Year two is an important one for brand new vehicles. They may get a pass in the debut year if sales underperform, but numbers need to start picking up if a vehicle is going to have a long future within a brand.

For example, the Subaru Ascent.

In 2019, Subaru moved beyond their familiar wagon territory to unveil the Ascent, a three-row SUV, and it returns with some minor upgrades for 2020, looking to grow its clout in the segment.

I recently spent some time in a 2020 Ascent, and I’m back with a full report on how it stacks up vs. heavyweights like the Ford Explorer, Chevy Traverse, Honda PIlot and Toyota Highlander.

In my experience, I’ve found that you’re either a Jeep person, or you’re not.

Many people will avoid Jeeps like the plague, as it’s just not for them. But for those of you who are Jeep people, you probably think there’s no legitimate alternative.

Here’s a look at a couple Jeep options, the 2020 Wrangler, and the 2020 Renegade.
I’ll start with the Wrangler, the ultimate Jeep for Jeep people.

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In terms of looks and design, the Jeep Wrangler exudes that off-road character that you’ve come to expand from this brand that dates back to the WWII era. You’ll never mistake the Wrangler for another ride.

It’s a totally unique vehicle, incredibly rugged, and you can literally take it apart (doors, roof, windshield are all optional) if you want to experience an extreme sense of freedom while driving (just check the forecast first).

The Wrangler sits high up,  is made of very strong materials and has a unique grill that has never been mimicked. A Wrangler is a Wrangler, and that's why it has kept its loyal fans for so long.

Another unique aspect of the Wrangler is the large number of customization options, both from the factory and in the aftermarket.

Even the paint colors are nice. My test vehicle had a pumpkin metallic clearcoat paint that was a type of bright orange that was shocking yet pleasing to the eye. Inside was a more traditional look with black leather trim seats.

While mostly on hold for the time being due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the family road trip is an American tradition, and will be back very soon as families will be eager to get anywhere but home.

And once you are able to get back to enjoying this country, the question becomes: What vehicle is best to make that trip?

If you want to go in style, you can choose a luxury SUV, such as the 2020 Infiniti QX60 — a vehicle I was able to take a road trip in recently. Here is a full report of how it performed on the trip.

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First let’s talk about space. The 2020 QX60 features generally roomy seating for seven people (2 up front, 3 in the middle and 2 in the rear seats). The third row should be reserved for smaller children, due to limited leg room.

There’s easy access to the third row via a lever, and tons of storage room in the QX60, especially if you put down the third row (even more with both the third and middle rows down).

The sunroof is a great way to enjoy the open road, and you’ll also be able to appreciate a beautiful and classy interior design full of sharp wood highlights.    

The leather seats are extremely comfortable throughout the vehicle, even on long driving stints. All in all, the looks and design of the QX60 make it an ideal vehicle for an enjoyable road trip experience inside the ride.

With the tremendous success of Nissan’s Rogue crossover, which grew from an upstart to a contender for sales leader in its segment, it was only natural that a new version, the Rogue Sport, was introduced a few years back.

It continues to be a popular offering, and recently I had a chance to drive the 2020 Rogue Sport, which features strong technology and safety offerings, sharp looks, a roomy design and excellent value for the segment.

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The Rogue Sport gets some updated, sporty styling for the 2020 model, particularly in the front and rear ends, and the results are pleasing to the eye. LED lights are featured, and you have options for unique metallic paint schemes including Nitro Lime and Monarch Orange.

Though the Rogue Sport is a bit smaller than the standard Rogue, it still offers an impressive amount of cargo space (among best numbers in class, at 61 cubic feet with rear seats down) and decent legroom and headroom both in front and back seats.

Cadillac has a couple key goals as it battles to maintain its share of the luxury market, and ultimately grow. 

First, it has to stand out against a wide array of luxury competitors (Acura, Tesla, Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, Lincoln, Benz and BMW among them). This alone is a daunting task.

The other goal is to capture the next generation of luxury car buyers, with the goal of getting them in the Cadillac family so they remain loyal as they buy or lease luxury vehicles in the future. In order to do this, you need new vehicles that will garner attention that are also somewhat affordable for entry-level buyers.

With that in mind, Cadillac developed the XT4, a compact SUV that debuted in 2019 and sees minor changes for 2020. This vehicle sits on the low end of the Cadillac luxury crossover lineup, and is priced to sell to first-time luxury buyers.

I recently spent some time in a 2020 Cadillac XT4, and I’m back with a full review on how it compares in a segment where you really need to shine to stand out.

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The 2020 Cadillac XT4 offers the usual aggressive but stylish that Cadillac fans have learned to love over the years.

The XT4 is part of the family of crossovers which also includes XT5 and XT6, the new naming convention which hopefully will stick around since I can't keep track of all the changes anymore. The XT4 features LED headlamps and tail lamps, with front cornering, as well as LED turn signals, passive entry and keyless start.