best of 2021 awards

Road Test Review – 2021 McLaren 720S – Ferrari Who? McLaren Drops The Gauntlet On Rivals

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The 2021 McLaren 720S is in a class of its own when you have the chance to look over some of the things that it brings to the table. It has styling that looks like it was sculpted by a choreographed team of artists and madmen with cleavers, performance this side of a Ferrari, and engineering that’s second to none. But while the 720S certainly has the goods in theory to make a solid first impression, we were curious to see if the 720S could translate some of those attributes into the real world and whether it could indeed live …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 – Private Jet Luxury For The Open Road

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Ever wondered what would happen if you took a private jet, sliced off the wings, and infused all of its luxuries into a large SUV? The idea of a luxury-laden large SUV is nothing new. Still, ultra-luxury automakers’ current push into this once unoccupied space is a recent development with Bentley and Rolls-Royce all entering the fray. With these big British luxury names throwing their hats in the ring, it only fits that Mercedes-Benz wanted a slice of the pie for itself and has created the all-new 2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS600. But can this first-ever Maybach SUV lure buyers away from …

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2021 Chevy Blazer RS Review

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2021 Chevy Blazer RS While not much has changed for 2021 on the Blazer vs the 2020 there is one major difference. The Blazer Premier no longer has the dual clutch rear differential, leaving the RS as the only Blazer equipped with this feature. Exterior Many are lamenting that the new Blazer isn’t anything like the K5 Blazer of yesteryear. However, if you think of it more as the S10 Blazer it’s not as hard of a pill to swallow. While the Blazer is attractive overall, the RS trim adds many appearance features for a sportier, more athletic look. In particular …

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2022 Acura MDX A-Spec review by Ben Lewis

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If there’s one brand that’s working hard to reboot itself right now, it’s Acura. Honda’s luxury brand, it’s been cranking out impressive new products for the last year or so, starting with the excellent RDX and even more impressive TLX sedan. Of course, the big money currently is in the 3-row SUV segment, so when we got the new MDX to test we were excited. Let’s see if Acura keeps those fires burning! Bold New Style Like the RDX and TLX, the MDX is sharp, aggressive, and eye-catching. It looks bigger and more powerful, sitting on a wheelbase that’s 2.8-inches …

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2021 Mercedes AMG GLE 53 Coupe Review by Ben Lewis

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So, here’s a challenge to many manufacturers – with SUV’s being so popular, how do you keep things fresh? One trend we’ve seen are the “coupe-like” SUV’s, which trade off some of the utility (and headroom) for a racy profile. It’s especially popular with the Europeans, with everything from VW’s Atlas Cross Sport to BMW’s X4 and X6. Mercedes won’t be left out either, so we’re now enjoying GLE Coupe. But with a coupe, you’re driven by passion, so we were especially excited to get our grabby little hands on an AMG GLE 53 Coupe. Big vehicle, larger-than-life performance. This …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Bentley Flying Spur – The Pinnacle of Luxury?

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While the four-door sedan as we know it has certainly faded from importance when looked at the broader scope of things, it can still draw the right amount of attention, especially when it comes with the right mixture of luxury, style, and technology. Bentley may be focused on enhancing its position in the utility market with the 2021 Bentayga. Still, it also wants to make sure that fans know it has not forgotten about the stately sedans and coupes that helped make the British ultra-luxury carmaker into an icon that continually pushes the envelope of luxury and technology. The 2021 Bentley …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Aston Martin DBX – One Small Step For SUVs, One Giant Leap For Aston?

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The allure of SUV sales is a potent perfume, and it’s slowly drawing in more companies. This includes those that might have otherwise been known for producing purely car-based lineups. Bentley, Lamborghini, and even Rolls Royce have all thrown their collective hats in the ring, eager to seize a slice of this new frontier for themselves. Aston Martin might have been a bit late to the party, but it intends to place its battle flag on the segment with the 2021 Aston Martin DBX. But can the DBX stem the sales decay that once defined the brand while also putting …

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Towing with the 2021 Cadillac Escalade Platinum – Review

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Cadillac Escalade Platinum GM has updated their large SUV platforms which include the Tahoe/Suburban, Yukon/XL, and Escalade/ESV. We had a chance to tow two different travel trailers a total of 500 miles with the Escalade Premium. This was done on a road trip to Capitol Reef National Park in Central Utah. The Escalade Platinum model we tested was equipped with the 6.2-liter V8. Specs On GM pickup trucks and large SUVs, they provide a sticker, usually on the B pillar behind the driver’s door, with towing information. All manufacturers should take note, as this is much better information than can …

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2021 VW Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line Review by Ben Lewis

