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Toyota expanded its lineup in 2023 with the introduction of the Crown Signia, an SUV based on the same platform as the Crown sedan introduced in 2022 and available with only one engine option.Even if it already had a separate brand for premium and luxurious products, Toyota never stopped creating vehicles with an upscale flavor for its brand’s fans. Moreover, the Crown nameplate was used in Japan for the rich and famous people, including the emperor himself. The first generation of the Crown appeared in 1955, and Toyota used this nameplate for its most luxurious vehicles, but still, the 2025 Crown Signia was the first crossover version of it. While it wasn’t a competitor for other luxurious high-riders, it was positioned above the Rav4 in terms of features and amenities.Following the same design language as the Crown sedan, the Signia version came with similar-looking C-shaped headlights that flanked a gap above the bumper. Underneath it, the main grille sported a body-colored rhomboidal design. This one was flanked by a set of tall and narrow side scoops that housed the round fog lamps. In the apron, Toyota added a third cooling area and a splitter at the bottom. From its profile, the Crown Signia featured the same short front overhang as its sedan sibling but with larger wheel arches and black trims around them. The door panels were slightly sculptured in an upward scheme towards the rear wheels and an ascending waistline that started from the hood all the way to the D-pillar and ended with an up-kick behind the rearmost set of windows. A racked-forward tailgate that sported a roof spoiler completed the sporty yet elegant profile of the vehicle. Finally, at the back, Toyota installed slim LED taillights connected across the tailgate, while the lower bumper concealed the exhaust. Inside, customers found a leather-wrapped interior with a minimalist design for the dashboard. Toyota installed a center console between the front seats with a tiny shifter for the gear selector, two cup holders, and an armrest with a dual opening system that revealed a storage compartment underneath it. Atop the dashboard, the automaker placed a digital instrument panel for the driver and a 12.3” touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment unit. For the rear passengers, the car manufacturer installed a bench wide enough to host three passengers. However, the hump in the middle of the floor limited the legroom for the middle-seated occupant.The Crown Signia came with just one powertrain option, a 2.5-liter inline-four engine, and two electric motors for a total output of 243 hp (246 PS). Power to the front was delivered via an eCVT, while an electric motor delivered extra traction when needed. This system, known as Toyota Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive, was standard for all Crown Signia’s grades.

Five years after the model’s introduction in the U.S. market, Volkswagen refreshed the Taos lineup for the 2025 model year, adding significant exterior and interior updates and improving drivetrains.Based on the same MQB A1 platform as the European crossovers Skoda Karok and Seat Ateca, the Taos appeared in 2018 on the Chinese market. However, the German automaker decided to assemble it in Mexico for the North American customers as well. As a result, in 2020, it launched it as a 2022 model year and targeted customers who wished for an upgrade from their ever-lasting VW Golf, which was on its last stint anyway. Five years later, the car manufacturer facelifted the model and improved everything it could after it listened to customers’ complaints so that the 2025 Volkswagen Taos could meet their demands.The German car manufacturer tried to create a new design language across its entire crossover lineup. As a result, the 2025 Volkswagen Taos had a new front fascia that featured an LED light stripe extended from side to side at the lower edge of the hood. The light signature element was continued with the daytime running lights integrated into the headlights and featuring standard LED projector headlamps. On the lower side of the bumper, the automaker installed a broad, hexagonal-shaped grille surrounded by a silver trim and sporting a black mesh with a hexagonal pattern. Furthermore, a set of side scoops flanked it, creating the air curtains that lowered the vehicle’s aerodynamic drag.From its profile, the smaller sibling of the Tiguan boasted black molding around the wheel arches, trying to impress its customers with an off-road appearance look. In addition, Volkswagen added standard 17-inch alloy wheels for the lowest trim level, with options for 18- and 19-inch sets. There were choices of three grades, the S, the SE, and the SEL, so customers could choose the right one. Along with the refreshed version, Volkswagen added three new colors to the palette: Bright Moss Green, Monterey Blue Pearl, and Monument Gray. At the back, the redesigned rear fascia showed a distinct red light stripe from end to end that visually connected the redesigned LED taillights. As an option, the VW badge on the tailgate could be illuminated. At the lower side of the rear bumper, the Volkswagen design team couldn’t help it and installed a pair of rectangular-shaped face exhausts while the real pipe was behind the apron.Volkswagen dramatically changed the Taos interior for the 2025 model year. The dashboard was no longer an ocean of gray and featured a colored section extended on the doors. Furthermore, it replaced the integrated touchscreen infotainment unit with an 8-inch floating-type one. The SE grade featured physical buttons for the HVAC control panel below it, while the SE and SEL boasted touch-sensitive ones. Between the front bucket seats, the automaker installed a center console that housed the lever for the automatic transmission, the drive mode selector, and a few buttons for other functions of the car. In the back, the split-folding bench seat could accommodate up to three passengers and expand the trunk space as well.Under the hood, customers found the same 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. The inline-four unit gained 16 more ponies than its predecessor, reaching 174 hp (176 PS). It sent its power to the front wheels or in all corners via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Previously, only front-wheel drive versions could be equipped with this gearbox, while the all-wheel drive version was married with a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) box. However, the automaker ditched that for the vehicles fitted with the 4Motion systems after customers complained about the dual-clutch version of the 2025 Volkswagen Taos.

