Aurelia Butler

The Volkswagen ID.Every1 previews a sub-$22,000 EV from the automaker.Expect the production model to bear the name ID.1 when it arrives in 2027.Alas, we don’t expect this low-powered small EV to come to the United States.Volkswagen plans to sell a sub-$22,000 battery-electric vehicle in 2027, and the ID.Every1 concept previews the eventual production model that’s sure to don the ID.1 name. Try not to get your hopes up too high, though, because this inexpensive electric vehicle likely will not find its way to our shores. Besides the fact that the European-built model may find itself subject to tariffs as a result of the U.S.’s current trade policies, the four-door EV lacks the characteristic size and driving range American customers favor. Volkswagen’s entry-level battery-powered concept embraces its compact dimensions. Though its 152.8-inch overall length makes it nearly a foot longer than the since-discontinued Up it effectively replaces, the ID.Every1 still casts a shadow 6.1 inches shorter than a four-door Mini Cooper. But the ID.Every1 is not just small; it’s also unable to meet the 200-plus miles of range on a full charge that many Yanks expect from a modern battery-powered car. Volkswagen claims the pint-sized EV’s 94-hp lone drive motor can push the ID.Every1 an estimated 155 miles on a full charge. Put this small VW through the EPA’s regimen, and that figure surely gets lower. And then there’s the fact that the ID.Every1 tops out at a mere 81 mph. Cruise at 81 mph on some U.S. interstates, and you’re liable to catch lead. The ID.Every1 may not be the fastest or longest-traveling EV out there, but that’s not the intent of this city vehicle. Rather, it aims to combine efficient packaging and attractive wares in an affordable and eco-friendly package.Volkswagen claims the MEB platform that underpins the front-drive ID.Every1 affords it a spacious inside, capable of comfortably fitting four people while still offering a reasonable 11 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s down about 2 cubes to the lengthier four-door Mini Cooper, but about 2 cubic feet better than a two-door Mini. Meanwhile, flexible seating arrangements and a trick multi-function center console, as well as the application of new software architecture that allows for over-the-air software updates, afford this little VW great flexibility from both a physical and digital viewpoint.Despite previewing a low-cost model, the ID.Every1 packs high-end looks. While some of the concept’s details will not transfer to the production car, the basic design itself certainly will. We wager this includes the flared fenders and short overhangs that provide a bulldog-like stance that’s exacerbated by the ID.Every1’s five-spoke 19-inch wheels. By its design alone, the ID.Every1 appears to live by the mantra that it’s better to drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow. Still, we won’t know if the engineers in Wolfsburg tuned this value-oriented EV to offer the joyful driving dynamics implicated by the concept’s design until the production car arrives in 2027.Related StoriesDespite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg’s career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend. More

The Chevy Silverado EV ZR2 is a race truck that will run at the Mint 400, and it features an 1100-hp tri-motor powertrain.Other upgrades include 37-inch BFGoodrich tires, Multimatic spool-valve dampers, and locking differentials.Chevy is launching the Silverado EV Trail Boss this summer, which will bring off-road upgrades to the road-legal electric pickup truck.Electric pickup trucks haven’t yet garnered the same interest as their gas-powered brethren. While Chevrolet Silverado EV sales got fully underway in 2024, the 7428 units sold were just a blip on the radar compared with the regular Silverado’s 560,264 total sales. Still, Chevy hopes to spark more interest in its full-size electric truck with a new racing version, developing the Silverado EV ZR2 to compete in the Mint 400, an off-road race in Nevada that kicks off this week. Better yet, the race truck hints at a road-legal Trail Boss off-road trim coming later this year. Chevy’s EV Race TruckThe Silverado EV ZR2 was developed over just five months and features around 98 percent GM production parts. Compared with a normal Silverado EV, the ZR2 features beefier front and rear suspension parts specifically tuned for off-roading. The truck also has a substantial lift, with the taller ride height also resulting from its 37-inch BFGoodrich KM3 mud-terrain tires.ChevroletAnother crucial addition to the Silverado EV ZR2 is the exotic Multimatic semi-active spool-valve dampers. Described as prototype units, Chevy says they allow for more than 13 inches of front and rear wheel travel. The ZR2 race truck also features locking differentials and underbody skid plates to protect the vital components. Even more intriguing, Chevy says the race-ready ZR2 has a tri-motor electric powertrain that churns out 1100 horsepower. That’s substantially more than the road-going Silverado EV RST, which maxes out at 754 ponies with its dual-motor setup. The race truck’s powertrain is likely adapted from the tri-motor configuration found in the most potent version of the Hummer EV pickup, which shares its bones with the Silverado EV. ChevroletChevy claims the ZR2’s powertrain produces 11,500 pound-feet of torque—matching the claimed output for the tri-motor Hummer—but we believe this is measured at the wheels in a similar way to the misleading number GM touted in its 2020 Super Bowl ad. Measuring torque in a more traditional way would likely result in an output of around 1000 to 1100 pound-feet of torque, still a mightily impressive figure.The Silverado EV ZR2 will race