Ten years ago, dismissing Chinese cars as cheap and poorly built was common. In 2026, that assumption is increasingly difficult to defend. Chinese manufacturers now produce sophisticated EVs, competitive combustion cars and plug-in hybrids that can match established brands in technology, equipment and, increasingly, manufacturing quality. But that still doesn’t answer the harder question: Are … Read more
The BMW X5’s greatest achievement isn’t its curved displays, powerful engines or increasingly elaborate technology. It is physics management. A luxury SUV is fundamentally compromised before engineers touch it. It is tall, heavy and expected to carry passengers comfortably, yet buyers also expect body control, steering precision and performance that would have been sports-car territory … Read more
The 2022 Ford Bronco isn’t a simple SUV to judge for reliability. It followed the problem-prone 2021 launch year, offered multiple engines and transmissions, and many examples have since been modified or used off-road. That makes configuration and history unusually important. A stock 2.3L Bronco with documented maintenance can represent a very different risk from … Read more
The 2024 Jeep Compass has a reliability reputation that is harder to judge than its name suggests. Search for Compass problems and you’ll find years of complaints involving older engines, transmissions and electronics. But the U.S.-market Compass changed significantly for 2023, replacing the previous 2.4-liter Tigershark and nine-speed automatic with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and … Read more
Cadillac is General Motors’ luxury brand. That part is easy. The harder question is what happens when a GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate costs six figures, a Buick Avenir offers massaging seats and sophisticated displays, and many features once reserved for Cadillacs are available elsewhere in the GM showroom. If leather, technology and price no longer … Read more
Chinese cars have changed faster than their reputation. A decade ago, comparing Chinese vehicles with established European brands often exposed obvious gaps in refinement, safety, engineering maturity and perceived quality. Today, models from BYD, Geely, MG, Nio and XPeng can compete convincingly with European alternatives in technology, manufacturing quality and electric powertrains. But does that … Read more
The Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S presents an unusual used-car problem. Its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 produces supercar-level performance in a practical luxury SUV, yet depreciation can eventually put used examples within reach of buyers who could never justify one new. That doesn’t necessarily make the GLE 63 S unreliable. It makes understanding what reliability means in … Read more
Twenty-five years ago, Hyundai and Kia occupied a position that sounds familiar today. Their cars competed aggressively on price, established manufacturers questioned their quality, and many buyers saw the Korean badge as a compromise rather than something desirable. That changed. Korean manufacturers improved engineering and manufacturing quality, strengthened warranties, invested in design and localized production. … Read more
When we first covered the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander, it was a new compact SUV competing on equipment, warranty coverage and the unusual advantage of a third row. Two years later, the more useful question has changed: does the 2024 Outlander make sense now that used examples are entering the market? That is why we have … Read more
Automotive quality is surprisingly difficult to define. A luxury car can have semi-aniline leather, real aluminum trim and soft-touch surfaces yet develop squeaks and misaligned trim. A cheaper car can surround its occupants with ordinary molded plastics while remaining tightly assembled and remarkably free of rattles after years of use. Both observations can be true … Read more