Autos
Mighty minis
New crossovers offer compact auto punch


Lexus NX 200t F-Sport
Size doesnāt matter, except when it does, like in metro D.C. where space is at a premium. Thatās why mini-crossovers are perfect for urban commuters. And just like a miniscule Ant-Man, many of these small fry pack plenty of punch.
LEXUS NX 200t F-SPORT AWD
$37,000
Mpg:Ā 22 city/28 highway
0-60 mph: 7 seconds
So what to drive if you want more power and panache? How about a stealthy looking Lexus NX, with chiseled side panels and a sassy front fascia. And donāt forget the F-Sport package: large 18-inch wheels, sport-tuned suspension, paddle shifters and performance gauges. Thereās even a menacing exhaust rumble. Sure, the cabin is classy and full of luxury fare (like power-folding rear seat, rain-sensing wipers, smartphone app integration, etc.). But the bad-boy handling is what makes this a BMW-contender. The NX is the smaller version of the popular RXā a crossover thatās not only de rigueur for many soccer moms and dads these days, but also is the best-selling luxury vehicle in the country. Yet the trimmer profile and quicker steering of the NX belies a millennial vibe that even baby boomers can appreciate.
HONDA HR-V

Honda HR-V
$25,000
Mpg: 25 city/34 highway
0-60 mph: 9.7 seconds
Like honeybees, Honda is abuzz this summer. The CR-V compact crossover is breaking sales records, while the Lilliputian HR-V just launched into showrooms. Built on the Fit platform, the HR-V is nine inches longer than that subcompact but 10 inches shorter than the CR-V. The result: a bitty crossover with surprising legroom and cargo space, as well as high ground clearance to better handle potholes and speed bumps. The HR-V is also light and nimble, though acceleration is a tad pokey. A bigger disappointment is the lack of certain safety gear: no blind-spot, lane departure or forward-collision warning systems. But activate the turn signal, and a camera shows you if thereās another vehicle in the right-hand lane. And the cabin, while not full of high-end amenities (especially with the somewhat clunky touchscreen/audio system), is quiet and well-padded.
MERCEDES GLA-45 AMG

Mercedes GLA-45 AMG
$57,000
Mpg:Ā 23 city/29 highway
0-60 mph: 4.8 seconds
Mercedes already took mini-crossovers up a notch or three when it introduced the all-new GLA class. But not content to offer just a luxe hatchback with all the trimmings ā premium pleather upholstery, power liftgate and hill-descent control ā the automaker now offers a hot-rod model as part of its high-performance AMG line. The GLA-45 is loud and brash, with sporty steering, solid brakes and racing Recaro seats. And this four-wheel Rocketeer blasts from 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. Toss in the āEdition 1ā trim for a pterodactyl-like wing on the back and smaller wing-like treatments on the front bumpers. But there are a few misses: the almost too-firm ride, minimal stowage and a bit of wind noise inside. Still, kudos to Mercedes for turning what could have looked like a 1970s Gremlin wannabe into a sexy, top-drawer crossover.
Autos
The ultimate Mercedes S-Class: Gas, electric, or both?
The only real competition to this apex chariot is itself

