Tag Archives: SUVs

Polestar, the Volvo performance brand turned EV super-company, is at it again. This time, it’s back at it with the Polestar 4 – a full-electric performance-SUV with pizazz.

You could randomly pick an automaker from a hat and be guaranteed that the company has mentioned “the climate” in one of its recent press statements. Polestar’s focus is on supply chain tracing to prevent conflict minerals.

2024 is around the corner. The Polestar 4 awaits you!

Polestar 4 price and specs

Although data on the Polestar 4 is preliminary, we got some interesting spec and info on the car at the Shanghai motor show. If you need to get clued up on some EV terminology, check our EV explainer out before continuing.

• Price (MSRP): $60,000
• Battery capacity: 94 kWh
• Charging: 200 kW DC (28 min), 22 kW AC (5h15m)
• Range: 315 miles

2023 Polestar 4 interior and tech

The Polestar 4 takes the Scandinavian design approach of function over form. Simple body lines, a sleek shape and open cabin all make for a serene passenger-or-pilot experience. Although the design is pleasing to the eye, it’s centered on improving aerodynamics and range. A lowered front apron, retractable door handles, and rear aero blades all help reduce air resistance. Even the rear-light bar maxes out aero points.

If you like screens, it’s got a 14.7-inch Head-Up Display, and a 10.2-inch driver display.

No rear window? No Problem!

It’s got a top-mounted rear view camera and a panoramic roof that stretches all the way to the back – a first for any production car.

Interior dimensions

• Front storage capacity: 0.5 cubic feet
• Rear luggage capacity: 17.7 cubic feet
• Rear cargo capacity: 52.3 cubic feet
• Towing capacity: 3,500 lbs

Exterior dimensions

• Height: 190.5”
• Length: 84.2″ 
• Width: 60.7″
• Wheelbase: 118” (including mirrors) 

Usability

A sports-SUV needs a big trunk. You need to be able to carry all your gold bars from one office to the next (S/O to SavageGeese on YouTube). The Polestar 4 has 17 cubic feet of trunk space and 52 cubic feet with the seats folded down. In real-world terms, that’s 5 large suitcases or 14 with the seats folded down.

The frunk (front trunk), on the other hand, carries all your charging gear.

Tech

Polestar has all the sensors! The Polestar 4 has 12 cameras, a driver monitoring camera, 12 ultrasonic sensors and radar. This is part of the Mobileye SuperVision system, meant to allow advanced driving assistance like Self-driving.

It’s also got vehicle-to-load capability (bi-directional charging). Essentially, you can power your house appliances from the main battery, or feed power back into the grid. It also allows you to camp without having an external power-system or massive overlanding rig. So, it’s useful if you’re the type to enjoy the outdoors.

Polestar 4 range and charging times

This is where the Polestar 4 comes into its own. It does around 315 miles on a full charge and has 200 kW DC fast charging. That is, if you find a fast charging station that isn’t occupied. Overnight charging at home is 22 kW AC, double that of the competitors in the same class.

Home charging is type 2. Fast charging is CCS and both use the SAE J1772 connector most commonly found in North America. This is pretty much standard in modern EVs, so it’s nice to know Polestar aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel here.

• Battery capacity: 94 kWh
• Charging capacity (AC): 22 kW
• Charging time (AC): 0-100% in 5.5 hours
• Charging capacity (DC): 200 kW
• Charging time (DC): 5-80% in 32 min (200 kW)

400-volt architecture

400 volt is so last year! Porsche were the first to make the jump to 800V with the Taycan. Hyundai followed suit with the Ioniq 6. In fact, the Polestar 5, which is still in development, will also use an 800V architecture.

So, why is the Polestar 4 stuck with the tired old 400V?

The Geely SEA platform supports both 400V and 800V battery and charging architectures. It makes sense to share resources between lines, instead of throwing every vehicle on to 800v. It’s in tune with Polestar’s sustainability goals. But, it means that the Polestar 4 has half the charging speed, is heavier and costs more to make.

2023 Polestar 4 engine and performance

The dual motor version offers 400kW and 638 Nm. That gives you a 0-62 mph time of 3.8 seconds. If you opt for the rear single motor option, you’ll get 200kW and 253 lb-ft of torque and a 0- 62 mph time of 7.4 sec. 

Of course, the Polestar 4 isn’t a track car. You might want to hold on for the Polestar 5 if the track is where you get your kicks.

Polestar 4 Long range Single motor

• Electric motor power: 200 kW (272 hp)
• Torque: 253 lb-ft (343 Nm)
• Top speed 180 km/h (112 mph)
• Acceleration: 7.4 seconds
• Drivetrain: Permanent magnet synchronous motors

Polestar 4 Long range Dual motor

• Electric motor power: 400 kW (544 hp)
• Torque: 506 lb-ft (686 Nm)
• Top speed: 124 mph (200 km/h)
• Acceleration: 3.8 seconds
• Drivetrain: Permanent magnet synchronous motors

Polestar 3 vs 4

The Polestar 3 is more-akin to a traditional SUV. Where the Polestar 4 is built on the SEA platform (Volvo EX30), the Polestar 3 is on the previous gen SPA2 platform (Volvo XC40 Recharge).

Range and charging are slightly improved with the Polestar 4. The Polestar 3 does 305 miles on a full charge and fast-charges from 10-80% in 32 min.

Polestar’s commitment to sustainability

“Sustainable Experience Architecture” is Geely’s new name for their open-source modular electric vehicle platform. The plan is to supply automakers with a frame, components and batteries. This will reduce costs, reduce waste and minimize the automakers impact on the planet.

Polestar being Polestar, took it a step further with a “Mono Material Approach.” The aim of this is to have all interior materials 100% recyclable, without extra sorting. The carpets are from recycled fishing nets (ECONYL) and the vinyl uses pine oil instead of crude oil (MicroTech).

It’s nice to see a company commit to sustainable manufacturing and materials in a meaningful way.

