Pilgrim Motor Press

2022 Honda Civic Si

The all-new Civic Si may look and feel more mature than ever but its engine has been tuned for more high-rpm power and the chassis adopts components from the hard-core Type R. Add in the inherent improvements provided by the 11th-generation Civic and a reasonable price tag – it seems to hit all of the marks on paper. In reality, however, the expectations that come with the Si badge can be fairly formidable.

2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580

The S-Class is the quintessential standard within the automotive industry. In every aspect, from the engineers’ freedom to design parts that best fit the car (vs the other way around), to the quality-focused and data-rich manufacturing process, to advanced technology that takes a decade before being spotted in mainstream vehicles, the S-Class shows what is possible when the reins of cost and development speed are loosened for the better of the car…and those who can afford its (as shown $130k) price tag.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS marks a defining moment in the brand’s history. It’s presented as the S-Class that is an EV, which is true in the way that it interacts with its driver and passenger and the premium aura that it exudes, however, its exterior and interior design is entirely fresh and is free from the binds of tradition.

2022 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X

To say that the 2022 Nissan Frontier is a huge step forward (compared to its predecessor) isn’t really saying anything meaningful. The previous Frontier lasted through about three life cycles and was ready for a new generation. The new truck brings more modern styling and safety tech yet with all of those changes, it retains a basic level of refinement which makes it feel very familiar. Nissan fans will scoop this one up and it will even convert a few Tacoma fans who are looking to stand out from the sea of other Toyotas on the trail.

2022 RAM 1500 Rebel G/T

There are very few moments where this fifth-generation RAM 1500 hasn’t impressed. From the mainstream Laramie trim to the monster-truck TRX to this off-road-ready Rebel, the RAM demonstrates the engineering and styling teams’ efforts to raise the bar in nearly every category. In many ways, it is the segment’s benchmark but still, there are a few places with room for improvement.

2022 BMW X3 xDriver30i

BMW’s most popular SUV gets a styling update for 2022 that brings slightly edgier touches to the front and rear ends and thankfully maintains a reasonable grille design. As far as features, the X3 has more standard equipment yet still requires pricy packages to feel well equipped. That usually hasn’t been a bad thing with BMW models in the past because the “Ultimate Driving Machine” DNA was built in – at least that was my expectation when taking on this base-spec’d X3.

2022 GMC Yukon AT4

This GMC Yukon, and its flagrantly similar Chevy Tahoe, dominate the large SUV market and this latest generation that debuted in 2021 shows how much it’s grown, not just in size but also in refinement.

2021 Mercedes AMG A 35

The A-Class sedan radiates with European flair, but here, in the land of large crossovers, the market for premium compact sedans is slim but interestingly, it is filled with impressive competition from Mercedes’ premium German rivals. This mid-level AMG performance trim adds a lot of character to the practically minded A-Class sedan but Mercedes squeezes its role into such a narrow space that this A 35 has become a one-year wonder.

2022 Chevrolet Blazer

After two years of very minor changes, the Blazer continues to serve as a Chevrolet’s relatively roomy, plenty powerful, and styling-focused mid-size crossover. But that also describes many other crossovers on the market so what makes the Blazer stand out?

2022 Nissan Armada

The 2022 Nissan Armada is your classic and unapologetically rough and ready SUV. It carries an off-road pedigree – known as the Patrol in the rest of the world – that few others have forged. But now, with its dune-crushing partner, the Land Cruiser sitting on the sidelines, the Armada is feeling a bit lonely in this narrow segment of the SUV kingdom. Does the recent refresh keep the Armada civilized enough for life on the pavement?