Volkswagen's offerings in the United States have changed significantly over the past several years. While the brand was once defined by the classic VW Bug and similarly small sedans, today the company has two of the best SUVs on the market and we can hope that one day the Amarok mid-sized pickup will make it here as well. Sadly though, that's much more of a challenge due to tariffs and an increasingly competitive mid-sized truck space. In my previous experience with VW the cars were "nice" but skewed feminine and honestly something that just didn't appeal to my tastes. Then at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show I had a chance to check out the Atlas, but it took me a year to actually secure one for a road trip review.

You guys all know that I'm gulping the EV Cool-Aid like a guy who's been wandering around in the desert for the past few years. Electric Vehicle technology has finally reached the point where it's not just practical... but is also able to provide some real world benefits to design and engineering that transcend simple sustainability as the reason you should considering buying it. This is why I'm so excited about what Ford unveiled this week for the F-150 Lightening, due out in 2022.

For the past decade, truck launches and truck comparisons have been as much about stats as they are actual functionality. This transition began with the introduction of the next-generation Ram a few years ago but Ford completes the transition with the new F-150. Where previously we were talking about incrementally boasting of more towing, more hauling, more power... Ford has that, but what makes it special is everything else. I feel like we've gotten to the point where EVERYTHING tows more than most of us will ever need, so let's start focusing on a truck that delivers in other areas that can make our lives and livelihoods better.

Don't worry... I still love my big burley trucks, but EVs fascinate me. They are, without a doubt, the future of personal transportation. However, the future is here already. While it can be challenging today while charging infrastructure catches up, even in a less than ideal environment, a weekend getaway in an EV is possible. To illustrate this, Nissan sent me a Leaf S Plus and we drove up to Oceanside, CA.

Electric Vehicles have been something I've been enamored with for the past several years. Ever since I got my first tasted during a launch of event for the Kia Soul EV back in 2014, the promise of smooth, quiet, rapid acceleration has been a dream that would one day finally be practical. Back then, we were excited to have an approximate 90 mile range and the concept of "range anxiety" has continued to be a major obstacle to EV adoption. Vehicles such as the Mustang Mach-E though are beginning to prove that EVs can be practical and compete head to head with ICE cars and that makes me very excited!

Minivans are perhaps the most divisive topic in the automotive scene, I don't get to drive them that often because they aren't exactly "masculine". Generally speaking, this is one category where women have decided that minivans are decidedly uncool. Despite this though, I have a soft spot in my heard for this category and when it comes down to practicality, it has always made sense. Until now though, most offerings were focused on utility over style but I was impressed with the 2021 Toyota Sienna and I think you will be too.

One of the things I absolutely love about Joshua Tree National Park is that it is a near perfect spot for people to learn how to drive off road vehicles. You can dip your toes in the sand rolling along Geology Trail or get the adrenaline going in the Old Dale Mining District and still have a great time. This park is your place to advance skills at a pace that you are comfortable with and that matches personal experience and technical abilities of your vehicle. Over the years I've done exactly that, first having explored trails with a Jeep Cherokee and now, earlier this month I returned with the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. 

One of the joys of our National Park System (and affiliated monuments, seashores and other protected spaces) is that they offer a chance to learn and explore. Unfortunately, while some are popular destinations such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, or Glacier... others are less appreciated. That's the case of Organ Pipe National Monument but it represents some of the most gorgeous natural landscapes anywhere in the South West. We had a chance to visit for a brief stop on the way back from our road trip to Tucson last month and we think it's worth going out of your way to visit.

There's absolutely no rational reason why the Durango SRT exists other than because some engineers at Dodge said they wanted to be the fastest dads (and moms!) in the PTA pickup line. With 475 hp and a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds, this three-row SUV is the most fun I've ever had with a family car. 

