About the Car and Driver Gear Team: Why Trust Us
Since 1964, Car and Driver has prided itself on hands-on testing and real-world experience behind the wheel and under the hood to bring you the best in automotive news. The Gear Team brings that same legendary passion and knowledge to our product reviews and gear tests.
We take the same approach to gear that our car reviewers rely on to test cars: We evaluate products on their own merit, compare them to the competition, and tell you the truth.
With many of the trusted magazines and newspapers of the good old days replaced by search-engine-hacking, algorithm-manipulating websites, the Gear Team delivers honest evaluations of the most popular automotive parts, tools, and products, driven by decades of knowledge and experience.
If you're finding yourself increasingly baffled, bemused, and disappointed by the "expert" reviews you see online these days, you can still trust Car and Driver. The Gear Team gets our hands on nearly every product, tool, and piece of gear we test, and we never recommend anything we wouldn't buy ourselves.
The Gear Team chooses all our products independently based on our knowledge of the automotive market and gear landscape. We never accept payment in exchange for editorial placement. Ever. We'll never say anything is "the best" if we wouldn't recommend it to our friends or buy it ourselves, and we won't tell you we've tested something unless we've put it through our own wringer. That's a promise.
The Gear Team purchases most of the gear and products we rate and review. Some is supplied by manufacturers for testing purposes; trustworthy manufacturers and retailers offer us the chance to test their gear because they believe in the quality and value of the work they do and the products they make and sell. In fact, we're often suspicious of companies who refuse to donate products for evaluation.
Car and Driver is one of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world, so we don't have to worry about gaming search engines to get traffic, or promoting lousy products to sell junk. Rather, we're concerned with our legacy, our reputation, and most of all the trust that you, our readers, have in us. We know you rely on us to give it to you straight, and like our editorial car reviewers, the Gear Team promises to deliver the truth, every time.Head of Special Projects
Thanks to the Cannonball Run movies and tales of his father's beloved 1969 Plymouth GTX, Patrick Carone has been obsessed with cars since the Reagan administration. Testing vehicles from his home in New York City has given him the dubious ability to confidently pilot half-a-million-dollar supercars through midtown at rush hour.Deputy Commerce Editor
Jon Langston is an avid motorcyclist and gear collector whose work has appeared in Men's Journal, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Cycle World, and more.Associate Commerce Editor
Collin Morgan is the Associate Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, where he presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors. He's been a technician in the trenches of Midwestern automotive repair, explored the automotive shrines in central Italy, and now enjoys making slow cars go fast around various Michigan racetracks.Commerce Editor
Collin Morgan is a Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, where he presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors. He's been a technician in the trenches of Midwestern automotive repair, explored the automotive shrines in central Italy, and now enjoys making slow cars go fast around various Michigan racetracks.Associate Testing Editor
Gannon Burgett loves cameras, cars, and coffee: a perfect combination for his Hearst Autos work. His byline has appeared in USA Today, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, the Detroit Free Press, and more.Associate Testing Editor
Gannon Burgett loves cameras, cars, and coffee: a perfect combination for his Hearst Autos work. His byline has appeared in USA Today, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, the Detroit Free Press, and more.Assistant Testing Editor
By day, Katherine Keeler evaluates tools for your enjoyment; by night, she Frankensteins her ever-changing fleet of rust-bucket oddities back to repair. Her dream is to open a roadside attraction where the public can view, drive, and learn repairs at her emporium of curious cars.Associate Testing Editor
By day, Katherine Keeler evaluates tools for your enjoyment; by night, she Frankensteins her ever-changing fleet of rust-bucket oddities back to repair. Her dream is to open a roadside attraction where the public can view, drive, and learn repairs at her emporium of curious cars.Assistant Commerce Editor
The Assistant Commerce Editor for Hearst Autos, Justin Helton is an enthusiast with a passion for heavily depreciated autos and a penchant for philosophical debate. As a lifelong Manhattanite, he has mastered the ins and outs of classic car ownership in one of the least car-friendly cities in the world.Assistant Testing Editor
With a degree in multimedia journalism and a passion for the automotive world, Mason Cordell enjoys driving, wrenching, writing, and everything in between. At the age of 22, his garage consisted of a '95 Miata, an '08 M5, and a 1987 Porsche 944S. Clearly, he has a problem.
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USA Today
14 hours ago
- USA Today
Waymos are being torched in LA. Why burning EVs isn't a good idea.
