HIGHS Engaging road manners, nicely trimmed cabin, stylish and upscale looks. LOWS Larger rivals offer more rear-seat space, snug cargo area with third-row in place, a few more horsepower wouldn't hurt. VERDICT It won't trick you into thinking it's a Miata, but the CX-9 embodies the spirit of Mazda's lovable sports car in a three-row family SUV. Engine, Transmission, and Performance In a segment where V-6 power is common, Mazda took a risk by offering a turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the CX-9's sole powertrain in the hope of a gain in fuel economy. It does eke out an advantage over some competitors, but it's slight. The engine sounds gutsy and managed a class-competitive result in our acceleration testing, where it scooted our Grand Touring test vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. The CX-9 is clearly the driving enthusiast's family hauler; surprisingly light on its feet, it often feels as if you're driving a smaller SUV. The suspension is firm, but it's still supple enough to ride over rough stretches of road. The steering, while not as communicative as other Mazda's, still imparts vigor that's missing from other crossovers. The firm suspension and accurate steering culminate in superior cornering control. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG Apart from its solid acceleration performance, the CX-9 is, according to the EPA, more fuel efficient than many of its rivals. The front-wheel drive model earned EPA estimates of 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway; all-wheel drive drops both of those figures by 2 mpg. In our real-world highway fuel-economy test, the all-wheel-drive CX-9 matched its 26-mpg rating. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo The CX-9's cabin wows with upscale materials and detailed styling but compared with other SUVs in the segment, it's short on passenger and cargo space. Open the door and the CX-9's interior welcomes passengers with an upscale cabin that wouldn't look out of place in an Audi. Mazda has tastefully arranged soft-touch plastic with handsome graining, brushed aluminum, and, in our Signature-trim test car, genuine rosewood. The CX-9's smaller measurements mean real-world limitations. We managed to fit just two of our carry-on suitcases behind the Mazda's third row, which is one-third of what the Ford Explorer could muster. The CX-9's second and third rows of seats fold easily for quick configuration changes, though, and the resultant load floor is flat, making it easy to load bulky items. With second- and third-row seats down, the CX-9 accommodated 25 of our carry-on cases. Infotainment and Connectivity All CX-9s come with Mazda's user-friendly infotainment system and a 10.3-inch display. The software is easy to navigate and the graphics are crisp, plus the Mazda Connected Services suite provides remote access to vehicle status, telematics, and key operations such as remote start and remote locking. Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, HD radio, a wireless smartphone charging pad, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are all standard features. Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control https://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/cx-9 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e-gmdm5QTk

We don’t have any details on the Prelude’s powertrain or which platform it will use, but we suspect it’s one of Honda’s upcoming proprietary EVs rather than a shared GM-supplied platform like the upcoming Prologue crossover. Sadly, we don’t expect to see any sort of manual transmission, not even a simulated one, as Honda’s CEO said the company wasn’t considering this approach and would instead use other performance metrics for imbuing engaging dynamics into its forthcoming EVs. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0B0XFPCuaU

