Brian Wong

3 weeks ago | edmunds.com | Brian Wong

The bad: There are some weird choices when it comes to controls. Volkswagen hasn't gone the full minimalism route like the Volvo, but instead of knobs to adjust the temperature you get haptic sliders below the screen that can be tough to use. At least in the ID Buzz, unlike some of Volkswagen's other models, they are illuminated so you can see them at night. And for such a family-friendly-sized cabin, it's weirdly lacking in stuff that parents and kids alike would appreciate.

3 weeks ago | edmunds.com | Brian Wong

Track impressionsWe kick off our track time by using the truck's "Lobo" drive mode (think of it as a mode meant to be used on a track or autocross). In this mode, the RDS moves its power laterally at the rear axle more liberally and that is meant to unlock its true handling and powersliding potential. We'll see. The Lobo takes its time getting up to speed down our main straightaway and it hits the first turn, a slight right-to-left chicane, with less velocity than I expected.

1 month ago | edmunds.com | Brian Wong

Our recommendation: Ram 1500, 55% American parts; built in Sterling Heights, Michigan Hyundai Santa Cruz, 60% American parts; built in Montgomery, AlabamaFor the bigger trucks, the Ram 1500 (Edmunds rating of 8.1) comes in second in our rankings and it barely squeaks into contention for our criteria. Believe it or not, the Ram and the Toyota Tundra (55% American parts for the gas and 50% for the hybrid) are the only two full-size pickups that qualify.

1 month ago | edmunds.com | Brian Wong

TechnologyIf this is a contest solely based on screen size, the Subaru would be the clear winner. But because the software powering these screens and ease of use are both factors, it makes the picture a lot murkier. The vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen comes standard on all Forester models except the base model, and though it takes up a lot of dashboard real estate, we think that space could have been better used for other things like, say, physical climate controls.

1 month ago | edmunds.com | Brian Wong

What about value? Here are the prices for each of the Civic's trim levels, including the destination charges: Civic LX sedan: $25,400 Civic Sport sedan: $27,400 Civic Sport Hybrid sedan: $30,100 (cheapest hybrid) Civic Sport Touring Hybrid sedan: $33,100At a bare minimum, we recommend upgrading to the Civic Sport over the Civic LX. It offers a lot of extra equipment for that $2,000, all of which make living with the car significantly better.