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From social media and photos, it appears that at least five Waymo self-driving robotaxis were set on fire on Sunday, June 8 amidst immigration protests in downtown Los Angeles. Protesters smashed windows on the cars – all Jaguar I-PACE electric SUVs – as well as spray painting them with anti-ICE and anti-Trump slogans. Some were also set on fire. The burning cars, whose base sticker price is $73,000, according to Car and Driver, sent plumes of thick black smoke billowing into the blue Los Angeles sky, making for stunning photos that have figured prominently in many media feeds about the protests. What's Waymo doing about the attacks on its cars? Waymo has suspended service to the affected area of downtown Los Angeles. A Waymo spokesperson told USA TODAY on Monday morning, June 9, the company has removed its vehicles from downtown Los Angeles and is currently not serving the area "out of an abundance of caution." The spokesperson said the company is still operating in Los Angeles, which covers 500 square miles, and is working in coordination with the Los Angeles Police Department. What other cities have Waymos? Waymo are available for rides in Austin, Phoenix, Los Angeles, parts of Silicon Valley and all of San Francisco. They're expected to start in Atlanta, Miami and Washington in 2026. In April the company announced its first foreign venture, with testing beginning in Tokyo. According to the company, more than 250,000 trips a week are taken in its driverless robotaxis. Waymo is owned by Google's parent company, Alphabet. Are people targeting Waymos specifically? It's not clear if the Los Angeles protesters were specifically targeting Waymos or if the cars just happened to wander into the area and because they have no drivers, they were perceived as more vulnerable or they simply didn't know to drive away. The Waymos that burned all appeared to be empty, meaning no passengers were potentially at risk. There have been suggestions online that protesters might have called Waymos to the area specifically to set them on fire. However that would mean Waymo would know the name and contact info of the people who'd called them, making the scenario less likely though certainly not impossible. Waymo would not say how its cars came to be in the area. There have also been suggestions that the Waymos were targeted because they are festooned with cameras, meaning they might be used to identify protesters engaging in illegal activity. However many modern cars are equipped with cameras, so Waymos aren't that different from most newer vehicles on the road. In cities where Waymos are available, which include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Phoenix, the cars are very much like human-driven taxis. They're a frequent sight as they drive around on their way to pick up passengers, or to park as they wait for their next ride request. That means they're often wandering around on city streets, especially in popular and busy areas – like downtown Los Angeles. So it's quite possible the Waymos that were attacked were just going about their business and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's also true that Waymos are very conservative in their driving habits and won't drive threateningly if surrounded by people. So while a human driver might rev their motor or honk or drive aggressively to get out of a potentially dangerous situation, a Waymo would just calmly try to go on its way – making it an easy target. What happens when an EV burns? Electric vehicle fires can burn hotter and more intensely than gasoline-fueled cars, if their batteries catch fire. 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'Firefighters often work in close proximity to the fire, are involved in prolonged suppression and overhaul tasks, and may experience cumulative exposure over the course of their careers. Repeated exposures, even at low doses to hazardous substances released during EV fires can increase the risk of long-term health effects, including respiratory disease and cancer,' Caban-Martinez said. Putting out a fire in an electric vehicle requires different techniques If an electric vehicle's battery catches fire, different firefighting techniques can be required to quench it. Firefighters are trained on these techniques and the National Fire Protection Association offers emergency response guides to most alternative fuel vehicles. Today most EVs are built with what are known as "cut loops" or "first responder loops" that allow firefighters and first responders to easily cut and disconnect the high-voltage system outside of the high voltage battery, to reduce the risk of electric shock and possible fire. Note: this can only be done safely by trained professionals with the appropriate tools and gear. EV fires are more difficult to put out than ones in gasoline-powered cars and require different firefighting techniques, which firefighters are trained on. The biggest difference is that an EV battery fire cannot be put out with the type of firefighting foam used to smother other fires. If an EV battery is on fire, it does not require oxygen to burn because it is self-sustaining, so the foam cannot stop the fire. Instead, the battery must be cooled to stop the fire and end thermal runaway. 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17 hours ago
- Car and Driver
2026 Jeep Cherokee Spy Photos Show More Angles of the Revived SUV
