Family Car guides

With the short, but obvious invasion of electric SUVs on the market, I am quite interested in what all of those machines bring. Many of the major manufacturers invested heavily in introducing a new generation of electric SUVs with Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar, and BMW coming long after Tesla actually sparked the creation of the entire segment with the Model X.

Now, with a number of electric SUVs on the market one would expect some radically different thinking behind a seemingly similar car, but that may not be the case. Aside from five expensive electric SUVs (the I-Pace, the Model X, the EQ C, the E-Tron and theiX3 Concept), the only ones that were brave enough to give the market an electric shock are Hyundai and Kia with the Kona Electric and the Niro EV. So, learn here what all of them bring to the table and how do they differ.

Crossovers have taken the market by storm. In fact, the impact is so hard that sedans may soon have to be declared as extinct machines. This year, we saw a lot of crossovers and SUVs, some with facelifts, some with new generations, and some brand new names. Out of all of them, we’ve chosen a mix of 12 SUVs and Crossovers that you need to consider if you’re in the market for one.

Compact cars still represent great value for money, even in 2018, in a market flooded by SUVs and all kinds of niche crossovers. Compact models are a great choice as a first new car and, luckily, there’s still a great variety of cars to choose from. Here are our top 10 choices.

Picking the best small car of the myriad of options available isn’t an easy thing to do. If you’ve made up your mind and you don’t want a compact SUV or crossover and, instead, go for a compact sedan or hatchback, there are the obvious choices like a Volkswagen Golf, a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla. But the market is much wider than that. and

As a part of Monterey Car Week, Gooding auction house organized Gooding’s 15th Annual Pebble Beach Auctions and broke 23 records, selling some of the most extraordinary classic cars at the venue. Just to put the importance of this auction into perspective, I will say that of all the cars offered there, 25 were sold for more than $1 million. Yet, I am most interested about one - the $22 million 1935 Duesenberg SSJ - a car once owned by Gary Cooper. This isn’t just about any expensive car sold at an auction. Gary Cooper’s 1935 Duesenberg SSJ became the most expensive American car ever sold at an auction. This is, ladies and gentlemen, the most expensive American car ever made. Save for the Lunar Rover (estimated price for development in 1972 was $38 mil), but I guess that the Lunar Rover isn’t actually in competition with the Duesenberg. The Duesenberg SSJ is the fastest pre-war car in the world. It has provenance like no other car you will hear about.

Personally, I have some strange cravings for Duesenbergs (despite seeing one only once). If you were to ask me what car company I’d like to see resurrected, it would be the Duesenberg. Forget Hispano Suiza, Packard, or Tucker. I want a Duesenberg. But done right. And that is the problem. I think it is impossible to have a Duesenberg in the world of today. After learning about the SSJ, the most expensive American car, you will know why...

Mercedes-Benz is in the process of replacing almost all of its current-generation vehicles, including the compact cars. It’s been only a few months since the German firm unveiled the new-gen A-Class, and we saw the slightly bigger B-Class make its global debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.

Restyled to look sportier on the outside and more upscale on the inside, the new B-Class also shares lots of technology with bigger sedans such as the E-Class and S-Class. How does it compare to the outgoing model?

With Ford introducing the EcoBoost F-150 Raptor, we witnessed the end of an era. The end of the V-8 Raptor era. Some, however, weren’t exactly thrilled with it. At all. People wanted the Raptor V-8. Luckily, thanks to PaxPower, they’ve got it. The Houston-based company took the Ford F-150 V-8, slapped a supercharger to it, installed all OEM 2019 F-150 Raptor parts on it, and called it a deal. It is now up to me to compare the two, although, it seems that PaxPower did not leave me a lot to compare here. The PaxPower Raptor has all the bells and whistles as the real thing - only with far more power and better performance.

Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular these days, and manufacturers are responding by pouring in the investment and releasing oodles of new models. As such, competition between EV’s is growing, and 2018 was no exception. But the question is, which of these machines is the “best”? To find out, we lined up the usual suspects up and looked at all the critical specs, including range-per-charge, battery capacity, charge times, interior space, interior tech, and more. Read on to see which EV came out on top!

With more than 15 million units sold since its introduction in 1975, the BMW 3 Series has become a drivers’ favorite. It is a benchmark among sedans and, in its seventh generation, the 3 Series does not disappoint. Not only did BMW fill it with tech that was unimaginable only a decade ago, but the company also improved all the important pieces - it’s lighter, it’s stiffer, it’s faster, it’s nimbler. Yet, with all of that, the 2019 3 Series is bigger than ever. Like BMW E39 big, as we have discussed in this article.

As with every new benchmark German car, the 3 Series also comes with a multitude of astonishing tech and advanced features. I compiled a list of advancements and equipment that make the new BMW 3 Series far more impressive than ever before. When you learn about this, you will more likely forgive its Peugeot-looking front lights and the massive increase in size. This is an impressive car.

