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Over the past year, a number of family-friendly three-row SUVs have picked up major revisions, reinvigorating a hotly contested segment and offering more versatility and creature comfort than ever before. The Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-90, Nissan Pathfinder, and Toyota Grand Highlander all bring something important to the table, so let’s break these SUVs down across a few categories and see how they stack up against one another.A bit of housekeeping before we start: We’ll skip over off-road-oriented models for this comparison, which means we won’t be looking at the Honda Pilot TrailSport, or the Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek, as there are no Mazda or Toyota analogues (yet) to compare them to. Also, the Toyota Grand Highlander is the most recent reveal of the group and thus features the fewest raw numbers.ExteriorBeauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we’re not here to judge your aesthetic, so we’ll focus on the facts. The Grand Highlander is the longest SUV of the group, coming in at 201.4 inches, just ahead of the CX-90 at 200.8, and the Pathfinder plays caboose at 197.7. The Mazda is the wheelbase champ at 122.8 inches, about six inches longer than the Grand Highlander. The Pilot is the tallest of the four at 71.0 inches, while the Mazda keeps it compact at 68.2. Ground-clearance fanatics will dig the CX-90’s 8.0-inch figure, besting the Honda and Nissan by about an inch. All the Details and SpecsInteriorSadly, the Mazda CX-90’s girthy dimensions do not translate to an abundance of cargo space. In fact, the Mazda is the least capacious of this collective, offering just 14.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 40.0 behind the second, and 74.2 with the second and third rows folded down. Its 30.4 inches of third-row legroom is more than the Pathfinder can muster, but the Pilot offers more. The Grand Highlander is the undisputed legroom and cargo king, though, with a whopping 33.5 inches of third-row legroom, 20.6 cubic feet of storage behind the third row and 97.5 cubes with two rows folded. Seven- and eight-passenger configurations are available on all four models.Engine and TransmissionHonda and Nissan keep it simple here, with the Pilot and Pathfinder offering just a single engine. Both utilize a 3.5-liter V6, although Honda’s is marginally more powerful, making 285 horsepower against the Nissan’s 284. The Pilot wields a standard 10-speed automatic transmission, and the Pathfinder makes do with a nine-speed. 2024 Mazda CX-90.Jessica Lynn Walker|Car and DriverThings are a little more complex in the CX-90. Mazda’s lineup offers three powertrain flavors. A 3.3-liter inline-six produces 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet in Turbo guise, while Turbo S models bump those numbers up to 340 and 369, respectively. There’s also a plug-in hybrid getup that mates a 2.4-liter inline-four to a pair of electric motors to produce 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet. All three tiers bolt to an eight-speed automatic.2024 Toyota Grand Highlander.Car and DriverToyota hasn’t divulged all the Grand Highlander’s powertrain specs yet, but there’s still plenty to talk about. The gas-only option pairs a 265-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four to an eight-speed automatic. The 243-hp hybrid uses a 2.5-liter inline-four and a continuously variable automatic transmission. At the top of the lineup is the Hybrid Max, which we believe is the same setup as the Crown’s Hybrid Max trim, pairing a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-4 with electric motors to produce 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet, which is sent through a six-speed automatic.Honda offers front- and all-wheel drive on all except the top two trims, which are exclusively AWD. Nissan offers FWD and AWD across its entire Pathfinder lineup. FWD and AWD are offered on the Grand Highlander’s gas and hybrid offerings, while the Hybrid Max is AWD by default. AWD is standard on every CX-90.All the Details and Specs, Cont’dMPG and TowingBased on all currently available information, the Honda Pilot appears to be the least fuel-efficient SUV of this group, achieving an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive (AWD models lose 2 mpg highway and 1 mpg combined). In its thriftiest form, the Pathfinder sneaks ahead of the Honda with 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. Both 3.3-liter Mazdas come out on top at an EPA-estimated 23 or 24 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. CX-90 PHEV variants have yet to receive official EPA