Evelyn Reynolds

From the July/August 2023 issue of Car and Driver.Farewell tours are gold mines. Nearly every part of the Chrysler 300C is a decade old or more, but before the 300 goes away for good, parent company Stellantis is putting it all back out there for one last blowout.More on the 300CThe 1998 Chronos show car gave us a very early preview, but a more production-ready concept, badged 300C, appeared in 2003. When the first generation went on sale in early 2004, Ralph Gilles’s styling efforts gave this long, low sedan so much presence that many folks likened it to a baby Bentley. It rode atop Chrysler’s LX platform, which cribbed a lot from then-partner Mercedes-Benz. The 300’s lower trims came with a 2.7- or 3.5-liter V-6, the 300C picked up a 340-hp 5.7-liter V-8, and the range-topping SRT-8 that arrived the following year packed a 425-hp 6.1-liter Hemi. The 300’s styling, interior comfort, and driving dynamics earned it 10Best honors in 2005 and 2006.Michael Simari|Car and DriverMichael Simari|Car and DriverThe second generation of the 300 debuted in 2011, with smoothed-over, if less distinctive, aesthetics. The 3.6-liter V-6 became the base six-cylinder, with higher trims offering either a 5.7-liter or, come 2012, a 6.4-liter V-8. A mild facelift arrived for the 2015 model year, with new safety tech, better infotainment, and an eight-speed automatic, while the SRT was dropped.And then it sat—until now.The 6.4-liter returns to the 300C in a limited run of just 2000 units in the United States and 200 in Canada. The model’s V-8 is shared with other Mopar performance nameplates and produces 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, all of which is shipped rearward via an eight-speed automatic. HIGHS: Riotous tail-happy antics, mean-as-ever exhaust note, a fitting finale for the 300. The C stands apart from the pack with a specific tricolor badge, 20-inch wheels wrapped in all-season tires, black exhaust tips, and a lot of dark-chrome accents across the body. Red four-piston Brembo calipers squeeze 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors, while a limited-slip rear differential with a 3.09:1 final-drive ratio helps manage (or overwhelm) traction out back. Inside are black Laguna leather seats with embossed logos up front, silver stitching, an odd smattering of carbon fiber, and a 19-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system.The two most character-defining parts of the 300C are the 3.09:1 rear end and the all-season tires. Managing all that twist is definitely too much to ask of the 245/45ZR-20 Goodyear Eagle RS-A2s. Even on dry pavement, light throttle application delivers a wallop of torque and wheelspin that the traction control lets fly for a bit before shutting it down. The same goes for the stability control, which is as overworked as a Dickensian school-age coal miner and will happily let the tail out for a few seconds at a time.LOWS: Hilariously narrow all-season tires, limited to just 2200 examples, the end of an era.The 300C isn’t breaking records, but it still provides plenty of entertainment, reaching 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and crossing the quarter-mile in 12.8 seconds at 114 mph. The all-seasons didn’t help on the skidpad, where we recorded an easily achieved 0.87 g with hints of understeer; some family sedans can push into the 0.90-g range these days.Chrysler unlocked a couple of unique achievements with the 300C. At wide-open throttle, we recorded 88 decibels, an absolute roar that tops even the Lamborghini Urus Performante. And this long, angry barge is also the only car in recent memory that can use every bit of its 160-mph speedometer.There is no better way to go out than in a tire-roasting blaze of glory, and the 2023 Chrysler 300C does exactly that. This car is a rubber-melting, hard-charging, and sharp-barking piece of tried-and-true Detroit attitude. As Stellantis embraces its electric future, the 300C will remain on our minds for a long, long time.What the Hellcat? We’ve always wondered why Chrysler never went full bat-guano and threw Dodge’s Hellcat supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 under the 300’s hood. “The Hellcat simply doesn’t fit Chrysler brand positioning,” a rep for Chrysler told us. “Chrysler is not the extreme performance brand. A refined combination of power and luxury is the heart of the 300’s soul.” Thankfully, that hasn’t stopped owners from making it happen. Since the LX platform supports the Challenger, the Charger, and the 300, the powertrain components are an easy swap. Arrow pointing downArrow pointing downSpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Chrysler 300CVehicle Type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $56,595/$56,595
ENGINEpushrod 16-valve V-8, iron block and aluminum head, port fuel injectionDisplacement: 392 in3, 6417 cm3Power: 485 hp @ 6100 rpmTorque: 475 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm 
TRANSMISSION8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilinkBrakes, F/R: 14.2-in vented disc/13.8-in vented discTires: Goodyear Eagle RS-A2245/45ZR-20 99Y M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 120.0 inLength: 198.6 inWidth: 74.9 inHeight: 58.7 inPassenger Volume, F/R: 56/51 ft3Trunk Volume: 16 ft3Curb Weight: 4467 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.4 sec100 mph: 9.8 sec1/4-Mile: 12.8 sec @ 114 mph130 mph: 17.1 sec150 mph: 25.7 secResults above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.9 secTop Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.3 secTop Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.8 secTop Speed (mfr’s claim): 160 mphBraking, 70–0 mph: 172 ftBraking, 100–0 mph: 342 ftRoadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.87 g 
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 18 mpg75-mph Highway Driving: 22 mpg75-mph Highway Range: 400 mi 
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 18/15/24 mpg 
C/D TESTING EXPLAINEDSenior EditorCars are Andrew Krok’s jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree. More

From the June 1987 issue of Car and Driver.Chrysler has been dining on delicacies from Mitsubishi so long, it hardly even bothers to cook anymore. For a decade and a half, the corporation’s appetite for small cars and trucks has been sated large­ly by its Japanese trading partner. It was only natural, then, for Chrysler to scan the Mitsubishi menu when it got hungry for a new four-wheel-drive utility vehicle. When the Chrysler guys got down to “Montero,” they called Mitsubishi and said, “Guess who’s coming to dinner?”Chrysler seized on the Montero be­cause the corporation’s lineup looked like a gap-toothed grin. Missing from the Dodge brigade was anything like the Jeep Wrangler, the Suzuki Samurai, or the Ford Bronco II. Such vehicles represent the small, boxy end of the off-roader market—rigs that are less bulky than even the mid-size Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and the Jeep Cherokee. Mitsubishi’s Montero fits this group to a T. Those of you who like four-wheel en­counters of the dirt kind will recall that Mitsubishi introduced the Montero to the U.S. market in 1983. The new Dodge Raider is the Montero’s twin: it’s a Japa­nese execution of the Bronco II’s basic theme, and it’s virtually the same size as the Ford, give or take an inch or two in the critical dimensions. The Raider’s layout follows the class blueprint closely. Its construction is body-on-frame. Its suspension consists of con­trol arms and torsion ban up front and a rigid axle and leaf springs in the rear. The well-known Mitsubishi 2.6-liter four-cylin­der (complete with balance shafts) sends its 109 horsepower through either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic trans­mission. Part-time 4wd, a two-speed transfer case, and