Volkswagen pushed hard in the electric car segment with a range of vehicles powered by electrons, including the GTX, the go-fast version of the ID.7 fastback, which promised sporty sensations.The German automaker was no stranger to the EV revolution. After several vehicles based on older platforms, such as the e-Golf and e-Up!, it continued its journey with the ID.3, ID.4, and the lovely ID.Buzz. However, families looking for four-door vehicles with plenty of interior room and large trunks had to look somewhere else if they were searching for an electric sedan since VW didn’t have one. That was until 2023 when the automaker launched the ID.7 lineup as a fastback and as a station wagon. Furthermore, besides models with lower power, the car manufacturer offered the GTX ones for each bodywork version. These targeted customers where the driver craved sportier vehicles but needed a family car as well.Right off the bat, the 2024 ID.7 GTX looked more aggressive than its lower-powered siblings. Its standard IQ.LIGHT matrix headlights were narrow and sported the turn signals on their upper side, like eyebrows. Between them, the automaker placed a light stripe interrupted in the middle of the car by the illuminated VW logo. Lower, on the bumper, the car manufacturer placed a unique mesh grille with a rhomboidal pattern that was flanked by boomerang-shaped, inward-pointed fog lamps.Volkswagen created the ID.7 fastback as a replacement for the glorious VW Passat, which served millions of families for decades and was no longer offered as a sedan. However, that was not enough to attract new customers, especially younger ones. As a result, Volkswagen made the GTX look sportier. The car’s profile revealed the car’s standard 20-inch alloy wheels with an option for a 21-inch set. Volkswagen adorned the car’s front doors with GTX badges that matched the side sills’ shiny black color. The roofline was arched and extended rearwards with a sloped-down tailgate. That was a surprising move, considering that the fastback version of the Arteon wasn’t very successful and was withdrawn from the assembly lines before its sedan sibling. At the back, the 2024 Volkswagen ID.7 GTX boasted dynamic taillights fitted as standard, featuring corner-mounted dynamic turn signal lamps and an illuminated red stripe that connected them over the lit VW badge.Since the 2024 Volkswagen ID.7 GTX was the top-of-the-range version of the ID.7 family, its interior was garnished with all the bells and whistles the automaker had in its baskets. Front passengers were hugged by GTX-embroidered high-bolstered seats wrapped in ArtVelours and Eco microfleece. These materials were environment-friendly and proved to provide a soft touch. Fronting the driver, was a small instrument panel neatly integrated into the dashboard that showed just a few details about the car. At the same time, atop the center stack, Volkswagen installed a 15-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. In the back, the automaker installed a split-folding (40/20/40) bench seat for three adults.However, the 2024 Volkswagen ID.7 GTX wasn’t attractive just because it looked sportier or was better equipped than its stablemates but because of its drivetrain. Unlike the rest of the range, which featured lower-powered motors, it was powered by two electric motors: an 80 kW (107 hp) for the front axle and a 210 kW (281 hp) for the rear one, reaching a total output of 250 kW (335 hp). It was also available with the DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control), which enhanced ride and handling.

