I feel like this is one of those things that I swear I won’t ever do again at the end of every year, and every year I find myself in the exact same position. That position is one where I look back over the past year and realize there were a few cars that I had as press loaners, and shamefully wrote fudge-all about. Crap. I feel guilty, because I know that getting brand-spanking new cars to drive around and experience is, just like wearing hot pants in public, a privilege, not a right. I’m not alone here, though; pretty much everyone who gets press cars is guilty of this, at least to some degree.
We all want to do better, but until then, we can at least do something, something like this half-assed attempt to at least acknowledge some of the cars we forgot to write about all in one post, crammed together like clothes wadded up into a suitcase after being told that you have three minutes to pack before you’re getting on that hovercraft, or something.
In our defense, sometimes the cars just weren’t really compelling enough to review, or another writer already reviewed it. But, mostly, let’s be honest, we just got busy or distracted and we just didn’t get to it. I’m not proud, that’s just how it goes sometimes.
So, with that in mind and hopefully a sense of forgiveness and understanding, here’s some words about the cars we forgot to talk about!
Toyota Supra (JT)
Why I didn’t review it at the time:
I’m pretty sure a lot of these didn’t get reviews because I had to go back to the hospital in May; at least, that’s the excuse I plan to use here, as much as I can get away with. Also, in the case of the Supra, We had covered it pretty well, so it’s not like you were really missing out. Right? Sure.
What I Liked:
It’s fast! It’s fun! It handles great! There’s a decent amount of storage! You’re never low on fake vents! It’s kind of womb-like inside, which gives a strange sense of comfort.
Also, I liked the taillights and how visible they are from above, and how that allows for brightly-colored “shadows” as you can see here:
What I Didn’t Like:
It’s a pain to get in and out of, even for a little guy like me. It’s also sort of claustrophobic inside; a lighter headliner color would help a lot. Kind of a chore as a daily driver. All would have been forgiven if I had the manual one, though.
Volkswagen Jetta (JT)
Why I didn’t review it at the time:
Can I blame this on the hospital visit, too? Maybe. But if not, I think it’s because I reviewed this car already, in 2022, and it was pretty much the same. I mean, that’s kind of enough of a reason right there, isn’t it?
What I Liked:
It’s cheap! Cheap and pretty good! These things start under $20 grand and they’re roomy and comfortable and are more fun to drive than you’d guess. You used to be able to get the cheap ones with a manual, but now the only manual is in the GLI trim. Still, that’s something, right?
What I Didn’t Like:
It’s kinda boring, if we’re honest. I mean, it’s fine, but would it have killed them to have a wagon version of the Jetta again? That would have helped.
Ford Mustang (JT)
Why I didn’t review it at the time:
Uhh, jeez, why didn’t I review this one? I think I just got sidetracked with other stuff. There’s a lot going on! Also, I suppose if I’m honest, sometimes I put off doing reviews, because they require a pretty long block of uninterrupted time, and that’s a pretty precious commodity. So maybe I just procrastinated this one into the aether.
What I Liked:
It’s pretty handsome, it’s quite fast, makes good sounds, the trunk is a good size, and it may be the only two-door non-truck that Ford sells in America? Is that right? Crap, I think it is!
What I Didn’t Like:
Visibility, especially forward, over that tall hood, isn’t great. It’s hard to drive it quietly for sneaking up on people, so if you’re in the espionage business, this may not be the car for you. The interior feels kind of cluttered and full of stuff, so it’s not as roomy as you’d think. Also, the horse on the front emblem is a mare, and the rear one is male, and I just wish they’d pick one.
Indian Super Chief (MS)
Back in May I went on a press trip where I got to ride two new motorcycles and try out a new helmet communicator system. I wrote reviews for the Harley-Davidson Pan America and the Cardo Packtalk Pro, but had a plan for the Super Chief. I wanted to compare how the Super Chief rode compared to the new Indian Scout, but I wasn’t able to secure a ride on the latter bike. I ended up letting this sweet ride fall through the cracks. The image you see above is what I planned to be the topshot!
