Quick Spin
Autoweek
Last episode 10 months agoYou love cars. We do, too. Tune into Quick Spin, the short-form podcast that takes you into the car with Autoweek editors as they deliver honest reviews of the best rides in the world from the inside out.
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Episodes (284)
The 2023 Toyota bZ4X AWD Review: Your No-Nonsense Commuter
While Toyota jumped to the front of the pack with its hybrid Prius when the company launched it in Japan in 1997, the company hasn’t been as quick with battery-electric vehicles. Well, that tide is slowly shifting with the wildly named bZ4X. Toyota’s battery-electric crossover is giving ‘Yota fans a battery-electric option in the dealership, and giving the company valuable lessons in churning out EVs. This battery-electric crossover is powered by either a 201 hp motor in the front for front-wheel-drive models or that same 201 hp motor in the front and an 80 hp motor in the rear to give the bZ4X an all-wheel-drive variant. Feeding this powertrain is either a 71.4 kWh battery for front-wheel-drive models or a slightly larger 72.8 kWh battery for all-wheel-drive bZ4X models. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Emmet White hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Toyota bZ4X and puts it through its paces. White takes you on a guided tour of the Toyota EV and highlights some of his favorite interior and exterior features. Later in the show, White takes you along for a live drive review of the bZ4X where he relays his experience behind the wheel. Adding to those segments, host Wesley Wren chats with White about the Toyota’s features, his experience with the car, and more. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the ’23 Toyota bZ4X special.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek Review: Evolution, Not Revolution
It’s hard to believe that Subaru’s Crosstrek is entering its third generation when its first generation kicking off as a 2013 model year. If you can do the math, that shows that this compact crossover has had a lot of growth in a few short years, but hasn’t followed the traditional expansion you’d find with small-but-growing cars. No, Subaru has kept the footprint fairly consistent over three generations, with this most recent example spanning only an extra inch in length. The third-generation Crosstrek also sticks with standard all-wheel drive and a pair of boxers under the hood: 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter flat fours are available, and make 152 and 182 hp respectively. Though, some things did not make the transition into the crossover's third generation. Lost are the manual transmissions and, currently, hybrid powertrains. Though, you can almost expect a hybrid Crosstrek down the line. On this episode of Quick Spin, Hearst Auto’s deputy editor Jon Langston hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Crosstrek and puts it through its paces. Langston talks about his roles with the Hearst Autos Gear Team before diving into his time with the new Crosstrek. Langston also takes you on a live drive review of this new Crosstrek. Adding to the show, Langston chats with host Wesley Wren about the changes to the third-generation Crosstrek, how it drives and what makes the latest Crosstrek interesting. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the latest Crosstrek special.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB: More Than Meets the Eye
Mercedes-Benz is all-in on its BEV efforts and is almost constantly expanding its battery-powered portfolio. While most pay attention to the higher-end EQ models like the EQS or are waiting to see what the EQG will look like in production trim, the entry point to the battery-electric ‘Benz lineup is its EQB. The ’23 Mercedes-Benz EQB is split into three models, with the most affordable 250 variant giving you a single motor and 245 miles of range from its 70.5-kWh battery pack. This single-motor variant sends 188 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Jumping to the EQB 300 and EQB 350 nets you more power and all-wheel drive from the dual-motor drivetrain. Of course, those models also will set you back more money. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek Executive Editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Mercedes-Benz EQB 250 and puts it through its paces. Murphy guides you around the EQB and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Murphy also talks about his time road-tripping this BEV through more rural parts of Michigan. Joining the show, host Wesley Wren chats with Murphy about the EQB, its competition and more. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the EQB 250 special.
2023 Ford Escape Review: A Tale of Two Crossovers
The 2023 Ford Escape Is a Tale of Two Crossovers Ford’s Escape gets a refresh for ’23, but it has tough competition across the room. Ford’s Escape helped it capitalize on the growing interest in smaller ‘utes when it launched in the early 2000s. Ford’s Escape has been a staple of its lineup for over 20 years and entered its fourth generation just a scant four years ago for the 2020 model year. Despite being relatively new, Ford took the Escape back to the drawing board for ’23 and gave it a styling update. This update gives the Escape a new front fascia, which gives the car more attitude. The ’23 Escape still rides on Ford’s C2 platform, which also underpins the Escape’s cross-dealership rival: the Bronco Sport. Powering the Escape is either a turbocharged 1.5-liter, a turbocharged 2.0-liter, or a 2.5-liter engine that works with a traditional hybrid or plug-in hybrid system. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Ford Escape and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the updated Escape and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of this updated escape. Joining the show, Patrick Carone chats with Wren about the Ford Escape and where it sits in the market, and where it sits in Ford’s portfolio. The pair talk about how Ford splits the difference between the Bronco Sport and its platform-mate Escape. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the Escape special.