Volkswagen refreshed the entire eighth generation of the Golf lineup in the summer of 2024, and besides other regular versions, it also upgraded the R Variant, which was the hottest station wagon of the family.When the German automaker introduced the first R-labeled model, the 2003 R32, it produced it as a three-door or five-door hatchback, the latter being built exclusively for European customers. Later on, Volkswagen understood that a V6-powered vehicle didn’t make too much sense for its customers, so it launched the 2006 Golf R powered by a turbocharged four-banger. The all-wheel-drive system and the dual-clutch gearbox were still part of the package. But those who grew up with these cars on their walls became parents, and a hot hatch didn’t make too much sense for a family. As a result, Volkswagen expanded the range and installed the same drivetrain under the skin of a station wagon, offering it as a Golf R Variant. It was the beginning of a new era, where three-door hot hatches were replaced by five-door hot wagons. The refreshed 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Variant had more ponies under the hood, better interiors, and not-so-subtle exterior enhancements. At the front, the automaker installed standard LED headlights visually connected via a light stripe. Underneath it, on the main grille, the automaker placed the illuminated Volkswagen logo, which seemed like it connected the hood with the bumper. The latter sported an R-unique apron featuring a broad, shiny black grille split in three, where the middle part helped to cool the engine while the side scoops created the air curtains around the wheel wells to reduce drag.From its profile, the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Variant didn’t show its true nature. However, its lower ground clearance due to the standard adaptive suspension and the 18-inch standard alloy wheels could raise some questions. The automaker even offered a set of 19-inch forged alloys to complete the package. Besides that, there were no fancy side sills or flared wheel arches. But still, the wing above the tailgate and the massive diffuser on the lower part of the bumper could give some hints about the vehicle’s performance.Inside, Volkswagen created a mix of a sporty ambiance with some luxurious touches and a healthy dose of practicality. The driver fronted a three-spoke steering wheel fitted with touch buttons and sported the R-logo on the lower spoke. Behind it, the automaker placed larger paddle shifters that allowed drivers to manually select the desired gears. The color display inside the instrument cluster was already something usual for the Golf, albeit the 13-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, which integrated ChatGPT, was new. At the front, customers were hugged by high-bolstered sports seats with integrated headrests wrapped in fabric and microfiber upholstery, which were unique for the Golf R lineup. Between them, the car had a center console that housed the gear selector, a few buttons for various vehicle functions, and a pair of cup holders. In the back, the split-folding bench seat could expand the trunk space from 611 liters (21.6 cu-ft) to 1,642 liters (58 cu-ft).Under its skin, the go-fast station wagon had a turbocharged two-liter gasoline engine producing 333 PS (328 hp), which was 13 PS (12 hp) up from the non-facelifted version of the Golf R Variant. Unlike its predecessor, the 2025 model year was available with a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox only since Volkswagen deleted the six-speed manual option from the entire R lineup.

Volkswagen refreshed the eighth generation of the Golf in 2024, and besides the regular models that filled many parking lots, the German car manufacturer also upgraded the most potent version of the family, the R.The Golf is credited for being the first true hot-hatch in automotive history, even though some might argue with that. Nevertheless, it was the best-selling hot-hatch, which gave the Golf 1 a special status when it came out in the ‘70s. Fast forward to the ‘90s, and the shiny crown of the Golf GTI was attacked by other automakers such as Honda, Renault, and Opel, to name just a few. Then, Volkswagen fought back by introducing the Golf R. At first, it was the 2003 R32, followed by other R-branded versions. However, the automaker understood that in order to be successful, it had to use smaller engines, not a V6 like the R32. As a result, ever since the 2006 model year, the Golf R has been powered by a turbocharged inline-four powerplant fitted with an all-wheel drive system. Over the years, the power increased from 270 PS (266 hp) to the 2024 Golf R, which boasted 333 PS (328 hp).One of the reasons why the Golf R was highly appreciated was because it wasn’t shy about showing its muscles. The car’s front fascia looked ready to dominate the roads and looked more aggressive than any of its stablemates. It featured standard Matrix LED headlights with an option for the IQLights system made by Volkswagen. These were visually connected via an illuminated stripe interrupted in the middle to make room for the brand’s badge, which was also illuminated. On the lower side of the bumper, the automaker placed a unique apron featuring a black broad grille split in three. It was fully functional, helped the vehicle cool the engine, and created air curtains to lower the car’s CD.From its profile, the lower ground clearance than the rest of its siblings was obtained via the standard adaptive suspension system. To further emphasize the car’s sporty orientation, Volkswagen offered the 2025 Golf R with standard 18-inch alloy wheels while a set of 19-inch forged ones was also available. On the one hand, Volkswagen tried to make the vehicle’s profile look understated. It didn’t put flared wheel arches or significantly different side sills. On the other hand, it added some unique features at the back of the vehicle. Besides the roof spoiler, it installed a reshaped bumper featuring a broad diffuser that integrated the car’s four exhausts. Inside, customers found materials different from those of other Golfs of the same 8.5 generation. The car featured soft-touch areas on the door cards and dashboard, plus real carbon fiber inserts. In addition, the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R had sports seats with integrated headrests, fabric centers, and microfiber outer materials. The automaker also embroidered the R logo on them. Fronting the driver was a three-spoke sports steering wheel with touch buttons and paddle shifters behind. Inside the instrument cluster, the automaker included a standard display, while a 13-inch touchscreen placed atop the center stack controlled the media system and other functions of the car. The center console between the front seats housed the gear selector and a few other buttons that controlled driving modes. In the back, it was a regular Golf with a nice upholstery that echoed the front seats. Under its skin, the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R had a reworked drivetrain compared to other Golf versions. The two-liter turbocharged engine was the same as on the previous version, albeit tuned to produce 13 PS (12 hp) more than its predecessor. Unlike the 2022 model year, the 2025 Golf R came equipped with a standard seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox, while the six-speed manual was no longer available.

