2026 Toyota Sequoia Capstone

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Even though this is a big vehicle, it is also a hybrid, which provides all-important (especially now) fuel efficiency while not giving up anything in performance

By Gary S. Vasilash

 The Capstone trim has something called “Shale Premium” textured leather-trimmed seats.

The “Shale Premium” textured leather-trimmed seats. (Images: Toyota)

Those two adjectives actually say a lot about the Sequoia.

The first undoubtedly goes to the color that is characteristic of the sedimentary rock of that name. What I also didn’t know until I looked it up: shale is the most common sedimentary rock on Earth.

And the Sequoia isn’t exactly a “common” vehicle. Through the third quarter of 2026 21,403 were sold. To put that number in context, know that during the same period there were 60,271 Ford Expeditions sold and 79,570 Chevy Tahoes. For those who are interested in some exclusivity there’s a benefit there to the Toyota.

Shale is comparatively fragile, so it would likely not be used as an architectural capstone, which is a stone that binds the underlying structure together.

And this is a non-Sequoia characteristic. Even in the lux Capstone trim it is far from fragile.

It is based on the body-on-frame TNGA-F platform. To put that into something relatable, it is the same platform used for the Toyota Tundra, Land Cruiser, 4Runner, and Tacoma. None of which are fragile.

The Capstone is the top trim, which goes to the point of “Premium.”

So in addition to those leather-trimmed seats the ones in front are 10-way adjustable. There is American walnut wood-grain interior trim (which is certainly in line with where it is built, San Antonio, Texas, as walnut is fairly characteristic of the state). There are illuminated driver and passenger footwells. There is a 10-inch color head-up display. There is a 14-inch infotainment display. And there are 22-inch dark chrome alloy wheels.

And while on the subject of dimensions, the exterior numbers for the vehicle are:

  • 208 inches long
  • 79.6 inches wide
  • 74.5 inches high
  • 122-inch wheelbase

And inside:

  • There are three rows and a total of 157 cubic feet of passenger volume
  • And if the second and third rows are folded there are 86.9 cubic feet for cargo

While on the subject of numbers, the Sequoia has a “i-Force MAX” (sounds powerful, right?) twin-turbo V6 hybrid. It produces 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. It has a 10-speed automatic transmission. It can tow 9,500 pounds.

In the 4×4 setup it gets an EPA estimated 19 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, 20 mpg combined. (Which I think must be in two high and careful treatment of the throttle.)

And a figure that is important: 8.6 inches, which is the ground clearance, which makes the Capstone power-extending running boards my favorite feature: If you are going to get into a premium vehicle you don’t want to have to undergo gymnastics.

Of course, there is a figure that is likely more important: the MSRP.

The base MSRP is $86.135.

Toyota Sequoia Capstone: impressive presence.

Toyota & Batteries: More Impressive Than You Might Think

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Enhancing support for its portfolio approach to propulsion for consumers, it opens a new battery research facility

By Gary S. Vasilash

Toyota was once excoriated by environmentalists and journalists alike for having a seemingly less-than robust approach to electric vehicles.

The company that arguably put the word “hybrid” into the vocabulary with its Prius, introduced in the US in 2000, was charged with slow-walking its EV initiatives or putting out underwhelming vehicles.

The company argued that hybrids were more likely to appeal to everyday drivers and that as a global company it needed to address needs of drivers around the world, where even diesel might be the fuel of choice.

Meanwhile, it kept working on its powertrain portfolio, including EVs.

On October 1, Toyota and General Motors released their sales numbers for the first three quarters of 2026.

Toyota brand has three EVs on its list. Chevrolet has four EVs on its list.

And the numbers are these:

–C-HR:                             7,215

–bZ:                                  24,944

–bZ Woodland:                   2,600

==

–Blazer EV:                     4,427

–Bolt:                               8,090

–Equinox EV:                 18,154

–Silverado EV:               5,327

Which results in:

–Toyota:                          34,759

–Chevy:                           35,998

Not only is the “laggard” doing pretty well—1,239 behind Chevy—but looked at from the all-important aspect of scale, it is doing better:

Toyota: three nameplates, or an average of 11,586 units

Chevy: four nameplates, or an average of 9,000 units

What’s more, for the first three quarters the comparison with year-to-date sales in 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 by percentage are notable:

–C-HR:                             240,400%

–bZ:                                  103.4%

–bZ Woodland:             Not available

==

–Blazer EV:                     -78.7%

–Bolt:                               6,477.2%

–Equinox EV:                 -65.6%

–Silverado EV:               -43.2%

Overlooking the absurd results (in the first three quarters of 2025 there were three C-HRs delivered and 123 Bolts), it certainly appears there is growth in one company and decline in the other in terms of EV sales.