Itās tough being a top. Take the Mercedes S-Class, the pinnacle of luxury cars. Superior handling. Custom amenities. Cutting-edge technology. Competitors constantly nipping at your heels, er, wheels.
In 2021, the S-Class was fully redesigned with a radical, futuristic cabin brimming with creature comforts. A year later, the fully electric EQS debuted with styling so avant-garde it made a Tesla look like something your granny would drive. And this year, the all-new S 580e plug-in hybrid, which can be driven an impressive 62 miles on electric power alone, is rolling into showrooms.
To stay in top form and keep rivals at bay, Mercedes felt the need to create three variations of its flagship sedan. That means any real competition to this apex chariot is, well, the S-Class itself.
MERCEDES S 580 (GAS POWERED)
$126,000
MPG: 16 city/25 highway
0 to 60 mph: 4 seconds
Last summer, I wrote about the base-model Mercedes S 500āa $115,000 luxury car that scoots from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. But thereās a pricier trim level: the S 580, which comes with a virile V8 instead of the six-cylinder found in the S 500. Despite weighing almost 220 pounds more than its sibling, the S 580 shaves a half second off the stopwatch at the test track. All-wheel drive is standard on both models, as is a silken transmission. The optional E-Active Body Control system prevents this full-size sedanāover 17-feet longāfrom pitching forward or sideways. In other words, no woozy passengers when taking a sharp corner or making a sudden stop. The whisper-quiet cabin is breathtaking, in design and build quality: real wood, aluminum accents and acres of soft-touch materials. There are up to five monitors, including a giant center touchscreen, digital gauge cluster and enhanced head-up display. For backseat passengers, thereās an optional entertainment system with two more touchscreens, as well as power-adjustable reclining seats. All seatsāfront and backāinclude massage functions that are truly sublime. (Trust me, most masseurs can only wish their fingers were this dexterous.) While the acoustics are pitch perfect in the standard 15-speaker Burmester 3D stereo, itās the premium 30-speaker Burmester 4D stereo that sounds as if you are live, onstage at a Taylor Swift concert. Considering the astronomical ticket prices for Tay Tayās concert tour, the Mercedes S 580 may be the better deal.
MERCEDES S 580e (HYBRID)
$124,000
MPGe: 50 city/50 highway (est.)
0 to 60 mph: 4.7 seconds
If green is more your scene, then the all-new Mercedes S 580e plug-in hybrid offers the look and feel of a traditional S-Class, but with impressive fuel economy. The hybrid also has a slightly lower price tag. Most Americans drive 35 miles a day, and this hybrid goes almost twice as far in electric-only mode. That means you may not need to stop by a gas station except once or twice a year. And with a DC fast charger, the battery can recharge up to 80 percent in 20 minutes. While acceleration is a wee bit slower than the standard S-Class, this hybrid is still plenty fast. Battery placement, which can sometimes eat up trunk space, was smartly designed here for maximum cargo room.
MERCEDES EQS580 (FULLY ELECTRIC)
$127,200
Range: 350 miles
0 to 60 mph: 3.7 seconds
Range anxiety? I was nervous as hell when test driving my first electric vehicle, a 2011 Nissan Leaf that could only travel 70 miles before potentially conking out and stranding me on some desolate road. But thereās certainly no range anxiety with the all-new Mercedes EQS, which can travel from Washington to Philadelphia and back on one charge. Despite a slightly smaller wheelbase than other S-Class sedans, this EV is still roomy. The EQS is also almost 1,000 pounds heavier than its non-EV stable mates, but somehow feels lighter. While there are four trim levels, the EQS580 is comparable in pricing and handling to the two S-Class sedans reviewed above. While such a sensuously sculpted EV may not be classified a muscle car, itās incredibly quickāas fast as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat super coupe. A space-age interior is eye-popping, with a ginormous Hyperscreen across the dash that combines a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, 17.7-inch central touchscreen and another 12.3-inch touchscreen for your front passenger. Other goodies include four-zone climate control, sound-reducing glass and a panoramic roof that stretches forever. Going forward, Mercedes expects all its vehicles to be fully electric by 2030, and the EQS is clearly leading the charge.
Autos
Low-priced, high-value rides: Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue
Finally, car buyers are paying less than the sticker price for a new car