automatically locking front hubs are standard equipment. More Archive SUVsSo far, the Raider could be Anytruck, 4wd division. The Japanese flavor comes from its long list of standard features and the way it goes about its job. There are some differences, however, between the Dodge and Mitsubishi ways of doing busi­ness off-road.The Montero comes into this world in either base or Sport guise, but the Raider is a synthesis of the two. The Dodge gets its clothes from the base Montero. All of its trim—including the grille, moldings, mirrors, and bumpers—is black. The low-key look is fine by us, but California four-by aficionados will probably lapse into chrome withdrawal. From the Montero Sport the Raider gets full carpeting, cloth seats, the automatically locking front hubs, and, in the center of the dash, an auxiliary gauge panel, which includes an inclinometer. Similar to an aircraft’s artifi­cial-horizon indicator, the inclinometer measures the angle of grades and warns of impending tip-over; its readings are trustworthy, however, only when the Raider is stationary. A tach, a tilt wheel, a tailgate-mounted spare tire, front and rear skid plates, spoker wheels, and tinted glass are also standard. Despite today’s stronger yen, the Raid­er is a good value. You get a lot of stuff here for not much money. Our red test Raider was decked out to the gunwales but didn’t cost a second mortgage. Even with A/C, a rear bench seat, an off-road package (which includes a neat, indepen­dently suspended driver’s seat), and more, the tab came to only $12,212. That amount of cash delivers a relative­ly civilized four-by-four, but nothing you’d ever confuse with a passenger car. Various sedans from Honda, Toyota, Audi, and other makers integrate 4wd so well that you might never guess they have four paws available for locomotion. The Raider couldn’t fool you on a bet. From its slab sides to its tall-in-the-saddle driving position, it’s pure truck. In terms of performance, the Raider has enough to get by, but none to spare. With 3370 pounds of road-hugging weight to haul around, the big four has its hands full getting to 60 mph in less than sixteen sec­onds. You can keep up with traffic without much strain and cruise comfortably at 70 to 75 mph, but thrills are not included. Nor does the Raider win any gold stars for ride and handling. For vehicles in this class, it’s strictly mid-pack. The six-foot-tall body tips precariously in hard cornering, easily pegging the inclinometer. Part­ly because of its short wheelbase (92.5 inches), the Raider hobbyhorses over most bumps. At least the suspended driv­er’s seat helps soften the jolts. View PhotosDial-a-physique: The suspended driver’s seat can accommodate pilots from mini to massive.Dick Kelley|Car and DriverMitsubishi deserves praise for including this ingenious perch. Similar to the seats in long-haul semis, it’s suspended from below, with coil springs and a hydraulic damper to absorb vertical loads. You can set the springs to handle physiques rang­ing from 125 pounds to more than 225, or you can lock the suspension system down if you so desire. We devoted most of our time with the Raider to evaluating its on-road behavior, because the civilized world is where most Raiders will roll up most of their miles. But what of the mudslinger living in its soul? We also spent some time exploring unpaved territory, and here the Raider is more in its element. Its Jeep-like fea­tures—8.3 inches of ground clearance, fat mud-and-snow tires, all-wheel drive, and skid plates—give you a sense of invincibil­ity that makes you go looking for trouble over the next hill. Like most of its compe­tition, the Raider should be nearly unstop­pable if driven intelligently. Looked at this way, the Raider basks in a much more flattering light. For a rough-and-tumble off-road rig, it’s practically ur­bane. Its interior is almost luxurious for a vehicle in the mountain-goat division, its gearbox snicks with Japanese precision, and its stately coachwork can get by, more or less, in polite society. Ultimately, the goodness of a vehicle like the Dodge Raider is in the eye of the beholder. If, when you gaze into its paint, you see yourself in an Eddie Bauer down jacket and hiking boots, you may be on to something. On the other hand, if your re­flection is wearing a business suit, look elsewhere.Arrow pointing downArrow pointing downSpecificationsSpecifications
1987 Dodge RaiderVehicle Type: front-engine, rear/4-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 3-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $10,542/$12,212Options: air conditioning, $719; rear seat, $358; off-road package, $251; AM/FM-stereo radio, $170; rear wiper/washer, $108; rear defroster, $34; spare-tire cover, $30
ENGINESOHC inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 156 in3, 2555 cm3Power: 109 hp @ 5000 rpmTorque: 142 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm 
TRANSMISSION5-speed manual
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/rigid axleBrakes, F/R: 10.0-in vented disc/10.0-in drumTires: Bridgestone Desert DuelerP225/75R-15 M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 92.5 inLength: 157.3 inWidth: 66.1 inHeight: 72.8 inPassenger Volume, F/R: 46/35 ft3Cargo Volume: 14 ft3Curb Weight: 3370 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS30 mph: 4.1 sec60 mph: 15.3 sec1/4-Mile: 19.8 sec @ 66 mph80 mph: 38.1 secTop Gear, 30–50 mph: 12.9 secTop Gear, 50–70 mph: 17.7 secTop Speed: 86 mphBraking, 70–0 mph: 204 ftRoadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.68 g 
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 14 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMYCity/Highway: 17/20 mpg 
C/D TESTING EXPLAINEDDirector, Buyer’s GuideRich Ceppos has evaluated automobiles and automotive technology during a career that has encompassed 10 years at General Motors, two stints at Car and Driver totaling 19 years, and thousands of miles logged in racing cars. He was in music school when he realized what he really wanted to do in life and, somehow, it’s worked out. In between his two C/D postings he served as executive editor of Automobile Magazine; was an executive vice president at Campbell Marketing & Communications; worked in GM’s product-development area; and became publisher of Autoweek. He has raced continuously since college, held SCCA and IMSA pro racing licenses, and has competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona. He currently ministers to a 1999 Miata and a 1965 Corvette convertible and appreciates that none of his younger colleagues have yet uttered “Okay, Boomer” when he tells one of his stories about the crazy old days at C/D. More