Our spy photographers captured new photos of the 2026 Jeep Cherokee that show more angles of the unreleased SUV, including the interior. The interior photos show a cabin that closely matches the design found in the Wagoneer S EV, sans the climate and passenger's screens. We also got our first look at the rear of the Cherokee, which, like the front, features a much more upright design. Late last month, Jeep graced us with the first official photos of the 2026 Cherokee SUV. After three years away, the Cherokee is officially headed back to production—and the full reveal is planned for late 2025. KGP Photography | Car and Driver While we were happy at the time to get an idea for the new design language, the provided photos didn't quite sate our desire. Thankfully, our spy photographers have captured new photos of the upcoming Cherokee that show the full car, including the interior. And based on what we can see, the Cherokee has officially entered the modern era. The testing mule's cabin looks to resemble the interior of the electric Jeep Wagoneer S, though there's no passenger's screen on the dash, and the Cherokee looks to use a dedicated panel of haptic controls instead of a climate-control screen. The instrument cluster and center infotainment screens look to be the same 12.3-inch units from the Wagoneer S. KGP Photography | Car and Driver There's a pair of USB type-C outlets beneath the climate controls, under which is a fairly sizable storage cubby. Continuing to follow the Wagoneer S's lead, the center console has two cupholders, a rotary gear selector, and a toggle for drive modes. Outside the car, we got our first look at the back of the new Cherokee, which, like the front grille, is considerably more upright than before. A rectangular set of taillights juts into the tailgate beneath a large rear window, echoing the square look of the headlights. KGP Photography | Car and Driver Full pricing and specs won't be available for the new Cherokee until closer to its on-sale date. When it does go on sale, the new Cherokee will add a hybrid powertrain to the mix, further futureproofing the revived model. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Soak Up the Sun With These Wallet-Friendly Convertibles
There's something about a convertible that just feels like summer. Maybe it's the open sky, the warm breeze, or that sense of freedom that only comes when the top is down and the road stretches ahead. Whatever the reason, if you've been dreaming about owning one, now's a great time to start looking. While some convertibles come with six-figure price tags, there are still plenty of models that offer open-air fun without draining your savings. Whether you're into classic styling, modern tech, off-road adventure, or pure driving joy, there's a convertible out there that fits the bill. Why We Chose These Cars We looked for convertibles that balance three key qualities: affordability, reliability, and driving enjoyment. Some are brand-new models with updated tech and safety features. Others are slightly older, pre-owned picks that have held their value and still offer a lot of fun for the money. All pricing and specifications were sourced from trusted sites like Car and Driver, Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, Cars & Bids, and official manufacturer websites. A few discontinued models made the cut because they're still widely available and worth considering if you're open to shopping used. From sporty roadsters to rugged roofless SUVs, this list offers a variety of drop-top experiences for every kind of driver. Ask just about any car enthusiast to name the best affordable convertible, and chances are they'll say 'Miata.' And for good reason. The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata stays true to what has made it a favorite for decades: lightweight design, balanced handling, and pure driving enjoyment. Mazda reports that the 2025 model keeps its 181-horsepower 2.0-liter engine, with your choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. It's not just fun—it's efficient, too, with a combined 29 miles per gallon. Thanks to its near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the Miata carves through corners with confidence, making even an ordinary drive feel like something special. If you like the idea of owning something collectible, Car and Driver shares that Mazda is releasing a 35th Anniversary Edition in a deep Artisan Red with tan Nappa leather seats. Only 300 are coming to the U.S., so it's a rare find. Whether you're a longtime fan or just looking to add some fun to your weekends, the Miata is proof that joy doesn't have to be expensive. If you're after a convertible with charm, personality, and a bit of British flair, the 2025 Mini Cooper Convertible delivers. It's compact, stylish, and built to make everyday drives feel a little more playful. Mini offers a variety of ways to customize your car, from bold paint colors to interior trim and tech features. No matter how you configure it, you still get that signature Mini look and the famously fun 'go-kart' handling that makes it such a joy to drive around town or through winding roads. The base model includes a 161-horsepower engine paired with an automatic transmission. It's zippy without being overwhelming, making it a great option for drivers who want something sporty but approachable. For those who want something a little different without straying too far from comfort and quality, the Mini Cooper Convertible offers just the right mix of fun and refinement. If you want American muscle with your open-air experience, the Camaro is a great choice. Car and Driver reports that the 2024 model offers a choice of a 335-hp 3.6-liter V-6 or a 455-hp 6.2-liter V-8. You can also choose between a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. For drivers looking for a little more pep in their step, CoPilot found that the ZL1 trim is a beast with 650 supercharged horsepower. In addition, if you need serious track performance, check out the 1LE package. The Fiat 124 Spider is a stylish roadster that combines Italian design with Japanese engineering. The popular car marketplace, Carwow, states that the car features a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with 160 hp and gets 29 mpg combined. Unfortunately, according to Fiat, the 124 Spider was discontinued in 2020. However, you can still find many used models on online car marketplaces. For another car that is no longer in production but still a fun ride, the 2019 Beetle Convertible is a modern take on a classic. It's got that iconic shape and a fun, retro vibe. Edmunds reports that the 2019 