by Gabrielle DeSantis

Lawn mowing season is finally upon us. For those in need of a new push lawn mower, there is no shortage of options to choose from. But when it comes to choosing the best push lawn mower? Bob Vila says these options make up some of the best push lawn mowers.

How to choose the best mower for your lawn

When it comes to shopping for the best lawn mowers for small yards, you can’t go wrong with a push lawn mower. But when it comes to choosing the best push lawn mower for your lawn? There are a few key features to look out for, Bob Vila reports. First and foremost, it’s important to consider the different types of push lawn mowers available.

While gas-powered push mowers are among the most common, electric push lawn mowers are becoming more popular because they require less maintenance and are quieter than their gas-powered counterparts. Self-propelled mowers are also popular and use their wheels to drive the mower forward.

It’s equally important to consider the mower’s engine size and run time, too, Bob Vila reports. While runtime will determine how long a mower will last before it needs to be recharged or refueled, a lawn mower’s engine size will give it the power it needs to take on even the thickest patches of grass.

“Most basic gas-powered mowers do well with a roughly 140cc engine, though self-propelled models benefit from more power (150cc and up)…Electric mowers have motors instead of engines. Look for a battery model that runs off a 36V or greater system or a corded model with an 11-amp rating or greater.”

Bob Vila

The Craftsman M215 159cc is the best gas-powered push lawn mower

If it’s a gas-powered push lawn mower that you’re after, Bob Vila recommends checking out the Craftsman M215 159cc 21-inch 3-in-1 high-wheeled FWD. This self-propelled, gasoline-powered mower is one of the best push mowers and comes standard with front-wheel drive. 

It also boasts a 21-inch cutting width and features six adjustable heights. It rides on extra-large 11-inch rear wheels,, too and can cut, bag, or mulch. It even comes with all of the equipment needed to do so. As for how much this mower costs? You can expect to spend roughly $440.

The American Lawn Mower Company 50514 is the best electric push mower

Push lawn mowers on display. | Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images

Perhaps you would prefer an electric push lawn mower instead. If that’s the case, American Lawn Mower Company’s 50514 corded mower is the best electric push lawn mower, Bob Vila reports. It features a 14-inch wide deck and comes equipped with an 11-amp electric motor that offers up more than enough power to cut most yards without any problems. 

This new mower also boasts features like adjustable handle heights and five adjustable cutting heights. It features both a rear discharge port and a bagger attachment too. It also comes standard with offset oversize wheels. And when it comes to price? This mower costs under $200.

The Greenworks G-MAX 40V is the best battery-powered push mower

For the best battery-powered push lawn mower, Bob Vila recommends the Greenworks G-Max 16-inch cordless lawn mower. This battery-powered push mower has a 45-minute runtime and can cut up to a half-acre on a single charge. 

Riding on 7-inch rear wheels and 6-inch front wheels, this battery-powered mower is no stranger to taking on uneven terrain. It also features a one-lever height adjustment and an adjustable, padded handlebar. Priced under $300, this mower also comes with a charger, a battery, and a detachable bagger.

The Greenworks 40V is the best overall push lawn mower, according to Bob Vila

A man mowing the lawn using a push lawn mower
Mowing with a push lawn mower. | Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Last but certainly not least is the Greenworks 40V 21-inch self-propelled push mower, which Bob Vila says is the best overall push lawn mower. Priced just over $500, this particular lawn mower comes with a charger and two batteries. It also boasts up to 70 minutes of total runtime.

That’s not the only reason Bob Vila chose this model as the best push lawn mower either. This mower features a steel 21-inch cutting deck and offers enough power and torque to run a heavy-duty mulching blade. It also comes standard with a bagger attachment, push-button start, and oversized rear wheels. It’s height-adjustable and features collapsible handles for easier storage too.

Shopping for a new lawn mower doesn’t have to be stressful

With so many new lawn mowers to choose from, choosing the best push lawn mower for your yard may feel like a stressful endeavor. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. Instead, begin your lawn mower search by checking out Bob Vila’s picks for the best push lawn mowers. 

RELATED: The Best Lawn Mowers for Big Yards According to Consumer Reports

The post The Best Push Lawn Mowers According to Bob Vila appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Mazda6 has been a contender among midsize sedans since its introduction in 2002. But things are about to change. Despite the 2021 Mazda6’s IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, the automaker has pulled the plug on its family car.

