Jill Ciminillo from Pickup Truck and SUV Talk joins Rides & Drives editor/publisher Harvey Briggs for a drive in the all-new, Lexus RZ 450e, the first ever battery electric vehicle from Toyota's luxury division. We talk about its strengths and weaknesses and learn a little bit about Jill's experience driving in the 2022 Rebelle Rally. https://youtu.be/Sb48djk36Bc

People are dumb. No, I'm not talking about these Darwin Award winners or the 31.5 million individuals who follow Kanye West on Twitter. One need look no further than the 983,000 3-row SUVs that have been sold this year versus just 100,000 minivans to understand the relative intelligence of our population. Suburban, Wagoneer, Expedition, Sequoia, et al., are massively capable 4-wheel drive SUVs that rarely haul anything but children. Most will never have a ball mount in the receiver. More mud will accumulate in the carpeting than the wheel wells. And they'll spend more time idling in the elementary school pickup lane then trundling down a two-track through the backwoods. Large SUVs are nothing more than glorified station wagons designed to project an image of toughness, while sacrificing so much of what their owners actually buy those vehicles for. Got kids? Ever go on vacation? Is it your turn to ferry a carpool of future Mike Trouts to little league? Do you have a Costco membership? You need a minivan. Not only are they far superior to 3-row SUVs in every functional interior dimension, they're easier to get in and out of, the ride is smoother and quieter, and they'll save you a ton of money on gas. Especially if you're driving a hybrid model like the 2022 Toyota Sienna I recently piloted on a family vacation to northern Michigan. The Toyota Sienna, now in its fourth generation, was redesigned in 2021 and built upon the TGNA-K platform which also serves at the foundation for Venza, Crown, Avalon and Camry. Every Sienna is powered by a gas/electric hybrid engine and is available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. This means, Sienna drives more like a car than any 3-row SUV, even those built on unibody platforms. Practicality comes in the form of a big box that, like all Toyotas, is creased and folded in a way that's just a bit overwrought. Nothing about the styling feels organic - with the flared rear fenders evoking Supra, the pinched nose from Prius, and the gaping lower grille from Avalon. The blacked out accents, revised front and rear bumpers, and 20” split 5 spoke wheels on the XSE trim help a bit, but to be honest, I prefer the design of Chrysler Pacifica. Sienna makes a rare visit to the gas station While styling is important, the magic really happens in Sienna when you open the electric sliding rear doors which you can activate with a tug on the handle, a click of the remote, or if your hands are full, a kick of your foot under the rocker panel. This cavernous opening on either side allows easy access to the third row. In its base configuration, Sienna seats eight with a second row bench seat that slides up to 25 inches for and aft to allow second and third row passengers the ability to negotiate legroom and come to and amicable compromise. Truth be told with the second row properly placed, there's plenty of legroom in both rows even for adults. Move up to XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum trims and captains chairs replace the bench accommodating one fewer passenger, while maintaining the same adjustability and adding more comfort. There's enough legroom in the second row for 7 footers Comfort is Sienna's strong suit. No matter which row you end up in the seats offer proper padding and support. In the XSE trim, front seats are heated and ventilated, second row seats are heated, but those in the third row will have to rely on their own body temperature to warm the seat. Storage is another hight point in Sienna. The front console has a large open bin beneath the surface for purses or totes. There are so many places to hold cups and bottles, I'm surprised Toyota hasn't done a co-branding deal with Starbucks or Coke. With the third row in place, there's a deep well behind the seat creating 33.5 cubic feet of storage space which is plenty for four large roller bags. With the third roll folded space behind the second row is a cavernous 75.2 cubic feet. Best of all the floor is completely flat, which combine with the low lift-over height, makes it easy to slide large items in an out. Going on vacation? You don't need to leave anything behind with Sienna Technology still needs an upgrade as the 2022 Sienna has yet to receive the upgrade to Toyota's new multimedia system that was introduced in the new Tundra and being implemented across the lineup as vehicles are refreshed. The 2nd gen system in the Sienna is intuitive and easy to use, but the small screen and lack of features, like wireless CarPlay and natural voice interaction. There is no digital instrument panel option either at this point. Sienna drivers will have to be satisfied with analog gauges an a small center TFT display sharing information on trip data, mpg, and other key stats. Sienna also lacks USB ports in the third row, which seems like a whiff since every passenger is likely to have a device they'll want to keep charged preventing a meltdown on a family road trip. Technology in Sienna feels at least a generation behind its competitors, but at least it's intuitive That's important because you can go hours and hours between stops thanks to Sienna's 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and hybrid electric motors provide the kind of mileage one used to expect from a compact economy car. The front wheel drive version is rated at 36 MPG in both city and highway driving. All-wheel drive cuts into that number by just 1 mile per gallon an in over 900 miles of family vacationing, I saw 35.5 miles per gallon on the trip computer using regular, 87-octane gasoline. That means you get over 600 miles of range out of a full tank of gas, something that no three-row SUV can match. Power output is, let's just say, adequate. 