After six years on the market, the seventh generation of the Jetta received a second update for the 2025 model year, and besides some aesthetic changes, it also came with a significant improvement for the drivetrain.Volkswagen introduced the seventh generation of the Jetta, the A7, in 2018 and refreshed it in 2021 with a proper update. However, the German automaker didn’t feel the need to launch the eighth generation of it in 2024 for the 2025 model year. Instead, it upgraded it enough to make it appealing and improve the standard equipment for both engine versions. The car still relied on the same trustworthy MQB A1 platform shared with the Golf and the Taos. For the base engine version, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta came in three grades: the S, the SE, and the SEL. In addition, the automaker offered the so-called Golf GTI with a trunk, which was the GLI model that came with a more potent engine, among other advantages. At the front, the car had a completely fresh fascia that featured a narrower upper grille compared to the previous version of the car. It also had redesigned LED headlights connected with a light stripe for the upper grades and L-shaped daytime running lights. On the lower side of the bumper, the automaker installed a trapezoidal-shaped center air intake underlined by a chromed trim and flanked by a pair of triangular vertical side scoops. From its profile, the compact sedan was among the largest in its market segment and had a sleek appearance. Even though it wasn’t a sports sedan, it looked sporty but not too aggressive. Its raised rear deck sported a redesigned trunk lid. The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta was fitted as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels for the S and SE trims, while the SEL was fitted with 18-inch ones. At the back, the car got restyled LED taillights that were wider and connected via a red stripe that ran across the trunk’s lid and integrated the chromed Jetta nameplate. On the lower side of the bumper, Volkswagen still kept the fake exhaust design, which many considered outdated. Customers found a completely redesigned dashboard inside the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta. Unlike the previous version, the one launched in 2021, the newer model came with a free-floating design for the infotainment’s system touchscreen. Even the vents were different, resembling those from the car’s bigger brother, the Passat. The horizontal trims and the driver-centered look of the center stack were more appealing and looked much more modern. Fronting the driver was an LCD for the instrument panel for the entire range, and there was no option for any analog dials in the cabin. Volkswagen also understood its clients’ requests for physical buttons and left some of them around the cabin, such as those for sound systems’ volume. For the S grade, the 2025 Jetta had cloth seats, while the SE came with perforated, two-tone Microcloud leatherette seating surfaces. Those who wished for more could get the SEL trim level that unlocked access to the perforated Vienna leather seating surfaces in either Grey/Titan Black or a new Brown/Titan Black color combination with Horizon Black decor.Under its skin, the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta had only one engine/gearbox combo available. Volkswagen was confident that the 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline powerplant was everything a regular driver would need for a daily. The inline-four unit was paired with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission supplied by Aisin, and it was not a dual-clutch gearbox. Like its predecessor, it came with an independent suspension up front and a torsion beam in the back.