Is the Polestar 4 fun to drive?

Semi-active suspension means that you can switch between comfort and performance on the fly. According to Polestar, steering and handling are sharp and the car is thrilling to drive. Further details will trickle in closer to the release date.

Pre-order, buy, or skip

This is definitely a “buy” for now. Your best bet is to wait for Polestar to release the full details. 

The current specs, range and charging are class-leading. It looks pretty cool too. Somehow the Polestar 4 manages to use Nordic design and not look like a Tesla or a generic SUV. There’s not much to dislike here. So, if you’re in the market for a performance-SUV, this should be near the top of your list.

[1] All charging/range numbers are approximate as weather, battery temperature, battery degradation and location affect charging speeds.

[2] Pricing of the Polestar 4 is not final.

GM is going all out with electric vehicles in the next few model years. As proven by the exciting Hummer EV SUV, massive Chevy Silverado EV, and (uhh…) elusive Cadillac Lyriq, the American auto giant fully intends on making its Ultium battery platform the gold standard for EVs. The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ is GM’s latest Ultium EV SUV, and it promises to make a splash — with experts and auto-spies across the internet speculating about its design and features.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade IQ was announced at a grand event in New York City on August 9, 2023. Like the Hummer EV SUV and Chevy Silverado EV, the Escalade IQ will be assembled at GM’s Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center. For some reason, GM is promoting this event with the tagline “Built in Detroit. Revealed in New York City,” which, let’s be honest, doesn’t really mean anything.

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ price and release date

• Price: $130,000 – $175,000 minimum
• Release date: Summer 2024

As is expected from the EV version of an already pricey full-size luxury SUV, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ starts at a cool $130,000. While we don’t know much about the pricing apart from that, GM has shown off one configuration that adds up to around $175,000.

There will seemingly be four trim levels including Luxury 1, Sport 1, Luxury 2, and Sport 2. Based on what we’ve seen from Caddy models, we suspect these names will change to something a little less generic as we get closer to the Escalade IQ’s summer 2024 launch. GM has teased that there may eventually be an Escalade IQL trim with a longer wheelbase and an Escalade IQ-V trim with boosted performance, according to GM Authority — but this will likely come later.

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ specs

Although much information about the various Cadillac IQ trims are still behind closed doors, GM has its overall dimensions as well as a handful of options.

Exterior color options

• Flare Metallic (available with optional black roof)
• Black Raven
• Black Cherry Tintcoat (available with optional black roof)
• Deep Space Metallic (available with optional black roof)
• Summit White (available with optional black roof)
• Midnight Steel Frost (available with optional black roof)
• Luna Metallic (available with optional black roof)

Interior seating options

• Sheer/medium dark cinder gray
• Backen black / Santorini

Wheels

• 7-spoke alloy wheels with mask/polish with machine face and high gloss black pockets and inserts
• 7 tri-spoke alloy wheels with deep night metallic
• 7-spoke alloy wheels with mask/polish with high gloss black pockets and chrome inserts

Exterior dimensions

• Height: 76.1″
• Length: 224.3″
• Width: 94.1″ (including mirrors) 

Interior and tech

As we mentioned above, one of the primary benefits of the Ultium battery platform is that GM’s designers have unprecedented freedom when it comes to the interior of their vehicles. This remains true for the Escalade IQ, as the combustion-engine version’s cabin would probably be considered a “spacious studio apartment” in some major cities.

With this massive cabin space comes even more real estate for tech, screens, and all sorts of bells and whistles (probably not literally, but who knows?) The Cadillac Escalade IQ will have luxury-level technology including GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving capabilities as well as other premium trappings like HD Surround Vision that have been announced for its other luxury-level vehicles.

Interior dimensions

• Cabin cargo space: up to 119.2 cubic-feet
• eTrunk cargo space: up to 12.2 cubic-feet

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ electric range and charging times

• Electric range: up to 450 miles
• DC fast charging time: 100 miles of range in 10 minutes

Assuming it lives up to its own internal estimates in the real world, the Cadillac Escalade IQ packs some seriously impressive electric range – 450 miles to be exact. And because it gets 100 miles of range from 10 minutes of charging, it would only take a little over 30 minutes to charge from 10% to 80% capacity, or in a less realistic and unadvisable scenario, 45 minutes to reach 100% from 0.

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ powertrain and 0-60 performance

• Horsepower: 750 horsepower
• Torque: 785 lb-ft

GM’s mantra with its latest line of EV SUVs seems to be “bigger is better,” and the Cadillac Escalade IQ is no exception. With 750 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque under its belt, you’ll certainly never miss a meeting, even if using all that power in such a hefty machine means putting pedestrians at risk, not to mention other drivers. Though GM hasn’t said a whole lot else about its performance, the 8,660-pound Hummer EV SUV can accelerate from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds – a terrifying thought!

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ design changes

Unsurprisingly, the Cadillac Escalade shares many of its design elements with the Lyriq – such as the chevron-hatched “black crystal shield” grille and “vertical light blade” smart headlights, but with the Escalade’s even more extravagant styling. It does have a lower stance, thankfully, which is being advertised as a feature to improve its aerodynamics, but in reality, the floor-mounted battery allows for a lower center of gravity.

Otherwise, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ pretty closely resembles the Escalade of old, so if you liked how it looked before, you’ll appreciate the more conservative approach the folks at GM took with this gargantuan block of wealth on wheels.

FAQs

When will the Cadillac Escalade IQ be released?

While the exact date has yet to be confirmed, GM has confirmed the 2025 model year Cadillac Escalade IQ will arrive at your local dealer no later than summer 2024. We’ll see.

What will the Cadillac Escalade IQ cost?

As the flagship of GM’s luxury all-electric offerings, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ will start at $130,000 for the base trim with no options. Beyond that, the Escalade IQ website shows a $175,000 spec, suggesting the price will go much higher depending on the spec you (or the dealer) decide to order.

