Before Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2022 is announced on Jan. 3, we thought we’d look back on our past winners to gauge our preferences and examine our benchmarks for how we evaluate cars.

Over the last 11 years, the winners have ranged from coupes and wagons to convertibles and hatchbacks. Oddly, only one sedan has won, though not for a lack of nominees.

Cylinder count has ranged from four to eight, and there have been superchargers, turbochargers, and all-American naturally aspirated engines.

If there’s one common theme it’s this: All were, and still are, worthy of a spot in the garage.

Here’s a look back in time at our past winners.

Chevrolet Corvette: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2021

The Chevrolet Corvette is an American icon that has been a front-engine, rear-drive, two-seat sports car since its arrival in 1953. That is, until the eighth-generation Corvette arrived and flipped the script to become a mid-engine sports car. The change was meant to bridge the gap between the C7 Corvette and more exotic mid- and rear-engine rivals. it worked, as the Corvette has performance to take on European supercars. Power hits the pavement more efficiently than ever, with a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds from 495 hp. The interior materials are better than ever, too, Astonishingly, this was all accomplished while keeping to a $60,000 starting price. It all put the Corvette in the winner’s circle and in Motor Authority’s history books.

Porsche 911: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2020

The Porsche 911 is like a fine wine: it gets better with age. The timeless car continued its nearly 60-year evolution with a low, wide, rounded design that has become the blueprint for the perfect sports car. The eighth-generation 911 bested the competition for 2020 with poise and precision on a racetrack that put it in another league. Our 911 4S tester owned the 2 miles of Atlanta Motorsports Park, and made us all feel like better drivers. At speed and through corners, the car felt unflappable with incredible grip, staunch stability, agile moves, and ready power. The 4S model feels, and drives, faster than its 443 horsepower figure suggests. At over $100,000, the perfect sports car isn’t cheap, but perfection rarely is.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2019

There’s no question as to why the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 took the honors for 2019. Based on the superb C7 Corvette, the ZR1 cranks everything to 11 with incredible power—755 supercharged horsepower—and track performance for anyone but a professional hot shoe. Most people will find their talent runs out far before the C7 Corvette ZR1’s. It’s also perfectly livable on the street (though maybe not on the optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires) with a comfortable interior, reasonable cargo space, and acceptable visibility for a supercar. It’s the Hot Wheels car from the poster, but in real life, for less than $150,000.

Honda Civic Type R: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2018

The legendary Honda Civic Type R finally landed in the U.S. to take the honors of Motor Authority’s Best Car To Buy 2018. It might start life as a Civic, but the hot hatch turbo-4 features Honda’s VTEC system and can shove occupants into their seats with 308 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The transmission? The only option is a 6-speed manual, bless Honda’s hearts. The Civic’s bones are good, but the Type R takes things further with an aggressive body kit, track suspension setup, and grippy seats that will hug McDonald’s-fed American bodies. The Honda Civic Type-R is entertaining, livable, and a value at around $35,000.

BMW M2: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2017

While BMW was focused (at the time) on electric cars such as the i3 and big-selling crossover SUVs such as the X3 and X5, the M2 coupe is proof the German automaker hadn’t forgotten how to make a proper sports car. The M2 sings with its turbocharged inline-6 as it begs the driver to push it harder. While a dual-clutch gearbox is an option, the “terrific” 6-speed manual has short, smooth throws and its stubby, leather-wrapped shift lever snicks positively into gears. The handling is what sealed the M2’s fate as Motor Authority’s Best Car To Buy 2017. Whether on the street or the track, it didn’t rely on fancy adaptive dampers to control its ride. It connected the dots apex to apex the old fashioned way, though the steering was a bit too heavy and numb despite being direct and predictable. Brilliant brakes were another standout feature despite days of thrashing on the track and street. The i8 might have been BMW’s halo car for 2017, but the M2 was our kind of halo car.

