Motor News

Kia showed a hatchback version of the new K4 compact and confirmed it’s coming to the U.S.The previous-gen Forte didn’t offer a hatchback version in America.We don’t have exact timing, but Kia says the hatchback version is coming “at a later date.”Although the outgoing Kia Forte was offered only as a sedan in the U.S., many of its compact competitors—namely the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Toyota Corolla—also offer a hatchback variant. Now we know that Kia is remedying that with the new 2025 K4, as the company showed a new hatchback version at the New York auto show and confirmed that it will come to the U.S. The K4 hatch looks quite different than the sedan, at least aft of the B-pillar. It incorporates a “floating roof” design with an interestingly shaped chrome trim piece around the rear window and D-pillar. The taillights are similar to the sedan’s, with LED lighting strips stretching nearly the width of the car. The relatively upright hatchback shape looks promising for the cargo area, which should offer more space than the sedan’s trunk. We expect the hatchback to share its powertrains with the sedan, meaning it will offer a 147-hp naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four in lower trims and a 190-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four in the GT-Line Turbo model.Kia referred to the hatchback as the K4 5-door hatch, but we don’t yet know what the official name will be. The company previously used the “5” designation for models such as the Rio 5 and Forte 5, but K4 5 doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Kia didn’t provide exact timing for the K4 hatchback’s arrival, but did say it’s coming “at a later date.” The K4 sedan is scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of this year, so the hatch might arrive by the end of the year or in early 2025. Look for more details to come over the next few months.More on the K4Despite 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

Kia revealed more specs and details for the 2025 K4 compact sedan.It offers a 2.0-liter inline-four on base models and a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four on the GT-Line Turbo trim.It will go on sale in the second half of 2024 in the U.S.After showing the first images of the distinctively styled 2025 Kia K4 compact sedan, Kia is now revealing a lot more about this replacement for the Forte. The new K4 is a bit larger than its predecessor, offers new features, and comes with mostly carryover powertrains. It will hit U.S. dealerships in the second half of this year and offers five trim levels, including LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line, and GT-Line Turbo.The lower trims have the same powertrain as the Forte, a 147-hp 2.0-liter inline-four and a continuously variable automatic transmission. The GT-Line Turbo comes with a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four like the old Forte GT, but this combination is slightly different in the K4. Here, it makes 190 horsepower, a drop of 11 horsepower compared with before. The sedan also swaps the previous six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions for a conventional torque-converter eight-speed automatic; similar to the powertrain swap for the 2024 Seltos crossover. The K4 measures 185.4 inches long and 72.8 inches wide, increases of nearly three inches in length and two inches in width compared with the Forte. Kia says this provides more rear legroom than the Forte, but the trunk is slightly smaller than before. The photos of the U.S.-spec car seen here show the GT-Line trim with 18-inch wheels and other sporty-looking trim pieces. Similar to the Forte, which offered a torsion-beam rear suspension on lower models and a multilink rear suspension on the GT, Kia reserves the more sophisticated setup to the K4’s GT-Line trims.In the higher trims, the interior is particularly screen-heavy, combining a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with a 12.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen and a smaller 5.0-inch screen that operates the climate controls. Wireless smartphone mirroring is standard even on the base model, and available options include heated and ventilated front seats, a Harman Kardon audio system, a digital key that allows you to use your smartphone to unlock the car, and many driver-assistance features.Kia says the K4 will go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of this year, and we expect it to carry a slightly higher starting price than the Forte, which starts at $21,145.More on the K4Despite 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

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson receives a facelift and interior makeover that were first previewed late last year on the Europe-market version.The Tucson gets a new grille with larger illuminated elements, and the dash is now available with two 12.3-inch screens sharing a single glass panel.Hyundai’s compact SUV also offers a new column shifter, more physical buttons, and—finally—wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on higher trims.Since the current generation of the Hyundai Tucson debuted for the 2022 model year, it has easily been one of the most distinctive compact SUVs on the road—rivaled only by its corporate counterpart, the Kia Sportage. Now, Hyundai has decided it’s time to refresh the Tucson with a new mug and a revamped interior, one that boasts a set of screens that might look similar to a desktop.Let Us See Your GrilleWhile we’ve already seen the European version of the 2025 Hyundai Tucson that was revealed last November, we now have details about the U.S.