NEW: Get Updates by Email

Sign Up Now

First Drive

First Drive: Turning Over a New (Nissan) Leaf

First Drive: Turning Over a New (Nissan) Leaf

by | Sep 12, 2025 | , , , , , , , ,

Few vehicles have had more of an impact on the U.S. automotive market since the turn of the Millennium, even though Nissan Leaf has slipped into relative obscurity in an increasingly crowded EV segment. Can it regain its early luster? That’s what the Japanese automaker hopes as it rolls out an all-new 2026 Nissan Leaf offering a new crossover design, improved performance, substantially better range and plenty of other reasons to check it out. Add a surprisingly affordable price according to this Headlight.News review.

First Drive: 2026 Subaru Solterra EV Gets Tesla Charging, Other Updates

First Drive: 2026 Subaru Solterra EV Gets Tesla Charging, Other Updates

by | Sep 11, 2025 | , , , , , , , ,

By the normal scheme of things, we should have to wait a few years to see Subaru make even modest changes to the Solterra EV it launched in 2023. But the 2026 Subaru Solterra gets some surprisingly notable updates, starting with the Tesla-style NACS charging port. Here’s our review.

First Drive: 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid

First Drive: 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid

by | Aug 25, 2025 | , , , , , , , , ,

it wasn’t all that long ago that Kia was little more than an afterthought on the American market. But sales have soared in recent years and are on track to set another record for 2025. The Sportage, Kia’s best-selling product line is a key reason why. It’s attractive, affordable, and adds plenty of value for the money – especially if you’re considering the high-mileage 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid. Here’s our review.

First Drive: 2026 Hyundai Palisade

First Drive: 2026 Hyundai Palisade

by | Aug 20, 2025 | , , , , , , , , ,

Six years after it made an auspicious entry into the three-row SUV market, Hyundai is giving its flagship Palisade model a major makeover, and with a first-time hybrid drivetrain, the 2026 package delivers more room, more power – and up to 629 miles range per tank. It’s also adding a “more off-road-capable” XRT Pro package. Headlight.News headed out to California wine country to put the 2026 Hyundai Palisade through its paces. Here’s our review.

First Drive: 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V is the Brand’s Fastest Street-Legal Product. Ever.

First Drive: 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V is the Brand’s Fastest Street-Legal Product. Ever.

by | Jul 30, 2025 | , , , , , , , ,

Cadillac’s growing EV line-up now has its first V-Series performance model and the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V isn’t just quick but the fastest street-legal product the GM luxury brand has ever built. But is there more to this than just off-the-line acceleration? Check out this review on Headlight.News.

First Drive: Honda Gets Dirty with the 2026 CR-V TrailSport

First Drive: Honda Gets Dirty with the 2026 CR-V TrailSport

by | Jun 30, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s been nearly three decades since the Honda CR-V made its U.S. debut. Back then, folks derisively dubbed it a “soft-roader,” capable of handling not much more than a bit of gravel – if anyone ever chose to take it off pavement. Now, however, Honda is rolling out a new CR-V TrailSport package that, it claims, adds more off-road capabilities. Just how much more? Headlight.News headed into the San Jacinto Mountains near San Diego to find out. Here’s our review.

First Drive: 2026 Toyota bZ: More Power, Longer Range, Shorter Name

First Drive: 2026 Toyota bZ: More Power, Longer Range, Shorter Name

by | May 27, 2025 | , , , , , , ,

Toyota may be one of the top-selling brands in the U.S. but the original bZ4X,  its first serious foray into the battery-electric vehicle market, didn’t do much to charge up U.S. EV buyers. The good news is that Toyota appears to have learned from its mistakes. A mid-cycle update addresses the most notable buyer concerns, adding more range, better performance – and a shorter name. Headlight.News had an opportunity to test drive the new 2026 Toyota bZ and here’s what we learned.

First Drive: 2025 Lincoln Navigator – Back on Course

First Drive: 2025 Lincoln Navigator – Back on Course

by | Apr 24, 2025 | , , , , , , , , ,

When it made its debut in 1998, the Lincoln Navigator changed the world. Well, at least the luxury automotive world. It was big, it was bold and it offered an alternative to the traditional full-size luxury sedan. Since then, SUVs have come to dominate every segment of the market – but Navigator lately has lost ground to the Cadillac Escalade. Now, Lincoln is determined to prove it won’t take a back seat to its crosstown rival. Does it deliver? Headlight.News has this review of the 2025 Lincoln Navigator.