2023 BMW XM Review: Polarizing But Fun
The BMW styling department has likely started more conversations than its team ever considered. The latest polarizing product is the 2023 BMW XM. This plug-in hybrid crossover deviates from the brand's alphanumeric naming structure and leans into the company’s M-Division heritage. Powering this hopped-up hybrid is a 4.4-liter V8 that works with an electric motor to advertise 644 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The engine itself is responsible for 483 of that hp and 479 of that torque figure. This works with the eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system to launch this crossover to 60 mph in under four seconds. If that’s not enough, the electric motor can move this XM under electric-only power as far as 30 miles with the 19.2-kWh battery. On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the ’23 BMW XM and puts it through its paces. Carone guides you around the XM and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you on a live drive review. Carone also chats with host Wesley Wren about the BMW XM to give this hybrid some context. The pair discuss its price, its heritage inside of the BMW brand and more. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this BMW special.
2023 Land Rover Range Rover Review: Ahead of Its Time?
The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover enters continues the company’s push for the fifth-generation Range Rover. Dubbed the New Range Rover, this latest Rangie sticks with the luxurious appointments that have made it a hit among luxury SUV fans and it offers some interesting solutions for comfort off-road. Most importantly, the new Range Rover ushers in some new powertrains. While the hybrid and mild hybrid units might be more popular, this 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 could be the most fun of the bunch. The turbocharged V8 powering this tester sends 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the latest Range Rover to put it through its paces. Murphy walks you around the latest Range Rover to highlight some of its more interesting features before climbing inside to tell you about his experience with the interior. Later, Murphy takes you along on a live drive review of the ’23 Range Rover LWB. Joining the fun, host Wesley Wren chats with Murphy about the new Range Rover, the status of the company and what this car competes against. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the ’23 Range Rover special.
2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback: The Normcore Corolla
In a sea of crossovers, SUVs and big-budget luxury cars, the lowly, economically friendly hatchback has started to fall out of favor. Though, Toyota is still throwing its Corolla into the fray, and brought the 12th-gen Corolla into the world in 2018. For ’23, Toyota gave the Corolla a light styling refresh, a new standard eight-inch media screen and an upgraded radio. Powering the ’23 Corolla is a 2.0-liter I4 that feeds 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque through a CVT. From there, power hits the front wheels. Of course, this isn’t as radical as the absurd GR Corolla, but this basic Toyota hatchback handles the daily grind without breaking your bank account. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Corolla and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you around the ’23 Corolla and shows off some of its most interesting features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Wren chats with Patrick Carone to give more context about the ’23 Corolla, compare it to its more powerful GR counterpart and discuss how it stacks up with its major rival: the Honda Civic. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Corolla Hatchback special.
2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid: The Perfect Camry?
The latest generation Toyota Camry made its debut back in 2017. While the latest generation of Camry is likely getting near the end of its life, this current Camry could be the most interesting of the modern era. Sure, it’s not as fun as the rear-drive Camry sedans of yore, but it does live up to the edict set by Akio Toyoda of “no more boring cars.” Blending wild styling with a potent V6 does make the Camry a relatively fun machine that can handle your daily grind. Though, if you want to skip the horsepower and focus on efficiency, Toyota has made the Camry Hybrid available across the trim lines. That means you can nab a high-trim Camry XSE. Powering this Camry is Toyota’s 2.5-liter Atkinson that’s mated to a CVT, with an electric motor helping the system along. Combined, the system is good for 208 hp. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of Toyota’s latest Camry Hybrid and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Toyota and highlights its exterior styling and interior features. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Wren chats with Patrick Carone about the Toyota Camry, the hybrid powertrain and how it feels in daily use. Closing the show the pair break down what makes the Toyota Camry Hybrid special.
