2024 AAA Car Guide

In 2022, Mercedes-Benz went big with its first EV, the EQS sedan, which is the electric equivalent of its gasoline-powered S-Class sedan. Mercedes-Benz followed that in 2023 with the midsize EQE sedan, EQE SUV, and the EQS SUV reviewed here. We tested the base-trim Premium version of the high-end EQS 580 4Matic, with dual motors (536 hp), all-wheel drive, and a range of 285 miles. The EQS has nearly everything you could ask for in a big SUV. Its drivetrain delivers an abundance of strong, smooth power, and its air suspension with adaptive damping provides an extremely comfortable ride. The roomy, quiet cabin exudes an ultra—luxurious ambience, with plenty of headroom and legroom for all passengers. As you’d expect, fit and finish are first-rate inside and out. All EQS SUVs come extremely well equipped, including rear—axle steering, air suspension, a power panoramic sunroof, DC fast—charging capability, a 12.8-inch infotainment touch screen, heated and ventilated front seats, a Burmester sound system, and much more. And unlike some other Mercedes models, the EQS SUV comes with a full complement of advanced safety features. A few negatives are worth noting: The infotainment system is complex and nonintuitive. The range—less than 300 miles—is low for a vehicle that costs much more than $100K. Finally, the rear roof pillars restrict visibility

Ford followed—and arguably one-upped—the 2021 introduction of its Mustang Mach-E EV by coming out with an electric version of America's most popular vehicle, the F-150 full-size pickup, in 2022. The F-150 Lightning (great name!) is remarkable in that it can fulfill the needs of a wide variety of truck owners. Its trim levels range from the work-oriented Pro trim to the high-end Platinum, which is decked out with niceties such as massaging front seats and a luxe Bang & Olufsen audio system. We tested the second—tier Lariat trim with an optional extended-range battery pack. The Lightning's cab provides plenty of room for passengers and lots of storage cubbies. Its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup (580 hp) delivers plenty of power and torque. Its ride quality is decent, and the extended-range battery is good for up to 320 miles of driving. The Lightning also has a ton of tech and convenience features, including a power liftgate, lots of electrical outlets, and an onboard generator to power tools and electronic devices. Finally, a raft of advanced safety features are standard. The Lightning's biggest negative is that its range will drop off, probably significantly, in proportion to how much weight you carry in the bed or how much you tow. Other downsides include heavy steering and a plain interior with some low-rent materials

BMW completely redesigned its 7 Series flagship sedan for 2023—and added an all-electric variant, the i7, which looks almost identical, inside and out, to the gasoline-powered 760i (page 96). The i7 is propelled by dual electric motors, which provide instant acceleration and abundant, silent power. The i7's ride is relaxed and comfortable; handling is secure and reasonably responsive for a large sedan. An adaptive air suspension, all-wheel drive, and rear-wheel steering are standard. The i7's roomy, luxurious cabin is appointed with the highest—quality materials and cutting-edge technology, including 4-zone automatic climate control, a 14.9-inch touch screen, a 31-inch video screen for back-seat passengers, and Highway Assistant, a semiautonomous feature that enables hands-free driving and lane-changing. But the i7's infotainment system is overly complicated, the infotainment and HVAC systems lack hard keys, options are pricey (e.g., $5,450 for an Alcantara headliner), and some style elements, like the large grille and crystal accents, are polarizing. If you’re in the market for a 7 Series, given their similarities, how do you decide between them? It comes down to this: If you’re an early adopter, don’t take a lot of road trips, and like the power and silence of an EV drivetrain, the i7 might be your ride. Otherwise, the 760i could be easier to live with day-to-day.

The Electrified GV70 luxury midsize SUV is a real head-turner— sleek and sophisticated in its design. New for 2023, it's the EV version of the gasoline-powered GV70 and, except for the drivetrain, it shares virtually all of its exterior and interior features. The Electrified GV70 is driven by dual electric motors, good for 429 hp total. The drivetrain is strong and smooth, with a 10-second boost feature that can break the tires loose when fully applied. Overall, the GV70 delivers excellent handling, relaxed drivability, and a comfortable ride, although the steering feels a bit light and disconnected. All-wheel drive is standard. The Electrified GV70's interior is exceptionally stylish and classy, with upmarket materials and excellent fit and finish. A complete suite of advanced safety features is standard, including Highway Driving Assist, which keeps the vehicle at a set speed, a set distance from the car ahead, and centered in its lane. The Electrified GV70 comes with a fast-charging system that allows its battery to be charged from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes. That's a good thing, because one of its few downsides is a relatively limited range, an EPA-estimated 236 miles. The fuel-economy rating is good, however, at 91 MPGe. The only other noteworthy shortcoming is limited rear headroom, due to a low roofline and ride height.