What I Liked:
American motorcyclists are still addicted to retro rides and the Super Chief delivers. Swing a leg over the Super Chief and you’ll instantly feel like you’ve been transported back 50 or so years ago. Indian Motorcycle nailed the classic sweeping bar, minimal instrumentation, candy paint, and vintage style. However, unlike a Harley-Davidson from even just two decades ago, this bike does not ride like how it looks. Instead, it’s so much better.
The Super Chief barreled down the highway combining confidence-inspiring heft with thundering power. Yet, when I blasted down the curves of California’s Ortega Highway, the weighty Super Chief gripped well enough that I did keep up with far sportier machines ahead of me.
What I Didn’t Like:
Downsides were few. One thing I didn’t like was the seat, which left me feeling sore after a couple of hours of riding. In fairness, my body type seems to favor super cushy seats, so most people should be fine. I also didn’t like how the instrument cluster was a clear and crisp display, but it had a framerate like a budget PC trying to play CRYSIS. For whatever reason, the speedometer and tach didn’t move smoothly, but in noticeable notches. In fairness to Indian, I’ve seen this issue in a few vehicles with digital displays and they all confuse me.
Those small things aside, the Super Chief was basically everything I love about Royal Enfields, but with a lot more power. Admittedly, a lot more power also comes with a lot more price, $18,999 of your hard earned money, in fact. However, 111 cubic inches of V-twin and its 108 lb-ft of torque does make the price go down easier.
GMC Sierra 2500 4WD Crew Cab AT4X AEV (MH)
Why I didn’t review it at the time:
There are plenty of people who take cars and never write about them and I do my best to never be that person (anymore). This one makes me so mad, but hopefully, I’ll get a do-over. This truck is great and deserves a review where things are hauled and it goes off-road, et cetera. And I had a plan! There isn’t much off-roading in the New York City-area, but there are a couple of places I was excited to go check out with a friend. And then it started raining. Too much rain. Flooding rain. Both places we hoped to go were underwater. At one point it got so bad that I wondered if maybe I wouldn’t end up using the truck to go help rescue people. Thankfully (?) it never quite got that bad. Also, it was the New York Auto Show that week and I was a dummy for trying to get this all done then.
What I Liked:
The 6.6-liter Duramax V8 is one of the best diesel motors you can buy and it makes any vehicle equipped with one that much more special. With 975 lb-ft of torque, you don’t drive it as much as pull the ground underneath you. Driving East, you slow down time by pulling the Earth backward, so you have to try to remember to drive the same distance both directions.
It’s gigantic and it’s a little absurd that anyone with a normal license can drive one, but GMC engineers have nicely overcome the obstacles of a ginormous truck by making it almost uncomfortably easy to pilot around the city. Not like you care what you run into. With the optional AT4X AEV Edition you get stamped steel bumpers and skid plates so you can run over basically anyone in your way.
This is also, in my opinion, the best looking large truck there is. Even an AEV Edition trim it’s a little less aggressively futuristic even the Silverado version, with a more thoughtful headlight treatment. People see these trucks and worry about pedestrians, which is a legit concern, but GMC deals with this by giving you enough cameras and sensors to clearly see everything happening around the truck, which is a nice touch if you use them.
I enjoyed the idea of this truck so much and barely got to use it.
What I Didn’t Like:
I almost wrote a piece about how frustrating it is to have a vehicle with such incredible capability and to be able to use none of it. If you live in a suburb and like the idea of a truck and are never going to do truck things, just buy a Maverick or a Colorado ZR2 Biso or whatever. It’s so tall I couldn’t close the hood without standing on the bumper! Parking it in my city spot was not impossible, but it was at least 75% pucker every time. It’s big. Did you understand that? It’s huge. For many purposes this is a benefit, of course, but not as a replacement for a small crossover.
2024 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Platinum (MH)
Why I didn’t review it at the time:
I’m a jerk? I don’t know. I got to drive the latest beta of Ford’s BlueCruise and the goal was to do a back-to-back comparison with the latest release of GM’s SuperCruise and I got busy I guess? Given the timing I’m going to also blame Jason’s health scare, though I don’t think it had much to do with it.
What I Liked:
It’s an Escalade, what’s not to like? I actually think this is exactly the Escalade to get, with the second row bucket seats/3rd-row folding bench and in the (relatively) shorter configuration. Magnetic ride control is something GM has historically done extremely well on these larger SUVs and it’s one of the most relaxing vehicles of this size to drive. The 6.2-liter V8 provides all the power you’ll ever need and its 10-speed transmission, shared with roughly a million large Ford and GM trucks, is perfectly suited to this motor.