Hallelujah! For the first time in two years, car buyers are paying less than the sticker price on a new car. After a years-long economic rollercoaster ā driven by the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and a gaping shortage of microchips needed to produce cars and trucks ā vehicle inventory is finally up. And automaker incentivesāthose much-touted discounts and cash-back offersāare back, too.
But lest you think weāve returned to the days of pre-COVID pricing, hereās a reality check: The average price for a new vehicle in 2019 was just shy of $39,000, while this year it is expected to topāyikes!ā $50,000.
Thatās why the two compact crossovers reviewed here are so appealing. Both look sassy, handle sharply and are chock-full of standard gear. Best of all, sticker prices on these rides start below $30,000.
KIA SPORTAGE
$28,000
MPG: 25 city/32 highway
0 to 60 mph: 9.3 seconds
Think of the Kia Sportage as Dorian Gray: an alluring crossover that never gets old. The popular Sportage is the automakerās longest-running nameplate in America, arriving here in the mid-1990s. But this fifth-gen versionācompletely redesigned for 2023āmirrors the edgy, come-hither look of a luxe-laden Lexus NX. Thereās a slightly obnoxious, wraparound grille, which caused more than a few raised eyebrows each time I zipped around town. And donāt ask me why, but the design of the hiked-up rear-end reminded me of a buff Tom of Finland character wearing spikey heelsāthose would be Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin pumps, of course, not any of that clunky Naturalizer stuff. In other words, the Sportage could easily set tongues wagging at your next drag story-time event. Inside, the hedonism continues, with an obscenely wide digital monitor that stretches almost fully across the dashboard. This includes a 12.3-inch instrument panel and 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Even the base model gets heated seats, and the rear seats both slide and recline. Remote keyless entry, smartphone integration and Wi-Fi hotspot are standard. So are various safety features, such as forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and a driver-attention system that can sense if you are getting drowsy. But trust me, with all the sybaritic delightsāincluding heated steering wheel, premium stereo, panoramic sunroof, and satin chrome accentsāthere is plenty here to keep you awake. There are also a dozen trim levels, with three priced below $30,000. This includes a fuel-friendly hybrid, with up to 44 miles per gallon on the highway. My test vehicle was the X-Pro Prestige, which was fully decked out. My only complaint was the tepid engine, which is pokey compared with the hybrid and some other highly competitive crossovers. Luckily, I really enjoyed the capable handling and braking. And overall, it would be hard to resist the class-leading warranty and passenger room in the Sportage, as well as that tantalizing design.
NISSAN ROGUE
$28,000
MPG: 30 city/37 highway
0 to 60 mph: 8.4 seconds
The iconic Nissan Rogue was completely redesigned in 2021. As with the Kia Sportage, this means snazzier stylingāinside and outāas well as improved handling and a quieter interior. But there also are some key differences. The Sportage flaunts a more in-your-face exterior, has better towing capacity, and is available as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. Kia also offers a better warranty, and its vehicles have higher reliability ratings. Yet while the Sportage has more rear-seat legroom, the Rogue boasts more front-seat legroom and headroom. The Rogue also has a larger fuel tank, so fewer stops at the gas station, as well as better horsepower and torque. And the Rogue is a bit narrower and has a smaller turning radius, which makes it somewhat easier to maneuver. I enjoyed testing the Sportage, as noted above. But the Rogue was just as delightful in its own way. While the exterior design may be more sedate on the Rogue, it is still beguiling. Yes, the interior is low-key, but it echoes the restrained cabin of a sporty BMW. This included a simple-yet-refined dashboard, upscale trim and pleasing soft-touch materials throughout. There is no ginormous, IMAX-like digital display as in the Sportage, but the sleek easy-to-use infotainment touchscreen does sit prominently atop the dash. Acceleration, cornering and braking were all sure and capable, and standard safety features included automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection as well as blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. Choosing either the Sportage or the Rogue is like choosing between, say, the sparkly RuPaul or the spellbinding actress Daniela Vega. Personally, it would be a thrill to drive anywhere with either one.Ā