figures. The only Grand Highlander figure we have is Toyota’s own 34-mpg combined estimate for the hybrid; gas and Hybrid Max models have a big, fat “TBA” next to ’em.For maximum tow rating, the Pathfinder stands ahead of the crowd at 6000 pounds. The other three SUVs top out at 5000.2022 Nissan Pathfinder.NissanStandard FeaturesThrow enough money at most SUVs, and you’ll end up with nearly the same equipment, whether it’s ventilated second-row seats, third-row USB ports, panoramic sunroofs, or auto-dimming mirrors. Base-trim standard equipment is arguably more important, because it shows what the skinflint buyers can get their hands on. And with new-car prices on the rise, it’s important for budget-conscious buyers to not feel like they’re only allowed to drive rolling penalty boxes.The Grand Highlander has the highest level of standard equipment of this group, which shouldn’t come as a surprise, because its base model is technically a mid-level trim in the Toyotaverse. Standard equipment includes a 12.3-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, seven USB ports, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, and a suite of active and passive safety systems that includes full-speed adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and a trick active distance control that can gently brake the car as needed.2023 Honda Pilot.HondaThe CX-90 has the second largest standard display at 10.3 inches, with the Pathfinder behind it at 8.0 inches; the Pilot plays caboose with its paltry 7.0-incher. All three vehicles include four USB ports, with one Type-C port on the Pilot and two on the Pathfinder. This triumvirate includes heated seats, but they aren’t standard. The CX-90 and Pathfinder have standard blind-spot monitoring, and the Pathfinder kicks it up an extra notch with standard rear parking sensors. While all the cars on this list carry suites of driver aids, the Pathfinder is the only model that doesn’t offer adaptive cruise control on its base trim.PriceWhen it comes to base price, the $36,295 Pathfinder is the value king; the Pilot’s base LX model is $1000 more expensive, and the CX-90 starts at a hair over $40,000. We expect the Grand Highlander to start around $43,000, since its base XLE trim is a mid-tier getup on other Toyota SUVs. The Pathfinder tops out at $51,165, while the Pilot reaches its ceiling at $53,375, and we expect a top-trim Grand Highlander to land somewhere around $56,000. Opting for the most expensive CX-90 may cause some wallet shock, with a 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus maxing out at an eye-watering $61,325.More Details More

Presidents Day car specials may seem like a recent idea, but they actually date back more than a century.The holiday weekend deals used to be bigger, but the pandemic and production shortages have meant few to no incentives.Although the marketplace is in a period of flux, you can expect Presidents Day weekend deals to be few and far between on a national scale.Long ago, on gloomy February days with the roads a mess, car salespeople in Massachusetts would chain-smoke and complain how few customers came into their showrooms during the coldest, shortest month of the year. But they knew the year’s first holiday weekend would drum up business when there wasn’t any. Their plan: plaster the airwaves and newspapers with car specials exclusively on Presidents Day weekend. For all the revolutionary history steeped into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, pasting George Washington’s face next to an Oldsmobile and handing out Boston Creams and balloons was a signature moment.”February was a good time to buy a car and a mattress,” said John Paul, AAA Northeast’s “Car Doctor.” “The salespeople were staring at each other playing cards. They said, ‘Let’s make an event.’ ” Comparison ShopHistory, at least how The Boston Globe wrote it in a 1958 obituary on Alvan T. Fuller, attributed the idea of Presidents Day car specials to the Massachusetts governor and Packard dealer. As far back as the early 1900s, Fuller’s tactics of balloons, live bands, and personal invitations turned his dealerships into parties and parties into sales. Decades on, dealers ran an “advertising blitz” across newspapers, radio and television in the frenzy of Black Friday, according to Todd Merriam, a partner at accounting firm Withum. And since you’re reading this on a phone or a 4K monitor, you well know that newspapers, radio, and television aren’t where you look for car listings in 2023.”It used to be the start of the spring sales season,” said Merriam, who works closely with dozens of auto dealerships across New England. “The days of old where manufacturers