There are few things in this world as resolutely badass as a hugely capable off-roader pickup truck. These are the machines you want with you when there’s a forest, mountain, or desert between you and your destination. With a go-anywhere attitude and the right stuff to walk the walk, the street-legal off-roader used to be something cobbled together in a shed. Now, you can get one direct from the factory, be it the Colorado ZR2 Bison from Chevrolet, or the F-150 Raptor from Ford.

These purpose-built, highly specialized variants offer tons of good stuff for those who prefer the trail to the street. For example, the Bison was created in collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), an aftermarket off-roader company that knows exactly what’s needed when the going gets rough. Then there’s the F-150 Raptor, which Ford developed into a full-blown Baja racer with a license plate. But how do these two stack up against one another? Read on to find out.

This is the battle of the heavyweights... quite literally. If there’s anything scarier than seeing two huge beasts on the road, it is seeing them race each other. Well, that is exactly what we will be doing here. We will be pitting two of the most luxurious SUVs on the market today, and the brands’ biggest offering as well in terms of size – the 2019 BMW X7 and the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Buying a used family sedan is often as difficult as deciding what cut of meat you want in the supermarket. Preferences and priorities take center stage. Do you buy one with ample space in the interior? Do you buy one that drives like a butterfly? Do you buy one that’s loaded on tech and safety features? Or do you buy one that offers all of those things in one package, even if it means paying a premium for it? Choosing a used family sedan can be tricky, but we’re here to help you out in that regard with a list of 10 family sedans, ranked from worst to first, that you can get for an affordable price.

SUVs have become the toast of the automotive world these days that it’s hard to argue against anyone who wants to buy one. It’s just that even though SUVs continue to grow in popularity, it can’t replicate the suave styling and sophistication of some of the most popular midsize sedans on the market today. The best midsize sedans are often those that give you the best of all words. They’re stylish, powerful, comfortable, and spacious. Some even combine all those qualities in one package. SUVs have these qualities, too, but they’re often a product of customers needing them as opposed to wanting them.

With midsize sedans, especially the luxury types, you don’t need space because you have a family to fit inside it, you want the space because you want to show off your ride to your friends. Likewise, you don’t need it to be powerful for your next weekend getaway. You want it to be powerful, so it grabs the attention of the people around you. In here is a list of the best midsize sedans of 2018. Pay attention to who made it because there’s a good chance that if you’re in the market for one, you’ll end up getting one of these models.

The BMW X7’s arrival adds another worthy challenger to what is becoming a crowded mid-size luxury SUV market. The X7 joins other established models like the Mercedes GLE-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, and the model that it’s being compared to here: the Volvo XC90. It’s been a while since BMW and Volvo are talked about in equal terms. That’s a credit to the incredible gains Volvo has achieved in re-establishing its place in the luxury vehicle segment. The BMW X7 arrives just in time to compete with the XC90, so it’s reasonable to compare to the two to determine which of these two SUVs has the edge over the other.

Big SUVs are as popular as ever, with buyers flocking to dealers to get the very latest in tall-riding, high-end utility vehicles. The latest from BMW is the X7, which sits above the X5 in terms of size and passenger capacity, arriving as a brand-new model line for the Bavarians. By contrast, the Land Rover Range Rover is well-established as the go-to model for a combination of functionality and luxury, like a penthouse suite on wheels that you can drive through a mud puddle. Both are mighty impressive, but how do they compare? To find out, we took an in-depth look at both, including a rundown on the exterior styling, interior design, features, drivetrain, performance, technology, and price. Read on for all the important info you need to know!

The brand-new BMW 3 Series is arguably one of the most important launches at this year’s Paris Motor Show. The German compact executive sedan flexes its muscles in a class defined by the decades-old rivalry with Mercedes and Audi. The latter presents itself with the A4 which was launched two years ago but will undergo a subtle facelift for the 2019 model year.

BMW’s legendary 3 Series gets a seventh generation for 2019. Known as the G20, next year’s car has a new platform, is bigger all round and features bold styling even with the lower trim line option. BMW says it is sportier than the previous generations, but purists already lament the lack of a manual transmission.

The Audi, in comparison, is a car that’s already reached the mid-point of its production cycle. The styling is more conservative, consistent with Audi’s decision over the past few years to not introduce particularly eye-catching design cues. As such, the BMW might be the one you notice first, but the longer Audi shouldn’t be ruled out from the get-go.

Read on to find how the new BMW 3 Series stacks up against the Audi A4.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the most luxurious SUV in the world (sorry Bentayga, but it is). The BMW X7, despite many reporting it is the most luxurious, actually isn’t. I’ll be modest in my unpretentious estimates and say that the BMW X7 is the fourth most luxurious production SUV in the world. The Cullinan being the first, the Bentayga the second and, the Land Rover Range Rover is the third. So, yes, I am probably correct - the BMW X7 is the fourth most luxurious SUV in the world. It is also the biggest BMW SUV in the world.