What is the Cadillac Escalade IQ’s electric range on a single charge?

See above.

Today is your moment. You’re living in the EV transition. In 20 years, your only vehicle may be electric. You might even own or want to buy an electric car like the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq right now. That sounds amazing!

But change is painful. It’s made more difficult by unrealistic emissions targets and those unwilling to change. General Motors (GM) sold 134,726 Cadillacs in 2022. Only 122 of those were the Lyriq. It was second only to GMC’s Hummer EV as the worst-selling vehicle in GM’s fleet, according to GoodCarBadCar. Yet the electric Caddy lives on in the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq, which exists, allegedly. Meanwhile, Tesla’s teasing its cheaper Model 2, which may also exist, allegedly.

It doesn’t take a genius to see what’s wrong with this picture. How can a car that cost $2 billion to develop flop this badly? We’ll get to that, but first, a formal introduction to the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq price and specs

Pricing for the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq starts at $59,990. If you can find one, you’ll get a lot of features, even with the base model.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq: see prices at CarGurus

2024 Cadillac Lyriq Tech

• Price: $59,990
• Battery capacity: 102 kWh
• Power: 340 hp (255 kW), 325 lb-ft of torque
• EPA-estimated range: 312 miles (RWD)

2024 Cadillac Lyriq Luxury

• Price: $68,990
• Battery capacity: 102 kWh
• Power: 340 hp (255 kW), 450 lb-ft of torque
• EPA-estimated range: 307 miles (AWD)

2024 Cadillac Lyriq Sport

• Price: $76,990
• Battery capacity: 102 kWh
• Power: 500 hp (255 kW), 450 lb-ft of torque (440 Nm)
• EPA-estimated range: 307 miles (AWD)

Exterior color options

• Argent Silver Metallic
• Stellar Black Metallic
• Crystal White Tricoat
• Opulent Blue Metallic 
• Radiant Red Tintcoat 
• Emerald Lake Metallic
• Celestial Metallic
• Nimbus Metallic

Exterior dimensions

• Height: 63.9″
• Length: 196.7″
• Width: 86.9″ (including mirrors) 

2024 Cadillac Lyriq interior and tech

Interior color options

• Noir inteluxe seats, two tone upper bolster accents
• Noir inteluxe seats, santorini blue accents, perforated inserts, dark paperwood trim
• Sky cool gray inteluxe seats, santorini blue accents, perforated inserts, dark PaperWood trim
• Oxford stone full nappa leather seats, garnet accents, perforated inserts, Dark Ash genuine open pore wood trim, backlit door accents

Interior dimensions

• 28.0 cubic-feet, rear seatbacks up
• 60.8 cubic-feet, rear seatbacks down

GM put the Lyriq in luxury with this interior. Ambient lighting and physical buttons are a welcome addition. Being an EV means the inside of the car is roomy by default. The engineers struck a fine balance between minimalism and comfort. From the classic wood trim to the understated seats, the Lyriq’s interior blends the old with the new in a way that’s distinctively Cadillac.

If you’re into tech, the driver assist package gets you automatic e-braking, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and blind spot steering assist. The luxury and sport trims can use Supercruise, GM’s legally-not-self-driving “hands-free driver assistance technology for compatible roads.” But that requires an additional subscription.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq range and charging

The Lyriq comes with a 22-ft “Dual-Level” charge cord. The vehicle accepts up to 240-Volt/7.7 kW for up to 21 miles of range per hour of charge. As with most EVs, you can add a Level 2 charger for a faster charge – more on that here.

2024 Cadillac Lyriq Tech

• Electric range:  314 miles (RWD)
• Level 2 charging time: Up to 21 miles of range per hour
• DC fast charging time: 77 miles of range in 10 minutes

2024 Cadillac Lyriq Luxury

• Electric range:  307 miles (AWD)
• Level 2 charging time: Up to 21 miles of range per hour
• DC fast charging time: 77 miles of range in 10 minutes

2024 Cadillac Lyriq Sport

• Electric range:  309 miles (AWD)
• Level 2 charging time: Up to 21 miles of range per hour
• DC fast charging time: 77 miles of range in 10 minutes

2024 Cadillac Lyriq powertrain and 0-60 performance

EVs are known to be rocket ships off the line. The Cadillac Lyriq rear-wheel drive (RWD) has a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. The all-wheel drive (AWD) version beats that comfortably with 4.6 seconds. Of course, 340 hp and a single motor is more than enough for a luxury SUV. If you want to a bit faster, the luxury and sport trims give you 500 hp and 340 lb.-ft of torque.

Lyriq RWD

• Electric motor power: 340 hp (255 kW), 325 lb.-ft. of torque (440 Nm)
• Battery capacity: 102 kWh 
• Top speed: 118 mph (190 km/h)
• Acceleration: 6 seconds
• Drivetrain: Permanent magnet electric single-drive motor

Lyriq AWD

• Electric motor power: 500 hp (373 kW), 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm)
• Battery capacity: 102 kWh
• Top speed: 130 mph (200 km/h)
• Acceleration: 4.6 seconds
• Drivetrain: Permanent magnet electric dual-drive motor

Poor sales numbers

Early production issues put a complete stop to Lyriq deliveries. 2022 saw a vehicle’s software management update, a fix for cracking liftgate panel, and a recall for display issues. 

Cadillac is not the only legacy automaker having trouble with EVs. Toyota had to recall its bZ4X electric SUV because, I shit you not, its wheels were falling off. An I Think You Should Leave sketch come to life. Hyundai is currently the subject of an NHTSA probe into “complete power loss while driving.”

Cadillac dealership ultimatum

In 2021, dealerships were offered a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum: Pay $200,000 to upgrade your dealership to our new electric branding, or sell your dealership for $500,000. The service costs related to EVs are much less than ICE vehicles, so a loss in revenue for the dealership is almost guaranteed. 

