Road Test Editor
Brian Normile
Road Test Editor Brian Normile joined the automotive industry and Cars.com in 2013, and he became part of the Editorial staff in 2014. Brian spent his childhood devouring every car magazine he got his hands on — not literally, eventually — and now reviews and tests vehicles to help consumers make informed choices. Someday, Brian hopes to learn what to do with his hands when he’s reviewing a car on camera. He would daily-drive an Alfa Romeo 4C if he could.
Articles by Brian Normile
While some vehicles might save money by using E85, those savings will likely be offset by the purchase cost, and it could take you decades to break even, depending on your driving habits.
By Brian Normile
June 12, 2026
While there are more full-size three-row SUVs than ever, few are hybrids, so we put two of them to the test: the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid and Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid.
By Brian Normile
June 9, 2026
We gave the new Mazda CX-5 to one of the judges from our compact SUV comparison test to see how he thought it would have performed.
By Brian Normile
June 5, 2026
We’ve driven our long-term 2025 Toyota 4Runner hybrid nearly 15,000 miles, and we’re averaging 20.2 mpg — well less than the EPA-estimated combined rating.
By Brian Normile
June 4, 2026
If the Trailseeker is going to be even a partial replacement for the Outback, it has to be able to hold a lot of stuff. How well does it do?
By Brian Normile
May 29, 2026
Brembo's Sensify is a fluid-free braking system that is currently in production, but no specific vehicle or vehicles that utilize it have yet been announced.
By Brian Normile
May 28, 2026
We tested a 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL to see where it would have likely landed had it been included in our 2026 Compact SUV Challenge.
By Brian Normile
May 15, 2026
There's a lot to like about the NX 350h, an upscale, fuel-efficient, luxury compact SUV with a hybrid powertrain. It looks sharp inside and out, it’s thrifty on gas, and its user interface is intuitive. Unfortunately for Lexus, there's also a lot to like about less expensive rival compact SUVs from mainstream brands.
By Brian Normile
Road Test Editor
We tested eight compact SUVs in real-world driving conditions and recorded their gas mileage.
By Brian Normile
May 4, 2026
Hyundai announced a stop-sale of its 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims following the death of a child in the power-folding seat, but a fix is now available.
By Brian Normile
April 14, 2026