2021 Karma GS-6

News Editor Joel Stocksdale: Until this year, I had never driven any form of the Karma GS-6, whether it was one of the originals when it was still called the Fisker Karma or just an earlier Karma model. And I was a bit worried, since reviews of the Fisker version weren’t great. So I was ecstatic when I took the latest GS-6 for a spin, and found not only to be good, but actually great. It’s really quick thanks to its dual electric motors making 536 horsepower. The BMW turbo three-cylinder is well-isolated so it’s unobtrusive for most of the time you’re driving. The suspension tuning is remarkable, delivering fun, flat cornering while also being shockingly comfortable. And of course, it’s so incredibly cool looking.

That’s not just me talking, either, as I got multiple compliments from friends and strangers on the car. Plus, it’s relatively affordable. I was tempted to put this down as my favorite car of the year, but my actual favorite is even more fun to drive, plus it’s cheaper. Now if I was actually spending my own money one of the two, I’d … have to keep thinking a bit more. 

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe

Associate Editor Byron Hurd: When the Wrangler 4xe was first announced, I probably rolled my eyes. After years of lukewarm-at-best rhetoric about electrification, then-FCA hadn’t exactly fostered the impression that it was anywhere close to putting a competent PHEV system into production. 4xe had “compliance car” written all over it, and I bet plenty of other Jeep fans thought the exact same thing. Well, despite the practice afforded me by a year of trying to resist the lusty advances of DoorDash, I’ve yet to come up with a satisfactory recipe for crow. Yep, I was wrong, much to my surprise and relief. The 4xe isn’t just good; it’s the best all-around Wrangler.

It’s near-as-makes-no-difference just as capable as its gasoline-only equivalents in the lineup, while offering more power and torque in day-to-day driving. At worst, it’s a turbo model with half again as much power and the same fuel economy. At best, it’s 9/10ths of a 392 that you can drive for pennies if you’re smart about it. My archaic 2011 Wrangler Sport is just begging to be replaced by a 4xe, but can we please get it in Gladiator? Make mine blue.

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

2022 Ford Maverick

Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder: I loved the idea of the Maverick. An affordable compact pickup with a standard hybrid powertrain sounds great (to me) in theory. I expected it to have some major flaws, or at least some not-insignificant sacrifices. Underpowered, maybe? A drab, cheap interior? An overpriced options sheet you have to pick and choose from to find any semblance of usability? Boy was I wrong. This thing comes out the box with character, content and drivability. Ford even encourages you to do what many pickup drivers do, and take customization into your own hands for a lot less money than you would with factory options.

Ford found myriad ways to make the Maverick work for its owner with clever storage, ample power and impressive fuel economy from the Hybrid, and cost-effective but interesting design. An incredible amount of thought went into the Maverick, and the customers will get to reap the rewards. And, yeah, you can get an all-wheel-drive version with a traditional automatic and even an FX4 off-road package if you want. You know you want those slick steelies, though.

2022 Mercedes-AMG GT 43

Senior Editor, Oregon Desk, James Riswick: Should it really be surprising that an AMG anything would be good? Well, no it shouldn’t, but the sub-brand does not consist exclusively of all-stars. Many of them have been eye-rolling affairs for one reason or another; carbon fiber-festooned silliness that went really fast and made loud noises but carried gigantic price tags that made you wonder “who is really going to spend all this money for a _______?” This C 63 S Coupe, for instance, but people do. Then there are the various detuned AMGs or “AMG Sports” that carry the badge and are certainly elevated over a regular Class model with a 0 at the end of their names, but are obviously not to the extreme level we had come to expect from the brand. AMG Lite, so to speak. This is what I was expecting with the GT 43, and truth be told, it is certainly a less hardcore experience than the full-bore GT 63. And you know what? That actually makes it better in some ways as you’re able to more fully appreciate the goodness of its chassis and overall athleticism without a gigantic turbo V8 constantly trying to light up the tires or make you go 145 in a 45.

At the same time, the “AMG Lite” engine in question is still a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that produces 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It goes from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, aided by an AMG nine-speed transmission and AMG-tuned 4Matic all-wheel drive. It is not slow whatsoever, and the inline-six is a treat: incredibly smooth, sounds terrific and the electric boost eliminates any semblance of the turbo. At to that the sensational road holding, feelsome steering and overall balanced attitude, and you get a superbly well-rounded driver’s car that’s more about the drive than putting on a silly show for the neighbors in North Hollywood. 

2022 Nissan Frontier

Road Test Editor Zac Palmer: I went into the first drive of the redesigned Nissan Frontier with a healthy dose of skepticism. Nissan tried hard to sell us on this truck’s newness, even though it was still using a massaged version of the previous generation’s frame. The totally revamped exterior and interior were just lipstick on a decades-old cow, right? Wrong. And I couldn’t have been happier to have been proven wrong, too.

The Frontier drives, rides and acts like a modern midsize pickup truck. It’s rugged and old-fashioned where it needs to be, but still quiet and coddling enough to be used as a daily. Nissan essentially made its own version of the Tacoma, except it’s better in most ways beyond the still unknown and unquantifiable “reliability” factor. The Frontier has my favorite styling of any midsizer, can be outfitted with a top-notch interior, has solid off-road performance with the PRO-4X and is simply a pleasant handling and driving truck to drive around. This truck may be ages-old underneath, but the final product is fit for 2022, easily making it my biggest surprise this year

Most automotive enthusiasts are avid readers, especially if the material talks about cars. If you’re reading this, then it means you can relate. But where do you get all the material to satisfy your curiosity about wheels?