From the May 1991 issue of Car and Driver.For at least twenty years, our better­-heeled readers have said to us, “If you could just show me an American car that compares to a BMW or a Mercedes, I’d buy it.” Well, ladies and gentlemen, draw your bill­folds; Cadillac’s new Seville is here.This newest Cadillac, the fourth incar­nation of the Seville, which dates to the 1976 model year, does not look, feel, ride, or handle like any Cadillac we’ve ever driven. Based on our preview ride, this newest luxury car from the country’s luxury-car sales leader ranks as the most satisfying car we’ve seen from an Ameri­can manufacturer since the Lincoln Mark VII LSC.We will attempt to contain our enthusiasm sufficiently to tell you about this car, first seen on these pages in spy­-photo form in February of 1990 and seen live for the first time at the Detroit auto show this past January. We knew then that a star had risen in the east (Cadillac’s Hamtramck assembly plant lies east of the GM building), but we did not know until our preview ride in February how brightly this star shone. More Cadillac Reviews From the ArchiveThe overwhelming first impression of this car is its obvious American heritage. And for once this heritage has been given an overlay of dignity and restraint, free of whitewalls, free of bogus wire wheels. Not only does it look like a Cadillac, it looks like a Cadillac designed for and by persons of taste. Quietly but firmly, the Seville says “refinement.” Any moneyed person who isn’t in Manuel Noriega’s phone book or the music business would look at home in this car. And imagine this: the car that you see on these pages is the glitz model, the only prototype we judged camera-ready. The car we drove was also a prototype, a white Seville Touring Sedan (STS) with black tape and scratches all over it but equipped with a fully sorted powertrain. The STS version is the one built for serious drivers (young rich persons). The other, called simply the Seville, is intended for the tra­ditional buyer (old rich persons). Both Sevilles are as easy on the eyes as the lunch crowd at Spago and differ ex­ternally only in a mild application of lower body cladding on the sides, more aero­dynamic front and rear bumper fascias, breakaway rear-view mirrors, a body-colored grille, and the absence of a stand-up hood ornament on the STS (the Cadillac wreath and shield moves to the grille where God intended it to be). This is real progress. How many times have we seen the attraction of a decent automobile di­minished by a stablemate that looked as if it came from the Tammy Faye Bakker School of Design? Not here. Not by a long eyelash. Richard Ruzzin, head of Cadillac’s ex­terior design studio and design chief for the Seville, says, “The design was an emotional process. Everyone in the stu­dio wanted to make a statement and posi­tion Cadillac where it belongs.” Where Cadillac belongs, in the mind of Ruzzin and every other Cadillac executive, is of course at the top of the luxury-car heap. We’ll agree that the Seville exterior fits right in at that altitude. Best of all, even though this car is sure to appeal to im­port owners who are closet chauvinists, it does not qualify for the next BMW clon­ing contest. But what about the interior? How many times in recent decades have we liked what we saw, opened its door, and gagged at the sight of oddly shaped in­struments, velour upholstery that re­minded us of brothel wallpaper, and swollen seats that looked like escapees from the International House of Sofas? We cannot tell you how pleased we are to report that the STS interior ranks with the best the world has to offer (which, just to keep you alert and confused, is the one that you see here; inside our proto­type Seville was an STS trying to get out). The STS interior feels as good as it looks. You sit in big leather bucket seats that enfold you without inducing claus­trophobia and that adjust in endless ways by means of buttons and levers placed within easy reach. Best of all, under seri­ous driving pressure, you remain secure­ly in place, your driving position unmoved by lateral forces. The stacked-box instruments have gone away, replaced by a gently curved dash and analog instruments spiced up with real Zebrano wood inserts. And what, you ask, might Zebrano wood be? Beats us, but it looks good and adds just the right note of luxury to the tasteful passenger compartment. The front-drive Seville powertrain consists of two units, both familiar. The engine is Cadillac’s stout port-fuel­-injected 4.9-liter V-8, mounted trans­versely, which develops 200 horsepower at 4100 rpm and 275 pound-feet of torque at 3000 rpm. It has an aluminum block and cast-iron heads, and it uses premium unleaded fuel. Preliminary EPA estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city, 26 mpg highway. This V-8 is the ulti­mate refinement of Cadillac’s best pushrod engine, and it will be replaced by the long-awaited overhead-cam four­-valve-per-cylinder Northstar V-8, proba­bly for the 1994 model year. The transaxle is the Hydra-matic AT60-E, an automatic four-speed with a viscous torque-converter clutch that shifts at the behest of carefully tweaked electronic wizardry. Under way, you must try very hard indeed to catch this unit at work. The shifting and power application are seamless, silent, and highly satisfying. This is a major-league powertrain in all respects. The Seville weighs approximately 3700 pounds and feels every ounce of it. This feeling of heft, however, is not out of place in a full-size luxury car and does not seem to interfere in any way with the handling. The car is heavier than its predecessor, which had the same powertrain, and is therefore a tick slower. Cadillac estimates a 0-to-60-mph time of 9.0 seconds in the new car, as opposed to 8.5 in the old one. The Seville will be electronically governed to a top speed of 112 mph, but the STS can attain 130, ac­cording to the preliminary specifications sheet. However, we learned of one trial at the hands of a Cadillac engineer in which it achieved 118 mph. Our full road test in a few months will solve this minor mystery. The new Seville is also longer than last year’s model—by almost fourteen inches—and is wider by just over three inches. Its overall length of 204.3 inches makes it about the same size as the origi­nal 1976 Seville. The wheelbase has been lengthened a full three inches, from 108 to 111 inches, and these inches have been used to remove the closed-in feel­ing that characterized the previous Seville’s rear seat. The platform is that of the previous Seville, which is to say the GM E-body, but its suspension has been retuned to compensate for the added length and mass and the big 225/60R-16 Goodyear GA radials. “Customers told us that it is essential that a world-class sedan have a comfort­able back seat,” a Cadillac executive told us, renewing our flagging faith in con­sumer research. The Seville rear seat, shaped like two buckets, will hold two large persons in perfect comfort and three persons in adequate comfort. The driving experience, in a word, is excellent. Not only does the STS deliver the interior silence of a Lexus LS400, it also gifts the driver with the solid, no-flex feeling of security that Daimler-Benz taught us about. There’s no sense of the vague floppiness that has for so long characterized American-built large cars. The STS’s quiet, helped in no small part by the Goodyear Eagle GAs (Michelins are standard on the Seville), should not be interpreted as numbness. There’s iso­lation from the noise and harshness, but the driver retains a warm relationship with the road surface. We drove the STS in the high country of Arizona, where the altitude sapped some of the engine’s power. The car’s handling was something else again. In a vigorous workout on some tight, twis­ty mountain roads, the STS not only be­haved like a thoroughbred, but it did so with an absolute minimum of tire squeal. You are conscious of the car’s weight, naturally, but the neutrality of the sus­pension activity keeps this a conscious­ness and not a concern. Did we find anything that displeased us? Yes. To build a car this fine and in­stall carpeting that has enough nylon in it to cause a sparkle would not have been our way. And we think that the wiper/turn indicator/cruise control stalk is clunkier than it need be. Those, how­ever, are nitpicks of the tiniest, meanest order. The rest of the car is so good that we feel bad about bringing them up. We must applaud Cadillac for what it has done: nothing short of building a car that would look at home in front of any grand hotel or embassy in the world and which should reward the driver and pas­senger with a world-class driving experi­ence on any highway on the planet.Bully!Arrow pointing downArrow pointing downSpecificationsSpecifications
1992 Cadillac SevilleVehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE (EST.)Base: $37,000 (STS: $40,000)
ENGINE