2023 Chevrolet Suburban Review: Big and Bold
The Chevrolet Suburban hasn’t moved too far away from its utilitarian origins nearly 90 years ago. Sure, the ‘Burban is nicer now than it’s ever been, but the point remains that it’s still a body-on-frame, truck-adjacent SUV that can haul plenty of people or whatever else you can stuff inside its massive cabin. Entering its 12th generation a few years ago, the Suburban did get some big upgrades and added an independent rear suspension to the mix. The revised suspension joins massive tech upgrades like the addition of Super Cruise to help the Suburban make an argument for itself at both of its pricing extremes. This High Country example sports a 6.2-liter V8, a ten-speed automatic transmission and nearly every creature comfort you’d want -- regardless of brand. On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban High Country and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you around this Suburban to highlight some of his favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to that, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about this Suburban, its features and the competition. The pair also talk about what it’s like driving in New York City, and the Suburban’s hefty price tag. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Suburban special.
2022 Mercedes-Benz G550 Review: Bank Vault Luxury
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class might not be the best-selling ‘Benz, but it might be the first machine you think of when you think about the brand. The hardcore off-roader has fallen into favor with high-end consumers and is almost a staple of a luxury car collection. The latest generation of G-Wagon brings significant quality-of-life upgrades like an independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering to the table. While the G-Wagon has changed over the years, its boxy, utilitarian styling and vault-like cabin have remained the same. The ’22 Mercedes-Benz G550 sports a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that sends 416 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque through a nine-speed transmission and into a four-wheel-drive system. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’22 G550 and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a tour of the G-Wagen before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to the show, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the G550. The pair discuss the G-Wagon’s position in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, the competition and the experience of driving a G-Class. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Mercedes-Benz G-Class special.
2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe Review: Blending History with Tech
While the Jeep Wrangler is a relatively new breed of Jeep, its CJ predecessor goes back nearly a century. An evolution of the Willys-Overland MB, the first CJs helped off-road enthusiasts and farmers have the same rugged machine they might have climbed over ruts and obstacles in Europe. The CJ kept seeing updates over the years until the Wrangler came to fruition in the 1980s. Keeping with tradition, Jeep’s Wrangler is seeing timely updates, too. Taking the Wrangler into the modern, fuel-conscious marketplace, the folks at Jeep have turned the off-roading wrangler into a plug-in hybrid with the introduction of the Wrangler 4xe. This powertrain blends a pair of electric motors with a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 mill. This powertrain combines to send 375 hp to the wheels. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of a ’23 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe and puts it through its paces. Murphy guides you around the Wrangler Rubicon and highlights its interior and exterior features before taking you along on a live drive review. Murphy also notes his fuel economy during his time behind the wheel of this electrified Wrangler. Adding to the show, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, the competition and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe special.
2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Review: Are Good Looks Enough?
Most car buyers have agreed: cars are out, and crossovers and SUVs are in. Throwing its hat in the flood of crossover and SUV demand, the folks at Alfa Romeo launched the Stelvio for the 2017 model year. Sharing a platform with the Giulia sedan, this Italian people mover is a quintessential crossover. Leaning into the company’s heritage, the team at Alfa affixed a modern Alfa Romeo grille to the Stelvio’s front end and topped it off with the icon Alfa badge. Under the hood, Alfa offers a 2.0-liter I4 that makes 280 hp or the 2.9-liter V6 in Quadrifolgio trim that makes 505 hp. The sends that power to either the rear wheels or all four depending on how yours is optioned. On this episode of Quick Spin, Executive Editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of a 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Lusso. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the Stelvio and highlights its styling and features before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to the show, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about this Alfa Romeo’s details. The pair also discuss the Stelvio’s sales numbers and compare this crossover to its competition and the luxury crossover segment. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the 2023 Alfa Romeo Stelvio special.