But I didn’t get this for all the creature comforts, I got it for SuperCruise. According to my notes, this version of SuperCruise was better than the newest version of Ford’s BlueCruise, requiring essentially no interventions on the highway. It also had a seamless automatic lane-changing option that Ford, at the time, did not offer. The new Escalade is going to be out in like 15 seconds, so this review is not useful to anyone except people shopping for an Escalade right now. If you can get a deal on a 2024, this is one of the rare vehicles where you should get the most you can afford.
What I Didn’t Like:
While the Escalade is, like the GMC, equipped with a ton of sensors, the lack of visibility over the hood is a problem. I see New York City livery drivers dart in and out of traffic in these things like they were in NA Miatas, so it’s clear that you can get used to the dimensions, but nose-forward viewability is an issue. This isn’t unique to the Escalade, of course, but it’s worth pointing out that there are other large vehicles that don’t have this issue.
Also, it’s not particularly efficient, at a combined 16 MPG. If you can still find a 2024 Escalade with the 3.0-liter diesel six that’s 23 MPG combined, and 27 MPG highway. Then again, if you’re buying an Escalade I don’t think fuel economy and visibility are your biggest concerns. And if they are, you can buy an Escalade iQ and solve all of these problems.
2025 Infiniti QX80 (TH)
Why I didn’t review it at the time:
Ah, well, this QX80 wasn’t a normal press loan, but instead something I drove as part of Canadian Car of the Year testing. Believe me, I did eventually plan on publishing a Micro Review, but given that the future of Infiniti is uncertain in the face of the Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi merger talks, I figure it fits in here.
What I Liked:
Let’s start with the engine. It shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the VR35DDTT 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is charismatic, given how it’s a cousin of the GT-R’s engine, but it’s eager, with good mid-range pull and a pleasant note. What’s more, the QX80 is surprisingly nimble for a mid-rise apartment building, with unusually communicative steering that telegraphs camber changes in the road to the driver’s fingertips. Beyond that, it’s as comfortable and spacious as you’d expect a massive SUV to be, with excellent ride comfort and seats.
What I Didn’t Like:
Unfortunately, the in-cabin tech is where the QX80 starts to fall off a cliff. The Klipsch-branded audio system just doesn’t have acceptable clarity, muddying the waters as you pump up the tremendous volume. In addition, the touch-heavy controls on the console are distracting to use while on-the-go, the native infotainment system certainly isn’t the fastest or sharpest user experience out there, and the quality of the exterior cameras just isn’t up-to-par for the segment. The new QX80 is a big improvement over the old one, but it’s a hard option to justify over an Escalade or a BMW X7.
2025 BMW X3 M50 (TH)
Why I didn’t review it at the time:
This was another Canadian Car of the Year drive that I just haven’t got around to writing up. It was a quick-take sort of thing, probably suited to a micro-review, but it just got buried under the mountain of weekly press loan road tests that I’ve been prioritizing.
What I Liked:
The combination of a B58 three-liter turbocharged inline-six and a ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic transmission really is the answer, isn’t it? With prodigal torque and silky smoothness, this is a superb engine, and the short-geared eight-speed makes the most of it. We’re talking redline in third well before 70 mph, which explains why the X3 M50 pulls so hard. In addition, the suspension tuning strikes a nice balance between firmness and comfort, the driving position’s great, and the sport seats hug you in all the right ways.
What I Didn’t Like:
Unfortunately, the X3 M50 falls victim to some noticeable cost-cutting. The center HVAC vents are controlled through cheap-feeling rubberized nubs obscured by the dashboard fascia, the panel in the driver’s door that the window switches clip into feels mid-aughts Chrysler-grade, the minimalization of physical controls is irritating, and you just get the sense that the cabin isn’t screwed together as well as BMWs of old. Add in divisive styling and an infotainment system that’s too complicated and bloated for most drivers, and the X3 no longer feels like an obvious choice in the segment. The Genesis GV70 and Volvo XC60 aren’t as sporty as the X3, but they both have a firmer grasp on the luxury thing. Add in the fact that the steering on the X3 is dead, and it’s also probably not the number one choice for someone with performance on the brain. It’s still a safe pick in the compact luxury crossover segment, but depending on what you prioritize, you could do better.
