10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Lexus GX 550 Fares Better Than ‘Best’ Nissan Kicks

Ready, willing and able to face the hazards and obstacles of the off-road though it may be, the 2024 Lexus GX falls short when presented with a challenge far more fraught with peril: family duty. The full-size, off-road-ready luxury SUV has a lot going for it, including Herculean towing capacity, terrain-traversing capability and head-turning exterior styling. But when it comes to accommodating adults, kids and cargo at the same time, competitors like the Jeep Grand Cherokee L strike a better balance.

Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Chevrolet Traverse Crosses Out Hyundai Santa Cruz, Nissan Kicks

In one of Cars.com’s most popular news stories of the past week — a video review of the GX 550, specifically for its prowess as a family hauler — we present our case against parking one in the garage next to your youngsters’ Big Wheels and bicycles. A narrow rear door opening and prohibitively high entry due to off-road-ready ride height and ground clearance make the GX 550 a child-unfriendly affair from the jump (and getting in is no picnic for adults trying to access the wayback, either). Our child passenger safety technicians gave the SUV mixed-to-negative reviews for car seat installation, so parents of young children should be warned. And the third row, while actually surprisingly usable for adults in a limited capacity, lacks easy accessibility and versatility while cannibalizing all but a measly 4.8 cubic feet of stowage space when in use. For the $66,000 as-tested price, you and your brood can do better.

For the full rundown on the 2024 Lexus GX 550’s failures as a family vehicle, follow the link below to the No. 3 news story of the week.

At the opposite end of the SUV size and affordability spectrum on this week’s countdown of most read stories is the 2025 Nissan Kicks, which Cars.com expert reviewers named Best in Show at the 2024 New York International Auto Show. The redesigned subcompact SUV gets bigger in almost every direction, using that growth for a beefier appearance and higher ride. A new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 141 horsepower and 140 pounds-feet of torque, adding more kick to the Kicks and distributing that increased oomph to all four wheels, a first for the model — significant given that all-wheel drive is Cars.com’s official distinguishing factor between crossovers and SUVs. The interior cinched its auto-show honor, with remarkably improved cabin materials, digital displays and roominess.

For the full explainer on how the 2025 Nissan Kicks earned our Best in Show prize at the 2024 New York International Auto Show — which remains open to the public through Sunday, April 7 — follow the link below to the No. 8 news story of the week.

Beyond all that, we’ve got headlines on the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Ranger, Toyota 4Runner and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:

1. Redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Traverse to Hit Dealers Starting at $38,995 

2. 2024 New York Auto Show: Winners and Losers 

3. Video: Is the 2024 Lexus GX 550 a Good Family Car? 

4. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy 

5. Electric Cars With the Longest Range

6. Which Electric Cars Are Still Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit? 

7. Car Loans: How to Get the Best Interest Rate 

8. 2024 New York Auto Show: Best in Show 

9. 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Review: Jumping for Joy

10. Toyota Teases Next-Generation 4Runner

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