-spec lineup. Along with new wheel designs as well as restyled front and rear bumpers, the facelifted Tucson refines its eye-catching grille by making the elements larger and subsequently reducing the amount of individual daytime running lights from 10 to eight. There are also new anodized aluminum exterior badges, the rear wiper blade grows three inches longer, and the XRT model gains raised bridge-like roof rails. As before, the Tucson comes with a standard 187-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. There’s also the choice of a 231-hp hybrid powertrain or a 268-hp plug-in-hybrid setup. Both variants come standard with all-wheel drive, and drivers can now choose between different levels of regenerative braking. Hyundai is also introducing three new drive-mode settings. Along with the individually adjustable My Drive, Baby mode helps provide smoother acceleration and Green Zone is aimed at optimizing the PHEV’s electric-only mode. Desktop-Like DashboardInside, the Tucson’s dashboard has been dramatically transformed. It’s now available with two 12.3-inch displays under a single glass piece, with the left screen showing the gauge cluster and the right functioning as the infotainment system. The switchgear also changes from predominantly touch-sensitive controls to more physical buttons and knobs, specifically for the stereo and the HVAC system. The old push-button shifter has been relocated from the center console to the steering column. Along with a redesigned center console featuring a new wireless charging pad, there’s now a useful storage shelf facing the front passenger. Not only does the Tucson have a new infotainment screen, but the interface itself has been revamped. Hyundai says the system has faster processing speeds and better visual, and we’re happy to learn that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have cut the cord on higher trim levels, as wireless connectivity is finally standard across the board. Add the Tucson’s newly available head-up display, the fingerprint scanner on the dash that can be used in place of a smart key, and the addition of over-the-air software updates, and it’s clear there’s a lot of new content. That extends to the suite of driver-assistance tech, which now includes Forward Attention Warning to monitor the driver’s attention via an infrared camera on the steering column. HyundaiXRT trim.Hyundai hasn’t yet released pricing for the 2025 Tucson lineup, but we expect prices to increase compared with the outgoing models. For 2024, the 2.5T model started at $28,875, the hybrid started at $33,950, and the PHEV started at $40,100. Hyundai says the gas-only models will go on sale first, as they’re slated to hit dealers in June; the hybrid and plug-in-hybrid variants will follow sometime later this summer.More Tucson StoriesEric 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 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz receives a new front-end design as well as eye-catching colors.Inside, Hyundai’s compact pickup truck has a restyled center console with a curved housing for the optional dual 12.3-inch screens.The XRT trim is also bolstered by more distinctive styling and new 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain rubber.Hyundai’s first foray into the pickup truck market, the Santa Cruz, arrived back in 2022 with a striking face and offering a potent turbocharged engine. Now the sharply styled compact pickup is receiving an overhaul for the 2025 model year, bringing a revised design, a more distinctive off-road XRT trim, and an upgraded infotainment system.Hyundai’s Little Truck Looks BolderThe Santa Cruz looks bolder than before, with a new front end that puts it in line with the refreshed 2025 Tucson SUV on which it’s based. There are also flashy new wheel designs. Two new paint colors are offered (Rockwood Green and Canyon Red) along with a new Medium Gray hue for the seats.Meanwhile, the XRT trim, which before simply featured minimal trim changes, now looks even more suited to off-roading with exclusive front and rear bumper designs, which also improve the approach angle by an unspecified amount. There’s also a more clearly differentiated grille and more capability thanks to new 18-inch wheels now shod with 245/60 all-terrain tires. The XRT model also comes with a surround-view monitor and a blind-spot-view camera that displays in the digital gauge cluster.A More Interesting InteriorInside, the refreshed Santa Cruz sports a curved housing, which combines an available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The outgoing model’s upgraded screen and digital gauge display both measured 10.3 inches. Hyundai says the new central controls are more ergonomically designed, with physical switchgear retained for crucial audio, navigation, and climate functions. There’s also more space for your stuff with a new shelf sitting above the glovebox. The air vents and steering wheel have been restyled, while the rear-seat center armrest now features two cupholders. All trim levels feature wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the cabin is peppered with USB-C ports. The Santa Cruz also adds a driver-assist called Forward Attention Warning, which uses an infrared camera to monitor the driver’s face to help prevent distracted driving.Same Santa Cruz PowertrainsThe powertrains carry over unchanged, with the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque and pairing with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which Hyundai claims is now more responsive. A turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four is also still available, boosting output to 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque; it pairs with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. All-wheel drive remains optional, and the Limited and XRT models—fitted with the turbocharged engine—also gain a new tow-centric drive mode. As before, the base four-cylinder can pull 3500 pounds, while the turbocharged powertrain is rated at 5000 pounds. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz will reach dealerships this summer, with pricing to come later. We don’t expect a huge increase over the 2024 model, which starts at $28,275.More New HyundaisCaleb 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