What’s more, because of its robust hybrid sales*, 55.3% of Toyota’s sales in the first three quarters are electrified.

GM’s figure: 4.1%.

Also on October 1, Toyota officially opened its Toyota Battery Center of North America (TBC) in Saline, Michigan.

This is a $50-million, 30,000 square-foot facility.

It will be used for the development and evaluation of lithium-ion, LFP, solid-state, and other battery chemistries.

And as the company notes, the new facility:

“Supports Toyota’s electrified vehicle lineup — hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), battery electric (BEV), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV)

Yes, the entire electrified portfolio.

*In the first three quarters Toyota delivered 260,684 Camrys—all of which are hybrids. Sticking with the Chevy comparison, with the exception of the Silverado light-duty pickup (279,614 delivered), it sold no vehicle in the same time period that had sales even near the Camry’s—the closest is the Equinox, of which it sold 191,578.

New battery development and evaluation center at the Toyota complex in Saline, Michigan. Saline? It is south of Ann Arbor, where the University of Michigan is located. Toyota is a founding member of the U-M Electric Vehicle Center. (Image: Toyota)

2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus

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It all comes down to your individual taste. . . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

Back in 1995 Chick-fil-A began its billboard campaign with two cows painting on the sign “Eat Mor Chikin.”

And since 1995, especially in the past few years, there has been phenomenal growth in the number of fast-food outlets ordinarily associated with beef patties on a bun offering chicken in various configurations.

But chikin.

Now for the most part a sandwich here and a sandwich there are essentially the same. Sure, there’s some distinctive variations, but it is, to drag in another metaphor, variations on a theme.

The same but different.

Which brings me to compact crossovers, which are to OEMs what chikin is to fast-food operators.

Everyone has one. And there isn’t a heck of a lot of difference between them.

In the chicken sandwich world there’s Chick-fil-A and then all the rest. Which is something like the Toyota RAV4 in the compact crossover space. (Don’t be misled by the RAV4 sales being off during the first half of this year because the company is in the process of launching the sixth generation, so once the production lines are humming things will resume, undoubtedly.)

Which brings me to the Mazda CX-50.

Mazda CX-50 (Image: Mazda)

This is the first generation of the vehicle, which launched as a model year 2023 crossover.

It is the first vehicle that Mazda is producing at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama.

(Although I used the RAV4 for analogy purposes only, given the name of that plant you might be wondering what Toyota does there—no, not the RAV4, but the Corolla Cross.)

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus in question has a Skyactiv-G 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. That’s if you fill the tank with premium. Nowadays you might opt for regular (at the time of this writing, the national average for premium is $5.35 per gallon and $4.45 for regular; a few gallons can make the difference on whether you get a chicken sandwich with fries or not). If you run it on regular then the numbers go down to 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.

The vehicle features a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. There is standard “i-Activ AWD,”

 on premium 93-octane fuel or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular 87-octane fuel. The engine pairs with a Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and has standard i-Activ AWD.

And a word about that. This is a clever system that uses 27 sensors to determine driving conditions, both the vehicle and the environment. So rather than merely being reactive (i.e., wheel slippage occurs, kick on the system), it is predictive, basing what it does on those sensors).

The vehicle offers black badges and LED headlights. Automatic power-folding side mirrors and a full-color “Active Driving Display” (a.k.a., “head up display”).

On the inside there is leather and nice stitching on the trim. There are heated rear seats and a 10.25-inch color display.

The CX-50 is a very nice compact crossover. This trim is the top-of-the-line, so it has a starting MSRP of $42,900. The base trim starts at $29,000. There is an array of the ways you can have the CX-50 to fit your needs.

I know people who swear by Mazdas. And evidently through August, there are a lot of people who are opting for the CX-50, as it is now the best-seller in the company’s lineup.

Whether it is a chicken sandwich or a compact crossover, it is a matter of taste.

And the CX-50 is well done.

