VVT-i is short for Variable Valve Timing-Intelligence, an early version of Toyota’s variable valve-timing system that came to be offered on many of the company’s engines.

Introduced for the 2022 model year and having received a mild face-lift for 2025, Hyundai’s compact crew-cab pickup truck enters 2026 with no major changes. The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the XRT and Limited trim levels is now paired with a traditional torque-converter automatic transmission instead of the dual-clutch unit it was mated to before, but the transmission gearing remains an eight-speed. Additionally, the adventure-oriented XRT trim now features a standard Terrain Mode that optimizes various vehicle settings for driving in mud, snow and sand.

A week spent in a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 Coupe was a lesson in paying attention to details. Driving non-Coupe versions of the GLE450 SUV both before and after the Coupe cemented Mercedes’ mid-sizer as an excellent vehicle; it’s a segment standout writ-large, but the Coupe — specifically the GLE Coupe I drove for this review — proved that you need to establish your priorities before you pick one off the lot.

As the largest member of the Mini family, the Countryman combines the distinctive styling and whimsical attitude of its siblings with the practicality of four doors, added cargo room and standard all-wheel drive. The John Cooper Works variant is the most performance focused of the Countryman trims, all of which were treated to a redesign for the 2025 model year.

We’ve owned our long-term 2025 Toyota 4Runner for about six months now, and we’ve now passed the 8,000-mile mark on the odometer. Over the course of all our daily-driver duties, long-haul road trips and some off-road driving, we’ve worn off our 4Runner’s showroom-fresh feeling.

Toyota’s latest recall involves the engines in approximately 127,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles, which may contain debris that could cause a loss of power.

For the 2026 model year, the BMW i4 Gran Coupe sees more range across its lineup, as well as more power for the range-topping variant. And from the buyers’ perspective, the all-electric sedan’s additional range is free miles, as pricing for each available powertrain is the same for 2026 as it was for 2025. The 2026 i4 starts at $59,075.

It might surprise some people that Cadillac has quietly become one of the bestselling luxury electric-vehicle brands in the country. Through some solid offerings, fair pricing and expansion of the range into multiple segments, Cadillac has been enjoying some decent results with its quartet of electric SUVs. But Cadillac has also been pursuing a performance-vehicle path, as well, and we wondered how it planned to maintain its performance chops when shifting the lineup from gas to electrons.

With its all-new sixth generation launching for 2025, the Toyota 4Runner is little changed for 2026. The electronically disconnecting anti-roll bars that are standard on the range-topping TRD Pro and Trailhunter trim levels are now optional on the more affordable TRD Off-Road Premium trim level, but that’s it. Otherwise, the 4Runner retains its diverse lineup that lets buyers choose if they just want to look like they might wander off-road or if they want to venture far from civilization, with specialized models catering to different types of wilderness adventurer.

Rivian’s mid-size R2 SUV is on track for launch in the first half of 2026, said CEO RJ Scaringe on an earnings call with investors this week. While the electric-vehicle maker is still keeping most specifications of its new electric SUV close to the chest, Scaringe did provide a few details on the first R2s to emerge from Rivian’s factory in Normal, Ill.

If you’re paying a premium for a hybrid powertrain on your SUV, you almost certainly want to know if it delivers on its promises with regard to fuel economy — or, in the case of the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid, overdelivers. To determine whether the Forester Hybrid can achieve its 35 mpg rating for combined city and highway driving in real-world driving, Cars.com editors took it on a standardized 200-mile test loop, traversing major highways, two-lane rural roads and suburban stop-and-go traffic. The results — as reported in our most popular news article of the past week — were more than enough to put the compact all-wheel-drive SUV in contention with top competitors from Honda and Toyota with better EPA estimates.

Prelude is an iconic model name from Honda’s past, and it’s back for 2026 on a new car that incorporates different components from the Civic lineup, like suspension and brake hardware from the Civic Type R and the gas-electric hybrid system from the Civic hybrid. I recently drove the new Prelude briefly at an event for North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year jurors, and if you’ve been eyeing a Civic hybrid but wish it offered a sporty coupe body style, the Prelude is the car for you. Just be prepared for traditional coupe shortcomings related to backseat space and rear visibility.