That leaves only the Mazda3 compact car to compete in the sedan market. And though the Mazda6’s demise isn’t good news for the U.S. midsize sedan market, the discontinuation isn’t a big surprise given the trend toward SUVs.

2021 will be the last model year for the Mazda6

“The current third-generation 6 has been around since 2014 and will not be available for 2022,” Car and Driver reported in late May. Mazda’s announcement motivated speculation in the automotive world as to what’s behind discontinuing a great midsize sedan.

The current-generation Mazda6 hit its sales peak in 2015, selling 57,898 units, GoodCarBadCar shows. After that, annual sales dived nearly 10,000 units in 2016 and 2017. They saw another sharp decline in 2019, bringing annual sales to just over 21,000. The drop to just 16,204 in sales in 2020 represents an overall decrease of over 40,000 units per year in less than five years.

Other major automakers have ditched their midsize sedans

Mazda isn’t the only automaker to abandon the midsize sedan. Car and Driver notes that Ford, GM, Chrysler, and a few others are also turning their attention away from sedans to focus on SUVs and trucks, which continue to capture a major portion of the automobile market.

Fiat Chrysler began the exodus in 2016 by eliminating most of its sedans. Ford and GM followed suit in 2018, significantly trimming their lineups of sedans. Ford is expected to kill every car in its lineup except the iconic Mustang. That’ll coincide with a significant increase in the Blue Oval’s lineup of crossovers and SUVs by 2023.

The mass exodus from the midsize sedan class leaves heavy-hitters like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord a guaranteed spot at the top of the list. However, given their domination in the class for the past three decades, they were likely to continue winning the top spots anyway. But one might begin to wonder if a lack of competition will cause these leaders to cut corners or become less innovative with their designs and features.

Will the Mazda6 return under a new name?

Some observers believe killing the Mazda6 was an act of mercy for a slowly dying sedan. But others have already begun speculating about the sedan’s eventual return. For example, some believe the model might reappear on a rear-wheel-drive platform to use the automaker’s newly engineered inline-six engine.

However, would any future Mazda midsize sedan use the “6” nameplate, or would it reappear under a different moniker? Only time can provide the answer.

RELATED: The 2021 Mazda6 Combines Safety With Really Engaging Performance

The post Ending a Slow Death — Mazda Just Pulled the Plug on the Mazda6 appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Formula 1 is a sport where rules are made to be broken. Teams like Red Bull F1 are constantly looking for new ways to “interpret” the rules to gain advantages. These don’t have to be big advantages either. In a sport where victory is measured in milliseconds, every little change counts. Therefore, every gram must be accounted for, every car perfectly calibrated. Now, it seems that Red Bull has found an advantage in the form of their rear wing.

What does the flexi wing do?

Lewis Hamilton leads Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez | Ozan Kose via Getty Images

To understand the flexi wing, we need to take a look at the rules. The sport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, or FIA control the rules for Formula 1. If teams find too many advantages, the FIA will change them. Now, that may be the case with Red Bull’s flexi wing.

All components that influence the car’s aerodynamics must be rigidly secured to the chassis of the car according to FIA rules. So, this means that there are only a small handful of places where the rear wing can be fitted. Crucially, the rules also state that more flexible wings are not allowed. They would give too much of an advantage. Moreover, the FIA reserve the right to subject any car to additional testing to ensure that the wing is as rigid as possible.

Red Bull chase down Mercedes

Verstappen's Red Bull mid-corner at Baku
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez | Ozan Kose via Getty Images)

This additional testing is where the drama starts. F1 can be a very political sport, and Red Bull and Mercedes are perfect examples of this. Since the most recent race in F1, Spain, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton reported “They have this bendy wing on the back of their car… and they gained at least three-tenths from this wing.” As a result, it appears Red Bull found a way to sneak in a more flexible rear wing.

What’s more, Red Bull says the car is perfectly legal. Team boss Christian Horner says the FIA are happy with the car’s rear wing. This means that in the eyes of the rulemakers, the car is legal because the wing does not flex enough to be considered a moving part. Now, the FIA have made an announcement after the Spanish Grand Prix. They will be conducting further testing of team’s rear wings to ensure they meet regulations.

