The Cartrast Blog

These days, the ability to venture off the beaten path has become a large consideration for midsize SUV shoppers, evidenced by the growing popularity of vehicles sold with their off-road trims and option packages. Honda has entered the fray with the TrailSport version of the five-passenger Passport, based on the Pilot family SUV, which comes with an i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system, a 10mm increase in track width, and more aggressive bumpers. We wanted to find out what the updated 2022 Passport was like, so we sampled one during the Motor Press Guild Drive Day event in Malibu, in the process discovering an engaging and versatile vehicle.

Read More

As the company which arguably got the hot hatchback trend going with the Golf GTI in the late 1970s, Volkswagen has come up with the ultimate hot hatchback in the form of the 2022 Golf R. With a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that generates 315 horsepower paired to a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring capabilities, the Golf R provides a level of performance that even some dedicated sports cars cannot match. We managed to try out the new Golf R on the winding roads in the hills of Malibu and we came away astonished at how easily it could put a smile on our face.

Read More

Very rarely does the Cartrast team sample performance vehicles, but when the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a 2022 Corvette on the scenic and twisty roads of Malibu presented itself, we simply couldn’t say no. As this generation of the Corvette now has the engine in the middle for better handling and on-road performance, we wanted to find out the kind of car it has become. So we found ourselves piloting an orange mid-engined Corvette Stingray coupe in the warm June Southern California weather and discovered why it is one of the most difficult cars to obtain at the moment.

Read More

June 7, 2022 — Torrance, California Stylish and sporty with a roomy, feature-rich interior, the all-new 2023 Honda HR-V gains aspirational qualities beyond its segment. A larger, more responsive engine, an all-new platform with a smooth-riding independent rear suspension, and a clean, high-tech interior with standard digital instrumentation display and Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, take HR-V to a new level. The new HR-V will begin arriving at dealerships in early June.

Read More

Plano, Texas (June 1, 2022) – The Toyota Corolla rolls into 2023 a changed car, and customers are bound to love what they see and drive. The line expands with four new Hybrid grades, including a more powerful hybrid system and available all-wheel drive. There’s big news on the gas side of the Corolla family, too. The LE, the most popular grade, now has the 169-horsepower 2.0-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine used in all other gas grades. Replacing a 139-hp 1.8-liter engine, it offers much more dynamic performance (0-60 two seconds quicker than with the 1.8L engine).

Read More

Jun 1, 2022 – Stuttgart Modern, sporty luxury - the new GLC embodies this in every detail. It is the most dynamic model in the successful SUV family from Mercedes-Benz. This is underlined, even at first glance, by its design with unique proportions, dramatic surfaces, precisely molded edges and a clearly laid-out, high-quality interior. It also impresses with its driving performance and efficiency. The GLC is at home on any terrain: whether on or off the road, it impresses with its comfort and agility. The new rear axle steering makes it even more maneuverable and safe. Off-road, it benefits from numerous features such as the off-road screen and the "transparent hood".

Read More

May 31, 2022 — Land Rover introduces a new HST model to the Range Rover Velar family. The HST was first introduced on the high-performance Range Rover Sport and Evoque models and its dynamic character is now available on the Velar for the first time. A distinctive combination of design enhancements and chassis features bring a new dimension of sporting luxury, all based around the R-Dynamic S model. Available in the full color palette and exclusively in new Arroios Grey, privacy glass and unique Gloss Black 21-inch alloy wheels complete the exterior.

Read More

May 31, 2022 — Alongside the critically acclaimed Defender 90 and Defender 110, the Defender 130 adds another dimension to the family of all-terrain vehicles, with adventuring opportunities for up to eight adults across three rows of full-size seating. Like the Defender 90 and 110, the new 130 body design borrows its name from the original Defender family, inspired by the longest model in the line-up. It allows customers to effortlessly transport up to eight people across various terrain and is the ultimate demonstration of Defender’s breadth of talents.

Read More

Plano, Texas (May 31, 2022) – Toyota is taking the RAV4 Hybrid to a whole new level of adventure with the new 2023 Woodland Edition. Equipped with everything needed for an outdoor excursion, the RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition is the first hybrid off-road special edition SUV for the brand. The new RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition, available in Midnight Black Metallic, Cavalry Blue and Ice Cap exterior colors, offers a distinctively rugged exterior and premium interior styling with the versatile features one would expect from the fifth-generation RAV4.

Read More

Plano, Texas (May 31, 2022) – Lexus pioneered the luxury crossover segment with the launch of the first RX more than 20 years ago and never looked back. Today, Lexus redefined what the RX means to guests with the global reveal of the all-new RX at the Lexus New Product Showcase. And as the first luxury brand to offer a hybrid in the segment, it’s only fitting that RX returns with a variety of electrified powertrains. The 2023 Lexus RX, the fifth generation for the Lexus core model, is completely redesigned from the wheels to the roof rails, featuring a new global platform, two all-new grades, available Digital Key, Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 and Lexus Interface Multimedia System.

Read More

Plano, Texas (May 19, 2022) – The 2023 Toyota Sienna marks the model’s first quarter-century of success and celebrates with a limited-availability 25th Anniversary Edition. Based on the sport-infused XSE grade, the special model gains additional luxury cabin features from the Limited grade and adds exclusive exterior and interior trim. Toyota has sold more than 2.2 million Sienna models since its debut in 1997. Toyota will build just 2,525 of these models for the U.S., making this a “gotta have it” minivan.

Read More

Plano, Texas (May 17, 2022) – The Toyota Tacoma once again leads the pack on road and trail into the 2023 model year, as America’s #1-selling mid-size pickup will grow to 17 years running. For 2023, Tacoma looks to add to its winning streak by offering two new packages for the SR5 grade. Designed in the U.S., the third-generation Tacoma inherits its design inspiration and “work hard, play hard” ethos from Toyota’s legendary desert race trucks, which began their winning ways four decades ago.

Read More

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 17, 2022 The BMW 3 Series is the yardstick of sporty driving pleasure by which all other contenders in the premium midsize segment are measured. With more than 45 years of global success under its belt, the 3 Series also embodies the heart of the BMW brand. Precise design modifications shine an even brighter spotlight on the dynamic character of the new 2023 BMW 3 Series. A newly designed cockpit with BMW Curved Display brings ground-breaking modernity and digitalization to the interior. And subtle but distinguishing refinements to the exterior express the promise of a distinctively rewarding driving experience.

Read More

One of the most anticipated electric vehicles this year, the Kia EV6 is part of a large push by automakers across the globe to bring EVs into the mainstream. Made in South Korea, the EV6 is manufactured on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, which significantly opens up interior space and allows for an exterior aerodynamic design that maximizes efficiency. We sampled the EV6 for ourselves on the roads of Northern California to find out for ourselves if Kia has an EV offering that negates a gas-powered vehicle.

Read More

During the Western Automotive Journalists Media Days event in Half Moon Bay last year, we managed to get behind the wheel of the Levante, Maserati’s best-selling vehicle in the United States. This year, Maserati brought a dedicated-performance version of its midsize SUV, the Levante Trofeo with a V-8 rather than a standard 6-cylinder engine. With the example we tested finished in a custom flashy shade of green (the color is called “Urban Green”), we got a taste of what happens when Maserati provides a high-level of performance in a practical wrapper.

Read More