Compact Car guides

Ford is finally adding a brand new pickup truck to its arsenal in the form of the Maverick. The truck had been spotted many times in the past, but the automaker finally confirmed its existence last week. The Maverick will be an affordable, compact truck that will slot below the Ranger in Ford’s lineup. The truck is all set to debut on June 8 on the company’s official social media channels.

Ford has been tight-lipped about the truck so far, but, that doesn’t mean nothing’s known. So, coupled with a few speculations and what’s out in the open so far, here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 Ford Maverick.

The Mercedes AMG A45S is currently the hottest hatchback you can buy. We already covered how it stretches the definition of a hot hatchback. In fact, the AMG A45S is more of a super hatchback than anything else. Although its 421 horsepower, combined with all-wheel-drive and a quick-shifting DCT makes for a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds, you can’t neglect the steep price tag of $72,752. This begs the question, what are the alternatives? Luckily there are some, and here they are.

Pickup trucks were always bareboned and were meant to be used as work vehicles. We saw a lot of performance, off-road trucks now, but there weren’t a lot of such options back in the day. Many automakers gave this a shot and no matter how good they were, they never made it big. One of the most prominent performance trucks from back in the day is the GMC Syclone.

The Syclone hit the automotive scene in 1991 and took everyone by surprise. Not a lot of people could fathom a truck that could take on, or probably even take down some of the most beloved supercars from that era. With performance specs that are impressive even three decades later, the GMC Syclone is the truck that the world needs today.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is considered the forefather of the hot hatch segment. The first Golf GTI was introduced in June 1976 and has been going strong ever since. Nowadays, the Golf GTI is in its eighth generation and is still one of the best all-around performers in the segment. It’s also sold both in Europe and North America, which is not something that can be said for all the cars on the list. With that being said, the modern hot hatch scene is as dynamic as ever and many new contenders for the best hot hatch title. Here are some of the best alternatives that aim to de-throne the GTI.

America loves pickups, but with an F-150 costing up to $80,000, it’s easy to see why maybe some people would want something cheaper. Much cheaper. So keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the upcoming Ford Baby-Bronco based Maverick - a pickup that will start at just $20,000.

Having the engine in the middle or as close to the center of the car as possible is deemed ideal in order to have even weight distribution between the two axles. But over the years, the configuration has mostly been reserved for expensive exotics unattainable by only the wealthiest enthusiasts. That’s why cheaper cars that have adopted the configuration have always stood out and usually attract some manner of cult following.

This article focuses on midship cars which you can buy right now without having to factor in the sale of an organ or anything involving a Ponzi scheme and wearing a fake mustache. Rest assured you can get attainable mid-engined kicks these days in the cars posted after the jump (in ascending price order), but don’t go thinking they’re cheap; they’re not.

This is the new and improved 2022 Chevrolet Bolt hatchback, and this is its slightly bigger, more crossover-looking brother, the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV. They’re both all-electric vehicles with a range of at least 250 miles on a single charge, and they cost from $32,000. In other words, less than the outgoing Bolt, but with more standard kit. So, let’s see what’s what with these electric cars that are meant to get the masses rolling on electrons.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say what the EV market is what it is today because of Tesla. The Musk-led company has revolutionized this segment in the last decade or so. The company has got four mass-market, mainstream cars at the moment – the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and the Model X – and others like the Cybertruck and the Roadster that are yet to arrive or are niche products.

While the S3XY range is doing very well in the market, neither of them can be called ‘affordable’ cars. In the past, Musk had made it clear that Tesla won’t be making any cheap cars, but at the Tesla Battery Day last year, he set a cat amongst the pigeons when he said that the company will build a $25,000 car. It became the talk of the town even though not much is known about it. But, here’s everything you need to know about this affordable Tesla EV.

Before we get going, do note that there is no concrete information about the $25,000 EV and most of the things are mere speculations based on the few details we already know. So, take it with a pinch of salt.

Those with an eye for motorsport know who Cyan Racing is. What they didn’t know – us included – was how apt at bringing back an iconic Volvo the racing team really was. That, of course, changed when they introduced the P1800 Cyan.

Munich decided to offer a high-performance wagon based on the 3 Series and the BMW M division got involved immediately. After years of hopes, prayers, and fervent wishes, BMW is finally offering an M3 Touring (read: wagon). This is everything we know about it.

Ever since Subaru lifted the Legacy’s suspension, slapped on some body cladding, and called it the Outback, it’s been harder and harder to draw a firm line between ’regular’ cars and SUVs. And we recently drove three vehicles that are right in that blurry area. Their manufacturers call them crossovers, and they’re tall and plastic-clad. But they’re tiny and come only with front-wheel-drive.

Whatever you call them, the all-new 2020 Hyundai Venue, the freshly-redesigned 2020 Kia Soul, and the 2020 Nissan Kicks are a lot of vehicle for the money. They all start below $20,000, all get at least 30 mpg, and all have higher seating positions and more cargo room than a sedan. They slot under their brands’ crossovers that already wear the pint-sized label of subcompact — the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, and Nissan Rogue Sport — to provide an even lower price and even more city-friendly parking abilities.

It is a known fact that electric cars suffer from range issues in extreme temperatures. However, Musk’s team has come up with a solution to make EVs more efficient in colder climates. Tesla has equipped a heat pump in the Model Y to counter this problem and it has even left Elon Musk impressed.

The feature came to light when an owner discovered the heat pump in his Model Y. Even the owner’s manual mentions it. Could it be the next big thing in electric vehicles?

BMW unveiled thei4 Concept at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show, well, virtually. It previewed what we can expect from the production-spec i4 that will release some time in 2021.