McLaren Racing & McLaren Automotive Get a New Look

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Both companies share heritage, but no longer common ownership

By Gary S. Vasilash

Although this is a bit tricky in terms of names and history, McLaren was founded in 1963 by Bruce McLaren as an F1 racing team, Bruce McLaren Motor Racing. It had a name change in 1981 to simply McLaren Racing.

McLaren Cars was established in 1985. It had a name change to McLaren Automotive in 2010.

McLaren Group, an umbrella organization, was established in 1985, encompassing both operations.

However. . .

In March 2024 McLaren Group was acquired by Baharain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat Holding Company.

In December 2024 CYVN Holdings, based in Abu Dhabi, purchased McLaren Automotive. So it is out of the Group but the racing team is still in the Group.

All of that said, McLaren has revealed a new brand identity that encompasses both McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing.

There continues to be the boomerang like Speedmark:

But there is a new wordmark, which is based on a sign that was used at Bruce McLaren’s parent’s service station in Remuera, Aukland, New Zealand:

In announcing the new visual identity both firms made statements:

“There is something uniquely special about McLaren. Throughout our history, we’ve never been content to follow established paths. We’ve always looked ahead, driven by a restless desire to innovate, create and push beyond expectations. This evolution of our visual identity captures that spirit. It’s a reflection of the journey we are on as a company. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for McLaren, giving a physical expression to the ambition, creativity and forward momentum that is shaping our future.”
David Woodhouse, Chief Creative Officer, McLaren Automotive

“McLaren has evolved enormously over the years, but looking back through our shared history across Racing and Automotive, it’s poignant how much of Bruce’s original vision and spirit still runs through the business today. This evolved identity perfectly bridges that proud heritage with our future ambition. It celebrates the symbols and stories our fans, partners and team mates already know and love, while giving us a more connected expression of where we’re heading next. It feels unmistakably McLaren.”
Lou McEwen, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Racing

It is interesting how the two companies, owned by different companies, apparently continue to share a notion of what they are about.

Bruce McLaren, incidentally, died in 1970 while testing his team’s new McLaren M8D Can-Am car at the Goodwood Circuit.

He was 32.

2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid X-Line SX Prestige

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Looks great. Carries plenty. And has great fuel efficiency. Yes, the proverbial “total package”

By Gary S. Vasilash

Let’s talk about the Kia Telluride Hybrid X-Line SX Prestige.

Say you’re going on vacation with your kids or on a road trip with your pals.

You need a vehicle that can accommodate people and the stuff that people bring along for the ride.

Maybe you need three rows.

And if you do, and you need space for stuff, 21.3 cubic feet might do the trick. If only need to bring along people who can fit in the first and second rows, then folding that third row flat will give you 47.7 cubic feet for cargo. (Were you to have no passengers, it goes to 88.3 cubic feet with the second row folded, but that doesn’t work with this imagined trip with people.)

2027 Telluride Hybrid X-Line. You could drive from Phoenx, Arizona, to Telluride, Colorado–in comfort–and still have gas in the tank upon arrival. (Image: Kia)

Now there’s something to take into account having taken into account people and packaging.

That is, whether it is kids or adults, odds are good that your passengers want to get to wherever they are going sooner rather than later.

Don’t get me wrong: The interior of the Telluride is superb, whether it is the leather-like SynTex material used for the seats or the dual sunroofs or the fast-charging USB-C ports in all three rows or the 14-speaker Meridian audio system or the heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows or the. . . .

You get it.

This thing is exceedingly comfortable, roomy (passenger volume: 158 cubic feet) and well-equipped.

And for the driver, when on some routes where there are, say, lots of semitrucks hauling their goods to market, seemingly going faster and faster, perhaps so they can refuel before the diesel prices go higher, having a sizeable vehicle is a good thing.

The Telluride is 70.5 inches high (with roof rails, because you never know when you need even more room), 78.3 niches wide, 199.2 inches long, and has a 116.9-inch wheelbase.

What’s more, the driver is going to want to have something that is not only large under those (and other) conditions, but powerful. The Telluride Hybrid X-Line has a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a parallel hybrid system that produces a total 329 hp. And it is sure-footed, as in having standard AWD.

But back to that notion of getting there sooner rather than later.

