Kia has earned a lot of headlines in the past couple years, but most of it has been surrounding their Telluride SUV, which came in with a bang and took the industry by storm.

But now it’s time for another vehicle to make news: The 2021 Kia Sorento, which is assembled at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia.

Debuting a brand new generation of the vehicle, which is lighter and smaller than the Telluride, Kia is presenting another alternative for families that is just as versatile as the Telluride, but also more fun to drive and off-road capable.

Read on for a full report on what it has to offer to people shopping for the best new 3-row SUVs.

When the conversation turns to plug-in hybrids and other eco-friendly cars, we often talk about how automakers have to trim back power to achieve their high fuel mileage and green credentials.

But that’s not the case with the vehicle I’ll be describing here. Volvo offers the best of both worlds with the 2021 XC60 Polestar Engineered, a plug-in hybrid which is an eco-friendly rocketship on wheels. 

I’m back with a full report on my experience, which shows that being green doesn’t have to be boring. 

Seemingly everyone wants an SUV these days, and on the domestic front in that battle, there are a few key players leading the charge.

One of those options is the Chevy Traverse, which receives minimal updates for 2021 and is still holding on to the latest full redesign that took place in 2018.

For families, it’s all about space, and that’s one thing the Traverse can claim in spades. With comfortable seating for up to 8 offered and plenty of cargo room, it’s vying for families who seek versatility and space over flash and extreme power.

As other OEMs drop out of the compact sedan segment to focus more on larger vehicles like SUVs, Hyundai is re-upping its efforts, completely redesigning its long-trusted Elantra sedan for 2021 in hopes to gain market share in an area of the auto market that is shrinking but still has a significant amount of fans, both domestic and worldwide.

Hyundai has jazzed up the styling on the Elantra, ramped up the technology and safety features, and even offers a performance-level version this year. I recently spent time in a 2021 Elantra and I’m back with a full report.

LOOKS

The redesigned look of the Elantra for 2021 features a bold and futuristic appearance that stands out in a segment where many options are pretty ho-hum. The sprawling, in-your-face front grille in particular gets your attention quickly.

My test vehicle’s exterior featured a sharp blue paint scheme, 17-inch alloy wheels, a sun roof, LED headlights and heated side mirrors with turn signal indicators

Going into the Elantra, you’ll find a roomy vehicle in both front and back seats, so you’re not cramped even with a full load of people. That’s another thing you can’t say about every vehicle in this segment, but Hyundai clearly recognizes that compact doesn’t have to mean dreading getting into the back seat.

As SUVs have exploded in popularity over the past decade, there are many desirable vehicles available to consumers, especially in the luxury segment, and competitors from around the world are vying for those luxury consumers.

On the domestic front in the U.S., the name that tends to come to our minds first when we think of luxury is Cadillac, a brand with a long history of excellence. Their lineup of SUVs (XT4, XT5 and XT6) are battling with the best of Europe and Asia, and must come strong to compete.

I recently spent some time in a 2021 Cadillac XT5 Sport, and I’m back with a full report on the experience.