There are no major changes to the 2026 Toyota Tacoma, nor should there be. The venerable midsize truck arrived with a full redesign in 2025 and the result was better than anyone had a right to expect. In the 30th anniversary of its debut, Tacoma sales shot up by more than 42 percent in 2025 […]
Weidel on Wheels
Mazda CX-50 hybrid adds strength to SUV lineup
Now armed with three small SUVs, Mazda has improved its chances when stacked up against some the best in the class. These days, where small SUVs seem the latest rage, it’s a tall task when stacked up against capable rivals like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester, and […]
The Crown resurfaces for Toyota
It was buried for more than five decades, but roughly three years ago Toyota finally decided it was time to reintroduce the Crown name to its fleet of vehicles. The Japanese automaker reintroduced the Crown sedan in 2022 and apparently was enamored with the name, because it came out with the Crown Signia SUV last […]
Mazda CX-30 displays strong characteristics
The 2026 Mazda CX-30 is based on the Mazda 3 compact car, which explains its overall athleticism and appealing cabin furnishings. These strong characteristics help set the CX-30 and Mazda 3 apart from many of their rivals. Despite the similarities, the two Mazda vehicles are going in opposite directions in terms of popularity. Sales of […]
Corolla Cross aids Toyota SUV reputation
The 2026 Corolla Cross hybrid is an ideal vehicle for young people on the go or older folks entering their retirement years who want dependable transportation to perform their mostly around-town errands. With a starting price of roughly $29,000 and enviable fuel economy averaging 42 mpg, it’s easy to see the practical side of purchasing […]
CX-70 adds to Mazda’s SUV versatility
Mazda doesn’t possess the reputation that Honda and Toyota have built regarding quality SUVs. But it keeps moving closer. We recently test-drove the new 2026 Mazda CX-70 and came away impressed. It’s very similar to the CX-90, which is a good thing. Mazda has a habit of doing that – hence the CX-5 and the […]
Successful redesign for 2026 Hyundai Palisade
After struggling for years to manufacture an efficient SUV that was widely embraced, Hyundai accomplished that goal when it unveiled the three-row Palisade in 2020. The new crossover SUV received immediate praise and that trend continues. Unwilling to rest on its laurels after five years of impressive sales, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade arrives fully redesigned, […]
Lexus 450h an excellent plug-in hybrid
Luxury compact SUVs are an alluring commodity right now. There are so many appealing ones that the issue facing many car buyers is which one to pick. The Lexus NX brand is one of the choices. And to make things more confusing, the NX has three different models for 2026: a traditional SUV (NX 350) […]
Meet impressive new Subaru Forester hybrid
Its last full redesign was 11 years ago, so one can surmise Subaru was overdue in updating the popular Forester SUV. This year’s redesign addressed multiple areas, yet none were more significant than adding the 2025 Subaru Forester hybrid to the lineup. Although the gas-powered Forester has consistently been Subaru’s best-selling SUV, the new hybrid […]
Grand Highlander similar to its predecessor
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 […]