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It’s got to be tough to be a brand like Audi. First of all, you’ve got Mercedes and BMW always gunning for you. And then, brands like Lexus. And the excellent Acura TLX we tested – another upstart. And then, you have to worry about your sibling…in this case the recently refreshed 2021 VW Arteon. Does VW’s handsome luxury flagship have what it takes to lure buyers out of those fancy, shiny dealerships? Let’s see. Simply Gorgeous You don’t see a lot of Arteons – frankly the brand is busy selling lots of SUV’s and churning up interest in their …

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2021 Acura TLX SH-AWD A-Spec Review by Ben Lewis

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Here’s a term: Brand-lag – when a manufacturer is making big strides, but it takes a while for the word to get out. A perfect example, we recently tested the Kia K5, loved it recommended it to friends, and were surprised to hear “Hyundai and Kia? Oh, I wouldn’t get near one of those.” Where you been the last few years? Their new stuff is great. Acura is sort of in the same boat.  In the last few years though, Acura has really stepped up their game – we enjoyed the little ILX sedan, the sporty new RDX, and the …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium – What’s In A Name?

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When Ford first announced that it was creating an electrified version of the Ford Mustang, the world held its breath, waiting to see what Ford had up its sleeve. What ensued was perhaps one of the most controversial and yet hotly-anticipated unveilings ever, with the 2021 Mach-E appearing as a futuristic all-electric CUV. This, in turn, started a fierce debate over whether it could indeed be considered a true Mustang and whether the Mach-E was riding on the credibility of a legendary muscle car to achieve its aims. The Mach-E’s stay here in the office proved to be a very …

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2021 Ford Ranger Tremor Off-Road Review by Matt Barnes

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2021 Ford Ranger Tremor New for 2021 is the Tremor package on the Ford Ranger. The Tremor includes everything the FX4 has, like Trail Control, Terrain Management, a locking rear differential, etc. On top of the FX4, the Tremor includes a steel bash plate, 0.8-inch lift, Fox 2.0 shocks with remote reservoirs, and 32-inch General Grabber ATX tires. Before the Tremor, the Ranger FX4 was the top dog off-roader in the Ranger lineup. What have all the upgrades of the Tremor done for real world performance improvements over the FX4? High Speed High speed off-road is clearly where the Tremor …

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Road Test Review – 2021 Bentley Bentayga – A Nip And A Tuck For Bentley’s SUV Spearhead

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When Bentley first announced the Bentayga SUV a few years ago, it represented a seismic shift. Once known for being exclusively all about traditional cars, the company was preparing to enter a changing landscape and was looking to do it by creating something that could make a splash. The first generation Bentayga exceeded all expectations, and for a short while, was the definitive ultra-luxury SUV in the market. But the game has changed since then, and the Bentayga is swimming in a crowded pond with rivals such as the Aston Martin DBX, Lamborghini Urus, and even the Rolls Royce Cullinan …

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2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat Review by Matt Barnes

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2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat Adding the Hellcat Durango to the list in Dodge’s 700+ horsepower stable, and dropping the Journey and Grand Caravan, Dodge now offers a hellcat in all of their current production vehicles. Exterior The exterior of the Hellcat Durango, as with the SRT, is subdued yet powerful. The hood contains two functional vents and a hood scoop. The bumper is more aggressive than the standard Durango, and a little lower. From the side the Hellcat Durango is very similar to other Durangos. However, there is a noticeable bulge in the hood, the splitter on the front bumper …

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2021 Mercedes AMG GLE63 S Review by Matt Barnes

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2021 Mercedes AMG GLE63 S The Mercedes AMG GLE63 S lives in a market segment we don’t fully understand. What we do know, is that we love the absurdity of it. Exterior From the outside the GLE63 is a little deceiving. From some angles it appears much smaller than it actually is, but not from the front. The grill is large, but the gigantic outboard bumper openings are what really draw attention. With the massive Mercedes tri star emblem in the center of the grill, there is no question who makes the GLE. There are very bright LED headlights with …

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2021 Kia K5 GT Review by Ben Lewis

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When we recently tested the all-new Kia K5 GT-Line, we came away hugely impressed – a great looking and driving car. We found the 1.6-liter, turbo 4-cylinder to have plenty of punch, but we did think some added juice would make this even more fun. And now we have the Kia K5 GT (not to be confused with the GT-Line) with a 290-horsepower, 2.5-liter, turbo four. Well, that got our attention! But should it get yours? Let’s take a look. Blue Thunder! Like our previous K5, the GT shares the platform with the new Hyundai Sonata (we recently tested the …

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Road Test Review – 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty King Ranch – Is It Still King Of The Pickups?

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When it comes to reigning supreme over the heavy duty pickup segment, few can match the track record wielded by Ford’s Super Duty lineup. The Super Duty has been a sales force for Ford, and it has consistently been a thorn in the side of its chief HD rivals the Chevrolet Silverado (and it’s GMC badged clone the Sierra) as well as the Ram heavy duty lineup of trucks. But this work focused segment is evolving at a rapid pace and Ram in particular is turning up the heat in the heavy duty pickup wars. Does Ford still have what …

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