Compact Car reviews

To celebrate the onset success of the new Kia Seltos, Kia has made it even better for the 2022 model year. A big part of the improvements for 2022 are the now standard safety features across the entire lineup. All models above the LX trim now feature a 10.25-inch infotainment display, UVO link connectivity, remote start, and auto climate control. The other side of the of the celebrate for 2022 is the new Seltos Turbo Nightfall Edition.

The Turbo Nightfall package is only available on models with the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine (S and SX trim levels) that have 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque and all-wheel drive. The exterior is enhanced with a number of black elements, including the new 18-inch matte black alloy wheels, black grille, and the standup roof rails, among other things. The interior is left largely untouched outside of a flat-bottom steering wheel and the option to have a “Plum” colored interior. Pricing for the Seltos Nightfall Edition comes in at $26,690.

Cupra, SEAT’s performance brand, has rolled out an electric hatch called Born. At its core, it’s a Volkswagen ID.3 but the brand has done well to not give it away easily. The Born is based on the el-Born concept that was unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. This electric hatch looks similar to the ID.3 on the inside, but a lot more aggressive on the outside. It even comes with a performance package that makes it more powerful than the Volkswagen EV. While the VAG won’t matter which brand sells more as long as the volumes come from the same auto group, but will the Cupra Born cannibalize into the ID.3’s sales?

Riding high on the success of the Ranger in Europe, Ford launched a special edition of the truck based on the Ranger Raptor. Called the Ranger Raptor Special Edition (no marks for creativity there), the truck comes with aesthetic upgrades and wide tracks. It rides on the same drivetrain without any power bumps. The automaker is pushing it as a ‘badass’ edition of the truck. But, what’s so badass about it?

If you follow what’s happening in the automotive world, you’ve probably noticed how Hyundai cars have turned from cheap and unremarkable into worthy alternatives to already established manufacturers. When it comes to mass-produced vehicles, the Hyundai i30 is right up there with the likes of Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Golf. The i30’s rise to its current status began at the 2010 Frankfurt Auto Show, where the second generation shocked Volkswagen executives, wondering how the Korean brand could come up with something so good. The i30 is currently in its third generation, but what really makes it so good?

“Turismo Internazionale” – it sounds Italian, but it’s actually what the “ti” designation on some compact BMW models stands for. After years of absence, we see it once again, on the 2021 BMW 128 ti. While the Bavarian hot hatch provides great performance and aggressive enough aesthetics, the Swiss tuning company has decided to turn the 128ti to 11, by improving almost every aspect of it. What came out of it is the 128tii (Turismo Internazionale Iniezione), which is an homage to the BMW 2002 tii.

The Honda Civic Type R is a very special vehicle. Many will belittle it because it is front wheel drive. Others will say that it is stupid to pay that much money for a fixed up Civic. People that say things like that are inexperienced drivers who have no idea how much fun a proper front wheel drive car can be. And if they need a badge from a high end European car to define a sports car, then they have an ego problem and they do not know anything about cars. Honda’s rich racing history is one of the most successful in recent times and products such as the Type R are a result of what their engineers learn from racing. We spent a few days with the Civic Type R and it is one of the most fun sports cars at any price. That sums it up. If you want more details, keep reading.

The third-generation Lotus Exige is six years old as of 2018 and a bit long in the tooth. A brand-new model is underway, but the Brits are keeping things interesting for the current model by building all sorts of special editions. At the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Lotus paid tribute to two of its most iconic race cars with the Exige Type 49 and Exige Type 79.

Both cars celebrate the company’s past glory in Formula One. The Exige Type 49 marks 50 years since Graham Hill won both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in the Type 49, while the Exige Type 49 marks 40 years since Mario Andretti did the same with the Type 79. The former race from 1967 through 1970 and won two championships, while also scoring podiums in each season. The Type 79’s career was a bit shorter, from 1978 through 1979.

Both Exige models were crafted by Lotus Exclusive, the brand’s recently established bespoke division. Let’s find out more about them below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Lotus Exige Type 49 and Type 49.

Volkswagen has decided to step on the gas (pun unintended) and launch a new range of performance EVs with the ‘GTX’ badge. The automaker has introduced its first car under this series based on the ID.4 called the ID.4 GTX. The EV comes with significant performance upgrades over the standard model and also comes with some aesthetic changes. An additional motor, enhanced power outputs, and new headlight detailing are some of the differences here. The performance, however, comes at the cost of the range since Volkswagen has made use of the same battery pack as the standard ID.4. What is more important to you?

The Chinese automotive industry has been steadily gathering momentum and they are now offering some viable alternatives, especially in the more affordable price range. Not long ago, Geely’s upscale brand, Lync & Co introduced its newest model – the 06. Regardless of the name, this is actually the smallest and also fifth model of the luxury brand. The Lynk & Co is a compact SUV, aimed at younger buyers.

Opel is bringing back the Manta nameplate with a strong contemporary twist: an all-electric powertrain and a smart screen integrated in the front end that can display various messages or logos.

Mercedes arrived at the 2021 Shanghai Auto with a new EV called the EQB. The company revealed the EQB less than a week after it took the wraps off another EV, the EQS. The EQS drew some polarizing opinions for its looks, but there’s no denying that it is a strong, competent product. Now, the automaker has unveiled this crossover that will hit the Chinese markets first and will then be launched in Europe later this year. It will arrive Stateside sometime in 2022.

