These Are the Best Car-Themed Movies You Can Stream for Free Right Now

Given the emotional resonance and stunning visuals that often go part and parcel with them, it’s not all that surprising that cars have played memorable, even central roles in many iconic films. From silly British comedies to poignant documentaries and tense thrillers, the automobile has long been a staple of great cinema. And these days, thanks to the magic of widespread video streaming, watching or rewatching these great flicks is easier than ever.

Not all o great car movies are available to stream without an additional fee, as studios increasingly herd their content onto proprietary streaming services. But, here are 10 car films that are available, as of this writing, to view on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and a few free video streaming services. 

The Italian Job (1969)

The Italian Job is a classic British heist movie starring a nattily-dressed Michael Caine. There’s the cheery humor and the literal cliff-hanger ending to enjoy, sure, but The Italian Job may be most notable for being the single best car-spotting movie in history. The film opens with an orange Lamborghini Miura cruising through the Great St. Bernard Pass. The heist’s iconic escape cars are red, white, and blue Minis. An Aston Martin DB4 convertible and E-Type Jags play supporting roles. Heck, even the cops drive Alfa Romeo Giulias.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

An uncommonly handsome blue-eyed cop infiltrates a crew of illegal street racers-slash-highjackers. Predictably, he faces a moral dilemma. The Fast and the Furious features a bevy of drool-worthy late ’90s tuner cars, including the Toyota Supra, the Mazda RX-7 and the Mitsubishi Eclipse, as well as some classic muscle cars. It’s safe to say that at the time, no one saw this fun summer action flick spawning one of Hollywood’s most bankable film franchises, with eight additional films and counting…

Mad Max (1979)

The original Mad Max was one of the most successful films ever, at least in terms of budget (less than $500,000 in Australian dollars) versus box office revenue ($100 million). Cars are featured prominently — most notably, Max Rockatansky’s supercharged V8 Interceptor based on a 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe, because a supercharged V-8 should always be your go-to choice in a post-apocalyptic universe where gas is hard to come by. In addition to inspiring decades of fatalist visions of the future, Mad Max inaugurated what would become a common Mel Gibson trope: getting sweet revenge on the people who murdered his family.

Days of Thunder (1990)

Days of Thunder is a formulaic Tom Cruise movie emblematic of Hollywood excess — basically, Top Gun with stock cars instead of fighter jets. It’s not clear why anyone thinks that’s a bad thing. The movie celebrates all things NASCAR; plot points were based on real NASCAR lore, and the racing series cooperated to the point of letting the movie cars run in actual races for filming purposes. And for pure Bush Sr.-era nostalgia, it’s hard to get more “1990” than Cruise’s raffish mullet, Mello Yello sponsorship, and Cary Elwes in a leading role.

Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)

The 2000 remake with Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie is not available to stream for free — but you can watch the original Gone in 60 Seconds from 1974, in which the versatile H.B. Halicki serves as director, producer, screenwriter, and star. Sure, there’s technically a plot about stealing 48 cars by a deadline…but really, it’s just a prelude to the more-than-half-hour-long, gratuitously destructive car chase at the end.

The Blues Brothers (1980)

The Blues Brothers is a music-based comedy, but cars play a central role. The most memorable character besides Jake and Elwood is the Bluesmobile, a 1974 Dodge Monaco sedan with the police-spec “440 Magnum” squad car package that filmmakers made jump a drawbridge and crumble to pieces on command. 

Cars 3 (2017)

The Cars franchise isn’t all that well-respected among Pixar aficionados, viewed as more of a commercial phenomenon than a series of quality animated films. But Cars 3 has some sweet moments and salient life lessons that resonate. It’s better than Cars 2, at any rate — and it’s also a veritable lifesaver for stay-at-home parents staring down the barrel of a 17th viewing of Coco over a four-day period.

The 24 Hour War (2016)

This documentary from Adam Carolla and Nate Adams covers Ford’s epic quest to unseat Ferrari as the perennial champions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The film traces the process from Henry Ford II’s failed effort to buy Ferrari in 1963 — Enzo wanted to keep control of the racing division — through the development of the fabled Ford GT40 and Ford’s eventual triumph. A feature film version of the story starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon comes out in 2019.

