Honda Pilot Drivers Can Comfortably and Affordably Carry 7 Other Passengers

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Three-row SUVs are a smart choice for large families with lots of gear. The segment is filled with worthy contenders, but the Honda Pilot can seat eight at an affordable price. This midsize SUV offers enough room to carry the driver and seven passengers comfortably. In fact, third-row comfort may be where the Honda Pilot shines brightest.

The 2021 Honda Pilot is among the best eight-passenger SUVs

The auto reviewers at U.S. News recently weighed in on SUVs that seat eight. For anyone interested in an SUV that provides ample storage and seating, this list features the best vehicles for the task. The team evaluated 48 areas before making the final roster determinations. 

Each contender offers something different, and some SUVs excel in certain areas better than others. But the overall agreement is that the 2021 Honda Pilot deserves a spot toward the top of the list. It stands out in a few key areas, including third-row comfort.

A comfortable fit at an affordable price

Coming in with a score of 8.4 out of a 10, the 2021 Honda Pilot is an overachiever among eight-seat SUVs. Interior quality is a significant perk — the Pilot offers roomy, comfortable seats. It also boasts 15 cupholders in case anyone wants to double up on beverages. 

The Pilot feels plush and quasi-upscale with its high-quality interior materials. Plus, it’s loaded with driver aids and tech, making it appealing to anyone in the driver’s seat. Even more encouraging is the price. The 2021 Honda Pilot is one of the more affordable eight-seaters, starting at only $32,250.

Have you seen the 2021 Honda Pilot yet?

If you haven’t seen the 2021 Honda Pilot yet, you should. You can choose among several trim levels, including LX, EX, EX-L, SE, Touring, Elite, and stylish Black Edition, Edmunds shows. Most Pilot models offer eight-passenger seating. However, you can opt for the second-row captain’s chairs if you don’t need third-row seating.

U.S. News says the Honda Pilot is a top-ranked SUV offering supreme comfort and adult-friendly seating, even in the third row. The team also points out that the Pilot offers above-average cargo capacity, with 18.5 cubic feet beyond the third row, 55.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 109.2 behind the first row in the most spacious model. Hauling people and things doesn’t get more convenient and comfortable than that.

Overall, the 2021 Honda Pilot offers plenty of value. And for anyone who needs to seat eight people at a reasonable price, you likely won’t find a more comfortable SUV.

RELATED: The Aging Nissan Pathfinder Is No Match for the 2021 Honda Pilot

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2021 Honda Accord Review Revealed a Sports Car in Disguise

by Gabrielle DeSantis

I recently spent a few days reviewing the 2021 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T. This turbocharged sedan packed a bit more punch than I had anticipated. Across the board, the 2021 Honda Accord review showed a much nicer and more comfortable car than it seems it should be. 

2021 Honda Accord | Honda

The 2021 Honda Accord review proves the Accord deserves more respect 

Full disclosure: I didn’t get to spend the normal seven days for the 2021 Honda Accord review. After only minutes of being in the car, I was sideswiped by someone who had a stroke at the wheel. Because of this, I only had the Honda Accord Sport 2.0T for three days. 

The Honda took the hit like a champ, and the damage was just some dents and a busted driver’s side mirror. Due to the minimal damage, I was allowed to keep it for a few days and drove it over 400 miles to Joshua Tree. 

The Honda delivered killer gas mileage, tight handling, and snappy acceleration. Overall, the 2021 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T is a fun sedan that teeters on the edge of the sports car world. 

Is the Honda Accord Sport 2.0T fast? 

2021 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T parked in front of a tent in the desert. The 2021 Honda accord review proved to be a real winner.
2021 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T | Peter Corn

RELATED: The 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro Is Bigger Than You Think

I spent most of my time during the 2021 Honda Accord review on the long rolling roads surrounding Joshua Tree National Park. The Accord had no issues getting up to speed on the highway, and a little goosing of the right pedal allowed me to pass the rare desert traffic with ease. 

