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Small truck, big goals. The 2024 Ford Maverick can tow up to 4000 pounds when properly equipped, and people are taking advantage of the compact pickup’s power on this front.The problem is that most Maverick configurations can tow only 2000 pounds, as you need AWD and Ford’s 4K Tow package to really load up the trailer.Competitors can do more—the Hyundai Santa Cruz can tow up to 5000 pounds—but we don’t need another towing arms race on this front. Let small trucks be small trucks.Ford had an unsurprising hit when it released the more right-sized Maverick pickup in late 2021 as part of the welcome compact-truck revival trend. Despite these vehicles’ smaller sizes, small-truck owners still want to do big-truck stuff sometimes, and the Maverick appears to be delivering.When we first took a 2022 Maverick through its paces, we found it to be just enough truck. The unibody design, also seen in the Hyundai Santa Cruz, provided a workable balance between size and capability. The 2023 model added an optional Tremor Off-Road package, among other minor updates like different exterior paint colors. Engine choices are a hybrid with a 191-hp 2.5-liter engine and a 250-hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbo. For 2024, the 2.0-liter becomes the standard engine choice, with the hybrid becoming a $1500 option. The 2024 Maverick can tow up to 4000 pounds, but most configurations can only tow 2000 pounds. The Tremor package, for example, is limited to 2000 pounds. In fact, any Maverick with the newly optional 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain is stuck at the lower capacity, but even the 2.0-liter engine is only rated at the higher capacity with the optional 4000-pound Tow package ($745) and all-wheel drive ($2220). So while the Maverick technically starts at $24,995 for the XL, to get a truck capable of towing 4000 pounds means you’ll have to shell out at least $27,690.More DetailsThe Tow package changes a few details in the powertrain, including lower axle gear ratios (from 3.63:1 to 3.81:1), a transmission oil cooler, a higher-capacity radiator, and an upgraded cooling fan. The package can only be applied to the XL, XLT, and Lariat trims, meaning it’s excluded from the Tremor. Of course, the maximum 4000-pound level is the headline number here. It’s a decent number that can be used to sell some trucks—the Maverick can tow 500 more pounds than the Ford Escape, for example—but it’s not at the same level as the Santa Cruz or the bigger Honda Ridgeline (both of which can tow up to 5000 pounds). To tow that much in a Maverick, as mentioned, you need to have all-wheel drive, which reduces fuel economy to, at best, 24 mpg without a trailer. Every vehicle is a collection of compromises, but when you read what people are doing with their Mavericks, there’s a lot to be said for this specific way of threading the needle.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.Contributing EditorSebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

Nissan is recalling more than 80,000 Leaf EVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with the vehicle control module software.As reported by Bloomberg News, the problem could cause sudden acceleration after exiting cruise control or could cause the electric motor to stop functioning during driving.The recall affects several Nissan models and nearly a million total vehicles in countries outside the U.S., but in this country only the 2018 through 2022 model Leaf is affected, Nissan said.Nissan will be recalling 2018 through 2022 Leaf EVs to fix a problem with the vehicle control module. Reportedly the problem can cause a short circuit that could make an electric motor stop while the vehicle is being driven or could cause sudden vehicle acceleration after exiting cruise control.A Nissan spokesperson described the issue to Car and Driver this way: “When certain actions are taken immediately after turning off the cruise control (including Intelligent Cruise Control and Pro-PILOT), some e-POWER and electric vehicles may experience unintended acceleration.” The spokesperson did not elaborate on what the “certain actions” were other than to say: “These actions were discovered in internal vehicle testing and are not normally performed in the real world. Nissan has not received any reports of issues or accidents.” Worldwide, several Nissan models produced between 2017 and 2023, totaling nearly a million vehicles, are included in the recall, but in the U.S. only the Leaf is affected. Nissan said the recall will include 80,952 U.S. Leaf EVs from model years 2018 through 2023. A Nissan spokesperson told Car and Driver that the company will install updated vehicle control module software, which will require owners to bring the vehicles to a dealer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet published documentation on the recall, but owners of potentially affected Leaf EVs can check the Nissan recall website or the NHTSA recall site to see if their vehicle is affected. Other Recent RecallsDigital DirectorLaura Sky Brown has been involved in automotive media for a very long time, and she sees it as her calling to guard the legacy and help ensure the continued high quality of Car and Driver. She was one of the first staffers at Automobile Magazine in the ’80s and has worked for many other car magazines and websites as a writer, editor, and copy editor ever since. It has been her privilege to edit many of the greats of automotive journalism over the years, including the ones who currently write for C/D. More

