by Gabrielle DeSantis

Uber is a great way to get around. Whether providing a ride to the airport or a lift home after a late night of fun, the rideshare service is a convenient option. But sometimes, passengers find themselves distracted or in a hurry when exiting hired cars. And that means they unwittingly leave belongings behind.

That’s where the Uber Lost & Found Index comes in. This annual list of the most common, funniest, and craziest things passengers have left in cars is thoroughly entertaining. Here are some interesting findings from the 2021 index.

The most-forgotten items riders have left in Uber cars

The recently released 2021 Uber Lost & Found Index reveals riders’ “most commonly forgotten and most unique lost items.” It highlights the cities with the most forgetful passengers and even indicates the days of the week and time of day when riders misplaced their belongings.

Over the past year, phones and cameras were the most frequently lost items. Other commonly forgotten items include wallets, keys, backpacks, headphones, glasses, vape pens, IDs, and water bottles.

Passengers in Texas are the worst at remembering to gather their belongings before sliding out of Uber cars’ backseats. Austin, Houston, and San Antonio ranked among the top 10 most forgetful cities. Floridians didn’t fare much better, with Fort Myers and Tampa Bay appearing on the list. Other cities with the most absentminded passengers are Nashville, Phoenix, Kansas City, Charlotte, and Sacramento.

The craziest things passengers have forgotten in Uber cars

Uber also reports some of the “most unique” items left in Uber cars. They include 22 bundt cakes, part of an ankle monitor, a green dinosaur costume, and antique rollerblades.

Oddly, one passenger left a toilet seat in the backseat. Other strange items include a leopard-print pink bikini, a mannequin head, a Harry Potter wand, and hospital scissors. An Uber driver even found a prosthetic leg, which seems impossible to leave behind.

Uber found that worldwide, Friday and Saturday nights are consistently the most forgetful days and times. Most people forget their belongings between 8 p.m. and midnight. The company received the most reports of lost items on Halloween weekend 2020, New Year’s Day 2021, and Mardi Gras night 2021.

Uber even analyzed the most popular items left on certain days. For example, riders commonly misplaced groceries and backpacks on Monday. They left behind cameras on Tuesday and cash on Wednesday. Riders forget to take their birthday gifts with them on Thursdays. Baby items were the most popular things left behind on Fridays and jewelry on Saturdays. And phones were lost most on Sundays.

How to retrieve your lost items

This year is proving to be another forgetful year for Uber passengers. Already, more than 60 riders have left behind their Invisalign retainers, gold grills, or dentures. There were even a few riders that forgot a single tooth.

When it comes to electronics, Apple products are forgotten almost nine times more often than Samsung. Uber reported that in 2021 alone, riders left more than $60,000 in cash in the back of rideshares, with 17 instances of passengers leaving more than $1,000.

If you’re among the many passengers who’ve forgotten something in an Uber, the easiest way to retrieve your belongings is to contact the driver. But if you forgot your phone, log in to your Uber account from a computer.

Then fill out the “find lost item” section and hit “contact driver about a lost item.” Enter a good phone number to reach you, and click “submit.” The process will connect you directly to your driver so that you can arrange a time to retrieve your items.

RELATED: Uber Gives Up on ‘Headache’ of Self-Driving Cars

The post Uber Lost & Found: The Craziest Things Riders Have Left in Cars appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

All eyes are drawn to the Infiniti QX50, which reportedly boasts one of the best-performing engines in the VC-Turbo. Plus, the exterior is stylish and head-turning. But does this vehicle offer much else to justify its price?

In fact, the folks at MotorTrend have some mixed feelings about it. They like the QX50 enough to name it one of their best compact luxury SUVs. However, some negative points suppress their excitement.

How the VC-Turbo engine is making a name for itself in the Infiniti QX50 

Infiniti’s VC-Turbo engine — a turbocharged inline-4 — is a revolutionary combustion motor that takes power to a whole new level. The compression engine offers a way to switch from maximizing speed to maximizing fuel efficiency, depending upon what’s desired at the moment. 

The Infiniti QX50 offers this technology in a 2.0-liter turbo-four, harnessing 268 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. If you’re concerned it won’t be quick because it’s fuel-efficient, you need not worry. The QX50 can reach 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. 

As for drivetrains, front-wheel drive comes standard, but all-wheel drive is available on all trims. And as for fuel economy, the EPA estimates the QX50 can get 23 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. 

But here’s how the engine falls short

The variable compression engine is by far one of the automotive world’s best creations. However, it’s not without drawbacks. In this case, the Infiniti QX50 would do well if it had a different transmission. 

The current QX50 pairs the VC-Turbo with a continuously variable transmission. MotorTrend’s reviewers noted the combination caused some weird surging during their testing. They also thought its overall performance made the powertrain seem “rubbery.” 

They were was displeased with its inconsistent responses to their inputs and the bungee-like acceleration. Another area they didn’t like was the fuel economy. Though Infiniti boasts this engine can save gas, the actual numbers weren’t as great as they could have been, which hasn’t changed in the past couple of models. 

Pros and cons of the 2021 Infiniti QX50

The powertrain aside, the Infiniti QX50 isn’t bad. MotorTrend’s testers liked its smooth ride when the CVT’s surging didn’t get in the way. They also thought the interior was chock full of high-quality materials, making it a comfortable ride even on long trips. 

Another perk is something Infiniti made standard on this model year. Buyers can add the ProPilot semiautonomous system on the QX50 Luxe trims and up without paying too much. This feature has impressed many reviewers, prompting some to call the QX50 a “La-Z-Boy on wheels. “

The only drawback to the semiautonomous system is that you can’t get it with the lower trims. You must upgrade to the higher trims to have it added. Unfortunately, this and the CVT surging aren’t the only negatives MotorTrend noted about this crossover. 

The infotainment system is another area that could use some major tweaking to make it useful and not a pit of frustration. Not only is it too complicated to use, but it’s also glitchy, and response times are pretty slow. MotorTrend’s testers reported they never really figured out how to use the system well enough to make it worthwhile. 

Overall, the QX50 could be a game-changer if Infiniti made improvements to the transmission and infotainment system. But for now, MotorTrend recommends skipping this model year and hoping for a newer one with the kinks worked out. 

RELATED: The 2021 Infiniti QX50 Is Finally Adding a Necessary Feature

The post The 2021 Infiniti QX50’s Engine Alone Is Worth Your Consideration appeared first on MotorBiscuit.