The 2021 Nissan Kicks SR Brings More Value to the Table

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re in the market for an affordable, brand-new SUV, you can kick things up a notch with the 2021 Nissan Kicks SR. The SR is the highest trim level of the Nissan Kicks, and it includes more value-packed features to enjoy. 

Is the 2021 Nissan Kicks SR worth buying? 

2021 Nissan Kicks | Nissan

Yes, the 2021 Nissan Kicks SR is an excellent SUV option with a great look and performance that won’t break the bank. The base model of the Nissan Kicks starts at about $19,500, and the SR begins at around $21,990. 

So for about $2,490, you get a few premium upgrades that primarily enhance the way the vehicle looks. You get a dark chrome grille, fog lights, LED headlights with LED signature accents, a sliver exterior door trim, and a rear roof spoiler. You also get body-color inserts on the front and rear bumper with High-Gloss Black colored mirrors with integrated turn signals. 

The interior includes Black Prima-Tex accents with orange stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob, and sport cloth seat trim with orange accents and stitching. It provides a more vibrant and luxurious feel. 

How does the Kicks SR perform? 

RELATED: 3 Reasons to Pick the Nissan Kicks Over the Rogue Sport

Each trim level of the Nissan Kicks comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that provides 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. According to Edmunds, the Kicks can accelerate from o to 60 mph in about 10.7 seconds. 

Despite not having the fastest acceleration, the 2022 Nissan Kicks SR has smooth, reliable braking. The suspension is very responsive and maintains composure. Also, the sporty handling provides fun on curvy roads. 

The Kicks provides a smooth ride over most surfaces and does well at limiting wind noise. Road noise can enter the cabin at highway speeds, but it’s not too noticeable. You may want to opt for the SR for increased seating comfort. 

Unfortunately, the Nissan Kicks isn’t recommended for towing, and it doesn’t come with all-wheel drive. But it still serves as an economical option for daily driving. It gets an EPA-estimated 31 mpg in the city and up to 36 mpg on the highway. 

What are the Kicks SR features like? 

2021 Nissan Kicks Interior
2021 Nissan Kicks interior | Nissan

While lower-trim models of the Kicks get a 7.0-inch touchscreen, the 2022 Nissan Kicks SR comes with an 8.0-inch display, an extra USB port, and access to the NissanConnect telematics and concierge system. The Premium package adds a Bose stereo system and a Wi-Fi hotspot. 

You’ll find up to 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 32.3 cubic feet total. The rear seats don’t fold completely flat, there are plenty of places to store personal items, and the cupholder area can be turned into a medium-size storage cubby. 

Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning. The optional adaptive cruise control works well at keeping you at a proper distance from the traffic ahead, and the surround-view parking system helps you navigate through tight city areas. 

The Nissan Kicks SR provides more value with this economical SUV option. It may not be the biggest or most spacious ride, but it includes plenty of great tech, style, and comfort for daily driving.

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The Most Expensive 2021 Porsche Cayenne Trim Isn’t Necessarily the Best

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many SUVs nowadays prioritize practicality rather than sportiness, and that’s generally fine. That said, for customers who want an actually sporty SUV, the Cayenne can be an excellent choice. But as far as 2021 Porsche Cayenne trims go, the most expensive one might not be the best. 

The 2021 Porsche Cayenne’s trim levels

The Porsche Cayenne gives buyers a handful of options, Edmunds reports. The first is the base model, which starts at about $83,000. It packs a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 making 335 hp, and it’s a generally sporty yet luxurious SUV.

Then there’s the S trim, starting at $102,000. It has a few perks over the base model, but the big one is a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing about 434 hp. On top of that, it adds a panoramic sunroof and a sporty steering package. 

Next, there’s the $121,000 GTS. It gives the Cayenne plenty of performance enhancements, including a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 453 hp.

If that isn’t sporty enough, try the $152,000 Turbo trim. The Turbo boasts many performance upgrades as well, and it has a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. But the Turbo’s V8 harnesses 541 hp.

Two hybrid options are also available, one for the regular Cayenne and one for the Turbo. 

The expensive turbo model is pretty great

According to Edmunds, the Turbo adds a long list of luxurious and high-performance features to the Porsche Cayenne. And sure enough, it lives up to its lofty $150,000 price tag, MotorTrend reports.