had to offer deep incentives this time of year, now they don’t have to.”No Steals Are Likely This Year . . . Unfortunately, it’s unlikely you’ll find steals to be had this Presidents Day weekend in a new car market that just ended its worst sales year since 2012. According to Automotive News, car sales didn’t even crack 13.9 million. Dried-up inventories, shipping delays, and parts shortages have dragged the auto industry since the pandemic began. Consumers got caught in the low supply curve and succumbed to paying sticker or accepting four- and five-figure markups on popular models. Dealers, to no one’s surprise, are churning record per-car profits on new and used vehicles. There’ll be no end in sight—and no significant deals—until global car production resumes to pre-pandemic levels.Related Story. . . But a Small Incentive Is Still PossibleUnlike past years, automakers aren’t backing their dealers with the attractive financing and leasing deals that made the weekend famous. For example, Ford dealers in New England are advertising Presidents Day as an enticement to come in, but without the big discounts, Merriam said. Chrysler is running a national campaign, but there’s nothing of note from Honda, Hyundai, and other major brands. Nissan has been very aggressive with cheap 18-month leases on a couple models, but cash on the hood is a rare find. According to data from Automotive News, Ford is offering up to $3000 off last year’s Edge. Audi is happy to take off $1500 on a new Q5, and even Toyota is feeling frisky with its ever-popular Tacoma, which has up to $1000 in rebates. But with the bulk of the lowest factory interest rates between 3 and 7 percent, it’s not exactly cheap to buy. Leasing can be even less of a deal as automakers have restricted customers from trading their leases to non-franchised dealers so they can’t benefit from the equity of the used car market. As such, Certified Pre-Owned cars are more expensive and much older than they were a few years ago.Still, the best universal advice is to shop for models that sit on lots for a while or at least won’t disappear the moment they back off the delivery truck. Keep your eye on 2022 models or unusual specs that many buyers wouldn’t want, look for interest-rate offers on your favored brand, and be prepared on Presidents Day and every day this year to compromise. Plus, you never know with the economy; next year could be a whole different story.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

We don’t know all of the details of the battery-powered Electrified GV70 just yet, but Genesis has now announced pricing details for the brand’s third EV.There will be two trim levels, with the $66,975 Advanced being a well-equipped base model (lots of safety tech, sunroof, fingerprint ID technology) and the Prestige adding a better sound system, a head-up display and much more for another $6800.The Electrified GV70 will be not only Genesis’s first model assembled in the U.S. but the first one built outside South Korea.Genesis has put a price tag on its third electric model, the Electrified GV70 SUV. The electrified luxury EV will start at $66,975 and come in two trim levels.The 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Advanced AWD is the base model, but that price level means we’re not surprised that it comes well equipped with a standard panoramic sunroof, a fingerprint authentication system, and vehicle-to-load charging. Every safety and advanced driver assistance that Genesis uses on its vehicles is standard in the Electrified GV70’s Advanced model including forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, highway driving assist, and smart cruise control with stop-and-go capability.All the Rest of the SpecsFor comfort and convenience, the Electrified GV70 Advanced AWD comes with powered, heated, and ventilated front seats; a 14.5-inch infotainment screen with navigation; and a powered smart liftgate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Genesis Digital Key technology, and a wireless phone charger are all also part of the package.Going for the PrestigeThe 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70 Prestige AWD is the higher trim and starts at $73,775. The extra $6800 is worth it if you’re looking for a head-up display, a Lexicon premium audio system, active noise control and heated 2nd-row seats. The extra money also gets you a heated steering wheel, nappa leather seating surfaces and a leatherette-wrapped upper instrument panel.The powertrain is the same in both trims, with a 77.4-kWh battery and dual 160-kW motors. Genesis previously said this system would produce up to 429 horsepower under most conditions, but there will