And to one of the beauties of this vehicle which, incidentally, has absolutely stunning exterior styling (the X-Line trim provides a somewhat “rugged” appearance with things like a black mesh-typed grille and squared-off black bumper, blacked-out wheel arches, and other dark-themed elements).

The beauty in question here is the fuel efficiency.

It is rated at 30 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined.

So you fill the 18.2-gallon fuel tank with regular. (Yes, regular.)

That provides a theoretical range of 564.2-mile range. But knock off 30 miles from that and you’re still comfortably above a 500-mile range before it is time to stop for a Slurpee, beef jerky and fuel.

And when you make that stop, you’re done in well under 10 minutes, ready to go another 500+ miles.

(I drove the vehicle from Detroit to Chicago. I stopped on the west side of Michigan to get gas because it was convenient, continued to Chicago, drove back to Detroit, and had plenty in the tank when I arrived.)

The efficiency means you’re getting your gang and your gear to where you’re going without delay.

2026 Lexus RX 450h+

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This is what “continuous improvement” means. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

The Lexus RX has been exceedingly popular since it launched in the US in March 1998. Arguably it created the luxury crossover segment. It was followed in time by vehicles including the BMW X5 (1999), the Acura MDX (2000), and Volvo XC90 (2002).

But year after year, the Lexus has been the top seller among all Lexus models, as well as having greater sales than those other crossover models.

This seems to have led some critics to maintain that the RX is somehow boring, perhaps because of its success.

Which is somewhat bizarre logic: Because it has such great appeal, it must not be as good as vehicles with less appeal.

Yes, those other models may have better performance or more capacity or something, but it is the package that people buy, and evidently the RX package has, from the first generation, been one with the greatest appeal.

It is now on its fifth generation. It is still settling the pace.

US sales through the first half of 2026:

  • RX:        59,904
  • X5:        41,554
  • MDX:    24,102
  • XC90:   22,538

“Oh, but it is too this, that or the other thing.”

Maybe.

But it is also clearly successful. All the more so when you realize that this generation RX was introduced in the market in the fall of 2022 and here we are four years later and it still has considerable appeal.

///

Lexus RX 450h+. A stylish plug-in hybrid. (Image: Lexus)

The RX 450h+ is a plug-in hybrid.

Said simply, it is a gas-electric hybrid. It is an AWD vehicle. So there is a permanent magnet synchronous motor in the front, a permanent magnet synchronous motor in the rear, and a gasoline-powered 2.5-liter four cylinder engine under the hood. All-in the system produces 304 hp.

But the “plug-in” part goes to the fact that, yes, there is a plug, which can be used to charge the lithium-ion battery. Note the “can.” It isn’t a requirement, though not taking advantage of this would be silly (you can use a regular home outlet, though there are other, more powerful options for charging).

What that fully charged battery means is that the RX 450h+ operates like a full-on electric vehicle for as many as 38 miles.

And when that runs out—and you won’t notice it when it does, unless you keep a keen eye on your gauge cluster—the vehicle operates like a hybrid, which means it is fuel efficient (and lest you think fuel efficiency = sluggishness, Lexus says it goes 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 6.2 seconds, which is probably true because they probably had a lawyer or two assessing the claim).

While the fuel economy measure is 85 MPGe, let’s face it: that’s fairly meaningless.

Know that I was getting 35.7 mpg after the electric miles were long gone.

And realize that this is a vehicle that seats five in comfort. It is a midsize crossover, measuring 192.5 inches long, 75.6 inches wide, 67.3 inches high, and having a 112.2-inch wheelbase.

That “in comfort” part is the essence, I’d argue, of Lexus.

Whether it is feeling the suppleness of the semi-aniline leather on the seats or simply looking at the ash bamboo trim in the cabin, this tells you that this is authentic.

Yes, there is a 14-inch touchscreen display and a 12.3-inch multi-information display (a.k.a., “gauge cluster”), but there are also knobs (e.g., temperature control, volume), so it isn’t all swiping (though you could should you be so inclined).

When the Lexus brand was launched in 1989 it used the tagline “The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection.” That was phased out in 2013. (It is currently “Experience Amazing.”)

Still, it is evident that the designers and engineers at Lexus know that working to achieve the utmost in quality and flawlessness is something they have to work at every day.

Whether or not that results in something “amazing” is certainly something that’s a personal assessment.

But unquestionably, whether predicated on sales or getting behind the wheel, the RX seems to be getting better and better.