245 horsepower is enough to push the 4,775 pound Sienna up to highway speeds on any entrance ramp, but the CVT transmission means if you stomp on the accelerate to use all the available power, there's a lot of noise an vibration coming through the firewall. The system is good for 3,500 pounds of towing so you can bring a boat, camper, jet skis or snowmobiles with you on vacation. Available all-wheel drive means you can do it all when the snow flies. Room and storage are best-in-class for Sienna Ride and handling are... exactly what you expect from a minivan: numb, isolated, and perfectly acceptable. The Macpherson struts up front and multilink independent rear suspension soak up imperfections but has a tendency to waft over hills and roll in the corners. Toyota claims the XSE suspension is "sport tuned," but I can promise you, this ain't no Supra. Look, I know image matters and some people would rather sacrifice efficiency and convenience to drive something that speaks to their inner adventurer. But if you have a few kids and like to hit the road, then do yourself a favor and at least look at Sienna or another minivan in addition to gas-guzzling SUVs like Sequoia, Expedition, or Wagoneer. Not only will you be cutting your fuel costs significantly, you'll also be driving a vehicle that holds more, is easier to load and unload, and offers a more comfortable and quiet ride. Practicality comes at a price, and in Sienna's case, it's worth it. 2022 Toyota Sienna XSE All-Wheel Drive7 or 8 passenger minivanBase price: $35,385Price as tested: $48,255Engine: 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder gas engine with permanent magnet synchronous electric motorsTransmission: eCVTTotal system power: 245 HPTowing capacity: 3,500 poundsEPA MPG: 35 city / 36 highway / 35 combined Lake Michigan sunset courtesy of the Toyota Sienna

As I drove slowly down University Avenue with the tan top lowered on the brilliant red Jaguar F-Type P450, I felt a bit like a rolling cliche. A balding, middle-aged man piloting a look-at-me ragtop through the center of one of America's best college towns. I'm sure all the coeds walking between classes imagined I was just another sad old man going through a mid-life crisis. Such is the price one must pay to enjoy one of more entertaining cars on the road today. With its tight fitting top, the F-Type can be driven in all weather Jaguar F-Type has been one of my favorite sports cars since it debuted in 2013. With its brilliant design and 5-liter supercharged V8 driving the rear wheels - it made Jaguar something it hadn't been in decades, thrilling. And while I prefer the coupe for both its looks and superior road manners thanks to a stiffer chassis, the allure of a red convertible is undeniable, especially one that snarls and crackles the way the F-Type does when you toggle it into dynamic mode and tip your right foot into the throttle. Jaguar made the unusual – and wise – decision to drop the turbocharged four and supercharged six cylinder engines from the lineup. While both engines were fine, that just wasn't good enough for a car this gorgeous. Clean lines have always been the hallmark of the F-Type So for 2022, you only have two model options, the F-Type P450 and F-Type R, both use the same V8 engine, with the R making 575 horsepower and the P450 detuned to "just" 444 horses. Both are available as either a coupe or convertible. The P450 is available in rear- or all-wheel drive. The F-Type R is all-wheel drive only. You get one transmission option, the ubiquitous ZF 8-speed automatic which is used in so many high-end performance cars for good reason. It's fantastic. https://youtu.be/fXzr_dRE_AY Like all two-seat convertibles, the Jaguar F-Type P450 is a toy. No different from a Miata, Boxster, LC500, or AMG GT Cabrio. These are cars you keep in the garage until the temperatures rise and the sun shines. It's for cruising the back roads, carving up canyons, and heading for a weekend getaway in a town like Santa Barbara, Kennebunk, or Harbor Springs. And you'll only be able to stay a weekend, because there's just enough room in the boot for two small overnight bags and not much else. Two words of advice if you decide to take a road trip in the F-Type, pack lightly. The interior is exactly what you'd expect from an $80,000 Jaguar, first class materials, impeccably tailored, with an understated feel. The seats are supportive and comfortable though the padding on the back is thinner than most cars to allow for a few extra inches of interior space. The leather wrapped steering wheel is thinner than most wheels in most performance cars. With the top down at highways speeds there is minimal buffeting though what little hair I have left needed a little work to make presentable when we stopped for lunch after a long drive through the Wisconsin countryside. With the top up, there are huge blind spots to the sides and rear, especially when the rear spoiler is deployed. My suggestion, don't drive it with the top up. The interior is tight, tidy, elegant, and comfortable Where Jaguar continues to lag behind competitors like Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, and now Lexus, is in its infotainment system. The small screen and delicate graphics make reading information difficult. There is a bit of lag when you do tap on the tiles to open up the navigation or radio, making you wonder whether your input was detected at all. Fortunately, there are hard buttons and dials for a few of the operations like HVAC. Another issue that was especially noticeable with the top down is glare which makes the screen completely illegible. The driver-oriented instruments and controls are exactly where they need to be. Unfortunately, you can't read the center console touch screen in most light. This will be the last iteration of the F-Type with a gasoline engine as the company has promised all its new vehicles will be electric by 2029. So enjoy this while you can. No, the Jaguar F-Type P450 isn't a sports car. It's a tourer with the heart of a sports car that drives beautifully and looks even better. It's the kind of car you buy to reward yourself and enjoy on those gorgeous spring, summer, and autumn days that become more precious with every lap around the sun. And if you can spend a few hours of those days behind the wheel of an F-Type with it's V8 growling, you're all the better for it. 2022 Jaguar F-Pace P450 Two-door, two-passenger, rear-wheel drive, convertibleBase Price: $73,000Price as tested: $84,350Major options: Interior luxury package includes illuminated metal treadplates, extended leather upgrade, premium cabin lighting ($2,000), 12-way power heated and ventilated seats ($1,800), Ebony Windsor leather performance seats ($1,650), Black exterior package ($1,100), Meridien Summit surround system ($900), destination and delivery ($1,150) Engine: 5-liter, dual overhead cam, Supercharged V8 with intercooler, aluminum block and headTransmission: ZF 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and 3 drive modes - normal, dynamic, and rainLength: 176 inchesWidth:74.2 inchesWheelbase: 103.2 inchesCurb weight: 3953 pounds0-60 MPH: 4.2 secondsTop speed: 177 MPH electronically limitedEPA MPG: 17 City, 24 Highway, 19 Combined A welcoming site for the driver Spoiler alert! The quad exhaust makes a glorious sound when you step on the loud pedal 15-inch rotors with body colored calipers, provide plenty of stopping power And remember, it's pronounced "Jag-u-er"