V-8, aluminum block and iron heads, port fuel injectionDisplacement: 299 in3, 4893 cm3Power: 200 hp @ 4100 rpmTorque: 275 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm 
TRANSMISSION4-speed automatic
CHASSISSuspension, F/R: strut/strutBrakes, F/R: 10.3-in vented disc/10.2-in discTires: Michelin XGT4 (STS: Goodyear Eagle GA)P225/60HR-16
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 111.0 inLength: 204.3 inWidth: 74.3 inHeight: 53.9 inPassenger Volume, F/R: 56/50 ft3Trunk Volume: 16 ft3Curb Weight (mfr’s est): 3650 lb (STS: 3720 lb)
MANUFACTURER’S PERFORMANCE RATINGS
60 mph: 9.0 secTop Speed: 112 mph (STS: 130 mph)
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)City/Highway: 16/26 mpgContributing EditorWilliam Jeanes is a former editor-in-chief and publisher of Car and Driver. He and his wife, Susan, a former art director at Car and Driver, are now living in Madison, Mississippi. More

From the July/August 2023 issue of Car and Driver.Let’s pretend the letter M doesn’t exist. In some alternate universe, where the alphabet skips right from L to N, this confounding new SUV would simply be called the X. That would be a pretty good name. With X, you’ve got some intrigue: X-Men, X-Files, X Games. Whereas, for BMW, the letter M is freighted with expectation. When you see that rakish M flanked by tricolor stripes, you expect scalding performance, restrained but sporty styling, and visceral responses. You might not always get all of that, but it’s what the badge promises. So what do we make of an M-branded 6054-pound SUV with fat black billboard stripes and standard throw pillows on the rear seats? The last time we saw an XM this bizarre, it had hydropneumatic dampers and was a Citroën. The XM is BMW’s first M-exclusive model since the original M1, and for a moment, it held the title of most powerful production BMW ever (that superlative now belongs to its sibling, the 738-hp XM Label Red). More on the BMW XMOn the internal-combustion side, the XM gets a 483-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 with a cross-bank exhaust manifold that makes it sound like an off-world chain saw felling trees across the Kepler exoplanets. Downstream from that prime mover, the torque converter is replaced by a wet clutch and a 194-hp electric motor that is, like a Taylor Swift audience, permanently excited. The motor makes 207 pound-feet of torque but has its own gearing to multiply that number to 332 pound-feet at the input to the eight-speed automatic transmission. All told, the XM musters 644 horsepower and 590 pound-feet. That would be more impressive if there weren’t 19 other companies offering vehicles with more horsepower than that. And even in terms of intramural bragging rights, the XM’s horsepower advantage over other BMWs is essentially canceled by its weight. The X7 M60i rides on the same 122.2-inch wheelbase as the XM but offers three rows of seating to the XM’s two rows and weighs 216 pounds less than the flashy hybrid. The XM will win a drag race, hitting 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, but the X7 is a mere 0.4 second behind. And the X7 M60i’s base price is just beyond $104,000, while the XM starts at $159,995. Order the Bowers & Wilkins sound system ($3400), Silverstone and Vintage Coffee leather interior ($2500), and the M Driver’s package ($2500), and you’ve pretty much run the table on options and arrived at our as-tested price of $168,395.HIGHS: Useful EV range and power, decadent interior, 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.We’re guessing that for the XM’s intended audience, that number isn’t shocking or dissuading—rather more like a financial moat ensuring exclusivity from the X5-driving hoi polloi. As much as it’s an SUV, the XM is a declaration of decadence. It’s Fashion Week in Milan and Art Basel in Miami, a piece of sculpture you’re not meant to understand right away or possibly ever. Consider the textured headliner flanked by fiber-optic light guides and 100 LEDs: It’s awash with softly pulsing blue light when the car is plugged in and sends the red and blue hues of the M logo streaking toward the back of the car on startup, a living organism riding along above you. The blocky 3-D BMW logo in the center of the 23-inch wheels looks like some kind of Lego piece, snapped on as the final step. The charging cable lives in a custom duffel bag—leather and quilted fabric with a gold-colored zipper. The “M Lounge” rear seats include those throw pillows, which you’ll want to store securely before any Nürburgring record attempts. The controversial grille is proudly outlined in LEDs, and the optional NightGold metallic trim seems inspired by the stripe on Starsky and Hutch’s Gran Torino. As you may have realized by now, the XM doesn’t do subtle.Marc Urbano|Car and DriverMarc Urbano|Car and DriverWell, except maybe when it’s in electric mode. Thanks to its 19.2-kWh battery—which enables 29 miles of range at 75 mph—and relatively robust electric motor, the XM is perfectly capable of running around town as an EV. But it always feels a bit wretched to toggle into EV mode and know you’ve got a 483-hp V-8 that’s just catching a ride. Much more satisfying to push one of the red M buttons on the steering wheel and cue all the available horsepower. In EV mode, 87 mph constitutes top speed. With the V-8 joining the party, 90 mph is yours in 6.8 seconds. So yes, the XM is quick, but an 11.7-second quarter-mile at 119 mph places it in arrears of its electric counterpart, the iX M60, which dispatches that task in 11.5 seconds at 120 mph. And, should you neglect to charge the XM, its EPA-estimated 46 MPGe combined drops to a mere 14 mpg for gasoline only.LOWS: Already ceded its title of most powerful BMW ever, polarizing style, disjointed driving experience.Moreover, the XM driving experience is discombobulated in a way peculiar to this particular hybrid architecture. “This reminds me of a Jeep Wrangler 4xe” is not something you want to think while helming a $160K BMW, but the XM suffers from the same flummoxed drivetrain behavior as the Jeep, as the two share a similar ZF electrified eight-speed transmission. There’s just too much going on. In this case, we have a V-8 with turbos that are on boost or not, a wet clutch, an electric motor with its own gearing, and then an eight-speed automatic transmission sending power onward to all four wheels—via another electronically controlled clutch to manage torque front to rear and an M Sport rear differential handling torque distribution side to side. There’s an abruptness to the shifts and throttle response that betrays the complexity of the setup, and sometimes it seems like there’s an estrangement between the computers running these disparate systems. For instance, we blundered into the rev limiter more than once when using the shift paddles because the XM took so long to consider the ramifications of an upshift. Other times, it would upshift promptly, so there’s no adjusting your timing. The transmission gives you fastballs and change-ups, and an occasional slider.The XM’s suspension tuning is better, with the softest mode delivering a decent ride despite the steel springs and gigantic wheels. The 48-volt active anti-roll bars, which disconnect on straights, are likely a big boon to the ride, and rear-axle steering enables preternatural agility at parking speeds. Put the dampers in Sport or Sport Plus mode, though, and the suspension goes all brittle, certainly more than is warranted for a vehicle that posts a 0.92-g skidpad number with the available 22-inch Pirelli P Zero PZ4 summer rubber. It seems like the confusion over the XM’s mission extends to BMW itself. The company probably would’ve been better off embracing the rolling-lounge vibe and bolting in some cushy air springs. And if that seems anathema to the M division ethos, so are throw pillows and a 6054-pound curb weight.VERDICT: An M car aimed at a very specific audience that is not us.To make sense of the XM, you’ve got to understand that, despite its name, it’s not aimed at enthusiasts. It’s an art object with a respectable gauze of performance, Damien Hirst does launch control. BMW still makes M cars that will rearrange your internal organs on a racetrack and keep a low profile on the street, but this isn’t one of them. Thankfully, this isn’t a zero-sum game—the manual-transmission M3 didn’t need to die so that the XM could live. So maybe let’s appreciate the commitment to aggressive weirdness that results in a machine like this while simultaneously hoping it doesn’t represent a philosophical sea change. The world already has one Citroën, and that’s probably enough.Arrow pointing downArrow pointing downSpecificationsSpecifications