Thanks to its powerful V8 engine, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. Not only is it fast, but it also handles like any other Porsche, MT says. In fact, MotorTrend calls it “the sports car of SUVs.” And make no mistake, the Cayenne Turbo is still an SUV — and a comfortable one at that.

After all, it has heated front and rear seats, leather upholstery, and 60.3 cubic feet of cargo space when its seats are folded down, Edmunds reports. That said, it still carries a $150,000 price tag, and it’s not the only sporty option Porsche offers. In fact, when it comes to value, the Turbo probably isn’t the best trim.

The 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS is better

Although the Turbo impressed MotorTrend’s testers, they liked the GTS even better. Its slightly weaker V8 is still capable, pushing the Cayenne GTS from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.8 seconds, MotorTrend reports. On the track, the GTS was about 0.1 seconds slower than the Turbo, but those are minor differences.

What arguably matters more is how it feels to drive, and on that front, MotorTrend gave the GTS the nod. This makes a lot of sense because even though the GTS is about $30,000 cheaper than the Turbo, it comes with quite a few sporty features. For instance, Edmunds said the GTS has torque vectoring, a sport exhaust system, and an air suspension, to name a few.

In fact, the sport exhaust system is one of the best reasons to choose the GTS over the Turbo, MotorTrend said. Currently, this exhaust system is exclusive to the GTS, and it’s a great addition for any Porsche fan who loves to hear the engine roar. So although the GTS isn’t as luxurious as the Turbo, it’s still as capable as the Turbo but $30,000 cheaper.

RELATED: The 2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe Slides Into This Prestigious Group of Sports Cars

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Is Your Car’s Start-Stop System Hurting You in the Long Run?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There are several tips and tricks available to help you improve your fuel economy. And one of them is increasingly being built right into your car. Many new vehicles have a start-stop system, nominally to reduce how much gas is wasted during idling. But does this feature truly save you fuel? And even if it does, are there any long-term issues that can develop because of it?

How does the start-stop system in your car work?

2021 Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 start-stop system deactivation button close-up | Matthew Skwarczek

First introduced in the 1970s, start-stop systems, or ‘auto start-stop’ as they’re sometimes called, have become more prevalent in the last few years. And that’s thanks to improvements in automotive electronics, especially in starter motors and hybrid powertrains.

Although each start-stop system is slightly different, they work in roughly the same way. When your car detects you’ve come to a stop and have the brake pedal pressed, it sends a signal to the ECU, Haynes explains. The ECU then cuts your car’s fueling and ignition systems temporarily, shutting the engine down. And when you take your foot off the brake pedal and/or press the accelerator, the ECU tells the engine to restart. It’s even possible to give cars with manual transmissions start-stop systems, CJ Pony Parts notes.

While the latest start-stop systems are fairly smooth, some owners have found them too rough or annoying to use daily. However, automakers have taken several steps to rectify this.

For one, cars with start-stop systems usually have a dedicated button to turn the feature off, Car and Driver notes. And because hybrids’ starter motors often double as generators, they can ‘smooth over’ any lingering coarseness.

Does using the start-stop system damage the engine or other parts of your car?

The black center console of a 2021 Buick Envision with the start-stop system deactivation button in the corner
2021 Buick Envision center console close-up with start-stop system deactivation button in the corner | Buick

RELATED: Is Remotely Starting Your Car Illegal in Your State?

But as sophisticated as stop-start systems are, they’re not infallible. And, more to the point, using them means your car’s engine turns off and on multiple times per trip. That’s led to some consumer concern that the technology might be accelerating engine wear and potentially causing long-term damage.

To be fair, shutting off your engine does leave various metal surfaces touching without the lubricating protection of oil. Plus, starter motors do eventually wear out, as do the batteries powering them. So, on a surface level, there is some logic behind the aversion to stop-start tech.

RELATED: How to Keep Your Car or Motorcycle Battery From Going Flat

However, for the most part, these potential flaws have been addressed, RAC explains. Firstly, modern oils have significantly better lubricating and wear-protection properties than their predecessors. Furthermore, many stop-start systems don’t turn on until the engine has warmed up. This makes sure the oil and other fluids have properly circulated and coated the various engine components.

