As we move closer to everyone and their mother having a truck or SUV, small car offerings are a rarity these days, especially the subcompact vehicles that seem to be disappearing more and more each year.

The Nissan Versa is one of the few still available to those in search of a tinier ride: A subcompact, front-wheel-drive, 4-door sedan. I spent a week in a 2021 Versa, and I’m back with a full report on this small but capable ride.

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Completely redesigned in 2020 and touched up a bit for 2021, the 2021 Nissan Versa is now one of the better-looking subcompact sedans available on the market, inside and out.

Legroom is always a concern in a subcompact, but up front there’s plenty to spare even for taller folks. In the back, of course, it’s going to be a bit cramped, which is why these types of vehicles are often used as commuter cars and not family carriers.

The Genesis name and reputation has been gaining steam in the auto industry over the past few years, starting with the introduction of its first luxury sedans. The upscale brand put out by Hyundai is quickly showing the competition how to get things done.

It was only a matter of time before Genesis put out SUVs. Enter their latest magnum opus, the GV80 midsize SUV — their new flagship vehicle that will no doubt put the competition even further on notice due to its sharp design and overall performance capabilities.

Attractive, powerful, and tech-savvy, it’s hard not to like what the GV80 offers. And few competitors offer as complete a package as you’ll find here.

At first glance, a startup working to battle climate change through its series of high-tech plant canopies would seem to have little in common with a 155-year-old old global automotive fastener supplier. But in the case of France’s Urban Canopee and supplier ARaymond, the pair was able to find common ground.

Urban Canopee’s innovative solutions fight against the effects of climate change by deploying plant canopies over cities to help combat heat, restore urban biodiversity, fight against air pollution, and improve the quality of life for citizens. They also offer the world’s first range of plant-based urban furniture.

With the wind and other elements at play, finding adequate fastening solutions to achieve these goals can prove difficult. After the two companies first connected 2017, a partnership was put into motion for ARaymond to adapt its automotive fasteners to fit the needs of Urban Canopee. 

“A long phase of testing must take place for Urban Canopee to develop a perfect fixing and assembly solution that resists wind, weight, and is flexible enough to be folded for delivery and to fit different structures,” said Hubert Michaudet of Urban Canopee. “Through our work with ARaymond, we were able to find the solution to these fastening issues, and are excited to find a partner committed to using their engineering expertise to support our efforts to battle climate change.”

Kia has earned a lot of headlines in the past couple years, but most of it has been surrounding their Telluride SUV, which came in with a bang and took the industry by storm.

But now it’s time for another vehicle to make news: The 2021 Kia Sorento, which is assembled at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia.

Debuting a brand new generation of the vehicle, which is lighter and smaller than the Telluride, Kia is presenting another alternative for families that is just as versatile as the Telluride, but also more fun to drive and off-road capable.

Read on for a full report on what it has to offer to people shopping for the best new 3-row SUVs.

When the conversation turns to plug-in hybrids and other eco-friendly cars, we often talk about how automakers have to trim back power to achieve their high fuel mileage and green credentials.

But that’s not the case with the vehicle I’ll be describing here. Volvo offers the best of both worlds with the 2021 XC60 Polestar Engineered, a plug-in hybrid which is an eco-friendly rocketship on wheels. 

I’m back with a full report on my experience, which shows that being green doesn’t have to be boring. 

Seemingly everyone wants an SUV these days, and on the domestic front in that battle, there are a few key players leading the charge.

One of those options is the Chevy Traverse, which receives minimal updates for 2021 and is still holding on to the latest full redesign that took place in 2018.

For families, it’s all about space, and that’s one thing the Traverse can claim in spades. With comfortable seating for up to 8 offered and plenty of cargo room, it’s vying for families who seek versatility and space over flash and extreme power.

As other OEMs drop out of the compact sedan segment to focus more on larger vehicles like SUVs, Hyundai is re-upping its efforts, completely redesigning its long-trusted Elantra sedan for 2021 in hopes to gain market share in an area of the auto market that is shrinking but still has a significant amount of fans, both domestic and worldwide.

Hyundai has jazzed up the styling on the Elantra, ramped up the technology and safety features, and even offers a performance-level version this year. I recently spent time in a 2021 Elantra and I’m back with a full report.

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The redesigned look of the Elantra for 2021 features a bold and futuristic appearance that stands out in a segment where many options are pretty ho-hum. The sprawling, in-your-face front grille in particular gets your attention quickly.

My test vehicle’s exterior featured a sharp blue paint scheme, 17-inch alloy wheels, a sun roof, LED headlights and heated side mirrors with turn signal indicators

Going into the Elantra, you’ll find a roomy vehicle in both front and back seats, so you’re not cramped even with a full load of people. That’s another thing you can’t say about every vehicle in this segment, but Hyundai clearly recognizes that compact doesn’t have to mean dreading getting into the back seat.

As SUVs have exploded in popularity over the past decade, there are many desirable vehicles available to consumers, especially in the luxury segment, and competitors from around the world are vying for those luxury consumers.

On the domestic front in the U.S., the name that tends to come to our minds first when we think of luxury is Cadillac, a brand with a long history of excellence. Their lineup of SUVs (XT4, XT5 and XT6) are battling with the best of Europe and Asia, and must come strong to compete.

I recently spent some time in a 2021 Cadillac XT5 Sport, and I’m back with a full report on the experience.

Trucks are not the first vehicles people think of when Toyota is mentioned, but they have a long-standing place in its history. The mid-size Tacoma truck has been in production since 1995 and remains very popular today. And the full-size Tundra began its run in 1999.

Overall sales numbers for the Tundra are far behind the domestic trio of the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and RAM 1500, but a loyal fan base keeps the model holding down its spot as the top non-domestic full-size truck with more than 100,000 sold annually.

While the Tundra has not been fully redesigned since 2007 (it got a slight refresh in 2014, and a brand new model is expected for 2022), its longevity comes from a few key factors: Its powerful V8, Toyota reliability, and strong tech features. There were also a couple new editions announced for 2021 with new styling: The Trail and Nightshade models.

The Trail edition gets features including: 18-inch dark gray wheels with Michelin all-terrain tires, lockable bed storage boxes, spray-on bed liner, black exterior badging, chrome front grill, black fabric trim seats with unique tan stitching, and all weather floor liners.

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