By Ross Ballot
Each year I drive and review a wide array of vehicles, covering some here on Hooniverse and others across other platforms, and inevitably some slip through the cracks. But even when discussing these outliers on The Hooniverse Podcast, I still feel obligated to write about all of these vehicles. It’s the time of year to do just that, with rapid fire reviews of the following 2025 and 2026 model year vehicles: Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo, RAM 2500 Laramie Crew Cab 4×4, Cadillac Escalade 4WD Platinum, MINI Cooper Convertible John Cooper Works, BMW M2 Coupe, Infiniti QX60 Sport, Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, BMW X5 xDrive40i, and Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD RST. Let’s get to it.
2025 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo
Base Price: $28,090
As-Tested Price: $31,445
Yay: Good value, looks different, spacious, comfortable
Nay: Looks not for everyone, numbing drivetrain, competitors offer better driving experience
Takeaway: A solid and visually interesting option with anonymous driving dynamics.
2025 RAM 2500 Laramie Crew Cab 4×4
Base Price: $64,430
As-Tested Price: $80,350
Yay: Cummins glory, high-tech interior, tons of room and storage, towing and hauling capacity galore
Nay: Pricey, somehow too tech-heavy, maneuverability
Takeaway: The RAM 2500 is seriously endearing thanks to an extremely characterful engine/transmission pairing, albeit the truck might be leaning a little too far into the technological side of things for our taste.
2025 Cadillac Escalade 4WD Platinum with Super Cruise
Base Price: $119,395
As-Tested Price: $132,615
Yay: Nicely-matched pairing of comfort-forward Cadillac-ness and push-the-envelope tech, stately styling, curb appeal, SC is excellent
Nay: Switchgear from cars costing a third the price, powertrain feel from yesteryear, Escalade IQ does the same but better for comparable money
Takeaway: Still GM’s pinnacle of what the company can do on the luxury front (sans Celestiq), the Escalade soldiers on with much of the same formula– and the need for an overhaul is rapidly approaching.
2025 MINI Cooper Convertible John Cooper Works
Base Price: $46,100
As-Tested Price: $49,695
Yay: Fun to drive, fun to look at, fun to interact with
Nay: Not enough steering feel, stiff ride, no manual gearbox option, it costs how much?
Takeaway: With a big personality and a bigger price tag, the newest JCW drop-top is a blast that’s best experienced in small doses.
2025 BMW M2 Coupe
Base Price: $64,900
As-Tested Price: $82,575
Yay: Engine is more powerful than the numbers tell, great chassis, good infotainment
Nay: Too heavy, too ugly, too overt
Takeaway: It’s a good thing you don’t have to look at it while you drive it, but at least driving it is a hell of a fun time.
2026 Infiniti QX60 Sport AWD
Base Price: $61,700
As-Tested Price: $64,705
Yay: Blue interior looks and feels expensive, easy to live with, very easygoing
Nay: New 2.0-liter turbo-4 is a downgrade, CVT is dreadful as always, screen/rearview camera are of poor quality
Takeaway: Though overall a very nice vehicle, the newest QX60 isn’t a comprehensive upgrade over the prior year’s model, with much of the blame coming down to an engine that punches below its price.
2025 Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two
Base Price: $180,700
As-Tested Price: $205,220
Yay: Dynamically impressive, show-stopping looks, sexy as sexy gets for an SUV
Nay: All controls done via touchscreen, terrifying prospect of replacement part prices, not particularly spacious or comfortable, why in the hell does it have off-road settings?
Takeaway: Nobody needs this.
2025 BMW X5 xDrive40i
Base Price: $68,800
As-Tested Price: $81,075
Yay: Drives smaller than it is, restrained styling for a modern BMW, fantastic ride quality
Nay: Off-road package is more frills than function, A/C wasn’t up to snuff on days of extreme heat, pricing getting up there for an X5 with the base engine, “Silver Anniversary Edition” is more Florida than Fun, howling roof bars
Takeaway: The X5 has aged gracefully and slides below the radar as one of the best luxury SUVs on sale today.
2026 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD RST
Base Price: $71,400
As-Tested Price: $90,115
Yay: Cavernous inside, handsome exterior, well-executed screens
Nay: Encroaching on Escalade money, 6.2L V8 doesn’t feel much more powerful than the 5.3L, thirsty, 24” wheels hamper ride quality, no cooled seats
Takeaway: There’s a lot to like with the modern Tahoe, though if you’re spending this much money the GMC alternative begins to make more financial sense.
Jeff Glucker