In the summer of 2024, Volkswagen introduced a second refresh for the seventh generation of the Jetta in the U.S., and besides the base model, these changes also affected the top-spec version, the GLI.Those who wanted a family sedan that could still provide some punchy acceleration and performance could get the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, also known as the Golf GTI, with a trunk. It wasn't just a regular Jetta with a more potent engine; it was a complete package that dramatically transformed the otherwise mundane European compact sedan. The automaker introduced the seventh generation of this nameplate in the U.S. in 2018 and refreshed it once in 2021. Come 2024, the compact sedan received a second update that was even more significant than the previous one. As expected, the car still relied on the same MQB A1 platform shared with other vehicles within the Volkswagen Group but sported some unique features, such as the independent rear suspension or the EA888 engine. Furthermore, the interior has been upgraded, and the cabin looks more like a 2025 vehicle than a 2010 one. The exterior of the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI was significantly improved at the front. It featured a narrower, rectangular upper grille instead of the taller one as before. A pair of redesigned LED headlights flanked it, and the automaker even added a light stripe between them to emphasize the car's width. This line visually connected the L-shaped daytime running lights integrated into the main headlamps. On the lower side of the bumper, the car sported a broad trapezoidal-shaped center air intake flanked by triangular vertical side scoops. In addition, a red U-shaped trim adorned the car's apron.Volkswagen tried to add subtle enhancements to the car's profile, and only someone who really knew where to look could spot the difference between the GLI and the lower grades of the 2025 Jetta. The car came fitted as standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, just like the Jetta SEL, albeit with a unique design for them. Furthermore, the automaker offered an option for black door mirror caps with integrated turn signal lamps. Out back, the car had a new trunk lid with a slightly different design than its predecessor. However, Volkswagen still tried to make the 2025 model year look different than the previous version. To achieve that, it created a new red light stripe that connected the redesigned taillights and adorned it with chromed Jetta lettering. Finally, underneath the rear bumper, the automaker installed dual exhausts with chromed endings that flanked a black diffuser.Inside, the most striking visual difference was for the dashboard. There, the automaker placed a new 8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system in a free-floating position. Previously, that display was integrated into the upper side of the center stack. Fronting the driver was a new LCD with brighter contrast and a clear display. Unlike the rest of the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta range, the GLI also had a few extra lines in the infotainment system's menu. A pair of high-bolstered seats ensured the front occupants' respectable side support during high-speed cornering, while between them was a center console with an armrest. Volkswagen offered the GLI with a unique Virginia leather upholstery.Under the hood, Volkswagen installed its acclaimed EA888 engine that produced 231 PS (228 hp). It was paired with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that sent all the oomph to the front wheels via an electronically controlled differential.

Along with the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX launch, Volkswagen also introduced the ID.7 GTX Tourer, an electric station wagon built for performance that could also serve as a large family vehicle.When the German automaker introduced the ID.7 Tourer in early 2024, customers welcomed it, but the news about this model was not over yet. Just a few months later, in March of the same year, Volkswagen revealed the GTX version. This was a sportier version of its regular sibling. It had more power, electric motors on both axles, and an aggressive look. It was like a GTI version of the ID.7 Tourer, albeit since it was electric, it was named GTX. Furthermore, its standard features were richer than on the mundane ID.7 Tourer.At the front, the GTX version carried over most of the elements provided by the standard ID.7. Its IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, illuminated VW logo in the middle, and the light stripes that flanked it were standard. Furthermore, the bumper was new and featured an A-shaped lower grille adorned by a high-gloss black mesh grille. In addition, a set of triangular LED daytime running lights flanked it, creating an even sportier look for the vehicle.From its profile, the ID.7 GTX boasted its standard 21-inch light alloy wheels. Customers could also get a 21-inch set from the options list. The front doors were adorned by high-gloss black GTX badges that matched the color of the side sills. Volkswagen used the same shade for the greenhouse, contrasting the lower side of the bodywork. Out back, the car’s tailgate featured a horizontal red stripe that visually connected the taillights, integrated into high-gloss black trims. The bumper was adorned on its lower side by similar-colored dark accents with a hexagonal pattern.Inside, customers were greeted by GTX-specific seats with high-bolstered areas upholstered in ArtVelours Eco microfleece. As an option, Volkswagen also provided them with a set of ergonomic active seats with twelve-way adjustment and memory. These were part of a package that also included heated rear seats and a 700-watt Harman Kardon sound system. On the dashboard, the automaker installed a 15-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. This sported ChatGPT integration. Drivers could also read essential data in front of them on a small display placed behind the steering wheel or via a head-up display with augmented reality.But the most attractive part of the ID.7 GTX was its drivetrain. The vehicle was powered by two electric motors: an 80 kW (107 hp) for the front axle and a 210 kW (281 hp) for the rear axle. Their combined output was 250 kW (335 hp), or 40 kW (54 hp) more than the regular, rear-wheel drive ID.7. The GTX also featured an adaptive suspension that helped the vehicle during high-speed cornering. As a result, the ID.7 GTX could provide families with a better driving experience and performance than the rest of the ID.7 family.