Among the best trends of recent years has been the return of some automotive categories that had been long neglected.

One such category is smaller trucks, including the unibody design on vehicles like the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which is reminiscent of vehicles of the past like the Subaru Baja.

Back for its second year in 2023, the Santa Cruz combines the abilities of SUVs and pickups in a way that few other vehicles can.

It has only one true competitor — the Ford Maverick — and a great opportunity to capture some market share in the truck market due to its sharp looks, strong drive quality and quality tech features.

Read on for a full breakdown of what the 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz has to offer.

The importance of hybrid vehicles as we make the transition to wide public adoption of EVs can’t be denied. While some people would prefer to skip over any technology that involves gas in any way, the reality is we’re not ready for an all-EV world yet.

So to have strong eco-friendly options like hybrid vehicles with great fuel mileage that can help bridge the gap until we are ready is essential, and thankfully some automakers still realize that.

One such automaker is Hyundai, which offers a hybrid version of its compact SUV — the Tucson (as well as several other vehicles in its lineup).

I recently spent some time testing the 2023 Hyundai Tucson hybrid, which sits just below the Santa Fe in terms of size in Hyundai’s lineup, and battles hybrid offerings from competitors including Toyota, Honda, Ford and corporate cousin Kia.

Read on for a full report on how it measures up vs. other hybrid SUVs.

As automotive brands make their transitions into offering exclusively EVs, a transition that will take many years, the role of plug-in hybrids will continue to be important for many automakers.

Volvo’s current plug-in hybrid offerings include the 2023 XC60 Recharge, a mid-size SUV that delivers in design, performance and safety, and competes well against other plug-in hybrid offerings from brands such as Lincoln, Lexus and Porsche.

This Swedish beauty may have an argument for best in class, and offers both increased power and increased range for 2023.

Read on for a full breakdown of what the XC60 Recharge has to offer to buyers looking for a ride that is both green and enjoyable.

Going 14 years between redesigns is almost unheard of in today’s automotive landscape. In that time span, many models have come and gone, and those remaining have undergone a few major updates.

Suffice it to say that the arrival of a brand new 2023 Toyota Sequoia, last redesigned when President Barack Obama was just taking office, is a pretty big deal.

The Sequoia is Toyota’s largest vehicle sold in the U.S. and competes with other three-row heavies such as the Jeep Wagoneer, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, and Ford Expedition.

Completely new looks inside and out, a bold new hybrid powertrain and a massive tech system featuring a 14-inch screen are among the highlights of the brand new Sequoia, whose large size and rugged capabilities set it apart in an industry heavily focused on smaller crossover vehicles.

I recently drove the 2023 Sequoia — which is based on the body-on-frame chassis used on the Toyota Tundra truck and Lexus LX SUV — and I’m back with a full report on whether the changes live up to the hype of such a lengthy wait.

As the number of EV models grows, with dozens of launches expected every year, different models will be embraced by different target groups.

The luxury side of the EV market is especially competitive, but one brand taking the fight to that sector with full force is Genesis, the luxury brand launched by Hyundai several years ago.

Well-established already as a respected luxury competitor on the ICE side of things, Genesis is fully embracing the transition to EVs, and the first salvo in that transition was their launch of the 2023 Genesis GV60, a compact luxury crossover that features a cutting edge design and technology and puts the competition on notice — and that competition is not shabby, including the Volvo XC40 Recharge and Tesla Model Y.

I recently tested a 2023 Genesis GV60, and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up in the competitive EV market — and how Genesis is doing its part to push forward key technological advances that will change the way we drive.

The interest in Hyundai’s SUVs has seen a resurgence in recent years due to some high-profile new models including the popular Palisade, but the brand’s SUV history started way back in 2001 with the introduction of the Santa Fe SUV.

Still around decades later, the Santa Fe is now considered the midsize SUV offering from Hyundai — slotting in between the smaller Tucson and the larger Palisade — and remains a stout competitor in a massive sea of crossovers that dwarves what was available two decades ago.

I recently spent some time beyond the wheel of a 2023 Santa Fe Calligraphy model, the final year of the current look before an anticipated 2024 redesign,  and I’m back with a full report on how this family 5-seater measures up in this busy SUV landscape.

In the world of SUVs, Volkswagen is well represented. Their lineup includes a variety of options, including the Taos, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and ID.4 EV.

One other option they have — slotting in above the subcompact Taos and midsize Atlas — is the Tiguan, Volkwagen’s compact SUV offering, which manages to present a strong argument for itself even though it’s battling some very tough rivals from Honda, Toyota, Ford and beyond.

I recently drove a 2023 VW Tiguan, which has minor updates after a more involved refresh came with the 2022 model, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up.

FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN — The hot streak continues for young William Sawalich, who at 16 has just won his second ARCA Menards Series East win of 2023. He’s the latest young talent driving a No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs, and continues to show he has the talent to succeed at higher levels.

Sawalich started Saturday’s race in 4th position, but was showing speed all race at the quarter-mile track, which hadn’t hosted an ARCA event since the year 2000.

The first 100 laps of the 150-lap event were dominated by Sean Hingorani, another young driver who had claimed the pole for the Flat Rock event, held in front of an enthusiastic crowd that welcomed the return of the series with open arms.

Even with a handful of cars falling out of the 16-car field for various reasons, there was still a lot of lapped traffic to negotiate, eventually taking its toll on Hingorani and allowing his competitors to catch up.

Three-row SUVs don’t have to be boring. And the Mazda CX-9 is Exhibit A in this argument.

I recently tested a 2023 Mazda CX-9, which faces a ton of solid competition including the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride and Ford Explorer. But I was pleased to find that the CX-9 holds up very well against all opponents.

Mazda recognizes how popular the midsize crossover has become, and has kept everything from styling to technology up to date so they don’t lose a step.

And at the heart of it all is what makes Mazda tick … that zoom zoom mentality that always keeps in mind the importance of a quality driving experience, even on its larger models like the CX-9.