To help members understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs, the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) began testing and reviewing vehicles over a decade ago
For the 2024 edition, we include testing and ranking cars and light trucks with the latest technology, including having at least one advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) feature. In addition to vehicle evaluation, the guide covers a number of pertinent automotive topics in detail—for example, the latest advanced safety features, how to properly maintain your vehicle, and new vehicles coming to market in the next few years.
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