By Edward A. Sanchez – Aug. 18, 2026
Unfortunately, the issue of EVs versus ICE (internal combustion engines, for those not familiar with the acronym) has become highly politicized, with the prevailing narrative that freedom-loving Americans drive V8 muscle cars, four-ton diesel trucks, or pre-OBD-II vehicles with real knobs and buttons, no touchscreens, and no telematics. Progressives drive Priuses, Teslas (despite the anti-Elon self-loathing), or some other nondescript four-cylinder compact import.
I reject this forced choice, despite being solidly in the pro-EV camp. I believe climate change is real, as evidenced by increasingly severe weather events globally, extreme temperatures, and the resulting disruption to society in the form of flooding, droughts, storms, and climate-related deaths.
Transitioning the majority of transportation off oil and to electricity should be a national, if not global priority, accounting for two-thirds of oil consumption globally. I would even go so far as to make it a national security priority, as oil exports could be used to a greater extent as geopolitical leverage, as well as reducing our dependency on oil imports, which are still very much a present reality due to the grade of our domestically produced oil, and what our domestic refineries are set up to process. Our insatiable national appetite for hydrocarbon fuels doesn’t help the situation either.
Now that we’re past that long-winded alarmist introduction, I’m going to lay out seven new ICE models I would proudly put in my garage (alongside my EV, which I’m not planning on getting rid of anytime soon, if ever.)
Mazda MX-5 Miata
The ND Miata is arguably the pinnacle of
the evolution of the Miata to date. It combines the relentless focus on
lightweighting that characterized the NA with a favorable power-to-weight
ratio, and just the right balance of modern technology, DIY maintenance, and
repairability, with analog tactile feedback and driving experience. As it was
when it debuted, the ND remains an indisputable performance bargain starting
below $31,000. Adjusted for inflation, the NA’s $14,000 starting price would be
nearly $37,000 in today’s dollars. Kudos to Mazda for holding the line on
price. Unlike some of the other models on this list, this is one that I could
realistically afford.
Ford F-150 PowerBoost
My fondness for the PowerBoost should be no
surprise, if you’ve been following
this blog for any length of time. Its capability proved itself during the
2021 Texas winter, when a handful of PowerBoost owners easily powered their
homes with its 7.2 kW output. Its 20+ mpg combined fuel economy is icing on the
cake for this portable power plant. If I had the need for a full-size truck,
this would be at the top of my list.
Ford Maverick Hybrid
Ford took a gamble on the Maverick, dropping
its conventional compact cars from its lineup, betting that Americans would
flock to a compact pickup that combined compelling efficiency with the
versatility of a crew cab and pickup bed. Dearborn was right, probably even
more than they envisioned.
The Maverick out-sells its big brother Ranger by nearly 3-to-1. While it can’t match the ultimate capability of full-size or even midsize trucks, nothing else combines nearly 40 mpg with 4,000 lbs. of towing capacity, and 1,500 lbs. of payload. While there are rumors of Toyota developing a competitor to the Maverick, and Ram announcing a version of the Rampage it sells in Latin America is coming to the States, for now, the Maverick plays in a class of one.
Chevrolet Corvette C8 StingrayI have loved Corvettes since childhood, with the C4 being the first modern Corvette to capture my imagination. The C4’s specs seem tame, if not downright quaint by today’s standards: 230 hp, 0-60 in 6 seconds, and 255-width tires, which seemed like steamrollers at the time. The C8 is the culmination of the “father of the Corvette” Zora Arkus Duntov’s dream of a mid-engined Corvette, teased by the CERV I & II concepts.
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| (Image courtesy Corvette) |
The Corvette’s engineers and development team finally came to the inescapable conclusion that any quantum leaps in performance would necessitate a switch to a mid-engine layout. That decision was validated by the base 495 hp C8 Stingray outperforming the 650 hp C7 Z06 in several key metrics, including 0-60. While the 2027 Stingray with the new 535 hp 6.7L sixth-gen V8 starts at $71,000, its performance rivals competitors costing more than twice as much. The C8 to me represents the pinnacle of GM’s engineering prowess, and an indisputable performance value.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 3.0 DuramaxYou might be surprised to find not one, but two diesels on my list. But let’s face it, diesels did not become the workhorses of the industrial world by accident. It is still one of the most efficient combustion processes yet devised, delivering the torque needed for towing and hauling, while minimizing fuel consumption. While Ram and Ford briefly flirted with diesels in the half-ton market, only GM has stuck with the formula.
It’s hard to argue with the outcome: A half-ton truck capable of towing 13,000 lbs. while still delivering around 30 mpg on the highway (admittedly not at the same time). While I’m personally not a huge fan of the maneuverability of full-size trucks in urban areas, if you had to have a Swiss Army vehicle that can serve as both a commuter and workhorse, it’s hard to argue with the Silverado “Babymax” in terms of balancing versatility and efficiency.
Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0Porsche’s reputation as an “attainable” exotic has been tested with the 911 now starting at $130,000+, and even its lowest-priced model, the 4-cylinder Macan, starting at $65,000. The model on my wish list crests the six-figure mark at $105,500. Objectively, it pales in bang-for-the-buck compared to the C8.
But as anyone who’s driven a Porsche can attest, there is an essential magic that the brand has been able to distill, capturing the driving essence into an intoxicating and satisfying formula that somehow convinces you that six figures is still reasonable. The Boxster GTS 4.0 combines a big, boisterous 394 hp naturally aspirated flat-6, and still gives you the choice between a full manual or Porsche’s acclaimed PDK dual-clutch transmission.
Its 3.8-second 0-60 time can be beaten by a Tesla Model Y performance, not to mention a number of other lower-priced models, both EV and ICE. Judged by purely objective measures, the Boxster (as well as its hardtop sibling, the Cayman) is hard to justify. But as one of the more attainable examples of the essential Porsche sports car magic, it’s still a model I’d love to have in my garage.
Ford F-250 Super Duty Diesel
Not considering myself a “truck guy”
(despite spending 10+ years of my journalistic career working for a truck
magazine), I’m surprised as anyone that four out of my seven vehicles are
pickups. From a driving enjoyment perspective, trucks are admittedly near the
bottom for me. Other than the Maverick, they’re generally big, cumbersome, and
hard to park. The Ford Super Duty is certainly no exception to that. But all
the nit-picking pales in the face of 1,200 lb-ft of torque. I am old enough to
remember when the LB7 Duramax’s 520 lb-ft of torque was considered
jaw-dropping.
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| (Image courtesy Ford) |
Having driven the 6.7 Power Stroke, its level of refinement and raw power is frankly astonishing. Other than its staccato idle, it’s hard to tell it’s a diesel. The engine itself is nearly a $14,000 option. Even picking the bare-bones XL model, with the diesel and 4WD, you’re looking at nearly $67,000. Moving up the trim hierarchy can easily get you into the six-figure range. It’s 22,000-lb towing capacity can handle all but the heaviest loads without a commercial driver’s license. And if you need more, Ford offers Super Duties with capacities up to 30,000+. Despite weighing more than 8,000 lbs., it’s not unheard of this beast returning 20+ mpg on the highway.
Candidly, I couldn’t see myself owning a Super Duty as a daily driver in an urban or suburban setting. It’s simply too big and unwieldy for me. But as a recreational tow rig and occasional workhorse, it’s hard to beat.
(Main image courtesy Ford)