be a Performance boost mode that can produce up to 483 horsepower for up to 10 seconds. Other details, including efficiency and range ratings, will be announced closer to launch later this year. Genesis has said that the electric SUV will be able to charge at up to 350 kW, enough to charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes at an appropriate DC fast-charging station. All versions of the GV70 also use an electronically controlled suspension with road preview, which uses the front-facing camera to automatically adjust the suspension for upcoming potholes or other noticeable surface conditions.The non-electric 2023 Genesis GV70 starts at $44,275. Genesis sells two other EVs: the GV60 SUV, which starts at $60,415, and the Electrified G80 sedan ($80,950). The company has announced a plan for full electrification by 2030 and has said that all new models will be powered only by all-electric powertrains starting in 2025. By 2035, Genesis wants to be a carbon-neutral company. The GV70 will be built at Hyundai’s manufacturing facility in Montgomery, Alabama, the company’s first EV to be built in the U.S. In fact, the Electrified GV70 is the first Genesis model assembled outside of South Korea.play iconThe triangle icon that indicates to play More

Honda Performance Development teased a race-ready CR-V with an 800-hp hybrid powertrain. The teaser shows the SUV’s bespoke carbon fiber bodywork, colossal front-splitter and rear diffuser, and a gargantuan rear wing. Honda Performance Development neglected to announce any official events this gasoline-electric CR-V racer may compete in.Honda Performance Development appears determined to push the performance limits of the 10Best-winning 2023 CR-V. The racing and performance arm of the Japanese automaker teased an 800-hp race-ready CR-V to whet enthusiasts’ appetites for high-powered four-wheeled machines. Why a CR-V? We don’t know, but we theorize that family-man Dominic Toretto may have commissioned this machine that practically screams “I’m a father, but I still live life a quarter-mile at a time.”HPD revealed few details about the vehicle itself, simply sharing that it’s being developed with Auto Development Center teams and that motivation comes courtesy of a gasoline-electric powertrain that produces a mind-boggling 800 horsepower. We presume this CR-V rolled out of the factory with the SUV’s available 204-hp hybrid powertrain. Then again, it may have had the standard 190-hp four-cylinder. Or HPD simply pulled a body in white from the assembly line before its mass-produced powerplant was ever installed. For now, HPD’s keeping such information under wraps.Related StoriesFans of Where’s Waldo? will have a gas trying to spot this SUV’s production pieces in these teaser photos. From what we can tell, the taillights and hatch look like stock pieces, as do the headlights and grille. Otherwise, this CR-V’s other pieces appear unique. Most—if not all—of this CR-V’s body panels look as though they’re bespoke carbon-fiber pieces, including the widened front and rear fenders. Aerodynamic bits dominate the front and rear ends. This includes a bevy of dive planes and a rear wing large enough to get its own representation in Congress.HPD only supplied one shot of this CR-V’s insides, but it appears the stock interior is completely gutted. Meanwhile, the addition of a roll cage ought to provide an extra layer of safety for those seated within this hot hybrid SUV. Look for HPD to share more about its CR-V racer when it reveals the vehicle on February 28. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

• This first-generation Chevy Camaro looks like it stepped out of a time warp.• It has been restored in its original colors of Ash Gold paint over Gold vinyl upholstery.• This auction ends on Wednesday, February 22.Car and DriverToday, when we see pony cars from the ’60s, they’re typically high-performance halo models and have often been further hot-rodded or restomodded into fearsome street machines. And while those SS396 Camaros, Cobra-Jet Mustangs, and Hemi ‘Cudas are the stuff of legend, for legions of owners back in the day the pony-car reality was much different. It was something exactly like what we have here in this 1968 Chevy Camaro.More Camaro GoodnessUp for auction right now on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—this Camaro is a far most accurate period piece than is typically seen. It has a bit of punch courtesy of a 327-cubic-inch V-8, but that engine is tied to Chevy’s ubiquitous Powerglide two-speed automatic stirred by a horseshoe-shaped floor shift. The restorer somehow managed to resist the temptation to fill the wheel wells with slotted mags, torque thrust wheels, or even Chevy Rally wheels, instead sticking with 14-inch steelies wearing factory wheel covers and, yes, whitewall tires. And in contrast to the reds and blacks so popular with muscle-car builds, this Camaro’s Ash Gold reflects what was popular then. With its matching vinyl interior, it’s a golden oldie.