Two Seats, Big Grins; Three Rows, Bigger Payments

We wrap up the year with two radically different drives, one honest verdict. We put the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata through its paces to see if a featherweight roadster with a manual top and a “butter” shifter still delivers peak driving joy in a world of screens and mega-SUVs. Then we jump into the 2025 GMC Acadia Denali to test whether a quiet, tech-rich, seven-passenger family hauler can feel premium without feeling ponderous, and how its turbo power, towing rating, and Denali hardware stack up against segment favorites.

We start with design that tells the truth. The Miata’s long hood, short deck shape and crisp fender lines aren’t nostalgia plays; they’re a blueprint for balance and feedback. Inside, space is tight by intent, storage is minimal, and everything you touch feels straightforward and well judged. The two-liter engine’s 181 horsepower rides an ideal power-to-weight ratio, delivering real-world pace, great fuel economy, and handling that begs for backroads. We underline who it fits, who it doesn’t, and why its clarity of purpose is its superpower.

From there, we scale up to the Acadia Denali and its different kind of promise: room for seven, quiet cruising, and tech that actually helps. The 15-inch center display, 11-inch driver cluster, surround-view cameras, rear camera mirror, and one-touch folding third row raise daily ease. The turbo 2.5 with 328 horsepower and a 5,000-pound tow rating brings capability, while the Denali’s suspension tuning keeps it poised. We parse real-life fuel economy, pricing that climbs with options, and comparisons to the Kia Telluride and Chevrolet Traverse to help you decide if the Denali premium is worth it.

We close by getting real about classic cars: rare parts, higher maintenance costs, limited safety, storage and theft risks, and why resto-mods can be both dream and headache. Plus, a tour through banned, crushed, and forgotten muscle legends that almost changed the landscape. If you love driving feel, need family flexibility, or dream of garage icons, this review gives you the tradeoffs and the wins. Enjoy the ride, then share your pick, subscribe for more real-world reviews, and leave a rating to help other car lovers find the show.

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