The 2021 Nissan Altima Has Something the Camry, Accord, and Mazda6 Don’t

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Nissan Altima doesn’t garner as much press as other midsize sedans. Though it offers a comfortable ride, it lacks the Mazda6’s fun handling. It also offers fewer standard features than the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Even Consumer Reports‘ review doesn’t betray any hidden talents in the Altima. It boasts a high overall score, but its predicted owner satisfaction rating is low. However, the 2021 Nissan Altima offers something its rivals don’t.

The 2021 Nissan Altima’s powertrains

Unlike the 2021 Mazda6 and Honda Accord, the 2021 Nissan Altima offers all-wheel drive. The popular Toyota Camry recently reintroduced AWD to better compete with SUVs, Car and Driver reported. Moreover, the AWD upgrade costs only $1,400 for both sedans, which isn’t too high for better performance.

But not even the almighty Toyota Camry offers Nissan’s VC-Turbo engine. According to Nissan, it’s the first variable compression engine designed for maximum power and efficiency. The turbo engine is capable of 248 hp — that’s 60 horses more than the standard powertrain.

Unfortunately, you can’t have AWD and the VC-Turbo engine on the same Altima. Car and Driver reports that this engine is predictably faster, but it’s available only on the Altima SR. This trim also comes with a sportier suspension, which makes the overall ride quality slightly less comfortable. 

Despite its athletic demeanor, the Altima SR’s cabin is still relatively quiet. Even better, the 2021 Altima’s VC-Turbo engine definitely lives up to its reputation in terms of efficiency. It’s officially rated for 25/34 mpg city/highway but achieved 37 mpg on the highway in C/D’s testing.

The Nissan Altima has a nice cabin, with only a few hard plastic parts and many well-fitting materials. C/D’s reviewers loved the extra interior features on their SR tester, including smartphone integration and a leather steering wheel.

Both rows of seats are comfortable and spacious, with a variety of lumbar support options. The Nissan Altima also offers plenty of cargo and interior storage space, but its second row doesn’t rest flat when folded.

Nissan’s ProPilot Assist program

The Nissan Altima SL and Platinum trims also come standard with the ProPilot Assist self-driving feature. Though you still have to keep your hands on the wheel, the feature can keep your car centered in lanes. It can also follow cars on the highway at a safe distance, stopping and moving with traffic flow.

Consumer Reports’ testers found ProPilot Assist to be highly effective at reducing stress in congested traffic. It always stays at a safe speed and doesn’t make any jarring steering maneuvers. However, CR cautions that ProPilot Assist can’t make any steering adjustments if driven below 37 mph.

Optional features in competing sedans

Both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry boast Consumer Reports’ recommendation and Green Choice designation. Still, both lack a semiautonomous driving feature. Higher trims of the Accord come with parking sensors, a head-up display, a rear-seat reminder blind-spot monitors.

The Toyota Camry also offers these features, plus a surround-view parking camera system like the Nissan Altima. The 2021 Mazda6 isn’t a Green Choice, but CR still recommends this car for its ride quality and classy interior. It also offers some safety features that its rivals don’t offer, such as adaptive headlights and traffic sign recognition.

Overall, the 2021 Nissan Altima isn’t perfect, but it’s worth checking out for its standout drivetrain and advanced safety features.

RELATED: 2021 Nissan Maxima vs. Nissan Altima: Which Is the Better Buy?

The post The 2021 Nissan Altima Has Something the Camry, Accord, and Mazda6 Don’t appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Forbidden Technology: How Virtual Mirrors Work

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Camera based mirrors are a newer technology that is sometimes seen in electric cars. Currently camera based mirrors aren’t legal in the U.S., though this may change as a uniform set of regulations may allow them to be brought here. In the U.K. the Audi e-tron and the Honda e used camera based mirrors, and BMW just filed a patent for virtual mirrors. So how do virtual mirrors work? 

UK Audi e-tron | Audi

Right now, virtual mirrors are camera based

The Audi e-tron and Honda e both use virtual mirrors instead of traditional wing mirrors. How do camera based mirrors work? By projecting images of the road onto screens inside of the car. The e-tron and e do this differently, though the basic technology of the camera based mirrors is the same. 

The Audi e-tron projects onto the doors

The Audi e-tron has wing cameras instead of wing mirrors. These cameras record what is happening on the road and transmit that information onto seven-inch OLED screens at the top of the door, near where wing mirrors traditionally are. 

