First Impressions
As soon as the test cars arrive, we can't wait to get behind the wheel and give viewers a first impression of the latest vehicles to hit the MotorWeek lot.
Most Recent First Impressions
2023 Kia EV6 GT
When Kia built the EV6, they didn’t just hit a home run, they tore the laces off the ball and sent it into the parking lot. Its striking style, versatility and driving performance have it firmly in the running for the industry’s most prestigious awards. But for 2023 the South Korean brand is going for…
2023 Toyota Prius
Toyota brought hybrids to the mainstream in North America with the Prius back in 2000. And over the years, its excellent fuel economy and quirky design attracted buyers who wanted to save the planet and money at the gas pump. Well, the 5th-generation Prius is here and its goal is to appeal to a…
2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Episode 4215
The sixth-generation CR-V compact crossover is here, and with it comes the latest Hybrid model, which Honda expects will make up about 50 percent of all CR-V sales. We think 100 percent of customers will be pleased with their new CR-V, but for the half picking up Hybrids, you’ll be especially…
2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T
The Porsche 911 Carrera T is back for 2023, revived now for the current 992 generation. It slots in above the base Carrera and below the Carrera S, preserving its touring car roots in the best ways possible: it’s fun, sporty, and cool; and it does it in a purist drivers’ package. Instead of just…
2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Episode 4212
It’s no surprise how much we like Volkswagen’s ID.4 electric crossover; so much so that it won a slot for “Best EV” in our 2022 Drivers’ Choice Awards. The 2023 ID.4 builds upon that success with a new “localization” strategy. “Localization” comes from more ID.4 models being made stateside at VW’s…
2023 Kia Niro Episode 4212
The second-generation Kia Niro has arrived for 2023, boasting three electrified powertrains and a whole lot more appeal-- We were invited out to San Diego to see it for ourselves. This compact utility is bolder, sharper, and slightly larger than the outgoing model: overall length is up nearly three…
2023 Lamborghini Urus Performante
The Lamborghini Urus SUV has been on sale since 2018 and it’s been a hit for the brand ever since. So it's not surprising that the Urus SUV lineup is growing with the all-new sporty Urus S model, and bringing it to a whole new level…the Urus Performante.Performante, of course, meaning performance. And…
2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Episode 4211
The 992-generation of 911 GT3 is already incredible, but Porsche decided they could do even better. Enter: the 911 GT3RS. The RS is about aerodynamics, starting with a 40-percent larger rear wing. The drag reduction system, or DRS to you Formula 1 fans, can adjust the wing a full 34-degrees in just…
2022 Mazda CX-9 Episode 4211
The CX-9 is Mazda’s flagship three-row midsize utility, and 2022 saw a big enhancement across the lineup. Like the CX-5 we recently tested, the CX-9 adds standard i-Activ all-wheel drive this time around. Unchanged is the CX-9’s single powertrain, a 2.5-liter Turbo 4-cylinder. It rates 250…
2023 Honda Civic Type R
Ever since the debut of the 11th-gen Honda Civic, we’ve eagerly awaited the return of the Type R. And it didn’t take long to receive an invite to Sonoma, California, for a First Drive of the most powerful Type R ever made. You heard right: The 2023 Type R is the most powerful one to date-- 315…