Jake Thiewes

Fan of all things wheeled. Queso enthusiast. Will badger you to come to the track and get rides and/or HPDE seat time, because everyone deserves to be a slightly better driver.

2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge

2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge Review: Best Seller for Good Reason

My parents have been casually car shopping, looking to replace their 2011 Subaru Outback. The Outback is an interesting vehicle, in that it feels more like a go-anywhere wagon with a slight lift than a “crossover.” The driving position, ride height, hip height, and cargo space all scream “wagon” in a way that most new …

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2023 Toyota Tacoma Blue Crush

2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Review: I Don’t Get It. But I Kinda Get It.

Keen eyes will notice that we’ve never reviewed a Toyota Tacoma on this cute little website. It’s not for lack of trying; I had one scheduled in 2021 that had to be cancelled because another journalist ran it into a potted plant or something. But I wasn’t really eager to reschedule. I’ve had this intangible …

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2023 Rivian R1T

2023 Rivian R1T Review: She Make It Look Easy ‘Cause She Got It

Manufacturers will tell you otherwise, but it’s rare to drive a new car that feels really groundbreaking. In most cases, the vehicle does what it says on the label and is some mix of competent and impressive. Those two traits can make for a solid family purchase or a tremendously silly enthusiasts’ car or anything …

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2023 Chevrolet Colorado Z71

2023 Chevrolet Colorado First Drive Review: A Thoroughly Modern Midsizer

Midsize trucks are the perfect size for a lot of folks, but they’ve been left to sorta… wither on the vine for a while. Manufacturers have focused on the popular (and profitable) half-ton segment, and Ford and Hyundai have brought new compact models to market. Jeep has the not-for-everyone Gladiator and Nissan updated their Frontier …

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2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 Review: Vibey, Quirky, and Full of Personality

It’s nice to finally see some electric cars that are shaped more like, well, cars. I don’t blame manufacturers for focusing on what sells – crossovers – to pump up their volume of “EVs on market,” but for those of us who prefer long-and-low, Tesla’s Model S and Genesis’ Electified G80 have kinda been the …

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2023 Grand Wagoneer L

Jeep’s ‘Hurricane’ Inline Six Completely Changes the 2023 Grand Wagoneer L – For The Better

Last year’s 2022 Grand Wagoneer was one of my first reviews of the calendar year, and it left me feeling conflicted. Controversial styling aside, I liked elements of the all-new SUV but something about it just didn’t feel right. I’ve sat with these feelings for an entire year (as they live healthily rent-free in my …

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2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid Makes Me Wonder Why “Traffic” Isn’t All Hybrids

I first drove the 2023 Kia Sportage at Kia’s media event in the spring of 2022. Kia had brought two variants of the all-new Sportage for media to sample – the Sportage X-Pro and Sportage Hybrid. Every Sportage X-Pro uses Kia’s “base” engine, a naturally-aspirated 2.5 liter four cylinder. The Hybrid is, unsurprisingly, a hybrid. I …

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2022 GMC Hummer EV

The GMC Hummer EV Has Some Fun Tricks Up Its Sleeve, but It’s Not For Me

As electric cars (and trucks, and SUVs, and vans) grow in popularity, it’s important to remember that the point of every EV is not to be “efficient” over all else. An inefficient electric vehicle is still a net positive, according to InsideEVs. Some EVs, then, are bound to exist as technology showcases, fashion-first accessories, or …

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Ram 1500 GT crash

I Had My First Crash on the Street, in a Press Car on New Year’s Eve

I’ve been very proud of my mostly-flawless driving record. Since obtaining my drivers’ license in 2006, I’ve managed to only earn a few minor speeding tickets over the years. I’ve had crashes, but they’ve all involved a certain black-then-purple BMW M3 sedan that was also my racecar, and they all took place on the racetrack. …

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