Secondly, cars with start-stop systems, hybrid or not, have oversized and overbuilt starters specifically to address wear-and-tear concerns. They can also detect if the battery has too low of a charge to sufficiently restart the engine. If that happens, the engine stays running to recharge the battery.

The stop-start system also knows if your A/C is running, Haynes points out. If it is, the engine stays running to keep it on. And it’s the same story if your heater is running, CJ Pony Parts adds.

Does it actually save you fuel?

RELATED: Do Consumer Reports’ 5 Most Fuel-Efficient Small SUVs Match Their EPA Ratings?

But, while start-stop systems aren’t necessarily damaging your engine, are they truly improving fuel economy? In a word, yes. But as with any fuel-saving tech, how much you save depends on how and where you drive.

As mentioned earlier, your engine won’t turn off if the HVAC system is running. And that cuts down on the potential fuel savings. When Edmunds tested the start-stop system in a Mini Cooper, reviewers found running the A/C meant ‘only a 2.9% improvement in fuel economy. But with it turned off, the start-stop improved fuel economy by 9.5%. And the Jaguar and BMW tested alongside the Mini also cut their fuel use by roughly 10% using start-stop tech.

In short, stop-start systems can help you save fuel, and they won’t damage your engine. So, unless you can’t stand the restarts, it’s worth keeping it on.

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The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Bronze Editon Is the Ultimate Suburban Flex

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As nearly every carmaker is throwing their hats into the crossover/SUV market, some of the OGs have to start figuring out ways to stand out against the constant wave of new flashy models. The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is shooting for a standout SUV by slapping on the shiniest wheels in the game. The 2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition is a strong flex when rolling through the Suburbs. The wheels alone might make this the best hybrid crossover.

2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition | Toyota

Meet the 2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition 

In a world where every other car seems to be an eco-friendly crossover, the 2022 Toyota highlander Hybrid sticks to script while also letting its owners feel a little different and maybe even a touch flashy. 

the back end of the 2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition
2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition | Toyota

Obviously, the most notable thing about this new 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid trim is 18-inch shiny bronze wheels. It looks more like a JDM drift car than it does humble suburban grocery getter. 

Other than the killer bronze wheels, plenty of other bronze touches separate a Bronze Editon driver from the pack. According to The Drive, the 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition comes packed with strange yet unique additions like illuminated door sills, special interior stitching, floor, cargo mats, and fancy-looking seats dripping in gold/brown metallic accents. 

Is the Bronze Edition any better than the regular Highlander?

A silver 2021 Toyota Highlander parked, the Highlander is a three-row SUV often compared to the 2021 Subaru Ascent
2021 Toyota Highlander | Toyota

RELATED: 2021 Subaru Ascent vs. 2021 Toyota Highlander: Which Three-Row SUV Does Consumer Reports Recommend?

No. Mechanically, both trims are the same. However, the Bronze Edition is cooler looking, and in the automotive world, that little fact can make a difference. The flossy bronze is only offered in the hybrid powertrain and the XLE trim package or higher. 

This means Toyota’s 243-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors are driving the Bronze-clad Highlander. It is still offered in either front-wheel drive or electric-rear-axle all-wheel drive. 

To elaborate on some of the interior features of the Bronze Edition, this suburban flex-mobile features trim-specific seats that have an almost quilted pattern on the seat with a bold bronze stripe running down the middle of the seats. The door panels are also lined with stitching that really drives the whole bronze thing home. 

The Bronze Edition is still a Highlander Hybrid

Interiro of the 2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition
2022 Toyota highlander Bronze Edition | Toyota

Although you may have to get used to some new attention on the block, the Hybrid Highlander with Bronze wheels is still a Highlander, and that is not a bad thing. The Highlander is widely regarded as one of the best hybrid SUVs in the game. 

Since the Bronze Edition builds off the XLE trim package, it has all the XLE equipment and some additions like a digital rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, a 1500-watt power outlet, in-dash ambient lighting, and more. 

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Bronze Edition falls between the XLE and Limited, which means the price will likely land in between as well. The 2022 XLE is $42,710, and the Limited sits at $46,665. 

Much like the blacked-out Kia Telluride Nightfall, these aesthetic packages are an interesting way to keep people excited about an increasingly pedestrian segment. The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition might be a bit gimmicky, but injecting a little pizazz and flash into an otherwise plain model can’t hurt. 

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