Family-Hauling Champion

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

Some vehicles transcend their segment’s reputation, and the 2025 Honda Odyssey is one of them.

While “fun-to-drive minivan” might sound like an oxymoron, this latest version proves Honda hasn’t forgotten about the driver while crafting one of the most practical family vehicles on the market.

Fresh styling updates for 2025 include a sportier grille and reshaped fascias, but the real news lies in the technology upgrades.

Every trim now features a 7-inch digital instrument display and a larger 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The rear entertainment system grows to an impressive 12.8-inch screen, perfect for keeping the peace on long drives.

During an extended road trip to San Antonio, the Odyssey revealed its dual personality.

The 280-horsepower V6 engine delivers confident acceleration through a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission, while the chassis provides surprisingly engaging handling without sacrificing ride comfort. Even on extended highway stretches, the cabin remains notably quiet and composed.

The interior continues to showcase Honda’s mastery of space utilization.

Revised front styling gives the 2025 Odyssey a sportier appearance while maintaining its clean, sophisticated design language.

The Magic Slide second-row seats offer multiple configurations for passengers and cargo, though removing them entirely requires some muscle. Storage compartments seem to hide everywhere, from the deep center console to the various cubbies throughout all three rows. Even third-row passengers commented on the comfortable accommodations — a rare feat in any vehicle.

My Elite test model — priced at $52,275 with destination — came loaded with luxury touches including perforated leather seats, ventilated front seats and a premium audio system.

The new digital displays look sharp and respond quickly, while wireless phone charging and abundant USB-C ports keep devices powered up.

The upgraded cabin features new digital displays and premium materials, while Honda’s innovative Magic Slide second-row seats offer unmatched flexibility.

Standard safety features are comprehensive, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. However, some competitors offer features the Odyssey lacks, such as a surround-view camera system and power-folding third-row seats.

The biggest missing feature might be all-wheel drive, which both the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica offer. Additionally, while the V6 engine is strong and smooth, its fuel economy — 19 city and 28 highway — can’t match hybrid rivals.

Yet these compromises feel minor given the Odyssey’s overall excellence. It manages to be both a thoughtfully designed family tool and an enjoyable vehicle to drive, a combination that helps explain its position as America’s retail best-selling minivan to retail buyers.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Honda Odyssey Elite ($50,884). Options: None. Price as tested (including $1,395 destination charge): $52,275

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 118.1 in.
Length: 205.2 in.
Width: 78.5 in.
Height: 69.6 in.
Engine: 3.5-liter V6 (280 hp, 262 lbs. ft.)
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
MPG: 19 city, 28 highway

RATINGS

Style: 6
Performance: 8
Price: 8
Handling: 7
Ride: 8
Comfort: 9
Quality: 10
Overall: 9

WHY BUY IT?

Class-leading driving dynamics and clever interior packaging make this the minivan for drivers who haven’t given up on enjoying the journey.

Posted in Honda

Return Of An Icon

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

Sometimes the best way forward is to look back.

Toyota’s reimagined 2025 Land Cruiser arrives with a mission that seems almost contradictory in today’s market: it’s smaller, less luxurious and significantly less expensive than its predecessor. Yet in many ways, this back-to-basics approach makes the new Land Cruiser more appealing than ever.

Gone is the leather-lined luxo-cruiser that commanded nearly $90,000. In its place stands a more focused off-roader that starts at $56,450 — a price point that puts it squarely against the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler rather than the Range Rover.

The transformation is most evident in the styling, where Toyota’s designers have crafted what might be their best-looking SUV since the FJ Cruiser, with just the right mix of heritage cues and modern details.

Power comes from Toyota’s i-FORCE MAX hybrid system, pairing a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor to produce 326 horsepower and a stout 465 pound-feet of torque.

Retro-inspired design elements on the latest Toyota Land Cruiser pay homage to its ancestors while maintaining a modern presence.

While the powertrain provides smooth, confident acceleration, real-world highway fuel economy falls short of its EPA estimates. The eight-speed automatic transmission handles shifting duties competently if not remarkably.

The Land Cruiser’s road manners are surprisingly civilized for a vehicle with serious off-road credentials. The ride quality is noticeably more composed than its direct competitors from Ford and Jeep, though you’ll still find plenty of body roll in corners.

The trade-off comes in the form of impressive trail capability, aided by standard features like a two-speed transfer case and locking center and rear differentials.