2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L Review: Large and Luxe
The Wagoneer has become one of the most loved nameplates of the Jeep empire. While maybe not as attached to Jeep’s heritage as the CJ or Wrangler, the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer helped established the idea of a sports utility vehicle in the minds of American consumers. Advertised as a luxurious way to get anywhere, the Grand Wagoneer has since become a hot collector's item. Adding to the Grand Wagoneer’s lore is its death. Both Grand and standard Wagoneers were replaced by Cherokee nameplates and helped move Jeep along from its AMC days. Well, Jeep revived both the Grand Wagoneer and the Wagoneer are picking up where both models left off. The flagship of the Jeep brand, the Grand Wagoneer L takes the standard Grand Wagoneer and stretches its shell by a foot. Under the hood, you’ll also find the next generation of Mopar power: the turbocharged, 3.0-liter Hurricane I6. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the ’23 Grand Wagoneer L and highlights its interior and exterior features. Later in the show, Murphy takes you along for a live drive review to show you how the Grand Wagoneer L performs in real-time. Adding to the show, host Wesley Wren chats with Murphy about the Grand Wagoneer, how it stacks up against the competitive set and the Hurricane I6. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this Jeep Grand Wagoneer L special.
2023 Acura Integra: The Integra is Back
The hotly anticipated Acura Integra is finally back on Acura’s roster. Despite carrying a Honda badge in Japan, and a different name at launch, the Acura Integra made its way to the United States in 1986. Helping launch Acura in the United States, the Integra became a staple in the company’s portfolio and was loved by fans that wanted a little more than the pedestrian Civic. The Integra also was one of the only ways Americans could get something similar to the Honda Civic Type R. The Integra Type R has become wildly collectible since it went away, and helped anchor Acura as an enthusiast brand. The reborn Integra doesn’t have a Type R variant yet, but the Type S is expected. Instead, the ’23 Integra uses the same 1.5-liter turbocharged I4 from the Civic Si. Similarly, this upscale compact makes a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT available, depending on how you want the power to get to the front wheels. On this episode of Quick Spin, associate editor Emmet White hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Acura Integra and puts it through its paces. White takes you on a guided tour of the Integra and highlights its styling, features and more. Later, White takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, White chats with host Wesley Wren about the Integra, what separates it from the Civic Si, and if it lives up to the hype. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes this new Integra special.
2023 Genesis G90 Review: Sedans Still Matter
The Genesis brand spun off from the Genesis models that were originally part of Hyundai’s lineup. Kicking the brand off, the company launched the G90 -- a full-size luxury sedan that was aimed at undercutting the competition while still giving customers the feeling of opulence. Genesis first showed this flagship sedan in 2017 -- a time before the sedan lost its foothold. Despite crossovers and SUVs taking more and more market share from the sedan, Genesis saw enough value in its G90 to give it a second generation, and stick with a sedan. The second-generation G90 does ditch the 5.0-liter V8, with only a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 underhood. The folks at Genesis tossed on an electronic supercharger for its top model, which sends 409 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Genesis G90 and puts it through its paces. Wren guides you through the G90’s new features and highlights his favorite additions to the G90. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review of the Genesis G90 and discusses how it feels dynamically. Adding to the show, Wren chats with Patrick Carone about the Genesis G90 over the years, the best features of the new model and where it stands in the pantheon of luxury cars. Closing the show, the two breakdown what makes this new G90 special.
2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: Luxury Muscle
The Cadillac CTS-V reset GM’s luxury arm’s image when it launched all the way back in 2004. Nearly 20 years later, the CT5-V Blackwing is picking up where the hopped-up Caddy left off. While some of the CTS-V’s attitude has softened during the transition to its new CT5-V Blackwing nameplate, the performance is only higher. Powering the CT5-V Blackwing is a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that sends 668 hp and 659 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels. If you want to live the life of luxury and have the gears shifted for you automatically, Cadillac will replace that six-speed manual with a 10-speed automatic. On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and puts it through its paces. Carone guides you around the Cadillac and discusses the styling, material and features. Later in the show, Carone takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the car’s features, competitive set and price. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the 2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing special.
2023 Kia Sportage PHEV: A Solid People Mover
When it started life in the mid-'90s, it might have been hard to picture the Kia Sportage growing up to where it is now, or having three different styles of powertrain. Entering its fifth generation in 2021, the Sportage badge evolved with the times. The latest Sportage follows the bold and angular styling seen across the Kia and Hyundai lineup, and perfectly matches the stylized Kia logo. Under the Sportage’s hood, you’ll find a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated I4 that makes 187 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, or one of two hybrid systems that help out the turbocharged 1.6-liter mill. The traditional hybrid powertrain makes 227 hp, while the plug-in hybrid model makes 261 hp. Both hybrid models boast the same 258 lb-ft of torque. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Sportage and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a tour of the ’23 Sportage and talks about its features and materials. Later, Murphy takes you along on a live drive review. Adding to the show, host Wesley Wren chats with Murphy about the Sportage, its competition and more. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV special.
