Today’s Road Test in Headlines: Mazda Rethinks Its Big SUVs, Toyota Flirts with a Celica Comeback, and Two New AWD PHEV Crossovers Muscle In

I spent the morning ping-ponging between press notes, a couple of dealer texts, and my own battered notebook. The throughline? Course corrections. Mazda’s posh SUVs are getting a rethink, Toyota’s juggling heritage and future, and China’s latest plug-in SUVs are adding AWD and power like it’s a buy-one-get-one special. Oh, and if you like trucks, you can now go teeny-tiny electric or big, loud, and unapologetically American.

Mazda’s Premium SUV Pivot: Updates Incoming After Softer-Than-Hoped Sales

Mazda’s “Large Product” SUVs—the ones aimed upmarket with longitudinal engines and rear-drive proportions—are getting updates after sales didn’t hit the high watermark the brass were betting on. That tracks with what a few showroom folks have told me lately: customers love the cabins and the way these things steer, but some balked at pricing and expected more third-row generosity.

When I last hopped between a CX-60 and its rivals on some scruffy backroads, the Mazda felt wonderfully keyed-in—there’s a calmness to the way it takes a set. Yet I did note a couple of rough edges: busy ride on sharper bumps and a powertrain that could feel a touch aloof at gentle throttle. If Mazda’s refresh tackles polish (NVH, low-speed response) and perceived value (spec for spend), they’ll have a stronger hand in a segment where buyers are picky and loyalty is rented by the month.

Toyota Tuesday: Celica Whisper, Lexus EV Made in China, and a Hilux That’ll Sip Veg Oil

Report: Celica Revival with Hybrid Punch to Spar the Honda Prelude

The Celica name is reportedly on Toyota’s whiteboard again, this time wearing a hybrid powertrain and a mission to stare down Honda’s returning Prelude. If it lands, expect a balanced coupe with efficiency baked in rather than a brute-force throwback. The romantic in me wants a light, rev-happy thing you can heel-toe on a Sunday. The pragmatist expects Toyota will aim for usable daily range and accessible performance—perfect for a mountain detour on your commute without annihilating your fuel budget.

Report: Next-Gen Lexus EV to Launch Production in China First

A bigger strategic tremor: the next all-electric Lexus is reportedly slated to be built in China first. It’s a shift that says the quiet part out loud—supply chain, speed, and proximity to the world’s hottest EV battleground matter more than heritage assembly postcodes. From an owner’s seat? If quality holds and pricing reflects the efficiency gains, most will shrug and enjoy the serenity of a well-insulated Lexus cabin on the school run.

Hilux Cleared to Run on “Vegetable Oil” (Think Modern HVO)

Toyota has cleared the Hilux to run on renewable hydrotreated vegetable oil (often labeled HVO100 in markets that support it). I’ve filled with HVO in a few European test loops, and the neat trick is simple: you get near-drop-in convenience with a carbon story that’s easier to defend at the jobsite or the café. For fleets and tradies, less tailpipe guilt without babying a fragile setup is the kind of green that actually sticks.

China’s PHEV SUVs Go AWD: Jaecoo J7 and Geely Starray Add Grip and Gusto

Two announcements, one theme: plug-in SUVs are graduating from front-drive commuters to all-weather tourers.

• Jaecoo J7: gains an AWD PHEV option and a higher entry price to match the extra hardware.
• Geely Starray EM-i PHEV: a new, more powerful AWD flagship joins the range for 2027.

The timing smacks of convergence—buyers love the PHEV math for weekday electric miles and weekend freedom, but they’d like traction when a wet B-road or gravel trail appears. If chassis tuning keeps pace, these could easily slot into “family do-it-all” duty.

Real talk from the test route: when I drive PHEVs in mixed weather, the best ones hide the handoff between electric and engine, keep brake feel natural, and don’t fall to pieces on a fast, lumpy corner. If these two nail that brief, they’ll punch well above their price bands.

Bargain Watch: Seven-Seat SUV Slides Under $30K After a $10K Chop

There’s a seven-seat special now dipping below $30,000 thanks to a whopping $10,000 price cut. In an era where base models creep upward like ivy, that’s a headline-maker. For families staring down school carpools and a holiday highway crawl, this could be the difference between buying new and combing classifieds. Caveat emptor: check what’s been trimmed from the spec sheet—safety suites and rear climate are the first to go on deep cuts. I always bring the kids’ seats to the test drive; the third row’s claim and reality can be two very different novels.

Trucks, Two Ways: A Tiny EV Toolbox or a Street-Schooled Silverado

Slate’s Compact Electric Pickup Teases a $3,000 High-Roof Cargo Kit

Slate’s little electric pickup—think city-friendly footprint with contractor energy—may get a roughly $3,000 high-roof cargo add-on. Picture a tidy cap that turns the bed into a mobile gear locker. I could see urban trades, parks departments, or weekend van-life dabblers jumping at it. I tried something similar on a small EV van last winter; the extra vertical volume made bikes, tool totes, and a collapsed e-scooter play nicely together without the Tetris soundtrack in my head.

Callaway’s Silverado Street Truck: A Credible Rumble Bee Rival

On the other end of the subtlety spectrum, Callaway’s take on the Chevy Silverado goes full street truck—lowered stance, aero attitude, and the sort of rumble that makes stoplights feel like starting lines. Think of it as the spiritual rival to Ram’s Rumble Bee mythology, but with bowtie swagger. It’s the truck you valet on date night and still use to schlep wheels to track day. Is it sensible? Lord, no. Is it the sort of four-wheeled nonsense that keeps car culture alive? Absolutely.

Feature Highlights

• Mazda to update its premium large SUVs after sales underperformed expectations.
• Report: Toyota exploring a hybrid Celica to square off with Honda’s Prelude comeback.
• Report: Next-gen Lexus EV production to kick off in China.
• Toyota Hilux approved to run on renewable HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel.
• 2027 Jaecoo J7 adds an AWD PHEV option; entry pricing climbs.
• 2027 Geely Starray EM-i PHEV introduces a more powerful AWD flagship.
• Value play: a seven-seat SUV drops below $30k after a $10k reduction.
• Slate compact EV pickup may offer a $3,000 high-roof cargo kit.
• Callaway readies a street-tuned Chevy Silverado with serious curb drama.

Conclusion

This was a day of smart pivots: Mazda nudging its luxury play into sharper focus, Toyota threading heritage through a pragmatic future, and Chinese brands bolting useful AWD hardware to the PHEV story. Whether you’re bargain-hunting a third row, fettling a city-sized EV pickup for work, or daydreaming about a slammed Silverado, the menu’s getting weird in the best way.

FAQ

Are Mazda’s updates for its large SUVs just cosmetic?

Expect more than a nip and tuck. Based on the sales context, look for refinements to drivability, feature mix, and perceived value. We’ll know specifics closer to launch.

Will the revived Toyota Celica be fully electric?

The current reporting points to a hybrid, not a full EV—likely prioritizing balanced performance and daily usability over outright zero-emission range.

What does “Hilux runs on vegetable oil” actually mean?

It refers to HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), a renewable diesel-type fuel. In supported markets, compatible Hilux models can use it without major modifications.

Why add AWD to PHEV SUVs like the Jaecoo J7 and Geely Starray?

AWD improves traction and confidence in poor weather, widening their appeal beyond city commutes while keeping the weekday electric-mile advantage.

Is the under-$30k seven-seat SUV a good buy?

Potentially great value—just verify safety equipment, warranty, and the practicality of that third row before you sign. Bring the family and do a proper test sit.