As the world basks in the greatness of the new large BMW X7, whose price starts at $73,900, I am pressed to find all the cool facts about the thing. Or as Doug DeMuro would say, I am listing here all the strange quirks and cool features the BMW X7 has to offer.

You are in for a cool one.

The BMW X7 has arrived, and it’s poised to take the reigns from the X5 as Bavaria’s new flagship SUV. The full-sized behemoth will have its hands full competing against the likes of the Mercedes GLS-Class and the Land Rover Range Rover. For the time being, at least, the X7 will also draw comparisons to the model it’s replacing atop the BMW SUV food chain. Fair or not, the X7 will be compared to the X5, in part to judge the merits of the X7 as Bimmer’s new flagship SUV. The latter now holds the keys to BMW’s SUV kingdom as all eyes will be on it to see if it can elevate the German automaker’s status in the market.

The first time I ever saw the Tesla Model S was sometime in 2012 or 2013 at one of the car shows in Europe. I will guess that it was in Geneva. I left the Tesla stand a bit underwhelmed by its interior, but the performance, the size, and the sheer fact that someone is buying an electric car like that was more than enough to show me its importance. After that, I drove it only once. And not for a long time at that.

Now, finally, I got my third chance with the Tesla Model S at the Continental AG organized event called the #blackchili. In Nice. Yup, the South of France. I know, I am a lucky guy.

This time I had the Tesla Model S for 40 or so miles. Not the P100D, but the one with 373 horsepower. More than enough, believe me. Considering I drove the car for less than 50 miles, it may seem like I don’t have anything to write home about. How can I call this a short test drive then!? Well, I can because I will tell you about the Tesla Model S from the perspective of a guy who drove European cars all his life, and who never really had an EV stint like this.

The rivalry between the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class is the automotive equivalent of the rivalry between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The stakes are different, sure, but there are no two models that are linked to one another than the 3 Series and the C-Class. It’s fitting, too, that just as Mercedes unveiled the 2019 C-Class a few months ago, it didn’t take BMW long to roll out the next-generation 3 Series. With both models offering something new to the table, it’s only fitting that we compare both models to see which one has the edge over the other.

BMW has unveiled the seventh generation 3 Series, signaling a new era for the company’s iconic compact luxury sedan. The new 3 Series is a lot bigger than its predecessor, effectively questioning why we still call it a compact sedan. There’s nothing “compact” about the new 3 Series. Not only is it larger than any 3 Series on record, but it’s also lighter, more powerful, and filled to the brim with a lot of interesting tech features. At launch, the new 3 Series will be available in 330i and 340i trim levels. More versions, including the next-generation M3, will become available in the future. Pricing for the new 3 Series starts at $41,245.

The Outback has been a historic product in Subaru’s portfolio. This vehicle is for those folks who want the comfort of a sedan and ruggedness of an SUV. Yes, you have subcompact crossovers for that, but the Outback is for people who don’t like crossovers also. Might sound like a niche category, but the Outback is actually Subaru’s Best-selling vehicle in the U.S. The Outback is known for its fuss-free long-term ownership; thus making it a perfect vehicle for families who want a car they can rely on. Come next year, Subaru will launch the fifth generation Outback. But will it be a competitive product and garner customer interest like the generations that came before it? Let’s find out what we can expect from the 2020 Subaru Outback.

The market trend is quickly shifting from sedans to crossovers and SUVs. However, SUVs have two major cons when compared to their segment counterparts - high retail price and poor fuel economy. Even though they are a practical choice thanks to additional cabin and cargo space, it’s a little difficult for everyone to afford an SUV. So why not go for a used SUV instead? You don’t take the depreciation hit that first owner does, and since SUVs are built to last a lifetime, you can get an almost-new SUV at half the original price.

Now that we’ve planted this seed in your head, let’s have a look at the best used SUVs from 2016 with high fuel efficiency.

Please welcome the heavyweight SUV showdown. This is the Mercedes-Benz GLE versus the BMW X5. No, you will not find out which one is better, nor will I suggest you get one over the other. You will, however, find out how two of the most astounding SUVs of today stack one against another. How do they differ? Do they bring anything new? How cool are they?

I am well aware that many hate SUVs because they find them too flamboyant and too aggressive for the world we live in, but the matter of the fact is that SUVs have become a staple of car design, leaders of technology development, and models that make a lot of money. Every SUV you buy fuels a bit of money into the development of the really cool stuff. So, as far as I’m concerned, you should buy them as much as possible.

With the recent introduction of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, SUV fandom becomes even richer.