As the name would suggest, the Honda Accord Sport 2.0T is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making a scrappy 252 hp. The 10-speed automatic transmission did well at staying out of mind with smooth shifts and enough gears to handle a throttle slap at most speeds. 

The 2021 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T didn’t stop impressing once we got off the highway. In the long curves of Joshua Tree National Park, the 2.0-liter Accord continued to deliver a nice drive. Although road imperfections could be easily felt, that meant the Accord could fly through the corners with ease and efficiency. The stiff suspension that was borderline annoying on the highway really shined in these long, fast corners. 

Is the 2021 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T a good car? 

A red 2021 Accord Sport 2.0T midsize sedan travels on a wet city street on a cloudy day
2021 Accord Sport 2.0T | American Honda Motor Co., Inc

Consumer Reports gave it an overall score of 84/100 and I would have to agree. The Accord was fun to drive, relatively comfortable, and still returned great mileage. In my 2021 Honda Accord review, I got an average of 30 mpg. If it weren’t for the desert road heavy foot, I feel it could have been a little better even. 

As the review took us back toward LA, we sat in a long line of stereotypical LA traffic. It was in that annoying hour or so that I got to spend a little bit of time exploring the car’s cabin. The Accord has a somewhat plain yet comfortable cabin. The seats offered plenty of room and some soft-touch surfaces. However, the driving position felt strangely low. It took some time getting used to. Finding the far side wheel was a trick that made for some unnerving corners and lane changes. 

Overall, the Accord Sport performed well, and even with a busted mirror and swapped paint from the car that hit me; I never minded being seen getting in and out of it. 

The post 2021 Honda Accord Review Revealed a Sports Car in Disguise appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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How Much Range Does a Tesla Model Y Lose When Towing a Boat?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Tesla Model Y might not be the first car that comes to mind when you think about towing a boat, but why can’t it be? With summer coming, one YouTuber attached his 3,000-pound boat to his Model Y and headed off for an adventure.

How does towing affect the Tesla Model Y range?

Can the Tesla Model Y electric vehicle tow a boat? | Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

According to Tesla, the Model Y can tow up to 3,500 pounds with the tow package. The tow package comes with a high-strength tow bar with a two-inch hitch receiver. It comes with a standard connector and a trailer harness for $1,200. It also comes with software to ensure the EV tows as expected. But how will this impact the range of the electric vehicle once you actually tow something?

According to InsideEVs, one Tesla owner set out to find just that. Tesla Canuck on YouTube connected a 3,000-pound boat and trailer to his Model Y. The trip was just under 100 miles and was still within the 3,500-pound weight limit. Once the boat was connected and Trailer mode activated, he was off.

The Model Y had 98% battery (98% State of Charge)and used air conditioning the whole trip. By the time it arrived, it was at 30% SoC.

The results of towing a boat with your Tesla Model Y

Tesla Canuck found the trip more pleasant in the electric vehicle rather than a regular gasoline-powered car. He noted that the instant torque the Model Y provided made the towing much smoother. There was less sway in the trailer due to the lower center of gravity electric vehicles offer. The brake regeneration worked fine with the boat attached. Autopilot is not an option when in Tow mode, nor is autosteer.

Based on the statistics pulled from the vehicle, the Model Y was at 45% efficiency while towing the boat. That is less than half of the range a driver would normally get while not towing a boat. It was a bit cold during this trial (64 degrees Fahrenheit/18 degrees Celsius), which also could have impacted the range.

The estimated power used was 54.3 kWh, and he traveled about 98 miles (158.3 km). The estimated power cost was $7.46 ($0.14 per kWh), and the estimated fuel money saved was $7.23. That’s definitely cheaper than a trip using gasoline. By the time he arrived at the destination, the battery was at 30%.

Is it smart to buy a Tesla for towing?