The 2024 Land Rover Defender is adding a new flagship model known as the OCTA.Land Rover promises it will be “the toughest, most capable, and luxurious Defender vehicle ever,” with a twin-turbo V-8 under the hood.Full pricing and specifications will be announced closer to the OCTA’s full reveal later this year. Land Rover has announced a new flagship model to sit atop the Defender’s already diverse lineup. The new model will be known as the OCTA—a name the brand derived from an eight-sided polyhedron—or octahedron. The Defender OCTA will be “the toughest, most capable, and luxurious Defender vehicle ever,” according to Land Rover.Land RoverPower will come from a twin-turbocharged V-8 under the hood. We won’t know exact power figures for certain until closer to the OCTA’s full reveal later this year, but we think it’s likely that the OCTA will feature the same 626-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 found in the revamped Range Rover Sport SV. In that model, the powertrain is claimed to send the SV Edition One to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 180 mph.The OCTA will also earn Land Rover’s trick new suspension setup from the SV. The manufacturer calls the system “6D Dynamics,” which in more understandable terms mean it pairs the Sport’s standard air springs with hydraulically cross-linked dampers in place of anti-roll bars. The system not only allows the Defender to maintain a near-level stance during aggressive acceleration, braking, and cornering, but it also massively aids in independent wheel travel and articulation while off-roading. Land RoverSticking with the model’s theme, the OCTA will differentiate itself from other Defenders with a new diamond-shaped badge placed on areas like the steering wheel and side paneling. Land Rover says development for the OCTA has been the toughest of any Defender in history, with tests occurring from Sweden to Dubai to the Nürburgring and Moab.Full details such as pricing and specifications will be announced closer to the OCTA’s full reveal later this year, but customers interested in the Defender OCTA should reach out to their dealers now because Land Rover is promising prospective clients invitations to exclusive previews as part of a new global Defender Elements series.More on the DefenderJack 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 2025 Mini Cooper Hardtop family has been revealed with a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and a base price under $30K.The Mini Cooper S hatchback now makes 201 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque; details about the base engine will be released later this year.Mini is also waiting to drop details about the convertible body style and the hi-po JCW model, but it says there are no plans to offer a manual transmission.UPDATE 3/26/24: Mini today revealed the North American version of the 2025 Mini Cooper S Hardtop before the New York auto show. Its styling is nearly identical to the European version, however, U.S.-spec cars are split between Classic and Favored trims that have different paint colors and interior options. Mini also confirmed a special three-tone roof will be available later this year, and it will be exclusive to U.S. customers. Production of the 2025 Cooper S started this month, with first deliveries scheduled to arrive at dealerships in May.The quirky Mini Cooper Hardtop is the British marque’s most iconic model, and for 2025 the two-door hatchback enters its fifth generation. We’ve already seen its new design, which looks like an even more modern take on the car’s classic shape. The company has also revealed details about the electric Mini Cooper that makes up to 215 horsepower and should have an estimated range around 200 miles. Folks who want to avoid any EV-induced range anxiety can opt for the new gas-powered variant, which today has been revealed with a mightier engine.Gas-Fed Mini CoopersThe Mini Cooper Hardtop will be sold in the U.S. as a base model and a sportier S variant. Both will feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, however, the company has only announced power figures for the Mini Cooper S hatchback. It now makes 201 horses and 221 pound-feet of torque, which represent increases of 12 and 14, respectively, compared with the outgoing version. Mini estimates the S will accelerate to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.Car and Driver reached out to a Mini spokesperson regarding power figures for the non-S model, who said that information won’t be released until later this year. Of course, it’s safe to assume that since the company will no longer offer the turbocharged three-cylinder in the U.S. market, the newly standard turbo four should at least exceed the 134 horses produced by the previous generation’s base engine. Plus, there’s a new 154-hp turbo three that will be sold overseas on the Mini Cooper C. So consider that the bogey. Mini also confirmed to us that the seven-speed automatic transmission will be standard on the front-wheel-drive hatch. Unfortunately, we were told that the six-speed manual option that returned briefly for the 2024 model year on Hardtop models is currently not in the plans for the