The XC90 is a X5 competitor, the X7 is one size up.  I’d imagine the profits are just not the same and it’s worth the R&D for it.

I’ve been itching for one, but my comparison is the Cayenne Hybrid e which is another 30k more.

This applies to most cars, I’m surprised people don’t realize that getting the car moving even at slow speeds helps with defrost.  Obviously don’t do it if you can’t see out the windshield.

Agreed AWD doesn’t increase safety, but it sure as hell is better than FWD in a tall vehicle where weight transfer means you’ll be doing one tire fires a lot.

The front bumper on the Mazdaspeed3 doesn’t sit well from factory and the clips are known to break anyways.

This should get starred more as that’s realistically some of the trade offs of an internal only piece of software vs and external one.

We leased an almost fully loaded non S Cooper hardtop for 30k Cad in 2016, it can’t have gotten that expensive.

This is a useful thing in the northwest winters where snow comes maybe once or twice a winter, and can go through a few thaw freeze cycles before you get to it.  The wipers then get frozen to the windshield.  It a minor thing but a minor convenience nonetheless.  Not a problem if you park indoors.

In terms of the 4 motor setup, if the motors sit close to each other there theoretically can be a way to at least link the left and right motors for an axle lock.  You still don’t get a 4 wheel lock like a Jeep but at least it would help mitigate some of the wheel spin issues?

Only objection I have is the TLX-S is not a contender. It gets its ass handed to it in almost every category.

Wish I could give you another star god damn it.

Very much this.

The 10Si is actually cheaper than the loaded hatch in Canada.

HK audio in cars are nothing to write home about either.

Disagree. I think it looks great, and the tablet placement while not great looking, is a usability and safety point.  Good luck trying to use it if it’s sitting where the climate controls are.

I love your takes.  I feel like we have a similar mindset about things but I’m just slightly below you in terms of spending power.

Agree with this.  Even with fully renewable energy sources used to generate the fuel, it would be at best carbon neutral as the captured carbon would still be expelled after it’s burnt in an engine.

Someone made this a taxi in canada, had it painted or wrapped yellow.  It was flipping hilarious.

Wrong take

I thought the 3pot turbo was fast enough. They aren’t marketed as performance cars.