Other teams may be protesting

Red Bull's Sergio "Checo" Perez mid-corner in Azerbaijan
Sergio Perez’s Red Bull F1 car | Resul Rehimov via Getty Images

Clearly, some teams think that Red Bull may still be getting away with something. Hence, the new testing that the FIA conducted in Azerbaijan. The problem is, there was a whole 11 days in between Spain, where Red Bull’s flexi wing was first noticed, and Monaco, the following race. The Milton Keynes-based team could easily have changed the wing between Spain and Monaco. The team’s interpretation of the rules may not be entirely legal, but this is the spirit of the sport. No matter what, developments like the flexi wing are what keep F1 competitive, and it’ll be interesting to see what teams come up with next.

RELATED: Could F1 Driver Valtteri Bottas’ Wheel Nut Issue Happen to You?

The post How Red Bull F1’s Flexi Wing Is Shaking up the Championship appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

In the sneak peek photos we saw before, the new Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro paint color looked bright yellow. But it turns out the color isn’t yellow. But it is neon. 

2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro | Toyota Newsroom

The new TRD Pro Tacoma is coming with all-new off-road enhancements. And the new color option is highlighter green. If you want off-road capability and you want to stand out at the next weekend music fest you car camp at, this Taco is for you. 

The new 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

Not everyone wants an off-road pickup truck that looks like a glowstick on wheels. Not to fear. For those that would rather remain more under the radar, can still opt for a more subdued paint job.

The color is called Electric Green, and it’s certainly a head-turner. However, as with past TRD Pro models, there are a variety of paint jobs to choose from. Overall, this is relatively the same Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro that we saw released last year. 

But there are some tweaks. Toyota has added some off-road improvements to the new TRD Pro model for 2022. It’s not just getting a fancy new paint job, the 2022 Toyota Tacoma also received some welcome updates to the suspension.  

But what’s new for the all-new 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro? 

trd control arm and red fox shocks
2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro | Toyota Newsroom

First, let’s talk about the lift. For 2022, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro gets a 1.5-inch lift up front and a 0.5-inch lift in the rear suspension. Off-road obstacles should be easier than ever with raised maneuverability. Plus, it gets 2.5-inch Fox internal bypass coil-over shocks with remote reservoirs, Toyota reports

In addition to this enhanced off-road suspension, this midsize pickup truck also gets designated TRD billet aluminum control arms. Every new TRD Pro Tacoma model sends V6 power to all four TRD wheels. However, this year this midsize pickup truck will run on slightly wider Goodyear Wrangler tires than before.

This midsize pickup truck was made for off-road adventure

the electric green Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro color for 2022 perched on top of a Rocky Mountain
2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro | Toyota Newsroom

After falling head over heels for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro earlier this spring, I have to say that I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the 2022 model and have some fun. This is hands down one of the best off-road pickup trucks out there. Sure, it has a reputation for unrefined handling on pavement.  

That said, however, critics agree across the board that this midsize pickup truck was made for heading off the beaten path. Its backcountry capability is almost as wild as the new Electric Green paint color. For anyone who wants a truck that’s born for adventure, there’s a good chance they already want one of these. 

Does the 2022 Toyota Tacoma have a manual transmission? 

side view of an electric green Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 2022 model driving on a sandy trail
2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro | Toyota Newsroom

This overview wouldn’t be complete unless we ask one of the most important questions––did the new Taco keep its manual transmission option? Yes. Toyota kept it simple for the puritans. 

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro comes with all-new bed stamping, a pedigree of over 50 years of off-roading Toyota predecessors, and a six-speed manual transmission option. For those that don’t want the manual, the Taco also keeps its six-speed automatic transmission.

We don’t know the price yet, but expect it to come in just a little higher than the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro starting price of $44,325. 

It’s the same truck, but a little better

the new trd pro bed stamp in the side near the rear of the truck bed
2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro | Toyota Newsroom

Overall, the new Toyota Tacoma isn’t redesigned or entering a new generation. The new Tacoma is largely the same truck it was before. This is the tail end of a generation, so some buyers may prefer to wait until the new generation drops before spending their cash on a new Tacoma. 

With the 2022 Toyota Tundra’s recent engine additions, there’s no telling what the future holds for the mighty little Taco. This midsize pickup truck is exciting for 2022 (I mean, come on. Electric Green?). But it’s also just keeping us on the edge of our seats when it comes to the next generation and what that might outlook like.

RELATED: 2022 Ford Maverick: Consumer Reports Is Already Pitting It Against Its Favorite Pickup Truck 

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