Chevy Camaro SS: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2016

For 2016 the scene was essentially right out of Thunderdome. Two cars rolled in (the Chevrolet Camaro SS and Ford Mustang Shelby GT350) and only the Camaro SS rolled out as Motor Authority’s Best Car To Buy 2016. With the C7 Corvette-sourced 455-hp LT1 V-8, the Camaro SS could be called a sledgehammer among hammers with a 0 to 60 mph sprint of about four seconds. The body was smaller and the overall car was more than 200 pounds lighter than the fifth-gen Camaro, which made it the best-handling Camaro we’d ever driven (not exactly a high bar outside of the fifth-gen Z/28). While the body looked similar to the previous car, the interior was more modern with all the latest technology. Without options it had a price of about $37,000, but that could be inflated quickly.

Alfa Romeo 4C: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2015

Sometimes in life, things come down to qualitative elements. For 2015 the Alfa Romeo 4C wasn’t the quickest, the fastest, or the most powerful nominee, but its carbon fiber monocoque chassis, mid-engine design, and low curb weight made for a knockout combo punch. It’s also gorgeous with a design worthy of a Ferrari badge for a fraction of the price. The manual steering rack of the 4C made it a chore at parking lot speeds, but on the open road it translated to a light and lively setup that gained weight and resistance as grip increased. It was refreshing when compared to the over-simulated electric steering setup in most of the other nominees. Quick, precise shifts, instant throttle response, and a bare-bones interior simply added to the experience. In short, the Alfa Romeo 4C won because it was an exotic car that didn’t carry an exotic car’s price tag.

Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG and Porsche Cayman: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2014

Things were complicated in 2013. So much so that both the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG and Porsche Cayman were named Motor Authority’s Best Car To Buy 2014. It was an exceptionally close race to the point where both were named winners as the team couldn’t come to an agreement regardless of how many hours were spent arguing. The CLA45 AMG is a rock-star supergroup jamming for all it’s worth with luxury, style, performance, and handling all together in a balance. At the time the entire setup was greater than the sum of its parts. The all-wheel drive controlled the firecracker of a 2.0-liter turbo-4 and its 355 horsepower. The price of entry was a reasonable $48,375. But as the CLA45 was a generalist at being terrific, the Porsche Cayman was surgical. It featured laser-like reflexes, some of the best electric power steering in the world and a balanced chassis thanks to its mid-mounted 275-hp 2.7-liter flat-six engine.

Porsche Boxster: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2013

In 2012 Porsche took its second win in a row with the Boxster. The convertible summed up almost all of what a luxurious, fun, and timeless sports car should be. The driving experience was distilled to sun, wind, feel, and sheer speed. The 265-hp 2.7-liter flat-six was where things started, but the larger 3.4-liter flat-six with 315 hp is where you really wanted to be. With its dual-clutch transmission, the more powerful Boxster S could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds, which was nearly supercar territory not long before this time. The Boxster was (and still is) a beautiful car to look at, inside and out, and was surprisingly comfortable for its size.

Porsche 911: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2012

The seventh-generation Porsche 911 was simply the best in every category in almost every way. Porsche engineers refused to bow to the laws of physics with the (then) new 911. The brilliant electro-mechanical power steering system delivered only a slightly diminished steering feel that was characteristic of the legendary 911. The quick-revving flat-six was available with either 350-hp or 400-hp, and when paired with the lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission it delivered telepathic gear changes from the wailing flat-six motor. Immensely capable as a sports car, but completely livable as a daily driver with a nice interior and more interior room than the previous 911, it took the win with ease.

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe and Wagon: Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2011

In the first year of Motor Authority’s Best Car To Buy award the world was a different place. There was an American luxury wagon and coupe with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 producing 556 horsepower to the rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic (bad choice) or a 6-speed manual (good choice) transmission. Looking back it seems as if it were the Twilight Zone. That era’s over, dead and gone, but its memory lives on. With a sharp design, nice enough interior, and all the power one could really ask for, there wasn’t a question as to why the outrageous Cadillac CTS-V Wagon and Coupe won our first award. There wasn’t a better value for anyone seeking a premium luxury car with serious performance capability.

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Among all the new electric cars coming out this year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the one that best shows that affordable EVs don’t have to look and feel like everything else. There’s room to reformat the car and mix in some rad cues from the past, without losing focus on a future that doesn’t involve tailpipe emissions. 

