Category: Automotive Reviews

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Quick Take: 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in a 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige – the minivan that looks like an SUV – a bit.

This is the facelifted, fourth-generation of Kia’s minivan, a classic one-box shape with a more aggressive nose and squared-off roof. The grill and stacked LED headlights look macho, while the side design has some smoked alloy accents, black lower body accent and a much lower look accented by Panthera Metal paint.

Inside, a surprise to all those soccer dads after the power doors glide open – leather second row seats that recline, with leg rests and TV monitors, plus power adjustment. Up front, a wide – almost 25 inch – infotainment screen in front of the driver, and audio/main menu panel for the co-pilot. There’s a solid Bose sound system, plus back seat video monitor and Passenger Talk to check on the kids in back. The third row even has adult room.

As for power, a turbocharged 1.6 liter four with 241.7-hp and 270.5 lb.-ft. of torque combined, 74.4 hp of that from a 270-volt lithium-Ion battery and 54kW motor electric motor – 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, and it averaged 27 mpg.

So read lots more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – 2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid: Mix Of Minivan & Limousine. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.

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Quick Take Review: 2026 Cadillac Escalade Sport

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in a 2026 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum – the grandest ‘Sclade of all.

This is the top-tier, all-wheel-drive long-wheelbase version, riding on blacked-out 24-inch aluminum wheels with new glossy dark trim. There’s razor-thin LED DRLs over vertical multi-element LED headlights, and LED light blade taillights – in between, glowing pearlescent paint.

Inside, after the power doors glide open, brown and cream white interior with padded semi-aniline leather, a sweeping 55-inch panoramic screen bookended by 42 AKG speakers, warm woodgrain and three rows fit for adults. There’s a night-vision infrared camera  and a 4.2-liter V-8 with 420-hp and rear-, or all-wheel-drive.

So read lots more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – 2026 Escalade ESV Platinum Sport Review. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.

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Quick Spin: 2026 Buick Enclave Avenir

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in a 2026 Buick Enclave Avenir – the flagship of the fleet.

This Buick gets the Avenir name from a classy 2016 concept car that was called a “glimpse into the future.” That future a few years later is a distinctive mid-size all-wheel-drive crossover with a redesigned-for-2026 face with wide grill, slick LED lights and a sleek look.

Inside, it has three adult-size rows of leather in its long wheelbase, heated and cooled up front, with a long display screeen for all infotainment needs. The 16-speaker Bose audio system, plus wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and HD radio. The center row reclines and slides – and there’s room in back for luggage along with 6 to 7 folks. And its turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has 328 hp – quick and fairly fuel-efficient, if a bit snarly.

So read lots more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – Buick Smooth: Enclave Avenir Glides Into 2026. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.

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Quick Take Review: 2025 Subaru BRZ

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in the updated second-gen version of a favorite – and it has a 6-speed manual transmission and rear wheel drive, and fits in with some other quick Japanese compacts.

The 2025 Subaru BRZ ts is a familiar 2+2 coupe shape with aggressive face, just enough aero, and updated with more details than when it was introduced in 2021. There’s functional side vents, 18-inch Michelin rubber on gray alloy wheels, and bronze Brembo brake calipers inside.

There’s grippy seats, a precise gearbox and just enough equipment to make commuting and travels fun. The back seats are better for he dog or stuff, the trunk roomy enough. And yes, there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (not wireless), but no HD FM.

And its quick enough, as well as very agile – a good track day toy as well as commuter.

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So read lots more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – 2025 Subaru BRZ tS Keeps The Manual Flame Alive. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.

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Quick Take: 2025 Jeep Gladiator Willys 4×4 Heritage

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in Jeep’s Wrangler-based Gladiator pickup truck. It carries on a Jeep tradition of putting a useful bed on one of its gnarliest off-road versions, in this case the Willys trim.

The Gladiator gets lots of classic Jeep heritage, from blocky fenders and fold-down windshield to deep-treaded 17-inch Firestone Destination off-road tires – and traditional hood clamps.

Inside, sturdy cloth seats, a user(as in gloved hand)-friendly dashboard with big knobs, and rubber floor mats. A bigger digital infotainment screen can show a pitch and roll, or four-wheel-drive/locked center and rear differential status, as can the gauge package’s display. There’s good passenger room, a removable roof and doors – and 35.5-cu.ft. cargo bed with a lightweight aluminum tailgate. And the 3.6-liter V-6 with 285 hp gets Command-Trac 4×4 system with two-speed transfer case and more for decent off-road prowess.

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So read lots more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – 2025 Jeep Gladiator Delivers Willys 4×4 Heritage. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.

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Quick Look Review: 2025 BMW X6M Competition

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in a steel and aluminum bulldog with an aggressive face, muscular shoulders and streamlined haunches.

The 2025 BMW X6M Competition takes their X5 SUV and gives it a sleeker fuselage atop serious 22-inch rubber and a very aggressive twin-kidney grill. It’s sleek, but tall.

Inside, an almost Italian exotic look and feel with lots of red and black leather, carbon fiber, Alcantara suede headliner, racing striped seat belts and illuminated M insignias in the seatbacks. And the driver gets a 27-inch infotainment screen to monitor the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system for 617 hp and 553 lb.-ft. of torque.

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So read lot’s more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – 2025 BMW X6M Competition Defies Its Weight. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.

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Quick Take Reviews: 2025 Kia Telluride X-Pro

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in the first-generation of a Kia SUV named after a Colorado mining town.

The Telluride X-Pro is a stylish box endowed with three rows of leather-clad seats – heating and cooling for the front and second rows. And adults can live in the way-back, with room for stuff behind them.

Up front, there’s a 291-hp V-6 driving all four wheels of our test model, good for more than 5,000 of towing. And with a slight (.4-inch) increase in ground clearance, plus all-wheel-drive, locking center differential, knobby 18-inch tires and hill-descent control, it can do some off-roading with the family – so it’s not for the birds.

So read lot’s more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – 2025 Kia Telluride: Comfortable, Capable Family Hauler. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.

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Quick Look Review: Supercharged 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 V-8

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan hits the road – and off-road – in Land Rover’s flagship SUV – the 78-year-old descendant of the original 1947 “Land Rover” Series 1 – officially called the  Defender 130.

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That matte paint job is well matched with a gloss black hood, with 8.6 inches of ground clearance, air-shock adjustable to as tall as 11.5. Inside, three rows, including mid-row captains chairs and adult-usable ones in back. Under that bonnet, a supercharged V-8 with 493 hp and 450 lb. ft. of torque headed to all-wheel-drive with twin-speed transfer cases and an 8-speed automatic – and 16 mpg.

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So read lot’s more about this, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – Land Rover Defender 130 Hops Off Road With Ease.  And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.

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Quick Take Review: 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Sport

EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan has the new Cadillac Vistiq Sport to test this week – with an EV River video review too.

Sharing its GM platform with the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue, it is a 3-row, 7-seat EV crossover with some serious LED accents, plus tech, power and shape. And along with 300-plus miles of estimated range, it’s very quick

Read lot’s more about this EV Cadillac, and see more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan – 2026 Cadillac Vistiq: Stylish 3-Row Family Hauler – right here. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.