In this age of internet and smartphones, there’s no better source of information than blogs. The good news is that there are thousands, if not millions, of auto blogs all over the internet. The bad news is that you can’t read them all.

You may want to narrow down your selection to, let’s say, 50 blogs. And, you want to make sure that you can get the latest and most in-depth automotive news, car reviews, opinions, DIY repair tips, and car trading platforms within the 50 blogs.

Well, we took it upon ourselves to survey the many, many auto blogs available. And these are the outright top 50 that you should be reading frequently:

Just Auto is best known for publishing top-notch auto news. It covers the global vehicle market. Whether you’re looking for a manufacturer’s sales report, the latest in automobile technology or anything else newsworthy, you’ll find it here. There are amazing interviews with vehicle designers and insightful market analyses to help you understand the auto industry.

4. Cash for Cars

sh for Cars is exactly what it sounds like – a place where you can sell your car and earn money. The blog has a step-by-step procedure for anyone who needs to put their vehicle up for sale. And they buy all types of vehicles, whether it’s a motorcycle, personal car, truck, RV or even a boat.

5. BA Auto Care

The mission of BA Auto Care is “to keep your car safe and reliable”. They achieve most of that by offering affordable parts and repair services. Beyond that, they have a dedicated blog where you can read a ton of tips for auto maintenance and DIY fixes. It’s undoubtedly one of the best auto blogs for anyone who needs to know how to repair their car and keep it in excellent health.

6. Gm-Volt Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

GM-Volt is a dedicated blog for the Chevrolet Volt line of cars. It has real-time news and reviews of various models of Volts. You’ll also find occasional coverage of other electric vehicles from GM, such as the Hummer EV. The best part about this blog is that it has a discussion board where you can post a question and someone will answer.

7. Car Body Design

Car Body Design gets a spot among the best auto blogs because of its high-quality content. For starters, the site is all about the physical structure of vehicles. It covers concepts and prototypes created by renowned as well as emerging auto designers. It’s the perfect site to read if you want to know the current auto body trends and the types of cars to expect in the future.

8. Peak Auto Blog

Peak Auto is the best source of DIY tips and tricks. There’s a DIY Hub on the blog where you can learn the basics of auto maintenance. That includes things like changing oil, replacing wiper blades, installing electronics and so much more. Better yet, you can order replacement parts straight from the site.

9. Dr. Beasley’s Car Care Products

Dr. Beasley’s Car Care Products is where you’ll find all your auto detailing products. The site is run by a team of experts and enthusiasts, and all their products are not only safe for humans and animals but are ecofriendly as well. They have a blog (Dr. Beasley’s Behind the Detail) which contains everything that you need to know about car detailing. You’ll love how they explain the various detailing materials and how you can apply them the DIY way. There’s additional material for sanitizing the interior of a car in case you’re worried about germs (viruses, bacteria, etc.)

10. Automoblog

11. Motor Trader Magazine

Motor Trader Magazine is a news outlet that reports automotive stories from around the world, with a special interest in North America. Its detailed coverage of auto trading activities makes it perfect for readers who are interested in knowing the business part of the industry. This is where you’ll discover how the stocks of various manufacturers are performing, how the political environment is affecting car sales etc.

12. A Girls Guide to Cars

A Girls Guide to Cars consists of reviews, opinions, and analyses of various consumer cars. Now, what makes this site different is that everything published is based on hands-on experience by women. In other words, you’re getting an honest and practical review of your favorite car and auto accessories.

13. Auto City

Auto City is the equivalent of a vehicle supermarket. It’s a place where you can buy any car of your choice with very interesting terms. There’s a financing option in case your budget is less than sufficient. Or you can opt to trade in your current car for another one. They also offer auto service and parts.

14. Oil Can Henry’s

Oil Can Henry’s make the list because of their fantastic blog. While the main site focuses on auto service and repair, the blog features several checklists for car owners. You can learn essential stuff like what you need to check in your car before a long drive. Or tips for safe driving in the summer, winter and every other season. This highly informative section is what puts it among the best auto blogs.

15. All About Automotive

The name kinda says it all – a shop where you can do all types of repair and maintenance services. But if you don’t want to do any repairs, you can hop over to their blog section for some insights. You’ll find tons of regarding proper car maintenance, tips for buying a used car, how to replace parts and so much more.

16. Ultimate Finish

Ultimate Finish has all the car care products that you need to know about. Perhaps you’ve been wondering what products are ideal for exterior vehicle care. Or maybe you’re curious about creative ways of sprucing up your car’s upholstery. You’ll find all the answers on this site. And there’s a handy blog section that explains everything, from the different types of paint to repairing paint damage.

17. Autoweek

Autoweek has the most comprehensive auto coverage. The articles and videos are organized in categories from news, cars, weekly podcast, car racing, car reviews, opinions and finally anything random that touches on the auto industry. In keeping up with its comprehensive coverage, Autoweek includes both domestic and foreign car brands.

18. DetailXPerts