2023 Lucid Air Review: Growing Competition
The Lucid Air might not be as ubiquitous as, say, a Tesla Model S, but the upstart EV brand is stretching its legs and making a name for itself. The luxury EV space was once wide open. If you wanted to drive a high-end BEV, you didn’t exactly have many options, and you were going to climb behind the wheel of a Tesla Model S anyway. Well, since Tesla’s flagship sedan launched, the marketplace is vastly different. Between Tesla expanding its lineup, legacy automakers like Mercedes-Benz entering the BEV fray and startups, it’s hard to stand out. Helping Lucid’s Air make a splash, the company launched the base-model Air with big power and impressive range figures. This Lucid Air Touring model sports a pair of electric motors that drive all four wheels. Those motors make a combined 620 hp while advertising you can move along 425 miles on a single charge. On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the Lucid Air Touring. Vaughn highlights some of the Lucid Air’s features while giving you a tour of the luxury EV before taking you along on a live drive review. Giving context to the Lucid Air, Vaughn chats with Wren about the company’s history, the current competition and how the Lucid stands in the luxury car field. Closing the show, the two break down what makes the Lucid Air special.
2023 Honda HR-V: The High Riding Civic
The Honda HR-V made its way to the United States in 2015 as a 2016 model. This hi-rider revolutionary vehicle skipped its first iteration stateside but expanded the Honda lineup of crossovers in the crossover-hungry US world. Sharing a platform with the Fit, the Honda HR-V might not have been the largest, or most powerful crossover on the market but it did give Honda fans a smaller option to the CR-V. While the smaller HR-V was dwarfed in sales by the larger CR-V, the second-generation HR-V chugged along until ’22 when it was replaced with the HR-V you see here. This third-gen crossover ditches the Fit platform and moves up to the larger Civic base. That growth also means a larger 2.0-liter naturally aspirated mill that makes 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. This power travels through a continuously variable transmission to the front or all four wheels. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 HR-V and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a tour of the new HR-V to highlight its features before taking you along on a live recorded drive review. Expanding on that, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn. The pair talk about Honda’s latest crossover, the competition and the HR-V’s features. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this car special.
2023 Lexus RX 500H Review: Tech On Wheels
The Lexus RX entered its fifth generation with the introduction of the ’23 RX. Topping the range, the RX 500h is packed with consumer tech, big screens and a hybrid powertrain. This Lexus uses electric door handles to release the doors, the HUD as the multi-function steering wheel controls and a big screen that relays all of your media. Dominated by consumer tech features, this Lexus pushes the brand’s interior styling into the future. Powering the RX 500h is a turbocharged 2.4-liter mated to a parallel hybrid system, which makes a combined 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged four-cylinder mill makes 271 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque without any electrical assistance. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the latest Lexus RX and shows off its features and styling. Later in the show, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of the RX 500h to see how it handles the road. Joining the show, Patrick Carone chats with Wren about the Lexus RX, Lexus’s interiors and the target demographic for this crossover. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Lexus special.
2023 Toyota Tacoma Review: Still the King
Toyota’s Tacoma started life nearly three decades ago as a replacement for the creatively named Toyota Pickup. Since its inception, the Tacoma was popular with off-road and compact truck enthusiasts alike. Toyota seems to have only fostered this popularity over three decades and turned it into a dominating sales success. While the Tacoma is gearing up for a new generation, this current-gen Tacoma features a 2.7-liter I4 or a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic. Available in two-wheel or four-wheel-drive the Tacoma has something for folks that need off-road chops or just want a smaller truck to cruise around sunny California streets. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Toyota Tacoma. Wren takes you around the Toyota Tacoma to highlight its styling and features before taking you along on a live drive review. Mark Vaughn chimes in to talk about off-roading, midsize trucks and more. The pair discuss the Tacoma’s competition in the market and its overwhelming success. Closing the show, the two breakdown what makes the Tacoma special.
