Automotive Reviews

2020 Ford Shelby GT350

2020 Ford Shelby GT350

Edmunds:

For years, the Mustang was locked in what seemed an endless rivalry against its natural competitor, the Chevrolet Camaro. Surely no one would ever compare a Ford to a BMW or a Porsche, right? But in 2015, Ford Motor Co. made sure we'd never look at a Mustang the same way again by debuting the latest GT350.

Propelled by a 5.2-liter V8 using an exotic flat-plane crankshaft, the GT350 howls its way to 529 horsepower at an eye-watering 8,250 rpm. Torque is similarly impressive at 429 lb-ft. But there's more to the GT350 than just its motor. Thanks to its MagneRide adaptive suspension, the car's balance of ride and handling capabilities is sublime, even when you're driving up to the car's considerable limits. Yet the Shelby is still a Mustang, and its practicality and affordability aren't diminished. Until we get our hands on the upcoming GT500, we think this Mustang is the best one ever built.

Of course, the Camaro is still an obvious alternative thanks to its potent ZL1 iteration. But the GT350's competitive set now reads like a who's who in performance cars, with the Porsche 718 Cayman S and the BMW M4 the closest in performance. You might even consider the all-new mid-engine Corvette or new Toyota Supra as options. In general, these coupes are a little nicer inside and won't recall lesser trim levels the way the GT350 can. But if you want maximum racetrack performance and fun at a reasonable price, this Shelby is a great way to go.

2019 Ford Explorer SUV

2019 Ford Explorer SUV
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A shortage of horsepower is never an issue in the 2019 Explorer. The base 3.5-liter V6 puts 290 horsepower under the driver’s right foot, and even though the turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder option provides 10 fewer horses, it compensates with greater torque (which affects the rate of acceleration and is often preferable to outright power). Or there’s the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 propelling the Sport and Platinum models with 365 horsepower. Each engine brings useful passing power and makes quick work of getting up to freeway speeds. The ride/handling balance leans more toward comfort than precision, but never gets too untidy. Noise levels are kept to a pleasant minimum, while the front seats are comfortable.

Favorite new features include Enhanced Active Park Assist and Handsfree power liftgate.

ENHANCED ACTIVE PARK ASSIST - This system uses ultra-sonic sensors and helps get into and out of parallel spaces. The driver operates the accelerator and brake pedals, while the Explorer takes care of the rest.

HANDSFREE POWER LIFTGATE - Wave a foot under the Explorer’s rear bumper (because your hands are full of shopping and/or babies) and the liftgate opens automatically — as long as the key fob is nearby, like in a pocket or purse. Do the same dance to close it. This feature is standard from the Limited trim upward.

2019 Honda Civic

2019 Honda Civic
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Honestly, Honda could have sent its engineers on a yearlong vacation to Tahiti rather than task them with updating the 2019 Civic. We've been giving this generation Civic top marks since its debut three years ago, and there's nothing else out this year that's going to steal the car's title belt. But here we are anyway with an even better Civic.

For starters, the 2019 Honda Civic gets a restyled front end. The new look is subtle and helps the car look a little sleeker and less imposing. Inside, you get an updated infotainment interface that brings with it the return of a volume knob for the Civic. This small addition addresses one of the biggest complaints we had with the Civic last year.

What's more, all Civic trims also get additional features from the Honda Sensing bundle, which is now standard. It includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, and lane departure warning with lane keeping assist. The Civic already had several advantages over competitors, and this addition of safety equipment is yet another.

As always, there are a few notable competitors that you might want to also look at. These include the sporty Mazda 3, the weather-beating Subaru Impreza and the value-packed Kia Forte. But really, the 2019 Honda Civic is the one to beat. It has the most comprehensive combination of feature content, comfort and driving entertainment you'll find in a small sedan today.

2019 Honda Pilot

2019 Honda Pilot
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For 2019, Honda has retuned the nine-speed, eliminating much of the low-speed stutters and jerkiness that it used to exhibit and it's considerably better than last year. The infotainment system's user interface has also been updated. It's more intuitive to use this year and has a physical volume knob that replaces the previous touch-sensitive volume slider. Rounding out the 2019 Honda Pilot's changes are new tech features, added standard safety features and styling enhancements.

Considering that the Pilot was one of the highest rated in the class before these improvements, we're certain that we'll like it even more now. We're sure you will, too. In a segment that includes the very desirable Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander and Volkswagen Atlas, it could very well be the best when it comes to a family-friendly choice. The Pilot definitely deserves a spot on your short list.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Honda Pilot as one of Edmunds' Best Midsize SUVs, Best Family SUVs, and Best Gas Mileage SUVs for this year.

