One of the responsibilities of an automotive journalist that seems like a perk to outsiders is the press drive. Automakers fly you to some remote corner of the world (or, typically, SoCal), put you up in a hotel, and feed you drinks until you’re almost ready to believe that people will care that some random crossover has added 11.7% frame rigidity.
When I was younger, the promise of free track time and a chance to poke around cars was unbeatable, and I didn’t understand the elder journalists who seemed over it. I can comprehend that view a bit more these days. While I’m not entirely jaded, I have a kid and did too many of these trips as either a producer or a journalist, so I can only do a couple of these a year without losing my taste for them.
That is, of course, unless someone does a trip within 300 miles of my house, as Volkswagen did a couple of years ago. I’m all for a launch that I can casually drive to and back from on my own schedule. Dear automakers: More of this, please!
Plus, I have the option of sending Mercedes, and she’s still young and adventurous enough to squeeze every last drop of joy from them. There are a few trips coming up and, in what I think is a first for an automotive publication, I’m going to share with you what the invites are and ask you how much you care, and what you’d like to learn about them.
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I’d love to hear more about the Kia K4 and Geely’s vehicles!
CX-5 and K4 please!
*Assuming this is an all-new Cx-5, and not a refresh? (Despite the photo in the article of the current model, i’m hopeful)
I don’t give a squirt of pee pee about any explorer.
I already like the Mazda, but I would like a comparison of breakfast options between Swami’s in Encinitas and Pipes in Cardiff. And maybe an apple pie review from Ramona, assuming you have the option of driving east. It’s beautiful out there.
I am most interested in this Kia wagon. I would also be interested in either David and/or Mercedes’ take on the NoHo experience.
I’d read the Geely thing. Least relevant since it’ll never come here.
Most curious about the K4 hatch. Second would be the Geely stuff.
For all reviews, I’d value a few more quick and dirty impressions: (1) A and B pillar vision blocking (bonus points for evaluating with the driver’s seat most of the way forward, in the middle, and most of the way back); (2) rear window visability; (3) how much common usage stuff is touch or on the touchscreen; and (4) realistic rear seat passenger capability (something as simple as kids only; teens; adults; big adults).
As a weird ape-shaped human (6’2″ but a 32 inch inseam and 38″ sleeve length) who totes around adults and big adults in back, a quick scorecard on things that impact realistic day-to-day operation would be really useful to determine whether I’m reading the review purely for pleasure or with an eye to considering the vehicle.
I’d say send Jason to the Geely launch. Not because I care about the Geely at all, but because Jason at CES sounds like an opportunity ripe for Torchtopian content. I can see him inquiring about the latest VR goggles with aplomb just to ask at the last second about their compatibility with the Apple II.
Wait, there’s yoga?!
Ford and Kia seem most interesting.
With the rise of off-road trim levels, I’d like to see more of them compared with each other in more detail instead of more broadly against things like Jeeps. How does an Explorer Tremor compare to a Honda Passport TrailSport? How do these vehicles with orange trim all stack up against each other?
The K4 ticks lots of boxes commenters seem to want as a vehicle. I’m curious how it is overall.
I’m certainly interested in the Ford one but really only because Mercedes is the best possible person to put that “rugged design” to the test.
The Kia K4 also sounds interesting, a new hot hatch is always good.
Because of my wife I have a mild interest in the midsize crossover segment now, so the Mazda one might be cool. I think it would also be a good opportunity for the site. It would be cool to see the Autopian come up as a search when researching the volume (boring) cars.
I’d hit the Ford and the Geely. Love Mazda, but I think their design language is established and you’re going to see some of the same of what you’ve seen of “new” Mazda, and I’m never excited for any Hyundai/Kia, and that’s just a “me” thing.
Of these I’m only interested in the K4 Hatchback. Maybe the Geely for curiosity.
And tell Kia that 2026 is really stretching the “late 2025” deadline.
The K4 would be there only thing on that list that I would definitely read about.
I’m not particularly intrigued by Chinese cars and I have zero interest in crossovers, especially those with off-road pretensions. In a world where Ford makes the bronco, why does an “off road” explorer even exist?
I think the Geely one is a must do – simply because we keep hearing how the chinese are going to disrupt the industry. I’m interested in the explorer tremor because Ford has really been pushing the Tremor packaging and I am curious if its something more than the FX-4 package on an F-150. The Kia i think is important because of its price point. the Mazda… Meh though i am curious if they continue that “premium for the class” mantra.
hand on with geely.
Drive all the things! But if you have to choose, I’m most interested in the K4 and the Geely. Particularly the K4 though. Also my spellcheck doesn’t recognize Geely as a real word.
Go to Encinitas and then do an Autopian event meetup 5 miles away at the Rancho Santa Fe cars & coffee. https://www.ranchosantafecarsandcoffee.com/home.html
Is this shamelessly because I want an Autopian event near me? Yes, I will admit that.
TBH none of them. They seem like press events no information probably you will be supervised like a South Korean on a trip to North Korea. Every turn will be monitored, if you try to adjust the seats they will pull out a revolver and ask what do you think you are doing. If they won’t clearly cover what it is a Pig Party
This is really cool that you’re asking for our input on this!
None of these particularly excite me, but I think the CX-5 is a must given its popularity. You’re gonna want an article on it when everyone else has one, too.
The Ford one looks sick and I would go just for fun but I never liked the Expedition and the new one is ugly.
Kia and Geely. The K4 is catnip for us. Geely is forbidden fruit for most of us. Meh on Mazda and Ford.
None look particularly interesting, but I’ll vote for the Exploder, with the expectation that some “wrong turns” will be taken to some full value difficult 4wd roads, with lots of pictures documenting some real exploring
Mazda first, Kia second. I have no interest in the Ford, but you should do it anyway because it looks like a hell of a lot of fun!
K4 hatch please! I might want one but need some validation!
Mazda and Kia, with Geeley if possible. Skip Ford.
I’ll be happy to take one of these events off your hands. Say…the K4
I never thought I would be ever put Kia in my top 1 of anything but of the bunch, that’s the one I’d like to see covered.
You guys should send a member to one of these, for lols.
We’re open to it!
Any drives down under, happy to help.
Hey, I’ll read all of these. They do sound interesting even if I’m not the target for any of them. Although that Kia hatch could be something in the future perhaps.
But really I don’t care at all about the Explorer special edition. The Geely event is especially interesting since we don’t get to see much from them. Well, Volvo I guess but you get what I mean.
The Mazda event sounds a bit… boring? A new version of an existing CUV. But I would still be a little interested because I am loving Mazda design lately and even small improvements might make a good read.
So, top 2 are Geely and Kia. Then Mazda and Ford. In order for me.