Among automakers, it’s a bit of a race right now to see who can be the one to adapt to the electric vehicle future better than the rest.

Ford is starting to step up in this fight, as it recently announced that it will invest $22 billion in electric vehicles (and $7 billion in autonomous vehicles) through 2025. And it’s already selling new EV offerings such as the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.

One step short of a full EV is a plug-in hybrid (or PHEV), and I recently had the chance to test a Ford offering in this realm: The Ford Escape PHEV. This type of vehicle is a good step for people who aren’t quite ready to rely on a fully electric vehicle, but want something other than a traditional ICE ride — either for environmental reasons, or just to get a break from the yo-yo gas prices we so often see.

I tested a 2021 Escape PHEV, but it carries over to the 2022 model year pretty much as-is, other than some new paint options.

Some vehicles offer updated models every few years, others not so much. You can definitely put the Nissan Frontier in the second category.

Believe it or not, the last major redesign of the Frontier — Nissan’s mid-size pickup truck — came way back in 2005, an eternity in today’s automotive world.

Naturally, recent-year models were lacking compared to newer offerings from the competition, but finally in 2022 Nissan has decided to put that to an end.

The 2022 Nissan Frontier — which I recently was able to test — improves on the design of the vehicle, brings updates under the hood, and boosts the tech and safety offerings.

Read on to learn more about how the brand new Frontier compares to other leading trucks in this segment.

I’ve long been a fan of the Nissan Pathfinder, a three-row SUV that has been around for nearly four decades and has often been ahead of the curve in terms of capability, design and technology. I have driven them on long road trips in the past and found them to be very comfortable and among the strongest 3-row SUVs for families traveling near or far.

But with its latest major updates coming in 2016, it was about time for a redesign. With an endless assault from rival SUVs unveiling their latest and greatest, you can’t stay stagnant that long in this business. So the 2022 model year brings us a brand new Pathfinder model — completely redesigned inside and out — that is more in tune with the current state of SUVs.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of this new Pathfinder, and I’m back with a full report. WIll this new version live up to its past, and does it measure up to the seemingly endless competition in the segment?

EVs and hybrids are increasingly becoming the norm, and Lexus has been a leader in that realm in the luxury sector, long having offerings to boost fuel economy and eco-friendliness.

Their RX model debuted its hybrid model way back in 2006, and it’s still going strong — even as new plug-in and electric models start to take off and grow in popularity.

To keep people on board with their 2021 model, Lexus adds more standard features — including safety features such as Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and convenience items such as power folding mirrors.

Upscale but not over-the-top with its plushness, the RX450h walks a fine line in terms of blending a focus on sleek design with a tech-savvy approach that incorporates the latest technology — aiming for a best of all worlds when it comes to looks and utility.

I recently tested a 2021 Lexus RX 450h, and I’m back with a full report. Read on to see how it compares to its lofty competition in the luxury realm.

While there’s no doubt that SUVs are taking over the auto industry, with about half of overall sales going to the segment, there’s also battles for supremacy between automakers in niche segments within the SUV category.

Hybrids would be one of those battlegrounds, and if we’re talking about the three-row variety of SUV, there are a few key contenders aiming to attract SUV buyers who are seeking some extra fuel mileage but don’t want to make the jump all the way to a full EV.

Toyota has been a leader in the hybrid world, pioneering the segment 25 years ago with the debut of the Prius, so it’s no surprise they are a player here with the three-row HIghlander Hybrid SUV offering — which has been around for about 15 years and competes against vehicles including the Ford Explorer hybrid and Kia Sorento hybrid.

I recently tested a Highlander Hybrid Limited trim model, and I’m back with a full report.