2024 Total Solar Eclipse, Coleman Instant Tent, and Ford Bronco Raptor (PV)
Hey, remember the solar eclipse that darkened a big swath of the USA back in April? Ford used the planetary alignment as an opportunity to drop a new Black Appearance Package for the Bronco, and I snagged the invite to scope the Bronco’s blackout look at Bronco Off-Roadeo, where I would also take in the eclipse and get to go trail running behind the wheel of a loaner Bronco. Not to mention, this was a chance to enjoy the spoils of my first for-reals automotive press trip, which I imagined would include deee-luxe hotel accommodations.
Behold, my deee-luxe accomodations:
Now, I was aware this was to be a camping experience for the Bronco owners who were paying for the eclipse-viewing experience at Bronco Off-Roadeo, but I thought that I, being a member of the vaunted press, would be put up someplace nearby. I was a fool.
A thankful fool, to be sure, as Ford was very thorough in supplying everything even a completely inexperienced camper such as myself would need, and could figure out how to deploy. The Coleman Instant Tent, while named like something from Wyle E. Coyote’s ACME catalog, did prove quite easy and nearly instant to set up. Like so:
“Initial setup may take longer,” and it did because klutz, but within five minutes my fabric castle and accouterments were deployed. Behold:
It’s no five-star hotel, but still, not bad, right? The inflatable bed proved quite comfortable, the sleeping bag was warm, and I had no trouble drifting off to sleep – aided, perhaps, by the overpowering off-gassing of all the plastic and vinyl I had entombed myself within. Word to the wise: If you get an Instant Tent, you might want to let that bad boy air out for a few days before you head into the woods.
As for the eclipse, well, it was a bit of a bust, as clouds moved in and rendered the need for dark glasses moot – the overcast skies provided all the eye protection needed. Still, it was quite a thrill to see the sun begin to dim, then become an increasingly slim toenail clipping before forming a perfect ring punched out of what was briefly a night sky. “Man, I bet cavemen totally freaked out back in the day,” I mused to myself, profoundly.
Definitely not a bust, and the lede I’ve been burying, was my chariot for the event: a Ford Bronco Raptor. Mind you, I was thrilled enough when Ford first told me I would have a Maverick, as I’ve been wanting to take one for a spin ever since the little truck debuted. Even a Bronco Sport would have been a treat, and I would have been over the (sun-blocking) moon for any variety of “real” Bronco. But a Raptor? For me? Wow wow WOW wow wow. Just look at it:
The hour-plus drive from the airport to Bronco Off-Roadeo was an absolute treat, and the 418 horsepower, twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost engine under the hood gave me the biggest thrills I’ve had since my daily was a Coyote-powered Mustang GT. Dare I say the Raptor was even more fun, as its ten-speed auto knew just when to change gears (I was in the hottest performance mode, natch) and the fear of a catastrophic money-shift that always haunted me when I stirred my Mustang’s 6-speed was long gone with microprocessors doing the work for me.
As for a proper review? Well, my last off-road experience was as a teenager in a 1974 Jeep J10 Thriftside circa 1986, so I don’t have a lot to go one (but the Raptor was way, way better than that Jeep pickup, to be clear). And I can tell you that I absolutely crushed the trail-run I went on with other Bronco owners, and the Raptor was immensely capable through every challenge I encountered. Later, I asked the guide, “if the toughest trail here is a ten, what rating would you give the trail we were on?” He replied, “I dunno, maybe a one? If I’m generous.” Sooo, I guess I hadn’t challenged the Raptor very much then.
But still, I gotta give the Bronco Raptor five stars on the Pete scale. Also five stars for the Coleman Instant Tent, and five stars for Ford and the Bronco Off-Roadeo crew. Much fun was had!
The Ford Bronco Everglades Is Basically Just A Regular Bronco, But It’s Still Badass
Back in June of 2022, Ford invited me to the mudpit that is Drummond Island in northern Michigan. There, the company’s PR professionals beat the everliving shit out of their vehicles, alongside some journalists. And by “beat the everliving shit” I mean they sent these things through deep, deep mudpits. They weren’t holding back, and the Bronco kicked major ass.
