The Volkswagen Type 2 microbus (aka Kombi, aka Samba) is one of the most iconic vehicles ever made. Not long ago, the German automaker showed off the ID.Buzz – a modern, electric version of the van that’s available in Europe.

Every spring, the members of the Midwest Automotive Media Association gather in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, to test out the latest and greatest vehicles in various driving environments. The event takes place in and around Road America, one of the nation’s most iconic race circuits, and includes a mix of street drives, track, off-road, and autocross courses.

Apocalypse Manufacturing is known for making incredibly rugged and tough-looking pickup trucks and SUVs that look ready to take on the end of the world. Their beastly creations include the Juggernaut 6×6 and the Dark Horse 6×6 Bronco.

It’s been a while since Toyota revamped its Tacoma pickup truck. That’s all changed with the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, a top-to-bottom redesign, from its frame to its body to its interior to its powertrains. For 2024, Tacoma is upping its line to eight grades: the SR, SR5, TRD PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, Limited, and a badass new model known as the Tacoma Trailhunter.

When it comes to pickup trucks, bigger isn’t always better. For those who don’t need to haul large loads or tow heavy trailers, the Ford Ranger Raptor is an ideally-sized pickup truck. It’s big enough for occasional cargo-carrying tasks but is small enough to fit in most garages and agile enough to ride on most off-road trails.

Not long ago, I spent some time driving the Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Hybrid. But that time, I didn’t get much time to test its pure-electric drive mode. The 2023 version of the Pacifica Hybrid is unchanged from the 2022 model I tested earlier; only this one came slathered in an appealing Velvet Red Pearlcoat paint.

Infiniti’s lineup is a bit inconsistent these days. Not long ago, I drove the 2023 QX55, which looks pleasant enough but is otherwise disappointing. On the other hand, the QX60 is an excellent vehicle and one I’d be happy to have in my garage.

The 1990s were not the best era for automotive design. Everything seemed to be overly curvy and bubble-shaped. Renault’s 1992 concept car, the Racoon, definitely embraced the blobby styling of the time, but at least it had some cool features going for it.

Not every car has to be built for action or adventure. Most people simply need a vehicle to get them to and from work, to run errands, and maybe take a person or two with them.

I drove quite a few cars last year, but out of all of them, the Kia EV6 was my favorite. Not only does it look like a concept car, but it’s also quick, smooth, comfortable, and versatile.

The Lexus RX has been the luxury automaker’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for two decades. So it behooves them to maintain what buyers expect whenever it’s time for a model redesign or refresh. At the same time, attracting new buyers with new styling, new features, and modern upgrades is important.

Genesis has been knocking it out of the park with its design, material choices, and driving dynamics of its vehicles. Now, the Korean luxury automaker is teasing us with its greatest object of desire yet – a coupe-inspired crossover slathered in a fiery orange paint called “Magma.”

With U.S. automakers dropping out of the mid-size sedan race, the Hyundai Sonata is one of the last cars standing in the affordable mid-size market. It’s a pleasant and comfortable vehicle based on my limited experience behind the wheel, and it’s downright fun to drive in its 290 horsepower N Line variant.

I don’t spend a whole lot of time driving entry-level vehicles, but when I do, I’m impressed by how good they’ve gotten compared to the starter cars of my youth. Sure, the 2023 Nissan Kicks SR I drove was kitted out with all of the options, bringing its sticker price to nearly $28,000, but you can get into a base Kicks for just North of $20,000.

The Explorer is one of the most popular vehicles in Ford’s lineup here in the U.S. With advances in turbocharged engines, it’s more fuel-efficient than it has been in the past, but it still runs on gasoline, resulting in carbon emissions.