To Go Electric or Gas

Good choices now abound

THE VARIETY OF CHOICES available to car shoppers these days is almost beyond imagination. From classic, rear-drive sportscars with manual transmissions to electric vehicles in all shapes and sizes to top shelf SUVs, the variety and overall excellence makes for an extremely compelling marketplace.

2023 MERCEDES EQS450+

2023 Volvo Xc40 Recharge Twin Awd

EPA RATINGS: 85 MPGe 223 miles range

0-60MPH: 4.3sec

PRICE AS TESTED: $61,880

RATING: 4 Stars

VOLVO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST legacy car companies to commit to electrification and the XC40 is one of the first examples of this EV future. It shares all the core attributes of the gasoline counterpart: chunky good looks, a lovely interior of high-quality materials—including comfy wool seats, a wonderful blast from the past—and excellent practicality for a compact crossover. It has the full suite of driver aids and a decent semi-autonomous drive mode. About the only ongoing annoyance (shared with every vehicle that uses it) is the Google OS-based infotainment system, which seems slower in response than ideal. The Recharge is fun to drive, being really, really quick, with 402 instantaneous electric ponies meaning 0-60mph in only 4.3 seconds. This Volvo rides decently too, despite the Ultimate trim’s 20-inch wheels, and handles fine, though it is by no means an enthusiast’s machine. It also lacks range compared to the best-selling Tesla Model Y, with can travel up to 100 more on a charge. But for urban dwellers or those who have a dinosaur juice-powered vehicle for longer trips, the XC40 is a much more pleasing machine, being better built and feeling more luxurious. It is also—to these eyes at least—much better looking inside and out, including its groovy trim panels of backlit topographical relief maps.

EPA RATINGS: 85

MPGe 305 miles range

0-60MPH: 6.2sec (est)

PRICE AS TESTED: $112,600

RATING: 3.5 Stars

THE EQS SUV IS BASICALLY a rebodied version of their soap bar-shaped sedan, with an optional third row and the higher seating position so many like. The model tested, the 450+, is rear-drive only, and has the least power and torque but the greatest range of the lineup. Like all the EQS models, it is lovely inside, with gorgeous trimmings and boldly tech-forward vibe. It puts one in mind of the starship Enterprise from the 80s-90s series, with its banks of capacitive buttons and touchscreens galore. Thankfully voice commands work superbly for those who are tech-adverse. The EQS450 rides serenely most of the time, though certain road blemishes flummox the air suspension. Its crossover shape makes it very practical and its four-wheel steering means maneuvering in tight confines is a breeze. This Mercedes crossover even has some genuine off-road ability. The EQS450 and 580 models most Coloradans will buy or lease come in fast and really fast versions and have competitive real-world range. With EPA ratings of 285 to 305 miles versus the American EV, which is rated at 311348 miles between charges. The Mercedes excels in the areas the company was long lauded for, namely comfort and refinement and the EQS SUV is a compelling machine.

2023 Toyota Gr Supra Manual Transmission

TOYOTA HAS EMERGED as one of the most accomplished purveyors of affordable sportscars, with a lineup that includes the rally-rocket GR Corolla, the second-gen GR86 and the GR Supra, which is now available with a manual transmission. Forget the four-cylinder model; what diehards really will want is the 382 horsepower, inline six version, whose ferocious acceleration is barely lessened by the lovely, stir-your-own 6-speed. Involvement goes way up, since it is a genuinely rewarding ‘box, with a welloiled feel and precise engagement of ratios. The clutch weighting is nigh-on perfect, and for those who don’t want to—or never learned how—to heel-toe downshifts, there is a superb auto-rev matching function.

EPA RATINGS: 19/27/21 MPG 0-60MPH: 3.9sec PRICE AS TESTED: $57,270

RATING: 4.5 Stars

A potent 368lb-ft of torque from the BMW-sourced engine (basically the same as that in the Range Rover) at low revs mean many gear changes can be by choice, not necessity. But the rate at which the tuneful 3-liter zings to its 7000rpm redline when gas pedal squashes carpet mean that its fast action is a boon. The rest of the Supra recipe remains intact: superbly accurate steering, easily rotated tail and decent ride quality and refinement. The rear suspension still feels a tad soft in damping and springing, no doubt to increase traction, but overall, this is one of the great, midpriced driver’s cars of the 21st century, only enhanced by the tactile involvement offered by that endangered species, the classic manual transmission.