2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

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Remember when you had fun driving?

By Gary S. Vasilash

One of the problems with sedans is that people think people aren’t buying them and so being inclined to do what everyone else seems to do, those people go to a dealership and ask about a crossover.

But in point of fact, people do buy sedans.

For example, last year Toyota sold 248,088 Corollas and Honda 238,661 Civics, and although in each case there were some hatchbacks sold, for the most part they were straight-up four doors.

To put those numbers in perspective, know that in 2025 Buick—the entire division–sold a total of 198,155 vehicles, all of which were crossovers. Of the four models on offer, its biggest seller was the Envista, with sales of 58,949.

Over at Chevy, the only vehicle that outsold the Corolla and Civic was, yes, a crossover, the Equinox, which had sales of 274,356.

But then it is worth noting there were 316,185 Camrys sold in 2025, and the only model Chevy had that outsold it was the Silverado light-duty pickup truck, with 362,909 units, and pickup trucks are another story entirely.

Still, the number of mainstream sedans is small compared to the crossover segment.

VW GLI: a compact sedan that can do the daily activities and provide a bit of engagement while doing so. (Image: VW)

And a consequence of that is people who haven’t been in a sedan for a while have forgotten that driving—even while doing daily chores—can be, well, fun.

Now the VW GLI is a peppy variant of the VW Jetta, a compact sedan that competes with the likes of the Corolla and the Civic.

Peppy? Well, the standard Jetta has a 1.5-liter turbo I4 engine that produces 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.

The GLI has a 2.0-liter turbo I4 that produces 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

What’s more, whereas the regular Jetta has an eight-speed automatic, the GLI is available with a seven-speed DSG, or dual-clutch gearbox, which quickly shifts gears (no clutch required). (The GLI is also available with a six-speed manual for those who are inclined to like clutch pedals.)

As visually the GLI is sportier, as well, with standard 18-inch wheels (rather than standard 16-inch), honeycomb top and bottom grilles, a red accent stripe across the front fascia, and an integrated light bar across the front of the vehicle. And on the inside, there’s red stitching on the leather seats and trim, metal sport pedals, and a 10-colar ambient lighting system.

The GLI has a multi-link rear suspension, a rear anti-roll bar, and sport-tuned gas-filled shock absorbers. All of which means it can be driven in a spirited manner and the setup helps keep things in order, yet when driven in a more straightforward manner it is a comfortable ride.

What may seem like a trivial thing, the steering wheel is substantial, which underscores the fact that this is a car to be driven, not some sort of thing that you climb into and then otherwise distract yourself from the act of driving.

And while the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen provides access to such things as navi, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there is also a Performance Monitor that can be called up so as to get real-time driving performance data.

Because you never know when you might want to know what the G-forces are.

And you probably wouldn’t in crossover.

Grown-up fun in a car (yes, car) that starts at $33,795 that can also take the kids to school and carry the groceries.

2027 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Nightshade Edition

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Although this Prius styling is a few years old now, it still looks fresh. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

One of the things that automotive observers observed when the OEMs reported their 2026 first-half sales results was that the Toyota Prius had rather anemic sales: 19,518 compared with 33,845 for the first half of 2025. That’s a 42.3% reduction.

While not an apples-to-apples comparison, it is interesting to note that in the first half of 2026 only a single Cadillac model—one out of 10—had greater sales than that 19,518: The Escalade at 20,062. That’s 544 more.

Another not-exactly-a-competitor-unless-you-count-both-having-four-tires is the Jeep Gladiator. Its first half sales were 19,033, yet when it was recently suggested that Ford might come out with a Bronco with a bed on the back to compete with it, people said that it is a good plan.

But the falloff in sales of the Prius, the vehicle that is considered the first (it wasn’t: Honda launched the Insight in the US market about seven months earlier, in December 1999) and foremost (you’ve got to give it that), is somehow meant to indicate something, imply those observers.

Sure doesn’t look like what many people think of when “Prius” is brought up. (Image: gsv)

However, given that Toyota (and Lexus) total electrified vehicle sales—mainly hybrids, with some EVs in the mix—in the first half was 53.9% of total sales, meaning that there are now hybrids in vehicle architectures across the board, a falloff in Prius sales shouldn’t surprise anyone.