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerCars like this are the reason the Big Three were able to turn out hundreds of thousands of Camaros, Mustangs, and the like during the pony-car heyday. They had a more youthful, sporty image than the standard Detroit fare, but they were still fairly practical and affordable. Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerSpeaking of affordability, the bid at this writing is still shy of $7000 with five days to go. It surely will climb higher, but probably nowhere near what the typical restored early Camaro would bring. And yet it’s a truer representation of the pony-car era and, maybe, a bigger head-turner as well.In Other Camaro News More

This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will see a modified NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 stock car run in the Garage 56 entry designated for experimental race cars.The car, revealed today ahead of the Daytona 500, still packs a 5.8-liter V-8 engine, but adds a large fuel cell, upgraded brakes, and unique aerodynamics.The decorated driver lineup features Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller, and the team has already racked up over 3600 miles of testing.NASCAR is going to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Wait, what?! Yep, you read that right—a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 stock car is taking on the grueling and iconic day-long race at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, this year. The NASCAR racer will run in the Garage 56 spot, an entry reserved for experimental vehicles, and the car was revealed today at Daytona International Speedway ahead of this weekend’s Daytona 500. Since 2012, Garage 56 has included cars like the unorthodox, triangle-shaped DeltaWing and a modified LMP2 car piloted by two drivers who are paralyzed from the waist down. This year, however, the entry will be occupied by a muscular Cup Series–spec Camaro powered by a snarling 5.8-liter small-block V-8. The project is being run by Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful Cup Series team with 291 race victories to date.NASCARThe Garage 56 Camaro stays close to its roots, but several changes were required for 24-hour race duty. Functional headlights and taillights replace the imitation stickers normally plastered onto the stock car bodywork, and the team also fit a larger 32-gallon fuel cell and carbon brake discs. The car will ride on unique Goodyear Eagle tires, and will wear unique aerodynamic elements with a revised front splitter, dive planes on the front bumper, a new rear diffuser, and a special rear wing protruding out of the bodywork. While a standard Cup car weighs 3200 pounds, the Garage 56 car has shaved that down to 2960 pounds and tacks on an extra two inches of length. The Le Mans–spec racer retains the front and rear double wishbone suspension with adjustable coil-over shocks. More on NASCARBehind the wheel will be three top-notch drivers. Jimmie Johnson brings his vast experience in stock cars as a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, while two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller knows the track like the back of his hand. While he has never driven a stock car and only has one Le Mans start, 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button is no slouch, either. The team has been testing the Garage 56 Camaro since last August, racking up over 3600 miles at Road Atlanta, Virginia International Raceway (where we run out annual Lightning Lap competition), Goodyear Proving Grounds, Carolina Motorsports Park, Sebring International Raceway, and Daytona International Speedway. The team will return to Sebring this Monday for an endurance test, and the team hopes to have its entry approved by the race’s regulatory body in the next few weeks. The 24 Hours of Le Mans will start on Saturday, June 10, 2023.In Other Camaro News More

