Love our regional press clan, the Washington Automotive Press Association. We have such a diverse and talented group of journalists and content creators. I’m truly honored to be part of such an amazing group. With that, read on with our quick hits below!
Acura Integra Type S – Ultimate attainable sleeper dad car?
Acura continues the return of its Type S, first seen on the TLX and the MDX and now on the Integra. True, the U.S. Integra didn’t have a Type S in its past, but the RSX did. I know the various A-SPEC cars over the past few years leaned on some of the Type S-ness with the quasi gray back, red lit gauges, but the Integra Type S, in some ways, is truly one of the halos of the brand, especially with NSX gone (yes, again). While the “standard” Integra is sprightly with its 200 horsepower turbo 4-cylinder and snappy 6-speed manual transmission, the Type S lifts that to 320 horsepower, still routed solely to a 6-speed manual (thank you!). Love to see that in this autofied day and age. Yes, it’s somewhat a Honda Civic Type R in a tuxedo, but that’s actually perfect. I don’t know if I have the strength of character to be seen driving my kids to daycare and the park and back in something that still has a massive wing. The Integra Type S also offers up power front seats and a Bose sound system to help somewhat justify the price premium over its H-badged brethren. Rear seats do still lack air vents though, so maybe not the greatest for dad-duty, but hey that’s what the windows are for right?
Alfa Romeo Giulia QV – Still a scary blend of crazy and hot.
Has it already been 7 years since the launch of the crazy-hot diagonal straddling Giulia Quadrifoglio? I still remember the crisp autumn day in Napa Valley, slicing backroads in the Giulia, with handling so razor sharp that is seemed to know exactly where your mind wanted to go. On the track the Quadifoglio melted tires and put down lap times like you wouldn’t believe. A visceral roller coaster that was wrapped in a taut and curvy body and offered in terrific colors. Fast forward and this beauty hasn’t lost a step. That 505 horsepower V6 still snaps off shifts and feels absolutely connected to driver and road. Sure, it may drag behind on luxury and tech amenities, but if that’s what you’re ultimately after then maybe you’ve missed the point. Not sure what the next 100 years has in store for Alfa Romeo, but you can count on moments like a burbled Quadrifoglio being pretty limited, so be sure to experience one while you still can!
Audi Q8 e-tron – More than meets the eye
The 2019 e-tron (no Q8 designation back then) was one of the first traditional OEM luxury EVs to hit the market… and it showed. Range was a paltry 200 or so miles, but the luxury experience was on brand with lovely materials and even wireless phone screening and massage seats, air suspension and soft close doors. But it was a bit heavy and lumbering. Normally mid cycle refreshes are a bit of a nip/tuck inside and out, and to that end, the Q8 e-tron delivers. Front and rear bumpers and wheels are indeed updated. Where the Q8 surprises and delights is in how thoroughly improved and revamped all the underpinnings and running gear are now. Where the prior years felt soft and heavy, the new Q8 e-tron has a sharper bite to its handling and dynamics with very little sacrifice in terms of ride quality and composure. Range also rises sharply up to 285 thanks to larger battery but also improved efficiency of the motors as well. Q8 e-tron reinserts itself nicely into the current luxury EV SUV set.
Chevrolet Colorado – Bare bones no more, the mid sizers continue to grow up
It’s amazing to see the activity in the midsize truck segment, including this new Colorado. While the prior generation was no slouch in the on road dynamics, the new Colorado ups the refinement, even in the fairly mid spec Trail Boss here. There’s large infotainment screen and sharp display here and in the digital cluster, it’s pretty clear this isn’t your grandfather’s work truck, well maybe except for the polyurethane steering wheel. Do appreciate that Chevrolet does a pretty good job of swapping out interior panels for each trim, so lower spec buyers aren’t just constantly looking at switch blanks and wondering what options that they’re missing out on. Will see how this thing holds up against the new Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma!
Dodge Hornet – Strong enough to sting?
Dodge finally has some fresh blood in its showroom with the return of yet another storied nameplate, the Hornet. And for the corporation that loves its Born in Detroit-ness, this newcomer is born in… Italy, development having been shared with corporate cousin Alfa Romeo. All-Wheel Drive comes standard as does a potent 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder pumping out 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, which is pretty hefty compared to say the standard Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The Hornet is also a tad short, almost closer to the likes of the Honda HR-V or Subaru Crosstrek in length. So it’s a big engine in a small body, that starts to sound a lot like the Dodge formulas of old. Also on offer with the R/T and R/T Plus trims is a smaller 1.3L turbo that is electrically assisted with a plug-in hybrid for 288 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, while also capable of delivering 32-miles of all-electric driving range. Will be curious to see how this Hornet foreshadows the coming changes for the brash all-American brand.
GMC Canyon AT4X – reaching new heights in luxury, performance and price.
Midsize trucks continue to impress and this Canyon AT4X stretches both the luxury and off-road capability ends of the segment spectrum. Just in time as we see the new Ford Ranger Raptor as well as the new Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Trailhunter models arriving this year too. Love how beefy and built up this thing looks from the factory, the entire body line is seemingly positioned above the upper half of the wheel line, it’s like a monster truck! The only thing not tiny would be the price, where again, this thing is finding the upper reaches of the segment with nearly $60,000 of goodies. I have no doubt the demand will be there, I do wish there was still a small diesel powertrain available but we likely won’t see those return, and the 2.7L turbo 4-cylinder puts down 310 horses and 430 lb-ft of torque, which is more than the old diesel.
