SANTA CRUZ — The 2024 Fiat 500e and 2024 Range Rover SE 7 seat LWB have nothing in common except for four wheels and country-of-origin pride.
An ideal mass-produced city car with an Italian heritage dating more than 125 years, the 500e weighs 2,952 pounds and has 117 horsepower. The Range Rover weighs nearly twice as much, has 395 horsepower and a British legacy dating to 1970.
Like the Fiat, the Range Rover began with a purpose — as a niche utilitarian vehicle. It had vinyl seats, a plastic dashboard and was designed for cleaning inside and outside with a hose.
But the diverse cars couldn’t have been more perfect for a recent few-day marriage at Best of the Bay. The second edition of the speed review program was orchestrated by the Western Automotive Journalists organization and supported by manufacturer liaisons DriveShop and Page One Automotive.
With headquarters at the Dream Inn, 14 cars from five manufacturers in 2024 and 2025 models were reviewed by organization members: traditional print and online newspaper journalists, radio and television broadcasters, videographers, historians and podcasters.
The premise was simple yet challenging. Every reviewer drove every vehicle in 30-minute sessions on either an ocean view route or on a hilly inland circuit to the tree lined UC Santa Cruz campus.
It was automotive speed dating. With a brief meet-up, could I be compatible long-term with the recently re-instated Fiat 500e, its tiny-house habitat and 129-mile range? Maybe the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Silver Bullet with its 6.2-liter V-8 HEMI engine and testosterone-overdrive persona would be right?
For the makeshift, multi-maker mobile dealership, also on site was Genesis with the 2025 G80 3.5T Sport Prestige, 2025 GV80 3.5T Prestige and 2025 GV80 Coupe. Hyundai presented the 2024 Elantra N and 2024 Ioniq 5 N. Kia offered the 2025 Carnival Hybrid and 2025 Sorento PHEV. Acura showcased the 2024 ZDX Type 3. Lexus included its 2024 GX 550 Premium. Lucid showcased the 2025 Air Pure. Toyota featured the 2025 Camry Hybrid XSE.
While diverse, only a small sampling of the 37 carmakers currently selling new cars in the United States were displayed at Best of the Bay. Yet the five manufacturers’ vehicles provided several overall industry truths.
Vehicle interiors are vastly improved. Leather appointments are often cross-stitched and coordinated with what once likely would have been viewed as non-complementary colors. Navigation screens are increasingly larger, better positioned and contoured for better viewing. Head-up displays are crisper and more detailed, although many systems still can’t be viewed if the driver is wearing polarized sunglasses.
With driving complete, 17 reviewers picked the Best of the Bay in six categories and with anonymous voting: Best Passenger Vehicle, Best SUV, Best EV, Best Technology, What Would You Buy and Best Overall Vehicle.
The 2025 Air Pure claimed the Best EV and Best Overall vehicle categories and tied with the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for Best Technology; The Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige was named Best Passenger Vehicle and tied with its stablemate, the Genesis GV80 Coupe 3.5T, for Best SUV.
Eleven of the 14 vehicles reviewed at Best of the Bay received one vote in the What Would You Buy (with your own money) category.
Lucid’s selection in three categories was befitting of the luxury niche carmaker’s vehicles. Headquartered in Newark but with a manufacturing facility in Casa Grande, Arizona, Lucid debuted in late 2021 with 2022 models. It has endured financial setbacks and now has majority ownership with Middle Eastern investors.
Still largely unheralded, Lucid produced only 8,428 vehicles in 2023 and delivered 6,001. Its cars (and pending SUVs) are innovative and handsome, modern and industry-bending, plush and spacious. The Lucid lineup is exceedingly fun to drive.
The reviewed Lucid Air Pure (with destination charges) costs $83,050. It has a 372-mile range and top-line technology, comfort and convenience appointments. Lucid’s Best-of-the-Bay honors weren’t surprising and other awards surely pending won’t be either.
James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist, author and freelance writer in Sacramento, has contributed sports, business and lifestyle articles to print and online publications for more than 45 years. Email: james@jamesraia.com.
