These Are the Most Popular Stories We Published This Year

From towing to payload to how they drive unladen, full-size trucks remain front of mind in America. Although the Ford F-150 is still the best vehicle sold in the country, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best. We've driven, tested, and towed with every truck to save you from doing so, and we put it all together in this story based on our Ultimate Car Rankings. Although the segment isn't that big, we've ranked all six full-size trucks and let you know the pros and cons of each one. To read the story click here.

As bits of information came to light prior to its reveal, we made sure to keep you informed about the 2022 Ford Maverick. From what name the small truck was getting, to spy shots of it testing, to the platform underneath, this post was constantly updated with the latest information. A few weeks before its debut, we also reported the Maverick was getting a hybrid engine shared with the Ford Escape, and we were right on our pricing estimates before official MSRPs were available. For the first six months of the year, this story was at or near the top of the MotorTrend charts; to check out its final form, click here, and keep reading this story for more Maverick.

After being previewed by the Viziv Performance Concept in 2017, the 2022 Subaru WRX finally emerged this September. The updated sedan feels fresh from every angle, with new styling front, rear, and inside. Powered by a 2.4-liter turbo-four that makes 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, the 2022 WRX should get to 60 mph in the mid-five-second range. Under the skin, the WRX is based on the Subaru Global Platform, offering more rigidity and a low center of gravity. To get all the details on the new Subie, click here.

When Elon Musk announced the Tesla Model S was going to forego a physical shifter and "guess the drive direction based on what obstacles it sees, context, [and] nav map," we were perplexed at how it was going to work well. The shifter was indeed moved to the infotainment screen; to operate it, you need to slide up to engage drive and down for reverse. As we wrote in this story, this move was a very bad idea given that if the touchscreen fails, you're out of luck. Fortunately, that's not the case, as one can also shift using hidden capacitive buttons located next to the hazard lights button. To read Aaron Gold's opinion story, click here.

The most powerful crate engine sold by General Motors was discontinued after just one year of production. Although its 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque were big enough to catch everyone's attention, the LT5 was installed in fewer than 3,000 production vehicles: The LT4's big brother, the LT5 was also the heart of the 2019 ZR1 Corvette. In a time of horsepower wars, it seemed like the LT5 might stick around, but GM's decision had us wondering what happened. Read our story here.

Doing an engine swap is common—but swapping your engine for an electric motor is something that doesn't happen often. Although our friends at HOT ROD did so with the iconic Project X '57 Chevy and a Chevy electric motor, the guys at EV West did their own thing with the so-called Revolt Tesla Crate Motor, which appears to be sourced from Tesla. EV West says it offers EV conversions for a variety of classic cars, something we'll likely see more and more in the future. After all, who doesn't want to have 550 horsepower and more than 800 lb-ft of torque in their Bugeye Sprite? Read more here.

In a(nother) year that contained a lot of uncertainty, lots of folks surely hoped to save some money. Although economy cars usually don't rank among our most popular stories, this list made it to the Top 10. From the Hyundai Elantra to the Chevrolet Spark, the U.S. market has options for those on a budget. All the cars listed here start at less than $20,645—a great value that hopefully won't break the bank. Find out which other cars made the list here.

Since Acura announced during Monterey Car Week that it was bringing back the Integra, you've snapped up every scrap of information we could produce on the upcoming car. First, the announcement came with the help of drones, which illuminated the dark skies with the silhouette of the Integra, and just like with the Maverick, we kept updating this page with all news related to the car. We even made a render of a coupe version, although that body style will unfortunately not be making it to production. The 2023 Acura Integra will be the new halo car for Honda's performance brand, as the NSX supercar will be retired. Get the first details on the new Integra here.

Electrifying an icon is already a big task. Electrifying the best-selling vehicle in America comes with a bigger responsibility. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning will join the Rivian R1T and Hummer EV Pickup among electric trucks when it arrives in 2022, and it made a big splash thanks to its starting price of $41,669 and key specs like a 2,000-pound payload capacity and 10,000-pound towing capacity. Ford estimates the Lightning can get to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and it's the first vehicle to be based on a new dedicated electric-vehicle platform. We expect the electric truck to be on sale in May 2022. Read all about it here.

There are dozens of SUVs on the market and choosing the right one can be a tough choice. This list not only provides a summary of important specs for each of our favorite SUVs, but also lays out our expert opinion on them all. The car buying process can be complicated for many, and stories like this can help buyers narrow down the choice of their next car. Here, we rank the best SUVs by segment, from subcompact to full-size in both mainstream and luxury varieties. Find out which SUVs we think are the best right here.

As one of the most anticipated pickup trucks this year, the 2022 Ford Maverick captivated your hearts and minds. The little truck was announced right after the Ford F-150 Lightning and it quickly garnered outsized attention. Who knew small trucks had such charm? For those that don't need to tow or haul much, the Maverick is the perfect truck. Its 1,500-pound payload, 4,000-pound max towing capacity, and 4.5-foot bed are plenty practical, as is the 40-mpg combined fuel economy figure of the hybrid model. We were impressed with the Maverick when we tested both versions, as it captivated just as much from behind the wheel. Read the Maverick First Look here.

After more than 12 years without a major redesign, the Toyota Tundra was way overdue for a freshening. And although Toyota doesn't sell nearly as many full-size trucks as Ford, GM or Ram do, the Tundra remains a popular pickup for our audience. This story was updated multiple times over the year as we uncovered more information—from the first official teaser to the photos and leaks that circulated on social media. With two engine options, including one hybrid option exclusive to the TRD Pro model, the Tundra is just starting to roll off the line at the plant near San Antonio, Texas. Read our story here.

We've all done it. Overloading a pickup truck is a common practice, as it's hard to know exactly how much weight you're towing or carrying in the bed. Helpfully, Canadian entrepreneur Lawrence Stross developed a load-divider dolly trailer equipped with three air springs to carry some of the load and level things out. It rigidly connects to a truck's Class-III hitch receiver, allowing the dolly to serve as an additional loaded axle with passive steering. This story racked up pageviews just as soon as it was published, and Mr. Stross was bombarded with emails and phone calls from people interested in his product. Read more about it here.

With the pandemic fostering big interest in camper trailers and RVs, Winnebago's Hike 100 couldn't have come at a better time. This is the smallest trailer Winnebago makes, which means it can be towed by SUVs that can pull around 5,000 pounds. The Hike measures 20 feet, 7.5 inches long; 7 feet, 9 inches wide; and 10 feet, 2 inches tall, and it comes with a bed, a mini kitchen, and bathroom. It's perhaps the perfect trailer for a quick weekend getaway. Read more about the Winnebago Hike 100 here.

Tesla's prices and feature specifications seem to change almost every day, so this story was updated multiple times to reflect the latest prices. (And we continue to do so.) Currently encompassing the Model 3, Model S, Model Y, and Model X, Tesla's growing lineup is slated to get even bigger in the next couple of years, as the Cybertruck and Roadster are (currently) scheduled to arrive in 2022 and 2023. Although the prices for those two last vehicles are not yet set, we have got preliminary estimates for them, too. Read our story here.