next generation of Mini Cooper models.We were told to expect more information on the upcoming convertible body style and the high-performance JCW model to be released this October. That will be about a month after the 2025 Mini Cooper and Cooper S Hardtops hit dealerships in early September. The former will have a starting price of $29,945 (up $3150 from last year’s base model), while the latter will see its starting price rise from just over $30K last year to $33,195.More Mini Cooper NewsEric 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 2025 Audi Q7 as well as the higher-performance SQ7 have been revealed with various updates.Their front ends look different thanks to a reshaped grille and revised headlights, and there are a few new features inside.There are no changes to the engine lineup, which in the Q7 still includes a 261-hp four-cylinder and a 335-hp V-6; the SQ7 retains its 500-hp V-8.UPDATE 3/26/24: Audi has released U.S. specs and pricing for the 2025 Q7 and SQ7, with the three-row SUVs receiving updates that were previewed earlier this year by their European counterparts. Not only do we have confirmation that they’re both 2025 models, but we now also have pricing for the entire U.S. lineup. The entry-level Q7 45, which features the 261-hp turbo four, starts at $61,695. Upgrading to the Q7 55 with the 335-hp V-6 brings a starting price of $66,995. The 500-hp Audi SQ7 starts at $92,590. The base prices for the Q7 45 and 55 are now $1000 and $500 higher than last year, and the SQ7’s base price is up by $400. CLARIFICATION: We have corrected the SQ7’s base price to reflect the base Premium Plus trim, rather than the more expensive Prestige as mistakenly reported before. The second-generation Audi Q7 has been around for nearly ten years now, but it’s not quite time for a redesign. Instead, Audi is facelifting the three-row luxury SUV once again, with the latest update bringing a new front-end look and some minor changes to the interior. We expect this updated Q7 and its SQ7 performance variant to come to the U.S. for the 2025 model year, but for now we only have details on the Europe-spec versions.At the front, the new look includes a reshaped grille, headlights mounted higher on the Q7’s face, color-framed air intakes, and new daytime running light LED signatures. The taillights are also revised and can display different light signatures and animations as you approach the vehicle. Several new colors join the palette—including Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue, and Chili Red—and there are new interior upholstery options and wood and metal trim choices as well. Wheels ranging from 19 to 22 inches also feature new designs.Technology additions include new app integrations for music streaming services such as Spotify and Amazon Music. The driver-assistance features are also upgraded and can now display more warnings on the digital gauge cluster.SQ7 UpdatesThe SQ7 receives a new front spoiler and a rear diffuser, though it still maintains a subtle presentation and is only a bit more aggressive-looking than the standard Q7. You’d barely know that it features a 500-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine, plus an upgraded suspension, larger brakes, and an available torque-vectoring rear differential. In our testing, the SQ7 hit 60 mph in a remarkable 3.5 seconds, and we’d expect the new model to match that feat.More on the Q7 and SQ7Audi likely won’t release U.S. pricing for the 2025 Q7 and SQ7 for a few more months, but we expect the refreshed models to start just a bit higher than the current versions. They currently start at $60,695 for the Q7 45, $66,495 for the Q7 55, and $92,190 for the SQ7.Despite 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

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reportedly mandated that all new customers receive a demo of the company’s Full Self-Driving mode.The directive requires Tesla staff in North America to install and activate the latest FSD software and provide a short test ride.Musk reportedly said that although the procedure will slow down the delivery process, it’s a hard requirement.Everyone who buys a new Tesla model in North America will be required to sit through a demonstration of the company’s Full Self-Driving mode. CEO Elon Musk reportedly made the new mandate in a recent email to staff that was leaked online and then confirmed by Business Insider.In his email, Musk directs Tesla staff to install and activate the latest version of FSD, which still requires the driver to actively pay attention to the road and does not make the vehicle autonomous. Along with the driver-assist functions that come with Tesla’s standard Basic Autopilot and the $6000 Enhanced version, FSD—which is listed as a $12,000 option on the consumer site—currently enables “autosteer” on city streets as well as traffic light and stop sign control.TeslaMusk’s original mandate further required Tesla staff to give a demo to all new customers, but a follow-up email reportedly also extended the requirement to owners who have their vehicles returned from a service center. There are no details about what’s involved in the demonstrations other than that they’re a “short test ride.” In his first reported email, Musk wrote, “Almost no one actually realizes how well (supervised) FSD actually works.” He also acknowledged that the procedure will slow down the delivery process but notes that it’s a hard requirement. Musk yesterday posted on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, that all Tesla models that have Full Self-Driving capability will have access this week to a free one-month trial.More About Tesla’s AutopilotEric 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