A friend whose involvement with the auto industry goes no further than owning a vehicle, saw the 2026 Prius and said, “Prius—wasn’t that the sort of clunky-looking one when it first came out?”

He was most impressed looking at the current generation—the fifth, and didn’t realize that the model launched in the US in early 2023.

But he, like many, owns a compact crossover, not a sleek sedan that, with the exception of the cutlines for the rear doors, appears to be a coupe.

And let’s face it: faced with a vehicle that has 91.2 cubic feet of passenger volume and 20.3 cubic feet of cargo volume (Prius) is going to have a tough time competing with a vehicle that offers 98.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 33.6 cubic feet (with the second row in place) of cargo volume (the RAV4).

Simply stated: a sporty design is a tough sell.

Yes, people may really like the way they look, but when it comes to making a decision about making a purchase, utility usually wins. (And if it is a RAV4, Toyota won’t mind.)

The vehicle driven here the Nightshade Plug-in Hybrid (one of four trims, with the other being the SE, XSE and XSE Premium), yes, has an outlet so it can be plugged in (with a typical 120-v outlet, it can be charged in 11 hours, or about four hours with a Level 2 charger).

But it also has a 10.6-gallon gas tank that can be filled up in a few minutes.

Now the “Plug-in” part allows the Prius to travel 39 miles on electricity alone before the conventional hybrid system does its stuff. (The base SE trim goes 44 miles.)

Then when it is operating as a hybrid you’re looking at getting 50 mpg city, 47 mpg highway. And yes, I got 48 mpg while driving in combined situations—and the driving style was simply driving.

As electric vehicles use their range as a feature—and for many of them a 300-mile range is quite an accomplishment—know that this model can go some 550 miles before a fill up (and charge up) is needed.

The net system horsepower (that is, combining the 2.0-liter engine with the motor generators) of 220, which is certainly quite reasonable for a vehicle, especially if you look at those fuel efficiency numbers.

The Nightshade Edition has 19-inch alloy wheels with a black finish; black bumper trim; black doorsills; black shark fin antenna; and black front seats.

The Prius was once analogous to a pair of orthopedic shoes. Now it has high-fashion styling.

It still provides the fuel efficiency that other OEMs still only dream of.

2026 Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus

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A look at the top-of-the-line trim of Mazda’s compact CUV. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

The Mazda CX-5 is a compact crossover that has undergone a redesign for the third generation of this popular Mazda: through July 2026 sales, the CX-5 is the second-most-popular vehicle in the brand’s lineup, coming in shortly behind the CX-50: 74,760 to 76,510.

The exterior styling is similar to that of gen-two, although the lines seem somewhat softer, which is again the sort of zig that Mazda tends to make when others are zagging. In this case, there seems to be a tendency to make vehicles of this type seemingly like things that are designed with an array of right angles, as though 90-degree angles make the vehicle inherently capable of doing things it is not engineered to come even close to doing (i.e., drive over Moon-like terrain).

2026 Mazda CX-5 is bigger than the previous generation, by 4.5 inches in overall length, 4.6 inches in wheelbase, and 0.6 inches in width (or the ’26 is 184.6 inches long, has a 110.8-inch wheelbase, and is 73.2 inches wide.) It has cargo capacity of 33.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 66.5 cubic feet when folded. (Image: Mazda)

Propulsion

The engine is the same as that used in the previous gen. It is a 187-hp, 2.5-liter four mated to a six-speed transmission. There is the carryover AWD system.

While the six-speed might seem somewhat lacking in gears, it should be noted that the Honda CR-V and the Nissan Rogue, with which the CX-5 competes, have continuously variable transmissions, which means “shifts” from one “gear” to another is simulated, and the Toyota RAV4, which is now all-hybrid, also has a CVT.

One of the benefits of a CVT is said to be fuel economy. The CX-5 returns 24 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined, which is not something particularly notable. For example, a CR-V with a 190-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter four with AWD is rated 27 city/31 highway/29 combined, so although it is just a couple of mpgs overall, when gas is $4.00+, it is a consideration.

Handling

Mazdas have long been known for their driver-oriented handling. The CX-5 continues that, which isn’t a bad thing, but which is probably something that most people who are behind the wheel of a compact crossover never think about (or experience) because vehicles of this type and drivers who buy them do so for more practical reasons than carving corners on Angeles Crest Highway (that’s why there are Miatas—and according to Mazda, the suspension tuning for the CX-5 is predicated on the Miata, but really. . . .).