Move over, Tesla! Elon Musk may have delivered a record number of electric vehicles last year, but rivals are certainly nipping at his heels. Robust demand for the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, for example, has helped make Ford the second-best EV producer in the U.S. And global EV sales for Mercedes more than doubled in 2022, thanks in part to the automakerās all-electric crossover: the EQB. Motorheads like me are all charged about such electrifying rides, and for good reason.
FORD MUSTANG MACH-E
$46,000
Battery range: 270-312 miles
0 to 60 mph: 5.1 seconds
OK, fine, Ford sold fewer than 62,000 EVs in the U.S. last year compared with over 522,000 cars sold by Tesla. Yet while Tesla sales were up 40%, Ford EV sales skyrocketed a whopping 126%. Yes, Tesla sold an impressive 1.3 million-plus vehicles worldwide in 2022, but Ford expects to sell 2 million EVs by 2026. The Mustang Mach-Eāfirst introduced as a 2021 modelāshows you one way Ford expects to get there.
For 2023, Ford knew better than to mess with the winning design of the Mach-E, which is at once futuristic and timeless. My fave styling cue is the clever use of flush-mounted buttons on the outside door frames instead of clunky conventional door handles.
Inside, with the battery placed under the floor, thereās oodles of room for passengers and cargoāincluding 60 cubic feet of stowage with the rear seats folded. Beneath the center console, thereās enough space for a handbag or small computer case.
The wide dashboard has a built-in soundbar, as well as large vertical touchscreen for the infotainment system. An active-safety systemāwith forward-collision alert, emergency braking, evasive steering and suchāis now standard across the lineup.
This year the battery range can reach up to 312 miles, which outpaces much of the competitionāincluding the Hyundai Ioniq, Volkswagen ID.4 and Volvo C40 Recharge. Another plus: Mach-E sticker prices have been reduced between $400 and $5,700, depending on trim level. Pricing also has been slashed for the extended-range battery, from $8,600 to $7,000.
Sure, thereās still a big difference between the $46,000 base model and $65,000 high-test GT. But trust me, the thrill of that GT is hard to resist. Stomp on the accelerator, enjoy the excitement as your body is thrust back against the driverās seat, and be prepared to achieve warp speed. Rocketing from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds took my breath awayāliterally. Many auto aficionados were skeptical when Ford first gave this EV the seemingly bait-and-switch moniker of a āMustang,ā but the GT version of the Mach-E comes closest to feeling like a true pony car.
One side note: With so much emphasis on EVs today, itās easy to forget how much of a gamble it was for Ford to create the Mach-E. After all, this was not the automakerās first electric-car rodeo. Henry Ford built a prototype for a low-cost battery-powered vehicle in 1913, then opted for the internal combustion engine. Other experimental EVs came and went, including the quirky 1966 Ford Comuta minicar and an all-electric 1998 Ford Ranger pickup, which lasted only four years.
Lucky for Ford, it looks like the Mustang Mach-E is a keeper.
(For more on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, read āOne Lean, Mean Green Machine.ā)
MERCEDES EQB
$54,000
Battery range: 205-243 miles
0 to 60 mph: 5.6 seconds

My, how time changes things. As recently as 2020, Mercedes said that its diesel-powered cars were here to stay. But within a year, Mercedes announced it would go all-electric by 2030.
Enter the Mercedes EQS. This flagship sedan debuted last spring in the U.S. and was followed by the seven-passenger EQS SUV. Both EVs are exquisite, oozing luxury and overflowing with techno gadgetry. Butāouch!āpricing for these beauties starts at $105,000 and tops out at close to $170,000.
Fortunately, for those of us on a plebian budget, thereās the new Mercedes EQB. At half the price of its larger EQS siblings, the all-electric EQB is built on the same platform as the gas-powered GLB compact crossover. And except for minor styling tweaks and a bit quicker acceleration, the EQB looks and handles like the GLB. Thatās a good thing for anyone needing some reassurance when making the leap to their first EV.
Despite the low price on a base-model EQB, standard features include power liftgate, dual-zone climate control, automated parking, ambient interior lighting and other niceties. Thereās also the MBUX infotainment system, which comes with 10.25-inch touchscreen, voice-recognition technology, smartphone integration and a navigation system.
While the EQB does seat seven, third-row legroom is extremely tight. Best to leave those seats folded flat, unless carting around kidsāand only for short distances.
Comparing the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Mercedes EQB is easy: Both have similar pricing and amenities. The Mach-E is certainly faster and has more of a space-age ambiance, but the traditional driving experience of the EQB is comforting on long drives. And, well, the EQB also has that coveted three-point star found only on a Mercedes.
-
Eastern Europe3 days ago
Transgender journalist who enlisted in Ukrainian military returns to D.C.
-
Celebrity News3 days ago
There will only ever be one Tina Turner
-
The White House5 days ago
Biden administration unveils new actions to protect youth online
-
Opinions3 days ago
Pride month should be every month
-
Virginia1 day ago
Baptist group forces minister to resign from committees because he is married to man
-
Opinions4 days ago
The long exhale to recognizing same-sex unions in Namibia
-
Asia4 days ago
Activist harassed during European development bank meeting in Uzbekistan
-
Opinions5 days ago
LGBTQ teachers should be celebrated, not demonized