alongside the gas-powered Silverado ZR2 and Colorado ZR2 race trucks, with the trio being entered by Chad Hall Racing. The Silverado EV ZR2 will run as the only entry in the Open Production EV class. Chevy engineers will work closely with the race team, and Chevy says the learnings will be applied to production vehicles and performance accessories. ChevroletGet Ready for the Silverado EV Trail BossThe Silverado EV ZR2 also emerges as Chevrolet readies the 2026 Silverado EV Trail Boss for its launch this summer. Chevy first showed a Trail Boss version of the Silverado EV way back in 2022, but Silverado EV production took longer to ramp up than expected, and the Trail Boss seems to have fallen by the wayside as the brand worked to get other Silverado EV variants on the road. Now, Chevy is ready to introduce the off-road trim, which will receive a factory-installed lift, 18-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch all-terrain tires, red tow hooks, and a dedicated Terrain mode. The Trail Boss appears here in a red-orange hue, showing off its redesigned front bumper and model-specific wheels. Chevy says more details on the Silverado EV Trail Boss will arrive soon.More on the Silverado EVCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Volkswagen is recalling 60,490 electric SUVs over the risk of them possibly rolling away. The recall affects 2021–2023 VW ID.4 models and 2022–2023 Audi Q4 e-tron models, which may not correctly show when they’re in neutral.The issue can be fixed by updating the brake control unit’s software, and VW says the work will be covered under warranty.The Volkswagen ID.4 is involved in another recall. This time, it’s because certain models might not let the driver know that they’re still in neutral, which can potentially lead to them rolling away. The recall involves roughly 60K examples of the ID.4 and its corporate counterpart, the Audi Q4 e-tron.The recall over the rollaway risk was submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on February 26, 2025, The report indicates that it involves ID.4s from the 2021–2023 model years and Audi Q4 e-tron, including some Sportback variants, from the 2022–2023 model years. According to VW’s recall report, in certain situations, the gauge cluster will not show when the electric SUVs’ transmission is in the “N” position. If this happens and the electronic parking brake isn’t engaged, well, the affected ID.4 and Q4 models could go for an unexpected stroll that could result in a crash.A faulty brake control unit has been identified as the culprit, and updated software has been installed since October 2023 to address the issue. However, models built before that date are at risk, so VW advises owners to take their vehicles to their local dealers to resolve the issue, which will be covered at no cost under warranty. VW says it notified its dealers by February 25, and it will notify all owners by April 25, 2025. Other VW-Related RecallsEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

The 2026 Volvo ES90 is the brand’s new sedan-like EV, featuing a handsome design that hides a rear hatch. Its available powertrains range from a single-motor rear-drive setup with 329 horsepower to a dual-motor AWD model with up to 670 hp.The ES90 doesn’t yet have an EPA range estimate, but we expect versions with the bigger battery can go about 369 miles on a full charge. Sweden’s most recognizable automaker has finally revealed its first electric sedan. Well, technically, the 2026 Volvo ES90 is a hatchback, but its sloping rear roofline and decklid-like tail preserve the dying sedan form. The ES90 represents Volvo’s sixth EV, though it will be the fifth to go on sale in the United States. As with the new electric EX90 SUV, which is sold alongside the traditional XC90, the ES90 will cohabitate with Volvo’s familiar gas-fed S90 sedan. A Smaller Footprint Volvo’s prevailing “Thor’s Hammer” headlight design sits proudly on either side of a large, flat front fascia. The car’s backside is also typical Volvo, with the C-shaped taillights now accentuated with additional LEDs extending into the rear window. The lidar sensor that controls the car’s advanced driver-assistance tech is mounted atop the ES90 and detracts from the otherwise sleek styling, but the glass roof helps it blend in with the rest of the bodywork.The ES90’s 122.1-inch wheelbase is slightly longer than the gas-powered S90’s, which measures 120.5 inches. Despite the larger wheelbase and extra legroom it brings, the ES90 is shorter than the gas model (196.9 versus 200.4 inches). The EV also stands almost four inches higher than the ICE model at 60.9 inches tall. Volvo lists the ES90’s curb weight at up to 5787 pounds, whereas it lists the plug-in-hybrid S90 at 4665 pounds.Inside, the ES90 sports a similar layout to other recent Volvo EVs. The main attraction is the dash-mounted 14.5-inch center touchscreen that controls the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. As we’ve seen elsewhere in the brand’s lineup, the screen is vertically oriented and runs Google’s built-in software. A smaller 9.0-inch display is mounted to the steering column, and a head-up display duplicates the most pertinent info.The ES90 offers several interior lighting options, and Volvo says customers can pick from a variety of upholstery materials. Every version comes equipped with a panoramic roof that Volvo says provides UV protection up to 99.9 percent. There’s also an optional electrochromic glass roof that allows customers to alter the transparency of the glass. Impressive PerformanceThe ES90 offers two powertrain configurations with three different power outputs. The single-motor rear-drive setup represents the entry-level model. Volvo says it’s good for 