We’re frankly surprised it’s taken Acura this long to enter the Premium Subcompact Crossover segment. The current-generation HR-V is as good a place to start as any, and we expect ADX to certainly offer a more-engaging driving experience. A mid-$30,000 starting price is appealing, but we’re disappointed that worthwhile convenience features like rear USB power points require moving up the product stack, which may cause some buyers to pay more than they otherwise would have wanted.

Jill and Tom are joined by Chip Lupo of WalletHub. Chip shared details of WalletHub’s recent 2024 Best & Worst cities to Drive in study. The study included data not only on traffic congestion, but vehicle operating costs and commute times as well. Chicago and Detroit, we have bad news for you. 

If you needed to pair one maker’s car with another’s drivetrain, the CX-50 packed full of Toyota hybrid goodness is a pretty good way to go. We’re glad to see one of Mazda’s best crossovers enjoy the efficiency benefits of a proven hybrid system, while remaining the classy and sharp-handling crossover we appreciate so much.

Just over $42k isn’t cheap for a small off-road-esque pickup truck. It’s a couple of grand more than the all-wheel drive gas version of the Maverick Lariat and about three grand less than the Ridgeline Trailsport. While Hyundai touts the Santa Cruz as a Sport Adventure Vehicle rather than a pickup truck, the Santa Cruz nicely toes the line between small truck and mid-size SUV.

While big automakers were retooling their factories, switching back to vehicle production after several years of cranking out war materiel, new car companies were popping up, intent on capitalizing on what promised to be boom years. One such company was Playboy. Founded by a successful Packard dealer name Lou Horwitz, the corporate plan was to build and retail a small, practical car that sold for less than $1000.