In some ways, the e-tron mirrors are similar to traditional wing mirrors. They’re adjustable, though you use your fingers to maneuver the screen instead of tilting the mirror angle. They show the same view that a traditional mirror would, though you can zoom in and out with them. 

In other ways, the e-tron virtual mirrors are different. Can traditional wing mirrors help you park? No. The Audi e-tron mirrors can, though. They can also guide you when turning, and there are adjustments for highway driving, as well. 

The e-tron mirrors won’t mist or freeze, thanks to a heated lens. Lights help the cameras to capture clear images even when you’re driving in the dark. As a bonus, the camera based mirrors can alert you when there’s a car in your blind spot. 

There are some downsides to the e-tron mirrors. They are positioned quite low, which means that in addition to having to look somewhere other than where you’d expect wing mirrors to be, you also have to look down. This may increase inattentiveness to the road, at least while the driver is getting used to the new technology. 

The Honda e uses similar camera based mirrors, though the positioning is different

Honda’s camera based mirrors work very similarly to the Audi e-tron. Cameras capture video of the road and transmit that onto screens inside the car. Rather than virtual mirrors on the door, the Honda e sends the video to six-inch screens on either side of the dashboard. This is closer to what a driver may expect than the e-tron, and may be easier to adjust to. 

Like the e-tron, the Honda e mirrors won’t get misty thanks to a water-repellent lens coating. As you can imagine, streaks of water would make it difficult to safely monitor surroundings. 

The Honda e can choose between a normal and wide view. Honda says the wide view reduces blind spots by 50 percent. The e’s lights also use lighting to make it easier to see. Similar to the e-tron, the Honda e’s camera based mirrors will be able to assist a driver backing up. 

Why are car manufacturers making virtual mirrors?

The biggest draw to using virtual mirrors is a reduction in drag. As more car companies are producing electric cars, there is a race to make cars with the most range. A fear of a car battery dying before reaching a charging station keeps some people from purchasing electric cars. We’re sure to see technology move toward increasing range in the coming years.

The Audi e-tron mirrors can help increase range by two to seven percent. Honda says that their camera based mirrors improve range by 3.8 percent. Honda claims that their virtual mirrors reduce drag by 90 percent.

RELATED: 2021 Audi e-tron Owners Would Buy Their Model All Over Again if They Could

The post Forbidden Technology: How Virtual Mirrors Work appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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2022 Kia K5 Gets a Tiny Price Bump – Most Expensive Starts at $31,090

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re in the market for a brand-new midsize sedan, chances are the 2022 Kia K5 is on your list of top picks. Since its arrival, this Kia sedan has impressed with its looks, value offerings, and driving characteristics. Since the 2021 model is nearing the end of its run, the Korean carmaker has announced official pricing for the upcoming 2022 version.

According to Kia’s latest press release, there’s good news from a price perspective. That’s because the base price of this well-liked sedan grew by just $100. To help you in your search, we’ll be breaking down exactly how much this sedan and all of its trim levels will cost you. Before we dive in, it’s worth noting that these prices don’t account for additional fees, just the official base price.

How much does the 2022 Kia K5 cost?

As you might imagine, the 2022 Kia K5 offers a variety of trim levels ranging from the entry-level LX with front-wheel drive to the GT with front-wheel drive. However, from a powertrain perspective, you’ve got just two engines on offer. The first is a naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder pushing out 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The second is a larger 2.5-liter turbocharged engine offering up 295 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque.

In terms of standard equipment, you get safety systems such as driver attention warning, forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and lane following assist. If you want more safety, blind-spot collision avoidance assist and rear cross-traffic avoidance assist are available as standard on higher trim levels.

  LX FWD 1.6T GDI I-4 – 8 A/T $23,690
LXS FWD 1.6T GDI I-4 – 8 A/T $24,690
LXS AWD 1.6T GDI I-4 – 8 A/T $26,490
GT-Line FWD 1.6T GDI I-4 – 8 A/T $26,090
GT-Line AWD 1.6T GDI I-4 – 8 A/T $27,690
EX FWD 1.6T GDI I-4 – 8 A/T $28,590
GT FWD 2.5T GDI 1-4 – 8 DCT $31,090

One thing that stands out is that the difference between trim levels isn’t massively expensive. As a result, opting for your favorite features won’t break the bank. However, if you want that large engine option, you’ll be forced into the highest trim level available.

Is the 2021 model the better buy?

RELATED: Buy This All-Electric Kia EV6 First Edition and You’ll Get a Free Apple Watch

With the 2022 Kia K5 scheduled to hit dealerships relatively soon, it might be the best time to get a good deal on the outgoing 2021 model. In fact, CarsDirect reports that the Korean carmaker is currently offering up a couple of different deals for this midsize sedan.