Dodge has announced pricing for the 2023 Hornet, a new subcompact crossover that starts at $31,590.A fully loaded Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid costs over $53,000.It’s based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale and will go on sale in the U.S. this spring.$53,000 sounds like a lot for a Dodge subcompact SUV, but what if that SUV is based on an Alfa Romeo and offers a plug-in-hybrid powertrain? Dodge is hoping that the new 2023 Hornet, which is closely related to the Alfa Romeo Tonale, will be enticing enough to live up to its ambitious pricing—at least in fully loaded form—when it goes on sale this spring. There’s also a more reasonably priced base model that starts under $32,000 and is powered by a turbocharged inline-four.That base model is the 265-hp Hornet GT, which starts at $31,590 and comes standard with a 10.3-inch touchscreen, cloth seats, 17-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and more. The $4900 GT Plus upgrade adds leather seats that are heated and cooled up front, a sunroof, a power liftgate, navigation, and more. There are also packages including the $2995 Track Pack with larger wheels and tires, adaptive dampers, and upgraded interior trim; the $1995 Blacktop package with dark trim; and the $2245 Tech Pack with driver-assistance features.Hornet and Its SiblingThe Hornet R/T is the one with the 285-hp plug-in-hybrid drivetrain that claims to be quicker than the GT and offers an estimated 30 miles of electric driving. It starts at $41,590—a mere $3000 less than its Alfa Romeo sibling, which only comes as a PHEV. The R/T Plus adds equipment and starts at $46,590 and is available with the same options and packages as the GT, which explains how you can get above $53,000 if you add all the extras.Dodge says that orders are now open for the Hornet GT and that those models will start arriving at dealerships in early spring. The Hornet R/T hybrid will follow a few months after, and ordering information will be available later on.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Toyota and Suzuki are rumored to be co-developing a new sports car, per a report by Motor1.com citing a Japanese magazine. The two-seater coupe will reportedly have a mid-mounted 120-hp 1.0-liter three-cylinder and weigh less than the Toyota GR86.The project is said to be inspired by the MR2, with pricing possibly starting between $16,000 and $20,000.A spiritual successor to the mid-engine Toyota MR2 might be on the way—and it could have a traditional gas-fed engine. Rumors are swirling online about the possibility a new lightweight sports car being developed together by Toyota and Suzuki (Daihatsu is also reportedly involved).New Toyota MR2?Multiple reports today stem from an article by Japanese magazine, Best Car, which Motor1.com cites as claiming that the long-rumored “baby sports car” resulting from a partnership between Toyota and Suzuki is still happening. Of course, nothing has been officially announced—no name or anything. All we have to go off is speculation fueled by recent concepts, such as the Toyota Sports EV pictured above. Related StoriesToyota first previewed that visually striking concept car back in December 2021, amongst nearly 20 other concepts. The current rumors describe a different powertrain, though, one with an internal-combustion engine versus an electric motor. Reports claim it’ll have a mid-mounted 1.0-liter three-cylinder, with the possibility of a hybrid system also mentioned.Likely to be LightThe sports car, whatever it might be called, is expected to be light. Reports suggest it’ll weigh only 2204 pounds. For comparison, that’s lighter than the Mazda Miata, which tipped our scales at 2345 pounds. That would also make it lighter than the Toyota GR86, a sporty front-engine, rear-drive coupe weighing 2838 pounds. It’s a good thing the Toyota-Suzuki-Daihatsu sports car is expected to be so light, because it’s tiny engine isn’t said to be very powerful. With half the displacement of a typical soda bottle, the three-pot is believed to produce just 120 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque. Toyota’s other three-cylinder engine powers the GR Corolla and produces a heart-pumping 300 hp, rocketing the hot hatch down back roads with a vengeance. Suzuki is reportedly developing the engine, with Toyota tapped to adapt the suspension from the current-generation Yaris for use on the new sports car. It’s unclear what platform the car would be built on, however, its overall length is said to be 165.3 inches with a 100-inch wheelbase. Perhaps coincidentally, those measurements match the GR86’s. Sports Car Pipe Dream?Obviously, we can’t confirm whether the rumors are true. Even if they are, we’re not sure if Toyota would sell it in America, especially since it may struggle to find success. Profit margins would be razor thin with reports claiming the car could be priced between $16,000 and $20,000. Still, our enthusiast desire makes us remain hopeful, even though we don’t expect to see it for at least another year or two. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More