model features a 174-hp 2.0-liter engine and a 6-speed automatic, getting 29 mpg combined. Giving a loving tribute, Car and Driver states that the Beetle's history in America starts in the 1950s and took off in the 60s when it was featured in the popular Disney movie The Love Bug. Still, to this day, it remains one of the most recognizable cars in history. For the adventurous, the Jeep Wrangler is the ultimate go-anywhere convertible. You can take off both the roof and the doors for a truly open-air experience. Jeep states the 2025 model offers a choice of engines, including a 285-hp 3.6-liter V-6 that gets up to 19 mpg combined. Jeep's roots are deep in American history, with one of the first models being used in World War II, where it served as a military vehicle. Now, the Wrangler comes in tons of configurations, including two-door and four-door versions. The Ford Bronco is another rugged option, directly competing with the Wrangler. It also has a removable roof and doors, with retro styling. Car and Driver reports that the 2025 Bronco offers many engine options, with the standard being a 300-hp turbocharged four-cylinder that gets a combined 18 mpg. There's even a Bronco Raptor trim with a 418-hp engine for serious off-roading. Unfortunately, you need deep pockets to get your hands on one, as this over-the-top Bronco will run you about $92,000, putting it well outside the affordable category. The Ford Mustang is a classic American muscle car that goes back all the way to the 1960s. Moving into the 21st century, The Mustang Convertible offers several engine options from the base 315-hp 2.3-liter inline-four EcoBoost to the iconic 480-hp 5.0-liter V8, and buyers also get to choose between a 10-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual transmission. The average mpg ranges from 17 to 25, depending on your engine configuration. Maybe that roaring V8 is worth a few extra bucks at the pump?! Further on our list is the 987 Porsche Boxster, which is a fun little roadster featuring top-of-the-line handling and an exciting top-down driving experience. This particular model of Boxster ran from 2004 to 2012. The car auction website Cars & Bids shows pre-owned models ranging from $11,100 to $55,000. Porsche Club of America states that the 987 Porsche Boxster was offered a couple of different engine options, from the base 2.7-liter to a 3.2-liter flat-6. It's also available with several transmission options, ranging from a 5 or 6-speed manual or a 7-speed automatic. If you're looking for something stylish and refined, the Audi A5 Cabriolet delivers a quiet, confident kind of luxury. It's not flashy, but it turns heads for all the right reasons—with clean lines, tasteful chrome accents, and that unmistakable Audi grille. Available with Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive, the A5 Cabriolet gives you a sense of security and traction that many convertibles can't match, especially if you live somewhere with unpredictable weather. Most models from this era come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, offering a smooth ride and plenty of power for highway cruising. Inside, you'll find a comfortable and thoughtfully designed cabin. Even the earlier models feel upscale, with features like leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and a surprisingly quiet ride when the top is up. For under $20,000 on the used market, the A5 Cabriolet is a strong option for drivers who want an open-air experience without giving up comfort or refinement. It's a convertible you can enjoy daily, and still feel good about when you pull up to dinner on a Friday night. The BMW 2 Series Convertible is what happens when German engineering meets top-down driving fun. Compact and athletic, the 2018 230i strikes a great balance between sporty performance and everyday comfort, making it a standout in the used convertible market. Under the hood, you'll find a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 248 horsepower to the rear wheels. That means sharp handling, smooth acceleration, and a driving feel that's unmistakably BMW. You can choose between an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual, depending on how involved you want to be behind the wheel. The interior is classic BMW—clean design, quality materials, and just enough tech to make life easy without feeling cluttered. It's also surprisingly comfortable for a small car, with supportive seats and a well-insulated soft top that keeps things quiet when it's up. For drivers who want a convertible that feels refined but still has a bit of edge, the 230i is a strong contender. With used prices falling around $16,500 to start, it's a great way to enjoy premium quality without stepping into luxury-car price territory. If you're looking for a convertible car that's fun to drive, reliable, and affordable to keep running, the Toyota MR2 Spyder is your next car. This sporty convertible was in production from 1999 to 2007, but disappeared from the American market in 2005. According to Kelley Blue Book, the Toyota MR2 Spyder came standard with a 1.8-liter inline-4 engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. No matter your style — sporty, rugged, nostalgic, or refined — there's a convertible out there that can turn your everyday drives into something memorable. The best part? You don't need to empty your savings to get one. Whether you're eyeing a modern Miata, a throwback Beetle, or even a used Porsche that still has plenty of punch, the options are surprisingly accessible. And if you're leaning toward something a little less traditional, like a Jeep or Bronco with the top off and the trail ahead, that counts too. So if you've been waiting for a sign to start your top-down summer adventures, consider this it. Take your time, do your homework, and test drive a few. The right convertible isn't just about looks or speed. It's about how it makes you feel every time you turn the key (or press the button) and roll out into the sunshine. Happy driving, and don't forget the sunscreen.
