We spend a week in the 2019 Honda HR-V, the brand's smallest crossover, and find that it continues to offer a smooth ride, a brilliantly versatile interior with class-leading cargo space, and a good value proposition. At the same time, acceleration is nothing to write home about, advanced safety features are missing from the two most affordable models, the new Sport model offers no performance advantage, and the sportier manual transmission has been dropped from the entire lineup.

The 2018 Lexus LX 570 features off-road capable body-on-frame construction, big V8 power, plenty of towing capability, and a leather and wood-trimmed cabin worthy of a luxury yacht. At the same time, body lean in cornering is abundant, third row occupants should be limited to small people, gas mileage is horrible, while most owners will never need - or use - its off-road capabilities.

The 2018 Lexus RX 350L, all-new to the lineup this year, offers a wide range of standard advanced safety features along with increased cargo space compared to the regular model and a standard third row – a feature not heretofore available. But fuel economy remains average, adding options can quickly boost the price, while its eye-catching design isn't for everyone.

Four years into its model cycle, the 2019 Mazda CX-3 receives a number of interior and exterior updates, more standard safety features, a slight increase in horsepower, and improved fuel economy.

Nissan is adding to its crossover lineup with the new-for-North America 2018 Kicks and, earlier this week, announced base prices for all three trim levels that will arrive in dealer showrooms later this spring.

New RAV4 trim level, available in either front- or all-wheel drive, will have a starting price of $28,695.

So here we are in a new century and a new decade in which we welcome an all-new Explorer.

Next to the word metamorphosis in the dictionary there should be two illustrations: the first would be an image of the second-generation Ford Escape while the second would picture the third-generation design. Take it from us, they are that different.

While the long-wheelbase Santa Fe currently exists only in pre-production form, we were given the opportunity yesterday to drive the Santa Fe Sport on some of the back roads that wend their way through a portion of Michigan's farming country between Novi and the State Capital of Lansing. Here are some of our impressions.

So you can see why, when it came time to redesign the CR-V in 2012, that it was critical for the engineers and stylists at Honda to get it right. For the most part, they did.