Much of this underperformance can be attributed to the higher cost of electric cars when compared to gas options.

As Harold Meyerson from The American Prospect recently pointed out, “The big problem for EVs from a price standpoint is that the whole industry has decided that the only way to cater to American tastes is to make their EV fleet out of trucks and SUVs, eliminating the economical sedans that might be affordable.”

But even most of those SUVs and trucks are EV counterparts to premium offerings in each automaker’s respective lineups. Ford has an F-150 Lightning, for example, but it doesn’t offer all-electric variants of the more affordable Maverick and the mid-size Ranger. That may help to explain why the average price of an EV is closer to that of a luxury vehicle than a midrange or economy car across all segments.

That doesn’t even include used cars, which accounted for 74.8% of vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2022, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Reduced volume also means dealerships have to mark up their inventory much higher than MSRP. A car on the lot doesn’t translate to an automatic sale. 

EV charging still sucks

The U.S. government has done a great job rolling out EV charging stations. Still, access to charging stations is poor. The average EV charging time is around 40 minutes – and that’s if you find a fast charger. That can be tough considering there are 21 electric vehicles for every charging port available.

That said, EVs can charge overnight and just 4.9% of trips are longer than 30 miles. However, range anxiety is still a stumbling block for potential EV buyers.

The Lyriq exists to meet emissions targets

Let’s be honest for a moment, current EPA emissions targets are next to impossible for manufacturers to meet. Consumer demand is not shifting fast enough. We’re nowhere close to achieving a clean energy grid. Although U.S battery production is on a monumental upswing, a litany of challenges still exist.

The Lyriq is an investor peg on a large board. GM needs to make the transition to electric vehicles without impacting the sales of its ICE vehicles, which are in higher demand and cheaper to build. 

It’s hard not to be reminded of the 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? which detailed the EV1, GM’s first electric car it intentionally sabotaged just so it wouldn’t have to make another one. Rather than selling the car to the people who wanted to buy it, the company opted instead to make life hell for anyone that dared ask to take one home. And because the EV1 was only available as a lease, GM eventually took back its supply and crushed nearly every car.

In other words, the EV1 was less of a commercial product and more of an elaborate ploy to tell the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to go fuck themselves. While I’m not saying that’s the case with the Lyriq, how’s that saying go? History doesn’t repeat itself but the lyrics rhyme. Now we call them compliance cars. You don’t need an industrial compactor to destroy a glorified concept car.

The EV outlook

Global EV sales don’t align with emissions targets. BEVs – those with fully electric powertrains as opposed to plug-in hybrids like the Alfa Romeo Tonale we reviewed – made up only 5.8% of U.S. vehicle sales last year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Norway led the charge with 71% of new car sales being all-electric. EV-Volumes sheds light on the reality of our so-called electrified future:

“In a scenario towards 100% zero-emission global light vehicle sales in 2045 (as an example for the math), the total number of BEVs in operation reaches 1.1 billion, while the total number of vehicles in operation reaches 2 billion in 2045. By then, over 55% of the stock are BEVs but the sobering truth is also that, with current scrapping rates, over 40% of vehicles in operation still need to burn fuels.”

FAQs

When will my Cadillac Lyriq be delivered?

If you were part of the initial sign-up, chances are you’ve already received multiple emails, delaying the delivery of your car. EV tax credit issues and software glitches caused initial poor supply.

Does the Cadillac Lyriq qualify for a tax credit?

The vehicle was not classified as an SUV, but as a car, so it did not qualify for the EV tax credit of ~$7500, further delaying production. Q1 2023 saw 968 Lyriqs and GM expect production to ramp up in Q2 and Q3. So you may get your Cadillac Lyriq as late as November.

Is the Cadillac Lyriq reliable?

This is the first fully-electric Cadillac vehicle. There are bound to be teething issues. The J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study ranked the Cadillac brand 9th overall, above BMW and Mercedes Benz. GM continues to invest in and improve its Ultium BEV platform as well.

When will the Cadillac Lyriq be available at a GM dealership?

Delivery to a dealership can take up to 100 days. Production has ramped up this year with 8,000 vehicles expected to be delivered.

As I drove the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale over the past couple of weeks, I finally understood America’s infatuation with SUVs. I rode high on my steel throne, as my feet sat 6 inches from the ground and the tip of the brim on my cap hit the ceiling 5 feet in the air. My head was in the clouds, and no pothole in Queens was a match for my all-wheel drive (AWD) subcompact crossover. But unlike most vehicles in its class, the Alfa Romeo Tonale pops out like a peacock in a flock of pigeons.

In the last season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, there’s a scene where the Weissman family is sitting down at the table eating breakfast. Midge, reviewing color swatches for her new bathroom fixtures, decides she’s going to buy a pink toilet. Her father, Abe, isn’t having any of it though, insisting toilets should only ever be white. But Midge, being Midge, doesn’t back down. Mildly annoyed, she quips, “A pink toilet is still a toilet, just a little more fun!”

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale: check local availability

Growing up as a kid in the early aughts, the master bathroom in our house had a pink toilet with a matching shower, tub, and double vanities. The half bathroom near the kitchen was furnished with a toilet and sink in dark green. Around the time we stopped drinking skim milk with dinner, colorful bathrooms went out of fashion I guess, seeing as all our stuff was replaced with the same stuff but in a more neutral white. Soon thereafter, it seemed the world had turned monochromatic and sterile.

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2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale design

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As Frank Markus said for Motor Trend, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is “being pitched to women and millennials.” Not the enthusiast type, but the “taking your kids to soccer practice” type. Its goal is to steal market share from the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA-Class, and it may very well do that.

With every new BMW seemingly competing for the Most Repulsive Grille Award, its aversion to change works to Alfa’s benefit. The self-serious marketing copy on its website might be slightly hyperbolic (see the graphic I made below for the Greatest Hits), but the Alfa Romeo Tonale is a better-looking SUV than just about every other crossover on the market, not that it’s an especially high bar considering every car looks the same now.

