Subaru enthusiasts love to drive and are loyal to their brand, and their patience has paid off with the arrival of a long overdue redesign of the WRX for 2022, nearly a decade since the previous generation was unveiled.
This sporty, compact hot rod looks better, drives better and sounds better than its predecessors. It also holds up well against tough competition such as the Honda Civic SI and Volkswagen Golf GTI, among others.
I recently tested a 2022 Subaru WRX, and I’m back with a full report.
“Wow. That’s a Nissan?”
This was a common expression I heard all week when people would walk by and stare at the 2023 Nissan Z I was test-driving.
The long-awaited vehicle — the 7th generation of the Z model aimed at driving enthusiasts — has finally arrived this summer, offering a more affordable option to fans of speed and power who don’t want to spend luxury dollars for a rear-wheel-drive coupe offering a pure thrill ride. With few true competitors — most notably the Toyota GR Supra — the latest Z has a great shot at drawing a significant fan base among devoted enthusiasts.
In an era where most big launches are electric vehicles, the arrival of the new Z is a big deal.
The 2023 Nissan Z is the 7th generation of the Z legacy, which stretches back all the way to 1969. I was able to test a prototype of this highly anticipated sports car, and I’m back with a full report on the vehicle — which aims to continue the Z’s historic styling and sporty nature while adding in some modern tech features.
Additional Info
- Vehicle 2023 Nissan Z
- Price as tested $53,610 (Starts around $40K)
- Best feature Thrilling and powerful ride, beautiful throwback styling
- Rating 4.5 out of five stars
- Who will want this vehicle? Fun, affordable sports car that revives a classic brand
In the world of luxury crossovers, one of the growing sectors is coupe-style designs that aim to offer a slick look while maintaining practicality.
Infiniti is one of the luxury crossover brands fighting for buyers in this segment — debuting its QX55 model for the 2022 model year and battling against other coupe-style SUVs from brands including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Genesis.
This model has its origins going back to the long-time Infiniti FX model, which had its run from the early 2000s to 2017, and shares many interior, powertrain and suspension elements with Infiniti’s QX50 SUV, but offers an improved exterior design.
I recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2022 QX55, and I’m back with a full report on how it stacks up to its luxury rivals.
Additional Info
- Vehicle 2022 Infiniti QX55
- Price as tested $53,425 (starts around $47K)
- Best feature Sleek design, smooth ride, classy interior
- Rating 4 out of five stars
- Who will want this vehicle? Luxury buyers seeking a classy crossover with a sharp look
The compact SUV class is one with limitless options for car buyers, but one key element that is usually missing from these vehicles is power. Many of them are well-designed but lack oomph when you’re behind the wheel.
But one brand that has never lacked oomph is Mazda, and they offer several options in the compact SUV class — including the CX-5, CX-30 and CX-50.
The 2022 Mazda CX-30 is essentially a lifted version of the Mazda 3 hatchback. Slight changes have been made to the model lineup for 2022 (including a new Carbon Edition trim level), and all-wheel-drive is now standard on all CX-30 trims.
I recently spent some time driving a 2022 CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus edition, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up vs. the competition.
Additional Info
- Vehicle 2022 Mazda CX-30
- Price as tested $35,750 (starts around $23K)
- Best feature Powerful and smooth driving characteristics, upscale interior, strong tech
- Rating 4 out of five stars
- Who will want this vehicle? Compact SUV buyers seeking a class leader in performance and design
Volkswagen’s wee but consistently-lauded Golf has long been a favorite of driving enthusiasts — a vehicle focused on providing a truly joyous driving experience to enthusiasts who appreciate what a vehicle can do and don’t want to shell out luxury-level bucks to get that ride quality.
This vehicle helped bring about the “hot hatch” category that is both performance focused while attempting to retain some level of practicality. It faces stiff competition from Hyundai, Honda, Subaru and MINI hatchback models, but has always been a standout in the category.
Returning for 2022, the Golf GTI debuts the 8th generation of this popular and sporty ride, boosting performance and retooling some physical elements of the car’s design and tech setup.
I recently spent some time in a 2022 VW Golf GTI, and I’m back with a full report on how well it holds up in the realm of hot hatches.
Additional Info
- Vehicle 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Price as tested $40,185 (starts around $31K)
- Best feature Truly enjoyable driving experience, sharp but not overly flashy design
- Rating 4 out of five stars
- Who will want this vehicle? Compact car buyers looking for a fun and sporty hatchback
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