Yes, the motoring world is converting from internal combustion to battery-electric power. But 2023 highlighted how that transition is happening in fits and starts. It turns out, the interregnum between gas and electric in the present still offers plenty to get excited about.
The year didn't just see an onslaught of cool new electric cars but innovation happening with icons like the Toyota Tacoma reinventing themselves as hybrids — and even a few intriguing last gasps of internal combustion for the road. For good measure, we also met burgeoning new segments like the midsize pickup and electric-powered camping vehicles.
Acura Integra Type S
Why It Matters: The Civic Type R is a purpose-built track monster. The Integra Type S refines it into a car an adult could actually own.
The Big Picture: The Honda Civic Type R is impressive. But owning one forces you to make some compromises, whether it’s the moderate discomfort, the quirkiness or having to drive around with a goofy wing in real life. The Integra Type S eliminates the compromises. It takes everything except the power down a notch — from 11 to 10. It offers normal seats and a shift lever you can easily grip without driving gloves. It looks surprisingly more like an aggressive sports car. And it’s a bonafide luxury sedan with a 6-speed manual, in a world where such a thing is approaching unicorn status.
Airstream Trade Wind
Why It Matters: By packing extra battery and solar charging power into one of its most popular trailer sizes, Airstream has made a camper even better suited to off-grid adventures.
The Big Picture: For nearly a century, Airstream travel trailers have been helping Americans lead their best lives, but the new Trade Wind brings even more comfort to the party. The Trade Wind packs a lithium-ion battery potent enough to run the A/C and microwave simultaneously, while the 600-watt solar panels can sustain an ample charge as long as you can find a sunny place to camp, enabling owners to enjoy many of the luxuries of a campsite off the grid — and without a noisy generator running in the background. A 3-inch lift kit over other 25-foot Airstreams enables it to travel down the unbeaten path more easily, while inside, there’s generous sleeping space for up to four. It’s the perfect home away from home … or from anything else.
BMW M2
Why It Matters: Combining a manual gearbox, a potent straight-six and lively handling in a tidy package, the M2 keeps the faith for the BMW.
The Big Picture: While BMW has long sold itself as the maker of The Ultimate Driving Machine, recent decisions — moving towards electrification; choosing luxury over sportiness for models like the XM — have made its commitment to that ideal seem questionable.
The M2, though, proves that philosophy is still alive at the Bavarian Motor Works. It’s basically all the best parts of the M3 and M4, repackaged in a tighter, (arguably) better-looking package and sold at a 20 percent discount. It’s an absolute blast to drive, boasting the tossable handling and exquisite power that have long defined the best BMWs.
Buy one now while they’re cheap; they’re only going to get more popular as the car world goes electric.
Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon
Why It Matters: The midsize truck segment has grown far more mature than it was last decade, and GM delivered with its most premium, sophisticated and capable small truck offerings to date.
The Big Picture: Midsize trucks are a far bigger deal than they were in 2017, and GM’s all-new Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon reflect the shift. The trucks look different. All Canyons and non-base Colorados receive a wider track and a two-inch suspension lift. A new 2.7-liter four-cylinder can pump out up to 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. And GM is taking the fight — a fight GM has shied away from with the Wrangler/Bronco and Raptor/TRX — to its competitors with the premium, off-road accessories-laden GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Why It Matters: Hyundai followed up its World Car of the Year-winning Ioniq 5 with the Ioniq 6 … and won the award again, delivering Tesla and Lucid-like range at a seriously affordable price.
The Big Picture: When it comes to Hyundai Motoring Group's 2023 updates, Kia took a more conventional route, following up its E-GMP standout EV6 with the EV9 three-row crossover. Hyundai took a different tack with the Ioniq 5 and the Ioniq 6. The latter is a weird, swoopy sedan with a super-sleek 0.219 drag coefficient. It delivers a top range of 361 miles, third-best behind the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S. It offers a comfortable and relaxed driving experience while doing so. And in a world where EV tech remains super expensive, Hyundai starts the bidding at just $42,250.
Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato
Why It Matters: The Huracan will soon ride into the sunset. But before it does, Lamborghini is dropping one last crazy version in the form of an off-road rally car.
The Big Picture: The words “off-road” and “supercar” seem almost antonymic. But crazy ideas are always in vogue at Lamborghini.
Lambo teased the Huracan Sterrato in concept form back in 2019 and finally released a production model earlier this year to great success.
The Sterrato boasts a raised suspension that's softer than a regular Huracan, custom all-terrain tires (including an optional spare that rides on a roof rack) and a roof-mounted snorkel air intake to feed the howling 5.2-liter V10. The result isn’t just an absolute blast to drive on dirt roads — it’s also better to drive in the city, on the open road, or pretty much anywhere else besides a race track, thanks to its more forgiving ride. Here’s hoping Lambo keeps this combination alive for the Huracan’s future replacement.
Lexus TX
Why It Matters: Lexus has been selling SUVs for a while. It finally built one that’s the right size and package for modern families.
The Big Picture: Lexus has sort of a crazy SUV lineup, with the RX covering the vast gulf between tiny UX and NX Crossovers and hulking body-on-frame Land Cruisers with the GX and LX. For 2024, the TX joins the mix. It’s a three-row, unibody crossover, with a package families want and need. The TX offers two hybrid options that balance performance and efficiency: a 404 horsepower PHEV with 33 miles of EV range and a 366 hp conventional hybrid earning an estimated 27 mpg. Either way, adults can use its third row in reasonable comfort. Lexus may have a vibrant electric future coming with solid-state batteries, but the TX is the car Lexus needed right now.
