INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE JOURNALISM
Automotive reviews by Emmy Award-winning journalist and photographer Tom Voelk.
The redesigned Lexus ES 350e delivers exceptional comfort, a spacious cabin and the kind of electric refinement Lexus has been chasing for decades.
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DRIVEN REVIEW · November 4, 2026
The eighth-generation Lexus ES grows into a flagship contender, with exceptional comfort, electric refinement and a few surprises.
DRIVEN REVIEW · July 8, 2026
Kia calls it a hatchback, but more than a few folks walked up while I was filming and called it a wagon. That's hardly an insult (but then again, apparently, to be an automotive writer, you MUST…
DRIVEN REVIEW · July 1, 2026
And so I come baring an olive branch in one hand, and a jerrycan of gasoline in the other. This review covers the dino juice-powered R/T Plus, which deserves to be judged on its own merits. As…
DRIVEN REVIEW · June 24, 2026
At a test drive in Bellevue, Washington (yes, a test drive just like you would take), it became clear that Rivian isn't trying to reinvent itself with the R2. It's the distilled version of the…
DRIVEN REVIEW · June 16, 2026
Maybe you’ve heard, every RAV4 is now electrified, HEV or PHEV. The most interesting version might be the plug-in hybrid, formerly known as Prime. Tested here in Woodland trim, it combines…
DRIVEN REVIEW · June 16, 2026
Now comes the third-gen 2026 Mazda CX-5. Built on an all-new architecture, the latest version stretches its wheelbase by more than four inches, promising improved passenger space and cargo…
DRIVEN REVIEW · June 10, 2026
I only opine that this is an unattractive vehicle because it’s kind of my job and I refuse to default to the old chestnut “design is subjective”. That said, Subaru loyalists aren't known for…
FEATURE / EDITORIAL · May 26, 2026
He does know that two new Scout vehicles are headed our way: the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup. Unlike the originals, these will run electrified powertrains, including a BEV and an EREV dubbed…
DRIVEN REVIEW · May 21, 2026
Until recently, electric vehicles were rapidly becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of the automotive world. Funny what a spike in gas prices can do for public opinion. Suddenly, battery-powered…
FEATURE / EDITORIAL · May 16, 2026
But let’s reverse the snark for a moment. What if today’s family “soft roaders” actually can tackle tough terrain?
FEATURE / EDITORIAL · May 16, 2026
Hi gang,
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Concise, factual briefs with attribution and links to the original manufacturer announcements will appear here after editorial review.
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Independent automotive reporting and photography by Emmy Award-winning journalist Tom Voelk.