At this time of year, I publish a list of the vehicles that impressed me most or provided me with the most enjoyment. I take into consideration all the things I talk about on the radio show: Value, driving impressions, overall appeal of the vehicle and either the WOW factor, or maybe just an outstanding value.
All in all, Amy Plemons and I had a very successful review year because we had a wide range of vehicles, many of which were within most people’s budgets. Naturally, we also had some electrics.
So, without further ado, these were my favorite reviews from 2024:
- Great Values: The Chevy Trax and Buick Envista, two SUVs manufactured by General Motors, impressed me greatly. Both of those were very enjoyable to drive and excellent vehicles for the money.
- SUVs with two rows: I was blown away by the Mazda CX-70 because it made so much sense. My test vehicle was a plug-in hybrid, and despite being the same size as the majority of three-row SUVs, the entire cargo area was opened up instead of having a seat in the back. The CX-70 that Amy owned came in a different configuration as well. The Kia Niro hybrid comes in second place because it is stylish, affordable, and gets great gas mileage.
- 3-Row SUVs: I was super-impressed with the new Chevy Traverse’s updates, changes, and value. It looks great and is a great deal. The Hyundai Santa Fe, which had been completely redesigned and featured a number of remarkable features, came in very close second.
- All-New SUVs: The Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX550 are two straightforward options that come from Toyota and are both outstanding. If you want one of these two revolutionary products, you will need to sign up for a waiting list. It is easy to see why.
- Electrics: Wow, this is the toughest category because all of them were terrific. The stunning Cadillac Lyriq takes the top spot. I didn’t want to go back to this one because one week was not enough. I also adored the Chevy Blazer and Equinox as well as the Kia EV9 three-row SUVs, of which I had two. I will never forget the week I spent in the massive electric Sprinter van and the affordable F-150 Lightning.
- Pickups: I have to give the award to the very adaptable Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter. It was a super-capable off-road truck that was also a very enjoyable daily driver. People who think the Tundra is too big would like this truck.
- I had two GMC Denali Ultimates that I really liked: the gas-powered 1500 and the diesel-powered 2500. There is good reason they are called the Ultimate.
The new Infiniti QX80 Autograph was the most impressive large luxury SUV. There was not a single thing not to love. Yes, it costs more than $100, but all of them are now, and some are not even close to as luxurious as this one. Second place goes to the Land Rover Defender that I recently owned. It was a lot of fun. The Ford Bronco Raptor or the Jeep Wrangler 392 Final Edition were the most entertaining SUVs. I had them both at the same time, which made it a lot of fun. I fully reviewed both AND did a head-up comparison of the two hot rod SUVs. You can choose either, and you won’t regret it. I also thoroughly enjoyed a week in the new-to-America Ineos Grenadier. It lacked a few essential features that I needed, but I loved the cockpit and the price. - Overall Winner: 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance
Please play the drum! Which vehicle astonished me the most? Many of you expected it to be the Mustang Dark Horse which was amazing. Or perhaps the beautiful Mercedes-Benz SL43. Nope, it’s a station wagon! Yes, I fell in love with the 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance wagon, which costs $148,000 and has 621 horsepower under the hood. However, 2024 reviews place the focus on the interior, drive, and handling. I hope you found my retrospective of 2024 review vehicles interesting. There were many that almost made the list because like I say on the air: There are no bad vehicles anymore, just great ones and then some that are even better.