2023 BMW XMVehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $159,995/$168,395Options: Bowers & Wilkins stereo, $3400; M Driver’s package, $2500; Silverstone and Vintage Coffee leather interior, $2500 
POWERTRAINtwin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve 4.4-liter V-8, 483 hp, 479 lb-ft + AC motor, 194 hp, 207 lb-ft (combined output: 644 hp, 590 lb-ft; 19.2-kWh lithium-ion; 7.4-kW onboard charger)Transmission: 8-speed automatic 
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilinkBrakes, F/R: 16.5-in vented disc/15.7-in vented discTires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 PNCSF: 275/40R-22 107Y I ★R: 315/35R-22 111Y I ★
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 122.2 inLength: 201.2 inWidth: 78.9 inHeight: 69.1 inPassenger Volume, F/R: 57/52 ft3Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 64/19 ft3Curb Weight: 6054 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.4 sec100 mph: 8.2 sec1/4-Mile: 11.7 sec @ 119 mph160 mph: 25.4 secResults above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.9 secTop Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.6 secTop Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 secTop Speed (mfr’s claim): 168 mphBraking, 70–0 mph: 153 ftBraking, 100–0 mph: 303 ftRoadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.92 g 
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 16 MPGe75-mph Highway Driving, EV/Hybrid Mode: 49 MPGe/20 mpg75-mph Highway Range, EV/Hybrid mode: 29/360 mi 
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 14/12/17 mpgCombined Gasoline + Electricity: 46 MPGeEV Range: 31 mi 
C/D TESTING EXPLAINEDSenior EditorEzra Dyer is a Car and Driver senior editor and columnist. He’s now based in North Carolina but still remembers how to turn right. He owns a 2009 GEM e4 and once drove 206 mph. Those facts are mutually exclusive. More

Given the precision required to drive on a racetrack, small tweaks can make a big difference. Toyota is hoping that a new Performance package for the 2024 GR86 sports car will appeal to owners who regularly bring their cars to track days and autocross events. This new upgrade, which will also be offered as a retrofit for existing 2022 and 2023 models, includes larger brakes and upgraded Sachs dampers that are meant to improve the rear-wheel-drive coupe’s responses.We recently got a chance to run some laps in the GR86 with this package in new-for-2024 Trueno Edition form, with some back-to-back laps in a standard GR86 providing contrast. A similar package was offered on the prior-generation 86 in the TRD model added late in that car’s run.The upgraded brake rotors—measuring 12.8 inches in front and 12.4 inches in the rear—are larger by 1.2 inches and 1.0 inch, respectively, compared with the standard car. Brembo calipers—four-piston in front and two-piston in rear—clamp down on these rotors, and the pads offer more surface area as well. We felt a bit more bite from the pedal in the Performance package car, but it’s not a transformative effect. We look forward to testing the upgraded GR86 at our Lightning Lap event, as we previously found the stock brakes in both the GR86 and its Subaru BRZ twin to be a weakness after repeated laps. (It’s important to note that the brake fluid you use can make a difference, too, as the stock BRZ’s brakes exhibited less fade with high-temp brake fluid.)More on the GR86The effect of the Sachs dampers is also subtle, and Toyota says that these are meant to improve stability rather than boost stiffness over stock. We didn’t get a chance to drive the 2024 GR86 on public roads yet, but we doubt there’s much of a difference in the Performance pack’s ride quality. Rest assured that the upgraded chassis does nothing to dilute or disrupt the playful nature of the GR86, and we had plenty of fun ripping the little coupe around.Toyota is offering this package as a dealer-installed option. It’ll come standard on the limited-run Trueno Edition, which has an AE86-inspired graphics package and special badges. The bigger brakes only fit with the Premium trim level’s 18-inch wheels, though, so you’ll either have to buy this more expensive trim level or source your own wheels for the Performance pack to be compatible.Existing GR86 owners who want these upgraded brakes and dampers will be able to retrofit them, and a Toyota representative told us that dealerships may even sell the parts on their own if you want to install them yourself or use a third-party shop for installation (though this would likely void the warranty). Pricing for the package isn’t out yet—and we’re curious to see if Subaru offers an equivalent upgrade for the BRZ—but on the surface, this new Performance upgrade is looking like a worthy purchase.Arrow pointing downArrow pointing downSpecificationsSpecifications
2024 Toyota GR86Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE (C/D EST)
Base, $30,000; Premium, $33,000; Trueno Edition, $38,000
ENGINE
DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 146 in3, 2387 cm3Power: 228 hp @ 7000 rpmTorque: 184 lb-ft @ 3700 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS
6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 101.4 inLength: 167.9 inWidth: 69.9 inHeight: 51.6 inPassenger Volume, F/R: 48/30 ft3Trunk Volume: 6 ft3Curb Weight (C/D est): 2850-2900 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 5.4-6.0 sec1/4-Mile: 14.0-14.7 secTop Speed: 140 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 22-25/20-21/27-31 mpgSenior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

Purebred off-road machines like the Jeep Wrangler tend to evolve on a geologic timescale, which is appropriate because the Wrangler is built to excel when driven over actual geology. It’s a “solid axles, meet solid rock,” kind of thing. It’s therefore no surprise that the mid-cycle refresh applied to the 2024 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler 4xe hasn’t changed the landscape much. In fact, we’d be surprised if you could spot the changes from 10 paces. But the changes are there, and though they’re subtle, they are meaningful nonetheless and for a range of reasons.More on the 2024 WranglerResized slotsIt starts at the front, where the vertical dimension of the slots in the grille has been shortened, with a thicker rim of body-color paint now outlining the trademark seven-slot array. On its own, this tweak would reduce airflow to the radiators, which must support powertrains including a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, the Rubicon 392’s 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, and a largely carryover 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. To compensate, the previously painted ridges between the slots have been opened up so they can admit more cooling air.This change was not made for the sake of a mere facelift. Instead, it’s a functional outgrowth of a new factory-installed Warn winch that’s now available—a first for the Wrangler. Though its lower profile