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

For 2023, Kia fully redesigned its trio of eco-friendly Niro small crossovers—a hybrid, plug-in hybrid (see pages 118 and 115, respectively), and the EV reviewed here. The new design gives the formerly bland Niro some personality—bolder and more aggressive, ready for anything. But looks can be deceiving—the Niro EV performs well in some areas and comes up short in others. It has decent power overall, but it doesn’t jump off the line like many EVs. There's plenty of headroom and legroom in both the front and back seats, lots of interior storage and cargo space, and the front seats are heated and ventilated. But the interior fit and finish is just so-so, and the materials feel cheap, with a lot of piano black plastic in the center console. Fuel-efficiency ratings are excellent—113 MPGe in combined driving. And the Niro's 11-kW Level 2 onboard charger can recharge its battery in less than 7 hours. Arguably one of the ARC staff's biggest complaints was that the Niro's ride is jarring, its handling is unsettled, and it leans too much going around corners. Also, operating the infotainment and climate systems is distracting, requiring toggling between them using the same set of controls. Finally, lots of road and tire noise gets into the cabin, and the wide rear roof supports create a blind spot in the rear and to the sides.

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 new-in-2022 Ford Maverick quickly sold out for that model year and helped revive a moribund compact-pickup segment. Its popularity is no mystery—it's a no-frills, capable truck with an affordable price tag. Available only in a crew cab, the Maverick has 2 drivetrain options: the hybrid drivetrain on our test vehicle, rated at an excellent 37 mpg combined, and a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. All-wheel drive is available only with the turbo. Driving the Maverick isn’t what you’d call an exciting experience: There's no real driver engagement, vibrations from its noisy drivetrain can be felt throughout the cabin, and the ride quality is just so-so. The Maverick's cabin is spacious up front, and its bed is large enough to be useful. All-around visibility is good, and the HVAC system works well. However, the back seat is cramped, and getting in and out can be awkward. Interior materials feel cheap, and fit and finish leaves a lot to be desired. The Maverick also comes up short in tech and convenience features. For example, push-button start and automatic climate control are available only on the high-end Lariat trim. Worse still is the lack of advanced safety features. Forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard, but blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-keeping assistance are available only with the Co-Pilot360 package or on the Lariat edition.