SANTA CRUZ — The 2024 Fiat 500e and 2024 Vary Rover SE 7 seat LWB don’t have anything in widespread aside from 4 wheels and country-of-origin pleasure.
A really perfect mass-produced metropolis automotive with an Italian heritage relationship greater than 125 years, the 500e weighs 2,952 kilos and has 117 horsepower. The Vary Rover weighs almost twice as a lot, has 395 horsepower and a British legacy relationship to 1970.
Just like the Fiat, the Vary Rover started with a function — as a distinct segment utilitarian car. It had vinyl seats, a plastic dashboard and was designed for cleansing inside and outdoors with a hose.
However the various vehicles couldn’t have been extra excellent for a current few-day marriage at Better of the Bay. The second version of the pace evaluate program was orchestrated by the Western Automotive Journalists group and supported by producer liaisons DriveShop and Web page One Automotive.
The premise was easy but difficult. Each reviewer drove each car in 30-minute classes on both an ocean view route or on a hilly inland circuit to the tree lined UC Santa Cruz campus.
It was automotive pace relationship. With a quick meet-up, might I be suitable long-term with the not too long ago re-instated Fiat 500e, its tiny-house habitat and 129-mile vary? Perhaps the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet with its 6.2-liter V-8 HEMI engine and testosterone-overdrive persona could be proper?
For the makeshift, multi-maker cell dealership, additionally on website was Genesis with the 2025 G80 3.5T Sport Status, 2025 GV80 3.5T Status and 2025 GV80 Coupe. Hyundai offered the 2024 Elantra N and 2024 Ioniq 5 N. Kia supplied the 2025 Carnival Hybrid and 2025 Sorento PHEV. Acura showcased the 2024 ZDX Kind 3. Lexus included its 2024 GX 550 Premium. Lucid showcased the 2025 Air Pure. Toyota featured the 2025 Camry Hybrid XSE.
Whereas various, solely a small sampling of the 37 carmakers at present promoting new vehicles in the USA had been displayed at Better of the Bay. But the 5 producers’ autos supplied a number of general {industry} truths.
Automobile interiors are vastly improved. Leather-based appointments are sometimes cross-stitched and coordinated with what as soon as possible would have been seen as non-complementary colours. Navigation screens are more and more bigger, higher positioned and contoured for higher viewing. Head-up shows are crisper and extra detailed, though many techniques nonetheless can’t be seen if the motive force is sporting polarized sun shades.
With driving full, 17 reviewers picked the Better of the Bay in six classes and with nameless voting: Greatest Passenger Automobile, Greatest SUV, Greatest EV, Greatest Know-how, What Would You Purchase and Greatest General Automobile.
The 2025 Air Pure claimed the Greatest EV and Greatest General car classes and tied with the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for Greatest Know-how; The Genesis GV80 3.5T Status was named Greatest Passenger Automobile and tied with its stablemate, the Genesis GV80 Coupe 3.5T, for Greatest SUV.
Eleven of the 14 autos reviewed at Better of the Bay acquired one vote within the What Would You Purchase (with your individual cash) class.
Lucid’s choice in three classes was befitting of the luxurious area of interest carmaker’s autos. Headquartered in Newark however with a producing facility in Casa Grande, Arizona, Lucid debuted in late 2021 with 2022 fashions. It has endured monetary setbacks and now has majority possession with Center Jap traders.
Nonetheless largely unheralded, Lucid produced solely 8,428 autos in 2023 and delivered 6,001. Its vehicles (and pending SUVs) are revolutionary and good-looking, fashionable and industry-bending, plush and spacious. The Lucid lineup is exceedingly enjoyable to drive.
The reviewed Lucid Air Pure (with vacation spot expenses) prices $83,050. It has a 372-mile vary and top-line expertise, consolation and comfort appointments. Lucid’s Greatest-of-the-Bay honors weren’t shocking and different awards absolutely pending received’t be both.
