Despite some pretty big challenges in recent years, automaker Nissan is still alive and kicking, and hopes to bring new buyers and loyalists back to the brand as it gradually redesigns its lineup. In the last year, we’ve seen a new Sentra, and know a new Rogue, Pathfinder, and Terrain almost sure bets for 2021.

In the course of duty, Police officers have to transport strangers in their vehicles. This can create all kinds of health risks, as you don’t know what sort of illnesses their passengers might be carrying. Cop cars often use plastic rear seats that can be hosed down and cleaned with disinfectants.

Japan is home to both some very cool things, and some very weird things. One of the coolest things is a racing series that sees Japanese drivers hooning old short-wheelbase Dodge vans around a racetrack. Apparently, the sport grew out of a common practice for motorcycle racers to buy these vans and use them to haul gear and bikes to the track.

I always loved the look of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It combined the best elements of an SUV and a station wagon, with its tall body and classic “woodie” paneling on its sides. Over its many years in production, it typically packed a hefty V8 engine.

It’s hard to believe, but the Volkswagen Golf GTI has been continuously in production since 1975, with more than 2.3 million cars made since it debuted. Now, the hot hatch is about to see its eighth generation for the 2021 model year, and the new version is looking better than ever. The 2021 Golf GTI starts out with the same, modernized platform and body design that came to the standard Golf last year, riding lower and longer than the Mk7.

Every car manufacturer these days has its own high-tech infotainment system. One of my favorites has been Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ UConnect system. In recent years, it’s been considered one of the most reliable and intuitive systems on the market, making its way into vehicles from Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Chrysler.

When you review a lot of vehicles like I do, many start to blend together. So it’s nice when something stands out. It makes it worthy of being written about here at 95Octane, where our motto is “Cars That Don’t Suck.”

Most of us our doing our part to stay home as much as we can these days, so that means less time behind the wheel, and more time on the couch. The good news for gearheads is that there are tons of great car movies for you to enjoy from the comfort of your living room.

Stunt and race car driver Ken Block has amassed quite the collection of special vehicles for his Gymkhana series. He’s driven everything from a 1978 Escort Mk2 to a 1965 Mustang to a lowered F-150 pickup truck, all tricked out with crazy body mods and high output engines.

About a year ago, Audi released its first all-electric vehicle, a crossover called the e-tron. Now, expanding on the company’s promise of alternative-fuel cars, we have its little brother, the e-tron Sportback. Like its sibling, the e-tron Sportback doesn’t sip even an ounce of gasoline, instead running 100% on battery power. The Sportback model is designed to comfortably seat five adults along with their luggage, and like the a5 and a7 Sportbacks, offers the sporty styling of a fastback, combined with the utility of a hatchback.

I’ve often said that the 1980s and 1990s were the worst decades for automotive design and performance. So many of the cars produced in that era were either boring boxes or bubbly blobs, often with anemic drivetrains.

Volvo’s performance EV offshoot Polestar is readying the Polestar 2 for production later this year, and it looks like the EV could definitely give Tesla a run for its money. Powered by a 408 hp all-wheel drivetrain with 487 lb-ft.

A couple of years back, Toyota released the C-HR as its main entry into the compact crossover segment. While it offers dynamic and fun handling, its rather extreme styling didn’t appeal to everyone. Now, Toyota is showing off a new, even smaller crossover that has the potential to appeal to a much broader audience. While the 2021 Yaris Cross borrows its name from Toyota’s subcompact hatchback, it actually looks like they took the new RAV4 and put it into a shrinker machine.

Tesla’s upcoming electric Cybertruck drew both cheers and jeers when it broke cover. With its primitive stainless steel body, its looks have divided opinions on whether it’s something a first grader would have come up with, or an innovative new approach to vehicle design.

The Ford Ranger is my favorite small pickup truck on the market today. It has rugged looks, modern driving dynamics, and great power for its size. Now, Ranger owners can now get an added performance boost that’s officially sanctioned by Ford Performance.