The 2022 Jeep Commander Could Make An Incredible Comeback

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Do you remember the old Jeep Commander? It was a Jeep with a lot of seats and an elongated boxy design that didn’t last long. But now, the 2022 Jeep Commander is making its return while being nothing like the older version. 

The 2022 Jeep Commander is coming 

Jeep Grand Commander | Motor 1

Before we get your hopes up, according to Autoblog, the 2022 Jeep Commander is being launched in the Latin American market. We aren’t sure if this seven-seater option will come to the United States, but we hope it will! 

Also, China will get a fancier version, known as the Grand Commander. The new Commander will be based on the Jeep Compass’s chassis, so the third row could be pretty tight. In the United States, we will have the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee L, but the new smaller model could still arrive stateside. 

What to expect with the new Jeep Commander 

RELATED: Jeep’s New 3-Row Grand Cherokee Will Get Expensive Quickly

Unfortunately, the video that was released about the 2022 Jeep Commander is only a teaser. It didn’t reveal much about the new Jeep model. However, it did confirm that the Commander will return with a sleek new look. 

The Commander was sold in the United States from 2005 to 2010. It wasn’t very popular due to quality issues, but those who bought it love it. It proved to be a reliable and practical option for those who wanted a larger Jeep. Also, it was available with rear-wheel drive, meaning it was pretty sporty. It was discontinued to make way for the Dodge Durango. 

But the new Jeep Commander could have a sporty ride with its new look that’s based on the Jeep Compass. It has a new set of LED headlamps and daytime running lights. It could have new wheel designs too. 

The exhaust tips are located in the lower portion of the bumper instead of underneath it. It could sit four to six inches higher than the Compass. The taillights share a similar look with the Jeep Grand Cherokee L and Wagoneer. 

We aren’t sure about how much power the new Commander will have. But it’s expected to have a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with two power outputs. The Jeep Compass has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid variant known as the 4xe could be on the way too. 

What features will the new Commander have? 

The 2022 Jeep Commander is expected to have technology that’s similar to the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. It could have a 10-inch digital cluster display and a 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system. 

It will hopefully include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is pure speculation, but luxury and convenience features could consist of heated and ventilated seats, a power liftgate, and automatic folding seats in the third row. 

A few safety features may include highway assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, driver attention alert, and forward collision mitigation. 

We will keep our eyes on the new Jeep Commander for updates. If it’s popular in South America, then it could come to the United States. A smaller version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L would most likely have a lower price, but the third-row seats will only have enough space for kids.

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The 2022 Nissan Ariya Won’t Be Nearly as Fast as Some Competitors

by Gabrielle DeSantis

For better or worse, EV manufacturers like Tesla have established new standards for the segment. EVs should not only have the latest technology but also be quicker than their gas-powered counterparts. However, the 2022 Nissan Ariya bucks that trend. According to U.S. News, the Ariya will have one of the slowest acceleration rates in its class.

Some reviewers have already written off the Ariya as an underpowered Nissan Leaf in disguise. Will this latest news mar the EV’s reputation?

How fast is the 2022 Nissan Ariya?

Equipped with all-wheel drive, the Nissan Ariya could hit 60 mph in as little as 5.1 seconds, Nissan shows. But the front-wheel-drive models are much slower, reaching that speed in 7.5 seconds. Ariya models with AWD have the highest top speed of 125 mph — a little low for an EV.

Some other EVs, such as Hyundai Ioniq 5, also have leisurely acceleration rates. However, it’s hard for the Ariya to look appealing next to a car like the Tesla Model 3. The Model 3 Performance can hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, as can the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

The Nissan Ariya’s powertrain

When it comes to range, the Nissan Ariya is on equal footing with rivals. The standard-range Ariya comes with a 63-kWh battery pack, capable of an estimated 210 to 220 miles of range. An extended-range model with an 87-kWh battery should provide around 300 miles on a single charge.

Many Tesla models boast over 300 miles of range, but even the Ariya’s extended-range price tag will be comparatively lower. The Ariya also has an unconventional liquid-cooled battery pack, which will reportedly extend the battery’s lifespan.

At a fast-charging station, it can recover 230 miles of range in a half-hour. FWD models are expected to be more efficient, but AWD models will produce more torque. We don’t know yet how it will affect the upcoming Ariya’s handling, but it comes standard with 19-inch wheels and regenerative braking.