has been tailored to fit the Wrangler, it nevertheless would have protruded up into the old grille’s airflow. Warn and Jeep also collaborated on small changes required to pass Jeep’s internal-performance and environmental-durability standards, including a reformulation of the winch’s internal grease. For its part, Jeep made alterations to the support structure of the front bumper. The result: a fully crash-tested, factory-installed 8000-pound Warn winch you can add to any steel-bumper-equipped Rubicon model by checking a $1995 box on the order sheet.Altered axleThough the grille ensures the standard 3.6-liter V-6’s cooling system can cope with an increased tow rating of 5000 pounds, the update that enabled that 1500-pound increase is hidden elsewhere. The Rubicon’s rear axle now employs a full-floating design instead of a semi-floating one. Rather than being one conjoined part, the rear axle shafts now “float” separately from the wheel hubs. There’s no palpable change to the Rubicon’s ride or off-road performance, but this change improves the camber stiffness, overall durability, and trail repairability of the rear axle. In addition to enabling a higher tow rating, the Rubicon’s standard “full floater” also lessens the reliability peril associated with fitting larger aftermarket tires.Willys evolvesOne of the more visible changes relates to the Willys package, which is now far more capable (not to mention expensive) than before because it has been upgraded with 33-inch Rubicon-spec BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires, rock rails, and a standard electronically locking rear differential. Wide-stance axles and the Rubicon’s high-riding fenders come along with this change, making for a considerably tougher-looking and better-performing combination than before. But that tougher, taller stance also brings both improved ground clearance and approach/departure/breakover angles. Costing some $6000 less than a Rubicon, the Willys evolves from a budget appearance package to a compelling off-road choice that’s available as a two-door with a stick shift all the way up to a four-door 4xe model.New standard touchscreenClimb inside any 2024 Wrangler to see its most obvious update: a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It’s nicely integrated into the mildly restyled dash, which includes horizontally arrayed center air-conditioning vents beneath the screen that blend into a recontoured passenger grab bar. The best part: The mondo screen is standard across the board, from the lowliest $33,690 two-door Sport up to the $89,390 (!) Rubicon 392. Built-in navigation isn’t available until you get to the Sahara model, but wireless phone mirroring and the app-based navigation it enables comes on all trims. The factory navigation system does have other advantages, including built-in Badge of Honor trail guidance and implementation of the Trails Offroad trail-library application that operates from cached data in places where cellular service is absent.We were dubious of the big screen at first because the Wrangler is, at its core, a convertible. But the display is robustly backlit, to the point where it was easy to read with the top and doors off while the sun streamed in over our shoulder. If anything, the transition from the deep shade of an underpass to full sunlight made it even more impressive. There’s also a prominent finger rest across the top and along the passenger-side edge, making it easy to brace your hand while you make selections—a boon on uneven terrain.A mix of visible and hidden changes makes the new Wrangler quieter than before. The quaint external wire antenna that used to whistle at speed and wobble when driven through brush is history, finally replaced by an in-glass windshield antenna. Meanwhile, the Premium Cabin package that comes gratis on High Altitude, Rubicon X, and Rubicon 392 models includes a windshield surround stuffed with additional insulation, as well as front side windows made from dual-pane laminated glass. The benefits of the new antenna setup were obvious, but it’ll take a sound meter and our test track to quantify the other benefits.Also inside, reengineered front seats with 12-way power adjustment—which didn’t exist previously because their controls must operate and survive when underwater, as they can be at full fording depth with the doors off—are available on the Sahara and up. The other interior change is less obvious but potentially more significant. Side-curtain rollover airbags have now been incorporated into the slim covers that conceal the rollover structure. They do have an unintentional side benefit: their slightly oblong shape makes it easier to grab onto the rollover structure to hoist yourself aboard.PHEVs for you and meBeyond that, the other sweeping significant change is the expanded availability of the 4xe plug-in-hybrid powertrain. Despite a piddling 22-mile electric range and not-great gasoline-only fuel economy, the Wrangler 4xe is the bestselling PHEV in the United States. The 4xe powertrain is also the most popular choice in the current Wrangler lineup, representing 38 percent of sales in 2023’s first quarter. That state of affairs seems set to accelerate, because the 2024 4xe lineup now includes an entry-level Sport S model for $51,790, with the off-road-focused Willys, Rubicon, and Rubicon X starting at $56,530, $62,380, and $70,880, respectively. Meanwhile, on the more civilized side, the 4xe Sahara goes for $58,640, while the loaded-to-the-gunwales High Altitude 4xe commands $68,790.Out on ragged sandstone, our 33-inch-tired 4xe Willys four-door (the Unlimited moniker was quietly retired at the end of 2022) proved the worth of this quiet and torquey powertrain as we motored silently over millions of years of nature’s jumbled handiwork. The skid plate protecting the underhanging battery pack touched down once or twice, but a gas-burning four-door Rubicon may have done likewise because the two models’ ground clearance and breakover-angle specs almost exactly match. The 2024 update includes many welcome convenience, comfort, and safety upgrades, but the bottom-line off-road experience hasn’t suffered one bit. In fact, things are significantly better from where we sit, in a vastly improved Willys that’s available as a gas-fed model or with the popular 4xe powertrain.Arrow pointing downArrow pointing downSpecificationsSpecifications
2024 Jeep WranglerVehicle Type: front-engine, rear/4-wheel-drive, 2- or 5-passenger, 2- or 4-door convertible
PRICE
Base: Sport/Sport S/Willys 2-door, $33,690; Sport/Sport S/Willys 4-door, $37,690; Rubicon/Rubicon X 2-door, $47,190; Sahara 4-door, $49,620; Rubicon/Rubicon X 4-door, $51,190; Sport S 4xe, $51,790; Willys 4xe, $56,530; Sahara 4xe, $58,640; Rubicon/Rubicon X 4xe, $62,380; High Altitude 4xe, $68,790; Rubicon 392, $89,390
POWERTRAINS
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 270 hp, 295 lb-ft; DOHC 24-valve 3.6-liter V-6, 285 hp, 260 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 270 hp, 295 lb-ft + AC motor, 134 hp, 181 lb-ft (combined output: 375 hp, 470 lb-ft; 14.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack (C/D est); 7.2-kW onboard charger); pushrod 16-valve 6.4-liter V-8, 470 hp, 470 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONS
6-speed manual, 8-speed automatic 
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 96.8–118.4 inLength: 166.8–192.5 inWidth: 73.9–79.3 inHeight: 73.6–75.5 inPassenger Volume, F/R: 54–57/45–52 ft3Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 67–72/28–32 ft3Curb Weight (C/D est): 4050–5300 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 4.0–7.5 sec1/4-Mile: 12.5–15.5 secTop Speed: 97–112 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 14–21/13–20/16–21 mpg4xe Combined Gasoline + Electricity: 49 MPGe4xe EV Range: 22 miTechnical EditorDan Edmunds was born into the world of automobiles, but not how you might think. His father was a retired racing driver who opened Autoresearch, a race-car-building shop, where Dan cut his teeth as a metal fabricator. Engineering school followed, then SCCA Showroom Stock racing, and that combination landed him suspension development jobs at two different automakers. His writing career began when he was picked up by Edmunds.com (no relation) to build a testing department. More