Our time spent with the Nissan Armada was an interesting one. I say this not only because the brand is in the middle of a transition as it updates some of it's older products, but also in that compared to vehicles like Chevy's Tahoe it provides some nice design elements that make it more practical for a suburban family. This is immediately noticed when you first step into the driver's seat but continues throughout the ride.

There area a huge number of cars, trucks, and SUVs available on the American market today. Despite this though, there are dozens of manufacturers and hundreds of vehicles that most of us have never heard of but would be nice to be able to drive here. While not an exhaustive list of vehicles that I'd one day like to try, hopefully this list helps open some eyes and imaginations.

Genesis is one of the newest luxury automotive brands and frankly I wasn't terribly excited about it from what I had seen at the Chicago Auto Show Last year. While the cars were pretty, elements of the car simply didn't feel "luxury" even if they looked phenominal. Despite this, I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to test out the GV80 last month and put it through it's paces for a week. After a day or two of driving, my opinion changed completely and my view now is that Genesis is one of the most exciting car brands on the market.

The BMW X7 has built a reputation of luxury, power, and quality that makes it a symbolic high-end vehicle for individuals such as diplomats, politicians, executives, and VIPs. The vehicle’s OEM specifications make this model the perfect base for armoring, turning this luxurious SUV – the symbol of status – into a symbol of safety and protection. INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing is proud to release the world’s first armored BMW X7, offering exceptional protection and ultimate comfort.

Toyota has done wonders for the look and feel of it's vehicles over the past several years while refreshing almost its entire line. The brand is undeniably conservative and that's ultimately why you buy a Toyota - dependability. However, at a certain point a car needs to offer the chance to make an emotional connection with the buyer and that's never been more true for the 2021 Highlander XSE. 

Well... it's official now and while we're thrilled to see the Raptor evolve, we're still looking for the V8 version that will hopefully be here next year in the Raptor R. That being said, the current Raptor is still the king of offroad trucks as far as we're concerned since it is as nimble as it is aggressive. I've been in several tight squeezes where the maneuverability was more important than raw horsepower, so we're excited to see how this new version performs in situations like that as soon as we can get our hands on one!

E.C.D. Automotive Design, known for its bespoke Land Rover Defender rebuilds, has delivered a California Compliant Series IIA with a range of modern elements and classic features.

Nothing can make a driver’s stomach drop quite like zipping down the freeway and catching a glimpse of red and blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror. Unfortunately, male drivers (who lack the superpower of sweet-talking their way out of a speeding ticket anyhow) may be more prone to this unfortunate turn of events. This is especially true when driving flashy high-performance cars. According to recent studies, men are approximately 50 percent more likely to be pulled over than women, making them targets for higher insurance premiums and hefty fines. That means that even with your base model... there's still a lot for guys to learn when it comes to safety on the road.

Trucks get a bad reputation for gas mileage, or at least they have historically. This is starting to change in the past two model years and will continue to accelerate going forward as trucks are seen as a competitive option to cars and especially full-sized SUVs such as the Chevy Tahoe. It is truly remarkable that you can take a 5,000 pound vehicle down the highway at a rate 29-mpg without using a hybrid powertrain, but that's exactly what they've done with the new 3.0 L turbo diesel. This makes it a great option for long road trips so we decided to test it out on a drive from San Diego to Paso Robles, CA to check out some Central Coast wineries.

For some, a car or truck is a static item that only receives updates when something breaks. For others though, the initial purchase is just a starting point. Over time you'll want to improve your axels, suspension, maybe add a turbo. Sometimes things unfortunately just stop working and it's time to replace a part or two. While there are some fantastic OEM part options on the market as well as custom aftermarket parts manufacturers, in some instances, buying used parts can be a great option too that will save money while delivering maximum value.

Driving games are a great way to spend a few minutes blowing off some steam and today, they are also a lot of fun to watch people stream online too. While we hope to soon be back in the paddock of some races surrounded by the sounds and smells, these games continue to help keep us excited about driving, while we wait.