As the Everglades was basically just a Sasquatch Package-equipped Bronco with a winch and snorkel, I wasn’t inspired to immediately write a review, and by the time I thought about it again, it seemed pointless. But the short of it is: It’s a mudpit monster.
Ford later lent me a Bronco Raptor for my 2022 Moab trip, and, as I said in my Bronco Raptor review: It is insane — possibly the greatest all-around off-road vehicle ever built. And I only say “possibly” because of the vehicle’s size. Other than the size, the Bronco Raptor has essentially zero major off-road flaws if you’re not counting things like “lots of computers” and other results of modernity. It’s a truly amazing vehicle, and one I’m convinced will be a future classic.
“The Coleman Instant Tent”
I have one of those… and I love it. The only downside to it is that it’s more heavy and bulky when packed up. But I love that it’s a tent I can stand up straight in.
That X3 interior should be considered a war crime
I feel like this format needs to be made into an Autopian Mad Libs that we can submit answers to and then have a best few results
I feel like this wainscoting needs to be aggrandized into an ornery giraffe that royal heirs can poop answers to and then have a refulgent six results
I prefer this spelling when it comes to cheap American camping equipment. ”Ah-cooter-ments’ is a great way to describe them.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend viewing Winnebago Man’s take on this.
*shudder* I hate that word so much, but I agree with you wholly
I suggest that all reviews now contain a section on infotainment responsiveness titled “But Can it Run Crysis?” Incredible reference by Mercedes there
I thought we were all Doomed.
That’s a deep, Old Internet reference reserved for the real ones. The ones that didn’t merely adapt the shitposting, but were born in it. Molded by it.
I’m glad someone noticed the reference! 😀
That wasn’t *that* long ago, was it?
*Googles*
Came out in 2007. Wasn’t feeling old yet today, now I am!
“Do not cite the deep magic to me! I was there when it was written!” – my old Millennial self whenever I see original internet memes
I recently saw “ding fries are done” referenced and was like IT’S MY TIME TO SHINE!
….although the video that originated from almost certainly couldn’t be made today, and for good reason
Oh yeah, early internet was truly the wild west. I was explaining to a co-worker in their 20’s about the 4chan Taxmaster memes, she looked at me like I had 3 heads. You truly just had to be there.
Just don’t let rule 34 slip. Most normies don’t have any idea what it means and you do NOT want to have to explain it. Ask me how I know….
Is the QX80 the same size as the Armada? Just had an Armada as a rental and Jesus that thing was ginormous.
Yes they’re built on the same frame.
So the Bronco Raptor eclipsed the sun?
lol at the size of that sierra 2500
The bigger the truck the smaller the pp
Everyone knows peenos size is measured corresponding to the amount of space between the tire and wheel well in a truck application..
Jack ’em up bois
Jetta: “These things start under $20 grand…”
Source? They are like $22k base, before shipping even.
Maybe that was what they started at back when they should’ve reviewed it.
Honestly I think more, shorter reviews is a good idea.
Even some tl:dr micro reviews.
It’s just the picture of the car with a thumbs up, a thumbs down, or a “meh” hand gesture.
I’m so disappointed in the new X3. A B58 powered one has always been a semi attainable aspirational car for me. They’re fast, they’re efficient, they sound great, they handle about as well as any SUV not made by Porsche, and they’re wife proof. Look dear, it’s a midsized SUV with plenty of space that gets surprisingly good fuel economy. IT’S PERFECT FOR OUR NEEDS!
…then the new one dropped. They don’t look good in pictures, but let me tell you-they’re even worse in person. All of the matte finishes look like cheap wraps. Their proportions are weirdly bulbous. The grille is too big and they stick fucking lights in it in the higher trims so everyone can see what an ass you are…and they have the worst interiors of any modern BMW.
How do you fuck up that badly? Also-they look like EVs. BMW has gone out of their way to conceal all the ICE-ness and copied their own EV homework design wise. At the end of the day I’m not considering an X3 M50i because I want everyone to think I’m driving a bulbous, overwrought EV. I’m considering one because they’re great internal combustion cars.
