Three-row performance SUVs are a surprisingly small club. Most family SUVs prioritize efficiency and practicality, while the fastest luxury SUVs usually give up the third row altogether. The Audi SQ7 has always occupied the narrow space between those two worlds, offering genuine V8 performance without abandoning its family-friendly mission. For most of its life, the SQ7 sat near the top of Audi’s SUV range simply because there was nothing larger above it. That changes for 2027 with the arrival of the Q9. ...

The Mazda CX-30 has quietly grown into one of the most convincing compact crossovers on sale. It was introduced in 2019 as the brand's answer to buyers wanting something smaller than the CX-5 but more refined than the Mazda3 hatchback. Built on the same platform as the Mazda3, it has always focused on delivering a more premium feel without straying into luxury car pricing. That philosophy carries into 2025. Standard models make 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque from a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, while turbocharged trims lift outputs to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft on premium fuel (or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular). It goes head-to-head with the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Hyundai Kona. With the compact crossover segment already packed with capable contenders, let's take a closer look to see if the CX-30 has enough in its arsenal to come out on top. ...

8.6/10

Genesis has reached the difficult part of building a luxury brand. The South Korean automaker has spent its first decade proving it could build luxury cars buyers would actually cross-shop with the Germans. What it has always lacked, though, is a true performance identity of its own. That gap is what Magma is meant to fill. The orange performance label has been circling the brand for a while through cars like the GV80 Coupe Concept, G80 Magma Special, and X Gran Berlinetta. What started out looking like little more than a dramatic paint code has since grown into a real performance division, shaped in part by racing legend Jacky Ickx and backed by Genesis's promise to give every model its own high-output Magma variant. ...

In a fiercely contested premium compact SUV segment, customers are typically split between two main priorities: prestige or best value for money. The 2025 Acura RDX tends to favor the latter. While sharp-looking, this premium compact crossover lacks the 'prestige' tag its German rivals, like the BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC offer. Yet it offers a comparable ownership experience at a fraction of the cost of its established rivals. ...

7.5/10

After a three-year hiatus, one of Jeep’s most important nameplates is back. The nameplate that helped define the modern SUV in the 1980s and 1990s comes back wearing a boxier, upright shape that nods to those earlier models while ditching the polarizing curves of its 2014-2023 predecessor. But by the time it disappeared after 2023, the segment had moved on, leaving Jeep without a direct answer to the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, or the Subaru Forester. ...

The 2025 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance sits atop the IS lineup, and it takes a different approach to the compact sport sedan formula than its German rivals do. Its naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 sends 472 horsepower to the rear wheels, which is plenty for this segment, though a BMW M3 or Audi S4 would still pull away in a straight-line sprint. Rather than chasing pure straight-line speed, the IS 500 prioritizes a relaxed, easy-to-live-with driving character, which should resonate with buyers looking for a middle ground between comfort and agility rather than outright track performance. That same philosophy carries into the cabin, where solid materials and a clean, sensible tech setup give the car an upscale feel reminiscent of Lexus's bigger sedans, even if the outright cabin space falls a bit short of some rivals in the class. ...

8.3/10

The Porsche 911 GT3 has spent 25 years proving that a sports car does not need more complexity to get better. That matters now more than ever, because the segment is full of turbocharged and electrified machines chasing bigger numbers, while the GT3 still sticks to the harder route. Between the winged 911 GT3, the GT3 Touring, and the more extreme GT3 RS, Porsche now sells every major flavor the badge has grown into, at the same time. ...

8.5/10

Czinger came out of nowhere, yet its first attempt - the 21C - lands like a manifesto on wheels. Limited to just 80 Los Angeles-built cars, it pairs a 2.88-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes up to 1,350 hp with three electric motors, then bolts that hybrid heart into a 3D-printed chassis whose skeletal "Bio-Logic" joints were sculpted by Czinger's Human-AI design software rather than a traditional CAD workstation. The payoff is tangible. It ran Goodwood in 48.82 s and Laguna Seca in 1:24.75, setting 2024 production-car records at both tracks. ...

The Lexus RC F was built to prove that Lexus could do more than build refined luxury cars. Introduced for the 2015 model year, it arrived as the brand's answer to the German performance coupe, pairing a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 with rear-wheel drive at a time when rivals were rapidly switching to smaller turbocharged engines. A decade later, the formula remains largely unchanged. Under the hood sits a 5.0-liter V8 producing 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. That gives the RC F something few rivals can match: the sound, response and character of a big-capacity V8. It may not be the quickest car in the segment, especially against the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe or the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, but it continues to appeal to buyers who value driver engagement over outright numbers. As one of the last naturally aspirated V8 luxury coupes on sale, the RC F has carved out its own place in an increasingly turbocharged world. Let's see what it has in store... ...

8.3/10

Hatchbacks have gradually disappeared from the affordable end of the market, but Kia is going the other way by adding one to its K4 lineup. The new Kia K4 Hatchbackis nearly 11 inches shorter than the K4 sedan without sacrificing its rear legroom, while offering either 147 or 190 horsepower. Better still, it starts below both the Honda Civic Hatchback and the Mazda3 Hatchback in terms of price - two established rivals in an increasingly small segment. So, has Kia arrived late to the hatch game, or at exactly the right time? ...

