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Editors' Picks January 2022 | Ford Maverick, Jeep Grand Cherokee and more

This month, we awarded Editors' Pick awards to a number of totally redesigned, new models. Most notable of the bunch is the 2022 Ford Maverick. Ford took a chance on a new segment, and its execution is as close to perfect as we could hope for. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a worthy competitor, though, and was also named an Editors' Pick. Also in this list, we have the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's an excellent SUV, and it's only going to get better when the plug-in hybrid 4xe model hits the roads. In case you missed our previous Editors' Picks posts, here’s a quick refresher on whatÂ’s going on here. We rate all the new cars we drive with a 1-10 score. Cars that are exemplary in their respective segments get EditorsÂ’ Pick status. Those are the ones weÂ’d recommend to our friends, family and anybody whoÂ’s curious and asks the question. The list that youÂ’ll find below consists of every car we rated in January that earned an EditorsÂ’ Pick. 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Quick take: Jeep's midsize SUV hits it out of the park with the latest generation. We could stand to see some powertrain innovation, but the Grand Cherokee's premium proposition is sound. Score: 8.0 What it competes with: Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Blazer, Nissan Murano Pros: Highly capable, luxurious interior, choices aplenty Cons: Pricey, fuel economy From the editors Associate Editor, Byron Hurd — "Jeep did almost everything right with the redesigned Grand Cherokee. Its powertrain offerings are fairly unremarkable, but the new two-row 4xe will go a long way toward addressing that. It's an otherwise fantastic, modern, luxurious Jeep SUV." In-depth analysis: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee First Drive Review | 1 fewer row, 1 more touchscreen   2022 Ford Maverick Quick take: The Ford Maverick offers tremendous value, efficiency, incredibly well-thought-out packaging, plenty of storage, a fairly engaging drive and ease of use, all with the utility of a pickup bed. We like the hybrid, but the EcoBoost engine and FX4 package offer more capability. Score: 8 What it competes with: Hyundai Santa Cruz Pros: Very affordable, Hybrid fuel economy, compact size Cons: Tight backseat, FWD only Hybrid, no cruise control in base trim From the editors: Green, Senior Editor John Beltz Snyder — "The Maverick is simply a dynamite package. It's smart, useful, drivable, efficient, providing affordable utility in the underserved compact pickup segment.

Audi R8 Spyder looks like heaven at the Green Hell

After Audi took the wraps off the new R8 coupe at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, we knew it would only be a matter of time before the convertible version arrived. Now, we've spotted the droptop during testing on and around the venerable Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany. The new Audi R8 Spyder is expected to closely mirror the fixed-roof supercar we've already seen. Only instead of a tin top, of course, it'll have a folding fabric roof mechanism. This goes against the recent retractable hardtop trend, and the featured is used by the Ferrari 488 Spider and McLaren 650S Spider. Some revised air vents appear to be part of the R8's convertible package, as well. Otherwise, we can anticipate the same specs as the R8 coupe. The latest model ditched the previous version's V8 engine in favor of 10-cylinder options: a 5.2-liter V10 with either 533 horsepower in "base" spec or 602 hp in the V10 Plus model. Both drive all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-cluch transmission. The jury's still out on whether Ingolstadt will slot a smaller engine option into the R8, particularly for markets where tax brackets are determined by engine displacement. But whatever the coupe gets, the convertible is likely to offer it as well. Related Video:

VW stripped of Green Car Of The Year awards for Jetta, A3 diesels

In the wake of the ongoing VW diesel scandal, Green Car Journal has announced it will rescind the two Green Car Of The Year awards that the Volkswagen Group won with diesel vehicles that have been since been proven to not meet the stated emissions levels. The two vehicles are the 2009 VW Jetta TDI, which won in 2008, and the 2010 Audi A3 TDI, which won in 2010. Green Car Journal (GCJ) did not say if it would retroactively name any replacement winners. This is the first time in the history of the Green Car Of The Year Awards that the honor has been taken away from the winner. In a statement announcing the change, GCJ publisher Ron Cogan wrote that, "this award rescission should not cast a negative light on advanced diesel technology in general. Many diesel models from a variety of auto manufacturers meet EPA and CARB emissions standards, bringing with them higher fuel efficiency, decreased petroleum use, and lower carbon emissions – all important environmental goals." VW AND AUDI RETURNING GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR® AWARDS, VEHICLES DEEMED INELIGIBLE SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Sept. 30, 2015 – Green Car Journal is rescinding the Green Car of the Year® awards previously honoring the 2009 VW Jetta TDI and 2010 Audi A3 TDI, the first time this has occurred in the award program's decade-long history. Audi of America President Scott Keogh has informed Green Car Journal that Audi will return its 2010 Green Car of the Year® award in the wake of Volkswagen Group's admission that it deliberately deceived government authorities about emissions from the Audi A3 TDI. Volkswagen of America has also informed Green Car Journal it will return its 2009 Green Car of the Year® award for the VW Jetta TDI. "Rescinding the Green Car of the Year® awards for the VW Jetta TDI and Audi A3 TDI is unfortunate but appropriate," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. "These models were selected as Green Car of the Year® above others for compelling reasons, including high fuel efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, a fun-to-drive nature, and the ability to meet 50 state emissions requirements with advanced diesel technology." However, VW Group has now admitted that its software programming intentionally caused in-lab emissions testing to read significantly lower nitrogen oxide emissions than these vehicles actually produced on the road.