The Cartrast Blog

At present, Ford’s Maverick pickup truck is notably a difficult vehicle to obtain, largely because of how well-suited it is to the current market. The Maverick has also become noteworthy for how customizable Ford has made it, allowing owners to tailor equipment in the bed and the rear part of the center console to their liking. Smaller and more fuel-efficient than the Ranger and other midsize pickups for sale, the Maverick is a good fit for customers who reside in an urban environment and need a high amount of practicality.

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Occasionally, the Cartrast team will have an opportunity to sample something that showcases the best of what luxury vehicles have to offer. We found ourselves with that chance during the Western Automotive Journalists Media Days event in Half Moon Bay this past week, where we got to try out the Lexus LX 600. Now fitted with a 409-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 in place of the old 5.7-liter V-8, the redesigned LX has become more powerful yet more fuel-efficient while introducing shoppers to an updated level of luxury.

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Electric vehicles are not generally considered by shoppers for their performance; rather it is usually about the efficiency of EVs. The 2022 BMW i4 M50 will likely change that as we were surprised by the amount of performance we experienced from a vehicle that looks like any other 4-Series Gran Coupe on the road today. However, it wasn’t just performance and electric efficiency we were impressed by, we also were dazzled with the high amount of practicality that the i4 retained.

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Over the last ten to fifteen years, full-size trucks have gone from being dedicated workhorses for tradesmen and contractors to becoming day-to-day vehicles for a growing number of the American population. With the redesigned Tundra, Toyota is targeting that ever-larger pool of customers considering a full-size pickup for comfort and the ability to see the road from high. We managed to spend some time with the 2022 model of the Tundra to find out where the full-size truck market is going and how usable they can be.

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Mercedes-Benz has long been known for luxury cars, though not as much for its performance vehicles. Much of that has changed over the last ten to twenty years through the company’s involvement in Formula 1 and the release of dedicated sports cars like the SLR McLaren, SLS AMG, and the AMG GT Coupe. With the AMG GT 53, Mercedes has combined the nature of the aforementioned sports cars with the usability of a typical Mercedes passenger car, with the results becoming a package we enjoyed very much.

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Toyota’s entry into the ever more burgeoning electric vehicle segment, the bZ4X should introduce many of their loyal internal-combustion-engined vehicle customers to a wholly new type of vehicle. After spending some time with the bZ4X, we don’t think Toyota’s customers will notice much of a difference, and that’s a very good thing. Styled to look like most of the compact SUVs on the road today, the bZ4X doesn't stand out as an electric vehicle at first glance, but it sure stood out from the other EVs after our time with it.

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Full-size luxury SUVs are very difficult to keep in inventory at the moment for numerous dealers across the country. While this phenomenon has been occurring, Jeep has released the ultra-luxury-oriented Grand Wagoneer, designed to compete with the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, Lexus LX 600, and the Range Rover. During the Western Automotive Journalists’ Media Days event, we managed to get some time with the Grand Wagoneer, coming away dazzled by the amount of luxury we sampled.

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Last year we sampled the new Grand Cherokee L, an extended-wheelbase version of the then-upcoming Grand Cherokee that brought a third-row seat and cargo room for growing families. This year, we managed to finally get behind the wheel of the standard Grand Cherokee with the same powerful V-8 engine that our Grand Cherokee L test vehicle had. Though the normal Grand Cherokee loses the third-row seat, making it strictly a five-seater, we came away with a smile on our face after our seat time.

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The ID.4 is a very important vehicle for Volkswagen, showcasing the company’s investment in electric vehicles for the United States, which has steadily been seeing an increase in EV sales. Designed to appeal to customers who are considering compact SUVs due to their size and ride height, the ID.4 is intended to provide an emissions-free alternative while providing a similar driving experience and matching level of practicality compared to gas-powered alternatives. We managed to sample an ID.4 and got to experience the future of Volkswagen.

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Now considered a moniker for the sportified version of the Honda Civic, when the “Si” nameplate was introduced over 30 years ago, it actually stood for “Sport-injection”, which meant that Honda had added a fuel-injection system to the car for added performance. Since then, fuel injection has become the norm for vehicles sold throughout the United States and “Si” began to signify the sport-oriented trim of the ever-popular Civic. With the Civic having been redesigned for the 2022 model year, a new Si has followed, and we wanted to see what it was like.

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Going on sale later this year, the Solterra is Subaru’s first dedicated electric vehicle to be sold across the world. With Subaru’s customers known for their propensity to venture into the wilderness off the beaten path as well as their focus on preserving the environment, the Solterra as a zero-emissions vehicle is catered towards them. This week we managed to get an opportunity to try out the Solterra for ourselves, and after some time behind the wheel on the roads of Northern California, we think numerous Subaru owners will become converts.

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Over the last 20 years, the Acura MDX has been the go-to SUV for families looking for a practical and reliable, yet upscale vehicle. Sportiness and driving experience were never considered as part of the equation. With a redesign for the 2022 model year, performance can be a major consideration in picking the MDX as a vehicle for comfortably carting the family and its equipment around, especially after experiencing the sport-tuned Type S version that we managed to spend some time.

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We recently managed to get a first drive of the 2023 Kia Sportage with the hybrid powertrain, which allows the popular SUV to get 38 miles per gallon in the city, highway, and combined. As the compact SUV segment becomes more competitive than ever, Kia needed to update its entry, making the design both inside and outside stand out against ever more aggressive entrants in the market. After spending some time behind the wheel, we think the Sportage will appeal to more people than ever before.

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May 10, 2022 — New Range Rover Sport redefines sporting luxury, combining assertive and instinctive on-road performance with Range Rover refinement, progressive design sophistication and connected convenience. The third-generation model is the most desirable, advanced and dynamically capable yet. A suite of powerful and efficient powertrains includes six-cylinder extended range Electric Hybrid, a potent new V8 and two mild hybrid six-cylinder gasoline Ingenium engine.

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May 10, 2022 — Torrance, California The 2023 Honda Odyssey debuts an exciting new Sport trim as it continues to evolve the capabilities that make it America’s ultimate family vehicle. Odyssey’s first-ever Sport trim offers unique styling inside and out for a sportier, more emotional appearance. Odyssey also introduces the new Honda Service Pass, a new complimentary service plan that offers purchasers of 2023 Honda vehicles select scheduled maintenance performed at a participating Honda dealership for 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.

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