Eventually, the bloom comes off the rose, the honeymoon period ends and that new-car smell becomes just … regular-car smell. Speaking of new cars, one of Cars.com’s long-term test vehicles — the 2022 Ford Maverick — recently reached the sixth-month point in its planned one-year stint in our in-house fleet. So is it still the driving delight it felt like when everything was shiny and new? Yeah, pretty much.

In one of Cars.com’s most popular articles of the past week, editors share their experience-enhanced assessment of the small hybrid pickup truck. Fuel economy has fallen more closely in line with the Maverick’s impressive EPA estimates over the course of the warm-weather season (up 5 mpg to 38 mpg since June); ease of city parking and maneuverability has proven a plus for the diminutive truck; interior comfort and appointments are quite nice; and the fuel-saving electric-only mode is surprisingly easy to maintain without triggering gas use. That said, the brakes can feel grabby and nonlinear, and the 4.5-foot bed shows its limitations when tasked with family duty (like, say, two young children and two adults taking a trip to the beach with all their accompanying gear).

For the full rundown on how editors feel about the 2022 Ford Maverick after half a year of ownership, follow the link below to Cars.com’s No. 3 article of the week.

Also creating buzz this week is the all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet, set to arrive late this year to bring the brand’s current lineup its first compact SUV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle — and to bring the small-SUV segment a rare performance-focused model. The Hornet promises styling similarities to its Stellantis sibling, the Alfa Romeo Tonale, a driver-focused cabin with performance cues, gas-only and plug-in-hybrid powertrains, and a starting price under $30,000 that undercuts top rivals.

For our full preview of the 2023 Dodge Hornet, follow the link below to Cars.com’s No. 6 news story of the week. And for further reading, be sure to head further down the countdown to the No. 9 spot, where you’ll find Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman’s account of his time getting up close with the Hornet at a media-only preview event.