Screen

The biggest change is the available 15.6-inch center touchscreen with an integrated Google interface. This screen is standard on the Premium Plus trim. Other CX-5s get a 12.9-inch screen.

Mazda has been criticized for the past few years for having a somewhat unique interface setup predicated on a dial on the center console that was turned to make selections and pushed to engage said selection.

But now this is an iPod-like (if the iPod is horizontally oriented) experience, with a matter of simply tapping on icons.  Which works well. But in my experience I think maybe they went a bit too far to make up for lost time. Yes, everyone of a certain age (and I fit into that category) tends to complain about things like the lack of a volume knob. And that’s one thing I would complain about here.

While there are steering wheel controls that can make that adjustment, and there is also voice control that can control a number of functions, the passenger is going to have to make sure the right spot is selected on the screen—something that would be difficult were one doing that aforementioned “spirited” driving.

Assessment

The category the Mazda CX-5 is competing in is arguably the most brutal in that not only are there the models from Honda, Nissan and Toyota, but also Chevy, Kia, Hyundai, VW, and Jeep.

For its looks alone it is a competitor. (Yes, yes, there are other factors to take into account, like the CX-5 receiving the IIHS 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, which is absolutely an important thing for a vehicle that is likely to be carrying kids to soccer practice and the like.)

2026 Kia K4 EX Hatchback

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For those who are concerned with “affordability,” this can be the solution. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

The 2026 Kia K4 EX Hatchback is, well, a hatchback, that body design that was immensely popular at one point, such that it gave rise to the term “hot hatch.”

The EX isn’t that. It has a 147-hp 2.0 liter engine and a continuously variable transmission.

The hot one is the GT-Line Turbo, which has a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that cranks out 190 hp and is mated to an eight-speed step-gear transmission.

But visually, if someone wants to get into a striking hatch that pretty much resembles the hot version (yes, there is the use of body colored elements on the outside of the EX and gloss black on the GT-Line; 17-inch alloys rather than 18-inch; and a few other distinctions that you probably have to have side-by-side to assess) and has less coin, then the EX is the ticket.

The Startling Price

One thing that cannot be overlooked in this period when people are saying “affordability” and then paying what can be considered crazy money is the starting MSRP of the K4 EX: $24,990.

That deserves to be repeated: a starting MSRP for a new vehicle that can sort-of fit five (four comfortably) of $24,900.

Consider: in July 2026 Kelley Blue Book found the average transaction price (ATP) for a vehicle was $49,855. Someone could buy two K4 EX models for $49,980. Not quite half the going ATP, but awfully good value. (And let’s face it: no one is going to buy two, so this simply means that someone is going to have a significantly lower-than-average monthly car payment by going with the K4.)

Style that people can afford: Kia K4. (Image: Kia)

And even if gas wasn’t, as it is at present, over $4.00 per gallon, the fact that the K4 returns 29/39/33 mpg (city/highway/combined) is something that needs to be taken into account because there are more things in life that need to be purchased than gasoline.

No Skimping

The K4 doesn’t come with a highly competitive price because it is low in the competitive space when it comes to things like technology. There are a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and over-the-air-update capability. There are a wireless phone charger and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are a USB-C charging port in the front console and two USB-C charging ports in the rear (because people who sit back there do tend to have devices, even though that’s not always acknowledged). There is standard blind spot collision avoidance assist and smart cruise control with stop and go.

Another notable aspect of the interior is that there is the use of a material called “SynTex” on the seats which seems like leather but isn’t—and the notability comes from the fact that this material is used up and down Kia’s lineup, so it is not some sort of thrifty material that’s being used in the well below $30,000 model while the other material is used only for those who spend more.

Room to Accommodate

And while on the subject of “more” it is worth knowing that there is 22.2 cubic feet of room for stuff behind the second row (this is one of the characteristics of hatches that shouldn’t be overlooked: capacity) and a massive 59.3 cubic feet should that second row be folded.

Importantly, the K4 Hatchback looks great. Someone who buys one isn’t going to have the sends that they’ve had to “settle” for something because not only are there those interior amenities, but given the exterior styling, it is the sort of thing someone can be proud of when they go out to get into the vehicle.

And that’s something hard to put a price on.