Honda Civic Type R – peak Honda-ness
Can this be? The U.S. is now on its second generation in a row of Civic Type R amazingness at our hands. While the prior generation was one of the most heavily marked up cars for years, this seems to be subsiding a bit in this generation, maybe more a result of how high the actual sticker price is now $46,000+. But no fear, I think the price is still very commensurate with the driving experience. The design is decidedly much cleaner and modern inside and out. Yes there’s still a massive wing, but this one looks more technical and dare I say sophisticated vs the plasticky and exaggerated creased lines of before. The inside is still loud with available bright red seating and carpets. 315 horses and 310 lb-ft of torque get spun up through one of the best 6-speed manuals on the market today. Is this peak gasoline performance Honda?? Is this going to be a collector’s item in the years to follow?
Hyundai IONIQ 6 – Slick Digital
Hyundai is pulling out all the design stops these days. After the squared off the retro futuristic IONIQ 5, we find this sleek and swoopy IONIQ 6. Yes, it definitely didn’t carry 100% of its stunning concept car looks and hips to production, but the fact they still saw fit to bring a distinct sedan to market should be applauded as there are still many shoppers out there that don’t want the upright crossovers that now outsell everything else out there. And the IONIQ 6 is indeed slippery in shape, as one of the most efficient EVs on the market. You do lose out on the cargo flexibility of a hatchback though, but maybe that’s ok for the added isolation and quietness of the cabin. Be sure to checkout the funky central placement of window switches on the center console rather than the doors, reminds me of the E46 era BMWs. Can’t wait to see the next IONIQ installment from the team out of Namyang, South Korea!
Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S – Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde, or just the Hulk
$140,000. That’s it, that’s the price tag of this 603 horsepower handcrafted engine beast. $5,450 of that was thrown at the optional ceramic composite brakes, while another $3,350 was pegged for the 22″ matte black forged wheels. One option I do question is the $1,100 Acoustic Comfort package which increases cabin insulation with acoustic and infrared-reflection and absorbing films. Why would you do that and isolate yourself from the cacophony that one can dial up via the steering wheel controls? This is truly a machine that can elegantly and comfortably take you and the family to dinner or a night on the town or let you burn Dino juice and rubber through at least the first three gear changes. Would love to rip this thing on a track and see how it does. Until then, we can dream of a jack of all trades and master of many mobile.
Mercedes-Benz EQE500 SUV – Chrome Dome
Far from the AMG GLE we have the EQE Non-AMG, but still 500 SUV. This actually has more torque 633 to 627, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from the drive, nor the sound or lack really thereof. It’s also not without the impressive monroney sticker of its own, here a sneeze away from the $100,000 mark itself. But where the AMG GLE drips and oozes character and charisma, the EQE stands to deliver a sanctuary of reprieve and solace. Materials and fit and finish are beyond reproach. Haven’t seen as many of these around town despite a very smooth and pleasant drive and luxurious experience all around. A 90.6 kWh battery yields an expected driving range of 269 miles, a bit short of the Audi Q8 we sampled above, maybe a little disappointing from a ground up EV platform. Would Mercedes have done better to electrify their gas platforms like Genesis? Curious to see how they layer in their electric models into the overall lineup moving forward.
Subaru Crosstrek – Ubiquitous for a reason
Subaru continues to ride the wave of customers who love outdoorsy hatchbacks/wagons. The Crosstrek, effectively a lifted Impreza hatchback, handily outsells the Impreza by more than 4:1 and regularly battles big brother Outback for brand sales supremacy. The Crosstrek helped start the Subcompact Utility segment, now filled with entrants like the Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross. Ride quality and power (at least from the 2.5-liter engine) are all well-sorted. It won’t knock your socks off, but there’s pretty little to complain about as well. It’s capable, rides at a comfortable height to get in and out and should prove to be reliable. They recently introduced an even more rugged Wilderness trim for those who want to wander farther off the trailhead, and given what we’ve seen around already, where lately more Subaru customers modify for adventure rather than sport, it’s the perfect fit. Paired with lots of safety technology and relatively approachable pricing, the Crosstrek is easy to recommend to many buyers.
Toyota Crown – A modern Avalon?
Large sedans are quickly fading from the market. After nearly 30 years on the market, Toyota’s brand flagship Avalon is no more. In its place we have the Toyota Crown sedan, a storied nameplate from the Japanese market now here. But where even the Crowns of the past were rear wheel drive sport sedans, perhaps most similar to our market’s now discontinued Lexus GS, this new era of Crown we have is a high-riding sedan, based on a front wheel drive architecture, but found with standard all-wheel drive for the U.S. It offers up two hybrid powertrains, a base 236 horsepower hybrid with Toyota-typical eCVT transmission, or a hotted up Hybrid MAX unit pairing a turbo 4-cylinder engine with hybrid bits for 340 horsepower and paired with a 6 speed automatic transmission. The interior isn’t as big as the Avalon and the price reaches well into the $50,000 range. The aggressive looks and strong on paper power don’t translate itself in a driver’s machine though. And materials seem a bit lacking near this $60,000 stratosphere. I can’t help but think that this might follow the Avalon well before its 30 year mark.