Senna (2010)

Senna is a powerful, award-winning documentary about three-time F1 champ Ayrton Senna, perhaps the greatest racing driver and loafer-wearer of all-time. Using racing footage and home videos, Senna chronicles the Brazilian legend’s life, career, and heated rivalry with teammate and fellow world champion Alain Prost. It also looks at the resonance of his untimely death at age 34 in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Williams (2017)

This BBC Films documentary examines the personal and professional life of British racing team owner Frank Williams, the founder and team principal of the Williams F1 team. The film looks at his early life and journey to the pinnacle of F1 success, as well as the response to Frank’s 1986 near-fatal car accident that left him paralyzed.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

These Are the Best Rental Cars to Grab This Summer

It’s that time of year again: Summer. That, of course, means traveling to spend time with friends and family, gorging on backyard BBQ — and all too often, renting a car. But if the words “rental car” conjure up nightmarish memories of a sad Dodge Caliber your parents got stuck with on a family trip, you need to adjust your frequency: These days, rental car agencies offer plenty of models that are far more pleasurable than the rolling penalty boxes that often spring to mind at the mention of the term.

To make this last minute decision go smoothly, we at Gear Patrol did a little bit of combing through the more prominent rental car companies, and picked out the best cars they have on offer, so you can make the most of your summer road trips and travel.

Hertz

Ford Mustang GT

What’s more ideal than cruising down to the beach in a Ford Mustang GT sporting a 460-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8? Not much. It might be surprising to see such a high-powered sports car available for rent, but Hertz has been offering Mustangs for decades now. Skip the Ford Fiesta this year and treat yourself to some real performance.

Mercedes-AMG C63

When it comes to performance, Hertz doesn’t mess around — their Dream Car selection is the antithesis of the standard rental-car fleet. So if you’re looking for an entertaining-but-somewhat-understated sport sedan, you owe it to yourself to reserve the Mercedes-AMG C63 and kick off summer in style.

Mercedes-Benz G550

>

It might weigh 5,724 pounds, but even in base form, the Gelandewagen can still get to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and tow 7,000 pounds (albeit not at the same time). It’s perfect for transporting all the beach gear, food and drink you’ll be living off for the next few months.

Budget

Ford Focus

Even the base-model Focus is miles ahead of your average rental car; it may be the best-handling front-wheel-drive car on the market. And more importantly, it’s a rental — you’re supposed to drive it like you stole it.

Chevrolet Corvette

Easily the best-looking Corvette since the C2, the current C7-generation ‘Vette is a damn fine way to announce your arrival to the party. The 455-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 won’t win you any points from your eco-conscious uncle — but of all the cars on this list, the Corvette might just be the most entertaining on a winding road.

Jeep Wrangler

Even in stock trim, the Jeep Wrangler is wildly capable off-road. If your summer plans have you heading up to a remote lake in the mountains or trucking through the sand to get to the fire pit on the beach, the iconic four-wheeler has you covered.

Enterprise

BMW i8

Easily the coolest-looking “economy car” on the list, BMW’s futuristic i8 looks like a supercar, hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and can still net the equivalent of 134 miles per gallon from its inline-three engine/electric motor combo. Just forgive it for pumping fake engine noise into the cabin through the speakers.

Porsche 911 Targa

The 911 Targa needs no justification. It’s one of the prettiest, roofless modern Porsches, and it’s summer. Go for it.

Tesla Model S

Tesla’s large four-door electric sedan offers tons of performance, extreme efficiency and killer looks. No one will assume yours is a rental.

Land Rover Range Rover

Out of the box, the Range Rover is one of the most capable SUVs on the planet. It’s a shame the majority of Range Rover owners will never know how competent it is off-road…but since yours is a rental, feel free to put its reputation to the test over the weekend.

Avis

BMW 328i xDrive

The BMW 328i is the most understated car on this list. Then again, this Bimmer isn’t for showing off; it’s for you to enjoy from the driver’s seat. With perfect balance, handling and responses…when you arrive, you’ll also be seriously satisfied.

Mercedes-Benz S550 Cabriolet

If the BMW 328i is for flying under the radar, the Mercedes S550 is for letting everyone know you’re floating down the road in the lap of luxury. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is good for 463 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, but the real draw of this car is the interior, which feels more like a luxury yacht than a car.