2019 Infiniti Q70

2019 Infiniti Q70
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Infiniti’s midsize Q70 luxury sedan is the closest thing the company has to a flagship that’s not an SUV. Offered in standard- or long-wheelbase models with rear- or all-wheel drive and a choice of V6 or V8 powertrains, the Infiniti Q70 has all the bases covered. As such, it offers competition for a range of cars including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Lexus GS. However, newer competitors like the Genesis G80 pose a formidable threat, offering impressive features at a much lower price. Still, the Q70’s exquisite interior and smooth ride set it apart from less daring European rivals, and that may be exactly what some luxury buyers are looking for.

2019 Infiniti QX50

2019 Infiniti QX50
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Infiniti's QX50 has long prioritized dynamic handling over outright functionality. But that changes with the fully redesigned 2019 Infiniti QX50. With softer on-road manners and a more luxurious interior, it's a more desirable and competitive choice for a luxury crossover SUV.

Certainly, Infiniti took its sweet time to bring out the new QX50. You could trace the previous-generation QX50's roots all the way back to 2008, when Infiniti debuted the model as the EX. But the wait may have been worth it. Other than the number of people it can seat, this new model is different in just about every way.

We'll start from the obvious: The 2019 iteration is a little shorter but considerably wider and taller than the previous QX50. Even the ground clearance is increased by about 2 inches, which gives the exterior a much squatter and aggressive stance.

These new dimensions also allow for a completely new interior. There's more rear legroom than before, and the rear seats can slide, recline and fold flat for increased cargo capacity. And speaking of cargo capacity, there's now a total of 31.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, nearly 13 more cubic feet than before.

Up front, there's an all-new cabin and Infiniti's latest infotainment system. It's a dual-screen setup, with the top screen handling navigation duties and the bottom screen tackling entertainment functions and climate control. Otherwise, the rest of the interior is similar to that of Infiniti's Q50 sedan, with its broad swoops and strokes and twin-screen infotainment system.

But there's even bigger news from the powertrain. While previous models featured a V6, the 2019 QX50 has a new turbocharged four-cylinder with a revolutionary new variable compression technology. Although this engine produces less maximum horsepower than the previous V6, it makes more torque and spreads it out more evenly across the engine's operating range. The result, Infiniti promises, is quicker acceleration around town and higher fuel economy.

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV
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With seating for seven, top-notch crash-test ratings and an enviable 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander is ideal for families on a tight budget. One of the few compact SUVs available with a 3rd-row seat, the Outlander may be ordered with front- or all-wheel drive. The plug-in hybrid model continues in 2019, the only SUV in its class to offer such an electrified powertrain. Prices start just over $25,500 for a front-wheel-drive base ES model with a 166-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, and they rise to just over $34,000 for a V6-powered GT. Mitsubishi’s compact SUV competes with the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Dodge Journey, Kia Sorento and Toyota RAV4. (The Outlander Sport, Mitsubishi’s smaller crossover SUV, is reviewed separately.)


2019 Nissan Kicks

2019 Nissan Kicks
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The Nissan Kicks is entering its second model year in relatively unchanged fashion. This affordable subcompact-crossover SUV, a replacement of sorts for the discontinued Juke, is designed to meet the needs of singles or couples who are looking for expressive styling, abundant technology and advanced safety features. To that end, the 2019 Nissan Kicks is fitted with standard automatic emergency braking, and advanced available features such as rear cross-traffic alert and a 360-degree around-view camera. Perhaps most attractive, the Kicks S starts below $19,000. Unfortunately, all-wheel drive is not available. Nevertheless, the Kicks is a smart choice for youthful drivers or others on a budget, and it returns an impressive 36 mpg on the highway. Rivals include the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR and Mazda CX-3.

https://www.kbb.com/nissan/kicks/2019/

2019 Nissan Altima

2019 Nissan Altima
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The Nissan Altima is one of those competent and capable family sedans that has nonetheless lived in the shadows of the big sellers from Honda and Toyota. Whether loaded with more standard features than the others or given brawny V6 power, the Altima could never quite outrun its also-ran status. The new 2019 Nissan Altima may change all that.

The redesigned Altima makes some bold changes for its sixth generation, including two new engines, sophisticated driver aids and, for the first time, all-wheel-drive availability. The exterior design isn't a wholesale departure from the previous model, but the grille is larger, the lines and dimensions tighter all around, and whether or not you find it attractive, there's no denying that the new Altima has personality.