The tasteful V-shaped Scudetto (Italian for “little shield”) grille is unwavering, practically identical to the one on the 8C Competizione that brought Alfa back to the States in 2008. The appearance will differ slightly from trim to trim. It’s gloss black on our Veloce, whereas the midrange Ti sparkles silver, and the Sprint’s grille is a more subdued black than the Veloce’s, outlined in a more economical plastic material. As Top Gear said in its review of the U.K.-spec Alfa Romeo Tonale, the “elegant shield grille makes you wonder why rivals are making such a horlicks of their increasingly pugnacious frontal styling.” How very British of them.

The only substantial change to the front end from the Alfa models before it is the Marelli 12-zone adaptive headlight system. Rather than burning the retinas out from the skull of the driver in front of you, each zone responds independently to your outside driving conditions. When you’re cruising through town at low speeds, for instance, it reduces power consumption as well as glare by only utilizing the necessary lighting zones for optimal visibility. It kinda reminds me of how OLED TVs work, in a sense.

Don’t hold your breath for a Quadrifoglio like the Giulia and Stelvio before it, though. Because it’s PHEV (plug-in hybrid)-only in the United States, I doubt we’ll see a Tonale with a Ferrari-derived engine, as is the Alfa CEO. (Sorry, losers, no four-leaf clover this time!)

More so than previous Alfa Romeo models, the 2024 Tonale won’t let you forget where its assembly plant is based. Three Italian flags brazenly appear throughout – two on the side mirrors and one prominently displayed below the gear shift. Perhaps it’s to distract you from the DNA it shares with red-blooded American muscle cars and 4x4s, thanks to its absorption into Stellantis, which also owns Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Dodge. Because found on the driver’s side window, brake calipers, and even in the engine bay are the obligatory Official Mopar® stamps of approval.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale colors

Parked on the street, I was sitting in the car one morning queueing up music on CarPlay when I saw a teacher walk by chaperoning a group of young elementary school kids. “Wow, look at that car. What color is that?” she asked one student.

The child, who could not care less, ignored her question.

“Green, right! Emerald green. Can you say emerald?” The student did not respond.

More recently, I nearly pulverized a pedestrian as he was crossing the street while the traffic light was green. I slowed down, of course, so he could cross. He, too, complimented the car. It seems no matter who you are or how you drive, the Alfa Romeo Tonale will stop people in their tracks, pausing for a moment to stare in awe. Not because it’s an Alfa – New York has plenty of Giulias and Stelvios in black and white and gray. But because it’s green… excuse me, verde fangio.

It isn’t subtle either, calling to mind the shade Aston Martin uses for its Formula 1 cars and has since made its way to production vehicles including the DBX 707 SUV and the new DB12.

Alfa knew what it was doing when it exclusively showcased the green Tonale in just about all of its marketing. Because the green Tonale comes at a $2,000 premium. But even if you, like me, believe an eye-catching color is well worth the added cost, it’s no longer available to order from the Alfa Romeo site as of this writing. Instead, you’ll have to check in with a local dealer and see if they have any in stock.

Otherwise, you can be boring and get yours in Alfa White without spending another dime – or shell out a little more for a lot more visual appeal. Whatever you do, just don’t buy gray or Stellantis will dunk you in a vat of orange paint.

Exterior paint colors

• Alfa White (white): $0
• Alfa Rosso (red): $500
• Alfa Black (black): $500
• Grigio Ascari Metallic (gray): $660
• Misano Blue Metallic: $2,200

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale price

Like most cars, the Alfa Romeo Tonale’s price isn’t one-size-fits-all. It comes in three different trim levels, each with its own packages and options. While it starts at $42,995, chances are slim you’ll find a vanilla Sprint model with no additional toppings sitting on the lot of the Maserati dealership near you (where most Alfa Romeos are sold). And, even if you do, there’s a $1,595 destination charge on top of the base price regardless of which configuration you choose.

Trim levels (before taxes and fees)

• Sprint: $42,995
• Ti: $44,995
• Veloce: $47,495

With that in mind, I do recommend leasing a Tonale as opposed to financing, for a number of reasons. The first is that while the list of cars you can buy that qualify for the EV tax credit is getting smaller and smaller, it’s still the wild west for lessees. That’s one of the main reasons you may have noticed a sudden influx of lease deals, even in our own coverage. As long it can be driven using the electric powertrain by itself, at least some of the time, any leased car is eligible for the full $7,500.

In theory, leasing a V8-powered BMW XM could net you the credit, but the mild-hybrid Toyota Prius will not. (I haven’t tried it, but if you do, please report back to me). Ironic considering the XM gets an estimated 13 mpg in the city while the Prius can achieve upwards of 50 mpg. All because the BMW XM is a PHEV, which can travel a whole 30 miles on battery alone, and surely Americans will only use the gas engine as a backup in that ungodly gas guzzler.

Unfortunately, leasing a vehicle means the dealer still holds the title, so the tax credit goes straight to them. Gold Coast Maserati was kind enough to pass the savings on to us, lowering our monthly payment. That won’t always be the case, of course, so make sure you ask your salesperson about the tax credit before signing any paperwork. Remember, walking out is the best negotiation tactic when visiting any car dealership.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale interior and tech

The interior of any Alfa Romeo is going to be divisive, and the Tonale is no exception. Starting with the high notes, the heated seats and heated leather steering wheel come standard, as do eight-way adjustable front seats, a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster display, a 10.25-inch center touch display, a built-in universal garage door opener, and wireless phone charging.

In making the most of its subcompact frame, Alfa literally outdid itself with the Tonale’s interior. Despite its smaller dimensions on the outside, the Tonale beats the Stelvio when it comes to legroom in both the front and rear cabins. Of course, the Tonale falls short on headroom in comparison to its mid-sized sibling, but only by less than an inch in the back and just under 2 inches in the front. And while it lacks the cargo space of the Stelvio with the back seats down, the Tonale has 4.4 cubic-feet more storage when the seats are up. Yet, despite offering less space, the Stelvio is taller, wider, and longer than the Tonale, making the 2.0L Stelvio’s place in the market all the more confusing.