Anyway not a day goes by that I don’t fear for the eventual fate they’ll bestow on the 3 series….
My dad just bought a blue-on-tan 2024, but with the 2.0. What do you think about those?
I love the post refresh G01s! I think they’re quite handsome and that era is pretty close to peak BMW interiors. My dad has a G01 X5 50e PHEV and it’s literally the nicest interior I’ve ever sat in.
The 2024s are great looking cars. From TH’s review they seem to have forgotten, once again, how to engineer decent steering into the car. Ever since BMW went to electric assist steering most of their cars steer for crap – which is a little frustrating as a customer who wants “the ultimate driving machine”. I have driven a few hundred miles in the 2024 and found it’s driving acceptable, if not comparable to an E39, E46, or E90 with the hydraulic setup. The 2024 has buttons too! I thought BMW was going to differentiate themselves by keeping their well honed hvac etc. controls as physical buttons, but no, they have removed that attribute so now their main advantage over Porsche is price (and everyone says the Macan is more sporty – I have not dared to drive one due to the potential hit to my wallet.)
I remain confused as to how BMW managed to fuck up their steering as much as they have. I get that a lot manufacturers have struggled with the transition to electric power steering, but BMW steering has been numb across the board for the last 4-5 years…and in a lot of their cars it’s really the only dynamic pitfall, which makes it extra frustrating.
I get that normies want 0 effort steering and couldn’t care less about feel, but like you I expect better from BMW of all companies. Anyway the Macan has haunted me for years. I’ve come close to biting the bullet and test driving one a few times but Id almost certainly leave with one and it would be a horrendous financial decision at a time when I really can’t afford to be making those.
For what it’s worth they do depreciate more than Porsche sports cars and their certified program is excellent. I think a certified one is a great buy in the 35-45k range as long as you’re prepared to pay for Porsche maintenance. I actually nearly bought one right before I got my Kona N, but being the Porschephile that I am I’m just not sure that I could go with a base one.
The S and GTS are just so damn good…and a lot of people say that the Macan T is the best intersection of fun and value if you care more about dynamics than speed. Hell both Matt Farah and Zack Klapman said they’d take a T over a lower spec’d S.
I bought a low mileage certified Macan Turbo 4 years ago and I couldn’t be happier with it. It was $48k at the time so you’ll easily find a good one under $40k.
It’s not the most practical choice (back seat is cramped, especially given its exterior dimensions) but it avoids the depression of daily driving something devoid of feel.
It’s supremely comfortable in the front seat (air suspension is lovely, I was scared but it’s been perfect) and just eats miles. Get to a good road and put it in Sport+ and it is surprisingly engaging for a 2 ton car.
I even think they still look good 10 years on, although that is very color/wheel dependent. Get a good spec and it’s still very sleek.
This is a dang great post too make at the end of the year. Hats off to the team here!
BTW, how about you all do a top 10 count down of the best top shots of the year?
I know this one is pretty dang clever and good
Sweet pics of the eclipse!
Most of these reviews could be a lot shorter:
“It’s a truck. It does truck things.” Even the “SUV’s.” Jeez they look like crap and zero fun and 10MPG.
You had a pretty good excuse in 2024 after all. I suspect 2025 will be slightly more productive.
Probably just slightly. You know how long resolutions tend to last.
So this doesn’t include the Ford Capri that Adrian reviewed by driving it straight into a brick wall then?
I’ve been bugging Ford for about two years to lend me the 2.8 injection they have in their heritage fleet. I’ve given up asking now – I’d have more respect for them if they’d told me to fuck off in the first instance.
Sadly UK automotive media is a cosy little club and I’m not in it.
Criminy! Less than an hour if you’re in the UK.
Happy New Year!
Low key – have you tried the American tack of telling them, straight to their faces that they are contemptible twats?
…Too ‘Merican to be British, too British to be American, too goth to be cool, too cool to be a nerd. Adrian is a man of many internal tortures.
“I’d have more respect for them if they’d told me to fuck off in the first instance.”
But that’s not the British way, now is it?
If all alse fails, you could practice your open aahs and hard arrs so you can tell ’em you’re an aahmerrican whose bri’ish accent came from watching too much Doctor Who with the other nerds back in Omaha.