The Great Mixer

  Overview BMW no longer makes the ultimate driving machines, but the 2020 M8 Gran Coupe proves it's still committed to making outrageously powerful machines. The sedan's twin-turbo V-8 generates between 600 and 617 horsepower, and its anamorphous all-wheel-drive system can simulate rear-drive rowdiness. Per M-car tradition, this four-door Bimmer features a pumped-up appearance and exclusive performance equipment. Of course, its interior is as picturesque and posh as sitting poolside at a five-star resort. There's also an enticing array of high-tech and luxurious features to satisfy passengers who aren't preoccupied with reaching extralegal speeds and clipping apexes on a race track. Although the M8 Gran Coupe is the definition of excessive, it's also a synonym for exhilarating. What's New for 2020? The M8 Gran Coupe is all new for 2020. It slots above the regular BMW 8-series Gran Coupe, which itself is a four-door version of the 8-series coupe and co...

  Overview Volvo is a brand that's well known for its wagons, and the Swedish firm's latest long-roof models—including this 2021 V90 Cross Country—are moving this body style upmarket. Based on the normal V90 wagon, the V90 Cross Country adds a lifted suspension and standard all-wheel drive for improved capability in inclement weather. Like the smaller V60 Cross Country, the V90 Cross Country comes with more rugged styling cues to match its go-anywhere persona. Inside, real wood trim, sculpted seats, and a large cargo area balance practicality with luxury to good effect.  Driver-assistance features  abound, including standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and a semi-autonomous driving mode. What's New for 2021? Like its sedan and wagon counterparts, the V90 Cross Country receives a light refresh for the 2021 model year, complete with tweaks to exterior styling, a new Bowers & Wilkins stereo system, and a cabin-air partic...

  Overview Practicality and luxury go hand-in-hand in the 2021 Volvo V60 station wagon, which is based on the Swedish automaker's S60 sedan. Offered both in regular and lifted Cross Country guise, the V60 is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive. A high-performance plug-in hybrid variant is also offered and brings big thrills to this grocery-getter— along with up to 22 miles of electric-only driving. The V60 and its SUV- inspired V60 Cross Country version have few competitors—the Audi A4 Allroad, the Mercedes-Benz E-class All-Terrain, and the larger Volvo V90 spring to mind—but its posh cabin, long list of standard features, and reasonable base price make it the bargain of the bunch. What's New for 2021? Like the rest of the Volvo lineup, the V60 and V60 Cross Country gain blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, LED head lamps, power-folding exterior mirrors with an auto-dimming fea...

  Overview Looking for something to break out of the cookie-cutter SUV mold but still need space for family and cargo? I suggest the 2021 Volvo V90: It's beautiful, practical, fuel efficient, and luxurious—it really is the whole package. Buyers can choose either a 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder with front-wheel drive or a 316-hp turbo- and supercharged four-cylinder with all-wheel drive. Are  driver-assistance features  interesting to you? The V90 has them all, and what's more, they're standard across the lineup. If the idea of bailing on an SUV is still too much, consider the lifted and ruggedized V90 Cross Country (reviewed separately). What's New for 2021? Volvo's 90-series vehicles—the S90 sedan, V90 and V90 Cross Country wagons, and XC90 SUV—all receive a visual freshening for 2021, but the effect is subtle. I 'am fine with that, since these Swedish fish are among the most beautiful vehicles in their classes. Volvo is likely to continue of...

  Overview In my eyes, a mid-size luxury SUV is at its best when it so effortlessly blends on-road driving satisfaction with modern technology and a posh cabin—and the 2021 BMW X5 does just that. Three different power-trains are offered—including a plug-in hybrid model and a high-performance twin-turbo V-8—and the X5's road manners are decidedly athletic. Its styling is attractive without being overly flashy, and the interior treats occupants with quality materials, comfortable seats, and a plethora of convenience and luxury features. It faces heady competition from the likes of the 2021  Audi Q7 , the 2021  Porsche Cayenne , and the 2020  Mercedes-Benz GLE-class , but the X5 is a richly outfitted package well-equipped for the task at hand. What's New for 2021? For 2021, the X5's xDrive50i model has been replaced by the plug-in hybrid xDrive45e. The new plug-in hybrid power-train consists of a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and an electric motor for a to...

  Overview Lexus's GX SUV has been around for a very long time, and although it doesn't follow the same formula as most modern luxury crossovers—it's built on a separate frame, like old-style, pickup truck-based SUVs—its charms lie in its off-road capability and quiet cabin. Speaking of its cabin, the GX offers space for up to seven thanks to three rows of seats, so families can explore nature or take road trips in relative comfort. A 4.6-liter V-8 is the only engine choice and, while it isn't particularly fuel efficient, it makes 301-hp and drives all four-wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Where the GX shows its age the most is in its available technology features. An 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard, but the software interface isn't as up-to-date as in more modern Lexus models such as the LS and ES sedans or the UX subcompact SUV; it even lacks common connectivity features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But...