The Hyundai Ioniq 5, with its classic-hatchback form, is peppered with pixelated design, and if you can pull from 1970s or ‘80s cultural reference points you’ll see Rubik’s Cubes and 8-bit characters. While it might be an homage to Hyundai’s Giugiaro-styled Pony, which never sold in the U.S., Americans will see Omnis and Rabbits if they squint just right. 

That said, what looks unabashedly retro on the outside is made possible by a most modern architecture underneath. The Ioniq 5 is the debut vehicle built on a new 800-volt global platform for EVs, called E-GMP, allowing weight savings, modern battery packs, faster charging, and bi-directional capability to turn the vehicle into a mobile power bank.

Look inside and you’ll understand the impact of a platform that makes no concessions for gas tanks, engines, and exhausts. The Ioniq takes up the parking footprint of a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, but it feels vast inside if you’re looking purely at leg room and sprawl-out space. That’s because it rides on a 118.1-inch wheelbase, with a flat battery pack under the floor—allowing some components like climate control to be pushed under the hood. Rear seatbacks slide fore and aft, and a “Relaxation” feature for the driver’s seat adds leg support to nap during charging stops. 

Those stops won’t be long. The Ioniq 5 charges from 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes, taking advantage of 350-kw CCS DC fast-charging hardware, or it can fully charge on Level 2 (240V) in less than 7 hours with its 10.9-kwh onboard charger. 

Models with a 77.4-kwh battery pack can be had in single-motor rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor all-wheel-drive form, with EPA rated ranges of 303 miles and 256 miles, respectively. A base SE version with a 58-kwh battery pack will arrive in spring 2022; it only comes in single-motor form and is rated at 220 miles.

There’s a performance difference between the two layouts. Dual-motor versions produce 320 hp and 446 lb-ft and get to 60 mph in about 5.0 seconds, while single-motor versions make 225 hp and 258 lb-ft and take about two seconds longer. 

With a starting price of $40,925 with a standard 58-kwh battery pack, up to a fully loaded $55,725 in dual-motor Limited form, the entire Ioniq 5 lineup undercuts the Tesla Model Y and sure looks more interesting. Cabin materials are stylish and sustainably oriented; the feature set is impressive for the money; ride quality verges on plush; and this is perhaps the quietest interior among affordable crossover EVs. 

We like to think both big-picture and pragmatically with our Best Car To Buy, and here the Ioniq 5 fits into an unusual space. 

The Ioniq 5 isn’t perfect, but it’s very close to an ideal we think a lot of shoppers are seeking in a compact crossover format. The only glaring tech omission—the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—could be remedied, ironically, with a future over-the-air update. So, potentially, could the lack of Plug and Charge technology, which takes out the payment step from the charging experience and makes it feel exponentially better. 

That said, there are several important tech firsts for Ioniq 5. In addition to being the first affordable EV from a full-line automaker built with 800-volt tech, it’s also the first to offer bi-directional charging—if you don’t count the Nissan Leaf and its never-utilized capabilities here in North America. With a Vehicle to Load (V2L) feature, the Ioniq 5 can power a campsite or a range of tools or appliances, or it can charge another EV.

While the Ioniq 5 sets a new, much higher standard for the rest of the industry for what an affordable, efficient EV can be, there’s one letdown we can’t gloss over: availability. Hyundai only plans to initially offer it at Ioniq-approved dealerships in California ZEV states plus several others—amounting to 18 states. A rollout in more states will come later next year, but Hyundai won’t say when the Ioniq 5 will be a 50-state vehicle, let alone a true mass-market entry like the Volkswagen ID.4. For what was supposed to be Hyundai’s breakthrough model and the first to be sold far beyond compliance numbers, we find that disappointing—especially considering how great the Ioniq 5 is. 

Will that misgiving be enough to push the Ioniq 5 to the top of the list? Check back on January 3 for our winner. 