Audi has jumped into one of the most popular segments today with two new electric offerings, the Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron. These compact SUVs could be a game-changer for Audi and bring in huge volumes once launched. Both of them are essentially the same vehicle other than the sloping roofline on the Sportback, which seems to be quite a popular option these days. For now, the company has revealed the Euro-spec models and trim details, but we can expect pretty much the same stuff Stateside, too.

Audi is one of the most proactive brands in the electric market today. The company has added two more models based on the Q4 in its e-tron lineup today – the Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron. Sportbacks seem to be big sellers for automakers these days and this has prompted the German automaker to come up with the sloping roofline version as well as the conventional SUV body style for its Q4-based e-tron.

Both the models have the same specs and features. The biggest differentiating factors are the shape at the rear and the pricing. With stuff like 300+ mile-range, dual-motor setup on offer, and many tech features, can the Q4 e-tron twins bring huge sales volumes for the company?

Recent pictures sent in by our spy photographers show a BMW M2 test mule strolling around in the Swedish winter landscape. The car has some interesting features - or lacks some, whichever you want to put it, which got attention.

The 2021 Koenigsegg Gemera is a two-door, four-seat hypercar developed by the Swedish company that gave us the Agera, Regera, and Jesko. But unlike its siblings, and despite having only two doors, the 2021 Gemera offers seating for four. And it does so via four equally comfortable seats, so it’s not just a regular grand tourer. The 2021 Gemera boasts a hybrid drivetrain under the skin, comprising three electric motor and a three-cylinder engine. As shocking as it may sound, the three-cylinder generates 600 horsepower, making it the most powerful of its kind in production, and works on a variety of fuels, including CO2-neutral methanol. Overall, the hybrid drivetrain pumps out an amazing 1,700 horsepower and 2,581 pound-feet of torque. Let’s find out more about the world’s first practical megacar - aka Mega GT - in the review below.

After entering the world of electrification with the Mini Cooper SE a couple of years back, the automaker is now gearing up for its next adventure. The next-gen Mini Cooper EV was recently spied in Sweden during a winter test session. The upcoming Mini Copper EV is still at least a couple of years away, but it will play an important part in shaping the company’s future. The car was spied with heavy camouflage that barely gives anything away, but here’s what we’ve documented about it.

For the folks who like their SUVs with coupè-like sloping rooflines, here’s Audi’s latest product – the Q5 Sportback. Audi calls them Crossover Utility Vehicles, and the Q5 Sportback is the third product in this lineup, following the Q3 Sportback and the e-tron Sportback. The Q5 Sportback is Audi’s take on the BMW X4 and the Mercedes GLC Coupe. The Q5 Sportback commands a premium of $4,500 over the SUV style for mainly an exterior appearance package, sleeker looks, and some other minor aesthetic upgrades. Is it worth it? Well, you tell us.

After a successful stint in its first generation, Mercedes has decided to introduce the second-generation of the GLA model. The AMG-tagged GLA 45 will be available in two variants – 45 and 45 S. Both of them feature the same mill, but different power outputs. They are powered by a new four-cylinder turbo engine with a four-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are also some interior and exterior tweaks that make the model fresh. Unfortunately, the GLA 45 S won’t make it Stateside.

The world of hot hatches is far more interesting than what we in the U.S. can ever fathom. The Europeans are particularly fond of them (the Brits especially), which led to the development of some of the most amazing cars. Some of them have never even appeared on U.S. shores. Believe it or not, I have found 21 awesome hot hatches from the past five years that have never set their tires on this side of the pond.

While compiling this list, I have come to a conclusion that buyers and drivers in the U.S. are usually really predictable. Apart from some producers who do not sell in the U.S. at all, international safety (UNECE) standards for car production are the ones to blame for a shortage of some of these cars.

We’re not compliant with those standards as we have our own set of rules called the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. In short, a disparity like this makes it very expensive for car producers to create two different versions of a car. And, that is exactly what is needed if you want to sell the same car in the U.S. and in the rest of the world.

Nevertheless, walk through this 4,853 horsepower list and imagine what your life would be like if some of these hot hatches could actually come here.

If it is not broke, do not fix it. The world’s appetite for crossovers and SUVs is still going strong and as long as people will buy these high-riding people carriers, carmakers will do everything in their power to milk the trend.

Hyundai is one of those carmakers and the milking will now be done via its new Europe-headed crossover, the Bayon. This is everything you need to know about the car that is supposed to poach customers from the likes of Ford Puma and Nissan Juke.

With a barrage of mass-produced EVs hitting the scene lately, Chevy’s offering to the segment, the Bolt, was looking more and more expensive by the day. Paying over $40,000 for a small hatch didn’t make much sense when you could get a competent product like Tesla Model 3 for that money. So, for the 2022 model, the automaker introduced some new features and reduced the price by $5,000!

However, to not create a vacuum and let the competition capitalize on it, the Bowtie also introduced a bigger “SUV-like” product called the Bolt EUV. It is priced on par with the outgoing Bolt and happens to be the first Chevy product to be offered with Super Cruise. Is this going to be the next-big-thing for the automaker in the EV market?