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque and claims it can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. The mid-range Twin Motor variant uses a dual-motor setup that combines to make 442 ponies and 494 pound-feet. Volvo claims it can sprint to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. The Twin Motor Performance at the top of the lineup is where Volvo really turns up the wick. As with the mid-range model, the Performance comes with an electric motor mounted on each axle, but this combo generates 670 ponies and 635 pound-feet. The extra oomph helps it race from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 3.9 seconds.Volvo claims a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.25, which it says is the lowest of any car the company has built. That figure should play into a competitive driving range for the ES90. While the EPA hasn’t yet certified the new Volvo, we expect the smaller pack to be good for roughly 343 miles and the larger pack to provide about 369 miles on a full charge. The ES90’s charging speeds should be equally competitive thanks to its 800-volt architecture—the first for an electric Volvo. When connected to a DC fast-charger with a 350-kW connection, the dual-motor variants, which feature a 102.0-kWh battery, can charge from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 20 minutes or add 186 miles of range in 10 minutes. The single-motor model gets a slightly smaller 88.0-kWh battery pack, and its charging speeds peak at 300 kW.Volvo’s new flagship sedan, er, hatchback can now be ordered in much of Europe, though we’ll have to wait a while longer before it becomes available in the United States. Volvo says other markets will add the ES90 later this year and into 2026. More on the ES90Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL is an even longer version of the already huge Escalade IQ and the equivalent of the gas-powered Escalade ESV.The IQL features an extra 4.4 inches of third-row legroom and an extra six cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row.The Escalade IQL also wears a more upright rear end with a unique C-pillar design, and the electric SUV will start at $132,695.We first learned Cadillac was working on an Escalade IQL at last year’s Chicago auto show, a logical move since the gas-powered Escalade SUV already comes with a long-wheelbase Escalade ESV variant. Now we have full details on the 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL, which is, as expected, a more capacious version of the already ginormous electric full-size luxury SUV.A Bigger Box Affords More SpaceThe Escalade IQL looks nearly identical to its slightly smaller—but certainly not small—sibling, measuring 4.2 inches longer from nose to tail. The IQL wears unique bodywork at the rear, however, with a more upright triangular C-pillar decorated by the downward-swooping window trim. The D-pillar is also more vertical, and there is a full window between the two rear-most pillars, instead of the thick panel that hampers visibility at the rear of the standard IQ. Inside, the longer body means that the third row gains an extra 4.4 inches of legroom, one inch of additional headroom, and almost another full inch of shoulder room. There is also marginally more headroom and legroom for second-row occupants. The IQL can seat up to seven passengers and features a power-folding third row that can lie completely flat.Cargo volume has also improved, with the 75 cubic feet available with the third row stowed up by six cubes over the standard Escalade IQ. With the third row up, cargo capacity is only up by about one cubic foot. Of course, Escalade IQL customers also have access to the 12 cubes of storage space in the frunk.The rest of the cabin mirrors the smaller Escalade IQ, with a majestic 55-inch display that spans the entire dashboard. There’s a standard 21-speaker AKG sound system, but if that’s not enough for you, there’s an optional 38-speaker version. And for those who can never have too many speakers, the Executive Second Row package brings a whopping 42 speakers. That package, which is also available on the IQ, includes 12.6-inch screens for each second-row passenger, dual wireless phone-charging pads, and stowable tray tables. The package also equips the 14-way power-adjustable rear seats with heat, ventilation, and massage functions, as well as headrest speakers.Same Beastly PowertrainThe powertrain is unchanged from the standard Escalade IQ, producing an absurd 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque from a pair of electric motors, allowing the electric behemoth to blast from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 4.7 seconds. The IQL uses the same 205.0-kWh battery as the IQ, and Cadillac estimates the same 460-mile range despite the added length. Cadillac also claims the IQL can add 116 miles of range in 10 minutes when connected to a DC fast-charger. At 7500 pounds, the IQL’s towing capacity is 500 pounds less than the standard Escalade IQ. Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driver-assistance system, comes standard on all trims. The IQL is also capable of bi-directional charging, and when equipped with the GM Energy V2H Bundle, the EV SUV can send power back to a person’s home when needed.Cadillac says production of the Escalade IQL will begin in the middle of this year. Four trims will be offered: Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury, and Premium Sport. Pricing will start at $132,695, about $3K more than the smaller Escalade IQ. It will be built at the same Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly—also known as Factory Zero—where the standard Escalade IQ is put together.More on the Escalade LineupCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More