John Aaron

1 week ago | wtop.com | John Aaron

When you think “luxury car,” something huge might come to mind, but what if you took all those creature comforts and threw them into a miniature package from a mainstream brand? That’s what’s happened with the Hyundai Kona Limited AWD, seen here in Ultimate Red Metallic. Black plastic body cladding around the wheel arches also gives this an off-road and almost Subaru-esque look. Hyundai calls the Kona a small SUV. It is most definitely small, and others even call it subcompact.

2 weeks ago | wtop.com | John Aaron

Rooftop surfboards and Grateful Dead T-shirts are not included, but retro vibes do abound in the microbus-inspired Volkswagen ID. Buzz — reincarnated as an electric vehicle. First off, do not get an ID. Buzz if you don’t like attention. You will get lots of looks and people will want to talk to you. This one got extra attention in what’s called Pomelo Yellow and Candy White two-tone paint, and also a Copper leatherette interior. This rear-wheel drive version has an EPA-estimated 234 miles of range.

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | John Aaron

When you think of performance and luxury, do you think Volvo? You probably should, based on a couple of recent examples I drove. Exhibit A is a lightning-fast two-row SUV: The 2025 Volvo XC60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered. It’s not only a mouthful, but also a rip-roaring plug-in hybrid, looking good in Vapour Grey, which the brand describes as having “a misty touch, inspired by windswept Scandinavian limestone houses.” If you say so.

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | John Aaron

For people who still want a sedan, it often comes down to two excellent options: the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. One difference-maker Toyota is leaning into is bad weather traction, as in the case of this Camry XSE with all-wheel drive. This sporty XSE has a four-cylinder hybrid power train, primarily propelling the front wheels with an electric motor helping when the rear wheels slip. The Camry now looks fast and stylish in general, though it’s gotten pretty low-slung over the years.

1 month ago | wtop.com | John Aaron

A few months back, I was dazzled by its SUV cousin, the Genesis GV80. Now batting, the G80 sedan, which also manages to dial up the opulence. This one is called the Genesis G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige, which is good because it’s fairly sporty and very prestigious. It’s meant to go up against the likes of the BMW 5-series and the Mercedes-Benz E-class, and it definitely holds its own, and then some.