News

Toyota has released pricing for the 2024 Grand Highlander SUV.A larger version of the Highlander, the Grand Highlander starts at $44,405 and ranges up to nearly $60,000 for the loaded version with the Hybrid Max powertrain.The Grand Highlander will start arriving at dealerships this summer.How much extra will you pay for the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander’s extra space compared with its non-Grand sibling? As it turns out, not that much. Pricing for the new three-row SUV starts just a bit higher than its smaller equivalent. With a base price of $44,405 for the front-wheel-drive XLE model, the Grand Highlander starts $1050 higher than the equivalent Highlander XLE.The Grand Highlander’s standard engine, like in the Highlander, is a 265-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four. All-wheel drive costs $1600 extra on both the XLE and Limited ($47,860) models and is standard on the Platinum trim ($53,545). The XLE and Limited models are also available with a 243-hp hybrid powertrain that also commands a $1600 premium. It too comes standard with front-wheel drive and is available with all-wheel drive as an option. Toyota claims that the hybrid offers a big MPG bump: 36 mpg combined, compared with the gas model’s 24 mpg combined.We Drive the Grand HighlanderThe top dog in the Grand Highlander lineup—exclusive to the Grand—is the Hybrid Max setup. It combines a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four with electric motors for a total of 362 horsepower. In terms of fuel economy, it fits between the standard gas and hybrid models with a claimed combined EPA estimate of 27 mpg. This all-wheel-drive-only configuration is offered only on the Limited and Platinum and carries a significant price premium. The Limited Hybrid Max starts at $55,375 and the Platinum Hybrid Max is $59,460. This brings it well beyond the realm of the Highlander, but it’s not unheard of in the three-row SUV segment, as competitors such as the Mazda CX-90 and Jeep Grand Cherokee L reach well into the $60,000 range.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.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

We covered the reveal of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma extensively. And yet, we still managed to miss a few little details about the Japanese automaker’s redesigned mid-size pickup. Specifically, we ignored the truck’s handful of Easter eggs. With the help of a Toyota representative and a pre-production Tacoma TRD PreRunner, we stumbled upon three such treats the brand fits on the truck as a means of pleasing keen-eyed observers. We know there are more, though, so 2024 Tacoma owners ought to keep a vigilant eye out for additional hidden messages that Toyota’s placed about the truck. These three Easter eggs, however, should help you get started on your search.Taco MountainsGreg S. Fink|Car and DriverYou’ll have to squint to see it, but what you’re looking at is a mountain range that Toyota’s pinned to the 2024 Tacoma’s front windshield. It’s a fitting design element for a truck that shares its name with Tacoma, Washington—a city with a mountainous skyline.A Rainier TacomaGreg S. Fink|Car and DriverStamped onto the 2024 Tacoma’s left headlight’s mounting point to the truck’s body are the numbers 46.853 and -121.76. These aren’t just any numbers, though; they’re coordinates to a location positioned just a little northwest of Mt. Rainier. What exactly you’ll find at these coordinates is anyone’s guess, but we hope those who venture there on a Tuesday are at least met with some Tacos.QR You?Greg S. Fink|Car and DriverSee those dots on that plastic piece on the side of the dashboard? Those aren’t just random pinholes, but Morse code. And according to Toyota’s PR team, it reads “Accessory Ready.” Production Tacomas will also include a QR code on this panel. Scan it, and you’ll be taken to a website with dimensions to 3D print accessories, including a lantern and toolkit.More on the New TacomaSenior EditorDespite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg’s career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend. More

Reports suggest that Kia is planning to sell a new pickup truck in Australia starting in 2025.According to Drive, the manufacturer confirmed the news in a confidential meeting with dealers.We’re not sure if it will come to the U.S., but it could rival the Ford Ranger in global markets.Kia is preparing to launch a new pickup truck—at least in Australia. According to a report by Australian publication Drive, Kia told dealers to expect a “genuine and serious rival” to the mid-size Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger trucks, both of which are popular down under. While we’re not sure about the truck’s U.S. prospects, we’re curious to hear more about this new crew-cab model that’s slated for a sales launch in 2025.Dealers were informed the internal model code for the new truck is “TK”, but the official name hasn’t been announced yet. They were also reportedly told that the truck will have a new ladder-frame chassis and that it will utilize a diesel engine. This significantly narrows down the list of potential engines, as Kia and Hyundai only offer a few diesels in global markets. The four-cylinder diesel from the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe could be an option, along with the 3.0-liter inline-six diesel in foreign versions of the Genesis GV80.More Truck StuffUnlike the 2004 KCV4 Mojave concept pictured at top, the new truck will likely look much more like the other mid-sized trucks on the road now. Spy photos on Drive show a tall and flat front end, with a crew-cab configuration. Despite offering more information to its Australian dealers, the manufacturer is staying tight-lipped beyond simple confirmation that the truck exists when talking to media. “Kia is currently developing a future pickup truck model that will be highly capable and fit for purpose. Additional details will be confirmed in due course,” Kia told Drive. As things stand now, we’re not sure if Hyundai would consider building its own version of this new truck. It currently offers the Santa Cruz pickup in the U.S., but that’s a smaller unibody truck that shares its platform with other Hyundai crossovers.We’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what’s in store for Kia’s forthcoming Australia-market truck, as it likely won’t debut until more than a year from now at the earliest. As for the possibility of it coming to the U.S., we wouldn’t hold our breath, but a Kia entry into the hot mid-size truck segment here—which includes the recently redesigned Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevy Colorado—could shake things up in an interesting way.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.Associate News EditorJack 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

