January 2, 2024 — Barely two and a half months after its world premiere, the new BMW R 1300 GS proves its outstanding off-road expertise and unique robustness in South America. From December 6-7, 2023, starting from sea level on the Nevado Ojos del Salado — at 6,893 metres the highest active volcano in the world — a fleet of fully equipped BMW R 1300 GS models managed to reach an altitude of more than 6,000 metres in less than 24 hours. The climb, which is very difficult for riders, bikes and tyres, culminates in the notorious “Rock Channel” on the northern flank of the Nevado Ojos del Salado, where the expedition climbed to 6,006 metres in just 19 hours and 22 minutes to reach a maximum altitude of 6,027 metres.

The backdrop for the expedition is the Circuito de los Seis Miles in the Atacama Desert in Chile, the highest active volcano chain in the world, to which the Nevado Ojos del Salado belongs. The four standard BMW R 1300 GS models set off on December 6 at 3 p.m. local time from Bahia Inglesa, a town near the port of Caldera on the Pacific Ocean in the Atacama region, to climb the Nevado Ojos Del Salado.

In the midsize sedan category, a couple big nameplates get most of the headlines, but there are some hidden gems in the segment of which many people may not be aware.

One of these is the Subaru Legacy, a vehicle that stands out in part by being the only midsize sedan with standard all-wheel drive.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2023 Subaru Legacy Sport, and here are 5 key facts you should know about the vehicle if you are searching for a midsize sedan and want to know how it stacks up in the segment vs. competitors such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5 and more.

With the respect BMW has earned over nearly a century of making automobiles, it’s no surprise that many luxury buyers want to get behind the wheel of one of their current-day offerings.

But as a luxury ride, the price often presents a major barrier to access, leading potential buyers to explore some of BMW's smaller offerings as potential entryways into the brand.

One such vehicle is the BMW X1, the brand’s smallest crossover SUV offering, which got a full redesign for 2023 that carries over into the 2024 lineup.

This little ride packs a lot of features into a small package — including strong overall design, an upscale interior, a performance boost over past models, and updates to safety and tech features.

I recently tested a 2023 BMW X1 xDrive28i model, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up in a crowded luxury crossover segment that features strong offerings such as the Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Volvo XC40 and more.

Among the most interesting conversations in the automotive world right now is that EV demand appears to be down, yet buyers still seek strong fuel economy.

For those buyers, there’s no better option than a hybrid vehicle. Buying a hybrid allows them to achieve their goal of saving on fuel expenses, while also not relying on the electric grid to power their vehicle. Get a hybrid now, and you can wait until EV prices go down and become more realistic for the average buyer to afford.

And since you’ll visit the gas station much less than with a traditional ICE vehicle, hybrids are still a green offering.

Kia expanded its hybrid offerings for the 2023 model year with the introduction of the Kia Sportage hybrid in the popular compact crossover segment. The Sportage was completely redesigned for 2023, and the 2023 hybrid carries over to 2024 without any major changes.

The Sportage is now offering a diverse lineup, with everything from an ICE version, to the hybrid powertrain, to a plug-in hybrid offering.

The latest version of the Sportage has grown in size from the previous generation model, and has upgraded its technology features. In terms of Kia’s hybrid lineup, it fits in size between the Kia Niro and the Kia Sorento, and it’s a close relative of the Hyundai Tucson hybrid. 

Read on for a full breakdown of how it measures up against other leading compact crossover hybrid offerings.

Mitsubishi’s got a steep hill to climb as it battles for the attention of U.S. car buyers. But one sure way to reach the people and grow their presence is to make strong vehicles that stand up well even against tough competition.

One such vehicle that should help in that regard is the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, a plug-in hybrid offering which I recently had the chance to experience.

Redesigned both inside and out for 2023, the Outlander PHEV features impressive design, strong tech and allows people to get closer to the EV experience without actually committing to EV-only living, getting rid of that range anxiety.

It comes through with more power, improved electric-only range, and upgraded looks.