The 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 drops the twin-turbo V-8 engine in favor of the hybrid setup from the C63 sedan.The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motor join forces to produce a massive 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque.The GLC63 is also a plug-in hybrid, with a 6.1-kWh battery that can send power to all four wheels.Mercedes-Benz launched the second generation GLC-class for 2023 with crisp, clean styling and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with assistance from a 48-volt hybrid system. Now Mercedes is giving the GLC-class the AMG treatment, with the GLC43 acting as a stepping stone to the full-blown, high-performance GLC63 S E Performance. The GLC63 arrives for the 2025 model year and replaces the twin-turbo V-8 with a hybrid four-cylinder setup.Under the hood, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 packs the same powertrain as the latest AMG C63 sports sedan. The 469-hp M139 turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is mated to nine-speed wet-clutch transmission as well as a rear-mounted 201-hp electric motor that operates through a two-speed transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential to send power to the rear wheels. All told, the system pumps out a combined 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque, notable upgrades over the old V-8’s 469 hp and 479 pound-feet. Mercedes estimates a 3.4 seconds sprint to 60 mph and an electronically limited top speed of 171 mph.The turbocharger on the M139 engine features an electric motor on the shaft linking the compressor and turbine wheels that can spool up the turbo before the exhaust gases arrive, virtually eliminating turbo lag. The GLC63’s turbo is significantly larger than the unit in the GLC43 and the integrated e-motor runs off of the 400-volt electrical architecture.Although Mercedes didn’t reveal a range figure, the all-wheel-drive GLC63 can run exclusively on electric power, drawing from a 6.1-kWh lithium-ion battery developed by AMG that lives just above the rear axle. The electric motor can also send power the front wheels if more traction is needed, and the e-motor’s second gear engages at up to 87 mph. The battery is replenished via a 3.7-kW onboard AC charger.The GLC63 uses an unequal-length control arm suspension setup at each corner, and the steel springs are paired with adaptive dampers. The GLC63 is also fitted with active roll stabilization that runs off of a 48-volt electrical system to help reduce body roll. Rear-wheel steering should help the GLC63 feel more nimble and the brakes have been upgraded, with 14.7-inch discs up front and 14.2-inch rotors in the rear. Visually, the Mercedes-AMG GLC63 is distinguished from standard GLCs by the AMG-specific grille and revised bumper, nearly identical to the upgrades as on the GLC43. The rear features a sizable diffuser, four trapezoidal exhaust tips, and a roof-mounted spoiler. Inside, the AMG steering wheel comes in Nappa leather, while the seats are wrapped in Mercedes’ MB-Tex faux-leather. Sport seats and Nappa leather front seats with an embossed AMG logo in the headrests are both optional. The GLC also features floor mats, door sills, and pedals proudly displaying AMG logos. The GLC63 doesn’t reach the United States until the 2025 model year, so pricing is still a mystery. We expect the Mercedes-AMG crossover to cost a solid amount more than its predecessor thanks to its more complex powertrain, with prices likely to start in the mid-$80,000 range.More Sporty MercedesThis 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.Associate News EditorCaleb 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 new generation of the Mercedes GLC compact luxury SUV now has an AMG GLC43 version.It has a 416-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to replace the old model’s V-6.The GLC43 will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2024.Like its sedan sibling the C-class, the latest AMG performance version of the new Mercedes GLC SUV is swapping its V-6 for a four-cylinder engine. The 2024 AMG GLC43 now features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four rather than the previous model’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, but fortunately the new powerplant produces more horsepower despite its smaller displacement and fewer cylinders.The turbo-four in the new-generation GLC43 is the same M139 engine found in many other AMG models including the C43, and it has 416 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque in this application. That’s an increase of 31 hp but a decrease of 15 pound-feet compared with the old V-6, but Mercedes touts better responsiveness thanks to this engine’s F1-inspired technology that incorporates an electrically assisted turbocharger and a 48-volt hybrid system. Mercedes says the belt-driven starter generator can add a boost of 13 horsepower at lower engine speeds. The GLC43 hits 60 mph in a claimed 4.7 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph.Rear-wheel steering, adaptive dampers, and larger brakes are standard equipment. The AMG GLC43 also differentiates itself from the base GLC300 with an AMG-specific front grille, a rear diffuser, dual exhausts, and 20-inch wheels with a staggered-width tire setup. The transmission is a nine-speed wet-clutch gearbox, and the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is tuned to send more torque to the rear wheels than in the standard GLC.Interior tweaks include a different steering wheel with aluminum shift paddles and AMG-branded pedals, door sills, display screens, and floor mats. Sports seats are optional, as is Nappa leather upholstery and a data-logger function that can record lap times and other performance metrics.We expect the 2024 AMG GLC43 to start in the mid-$60,000 range; although Mercedes hasn’t released details on option packages yet, there will surely be lots of costly extras. The AMG GLC43 treatment will also surely reach the GLC’s coupe bodystyle soon enough. For now, Mercedes says that the squareback GLC43 SUV will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2024. It’ll be followed later next year by the far more powerful GLC63, now with a hybrid powertrain also using a turbo-four, that’s set to arrive as a 2025 model.More on AMG ModelsThis 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.Senior 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