The Best New Cars Americans Can’t Have

The car market in the United States isn’t quite like anywhere else. Automakers must meet a separate set of emissions standards; roads in suburban and rural areas tend to be broader and straighter than their counterparts elsewhere; gasoline is much cheaper. And, of course, American buyers have a particular taste for giant SUVs and full-sized pickups that people in other countries lack. 

All those distinctions mean Americans tend to get different cars from other markets — which, among other things, means many finely-tuned driver’s cars made for Europe and elsewhere never float over to the United States while they’re in production. Here, then, are 10 of the best examples of the “forbidden fruit” new cars American buyers can’t have…at least, not for another 25 years or so, when they can import them one by one. 

INSERT WIDGET HERE

Alpine A110

The Alpine A110 is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive coupe from Renault, a modern reimagining of the original Alpine A110. The specs don’t leap out at you — it uses a 1.8-liter inline four producing 249 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque — but look closer, and you’ll see the appeal. At just 2,432 pounds, the A110 is insanely light — 30 pounds lighter than an Alfa Romeo 4C. It hits 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. And yet it’s not a gutted track car; it’s built to be comfortable, too.

Why Americans Don’t Get It: Renault left the U.S. market nigh-on 30 years ago. And even if they were coming back, a limited-edition sports coupe meant to rival the Toyota Supra would not be the ideal vehicle to re-launch the brand here.

Audi RS 4 Avant

The RS4 is Audi’s all-wheel-drive retort to the BMW M3. The European RS4 pulls 450 hp and 44 lb-ft of torque from its twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6. It’s an absolute rocket, accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 4.1 seconds with a top speed that can reach 174 mph. America has the equivalently-powerful RS 5 coupe, but the sedan range tops out at the less-potent S4 — and the only wagon we get here is the 248-hp A4 Allroad.

Why Americans Don’t Get It: Americans tend to be anti-wagon, though Audi fans less so. Audi has teased that RS Avant models might come back; given how successful AMG and M cars have been for Mercedes-Benz and BMW here, bulking up the RS portfolio just seems like good sense. But for now, we go without.

Ford Focus ST Wagon

Ford recently unveiled the wagon version of the Focus ST hatchback. The longroof is sporty and swell to look at, with the gasoline version using Ford’s 2.3-liter inline-four to generate 276 hp and 310 lb-ft. Want that knife twisted a bit more? You can get Ford’s hot wagon with a six-speed manual. Enjoy your Edge ST, American bros.

Why Americans Don’t Get It: Ford needs profits for Wall Street. Cars need to sell in volume to be profitable. Trucks and SUVs are profitable. Americans don’t buy wagons in volume, so they’re not.

Mercedes-AMG A45 Hatchback

Yes, Mercedes makes a hot hatchback. In fact, Mercedes makes the hottest of hot hatchbacks: The new Mercedes-AMG A45, incredibly, will squeeze 420 hp from a 2.0-liter engine. That’s more power per liter than just about anything else on the road. It will also have a drift mode, which Mercedes has been hyping in YouTube videos.

Why Americans Don’t Get It: Americans don’t think hatchbacks are luxury vehicles, so one north of $50,000 would be a tough sell. Raise it a little, add some body cladding and call it a GLA45, though, and Americans will love it.

Renault Megane RS

The RS (Renault Sport) is the hottest version of Renault’s Megane hatchback, and is the carmaker’s answer to the Golf R. The 300 Trophy trim tunes the inline-four to 292 hp and 310 lb-ft, delivering a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. It’s front-wheel drive, has four-wheel steering, and can still be ordered with a six-speed manual. It also has a fancy new turbocharger the company claims was “taken directly from Formula 1,” which was probably a better selling point before the 2019 season.

Why Americans Don’t Get It: Renault doesn’t sell anything here.

Subaru Levorg STI Sport

A Subaru enthusiast’s dream car might merge the Outback’s wagon body with the WRX’s manic persona. The not-for-America Levorg wagon isn’t that exactly, but it’s the closest Subaru comes to that idea today. The 2.0-liter boxer engine produces 264 hp and 258 lb-ft. The top-of-the-line STI Sport adds some sport tuning and appearance features. It only comes with a CVT, sadly.

Why Americans Don’t Get It: Subaru has been too successful here, almost selling more cars in the US than they can produce. Why add to the workload?

