First Drive Reviews
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First drive review: 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is buzzworthy, but a software update away from breakthroughBrian Wong
An hour with the 2021 VW ID.4 electric SUV assures us that this mass-market EV carries on the fun-to-drive qualities of the e-Golf—though its interface is still being sorted out.
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First drive review: 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid beats Highlander Hybrid with 37 mpg and better tech, but it’s no Telluride
A Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is on the way, with all-wheel drive and a 30-mile plug-in range. Will it feel more like the range-topper we were expecting?
Bengt Halvorson -
First drive review: 2021 Toyota Mirai goes faster and farther, but is that enough?
The 2021 Mirai moves to a rear-wheel drive platform borrowed from Lexus and gets improvements to the fuel cell stack, the interior, and the tech throughout.
Brian Wong -
First drive review: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV redefines the pony car
The Mach-E is the first non-Tesla to be able to hit 300 miles of range in some forms; we take a first drive in a Premium 4X version rated at 270 miles.
Bengt Halvorson -
Preview drive: 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge electric SUV doesn’t complicate the future
The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is Volvo's first electric car, and it lays out a straightforward driving experience for the brand's EV products.
Bengt Halvorson -
First drive review: 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is a 54-mpg tech and value standout
At up to 54 mpg, the Elantra Hybrid offers a perkier, more conventional driving experience than the eco-focused Ioniq hybrid—and a strong value vs. rivals.
Brian Wong -
Familiarity and ubiquity are what have made the Accord such a longtime sales success, but technology makes the Accord Hybrid anything but boring.
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2021 Toyota Sienna first drive: 36 mpg and design flair make the minivan relevant again
Toyota hybrid gas mileage and an interior redesign help remake the minivan without corrupting it—although a Sienna Prime sure would be nice.
Bengt Halvorson -
First drive review: Polestar 2 aims at Tesla and comes up just short
The Polestar 2 rivals Tesla's driving experience and interface but comes up short in packaging and interior space.
Kirk Bell -
First drive review: 2021 Toyota Venza hybrid reinterprets the market middle at 39 mpg
The Venza earns 40 mpg city, 37 highway, and occupies a midpoint between Toyota best-sellers such as the RAV4 Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, and Avalon Hybrid.
Bengt Halvorson -
First drive review: 2020 Tesla Model Y sets the benchmark for electric crossovers
The 2020 Tesla Model Y is the first in a series of affordable electric crossovers, and it has set the bar for the competition.
Kirk Bell -
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime first drive review: The way a plug-in hybrid should be
The 2021 RAV4 Prime offers 42 miles of all-electric driving, followed by 38-mpg hybrid operation, plus punchy performance.
Bengt Halvorson -
We drove the new all-electric Mini Cooper SE around Downtown Denver to see how the future of Mini could be.
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First drive review: 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a high-mpg sun-seeker
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid might be the best-positioned high-mileage machine for American exurb commuters and vast, open parking lots.
Bengt Halvorson -
First drive review: 2020 BMW 745e plug-in hybrid luxury sedan goes your own way, all so posh
The BMW 7-Series plug-in hybrid drops its mpg, boosts its electric range slightly, and becomes a much better-driving luxury sedan.
Bengt Halvorson -
First drive review: 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid teases an EV experience with no charge port
Honda’s two-motor hybrid system makes the CR-V more enjoyable to drive as well as up to 50 percent more efficient.
Bengt Halvorson -
First drive review: The 2020 Vanderhall Edison three-wheeler is a fun way to go green
The Vanderhall Edison provides an all-electric powertrain a classic roadster look—on three wheels.
Joel Feder -
First drive review: 2020 Porsche Taycan 4S range experiences, from California canyons to the Arctic
The Taycan electric car aims for consistency in range and characteristic Porsche performance, and the 4S will prove this in the real world.
Bengt Halvorson -
The Polestar 1 is a first in many ways—a plug-in hybrid from a new brand, with a carbon-fiber body and dual-motor rear-wheel torque vectoring.
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First drive review: 2020 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid casts market superstar as supporting character
Audi is cramming its lineup with as many plug-ins as possible, and the Q5’s popularity might make this PHEV a brand MVPs for selling electric motoring.
Bengt Halvorson -
First drive review: 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo is the next step for EVs beyond Tesla
We drive the new 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo through Denmark and Germany to see if it challenges established rivals from Tesla.
Aaron Cole -
First drive review: VW ID Buggy heads for the hills with MEB sharable electric car platform
The Buggy gives us our first taste of the MEB platform coming to the U.S. soon.
Aaron Cole -
First drive review: Is 2019 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid electric enough?
With Porsche banking its performance future on electric, the latest Cayenne E-Hybrid is a mainstream move and an incremental step.
Bengt Halvorson -
2020 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid first drive review: Charge port gained, no prestige lost
In Bentley's first hybrid vehicle, an electric motor complements the Audi V-6, with a 17-kwh battery pack enabling some all-electric range.
Kirk Bell