Car and Driver has never been a publication content to sit still. Two recent tests show why that matters: a 40,000-mile long-term Ford Ranger Raptor that pushed to the Arctic Circle, and a luxury sedan comparison that pitted the Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic and Genesis G80 3.5T against Audi and BMW rivals.
Ford Ranger Raptor Long-Term Test: 40,000 Miles of Punishment
Car and Driver calls the Ford Ranger Raptor “our favorite mid-size pickup truck,” and the magazine put its money where its mouth is by ordering a 2026 model for a 40,000-mile long-term stress test. The as-tested price came to $60,415, which is serious money for a mid-size truck. But this is no ordinary Ranger.
The Raptor’s option list on this particular truck included Shelter Green Metallic paint at $395, a keyless-entry pad for $230, a spray-in bed liner at $525, and a three-year SiriusXM subscription for $300. Those are modest add-ons for a vehicle whose real value proposition lives in its chassis, suspension, and powertrain hardware. The point of a long-term test is to find out whether that hardware holds up under real-world abuse, and Car and Driver chose an unusually harsh proving ground.
The journey began in Bismarck, North Dakota, and ultimately reached the Arctic Circle. That is not a route most long-term test vehicles ever see. It is the kind of trip that exposes weaknesses fast, whether in suspension components, electronics, or build quality.
Ranger Raptor on the Dempster Highway: Brutal Conditions, Glorious Views
The centerpiece of the Ranger Raptor’s northern expedition was the Dempster Highway, which Car and Driver aptly described as “a brutal highway with glorious views.” That phrase captures the Dempster experience well. The road runs through remote northern terrain where services are scarce, weather is unpredictable, and road surfaces can turn hostile without warning.
The truck’s journey included crossing the Peel River, where the water line was visible on the fender, a vivid reminder of how deep the Raptor was willing to wade. It also passed the still-frozen Muncho Lake on the way north, a stark image that underscores just how far into the cold the crew had traveled.
Not everything went smoothly. The door handle sensors failed on the Dempster Highway. It is a small fault in the grand scheme of a 40,000-mile test, but it is exactly the kind of detail long-term testing exists to surface. A sensor failure in a remote Arctic environment is more than an inconvenience. It is a data point about durability and about how complex modern vehicles behave when conditions turn extreme.
Fueling Challenges in the Arctic: Phantom Gas Stations and Gas Cans
Perhaps the most revealing part of the Ranger Raptor’s northern journey had nothing to do with the truck’s mechanicals. It had to do with fuel. The vehicle required frequent fill-ups, which is unsurprising for a twin-turbo V6 off-road truck pushing through remote terrain in cold temperatures.
What made the situation genuinely precarious was a mapping failure. Both the truck’s SYNC infotainment system and Google Maps incorrectly indicated that a Husky gas station existed at one location. It did not. That kind of phantom fuel stop can turn a routine leg of a journey into a genuine problem when the next real station is hours away. The crew was forced to carry gas cans as a safeguard, a smart contingency that speaks to how quickly modern navigation data can let drivers down in remote regions.
This is a useful takeaway for anyone planning serious overland travel. Digital maps are only as good as their underlying data, and in the far north, that data can be stale or simply wrong. Carrying extra fuel is not paranoia. It is preparation.
Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic Comparison: Luxury Sedan Benchmarking
Car and Driver also published a comparison test featuring the 2026 Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic. The E450 went head-to-head with rivals from Audi, BMW, and Genesis in the magazine’s latest luxury sedan shootout.
The E-Class has been a fixture in the mid-size luxury sedan segment for decades, but the competition has never been fiercer. Mercedes has refreshed the formula for 2026, and the 4Matic all-wheel-drive variant represents the volume heart of the lineup for buyers in cold-weather states. Car and Driver’s comparison test put it through the magazine’s standard evaluation regimen, which includes instrumented performance testing, subjective driving impressions, and interior assessment.
The presence of Audi and BMW in the same test means the E450 faced the two brands that have historically defined the segment’s dynamics and technology benchmarks. The result of that three-way fight, plus the Genesis wildcard, is the core of the comparison.
Genesis G80 3.5T AWD Comparison: The Challenger From Korea
The 2026 Genesis G80 3.5T Prestige Black joined the same comparison test, challenging the established luxury sedans from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Genesis has spent the past several years proving that it belongs in this conversation, and the G80 3.5T is the brand’s strongest argument yet.
The 3.5T badge means a twin-turbocharged V6 sits under the hood, and the Prestige Black trim adds a darker, more aggressive aesthetic to the G80’s already elegant sheet metal. Genesis has built its reputation on offering more standard equipment and a more distinctive design than its German rivals, often at a lower price. Whether that formula translates into a comparison test victory is the question Car and Driver set out to answer.
The G80’s inclusion in this test is significant. Genesis is no longer a curiosity in the luxury segment. It is a legitimate contender, and Car and Driver treating it as such alongside Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz reflects how far the brand has come.
Two Tests, One Philosophy
What ties these two Car and Driver efforts together is a commitment to testing vehicles at the extremes of their intended use. The Ford Ranger Raptor long-term test does not just commute to the office and back. It drives to the Arctic Circle, crosses rivers, and contends with fuel infrastructure that does not exist. The Mercedes-Benz E450 and Genesis G80 comparison test does not just list specifications. It measures these sedans against one another in the areas that actually matter to buyers.
That dual approach is why Car and Driver remains essential reading for enthusiasts. A truck’s door handle sensor failure on the Dempster Highway tells you something about long-term durability that a spec sheet never could. A luxury sedan comparison test tells you which car is genuinely best to live with, not just which one has the most impressive press release. Capability comes in many forms, from a lifted pickup fording the Peel River to a twin-turbo V6 sedan carving up a canyon road. Car and Driver is testing both, and enthusiasts are better off for it.