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The battle royale is on. Motor Authority‘s annual Best Car To Buy award automotive boxing match is underway. It’s the time when the year’s new or significantly updated luxury and performance vehicles fight for supremacy. In a year that was much too similar to the last, the nominees ranged from sport sedans and sports cars to luxury crossovers and SUVs to electric cars and pickup trucks.

This year’s qualifier list marked a massive shift in the automotive landscape with more electric vehicles both as nominees and finalists. Each of our candidates deserve their own moment of recognition.

The list started with 24 vehicles, but after individual editors made cases for their favorites, and the arguments that followed, we whittled down the list of contenders to eight nominees.

We’ll detail each of the eight nominees with individual profiles in the coming days, leading up to the Jan. 3, 2022 reveal of Motor Authority‘s Best Car To Buy 2022.

In the meantime, here’s a brief look at each vehicle that didn’t make the final cut and why.

Audi E-Tron GT

The Audi E-Tron GT is a reskinned, retuned Porsche Taycan. It’s gorgeous, and for some, arguably better looking than its Porsche sibling. It drives differently than the Porsche thanks to steering, suspension, and throttle tuning all done in-house by Audi. Those differences were enough to disappoint West Coast Editor Brian Wong, who said the E-Tron GT simply isn’t as fun to drive as the Porsche. And the Taycan didn’t win the year it was new. Therefore, we couldn’t make a solid argument to push the Audi to the final round, though it’s still an excellent, visually stunning. EV.

Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco’s back, baby! However, its launch has been a mess with production woes, quality control issues, and supplier headaches. The Bronco pleases the eye with a retro design, but it still looks modern. Its engineering is fully modern, too, with an independent front suspension, rack and pinion steering, turbocharged engines, and a 10-speed automatic transmission. But the performance model hasn’t arrived yet, those that have arrived lack refinement, and we can’t ignore those quality issues. The Bronco Raptor is coming in 2022, and it might compete better with its desert prerunner capability.

Ford F-150 Raptor

The third-generation Ford F-150 Raptor boasts a new trick: rear coil springs with a trailing arm suspension. The improved engineering changes how the Raptor drives both on- and off-road. It settles the rear end and creates a smoother, more stable ride. The carry-over twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-8 still makes a healthy 450 hp, and a new exhaust system makes it sound better, but it’s way down on power compared to the Ram 1500 TRX. A new supercharged V-8 should fix that issue next year and it could deserve a real shot at the award. See you next year, Raptor R.

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

The Ford Mustang Mach-E introduced an electric four-door crossover SUV to the Ford family last year, though with the style of the iconic Mustang. But the electric powertrain was comparable to a turbo-4 or V-6 That’s not exactly impressive to enthusiasts. The GT model arrived this year, and it’s more in line with the V-8 Mustangs we love with 480 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque sent to all four wheels. A GT Performance Edition unlock a 3.5-second 0-60-mph sprint. This Mustang may not run on gas, but it’s certainly worthy of the badge. However, the landscape has changed a lot in a year and this Mustang simply doesn’t move the bar forward enough to make the final cut. Maybe a future Shelby model will change our minds.

Genesis GV70

The Genesis GV70 gives Hyundai-Kia’s luxury brand a very strong competitor in the small luxury crossover SUV market, which is booming. The GV70’s available twin-turbo V-6 powertrain charges it into the performance fray, but Editorial Director Marty Padgett wasn’t impressed by the suspension, noting too much body motion with some weird undulations. The infotainment system can be frustrating, too, as many functions are buried deep in menus. Other editors loved the design, especially the high-end interior. The GV70 is a screaming value play that deserves attention, but it was simply overshadowed by more fun and more important nominees this year.

Honda Civic Si

The Honda Civic proves you don’t have to be rich to have fun behind the wheel. More rigid than the last generation, the latest Si borrows tricks from the hot Type R, such as rev matching for its slick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission and stiffer suspension arms and bushings. Still, the Civic Si remains fairly tame. We all enjoy it, but it’s not the car that leaves us demanding more time behind the wheel. It’s a smart buy as an entry sports car, but we’re looking or the hotter performance of the upcoming Type R.

