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2026 Lexus LX 700h Review – One Week in the DMV
Lexus LX 700h I replaced my daily vehicle with the 2026 Lexus LX 700h Luxury Hybrid Premium and spent a week exploring D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, dealing with Beltway traffic, pothole-filled side streets in Prince George's County, and rainy trips on I-495. This large three-row SUV never felt out of place. What surprised me most wasn't the big grille or the fancy interior. It was the calm confidence of the hybrid system. The LX glides over rough roads like a yacht. While me
Randi Payton
3 hours ago3 min read


How the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz Came to Be
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz To understand the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, you have to see the bigger picture of Hyundai's overall strategy. When Hyundai first entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the modest Excel, it was considered a joke, a cheap car aimed at budget buyers. However, the company quickly learned and adapted. Over the next 20 years, Hyundai grew rapidly, launching models such as the Sonata sedan, the Elantra compact, and, eventually, the Santa Fe SUV. By the 2010s, Hy
Randi Payton
Apr 164 min read


The 2026 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium
2026 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid For 2026, the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid is back for its second year, quietly proving that you don’t have to sacrifice driving enjoyment for fuel efficiency, whether you're navigating potholes downtown or merging at highway speeds. I spent a week in the CX-50 Hybrid Premium, dividing my time between gridlocked city streets and beltway traffic, to see if this Toyota-powered, Mazda-styled crossover is the smartest $40,000 you can buy right now. If you’re expecti
Randi Payton
Apr 72 min read


The Great Unplugging: Why Hybrids Are Winning and Toyota’s 2026 Prius Plug-in Nightshade Maintains Its Stand
2026 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Nightshade As I review the 2026 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, several factors that have transformed the American car market over the past year come to mind, and although none of them favor full electrification or plug-in hybrids, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid remains strong. The most immediate blow to EVs came in September 2025, when the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act" eliminated the $7,500 federal tax credit for new EVs and the $4,000 credit for use
Randi Payton
Mar 294 min read
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