Suzuki Jimny

Suzuki just released its updated version of the Jimny, which was named a 2019 World Car of the Year. It’s a small, boxy and bulletproof SUV that resembles the child of a Land Rover Defender and a G-Wagen. It’s also a rugged, supremely capable off-roader. It can go pretty much anywhere a Land Rover can go — and some places a Land Rover can’t, since it’s smaller and narrower.

Why American Don’t Get It: Suzuki left the US market in 2012. The Jimny may have a niche, but being useless for families and ill-suited to American highway driving (it only makes 100 horses) would make it hard to find mainstream appeal.

Toyota Century

The Century is Toyota’s super-lux flagship, a Japanese market-only four-door sedan. Production is limited and units available by invitation only, reserved for royalty and VIPs. It’s kept its classic aesthetic intact over the years — in part because it has been relaunched just twice since it debuted in 1967, and in part because it caters to such a small audience. Toyota’s GRMN racing division did make a special edition one that may be produced, though.

Why Americans Don’t Get It: Some things should be kept special. Also, Americans don’t view Toyota as a luxury brand — hence the existence of Lexus. And even a $200,000 Lexus sedan would be a tough sell.

TVR Griffith

The TVR nameplate has been revived in the form of what may be the perfect driver’s car. The new Griffith will be a two-door coupe designed by Gordon Murray, the man who designed the McLaren F1. As is TVR tradition, it will have a huge engine — a Ford Cosworth 5.0-liter V-8 — and a super-light, all carbon fiber chassis, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel-drive. It will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about four seconds, and reached a top speed north of 200 mph. It will also have ABS, power steering, and traction control, because they aren’t sadists.

Why The U.S. Isn’t Getting It: It’s not worth building a US-spec Griffith for a 500-vehicle limited production run, considering how difficult the development process has been for TVR in general.

Volkswagen up! GTI

The oddly-named up! is Volkswagen’s pint-sized hatchback, which also comes in GTI version. The 1.0-liter three-cylinder is horsepower-light, but torque-heavy, making 113 hp and 170 lb-ft. Its size, power, and handling capability place it quite close to the original GTI. It also costs less than $20,000. There may not be a better city car on sale on any continent.

Why The U.S. Doesn’t Get It: Americans consider the Golf a small car, and sales have plummeted in recent years. Volkswagen has countered by going hard into crossovers with the Tiguan and Atlas, which doesn’t leave much room for introducing a tiny city car. And highway-centric American driving would minimize the up! GTI’s strengths and fully display its weaknesses.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

The Complete Lexus Buying Guide: Every Model, Explained

Lexus is Toyota’s luxury car division based out of Nagoya, Japan. Toyota created the marque in 1989 to create a more exclusive brand for its premium cars in foreign markets. Lexus started out building the LS and ES sedans, but has since expanded to SUVs, coupes, convertibles, and even the occasional supercar. Lexus’ main rivals include German heavyweights Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW, as well as its Japanese-market foes Infiniti and Acura and American rivals Cadillac and Lincoln.

Lexus is very much part of Toyota, with all that it entails. Lexus can be more conservative than its competitors, being slower to react to trends and less frequent with its model upgrades. On the other hand, Lexus’s styling can be eccentric and polarizing; the brand’s current penchant for oversized “spindle grilles” is a prime example.

Lexus durability, however is legendary; in one famous example, a 1996 LS 400 crossed the million-mile mark in February 2019. And the brand has cache: Hip-hop and country music lyrics frequently reference Lexus due to the cars’ status as a wealth signifier, the name’s alliterative value, and the handy fact that Lexus rhymes with Texas.

On the surface, Lexus employs a simple alphanumeric naming system: The first letter tells you the trim; the second gives you the body style; the three digit number following denotes the engine displacement (a 2.0-liter engine becomes “200,” 3.0 liters equals “300,” et cetera). In practice, it’s not so simple. Trim letters – I, E, G, L, U, R, N – have no real meaning, and don’t follow alphabetical order in terms of price or status. The three-digit number no longer tracks engine displacement directly. On some models the same number can be used with entirely different engines.