Wagons are a hard sell in the U.S. It isn’t because most people want an SUV (although they do). Nor is it that the sight of a longroof triggers PTSD from years of sibling abuse in the side-facing third row of Dad’s Country Squire (although it can). It’s that the market doesn’t make sense. Take the Audi RS6 Avant. It and the A6 Allroad launched for 2021, and the nearly one-third pricier RS6 outsells the A6. Avants, past and futureThey’re a hardcore bunch, those wagon buyers. And while the RS6 is wonderfully powerful and dynamically competent, it was a little too quiet, a little too refined, and a little too soft. They wanted an even more sharp-edged machine. For the 2024 model year, Audi listened to its customers and rolled out the updated model, now dubbed RS6 Avant Performance. The new RS6 Performance loses some sound insulation and gains 30 horsepower and 37 pound-feet of torque. The bump for the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, now making 621 horsepower and 627 pound-feet, comes courtesy of a larger turbocharger impeller and new engine mapping. Peak boost is up to 23.2 psi from 20.3. The added boost comes with no additional lag. The hot-V engine instantly responds to throttle inputs, while the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic benefits from snappy downshifts that are claimed to be quicker. Audi engineers also reworked the Torsen limited-slip center differential to help squelch understeer. The reduction of sound insulation on the firewall removes some isolation and gives the engine a larger bark inside. If that’s still not enough, there’s an available RS sport exhaust that’s even louder. The added power should be enough to knock the 60-mph time below the 3.0-second threshold—that won’t quite unseat the BMW M5 as quickest in the class, but the RS6 will no longer be one of the slowest. We’re talking a tenth of a second here, maybe two, but bragging rights are important. Don’t get caught up in this car’s numbers; how it feels is more important. New 22-inch Y-spoke wheels and Continental Sport Contact 7 tires cut 11 pounds versus the standard 21-inchers. And if you really want to reduce the unsprung mass, opt for the carbon-ceramic brake package, which takes nearly 17 pounds off each corner. The trade-off is a touchy brake pedal—or at least they have a learning curve we never quite mastered in our short drive in Napa Valley, but based on our experience with ceramic rotors in other VW Group cars, we think we’d acclimate to them, eventually.AudiAudiWith or without the optional brakes, the reduced unsprung mass transforms the steering from fairly muted to something with genuine feedback. The roughly 4900-pound wagon still carries its V-8 completely fore of its front axle line, and understeer is effectively restrained on a canyon blast. That is until you’re going too fast for the corner. The Continentals have lots of grip, and when stability control intervenes, it’s a gentle nudge that doesn’t kill the rhythm or make your passengers think you can’t drive. While the RS6 launched in the U.S. solely with air springs, the sportier Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) suspension quietly joined the option sheet a year later for 2022. It resists pitch and roll with hydraulics, but when an individual wheel moves, such as in a pothole, the hydraulics don’t increase compression resistance. Only when both wheels on an axle (such as during acceleration or braking) or on one side (during cornering) move in phase do the hydraulics keep the body plum. If you’re planning to track an RS6, DRC is worth the upcharge, but the stiffly sprung steel coils don’t come close to the comfort of the standard air springs. Visually speaking, the RS6 Avant Performance isn’t that different from its predecessor—the bumpers are tweaked a bit, and the exterior trim elements are now finished in matte gray. What you’ll notice more are the visual options: four different wheel finishes, three different mirror caps, three interior stitching colors, and three brake-caliper colors give plenty of combos. A Bronze Edition, limited to just 75 examples, combines bronze-colored wheels with pearl black paint that delivers a striking curb presence. It is worth noting that the mechanically identical RS7 Sportback Performance is also available, but for some reason, it’s $2000 more. Even at $126,895 for the RS6, Audi will surely sell as many as it cares to send over. But how about a moderately priced sporty wagon for the middle class? Maybe that would be too rational for this market. Arrow pointing downArrow pointing downSpecificationsSpecifications
2024 Audi RS6 Avant PerformanceVehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base: $126,895
ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injectionDisplacement: 244 in3, 3996 cm3Power: 621 hp @ 6000 rpmTorque: 627 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 115.3 inLength: 196.7 inWidth: 76.8 inHeight: 58.5-59.6 inPassenger Volume, F/R: 53/48 ft3Cargo Volume: 30 ft3Curb Weight (C/D est): 4950 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 2.9 sec100 mph: 7.5 sec1/4-Mile: 11.1 secTop Speed: 155-174 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)
Combined/City/Highway: 16/13/20 mpgExecutive EditorK.C. Colwell is Car and Driver’s executive editor, who covers new cars and technology with a keen eye for automotive nonsense and with what he considers to be great car sense, which is a humblebrag. On his first day at C/D in 2004, he was given the keys to a Porsche 911 by someone who didn’t even know if he had a driver’s license. He also is one of the drivers who set fast laps at C/D’s annual Lightning Lap track test. More

As we barrel toward an all-electric future, many EV makers have smartly concentrated on the most popular vehicle classes. There are now plenty of compact electric SUVs, but what if you desire something better suited to a large family? Three-row mid-size SUVs are the go-to choice, but the electric options are decidedly sparse and have been limited to expensive luxury brands. The 2024 Kia EV9 looks to change all of that. The EV9’s dimensions are very similar to the seemingly unassailable Telluride SUV’s, though the EV’s wheelbase is almost eight inches longer. We had the opportunity to drive a Korean-spec EV9 from Seoul to the east coast of the peninsula and back. After this first experience with Kia’s family-size EV, we anticipate it will be as successful as its gasoline-powered sibling.Related storiesThree EV powertrainsOf course, specs are vitality important here, so let’s jump in. The EV9 will be offered in three guises. The entry-level standard battery has a capacity of 76.1 kilowatt-hours and is estimated by Kia to deliver 223 miles of range. Output from the single rear motor comes to 215 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That should get the EV9 to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds or so.The Long Range models upgrade to a 99.8-kWh battery and are offered in either rear- or all-wheel-drive. The most recent information suggests that the long-range rear-drive model will deliver the same power as the standard-battery version, but range increases to 300 miles. The added weight of the larger battery slows 60-mph acceleration to around 9.2 seconds, which is comparatively pokey for a modern EV.We drove the Long Range