In addition to the standard interior and tech trappings, the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale has a handful of premium options, but keep your expectations in check, especially if you go for the base trim.

For an extra $1,200, you can add a power moonroof with a matching black shade you can open or close using electronic overhead switches. We outfitted ours with the moonroof, and apart from getting it in a strong color, it’s the only other must-have on the list. Not that it’s a particularly special sunroof. Alfa calls it “semi-panoramic,” which I guess is semi-true. The shade can retract fully, but the moonroof itself stops about halfway. So while your rear-seat passengers can see the sky above them, they won’t be able to recreate this scene. For safety reasons, that’s for the best.

Speaking of safety, an optional $1,895 Active Assist package introduces a few more bells and whistles to reduce the chance of collision. The active driving assist system enables Level 2 autonomous driving, employing an array of sensors to accelerate and brake for you while maintaining your lane position in keeping with the traffic flow. Not self-driving, but certainly more robust than old-school cruise control. On top of the auto-dimming rear-view mirror inside the car, the Active Assist package also dims the side mirrors, an unfortunate necessity given the increasingly blinding headlights on newer cars.

While we did get the full suite of Active Assist features with our Tonale, in retrospect, it was mostly overkill. The main reason we wanted it was for the parking assist features. Living in NYC, as you can imagine, we have to pull into a lot of tight spaces, whether it’s on the street or in a garage. Sometimes those spaces are so tight we give up halfway through to find another spot. Even if we can pull off the tricky maneuver, the cost-benefit analysis we do in our heads advises us against it.

Again, using tiny cameras all around your car to create a 360-degree map of its exterior, the surround-view system eliminates the guesswork. And holy shit does it let you know when you’re too close to something! The incessant beeping drives me to madness, but it’s better than driving me to the body shop. Unless you do a lot of city parking, you can probably skip Active Assist. The standard features will be more than enough for most drivers.

Tech, safety & infotainment

• Uconnect 5 navigation w/ 10.25-inch touch display
• 12.3-inch full TFT LCD color display
• 6-speaker audio
• Universal garage door opener
• Wireless charging pad
• Alfa DNA drive mode system
• Automatic e-brake
• Blind spot and cross-path detection
• Driver attention alert
• Enhanced adaptive cruise control
• Forward-collision warning + full stop
• Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA)
• Lane-keep assist
• LED daytime running headlights
• Front and rear park assist
• ParkView backup camera
• Passive speed-limiting device
• Remote start
• Tire pressure monitoring display
• Traffic sign recognition

Comfort

• Sport cloth heated seats
• Heated leather sport steering wheel
• Door panel bottle holders
• Consoles and storage
• Console with armrest
• Overhead console
• Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirror

Climate control

• AC w/ dual-zone temperature control
• Rear air vents
• PTC heater

Windows and locks

• Power front and rear windows with 1-touch up/down

Interior mirrors

• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Floor mats
• Front floor mats

Interior design

• Black headliner
• MPH primary speedometer
• Vinyl door trim panel
• Vinyl instrument panel

Packages

• High-performance driving: $1,500
  • Features: paddle shifters, aluminum pedals, Brembo brakes w/ Alfa Romeo script
• Active assist advanced: $2,000
  • Features: intelligent speed control, traffic sign recognition, 360-degree camera, front, ParkSense park assist
• Premium interior: $1,500
  • Features: leather-trimmed interior, ventilated front seats
• Premium interior & sound: $2,500
  • Features: leather-trimmed interior, ventilated front seats, 12-speaker Harmon Kardon premium sound system

Interior options

• Sport cloth seat with biscotto stitching: standard
• Perforated black leather seat: $1,500 or $2,500 (depends on package)

2024 Alfa Rome Tonale design, performance and powertrain

Alright, here we go. The moment all you spec-heads have been waiting for. Lift the curtain and cue the drumroll, please! Commanding 285 horsepower (hp) and 350 lb-ft of torque, Alfa claims the Tonale can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6 seconds with both the gas engine and electric motors turned on. I haven’t timed it, but that sounds about right, anecdotally speaking. Apart from the AMG version of the Mercedes GLA, the Tonale really does pack the best performance in its class. It might weigh 4,150 pounds at the curb, but in 2023 where everything is built like a tank, that’s less than some sedans.

Powering the rear wheels are two electric motors making 44 and 121 hp as well as 39 and 184 lb-ft of torque for a combined 165 hp and 223 lb-ft of torque with the engine off. Located under the front hood is a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-4-cylinder Fiat FireFly-based internal combustion engine (ICE). Originally introduced in the South American market for the regional Fiat Uno, the FireFly was engineered to scale across a range of Stellantis (formerly Fiat-Chrysler) vehicles. You’ll find naturally aspirated versions of it in the Fiat 500 and Fiat Panda while the turbo variant is used in the Jeep Compass and Jeep Renegade, albeit without the electrified bits, at least in the U.S.

On battery power alone, you can drive for 31 miles without recharging. Plugging it into a Level 2 charger will get you a full charge in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. However, by default, the Alfa Romeo Tonale won’t charge in full swing without adjusting the charge speed on the infotainment first. On the default setting, it takes about 5 and 30 minutes to reach a full charge. Still faster than the 8 hours it takes to fully charge the 15.5-kWh battery using the included 120-volt Level 1 cable.

If you’re in the city, good luck finding a charger that isn’t blocked by an ICE or a Tesla taking up two spots. If you own a house, suck it up and get a Level 2 charger installed. Fortunately, it being a PHEV means the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale never really needs to be plugged in, unless you plan to drive full-time on battery power alone. The DNA drive mode system you’ll find in all modern Alfas lets you toggle between three modes. As far as the Tonale is concerned, Dynamic (D) means the engine and electric motors are on all the time, Natural (N) relies primarily on the electric motors but fires up the engine when the extra power is needed, and Advanced Efficiency (A) runs purely on electric until it runs out of juice.

