Image: Built For Backroads Auto enthusiasts in North America lost their minds when Toyota introduced the GR Yaris in 2020. It was hot hatch incarnate: 268 horsepower turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, light hatchback body style. Sadly it was not for us as it was initially a homologation special just for Europe. Thankfully, Toyota did us a … Read more
Photo: Toyota Ask 100 people, and we’d be surprised if more than one of them had any idea what Gazoo Racing was or how it is related to Toyota. And yet, from the GR 86 to the GR Corolla, Toyota’s GR division has been turning out some incredible performance cars lately. We’re big fans even … Read more
Toyota doesn’t sell the Yaris hatchback here in America anymore, instead offering the Corolla as its smallest model that you can buy stateside, which is a shame for small car fans like me. But with the 2024 European market Yaris now offering more power, an updated interior and a GR Sport trim that makes it … Read more
Screenshot: Kia America/ YouTube Kia just announced its new compact sedan and Forte replacement, the head-turning K4, which comes as a bit of a surprise given that crossovers are the current hot topic. What’s even more surprising was the quick preview of a five door K4 hatchback during Kia’s press conference, which was confirmed to … Read more
Photo: Jalopnik/Andy Kalmowitz Hyundai may have only introduced the compact Santa Cruz pickup truck three years ago as a 2022 model, but it’s already being refreshed. It isn’t a major overhaul that makes the truck completely unrecognizable, but it still comes with several updates that make the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz more desirable and enjoyable … Read more
Truly small new cars are a rarity in the U.S., even those marketed as crossovers, and the ones that still exist typically have designs that are either boring and forgettable or ugly and chintzy. The first-generation Nissan Kicks fell into the former category; the subcompact crossover was handsome but nothing to write home about. Nissan … Read more
Today’s Nice Price or No Dice Pinto Squire has wonderful woodgrain on its sides and hatch. Let’s see if it’s priced to make a buyer say, “Yes, I would.” The Ford Explorer Goes All-Electric, But Not For America The 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML 55 AMG we looked at yesterday was a bit of an enigma: a … Read more
Photo: Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik The all-new Santa Fe just went through a super-extreme redesign. The soft curved lines of the previous car are gone in favor of a more traditional, SUV-like exterior. It gives the Santa Fe a much more brawny look, which is what Hyundai tells me consumers are looking for. It makes … Read more
Image: Manufacturer Provided The state of affordable new automobiles right now is bleak, y’all. Back in 2020, I did a rundown of all the cars left in the U.S. market under $20,000, and there were seventeen. I did another one last fall, and there were six. Now, because the Kia Soul has crept above the … Read more
The Chevy Aveo makes no sense for America. At least, that’s the message we got when Chevy killed off the Aveo in 2011. But after chasing down tacos and clay coffee mugs across Mexico City in a 2024 Chevrolet Aveo, I’m reconsidering the notion that the Aveo deserved to die. Because even outside of a … Read more