Coolest cars for summer: Convertibles

By John Aaron
July 7, 2020 | 4:17 AM

The Mazda Miata (WTOP/John Aaron) — The Miata is cramped and impractical, but nonetheless one of our favorite cars that we’ve driven. With its nimble steering and available manual transmission, it offers a level of driver engagement that few cars can these days.

Inside the Miata. (WTOP/John Aaron) — Cup holders are an added-on afterthought — more proof of this car’s no-nonsense mission.

The Jeep Wrangler. (WTOP/John Aaron) — Though the Jeep Wrangler can slog through winter with the best of them, its convertible top, along with its removable doors and drop-down windshield, make it a perfect machine for summer trips to the beach or mountains.

Seating in the Jeep Wrangler. (WTOP/John Aaron) — Though its off-road ability is unmatched, drivers do have to get used to vague and clumsy steering on pavement.

The Jeep Gladiator. (WTOP/John Aaron) — Those looking for a convertible with a pickup bed now have an option in the Jeep Gladiator. Though it shares much with the Wrangler, Jeep insists the Gladiator is the result of extensive engineering to make it a competitive pickup. The changes create a Wrangler with a bit more practicality built in, thanks to its added hauling and towing abilities.

The back of the Jeep Gladiator. (WTOP/John Aaron) — It also features tricks such as rear under-seat storage and an available detachable Bluetooth speaker. The Gladiator has a starting price of $35,040, including delivery, although current promotions push that price just below the $32,000 mark.

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No talk about cars for summer can be complete without some convertibles.

The decline of the convertible has often been lamented, but there are actually quite a few drop-top options out there.

Our favorites for summer fun include the Mazda Miata and a pair of Jeeps.

Car Review: You can plug-in for better mpg with BMW’s new version of the X3

By Mike Parris
August 31, 2020 | 4:16 AM

Compact luxury crossovers are big business as buyer's trade in luxury sedans for the popular high riders. BMW redesigned its X3 a couple years ago to better compete in a more crowded marketplace. I drove the sporty X3 M40i in 2019 and was impressed with its potent performance. New for 2020 is a plug-in hybrid version that allows for 18-20 miles of electric-only driving. But when you combine the gas engine and that electric motor, the xDrive30e is transformed into a fun performance ride.

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