Driving the Alfa Romeo Tonale in Dynamic Mode will recharge the battery relatively fast. For every mile I drove, I gained one mile back in electric range. Regardless of the mode, you’ll always recoup some power thanks to the Tonale’s regenerative braking capabilities. That’s good news considering the dealer forgot to charge ours until we arrived to pick it up. As a result, my wife had to putter from Long Island to Manhattan on gas alone.

Folks, let me tell you. This is a fun car. Not just fun for a mom car. It handles like an Alfa, which is to say it handles like a BMW or any other German car, only quirkier. I would argue it’s even more fun to drive in EV mode because, without the gas engine powering the front wheels, it’s effectively a rear-wheel drive (RWD) sportback. Although you’re losing horsepower, you can corner like you’re in your favorite racing game. The driving dynamics are astonishingly similar to that of my Giulia Quadrifoglio, and yes, you can disable traction control in any of the three drive modes.

But… BUT – and let me preface this by saying, the Veloce model’s dual sport exhaust note is phenomenal for a 4-cylinder hybrid (I had to double-check to make sure the sound wasn’t playing through the speaker). BUT! When the battery dies down, the excitement dies with it. The Alfa Romeo Tonale running on gas alone sounds like a marathoner gasping at the final mile, desperate for electrolytic replenishment. The dedicated gas-only mode called e-Drive, Alfa-speak for “Grandpa Mode,” turns the Tonale into a front-wheel drive (FWD) boat making 180 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. If you derive any enjoyment from driving, I suggest you never turn it on.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale vs 2024 Dodge Hornet

Oh, you thought I wouldn’t bring it up, as if it’s the insect who shall not be named?

Believe me, I am well aware the Dodge Hornet sits on the same Jeep Compass platform as the Alfa Romeo Tonale. That they share the same powertrain. And before you say anything, I know it costs nearly $10K less to start. However! Let’s set the record straight. The Alfa Romeo Tonale is not an up-badged Dodge Hornet. The Hornet is a down-badged Tonale. This isn’t a cheap shot at Dodge – Alfa employees have that covered.

In all earnest, they’re two different cars, particularly at the base level where the pricing is at its most disparate. In fact, the $32,330 Dodge Hornet GT isn’t even a hybrid. It’s a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo making 268 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. That’s 6% less horsepower and 15% less torque than the Alfa Romeo Tonale Sprint. Premium features that come standard on the Tonale, like the heated steering wheel and seats, 18-inch wheels, as well as remote start are optional, so tacking them on the Hornet hikes up the price.

The Dodge equivalent of the $42,995 base model Tonale is the $42,530 Hornet R/T. Buying “American” saves you a whole $465. Congratulations, treat yourself to something nice for Prime Day.

2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale: check local availability 2023 Dodge Hornet: check local availability

Volvo, like most of its cohorts, has accepted that the future of passenger vehicles is fully electric. By now, we all know California and New York have both set a 2035 deadline to phase out the sale of new gas-powered vehicles. What’s unclear is how, in a country that hasn’t seen a minimum wage increase since 2009, the average youth is supposed to afford the hefty price tags holding back EVs from widespread adoption. Could the Volvo EX30 be the solution?

The Chinese-owned Swedish carmaker believes its subcompact crossover SUV is sized and priced just right for the gen Z and millennial buyers its competitors have overlooked. Neither Tesla’s Model 3 nor the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 have managed to dip below 40 grand before tax credits. The 2025 Volvo EX30, on the other hand, starts at just under $35K. The smallest SUV in Volvo’s current lineup, the EX30 claims a surprisingly reasonable electric range, absurdly capable performance, and a price tag that makes it the EV to beat for those on a budget.

2025 Volvo EX30 price, release date, interior, and specs

When it launches next summer, the 2025 Volvo EX30 will offer two drivetrain options at launch, with the rear-wheel drive (RWD) model starting at $34,950. While Volvo is accepting reservations as we speak, more specific details regarding trim levels, packages, and a la carte options will be revealed this fall, presumably during the Geneva International Motor Show, which takes place in October.

Volvo 2024 EX30: reserve now

Though small, it has a long wheelbase and short overhangs, giving it a spacious interior and stable handling. The single-motor base model gets RWD, producing 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. Volvo will offer a dual-motor upgrade with all-wheel drive, a combined 422 horsepower, and 400 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration to 60 mph takes 5.1 seconds with the base setup and just 3.4 seconds with the dual-motor system. We’ll even see the iconic Cross Country or XC branding returning for the EV as Volvo plans to release a more rugged version later on.

Volvo’s range estimates reach 275 miles for the base single-motor variant and 265 for the dual-motor. Both models get a usable battery capacity of 64 kWh and a 10-80 percent charge time of 26.5 minutes on a DC fast charger. That said, the EX30’s maximum charge rate is just 153 kW, making it slower to charge than Hyundai and Kia’s latest EVs. 

We don’t have a full list of interior features, but the EX30 appears to carry a similar display to the portrait-oriented screen in the larger EX90. Volvo moved to a Google-based infotainment system, which brings Google Assistant, Google Maps, and third-party apps from the Play Store like Waze to replace Google Maps—and more. The EX30 also gets a robust suite of advanced safety features, including some new tech. For example, the Park Pilot Assist system lets drivers select a parking space in a 3D interface and can handle steering and braking through the whole process. 

Volvo electrified: EX30 vs. XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge 

Volvo repurposed the XC40’s underpinnings for use in the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. Both are considerably more expensive than the EX30, and their reliance on a gas vehicle platform means that Volvo made some compromises on interior space and other packaging to accommodate the battery. They also lack the EX30’s range, as the XC40’s estimates land down at 223 miles. 