with a second motor powering the front wheels. Combined with the rear motor, it churns out 379 horsepower and up to 516 pound-feet, although range drops to an estimated 270 miles. It should hit 60 mph in a much more respectable 5.0 seconds. EV9 initial driving impressionsKia is still finalizing how the North American models will differ from Korean-spec ones, but it’s a fair assumption we’ll get sportier tunings for the suspension and throttle mapping. Considering this is a mid-size, three-row family SUV, we really don’t see the need for a different tuning, since our K-spec EV9 was a pleasure to drive. Off the line, power delivery is as immediate as most other EVs and will easily exceed most drivers’ expectations. On the highway, the ride quality is appropriately soft while not being floaty over undulations. One-pedal driving is available by adjusting the steering-wheel paddles, and it’s easy to roll the EV9 to a complete stop smoothly. For more urgent deceleration, the brake pedal has a familiar feel and gets the job done, but you will feel the vehicle’s substantial weight shift forward. That mass factors in far less prominently on the few sections of curvy mountain roads, thanks to the underfloor battery that gives the EV9 a low center of gravity. It’s poised and very controllable when driven harder than is prudent. This instills confidence that you’ll be able to swerve around unexpected obstacles when you’re just cruising. We’re curious how the U.S.-spec EV9 will differ, but as it is, we don’t have any complaints in regard to driving. Well done, Kia.EV9 interiorIn contrast to the EV9’s attractive cyberpunk-like beveled exterior, the interior is softer and more inviting. The horizontal dash stretches from door to door and features what appears to be a single extra-wide display that extends from the instrument panel to the infotainment screen. In reality, there are two 12.3-inch screens, plus a 5.0-inch touchscreen for secondary climate controls. Despite what initially seems to be a lack of physical switchgear, there are indeed some shortcut buttons embedded in the woodgrain dash trim. You need to give those embedded buttons a serious push, but you get confirmation with a solid haptic tap back. We’re also pleased that there are levers for the temperature and fan controls just below and a volume roller dial in between. The infotainment system exhibits some slow reactions here and there but is easy to use with its numerous but well-organized menus.The cabin makes liberal use of sustainable materials, with most surfaces getting a grained-leather look. There are lots of attractive elements, and we even like the glossy plastic trim pieces, but many of the coverings we expect would be well padded are noticeably firm. As a result, they’re not as enjoyable to the touch. We’re especially thrown by the awkward van-like hump that supports the center of the dashboard. Its hard plastic shroud seems more at home in an airliner’s economy-class seatback, but we’re glad there’s at least something to interrupt an otherwise flat floor. It should keep errant objects from rolling from the passenger side to under the pedals, but we think it could have been styled to better blend in with the rest of the cabin.The front seats are firmly cushioned, and after an hour we began to feel some hard points. The synthetic upholstery looks and feels as downmarket as what you’d get in a rental-spec sedan. We’re hopeful that the U.S.-bound models will have other options and perhaps a textile covering similar to some of the interior trim elements. The driver seat has all of the necessary power adjustments to get comfortably situated, but we had to scoot the seat forward more than we preferred because the steering wheel doesn’t telescope far enough back.The seats have a recline feature with a powered leg rest for when you’re waiting while the battery recharges. There’s also a unique mesh headrest and a small lip behind it that you can hang your coat on. The floating center console has a roll-top cover, a wireless charger in the middle, and a large armrest bin. Underneath is a deep tray for larger objects. The second-row captain’s chairs are similar in appearance and comfort to the front seats. On our sample vehicle, they had heating, ventilation, and an oddly aggressive massage function. The seat vibrates and also kneads your back and bottom, but even in its lowest setting, it tended to scramble our innards. The seats slide forward and back quite a ways, but sadly we won’t get the 180-degree swivel function other markets will enjoy. A second-row bench is available and increases passenger capacity from six to seven.The twin third-row seats have enough headroom to accommodate adults, but second-row passengers will need to slide forward to give back-benchers enough legroom. Fortunately, there’s ample legroom for both rows in this configuration. Behind the third row, the cargo area can hold up to 20 cubic feet, which nearly equals the Telluride’s capacity. With both rows stowed, cargo space expands to 82 cubic feet. We’ll have to wait until later for the intermediate number that relates to stashing the third row while the second row is occupied.EV9 chargingKia fits the EV9 with an 11-kW on-board charger, which is sufficiently large to get the max out of most 240-volt Level 2 home- and public-charging setups. DC fast-charging capability, on the other hand, tops out at 230 kilowatts when plugged into 350-kW charging equipment using the CCS connector. Kia says says that should replenish the standard battery from 10 to 80 percent in only 20 minutes, with the larger long-range battery needing 24 minutes. Our earlier EV6 testing largely validated Kia’s claims in the past, so we don’t doubt their estimates here. On the whole, the 2024 Kia EV9 managed to exceed our admittedly high expectations based on the overall excellence of the smaller EV6. While some interior materials are somewhat disappointing, it doesn’t sour the overall experience. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but we would be shocked if it were anywhere as expensive as the limited batch of three-row electric SUVs already out there: the Rivian R1S, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, and the Tesla Model X. That means, when it arrives late this year, the EV9 will have few if any direct rivals. And a higher-performing GT model also is in the works, which should further set the EV9 apart.Arrow pointing downArrow pointing downSpecificationsSpecifications
2024 Kia EV9Vehicle Type: rear- or front-and-rear motor, rear- or all-wheel-drive, 6- or 7-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE (C/D EST)Base RWD, $56,000; Long-Range RWD, $63,000; Base AWD, $68,000; GT-Line, $73,000
POWERTRAINSRear Motor: permanent-magnet AC, 215 hp, 258 lb-ftOptional Front Motor: permanent-magnet AC, 215 hp, 258 lb-ftCombined Power (w/optional front motor): 379 hpCombined Torque (w/optional front motor): 442-516 lb-ft  Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 76.1 or 99.8 kWhOnboard Charger: 11.0 kWPeak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 230 kWTransmissions, F/R: direct-drive
DIMENSIONSWheelbase: 122.0 inLength: 197.4 inWidth: 77.9 inHeight: 69.1-70.1 inCargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 82/TBA/20 ft3Curb Weight (C/D est): 5000-5800 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)60 mph: 5.0-9.2 sec1/4-Mile: 13.8-16.5 secTop Speed: 115 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST)Combined/City/Highway: 79-87/85-93/70-80 MPGeRange: 223-300 miContributing EditorWith a background in design and open-wheel racing, Mark Takahashi got his foot in the door as an art director on car and motorcycle magazines. He parlayed that into a career as an automotive journalist and has reviewed thousands of vehicles over the past few decades. More