To alleviate the confusion, here’s a reference guide:

Lexus Terminology

F: “F” designates a car produced by Lexus’ high-performance division, the equivalent of AMG at Mercedes or M at BMW. The “F” comes from Fuji International Speedway, the track where Lexus develops those cars.
F Sport: “F Sport” cars are sportier trims of standard Lexus models. They include modest performance enhancements and interior/exterior styling upgrades. They do not receive an enhanced powertrain as true “F” cars do.
LF: This is the designation used for concept cars, such as the LF-1. LF stands for “Lexus Future.”
Spindle Grille: Lexus uses large, distinctive grilles on the front of vehicles extending to the bottom of the car. It’s a polarizing design feature. Some have likened the shape to the mouth of the villain from the Predator films.

Buying Guide

IS

At Lexus, “IS” stands for “intelligent sport.” The IS is Lexus’ compact, entry-level sport sedan. The third-generation debuted for 2013. The 241-horsepower IS 300 uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and an eight speed automatic. AWD is available for both the IS 300 (which makes 260 hp with AWD) and the 311-hp IS 350, both of which which use a 3.5-liter V-6 and a six-speed automatic. For the 2019 model year, Lexus is offering a limited run “F Sport Black Line Special Edition” of the IS 300.

Body Style: Sedan

Models:

• IS 300 RWD/AWD
• IS 300 F Sport RWD/AWD
• IS 300 F Sport Black Line Special Edition RWD/AWD
• IS 350
• IS 350 F Sport

Engines:

• Turbocharged 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder
• 3.5-liter V-6

Base MSRP: $38,410

Read our review of the Lexus IS here.

ES

The ES is the cheaper and more comfortable of Lexus’ two midsize luxury sedans. Known for its reliability and value, it is Lexus’s best-selling non-SUV model in the United States. The seventh generation of the ES debuted for the 2019 model year. The 311-hp ES 350 uses a 3.5-liter V6 with an eight-speed automatic. The 215-hp ES 300h employs a 2.5-liter hybrid system with a CVT, and boasts an EPA-estimated fuel economy figure of 44 mpg combined. All versions are front-wheel-drive.

Body Style: Sedan

Models:

• ES 350
• ES 350 F Sport
• ES 350 Luxury
• ES 350 Ultra Luxury
• ES 300h
• ES 300h Luxury
• ES 300h Ultra Luxury

Engines:

• 3.5-liter V-6
• 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder with electric motor assist

Base MSRP: $39,600

Read our review of the Lexus ES here.

GS

The GS is Lexus’s sportier, more expensive midsize luxury sedan. The 248-hp GS 300 comes in rear-wheel-drive, with a 2.0-liter inline-four. The 311 hp GS 350 comes in either RWD or all-wheel-drive, with a 3.5-liter V6. RWD vehicles have an eight-speed automatic, while AWD cars use a six-speed automatic.

Lexus also offers a range-topping GS F that starts at $84,450. The high-performance sedan has a 5.0-liter V8 producing 469 hp and 389 pound-feet of torque. It accelerates from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. A limited 10th Anniversary edition of the GS F with “Matte Nebula Gray” paint, blue brake calipers, and other premium finishes is available.

Body Style: Sedan

Models:

• GS 300 RWD
• GS 300 F Sport RWD
• GS 350 RWD/AWD
• GS 350 F Sport RWD/AWD
• GS F

Engines:

• 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four
• 3.5-liter V6

Base MSRP: $46,710

LS

The LS is Lexus’s full-sized flagship luxury sedan. It was the first Lexus-branded model that emerged from the carmaker in 1989. The purely internal-combustion LS 500 uses a 416-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 and a 10-speed automatic, and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The 354-hp LS 500h uses a hybrid version of the 3.5-liter V-6; it loses half a second on the 0-60 mph time versus the LS 500, but gets an additional five mpg combined. Both versions can be had with RWD or AWD.

Body Style: Sedan

Models:

• LS 500 RWD/AWD
• LS 500 F Sport RWD/AWD
• LS 500h RWD/AWD

Engines:

• 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6
• 3.5-liter V-6 with electric motor assist

Base MSRP: $75,300

Read our review of the Lexus LS here.

UX

The UX, or “Urban Explorer,” is Lexus’s subcompact luxury crossover. It is new for the 2019 model year; with a starting price of $32,000, it is Lexus’s least expensive vehicle. The 169-hp UX 200 and 181-hp UX 250h hybrid use versions of the 2.0-liter inline four. The crossovers earn 33 mpg and 39 mpg combined, respectively. Both versions use a continuously-variable transmission. The UX 200 comes in front-wheel-drive, while the UX 200h has AWD.

