MIAMI — After a production hiatus that lasted for just over two decades, Land Rover brought back the Defender model for 2020, giving it the customary off-roading capability the company is known for while also delivering a refined performance for on-road ventures.. The 2023 Land Rover Defender is offered in a myriad of versions and trim packages with three different body styles for 2023.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —  Fifty three years ago, Rover decided that its landmark product — the Land Rover — needed a bigger brother more suited to m’lord and m’lady to patrol the castle grounds. Thus was born the boxy-yet-iconic Range Rover, loved by queens and commoners alike for its room for five with picnic hampers, plus Landie off-road ability. Leather and wood became part of the RR package years later as it aimed for the landed gentry. 

PHOENIX — With no less than 14 model variants of the Porsche Cayenne SUV there’s a new range-topping Turbo GT that’s the most ultimate Porsche Cayenne ever and is the closest to a Cayenne GT3 as Porsche has ever built. It’s the fastest, most powerful, and with a starting price of over $190,000 the most expensive sport utility vehicle ever by the German sports car maker. 

PHOENIX — The Toyota Sequoia has been around for over 20 years as an alternative to the Ford Expedition and the Chevrolet Tahoe. For 2023, the third-generation Sequoia has received a complete redo, well past its freshness date — the first time in the last 15 model years.

INDIANAPOLIS  — Unlike some of you, I love my mother-in-law, and when she came to me about her next new car, I was in for the chase.  She wanted a car of the highest quality, durability, and comfort, but it also had to be easy to drive.  Fuel economy was important as was safety.  She has two young grandchildren.  All-weather capability would also be good since she was planning long drives to see said grandchildren.  

PHOENIX — Notwithstanding the price of gasoline averaging nearly five dollars a gallon for premium and an avalanche of media hype, manufacturer TV advertisement for electric vehicles and the seemingly unquenchable thirst for SUVs from the car buying public, full-sized pickup trucks sales in the U.S. continue to reign supreme in sales numbers. 

HERNDON, Va. — In the three plus years since last driving Alfa Romeo’s Stelvio a lot has changed in the Alfa Romeo showroom; admittedly, that’s important only if you can find an Alfa Romeo showroom — don’t look for one in smaller locales with other high-end imports. Of note is a recent J.D. Power survey, signaling a significant uptake in customer satisfaction for Alfa Romeo.

PHOENIX — Facing an ever-increasing fierce competition among other ultra-luxe SUV competitors, a new fifth-generation Range Rover has been entirely designed taking luxury, design, poshness and performance to even loftier new heights. 

HERNDON, Va. — Some 50 years after Don McLean penned "American Pie," King Cadillac is looking up while the jester, Elon Musk, is looking down and — I’m guessing here — looking ahead. Of course, Cadillac and its GM siblings are planning to catch Tesla in a way only $illon-dollar multinationals can; Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick will be introducing a catalog of EVs, beginning in 2023.

PHOENIX — We’ve been saying it for years — the 4Runner is well past its freshness date and more than due for a complete redo. Still, over the years I’ve grown to soften my critique of the “ancient” 4Runner, that continues to set sales records, and in a quirky way I've learned to love it for what it is — simple, rugged, dependable and still highly sought after whether new or used.