Driven Car Reviews
New York Times contributor and Emmy Award-winning automotive journalist Tom Voelk looks at all things cars.
Episodes
Lincoln’s Nautilus is new for 2024 and the big news is a huge screen. 4 feet wide, it dominates the interior. Does it work or is it just a gimmick? Tom Voelk checks out a loaded AWD Reserve III trim with the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine ($1,500 will buy the more powerful hybrid powertrain). The display is impressive but hardly the only thing to like about this 5-seat SUV.
The second-generation 2026 Hyundai Palisade is larger, roomier and gets an optional hybrid powertrain for the first time. Plus there’s a new XRT Pro off-road oriented model with more capability in rugged situations, including a trail camera system, recovery hooks and additional instrumentation. Tom Voelk checks out a Calligraphy Hybrid and XRT Pro V6 to preview the 2026 Palis...
Nissan pioneered mass market electrification with Leaf but it took a long time to bring it’s second EV to the US. Ariya is quite different from Leaf. It’s more refined. CHAdeMO is gone. The battery pack is liquid cooled. And AWD is available (dubbed e-4ORCE). The roomy cabin with its Japanese inspired details will seat 5 adults. Tom Voelk drives a loaded Platinum+ trim and finds comfort, style, solid range but ...
The 2025 Toyota Camry ditches the inline-4 and V6 engines for a fully hybrid lineup. The new nose and cabin space impresses. So does the fuel economy that’s as high as 51 miles per gallon. And for the first time, AWD is available with the Camry’s hybrid powertrain. Tom Voelk checks out a loaded XSE AWD and finds much that’s new… and a lot that’s familiar.
Nissan’s Ariya with e-4ORCE AWD is EPA rated at 267 miles. But road tripping at highway speeds over mountain passes will suck the life force from the pack. Tom Voelk and the lovely Mariko take a Platinum+ trim to Eastern Washington for a camping trip, covering nearly 600 miles. How far does it travel loaded down with gear? How good (or bad) is the charging infrastructure in rural areas? All these answers and mo...
The internet grabbed its torches and pitchforks when General Motors announced it was eliminating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its EVs. But… what if GM’s system works just fine without them? Unlike most brands, Chevrolet throws in eight years of free interface connectivity, so there’s no subscription fee. Tom Voelk spent five days in a Chevy Equinox EV to see if the system (originally dubbed Ultifi) works. ...
The Kia EV9 is been available for a just short time and has already racked up dozens of awards. What’s it like to live and travel with? Tom Voelk snags a Land AWD trim for a week to see if it has the space, features, range, comfort, cargo space and charge speed for families to use as their only vehicle. Spoiler alert, yeah, pretty much.
Grab your skis, camping gear and dog, there’s a new 6th generation Subaru Forester. With a beefed-up architecture and standard symmetrical all-wheel drive (of course) it feels more substantial now, even if the toughest road you take is a street with potholes. Tom Voelk checks out a top trim Touring trim with leather seats and the best looking interior to ever wear the Forester badge.
Anyone that’s followed Volvo over the years knows the Swedes are not above having a good time. Gothenburg has produced some true driving cars. The 2025 Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered is one of them. Useful too since it’s an SUV. Plus, as a plug-in hybrid with 36 miles of all-electric range, it can even save owners money. Good thing. As tested in Vapor Gray paint, it MSRPs for $77,345. Also, a brief look at t...
The Mazda CX-50 crossover has always been a stylish fun-to-drive way to get the chores done. Now it’s more efficient with a first-ever hybrid powertrain. And the gas/electric setup is from Toyota so there’s reassurance that it’s been done right. Does it keep the band’s frisky fun dynamics? Tom Voelk checks out a top-trim Premium Plus edition with standard AWD to find out.
The Kia Carnival MPV has always been a competitive family hauler. For 2025 it adds a hybrid powertrain good for 33 MPG. And it’s turbocharged! All Carnivals, even the V6-powered version, get a mid-cycle refresh with a stronger grille, Star Map headlamps and new tech. The HEV powertrain’s 54kW electric motor adds more than efficiency, it helps to smooth out the ride quality and improve handling. And the look doesn't scream minivan.
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The 3-row 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is getting big buzz. Radically different from the last generation, it's as square as the outgoing model was rounded. For design enthusiasts, here's a look at the press launch styling presentation. Kevin Kang, head of design for Hyundai North America shares details of how the Santa Fe was developed. It’s just like being at an automotive event. Some think Santa Fe looks like a Range Rover Defender, oth...
Only one automaker that uses the size of its cars as a brand name. That would be MINI. While the 2025 Cooper gets a bumper-to bumper redo, it largely keeps the classic look alive, with the bulldog look moving from lovable pet next door to Westminster Kennel Club groomed. Tom Voelk checks out a turbocharged Cooper S in Iconic trim. It’s a premium small car that’s great for slicing up crowded urban streets.
Acura has finally gone all-electric. The ZDX revives a classic nameplate but adds a modern EV jolt, starting with General Motor’s Ultium platform. Is it a wedding that works? Tom Voelk checks out a top-trim Type S that adds power, adaptive air suspension and bigger brakes (but takes away a bit of range). It even gets Super Cruise… kind of.
Audi has more fully electric vehicles that most people realize. The all new Q6 e-tron is the fourth in the brand’s line up and is built on the Premium Platform Electric architecture (or PPE) so it goes far, charges fast and drives well. It’s the best electric SUV the four rings folks have built to date. Tom Voelk travels to Healdsburg, CA to drive the Q6 e-tron quattro Prestige trim with Chris May, executive director of the Audi Cl...
No one WANTS to buy tires, but as long as you need to, do it right. Discount Tire bought the old Cooper Tires testing facility in Pearsall, Texas and analyses everything from budget rubber to high performance tires. Here’s a look behind the scenes on how your Michelins, Pirellis, Goodyears and dozens of other brands get evaluated, and how all of that information comes together on DT’s Treadwell website so buyers can make the right ...
Rogue is Nissan’s best-selling vehicle and for 2025 it gains the Rock Creek trim level first found on Pathfinder. A tougher looking grille, tubular roof rack, red accents scattered everywhere and all-terrain tires give off a tough SUV vibe even though there’s no extra ground clearance or underbody protection. But the look will appeal to buyers that want the North Face visual even if the closest they get to the great outdoors is the...
The all-new (and yes, it’s ALL new) 6th generation 2025 Toyota 4Runner was a long time coming (gen five started production in late 2009). The new 4Runner swaps V6 power for a turbocharged i-FORCE 4-cylinder or the i-FORCE MAX Turbo Hybrid for extra oomph. Larger, more comfortable and easier to drive now, it should be more popular than ever, even with the price hike. Tom Voelk checks out 2 of the 9 trim levels (yeah, 9)- the basic T...
The 4th generation Nissan Murano has been a long time coming. Last redone in 2014, the 2025 version gets fresh Ariya-inspired design, new engine tech and, drumroll please, a 9-speed transmission. That’s right, no more CVT. It’s strong competition for Chevy Blazer, Honda Passport and Mazda CX70, but could distract Acura RDX, Lexus LX and Lincoln Aviator shoppers. Tom Voelk checks out a fully loaded Platinum AWD model on a snowy day.
Yes, I’ve FINALLY bought an EV. How does a guy that drives a different vehicle every week decide on a personal car? Very slowly. And carefully. I break down what I was looking for and why I got what I got. The plan is to cover this car more in the future. But know this- there are some amazing values out there and, if you’re patient, it’s possible to score over 50% off the original MSRP or more on low mileage cars after just a coupl...
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