The Ioniq 5 compact crossover, introduced in 2022, is the first EV from Hyundai's Ioniq sub-brand. We tested the top-of-the-line Limited trim, with dual motors, a 77.4-kWh battery pack, and all-wheel drive. The Ioniq 5's exterior retro styling is both distinctive and mundane. If you want to get noticed when you drive down the street, other EVs can do a better job. Looks aside, does the Ioniq 5 deliver the goods? For the most part, yes. It provides a smooth, comfortable ride with good suspension damping, although passengers sometimes get jolted when driving over rough or uneven roads. Handling is responsive, if not sporty, and both exterior and interior build quality are very good. Noteworthy features include an open, airy cabin with good headroom and legroom for all passengers, a 350-kW DC fast—charging system that reputedly can take the battery from a 10% to an 80% charge in less than 20 minutes, and a comprehensive set of advanced safety features. The 5 comes up short in a few areas, though. The infotainment system and climate controls are nonintuitive and difficult to use, the rear roof supports create a blind spot to the rear and sides, the panoramic sunroof doesn’t tilt or slide, and the MSRP is high for a vehicle with less than 300 miles of range.

The midsize Mercedes EQE sedan is an EV alternative to the automaker's gasoline-powered E-Class sedan. New for 2023, it's built on the same dedicated EV platform as Mercedes-Benz's larger EQS sedan. Our test vehicle was configured with dual electric motors (288 hp) and all-wheel drive. The EQE is a luxurious, tech-heavy vehicle that, for the most part, fulfills its purpose. Its drivetrain delivers an abundance of smooth power and torque and, courtesy of Mercedes—Benz's selective damping suspension, a quiet, refined ride. Maneuverability, aided by optional rear-wheel steering, is excellent. The EQE's cabin is, unsurprisingly, replete with ultra-plush materials; fit and finish are first-rate. Standard features include excellent LED headlights with adaptive high beams, a panoramic sunroof, LED ambient interior lighting, and 170-kW DC fast charging. Remarkably for a car with an MSRP north of $90K, some features—a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats—are extra-cost options. That's also true for some enhanced advanced safety features, which aren’t standard on the base Premium trim. The EQE also exhibited a few shortcomings. Its cutting-edge infotainment system has a 12.8-inch touch screen with good resolution but requires a steep learning curve, and rear visibility is compromised by the sloping roofline

The S60 Recharge sedan has a simple, stylish exterior that's typical Volvo. But, in fact, the plug-in hybrid S60 is a muscle car disguised as a mild-mannered Scandinavian luxury sedan. The S60's turbocharged 4-cylinder engine combines with an electric motor to produce 455 hp, which provides quick, responsive acceleration. It's also good for a strong EV-only range of 41 miles and an overall range of 530 miles. The S60's minimalist interior is replete with high-quality materials, including an Orrefors crystal shift knob. Overall fit and finish are excellent, and a comprehensive set of advanced safety features is standard. The S60's sport-tuned suspension delivers a comfortable—albeit firm—ride. Entry and exit from the front seats is easy, but back-seat room is a little tight. Visibility all around is good, although the rearview camera provides an odd, "fish-eye" perspective. All-wheel drive is standard. On the downside, the S60 isn’t as engaging to drive as some competitors; its steering feels light and loose, and there's little feedback from the road. Also, the center console could use some knobs and hard keys instead of inconvenient touch-screen-based controls. Trunk and interior—storage space is limited, and the S60's maximum onboard charger rate is about half that of some competitors

The compact CR-V crossover SUV was introduced in 1997. Honda's best-selling vehicle in the U.S., it consistently places in the top 10 vehicles sold. The Hybrid, introduced in 2020, could be considered icing on the cake. The sixth-generation, new-for-2023 CR-V delivers excellent value. It's just the right size for many motorists, and it provides a comfortable ride, with a solid-feeling suspension. Its spacious cabin offers plenty of room for passengers and cargo, lots of storage cubbies, incline-adjustable rear seats, and good visibility all around. Additionally, all CR-Vs come with a solid lineup of ADAS features, including traffic-jam assist. Want more? The CR-V's exterior styling is improved over previous generations, and, in the all-wheel-drive version, its smooth drivetrain delivers both adequate power and an EPA—estimated 37 mpg in combined city/highway driving (higher for the front-wheel-drive version). And all for an MSRP that starts around $33,000. But the CR-V doesn’t get off scot-free—although complaints are relatively minor. The infotainment system and rearview camera's image quality, perennial CR-V weak points, need updating and improving. The quality of the interior's fit and finish is good, but the styling remains on the bland side. And the hybrid powertrain can be a bit noisy under load