Inside, the lower grades make it clear where some costs were cut. Hard plastics and basic fabric seats replace the previous generation’s premium materials. Yet the simplicity feels appropriate for a vehicle meant to get muddy, and the controls are logically arranged for easy use even with gloved hands.

The Land Cruiser’s simplified cabin prioritizes functionality over luxury, with durable materials and straightforward controls suited for off-road adventures.

The lack of a third row may disappoint some buyers, but the two-row layout provides decent passenger space. Cargo practicality is somewhat limited by a high load floor.

Toyota’s suite of advanced driver aids comes standard, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The 8-inch touchscreen includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, though you’ll need to step up to higher trims for the larger 12.3-inch display.

For traditional off-road enthusiasts, the new Land Cruiser’s more focused approach will feel like a return to form.

While it may have lost some of its luxury pretenses, it gained something more valuable: authenticity. This is a Land Cruiser that feels truer to its heritage, ready to forge new trails rather than just cruise Rodeo Drive.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser FE ($74,950). Options: Federal emissions ($350), two-tone roof ($130). Price as tested (including $1,395 destination charge): $76,825

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 112.2 in.
Length: 196.4 in.
Width: 77.9 in.
Height: 76.1 in.
Engine: 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid four cylinder (326 hp, 465 lbs. ft.)
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
MPG: 22 city, 25 highway

RATINGS

Style: 9
Performance: 8
Price: 9
Handling: 5
Ride: 6
Comfort: 6
Quality: 8
Overall: 8

WHY BUY IT?

The latest Land Cruiser is a legitimate off-roader with hybrid efficiency and heritage styling at a price that makes it much more appealing.

Posted in Toyota

Jetta Stays the Course

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

Volkswagen knows better than to mess with success.

For 2025, the venerable Jetta receives thoughtful updates that enhance its value proposition without straying from the qualities that have made it VW’s best-selling car in North America.

Most noticeable among the changes is a revised front fascia featuring new LED headlights and an available illuminated light bar that stretches across the grille. The rear gets similar treatment, with a standard light bar connecting the taillights.

Inside, VW has upgraded the cabin with a new floating 8-inch touchscreen display and standard dual-zone climate control.

The Jetta continues with its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. While adequate for daily driving, acceleration can feel leisurely compared to some competitors.

New LED lighting elements and subtle styling updates freshen the 2025 Jetta’s appearance while maintaining its conservative European design language.

The engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission that prioritizes fuel economy, delivering an impressive EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway in most trim levels.

Where the Jetta truly shines is in its blend of comfortable ride quality and composed handling. The suspension soaks up road imperfections while maintaining enough firmness to keep the car stable through corners. The steering provides decent feedback, though it’s tuned more for comfort than sportiness.

The cabin remains a strong point, offering generous space for both front and rear passengers along with high-quality materials that help justify its European heritage.

A floating 8-inch touchscreen display anchors the 2025 Jetta’s revised dashboard.

The new floating touchscreen looks modern but relies heavily on touch controls that can be distracting to use while driving. Trunk space is generous at 14.1 cubic feet, with standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats adding versatility.

Starting at $21,995 for the base S model, the Jetta represents strong value in the compact segment. Our loaded SEL test car ($30,680 including destination) came well-equipped with leather seating, ventilated front seats and VW’s comprehensive IQ.DRIVE suite of driver assistance features.

While the compact sedan segment continues to shrink as buyers migrate to crossovers, the refreshed Jetta makes a compelling case for sticking with a traditional sedan.

It excels at the fundamentals with impressive fuel economy, refined road manners and a spacious interior that doesn’t feel entry-level.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Volkswagen Jetta 1.5T SEL ($29,000). Options: Kings Red metallic paint ($455). Price as tested (including $1,225 destination charge): $30,680

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 105.7 in.
Length: 186.5 in.
Width: 70.8 in.
Height: 57.7 in.
Engine: 1.5-liter turbocharged four cylinder (158 hp, 184 lbs. ft.)
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
MPG: 29 city, 40 highway

RATINGS

Style: 7
Performance: 8
Price: 9
Handling: 8
Ride: 6
Comfort: 6
Quality: 6
Overall: 7

WHY BUY IT?

The latest Jetta offers refined European driving dynamics and impressive fuel economy in an affordable, spacious package.

Posted in Volkswagen

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