Mazda CX-90 Turbo S
Why It Matters: Mazda's flashy new flagship SUV makes debuting a new gas engine in 2023 feel modern and paying $60,000 for a Mazda feel like a sensible move.
The Big Picture: Mazda replaced its flagship CX-9 crossover with the CX-90 for 2024, and it’s excellent. The CX-90 isn’t dramatically bigger and it looks sort of bulbous in the rear. But it packs a brand-new 3.3-liter inline-six motor that’s buttery smooth (or a not-quite-as-smooth plug-in hybrid option). And while not particularly sporty, it boasts a strong blend of Mazda’s patented Jinba Ittai driving dynamics and a luxurious interior that makes the car feel more expensive than it is. Some of our relatives did not know they were in the market for a Mazda before scoping out the new CX-90. We suspect a lot of three-row crossover buyers will end up in the same (metaphorical) boat.
Toyota Tacoma
Why It Matters: Toyota didn’t need to upgrade the Tacoma to sell oodles of them. It now sets the standard for midsize trucks.
The Big Picture: Toyota could have kept on selling Tacomas based on reputation with a slight refresh. Instead, the brand followed the lead of the Tundra and Sequoia with a comprehensive overhaul — and it’s now the most modern and capable all-around midsize truck you can get. The Tacoma’s on-road manners improve radically with a new platform, a coil-sprung rear suspension and the upgrade to a modern 8-speed transmission. It’s supremely off-road capable with a new Trailhunter overlanding trim joining the TRD Pro and a beefed-up TRD Off-Road model. Last but not least, a new four-cylinder hybrid powertrain with 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque should set a new benchmark for performance and efficiency.
Toyota Prius Prime
Why It Matters: The Toyota Prius was America’s OG eco car before it was cool. And with a new generation bringing some serious aesthetic, performance and (yes, of course) efficiency upgrades, it may actually be cool.
The Big Picture: Few cars have cultivated a more distinct vibe than the Toyota Prius. Inveterately dorky-looking and prioritizing hyper-miling over driving verve, it has been the car for people who don’t like cars but need one. Until now ...
The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid looks like a spaceship and packs 220 horsepower. With 44 miles of EV range, it can function more or less as an electric car for most people doing local driving — while maintaining road trip flexibility. And starting at just $32,675, it’s cheaper than almost every electric car around.
Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
Why It Matters: The Crosstrek was already the best small crossover on the road. With the Wilderness package providing more ground clearance than the Land Cruiser, it ascends into a serious off-roader for less than $35,000.
The Big Picture: Subaru’s Crosstrek has been a hit from its inception as a smaller, cheaper Outback. The new Wilderness treatment is the Crosstrek but enhanced. It sports a skid plate, all-terrain tires and an upgraded suspension. Its 9.3 inches of ground clearance are more than a Toyota Land Cruiser and just a hair shy of the Jeep Wrangler.
The Crosstrek Wilderness is more optimally proportioned for tackling trails than its larger Wilderness brethren. Even better, the features that make it off-road practical — easy-to-clean seats and wide-access openings — also make it a great buy for young, families and, yes, older empty nesters.
Honda Accord Hybrid
Why It Matters: Honda boldly ditched the driver-preferred V6 for a less powerful hybrid. But it's still one of the best all-around cars (and driver's cars) you can buy — if you're willing to entertain a front-wheel-drive sedan.
The Big Picture: Honda has dropped both the V6 and the manual transmission from the Accord lineup. The driver’s car for the eleventh generation is now the Accord Hybrid, with 48 fewer horsepower. Though you wouldn’t expect it on paper, it’s still every bit as great. The Accord Hybrid is quick, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. It handles sublimely in normal and spirited driving. It’s practical and roomy with ample second-row space and a huge trunk. Even driving it not particularly efficiently, we achieved nearly 40 mpg. Bottom line: The Accord Hybrid is probably the car you should buy, even if you’re probably going to get a crossover.
Mercedes Benz E-Class
Why It Matters: Cars of the future will be as much tech devices as means of conveyance. Mercedes's tech-forward new E-Class sedan previews what that connected future will look like.
The Big Picture: The E-Class is a benchmark vehicle for Mercedes and the luxury auto industry writ large. What will the automotive future look like when the car is yet one more connected smart device? The E-Class delivers a vision for it. All your sensory needs are succored with massaging seats, 4D surround sound and crystal clear displays on the immersive coast-to-coast MBUX screen. It has app integrations for TikTok and Zoom and the first glimmerings of AI virtual assistance. Oh, and there’s still a silky 3.0-liter inline-six with a pillow-like air suspension if you’re into actually driving the car.
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
Why It Matters: Sometimes, how a winning product is marketed can blaze a trail all on its own. Such is the case with one motorcycle brand’s understated but outsized outreach to 51.1 percent of the US population.
The Big Picture: The Super Meteor’s 648cc parallel-twin engine places it squarely in the middleweight cruiser division, but the bike punches well above that class. Impressive in testing were its nimble handling, easy acceleration and tip-to-tail good looks. Still, what stood out most at the Dallas launch was the unprecedented number of female riders (seven, including the one above) on our media ride. Combined with beginner-friendly geometry, an approachable base price ($6,999) and surprisingly diverse promo materials — not to mention Royal Enfield’s continued sponsorship of the awesome, all-female Build.Train.Race program — the real breakthrough here is kicking down motorcycling’s barriers to entry.