Audi is introducing a few minor updates to the Audi A6, S6, A7, and S7 for the 2024 model year.The new models have a revised front end, plus new wheel designs and colors.We don’t yet know U.S. details, but we expect these to arrive on our shores later this year.Audi is preparing to rework its lineup soon with new names for many of the models, but the mid-size A6 and A7 are sticking around for now and receive a few updates for the 2024 model year. You’ll be hard-pressed to spot the changes, which include subtly revised styling, new wheel designs, and a few new standard features. These also apply to the S6 and S7 and the A6 Allroad, and we’ve already covered the 2024 updates to the highest-performance RS6 Avant and RS7.More Audi NewsThe A6 and A7’s front grille and bumpers are revised, and there’s greater variation between the standard treatments and the S Line package. New wheel designs for the European models include sizes ranging from 17 to 21 inches, but the current U.S. models come standard with 19-inch wheels so we might see slightly different offerings for our versions. The expanded color palette may also change when Audi releases U.S. specs for the 2024 models, which may not be until later this year.Park assist is now standard, and there are different appearance packages including basic, advanced, and S Line. New interior trim options include additional wood trims and microfiber trim, but Audi hasn’t yet shared any photos of the updated cabin.We don’t anticipate any changes to the A6 and A7’s powertrain lineups. The A6 comes standard with a 261-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and a 335-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 is optional. The A7 comes standard with the V-6, and the S6 and S7 have a more powerful 444-hp turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6.Look out for more details on these 2024 Audi models as we learn more including U.S. pricing, equipment packages, and EPA ratings.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

Cadillac has revealed a second-generation CT6 sedan, but unfortunately the rear-wheel-drive cruiser will be exclusive to China.A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four resides under the hood, while a 33-inch screen spans the leather-trimmed dashboard.Cadillac also unveiled the new GT4 crossover, which slots into the small end of the brand’s Chinese lineup but still includes that massive curved screen.Cadillac sales in the United States have suffered over the past few decades, but the situation in China is much rosier, where the brand posted nearly 60,000 more sales than in its home country last year. The large CT6 sedan—killed off in the U.S. after 2020—lives on overseas, and now Cadillac has revealed a new generation for China, debuting alongside a new SUV model called the GT4.CadillacThe CT6 doesn’t look wildly different from the outgoing car, with sleek, clean bodywork and vertical taillights. Thin LED running lights sit above the main headlight units and flow into the wide grille that echoes the shape of the Cadillac crest. Inside, the dashboard is dominated by a curved 33.0-inch screen, while the rest of the cabin is trimmed in lush Nappa leather and open pore ash with metal accents. The ambient lighting can be set to 26 different colors. The CT6 remains rear-wheel drive, but instead of the V-6 and V-8 engines that powered the CT6 we got in America, the Chinese car is motivated by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The CT6 will also come with Super Cruise, General Motors’ hands-free highway driving tech that will automatically initiate lane changes in the right circumstances. Prices will open at the equivalent to around $50,000. CadillacCadillac also showed off the new GT4, referring to it as a “coupe-style SUV.” While the crossover sports a low-slung look compared to the more upright XT4 that also competes in the compact SUV segment, it’s not quite as coupe-like as vehicles like the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. The GT4 follows the same design language as the CT6, and a Sports package adds 19-inch black aluminum wheels, a black roof, and other darkened accents.CadillacThe 33.0-inch screen makes another appearance in the GT4, which offers a 15-speaker sound system, a color head-up display, heated and cooled front seats, and a 360-degree surround view camera setup. Under the hood is one of two four-cylinder engines, either a turbocharged 1.5-liter motor or a turbo 2.0-liter unit. The inline-fours are mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and include 48-volt hybrid systems. Front-wheel drive is standard, but the GT4 can be specced with all-wheel drive. The GT4 will start at the equivalent around $31,000. While the CT6 will likely stay a China-exclusive model as American tastes shift away from sedans, the GT4 could potentially reach our shores. More Cadillac NewsThis 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