GMC Hummer EV

Gas is getting expensive and Hummer’s back, but it’s not 2005 all over again. This Hummer is reborn as a GMC and an EV. A showcase for General Motors’ upcoming electric pickup truck component sets, the GMC Hummer EV has all the goodies: 1,000 hp from three motors, a 200-kwh battery pack, air suspension, a diagonal Crab Walk mode, and a Watts To Freedom mode that pushes this 9,000-lb beast from 0-60 mph in just 3.0 seconds—all for a whopping $112,995. Welcome to the future, and I mean the actual future, because GMC will only deliver a handful of these electric trucks before the new year. We’ve driven a prototype, but we won’t touch a production truck until next year. Perhaps it will make the cut next year. Stay tuned.

Infiniti QX60

The Infiniti QX60 might not be the most exciting vehicle the luxury arm of Nissan sells, but it’s easily the most important. The three-row family mover is based on the Pathfinder, and both were new this year. Aside from the gorgeous new design, the real story is a 9-speed automatic transmission that replaces a continuously variable automatic transmission. Its shifts are clean and swift, even the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts that plague so many 9-speeds, but the tall gearing for the fuel economy can be annoying when passing power is needed. It’s a great update that finally makes the QX60 a compelling discussion for some families, but it’s not compelling enough to make the final cut this year.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee arrived this year with an additional three-row body style. The lower trim models, like the Laredo and Limited, are competitors for the Ford Explorer, while Overland and Summit models aim for the BMW X5 and Audi Q7, though their powertrains can’t compete. The carryover V-6 is not a luxury engine and the tried-and-true V-8 is thirsty, down on power compared to turbocharged competitors, and old. Had a plug-in hybrid model with a turbocharged inline-6 launched this year, the Grand Cherokee would have had a better shot at making the finals, but that’s not how the story goes.

Jeep Wagoneer

A pair of iconic nameplate have returned to Jeep showrooms: Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Huge, thirsty, and expensive, the Wagoneer aims at the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition, while the Grand Wagoneer sets its sights toward the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Both versions use V-8 power, though the Grand Wagoneer gets a larger and more-potent 6.4-liter V-8 with 470 hp. Both also offer an air suspension and adaptive dampers to control the mass of these beasts and smooth out the ride. The interiors push genuinely into luxury territory, but the V-8 fuel efficiency is horrid. The plug-in hybrid model can’t arrive quickly enough. The big Jeeps were cut early in the discussions.

Lexus NX

The compact Lexus NX finally moved into its second generation. Riding on a new platform, the NX adds a compelling plug-in hybrid model that hits 60 mph in 6.0 seconds and offers 37 miles of electric driving range. The compact luxury crossover also gets new touchscreen infotainment that will soon improve the tech throughout the Lexus lineup. The NX wasn’t fun enough to make it past the first round of discussions. It’s smooth, efficient, competent, pleasant transportation, but that doesn’t carry the day for this award.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

We’ve reached peak ICE. Everyone can go home and stop trying now. With its turbocharged powertrains and soft leather-lined, screen-filled interior, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class sets new standards for luxury and refinement. And yet, it was cut from the running this year because it was overshadowed by a new, emerging flagship from Mercedes, the electric EQS. The S-Class is the past and we are moving into the future.

Mercedes-Benz AMG SL-Class

Timing matters. The new Mercedes-Benz AMG SL-Class might have made it to the final round of voting had it arrived earlier in the year. The latest SL debuts with an AMG badge, morphs back into a 2+2, and ditches the hardtop for a soft-top design. It’s all quite intriguing, but it’s launching this week and only one editor will drive this new convertible before final voting can take place. We’ll have too little experience with it to pass it on to the finals. The SL needed more time.

Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86

Calling the updated Subaru BRZ and its twin the Toyota 86 new would be a stretch. They’re more like generation 1.5 with significant updates, but the hard points and key details remain. The big news is a larger displacement engine that increases horsepower to 228, but it doesn’t have the torque you’d get with a turbocharger. The updated suspensions and optional tires dramatically change the cars to make them grip rather than just slide sideways, but they never slid into our hearts when stacked up against more powerful and compelling new models.

