Road & Track is a monthly automotive magazine focused on performance cars, racing, and driving culture
Road & Track publishes 10 issues per year in print, with a website that updates daily. The magazine covers new car reviews, racing news, driving techniques, automotive history, and long-form features about car culture. Each print issue runs roughly 150 to 200 pages and arrives in your mailbox on a set schedule — typically the 15th of the month before the cover date.
The magazine is owned by Hearst Magazines and has been published since 1947. It targets readers who care about how cars perform and handle, not just what they cost or what features they have. If you subscribe, you get both the print edition and access to the full website, including archived articles going back years.
Key Takeaways
- Road & Track publishes 10 print issues per year plus daily online content, covering performance cars, racing, and driving culture.
- A print subscription costs around $30 to $40 per year depending on the offer, and includes full access to the website and archives.
- The magazine runs regular features like buyer's guides, track day reports, and long-form automotive history pieces alongside monthly new-car reviews.
- You can read individual articles free on the website, but a subscription removes ads and gives you access to exclusive content and the full archive.
What's in each print issue
Every month's issue opens with a feature story — often a road trip, a restoration project, or a deep dive into a particular car or racing series. This is typically 8 to 12 pages with photography and narrative writing. Following that are new-car reviews, usually 3 to 5 per issue, each running 4 to 6 pages with performance data, photos, and the writer's assessment of how the car drives.
The middle section includes shorter columns and departments: a racing news roundup, a technical explainer about how some part of a car works, a buyer's guide to a specific model or category, and reader letters. Toward the back you'll find the "Tested" section, where editors put cars through specific tests — 0-60 times, braking distance, handling on a closed course — and report the numbers alongside their impressions.
Each issue also includes at least one historical or cultural piece: a profile of a forgotten race driver, the story of how a particular engine was designed, or an essay about what a certain car meant to car culture. These pieces run 6 to 10 pages and are often the reason longtime readers keep their back issues.
How to subscribe and access content
You can subscribe to the print edition through Road & Track's website, through Amazon, or through magazine subscription services like Magazines.com. A one-year subscription (10 issues) typically costs $30 to $40, though promotional rates as low as $15 per year appear regularly. Print subscriptions arrive at your mailing address and usually begin with the next available issue.
A print subscription includes digital access to the website and archives at no additional cost. You log in with the email address on your subscription account. If you want digital-only access, Road & Track offers that as well, though the pricing and terms vary — check their website for current options.
You can read individual articles free on Road & Track's website without a subscription, but you'll encounter ads and paywalls after a few free articles per month. A subscription removes the ads and the paywall entirely.
What makes Road & Track different from other car magazines
Road & Track emphasizes performance and driving experience over luxury, status, or price. A review in Road & Track will tell you how a car handles in a corner and whether the steering feels connected, not primarily whether it has heated seats or a good infotainment system. The magazine also covers racing and motorsports extensively — Formula 1, IndyCar, sports car racing, and amateur track days all get regular coverage.
The writing style is conversational and assumes the reader cares about cars as objects to drive, not just own. Articles often include the writer's personal experience or opinion, and the photography is shot to show the car in motion or in interesting locations, not just parked in a studio.
Compared to magazines like Car and Driver (which leans more toward consumer information and value) or Automobile (which covers design and culture more broadly), Road & Track is the most focused on the driving experience and racing. It's the choice for readers who track their cars, follow motorsports, or straightforward want to understand how and why a car performs the way it does.
The website and online content
Road & Track's website publishes new articles, videos, and photo galleries daily. You'll find breaking news about new models, race results updated as they happen, and long-form features that don't appear in print. The site also hosts a YouTube channel with video reviews, track tests, and behind-the-scenes content from the magazine's test facility.
Subscribers get access to the full archive of articles going back to 2008 or earlier, depending on the section. Non-subscribers can read recent articles free but hit a paywall after a few per month. The website also includes a buyer's guide section where you can filter cars by type, price, or performance metric — this is useful if you're researching a specific category.
Special issues and annual publications
Road & Track publishes several special issues throughout the year. The most notable is the annual "Buyer's Guide" issue, which typically comes out in the fall and includes comprehensive reviews and comparisons of new models across multiple categories. There's also a "Best Drivers' Cars" issue that ranks performance vehicles by how rewarding they are to drive.
The magazine occasionally publishes standalone books or special editions focused on a single topic — a history of a particular marque, a guide to vintage racing, or a retrospective on a famous race series. These are sold separately from the regular subscription and are often available through the website or at newsstands.
How to cancel or manage your subscription
If you subscribed through Road & Track's website, you can manage your subscription by logging into your account and visiting the subscription settings page. You can pause, renew, or cancel from there. If you subscribed through a third party like Amazon or Magazines.com, you'll need to cancel through that service instead.
Print subscriptions do not auto-renew by default — you'll receive a renewal notice in the mail or by email when your subscription is about to expire. You can renew at that time or let it lapse. If you cancel a subscription and later want to resubscribe, you can do so at any time; there's no penalty for letting a subscription end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Road & Track articles without a subscription?
Yes, you can read a limited number of articles free each month on the website. After you reach the limit, you'll see a paywall. A subscription removes the paywall and gives you access to the full archive and all exclusive content.
Does a print subscription include the website?
Yes. When you subscribe to the print edition, you get full access to the website and archives at no extra cost. You log in with your subscription email address.
How often does Road & Track publish?
The print magazine publishes 10 times per year. The website updates daily with new articles, videos, and news. Print issues typically arrive around the 15th of the month before the cover date.
What's the difference between Road & Track and Car and Driver?
Road & Track focuses more on driving experience and racing, while Car and Driver emphasizes consumer information and value. Road & Track assumes you care about how a car handles; Car and Driver assumes you want to know if it's worth the money.
Can I get Road & Track on a tablet or phone?
Yes. The website is mobile-friendly, and subscribers can access all content on any device by logging in. Some subscription options also include a digital replica of the print magazine that you can read on a tablet app.