The TLX name dates to 2015, when Acura used it to replace both the TL and TSX sedans with a single model. The current generation launched for 2021 with a longer body, a new interior architecture, and an all-wheel drive system (AWD). Three main configurations are available: the Technology Package with a 272-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, the A-Spec Package with the same engine and SH-AWD as standard, and the performance-focused Type S with a 355-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. If you are cross-shopping the TLX with traditional compact luxury sedans, you will find the TLX is sized closer to a midsize sedan while being priced against smaller cars. It competes directly with the BMW 3 Series and the Genesis G70. The 3 Series offers a wider dealer network and more powertrain options. The G70 starts at a lower price and offers a longer powertrain warranty. The TLX answers with standard AWD on higher trims, a distinctive interior design, and a larger footprint than either rival at a comparable price point. ...

8.3/10

Volkswagen introduced the Taos for the 2022 model year as a subcompact crossover model below the Tiguan in its US SUV lineup. It fills a gap against the wave of smaller, more affordable entries from Hyundai, Kia, Honda, and Toyota. The 2025 model receives the most significant update the Taos has had since launch. Among the various updates, Volkswagen increased horsepower from 158 to 174. Four trims are available. The Taos competes with the Honda HR-V and the Hyundai Kona. The HR-V offers a more refined ride and a stronger reliability reputation. The Kona offers more standard technology and a sharper exterior design. What the Taos has over both is class-leading cargo space and one of the more spacious cabins in the segment for taller occupants. ...

7.6/10

Over its nearly 40-year tenure, the Nissan Pathfinder has taken many shapes and forms, initially starting as a rugged, ladder-frame off-roader, evolving into a modern off-road SUV. Now in its fifth generation, the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder still acts as a three-row family vehicle that has not completely forgotten its off-roading roots. This is most noticeable with the Rock Creek Edition trim, which adds a more adventurous appeal while still functioning as a capable long-distance SUV. ...

8.4/10

The 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is Jeep's attempt to challenge the full-size luxury SUV segment. The standard wheelbase model is already cavernous, but Jeep also sells the Grand Wagoneer L, a version that stretches 12 inches longer overall, translating into an additional 15.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third seating row. Second-row captain's chairs bring the seating total to seven, while an optional bench in the row can add space for an additional passenger. Jeep also boasts the fact that the Wagoneer L can comfortably seat adults in the third row. The Wagoneer also boasts a powertrain to match its size, with power coming from a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter Hurricane six-cylinder engine producing a commendable 540 horsepower. The key question remains whether the Grand Wagoneer can keep up with rivals such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator in a highly competitive segment. ...

8.5/10

Bentley spent most of its history building grand tourers and luxury sedans, yet the car carrying the brand today is an SUV. The Bentayga accounted for 44 percent of Bentley's global sales in 2023—an extraordinary result for a model that did not exist until 2015. It did more than give Bentley a new body style; it helped turn the ultra-luxury SUV from a questionable idea into one of the industry’s most profitable segments. ...

8.3/10

The Wagoneer name last appeared on a Jeep in 1993. Jeep brought it back in 2022 for a three-row body-on-frame SUV that sits at the top of the lineup. The Wagoneer S borrows that name for an entirely different vehicle. Jeep's first all-electric SUV sold in the United States. It’s a two-row midsize crossover built on a dedicated EV platform with nothing in common with the gasoline Wagoneer beyond the badge. The Wagoneer S produces up to 600 horsepower from two electric motors, offers an EPA-estimated 294 miles of range, and seats five on a 113-inch wheelbase. ...

7.7/10

Over the years, Genesis has built its reputation by offering similar value to its German rivals at a fraction of the price, with the 2025 Genesis GV60 carrying this tradition over into the electric segment. This compact crossover boasts three powertrains, producing 225 horsepower in the base model, 314 hp mid-way through the range, and topping out at 429 hp (with a ten-second 482-hp boost function), available with either rear- or all-wheel drive. While its interior dimensions aren't class-leading space-wise, its charging capabilities, luxury trim, and fun-to drive nature certainly ar. Itts top-spec Performance AWD trim can keep up with the likes of the Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW iX - but can it surpass them? ...

8.9/10

The Jeep Grand Cherokee name dates to 1992. Jeep used it to introduce a more refined, car-like alternative to the original Cherokee. The current fifth generation launched in 2022. The 4xe variant arrived alongside it, pairing a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors for 375 horsepower and 26 miles of electric-only range. The 2025 model carries over unchanged from 2024. It is also the last; Jeep has confirmed the 4xe powertrain is discontinued after 2025. All 2025 trims share the same powertrain. Six trims are offered: the base 4xe, a limited-run Anniversary Edition, the off-road-focused Trailhawk, the Overland, the Summit, and the Summit Reserve. ...

8.3/10