Andy Lilienthal has been writing about cars, trucks, and gear for 23 years at a host of publications. Prior to that, Andy spent time at/worked at a student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. Based in Portland, Ore., Andy enjoys working on his Japanese domestic market 4WD Mitsubishis, traveling, and exploring new countries.
Email: andy@crankshaftculture.com
Location: Portland, Ore.
Expertise
Topics of Expertise: 4WD, off-road, and all things automotive
Years in This Expertise: 20+ years
Number of Hours Tested: 10,000+ hours since 1999
Education & Certifications
Education: BA in Psychology, minors in journalism, history – University of Wisconsin – Stout
Years of Writing: 23
Club or Association Memberships: Northwest Automotive Press Association
First Place – Social Media: Crankshaft Culture 1st place Social Media (Andy and Mercedes for Crankshaft Culture): Alcan 5000 Rally and Mitsubishi Pajero Recap as posted to our Crankshaft Culture social media accounts. Issued by Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) – Presented December 2021
Previous Publications: Adventure Rigs, Auto Conduct, AutoWise, Crankshaft Culture, CRAWL Magazine, Digital Trends, The DRIVE, DUB, Expedition Portal, Model Retailer, Motor Trend, OutdoorX4, Scale Auto, Subcompact Culture, Trails, TREAD Magazine, The Truth About Cars, ZUKIWORLD Online
A Word From Andy
Automotive has always been my passion in life, and I’ve been writing professionally since 1999. I’ve been able to combine my automotive passion and communications ability to be a freelance writer for many years, and have been able to write for a wide variety of publications.
I started writing for the University of Wisconsin-Stout’s student newspaper, The Stoutonia, back in 1999. I then determined that I wanted to make a career of writing, specifically in automotive. I was able to bag an Assistant Editor position with Scale Auto magazine in 2001, and I’ve never stopped writing.
Personal Interests: Automotive, travel, beer/wine/spirits, music
For 2026, Kia refreshed its bestselling Sportage crossover to help it stay fresh in the competitive compact crossover arena. I drove the hybrid HEV model.
The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is a capable off-road crossover. With some minor modifications, it can be a surprisingly good overland adventure vehicle.
The 2025 MINI Cooper S Hardtop 2-Door continues MINI’s tradition of making go-kart-like hot hatchbacks. And yes, there’s a bona-fide go-kart driving mode.
We got behind the wheel of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator on some quality off-road trails in Moab. The mid-sized truck showed its refinement, while continuing…