The new Altima continues with a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Although the same size as the outgoing engine, Nissan says the new engine's internals and tolerances are a significant upgrade. Gone is the earlier Altima's beloved V6 engine, and in its place a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

This innovative engine, which is also used in the Infiniti QX50 SUV, can change its compression ratio in real time, enabling it to offer the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder or the power of a V6, depending on conditions and driver demand. The new turbo engine makes less horsepower than the old V6, but more useful low-end torque. With 248 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined, it looks to be the more desirable engine this year. The Altima offers all-wheel drive for the first time this year, too.

All of these factors, combined with innovative tech (including the latest in driver assist features) and a roomy, comfortable cabin, bring the Altima out of the long shadows of its rivals.

2019 Toyota Camry

2019 Toyota Camry
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Crossover SUVs might be all the rage, but there is still something to be said for the tried-and-true midsize sedan. Exhibit A: the 2019 Toyota Camry. Coming off a redesign just last year, the Camry is a spacious, fuel-efficient sedan with lots of standard safety equipment and plenty of options to choose from.

As has been the case for a while, you can get the Camry with a four-cylinder engine or a more powerful V6. On the highway, the Camry is comfortable and compliant. Toyota also offers two sporty versions that infuse the Camry with a bit of extra personality. Inside, the Camry offers a simple yet feature-packed cabin, especially if you go with one of the upper trim levels. There are plenty of options to choose from along the way.

The 2019 Toyota Camry is as competent as they come. It's well-priced on the whole, and modern feature content makes it supremely easy to drive. If you're looking for something with a bit more class and space than a small sedan, the Toyota Camry might just be the sedan for you. Notably, we picked the 2019 Camry as one of Edmunds' Best Midsize Sedans for this year.

2019 Toyota Tundra CrewMax

2019 Toyota Tundra CrewMax

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Packing a V8 engine as standard is unusual for a half-ton pickup truck these days, but the 2019 Tundra in its basic form comes with a 4.6-liter unit developing 310 horsepower. Or there’s a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter version bringing the Tundra’s maximum towing ability up to an impressive 10,200 pounds. That’s probably sufficient for the majority of buyers, but the new Silverado can handle 12,200 pounds. The all-wheel-drive TRD Pro can also tackle challenging off-road conditions such as steep hills, fast-moving creeks and generally rough terrain, despite the unavailability of a mechanical locking rear differential. Yet the Tundra can also be quiet and pleasant on the tarmac, although versions with the 5.7 V8 have stiffer springs than those with the 4.6 because of that higher tow rating.


https://www.kbb.com/toyota/tundra-crewmax/2019/trd-pro/?vehicleid=439648&intent=buy-new&category=pickup#survey

2019 Volkswagen Beetle

2019 Volkswagen Beetle
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The 2019 Volkswagen Beetle enters its last year of production. All good things, etc. Over the course of its existence, the Beetle -- available in coupe and convertible form -- has been one of the few cars that transcend mere personal transportation to become a statement. Although it started out mimicking the looks of the original Beetle (the archetypal “people’s car”), this version has made its own impact on motoring society. Which might be a long-winded way of saying that it’s cute and it’s fun. The retro styling mixes with modern features and safety equipment to form a desirable combination. Now VW is closing this chapter in its story, but the Beetle is going out on a high note, with decent equipment levels and a punchy engine.

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV
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VW’s 2019 Tiguan’s excellent steering and pedal response -- expected attributes of any VW -- contribute to an overall driving feel that’s among the best in the segment. Highway ride is firmer than that of some other small SUVs, but excellent seats, a quiet cabin and superior steering feel qualify the new Tiguan as an excellent long-haul companion. While the Tiguan’s turbocharged engine generates impressive horsepower and torque, a base Tiguan is a whopping 450 pounds heavier than a base Honda CR-V. City scooting and highway cruising are barely impacted, but the added mass is evident in highway merging and passing situations. Although the Tiguan is a bit longer than most compact SUVs, good outward visibility and a decent turning diameter combine to make it a breeze in parking lots. The Tiguan also offers a host of available technologies that make parking maneuvers even easier. Rear Traffic Alert with Braking will warn you of cars coming down the aisle you’re backing into, and can automatically stop the car if necessary. The Overhead View Camera provides a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle and its surroundings, an increasingly common feature that remains among our favorites. Park Distance Control with Maneuver Braking incorporates front and rear parking sensors that warn you of close objects and can even stop the car if you’re about to back into something.