The first is a lease deal on the LXS trim level with front-wheel drive. With $2,999 due at signing on a 36-month lease, expect to pay around $199 per month.

If you prefer to finance your daily driver, CarsDirect reports that you can currently finance a K5 for 66 months interest-free. As you might imagine, the carmaker hasn’t announced official deals for the 2022 model.

Is the 2022 Kia K5 a good car?

If you’re seriously considering a 2022 Kia K5, Consumer Reports has good news about your potential new ride. That’s because the outgoing model scored particularly well with consumers. In fact, Consumer Reports gave the K5 a very good score during its road test. Additionally, this sedan carries a high predicted owner satisfaction score. As a result, this Kia is on your radar for a good reason.

The post 2022 Kia K5 Gets a Tiny Price Bump – Most Expensive Starts at $31,090 appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Edmunds’ 2008 Acura TSX Review Is More Cringe-Worthy Than Witty

by Gabrielle DeSantis

New vehicles are expensive, but you can find great buys for $5,000 or less when choosing a used car. In fact, Edmunds, Forbes, and MotorBiscuit agree that a used 2008 Acura TSX is a great buy among luxury cars. So why did Edmunds feel the need to use a cringe-worthy Sex and the City reference in its glowing 2008 Acura TSX review?

Automotive publications agree on the 2008 Acura TSX’s performance

The Acura TSX debuted for the 2003 model year, but critics agree the 2008 model remains a top choice among used cars. However, Edmunds, a reputable source for auto reviews, offers some odd metaphors in its 2008 TSX review.

“To put it in Sex and the City terms, the 2008 Acura TSX may look more like the classy, refined Charlotte, but it can behave more like saucy Samantha — an always-willing partner on twisty, backcountry roads,” Edmunds quips. “The TSX’s fully loaded features list and smart electronics would even appeal to the rational, all-business Miranda. It has nothing to do with Carrie, though. She’s just nuts.”

Cringe-worthy remarks aside, you might find the 2008 TSX’s backseat a bit small and its gas mileage less than superb at 23 mpg. But more exists to a terrific buy than rear legroom and fuel economy.

As Edmunds pointed out in a slightly crass manner, this energetic sedan produces more than adequate power with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 205 hp. The TSX also luxuriates the driver and passengers in leather seats and comes with Bluetooth, so you can still enjoy your favorite music by linking to your smartphone.

Other aspects of this vehicle recommend it as your next used car purchase. For instance, the TSX handles well, even through curves, and can manage variable road conditions. Plus, you can find a used 2008 model with an automatic or manual transmission.

The 2008 Acura TSX remains reliable when maintained

Although maintenance of a car of this age can become expensive, the 2008 Acura TSX remains reliable when properly maintained. Luckily, owners who have traded in or sold these models typically kept them clean and well-maintained. This makes it easy to find a good model to purchase.

But despite its reliability, the challenge is locating a low-mileage 2008 model, Forbes reports. In 2008, 23 mpg was fuel-efficient, and many owners used the TSX for daily commutes.

Though you won’t find many, if any, under 100,000 miles, even those with higher odometer readings typically do well on the road still. Many of these available used models were leased vehicles, so the original owner drove them only for two years before trading them in for their next lease.

Luxurious touches, too

Besides boasting leather upholstery, every 2008 Acura TSX also comes with heated front seats, a four-way power front passenger seat, a memory-enhanced eight-way power driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a sunroof.

Sure, in 2008, vehicles had no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Still, the TSX’s entertainment system’s Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, six-CD, in-dash changer, and auxiliary input jack provide plenty of ways to enjoy your favorite music. Of course, mp3s and favorite podcasts will still be available.

Other standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels that complement this luxury sport sedan. Though the vehicle doesn’t have modern safety features like lane assistants, you will get xenon headlamps and foglights regardless of the trim level. On some trim levels, you might find a few Acura TSX models with a touchscreen navigation system. When driving the TSX, you can use voice commands with this navigation system to control the climate system and audio. It also offers Zagat restaurant ratings connected to its mapping system.

Overall, the 2008 Acura TSX offers plenty for less than $5,000. In fact, you can’t go wrong with a TSX from 2004 to 2008, Forbes points out. As a daily commuter, this sporty ride provides all you need to get to and from work in style.

RELATED: This Used Acura Is a Fun Daily Driver for $5,000

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