Body Style: Crossover SUV

Models:

• UX 200
• UX 200 F Sport
• UX 200 Luxury
• UX 250h
• UX 250h F Sport
• UX 250h Luxury

Engines:

• 2.0-liter inline four
• 2.0-liter inline four with electric motor assist

Base MSRP: $32,000

NX

The Lexus NX is a compact SUV that shares some DNA with Toyota’s best-selling RAV4 crossover. The 235-hp NX 300 comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, a six-speed automatic, and either FWD or AWD. The 195-hp NX 300h hybrid uses a 2.5-liter inline-four; it gets an additional six mpg combined versus the non-hybrid version, and is only fitted with AWD.

Body Style: Crossover SUV

Models:

• NX 300 FWD/AWD
• NX 300 F Sport FWD/AWD
• NX 300h

Engines:

• 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four
• 2.5-liter inline-four with electric motor assist

Base MSRP: $36,485

RX

The Lexus RX is a midsize crossover SUV. It is the brand’s best-selling vehicle in the US by a considerable margin. The 295-hp RX 350 has a 3.5-liter V-6, an eight-speed automatic, and either FWD or AWD. The 308-hp RX 450h is a bybrid that uses a a 3.5-liter V-6, an electric motor, and a CVT, and earns 30 mpg combined. Both the RX 350 and RX 450h offer an “L” version that adds 4.3 inches to the body length and allows for third-row seating, enabling it to carry up to seven passengers.

Body Style: Crossover SUV

Models:

• RX 350 FWD/AWD
• RX 350 F Sport FWD/AWD
• RX 350 L FWD/AWD
• RX 450h
• RX 450h F Sport
• RX 450hL

Engines:

• 3.5-liter V-6
• 3.5-liter V-6 with electric motor assist

Base MSRP: $43,670

GX

The Lexus GX debuted during the 2010 model year. It’s a traditional midsize SUV with body-on-frame construction, full-time four-wheel-drive and third-row seating. It comes in one version: the GX 460, which uses a 4.6-liter V-8 producing 301 hp and 329 lb-ft. Fun fact: Lexus marketing once tried to coin the verb “GXing,” meaning “effortlessly navigating the urban landscape,” for the car. It didn’t take.

Body Style: SUV

Models:

• GX 460
• GX 460 Premium
• GX 460 Luxury

Engines:

• 4.6-liter V8

Base MSRP: $52,355

LX

The LX is Lexus’s venerable range-topping full-size luxury SUV. It has changed very little since being introduced for the 2008 model year. Calling the LX a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser isn’t too far off the mark. The LX 570 has a 5.7-liter V-8 making 383 hp and 403 lb-ft, and an eight-speed automatic. Like the GX, the LX is body-on-frame with full-time 4WD. Third-row seating is optional.

Body Style: SUV

Models:

• LX 570

Engines:

• 5.7-liter V-8

Base MSRP: $86,080

Read our review of the Lexus LX here.

RC

The Lexus RC is a two-door coupe that debuted for the 2015 model year. The basic 241-hp RC 300 RWD uses a 2.0-liter inline four turbo. The 260-hp RC 300 AWD and 311-hp RC 350 RWD/AWD use the brand’s 3.5-liter V-6. RWD cars use an eight-speed automatic, while AWD cars have a six-speed.

The $64,750 RC F is the performance model of the RC. It has a 5.0-liter V-8 producing 472 hp and 396 lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed automatic. Lexus also unveiled the $96,650 RC F Track Edition at the Detroit Auto Show in 2019. It’s not a no-frills track car, but it is lighter, has a big wing, and speeds from 0-60 mph in 3.96 seconds, according to Lexus.

Body Style: Coupe

Models:

• RC 300 RWD/AWD
• RC 300 F Sport RWD/AWD
• RC 350 RWD/AWD
• RC 350 F Sport RWD/AWD
• RC F

Engines:

• 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four
• 3.5-liter V-6
• 5.0-liter V-8

Base MSRP:$41,145

Read our review of the Lexus RC here.