Subaru WRX

This one hurts. The WRX is a team favorite, and it’s finally new. The rally-inspired sport sedan gets a new chassis, a new engine with 271 turbocharged horses, an updated design, and even a larger touchscreen. But, like the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL, it’s hitting the market too late. The WRX launch is set for the end of December, and that will only allow for one of our team members to experience it. Maybe we will consider it next year.

Try to separate Americans from their trucks, and you’ve got trouble. 

The pickup is a staple of American culture, a symbol of self-sufficiency, and a tool for adventure. With the R1T electric truck, Rivian designed a product that builds on all three of those aspects, with some new twists that actually show off the strengths of going fully electric. It doesn’t defy convention like the Tesla Cybertruck; it embraces a format and levels it up in a way that truck owners will take note of—and as a finalist for Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2022, it’s going to bring about a whole lot of change.

To Rivian, it’s a no-brainer that outdoorsy adventure types will embrace quiet, all-electric off-roading free of tailpipe emissions; and that they’ll want to be part of a Membership that encourages activities and a brand that nurtures preservation and giving back. It’s Jeep for card-carrying Sierra Club eco-warriors, with some Patagonia baked in from the start.

For the U.S. Big Three—GM, Ford, and Ram—we know an electric pickup was on the drawing board, a “maybe” for some undefined future development schedule and release date. But it was Rivian’s showing of a clearly production-bound prototype at the 2018 LA auto show—and a hand-me-down former Mitsubishi assembly plant in Illinois—that spurred them into action. With ensuing big-money investments from Amazon and Ford in 2019, it was “game on.”

We understand why nobody else had taken the leap yet—not even Tesla. The shape of pickups and the need to scale all the components up to handle their occasional towing and hauling needs make them potentially inefficient beasts the rest of the time. Given that it won’t be an efficiency leader, if an electric truck doesn’t make a performance or hauling statement from the get-go, what’s the point?

Those seem to be ideas that Rivian understood from the start. With a 11,000-lb tow rating and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of around three seconds, it’s quick and capable. A four-motor propulsion system—the first yet in any production EV—provides a total of more than 800 horsepower and more than 900 lb-ft of torque. Inputs to the steering wheel and the accelerator and brake pedals are precise and predictable. 

The R1T offers off-road capability, and then some. Up to 15 inches of ground clearance and four off-road modes (including Rally and Drift) give it the chops for whatever you might encounter—including a road-oriented Sport mode that lowers its ride height. A height-adjustable air suspension with adaptive dampers and hydraulically actuated roll suppression helps give this truck all it needs to roll with the punches and yet quell body motions, feeling soft and serene the rest of the time. 

Rivian’s battery packs are, next to all but the hulking GMC Hummer EV, humongous. The Large Pack, at 135 kwh, powers the debut version, and it’s earned the R1T a 314-mile EPA range rating. A 180-kwh Max Pack costs $10,000 more and is aiming for more than 400 miles, while a base pack will check in at 105 kwh at some later date. The R1T even switches into a front-drive truck in its Conserve mode, which helps eke the most range out on the highway. 

The interface is almost simplified to a Tesla ‘T’ but supplementing with a few more physical switches. It feels just the right amount of futuristic yet functional and forthright. Some will gripe about the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but with integrated Spotify here it’s not sorely missed. The cabin isn’t luxurious like a Mercedes or a GMC Denali, but it’s very, very nice—far closer to Volvo or Land Rover in the aesthetic than existing mass-market pickups. 

The R1T’s cabin and bed are loaded with thoughtful cargo touches, including a large frunk and a gear tunnel behind and below the back seats that runs across the width of the vehicle—intersected by a pass-through from the cabin. Accessories like a $5,000 camp kitchen and the Bluetooth speaker that docks at the center console when not in use deliver the experience on-brand. 

Trucks are a profit center for automakers, and giving up even a smaller piece of the pie today could be a big issue in the future. Now, there will be many electric trucks, arriving sooner, not later. A Ford F-150 Lightning is on the way in 2022, and electric versions of the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Ram 1500 aren’t far behind—plus many more. But Rivian will be the first, and that’s huge.

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