HIGHS Hushed interior, impressive battery capacity, stylish inside and out. LOWS Prioritizes comfort over driving fun, software interface takes getting used to, single-motor model lacks accelerative punch. VERDICT It ain't no Blackwing, but the Lyriq SUV is a slick-looking EV SUV with the soul of a DeVille. Overview Although the 2024 Lyriq offers the best glimpse yet of Cadillac's future, its on-road demeanor pays tribute to the brand's most iconic luxury sedans. While several rivals have aimed for quick acceleration and athletic handling, the Lyriq is content to waft—something we think the brand's faithful will appreciate as they trade in their aging DTS sedans and SRX crossovers to go green. After all, this thing isn't wearing a Blackwing badge. The Lyriq rides on GM's Ultium scalable battery architecture, which means it shares its tech with the beastly GMC Hummer EV pickup truck, but the two couldn't be more different. The Caddy's stylish bodywork gives it a low-slung look, and its cabin is far posher. A slick digital display starts behind the steering wheel and, with a slight curve, seamlessly transitions into an infotainment display in the center of the dashboard. The driving range is competitive at an estimated 308 miles per charge, and all Lyriqs come standard with DC fast-charging capability to help make the most of America's burgeoning public EV charging infrastructure. What's New for 2024? Cadillac has simplified the Lyriq lineup for 2024, creating three distinct trims with an escalating level of equipment. The base model is called Tech and features the entry-level 340-hp single-motor electric powertrain, but this model's range has dropped from an estimated 312 miles per charge to 308. The entry-level Luxury trim adds more desirable features, and the top-spec Sport wears a more aggressive exterior look that includes darkened chrome trim and a unique grille treatment. EV Motor, Power, and Performance The Lyriq comes standard in rear-wheel-drive form with a 340-hp electric motor on the rear axle. With this entry-level setup, acceleration is adequate and the Lyriq feels responsive, but it lacks the powerful feeling we enjoy in rival SUVs such as the BMW iX and the Tesla Model X. At our test track, the rear-wheel-drive Lyriq made it to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, which is fairly quick by mid-size-SUV standards but behind EV rivals. A 500-hp dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain is optional and adds a second motor at the front to drive those wheels. At our test track, the all-wheel-drive Lyriq made it to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Range, Charging, and Battery Life General Motors' line of new Ultium EV battery technology launched last year with the Lyriq. The scalable technology allows the automaker to produce batteries that range in size from 50.0 to 200.0 kWh, although the largest size is said to be reserved only for large EV pickup trucks such as the GMC Hummer EV SUT. The Lyriq's battery offers 102.0 kWh worth of capacity and offers an estimated driving range of up to 308 miles per charge in the single-motor model and 307 miles for the dual-motor version. In our highway range test, the rear-wheel-drive Lyriq provided 270 miles. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe The EPA estimates that the rear-wheel-drive Lyriq is good for 92 MPGe city and 82 MPGe highway. All-wheel drive drops both of those numbers by 1 MPGe. In our admittedly lead-footed hands, we recorded 72 MPGe in mixed driving with the rear-wheel-drive model but got 77 MPGe with the all-wheel-drive one. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo A rich-looking interior treatment gives the Lyriq an upscale flair. Metallic brightwork is intermingled with open-pore wood on the door panels and center console. A large storage tray on the floor between the driver and front passenger is lined with bright blue leather upholstery, which serves as a cheeky pop of color. Although the concept vehicle was shown with just four seats and a center console that divides the two front and two rear seats, with a touchscreen for the rear seat passengers, the production Lyriq has adopted a more traditional rear bench seat. The absence of a gasoline engine certainly helps create a quiet cabin, but the Lyriq also employs advanced noise cancellation technology to reduce road noise. The interior is spacious, but the cargo room isn't as generous as in other SUVs and Cadillac hasn't integrated any storage under the hood. https://www.caranddriver.com/cadillac/lyriq ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1dwonlxakQ

HIGHS There are only a few places on earth the Defender can't go, off-road capability doesn't compromise on-road refinement, retro-modern interior. LOWS Could be more fuel efficient, high prices for top models, cargo space is tight in 90 and 110 models. VERDICT The Defender honors its off-road legacy while adding creature comforts that make it a true dual-purpose machine. Overview If you're enamored with the idea of off-roading but can't stomach living with an unrefined vehicle during your daily commute, consider the best-of-both-worlds 2024 Land Rover Defender. Alongside truck-ish rivals like the Jeep Wrangler and the Lexus GX, the Defender is essentially unstoppable on the ORV trail, but sliding behind the wheel to run errands or take a road trip is far more appealing. Its on-road demeanor belies its go-anywhere capability and a trio of available powertrains and three different body styles allow you to tailor the SUV to your unique needs. Want to maximize the cool factor? Try the two-door 90 model. Have a slew of kids to shuttle around town? The extended-wheelbase 130 model offers more space and a usable third row of seats. Most buyers will likely prefer the mid-sized 110 trim, as it offers similar proportions to the 90 with a bit more practicality. No matter which one you choose, the Defender oozes personality and even the base models offer more creature comforts than the utilitarian ancestors responsible for launching the Land Rover brand. #landrover #defender https://www.caranddriver.com/land-rover/defender ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYSwoW0-Zko