The concept proved that there is a lot more to the i4 than its polarizing looks. We put it up against the Tesla Model S recently, but how does it fare against Tesla’s best-seller and most likely cheaper Model 3? So, let’s compare them both and see what are the differences between the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4, and why do those differences matter.

For the better part of a decade (since 2014, to be specific), Hyundai has been teasing us with a stand-alone N-branded halo car that would feature a mid-engine configuration and hatchback body. We’ve seen four concepts – the RM14, RM15, RM16, and most recently, the RM19 – and now we’ve received even more information that helps us paint a clear picture of what we can expect from the N halo car and when we can expect to see it. The future is here folks, and Hyundai’s affordable sports car isn’t far off. Here’s everything we know about it!

The Tesla Cybertruck put the car industry in shock with its outlandish design,incredible performance, and the best range ever announced by the American automaker. All this at an incredible starting price of $39,000! The Cybertruck quickly prompted rumors that Tesla could also create its cheapest model yet, thanks to its revolutionary exoskeleton: enter the Cybercar. That new vehicle would be perfect to serve as the Robotaxi fleet Elon Musk talked about in recent years, but what would a Cybercar look like and what will it bring to the market?

It’s a small crossover based on the 2021 Mercedes GLA Battery placement in the floor Could still take cues from EQA Concept Should go on sale sometime in late-2020 249-mile range, 60 kWh battery

Mercedes has finally unveiled the new GLA, and during the presentation, we were treated to a teaser of the Mercedes EQA EV – a model once believed to be an entry-level hatchback. The image was clear enough that we can confirm the EQA will, in fact, be a very small crossover, one that we’ve seen in the prototype form in the past. This raises a big question, though. Why isn’t the production version of the Mercedes EQA going to take after the Concept EQA that was shown off by Mercedes back in 2017, and what happened to the hatchback body style?

Mercedes is preparing to debut the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class on December 11th, but before the second-generation crossover arrives, the German automaker dropped a new teaser showing the new GLA-Class’ side profile and parts of the rear section.

The familiar design echoes the looks that we’re now familiar with from Mercedes’ new batch of compact cars. The carmaker took a few design liberties in rendering of the GLA-Class — the wheels and tires are abnormally large — but for the most part, the second-generation crossover carries a host of new design features that should make the GLA Class look sportier than in previous forms.

Small SUVs barged into the market completely changing the automotive landscape and the expectations of fellow drivers. Suddenly, the performance and driving enjoyment that were rather high on the imaginary list of features that customers religiously craved for gave up place to cargo space and connectivity. Now, I am here to rank 13 small SUVs from worst to best. Trying to be as objective as possible, I have compared several main features trying to get a clearer picture. I am comparing the size, engine, cargo capacity, price, and connectivity. The 13 SUVs ranked here do make the bulk of all small SUV segment. Not one of them is longer than 177 inches, and all but one have a wheelbase shorter than 106 inches.

Interestingly enough, some of the most recognizable names that built up the small SUV kingdom aren’t here anymore. SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, or the Mazda CX-5, somehow do not feel as little as they did a decade ago. Plus, all of them overshoot my length/wheelbase limit.

Toyota’s usual lineup for the SEMA Show is centered mostly around SUVs and trucks, but the 2019 edition brings the fifth-generation Supra into the spotlight. The Japanese carmaker took the 2019 SEMA Show by storm with a handful of modified Supras, either built by aftermarket tuners or developed by Toyota itself to preview upcoming parts and accessories. Here’s the four most interesting coupes you’ll find on the show floor.

The Volkswagen Golf is arguably one of the most recognizable models in Volkswagen’s lineup. That stature comes with the pressure of standing out in a sea of hatchbacks looking to take some shine away from the famous nameplate. Now that the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf (Mk8) is here, it looks like the competition will have its hands full trying to catch up with the Golf Mk8. See, there are a lot of things to like about the Golf Mk8, but arguably the most important of these things is the incredible amount of new technologies Volkswagen was able to pack into the hatchback. Believe me when I tell you, the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf is so tricked out in new technology, it’s hard to imagine how Volkswagen managed to fit all of them into the hatchback.

I am in love with the new Land Rover Defender. But at first, I was not. I was disappointed with its move towards an unibody chassis, and I have resented all the "soft-touches" Land Rover prepped for it. But I have changed my mind.

True, it is a mommy automobile, and a kids-to-school mover, but it is the best mommy automobile and kids transportation device I have ever seen. It’s tough, robust, well-engineered, rugged, and seriously capable. Plus, Land Rover offers it with 170 accessories, like roof racks, tow hitches, steel wheels, a rinse system, an armrest cooler, and a front bench-style seat. Find me another car that offers all of that. There’s no way you can. But!

There is a big "but" here. The 2020 Land Rover Defender is seriously expensive. It starts at $50,925 (plus destination charges) in the U.S. That’s huge. That is the price of the base BMW X4 xDrive30i. Take a deep dive in the configurator and you can spec it out at more than 100 grand. That is absurd.

In 2012, the Land Rover Defender started at $22,000 in Australia. Then again, the only thing that’s left from the old Defender on the new one is the name. Nothing else. This is a wholly new car. I only hope that Land Rover invested heavily in quality control. If it manages to ace reliability and dependability surveys with the new Defender, I’d say that the price may even be justified.

Here are several cool quirks and features that set this Defender apart from any other car in the world.

A lot of stress is being given to safety features in vehicles today. Although cars and SUVs use this as a selling point, trucks never really came loaded with a lot of safety tech. However, things are changing now for good, and automakers have upped their game. The 2020 Ram 1500 bagged the Top Safety Pick + award, something unheard of in the truck segment. There’s no doubt that the larger trucks are a lot more equipped than the compact trucks, but what is the benchmark in this segment, and which trucks have scored the best and the worst?