The trio of EVs all get similar tech features, and Google runs the show in each, but the EX30’s screen is larger and more prominently mounted in its interior. Volvo also removed most physical controls in favor of on-screen buttons, but the XC40 and C40 Recharge were already mostly bereft of buttons. 

Besides price and some equipment differences, the EX30 is not a wild departure from Volvo’s existing EVs. The brand clearly defined its intent with electrification and has so far followed it closely. That results in sustainable materials throughout the EX30 and older models, and Volvo noted that it was able to reduce the EX30’s carbon footprint over 124,724 miles of driving to less than 30 tons. 

What else is going on with Volvo?

Volvo has focused on technology improvements and vehicle development in recent times and has two brand-new EVs to show for it. At the same time, the brand has seen an uptick in sales over the first two quarters of 2023 and has picked up accolades for new models such as the S60 and XC60, which earned high accolades from reviewers.

The automaker plans to build the upcoming EX90 at its factory in South Carolina, but no such plans have been announced for the EX30. Because of their foreign manufacturing locations, none of Volvo’s current EVs are eligible for federal tax credits in the U.S. However, the EX90’s domestic assembly location may qualify it for at least half of the $7,500 credit. 

There’s no slowing progress, and in the automotive world, that means going electric. Some automakers have jumped in with both feet and billions of dollars, while others have been slower to hop on the train. Toyota and, by extension, Subaru, have been slow to develop and release new EVs. However, we got our first taste from both automakers this year with the new Toyota bZ4X and Solterra, respectively. The 2023 Subaru Solterra shares a platform, drivetrain, and much of its engineering with the Toyota bZ4X but has enough Subaru DNA to make it unique. 

The Solterra is all-new for 2023 and we’re still waiting to hear more about next year’s model. That said, we can speculate that the automaker may offer a more rugged Wilderness trim of the 2024 Subaru Solterra. We also expect the company to add an extended-range model to the line as well. 

2023 Subaru Solterra price, specs, and range

2023 Subaru Solterra: check local availability at CarGurus

The 2023 Subaru Solterra is available in three trims. Each trim comes standard with all-wheel drive and a dual-motor powertrain making 215 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque.  

2023 Subaru Solterra Premium

• $44,995

• 228 miles of range

2023 Subaru Solterra Limited

• $48,495

• 222 miles of range

2023 Subaru Solterra Touring

• $51,995

• 222 miles of range

The Solterra is an interesting first EV from Subaru, as it’s more expensive and has less range than the Toyota it’s based on. That said, the Toyota bZ4X is front-wheel drive by default, while the Subaru gets standard all-wheel drive, which likely accounts for the price difference. While the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a few thousand dollars cheaper, it requires added-cost upgrades and trims to get all-wheel drive.

Another hangup for Subaru is that the Solterra isn’t eligible for federal tax credits under the current rules. The requirements changed with the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act. Under the new legislation, only electric vehicles that have undergone final assembly in North America are eligible for federal tax credits. The Solterra and the Toyota bZ4X are both built in Japan, disqualifying them from the program.

Despite that, the Solterra fits nicely within Subaru’s catalog and can actually do off-road-y things. It’s more expensive than most of its lineup, but it’s not outrageously more costly than higher trims of the Subaru Ascent SUV. It’s also not entirely out of line with its rivals’ pricing and offers decent value for the money. However, the Subaru could use more range. Its charging speed is also limited to 100 kW, slower than the newest EVs from Korea, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

Subaru Soltera vs Toyota bZ4X: sibling rivals

The Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X are nearly identical in many ways but differ in a few key areas. Subaru equips the Solterra with standard all-wheel drive, whereas Toyota gives the bZ4X front-wheel drive to start. Buyers can add AWD to the Toyota, but it comes at the cost of range. That said, the Solterra and bZ4X return identical numbers with all-wheel drive considered. Neither vehicle is particularly exciting to drive or quick, and both take longer than many other new EVs to charge. 

Going forward, we know Toyota has other EVs in the works, including new SUV models. Subaru hasn’t been as forthcoming with its electrification plans, but much of its EV development is likely tied to Toyota. This means we’ll see something from the automaker soon. A company official has stated the need for several EV models by 2025, which is a good sign for Subaru EV hopefuls.

Subaru Solterra interior: not Solterrible

The Subaru Solterra interior, for example, is almost the same as in the Toyota bZ4X, as they both offer the same headroom, legroom, and passenger space. Their interior designs are also strikingly similar, and both offer great tech. Toyota equips a standard 12.3-inch display, while Subaru buyers get a standard 7-inch display with the option to upgrade to a larger unit. Safety equipment, cargo space, and exterior dimensions are also closely aligned.

Subaru news: Into the wilderness

Though we’re here talking about Subaru’s electric ambitions, the automaker’s standard vehicle lineup is one of the most targeted, focused product lines in the industry. Subaru listens to its customers and delivers models and features that they want, which is why the company is expanding its Wilderness line to the Crosstrek for 2024. By adding light but legitimate off-road capabilities, Subaru gives its customers a rugged vehicle that remains usable every day. 

Subaru has been characteristically quiet in 2023. However, the company did take the opportunity to tout its vehicles’ safety credentials earlier this year. Five 2023 Subaru models earned Top Safety Pick awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), meeting the organization’s new, stricter standards for side-crash safety. Individual models have been long-running award winners, such as the Forester, which has more Top Safety Picks than any other small SUV, and the Legacy, which earned the award for its 18th consecutive year.

Despite initial skepticism about its styling, the Subaru WRX is also seeing success. In a world where it’s nearly impossible to buy a new Toyota GR Corolla or Honda Civic Type R at MSRP, Subaru has made the WRX accessible and affordable. While the non-STI model may not be as “hot” as the Type R or GR Corolla, it’s an extremely fun car that can actually be found in the wild, making it a significant win for Subaru.

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