2022 Ford Bronco Review: Daily Driving Off-Roader
The Ford Bronco helped expand Ford’s offerings when it first hit the pavement in 1965. Over the years, Ford’s Bronco changed its shape and role in Ford’s lineup and became a pop culture icon in the process. Though, Ford eventually discontinued the Bronco in 1996 when the company focused its efforts on the Expedition. Ford revived the Bronco in 2020 to take on the Jeep Wrangler. Ford’s reborn Bronco is available with two or four doors but both bodies offer the same off-road chops. Powered by either a 2.3-liter turbocharged I4, a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6, or a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 in the Bronco Raptor, the Bronco has different powertrains for different needs. Ford even helps keep manual transmission fans happy, with a seven-speed manual available behind the 2.3-liter I4. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of Ford’s Bronco and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of a 2022 Ford Bronco Wildtrak four-door to show off its features, styling decisions and materials. Later, Wren takes you on a live drive review to show how the Bronco handles in real-time. Patrick Carone joins the show to discuss Ford’s Bronco, how it drives and the competitive set. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Bronco special.
2023 Land Rover Range Rover Review: Continued Greatness
After almost a decade, the folks at Land Rover are moving on from its fourth-generation Range Rover and into its fifth-gen luxe off-road bruiser. While the styling change isn’t as dramatic as you’d expect, the changes are there. The new Range Rover offers a new infotainment system, a slew of new powertrains and, of course, fresh looks. While the new Range Rover is available in plug-in hybrid variants, this tester uses the 3.0-liter I6 mild hybrid for motivation. This 3.0-liter sports a turbocharger, supercharger and hybrid system to help it make 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. That power travels through an eight-speed automatic before hitting the all-wheel-drive system. On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover P400 and puts it through its paces. Carone walks you around the next-generation Land Rover Range Rover and highlights some of its new features before taking you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Host Wesley Wren chats with Carone about the new Range Rover, its competition and its spot in Land Rover’s legacy. The pair discuss the Range Rover’s price and if its luxury appointments are a good value. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this special.
2023 Nissan Pathfinder Review: Finding its Footing
Nissan’s Pathfinder branched into its new generation for the 2022 model year. This generational shift brought a new platform and fresh styling, but it also gave the Pathfinder a traditional automatic transmission. Expanding the Pathfinder’s footprint, Nissan is rolling the Rock Creek edition back out to the new Pathfinder. This trim level adds more off-road appointments like beadlock-style wheels, more aggressive all-terrain tires and a slight lift. The Rock Creek models also add tubular roof racks to help hold your camping accessories. While this does help make the Pathfinder more adventure-ready, this crossover sports the same bones as every other model. That means powering this Pathfinder is the same 3.5-liter V6 that you’ll find in other models, though this edition does see a boost in output to 295 hp and 270 lb-ft while burning premium fuel. This power travels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek edition and puts it through its paces. Murphy gives you a guided tour of the Pathfinder Rock Creek that highlights its features. Murphy also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Pathfinder’s sales performance, its competition and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Pathfinder special.
2022 Lexus LC 500h: The Spirit of Personal Luxury
The world of personal luxury coupes exploded in the 1950s and 1960s. Land yachts like the Buick Riviera and the Continental MkII and, to a certain extent, the Jensen Interceptor. While the idea of personal luxury has effectively died, its spirit lives on in the wild Lexus LC. The aptly named Luxury Coupe exists between the world of brutal, luxury sports coupes and hyper-luxe grand tourers. This Lexus might not be as track hungry as, say, a Porsche 911, but it makes up for its lack of track performance with a hefty dose of luxury appointments on the interior and wild, striking design on the outside. While this Lexus is available with a naturally 5.0-liter V8, the hybrid variant replaces the screaming exhaust note with a fuel-efficient 3.5-liter V6 and electric motors. This hybrid might not be as potent as the V8, but its combined 354 hp is more than enough to hustle this 4,200-pound coupe to highway speeds. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Lexus LC 500h to put it through its paces. Wren walks you around the LC 500 to highlight its styling and features before giving you a guided tour of its wild interior. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review. Wren also chats with Autoweek’s Patrick Carone about this Lexus, where it stands in the market and what kind of competition it faces. Closing the show, the two break down what makes this car special.