One thing that was not anticipated was the inconvenience of charging while towing. Since most chargers require you to back up to plug in, You cannot do this with anything connected to the tow hook. You must disconnect the boat or trailer before the vehicle can back up to the plug. This isn’t always the case if the charger allows drivers to pull through instead of backing up. Some Tesla Supercharging stations have these drive-through chargers, but not all of the locations do.

It is hard to compare driving an electric vehicle to a regular gasoline vehicle due to the differences from car to car. A large pickup truck will have different towing capacities than a medium-sized SUV, for instance. Additionally, changing gas prices might make gasoline cheaper than electricity at some points.

With the efficiency at 45%, that’s a pretty big difference. Many ICE vehicles will get about 20% to 40% loss of efficiency. If your destination is to a more rural location, towing with your Tesla Model Y might not be the best decision yet. While the Supercharging network is extensive, it isn’t quite ready for some areas. It depends on your location, the weather, and how far you might be traveling to determine if towing with your EV is a good idea.

RELATED: How Much Does It Cost to Use a Tesla Supercharger?

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Can You Ride in a Travel Trailer While It’s Being Towed?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It’s hard not to get excited when you’re hitching a camper to your vehicle for an adventure. But sometimes, RVers forget about basic safety rules. It might seem like a fun idea to ride inside a travel trailer while it’s being towed, but it can be dangerous. It might even be illegal in your area.

Where can you ride in a travel trailer?

Surprisingly, many states allow you to ride in a travel trailer while it’s being towed. Some, such as Georgia and Idaho, allow riders to do so without any restrictions, AAA reports. But in California, you can ride in a towed trailer only with a door that opens from the inside.

Pennsylvania allows drivers to ride inside a towed trailer only if it’s a fifth wheel with a communication link. That means the driver must have a way of communicating with the passengers inside the trailer, like a cell phone. 

Alabama law says you can’t ride in a towed trailer, but riding in a pickup camper is acceptable. Only 10 states outright ban riding in a towed trailer, including Wyoming and Ohio.

Can you ride inside other towables?

If you can’t ride inside a travel trailer, you likely can’t ride in other towables, such as boats. However, Alaska designates that passengers can ride inside motorhomes as long as occupants use seatbelts or child seats. In Connecticut and Kansas, you’re not allowed to ride in a motorhome transported on a highway.

But the Washington State Legislature says passengers can ride safely secured inside a car on a flatbed truck. Every passenger still must wear a seat belt and ensure young children sit in car seats. One adult must remain in the vehicle at all times and have a line of communication with the driver. The law also doesn’t allow anyone to exit the vehicle while the truck is in motion.

Additionally, many states discourage drivers from towing boats from the back of trailers for safety reasons. Arkansas is one of the few states that allows drivers to tow more than one recreational vehicle, AAA says. Some states also don’t allow you to tow house trailers longer than a certain distance without a permit.

Why you shouldn’t ride in a travel trailer that’s being towed

Though motorhomes have seats with seatbelts, there’s little chance a travel trailer is equipped with the same. If the driver crashes into something, the riders inside the trailer will be jolted around and potentially injured. Campers also aren’t equipped with airbags or any advanced safety features.

Even if the driver avoids a collision, unsafe driving practices can also endanger passengers inside a trailer. For example, the driver might have to swerve unexpectedly to avoid an obstacle. Doing so could cause unsecured items inside the trailer to collide with passengers. Being shoved into the walls of the trailer can hurt as well.

And though the person towing the trailer might be a safe driver, you can’t predict other motorists’ behaviors. Another driver might hit the travel trailer from behind or on the side. 

There’s also the chance the hitch could disconnect, leaving the trailer in the middle of the road. And though unlikely, it can be hazardous if the travel trailer disconnects at high speed. So even though many states allow riding in towed vehicles, it’s not worth the risk.

RELATED: How Big of a Toy Hauler Do You Need?

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