LC

The LC is Lexus’s premium two-door grand tourer. The  LC 500 uses a 5.0-liter V8 making 471 hp and 398 lb-ft and a 10-speed automatic. The 354-hp LC 500h hybrid has a 3.5-liter V-6, an electric motor, and a CVT. The hybrid is only 0.3 seconds slower from 0-60 mph, at 4.7sec — and, at 30 mpg combined, is 11 mpg more efficient than the regular LC 500.

Body Style: Coupe

Models:

• LC 500
• LC 500h

Engines:

• 5.0-liter V-8
• 3.5-liter V-6 with electric motor assist

Base MSRP: $92,300

Read our review of the Lexus LC here.

The Best New Car Features for the Perfect Road Trip

The chill of winter and the dreary days of spring have finally passed; summer is upon us, and with it, road trip season. Millions of people will take to the highway as the warm weather beckons, criss-crossing the nation for work and play alike. Which, of course, means spending a lot of time in the car.

But while pretty much any running automobile can pull off a road trip, some certainly make it more enjoyable than others. The right features can turn a boring drive into a relaxing one, or a stressful journey into something a little more tolerable. And figuring out which of those you need is harder than it used to be. Once upon a time, an air conditioner or radio would have been considered all it took to make a ride ideal for long journeys; as time has gone on, however, automakers have begun sticking more and more gizmos and gadgets into new vehicles. The sheer volume of different options you can add on today’s new cars and trucks is enough to knock one flat with a migraine.

So to help you figure out what might help make your next long drive feel shorter, we at Gear Patrol have pulled together a list of some of the features that make road trips a little better, along with the best examples of them found in today’s automotive marketplace.

Massaging Seats

The Best: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

A few hours in the saddle will leave anyone’s tush feeling worse for wear, no matter how comfy the seat beneath said tuchus is. But a little massage can go a long way to revitalize one’s body and spirit. No automobile’s built-in seat massagers can come close to the human touch (or even the capabilities of a dedicated massage chair), but the active multicontour front seats in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class come close, offering six different programs — including more than one that replicates a hot stone massage.

In-Car Vacuum

The Best: Chrysler Pacifica

Whether it’s due to dirt tracked in from hikes or food crumbs scattered haphazardly from high-speed snacking, any car’s interior is liable to wind up gross over the course of a road trip. Sure, you could clean it up at a sketchy truck stop…but wouldn’t it be way nicer to suck those crumblies up anywhere, anytime? With its 11-foot hose, the Chrysler Pacifica‘s built-in Rigid-sourced Stow ‘N Vac vacuum lets you slurp up a mess anywhere in the cabin without worrying about finding a gas station. (Just remember to empty the receptacle once in a while.)

High-End Stereo

The Best: Bentley Continental GT

Blasting great tunes is a crucial aspect of any road trip, so having a stereo that can cut through wind noise and deliver crystal-clear music is an easy way to boost the pleasure of a long drive. High-end stereos are prevalent in options lists across the automotive world, but if money’s no object, there’s none better than the Naim Audio unit found in the Bentley Continental GT. With 2,200 watts of power feeding 18 speakers, it can transform the Conti’s cabin into a de facto concert hall at the push of a button.

Advanced Driver Assistance System

Best Example: Cadillac SuperCruise

Even the most die-hard driver sometimes just wants to sit back and let the car take over a little more of the work. Self-driving cars may be years away, but these days, adaptive cruise control systems that can detect vehicles ahead and automatically slow to match their speeds can be found in $20,000 economy cars; more advanced driver assistance systems can also help keep the car centered in its lane if the driver’s attention starts to wander. But none can match Cadillac’s SuperCruise, which combines hyper-accurate road maps, radar and gaze-monitoring cameras that make sure the driver is watching the road to allow true hands-free driving on limited-access highways across America.

Convertible Top

The Best: Mazda MX-5 Miata

When the weather turns nice, there’s no better way to enjoy it than dropping the top and letting the wind rush in. Most convertibles these days offer power-folding roofs that can open or close in less than half a minute at the push of a button, but even the fanciest of them can’t match the Mazda MX-5 Miata for ease of use. Not only is its one-handed manual operation quicker than any power top’s hydraulic mechanisms, but it also has zero risk of acting up due to some computer glitch or other unforeseen issue that leaves the roof half-cocked. If it starts to rain? Well, just drive faster.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.