2026 Toyota Venza: Style, Efficiency and Comfort

 

The 2026 Toyota Venza is a hybrid SUV that blends style, efficiency and comfort.

 It features a 2.5-liter hybrid engine delivering 219 horsepower, offering smooth performance and excellent fuel economy. The Venza's design is sleek and modern, with soft body lines and a premium yet understated aesthetic.

Inside, the cabin is spacious and quiet, with high-quality materials and features like a large touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, dual-zone climate control and optional panoramic sunroof.

 The seats are supportive, making long drives comfortable. 

Safety is a priority, with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 providing adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, and pre-collision systems.

The Venza is available in trims like LE, XLE, Limited and Platinum, catering to various needs from daily commutes to luxury experiences. It’s a practical choice for eco-conscious drivers and families seeking a reliable, stylish hybrid SUV.

The Venza starts at around $35,000 and ranges to around $44,000.

2026 Toyota Highlander: Strong Entrant in SUV Market

 The 2026 Toyota Highlander is a solid contender in the midsize SUV market, offering a blend of comfort, practicality and modern features. Its standout qualities include a smooth ride, a spacious cabin for up to eight passengers and a suite of advanced safety features. The 2.4L turbocharged engine delivers 265 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, ensuring a confident driving experience. For those prioritizing efficiency, the hybrid model achieves up to 35 mpg combined.

Inside, the Highlander impresses with its optional 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and available leather-trimmed seats. However, the third row remains cramped, making it better suited for children. Cargo space is adequate but not class-leading, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 84 cubic feet with all seats folded.

While the Highlander excels in comfort and reliability, it faces stiff competition from rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, which offer more engaging designs and slightly better value. Starting at $47,840, the Highlander is a dependable choice for families, though it may not excite those seeking a more dynamic or luxurious ride.

2026 Toyota Tundra: Formidable Presence in the Truck Market

 

The 2026 Toyota Tundra is a solid contender in the full-size truck market, offering a mix of modern features and reliable performance. It comes equipped with a twin-turbo V6 engine, available in both standard and hybrid configurations. The hybrid version delivers an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, making it a strong choice for towing and hauling. However, its maximum towing capacity of 12,000 pounds falls short compared to competitors like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.

The Tundra's ride quality benefits from a coil-spring rear suspension, providing a smoother experience than traditional leaf springs. Inside, the cabin is spacious and functional, with an optional 14-inch touchscreen that stands out for its crisp graphics and user-friendly interface. While the interior design is practical, it lacks the luxury feel of some rivals, and certain materials feel less premium.

Fuel economy is a mixed bag, with the hybrid achieving up to 20 mpg combined, which is competitive but not groundbreaking. Safety features are robust, including Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which offers adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more.

On the downside, the Tundra has faced reliability concerns, particularly with its twin-turbo V6 engine in earlier models. While Toyota has addressed these issues, some buyers may remain cautious. Additionally, the truck's real-world fuel economy and towing capabilities leave room for improvement.

Pricing starts at around $42,000 and ranges as high as $80,000.

Overall, the 2026 Toyota Tundra is a capable and comfortable truck that excels in daily usability and tech features but lags behind in towing and luxury compared to its peers. It’s a great option for those prioritizing reliability and practicality over outright performance.

Vehicle Tips for Making It through the Last of Winter

 

There are still a few weeks of winter left for most areas of the Northern hemisphere, so with that in mind, it's still a good idea to keep your car winter-ready for awhile longer. Here are our 10 tips to make sure your vehicle can withstand winter's challenges.

1. Be sure your car battery is fully charged

Cold weather can lessen the effectiveness of your car's battery. An already old or weak battery can quickly die when temperatures drop. We recommend having the health of your battery tested by a professional.

2. Invest in new tires

Winter tires can help keep you and your family safe. They maintain better traction and control while driving through ice and snow. We also recommend checking your tire pressure more often during the winter.

3. Test out your heater and defroster

Before temperatures drop, make sure your car heater and defroster are functioning properly. Heating your car is essential for winter driving and without a working defroster, clearing ice off your windshield can be difficult and time-consuming.

4. Get an oil change

Did you know that motor oil can thicken in the cold? A multi-viscosity oil is recommended for the winter. Regular oil changes also prevent old oil from damaging your motor.

5. Keep your gas tank full

To prevent your fuel lines from freezing and moisture from developing inside your tank, keep your gas tank as full as possible throughout the winter season to make sure your fuel system is performing properly.

6. Maintain Anti-Freeze/Coolant Levels

Anti-Freeze keeps liquid in your engine from freezing when the temperature drops. We recommend checking your anti-freeze levels this winter and replenishing if needed.

7. Check your Engine Hoses

Make sure your engine hoses are fully functioning for winter. Check for leaks and cracks and replace any hoses that are brittle or spongy.

8. Check your windshield wiper blades and washer solvent

To guarantee that your windshield wipers can properly clear snow this winter, check to make sure no streaks or spots are left behind when you use your wipers and replace them if needed. Winter wiper blades are also a great option if you live in an area where heavy snow is common.

9. Check Your Headlights

With the sun setting earlier and the potential for snow in the forecast, driving with low-functioning headlights can be dangerous. Change the bulbs in your headlights to guarantee as much illumination as possible. Check to make sure your headlight lenses are clear and clean. If you have cloudy lenses, we recommend a headlight restoration service.

10. Stick to a preventative car maintenance schedule

All of the problems mentioned above can be avoided by practicing preventative maintenance. A technician can check for any potential issues that could arise during the winter and help prevent them.

Brakes Safe? Watch Out for the 3 S's

 

2026 Cadillac XT5: Luxury and Lots More to Offer

 

Buyers in the midsize luxury SUV market often are seeking a lot. Utility, fuel economy, style and some upscale amenities can be among the demands. Fortunately, the 2026 Cadillac XT5 offers all of those qualities and more. 

AAE recently got to test drive the XT5 in beautiful Baton Rouge, La. 

The XT5 is powered by either of two solid engines, both linked to a smooth-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission.

Standard is a 2.0L Turbo Inline-Four, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 lbs.-ft. of torque, giving more than adequate power for most driving needs. Fuel economy is rated at a strong 22 mpg city/29 highway with front-wheel drive. 

Optional is a 3.6L V-6, which is standard on Sport trim. This power plant makes 310 horsepower. The Sport trim also has an enhanced twin-clutch Sport Control All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system and available Chassis Damping Control enhanced handling.

Front-wheel drive is standard. Cadillac’s intelligent AWD is available on most trims. 

The XT5 comes in Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport trims. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist, with higher trims adding options like Adaptive Cruise Control and a more performance-oriented suspension.

The XT5 presents a smooth ride with robust acceleration and responsive braking. 

The interior of the XT5 offers a generous amount of space for a midsize crossover. The cargo area has 30 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expands to a maximum of 63 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.

The luxury touches on the interior include cut-and-sewn leather and natural wood trim as options. The XT5 uses Cadillac’s 8-inch infotainment touchscreen system with standard Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a standard Bose Premium Audio System.

The XT5 starts around $44,300 and ranges to around $64,000. For a midsize luxury crossover, the 2026 XT5 brings a lot to the table. 

AAE Presents Top 10 Tested Vehicles - 2025