As the saying goes when gambling institutions can’t decipher a real difference between two opponents, this is a “pick’em” game. That’s what we’ve discovered regarding the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander and its predecessor, the Highlander. Take your pick, because the difference, including the sticker price, is miniscule. If you’ve loved the Highlander, there’s little doubt […]
Weidel on Wheels
Honda CR-V hybrid continues its reign
There’s been considerable speculation the venerable Honda CR-V has lost some of its appeal. Don’t believe the naysayers. For proof, check the sales figures. The coveted compact crossover SUV has sales between roughly 304,000 to 384,000 in 11 of the past 12 years. That one “down year” was 245,003 in 2022. However, the CR-V bounced […]
Lexus unveils LX 700h hybrid
Lexus has the distinction of being the first luxury brand to manufacture a hybrid, introducing the RX 400h in 2004. The company seemingly hasn’t slowed down ever since. Both Toyota and its luxury division are known for their hybrid production. So, it comes as no surprise that we see the new 2025 Lexus LX 700h […]
Hyundai Santa Cruz appealing small truck
This is small truck that’s worth considering. And not just because it happens to be the name of a Northern California beach town that we’ve enjoyed on multiple occasions. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a truck with a distinctive personality. It’s a compact four-door crew-cab that seats five passengers, possesses the driving dynamics of […]
Prius still competent compact hybrid
There was a time when this energetic hybrid was seemingly everywhere. Introduced to the U.S. market in July 2000, sales of the Toyota Prius took off almost immediately. Sales exceeded 181,000 by 2007 and climbed to a high of 236,655 in 2012 as the Prius eventually became the all-time, top-selling hybrid. The Prius was a true […]
New Volvo electric SUV perplexing
If you’re a car owner who loves a minimalist approach, the new 2025 Volvo EX30 will suit those needs. Since we had no prior knowledge concerning the EX30, it was a frustrating initial introduction for just turning on the electric vehicle and a true mystery on how to turn it off. It required a YouTube […]
Mazda3 losing its mass appeal
We’ve been fans of the Mazda3 for a long time. It’s considered a very good car that’s attractive, fun to drive, and delivers good handling, all factors that combine to make it a standout in the compact sedan class. So, why does the Mzda3 cost less this year than in 2024? In a move that […]
Does Hyundai Sonata deserve more appreciation?
The increased popularity of small SUVs and some stiff competition from two longtime rivals have combined to drastically minimize sales of the Hyundai Sonata over the past decade. Sonata sales were at a peak during a five-year period (2011-2015), with numbers ranging between 203,000 and 230,00. But the decline came quick with sales plummeting under […]
Lexus TX 350 has strong in-house rival
Introduced a year ago, the 2025 Lexus TX 350 delivers luxury, technology and practicality, making it a solid choice among the class of three-row midsize SUVs. However, because they resemble each other so much, we wonder if it’s smarter to go with the Toyota Grand Highlander. The luxury TX 350 and the Grand Highlander share […]
Genesis GV70: luxury SUV at affordable price
Much like its parent company (Hyundai), luxury brand Genesis produces some high quality, standard vehicles at a modest sticker price. Want a bargain, practically any Genesis vehicle will almost certainly come up several thousand dollars less than its competition, which includes the likes of Mercedes, BMW and Porsche. The 2026 Genesis GV70 is a good […]