affordable.

Okay, Let’s talk about it.

The Kia Niro is the vehicle in question here. As Kia and Hyundai make an increased push in the green car market, they have unveiled some new models for 2017, and the Niro is one of the bigger launches (along with the Hyundai Ioniq). I recently spent some time in a Niro and I’m back with a full report.

1. STRONG FUEL ECONOMY

This is the key to a successful hybrid. If it’s not there, they won’t sell.

The numbers are in, and they are impressive: I averaged 48.6 mpg during my time in the Niro.
Official numbers are 49 highway, 52 city, 50 combined -- and I’m sure those can be met or beaten if you drive the vehicle with the goal of maximizing that number.

It is worth noting that the mpg numbers shrink a bit on top trim level of the Niro (40 city/46 highway on the Touring model).

The word wagon may as well be on the extinction list, as it’s growing increasingly rare to see them on the road these days in the sea of SUVs that dominate family car buying in the U.S.A.

But fear not, wagon lovers: Volvo hasn’t forgotten about you. They continue their long wagon tradition with the Volvo V60, which also comes in a Cross Country version that I was able to spend some time in recently. Here’s my full report on what this unique vehicle offers.

While the overall state of FCA as an auto company can be debated, there’s no question that Jeeps remain very popular, and are one of FCA’’s biggest strongholds in the industry (along with their Ram trucks). And while many Jeep fans have turned into city dwellers and haven’t left the pavement in years, there are still some dedicated off-roaders out there who remain committed to the brand.

For them, there are still some Jeep options that keep their needs in mind, including the 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, in which I recently spent some time.

What is a Trailhawk?
There are two engine options on the Cherokee Trailhawk; A tamer 2.4-liter four cylinder option (184 hp); or a powerful 3.2-liter V6 (271 hp). My test vehicle had the stronger option and it performed admirably for me; I would recommend the upgrade.

The vehicle features a 9-speed transmission, and optional all-wheel drive (again, it’s recommended).

The Cherokee Trailhawk is designed for off-roading capability, so it must be said that this vehicle does not offer the best feel on regular roads (it can be quite bouncy and unsettling at times, to be honest).

Instead, it is designed to perform in adverse conditions (snow, sand/mud  and rock settings are included via the Selec-Terrain system), and work well no matter what conditions you are driving in.

The Cherokee Trailhawk features all-terrain tires, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Selec-Speed Crawl Control, Off-Road Suspension, All Speed Traction control, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Roll Mitigation and Anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes, plus higher ground clearance and tow hooks, and unique designs in the front and rear vs. a standard Cherokee. Add all that up, and you end up with a Trail Rated vehicle -- and not in name only. It’s gone through the testing to show it can handle the not-so-beaten path.