What else we know about this upcoming EV

The Nissan Ariya looks stylish from the outside, though there’s a good chance the sloping roofline could impede visibility. The wraparound headlights and taillights make the Ariya stand out among similar SUVs. The interior looks much more conventional, but it has the same LED light strip as the exterior.

Soft-touch panels make up most of the cabin components, though there are some real wood accents too. The cabin also has some added utility thanks to the sliding center console bin and foldable storage tray. The Nissan Ariya can seat up to five passengers, with plenty of legroom in both rows.

The seats are made with Nissan’s Zero Gravity materials to enhance support with soothing pressure points. The Nissan Ariya offers almost 60 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats folded down, which is average for its class. It offers 23 cubic feet behind the rear seats. And, oddly enough, the Ariya lacks a frunk.

As for tech, expect a 12.3-inch dual touchscreen and an equally expansive digital gauge cluster. The driver controls it with swiping motions instead of taps, but the Ariya also offers physical controls. It comes with standard smartphone integration, plus a large suite of advanced safety features. Spruce up the Ariya with a head-up display, moonroof, and semiautonomous driving.

U.S. News predicts the 2022 Nissan Ariya will be released during the final quarter of this year. It’s expected to start at $40,000, putting it in line with its most popular rivals. It might not be the fastest EV, but the 2022 Ariya’s stylishness and coziness might still appeal to many consumers.

RELATED: The 2022 Nissan Ariya Is a Huge First Step for the Automaker

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This Affordable Camper Van Cost Less Than $10,000 to Build

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Camper vans, Camper trailers, motorhomes, and RVs of all kinds have seen a massive resurgence in the COVID era. The problem is, RVs are prohibitively expensive for many people. Companies like Winnebago are starting to make some more affordable camper vans, but those are still nearly six figures. This gives homemade and budget-friendly, affordable camper vans, like this one, a chance to shine. 

Road To Ridge Camper Van | Chase Christopher via YouTube

We need more affordable camper vans

Let’s be honest: camper van conversions are a dime a dozen these days. However, most of them are heralded as the “ultimate camper van” or “unstoppable overlanding blah blah blah.” These are all very cool, but so few can afford them. 

Unlike the typical builds covered in the news, this Ford Econoline build was done with a $10,000 budget. 

Can you get a cheap camper van? 

RELATED: The Winnebago Solis Pocket Is the Perfect Small Affordable Camper

According to Motor1, this build started as a 2009 ford Econoline E150 passenger van powered by a 4.6-liter V8 pushing 160,000 miles. Unlike the six-figure vans, this one sends all power to the rear wheels. It won’t be the overlanding rig of your dreams, but it will handle most ordinary people’s camping needs. 

The builder, Chase Christopher, started by removing the two rows of rear seats and prepping the floor pans to put down more homey flooring. In the video of this affordable camper van build, Christopher mentions that the floor was the only straight part of the whole van, meaning it didn’t need much in the way of reconstructive bodywork. 

Once the floor was dressed and ready, the Ford Econoline camper van was set up with a small kitchenette consisting of a small sink, water hand pump, and a mini-fridge. The van also has a decent-sized bed that can sleep, two adults. 

Like most camper vans, this affordable build still comes with built-in integrated storage all over. The two main spots for storage are underneath the sink and the two massive cubby holes built-in in the back underneath the bed. 

Christopher also wisely built a short drop ceiling and insulated the van to make it more friendly in the colder months. This is clearly not his first rodeo. 

Building an RV doesn’t have to be expensive, but you have to be smart

The builder of this wonderfully affordable camper has been around this sort of thing before. Christopher runs the Road to Ridge website, where he and his pals show all the clever camper modifications they do to their camper van rigs. 

His YouTube channel is home to loads of useful content surrounding the camper lifestyle. He slowly turned his Subaru Outback into a killer camper rig with a little know-how and cleverness. 

The site not only offers helpful advice and tips, but it also chronicles his adventures in these homemade campers to show others that living this lifestyle is doable if you only have the drive and desire to give it a shot. 

While the $500,000 EarthRoamers would clearly be a pretty good time, the resourcefulness and grit it takes to pull this sort of camper living off are what the van life thing is all about.

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2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid Review Proves It’s One of the Best Hybrid SUVs

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It should come as no surprise that Honda still makes reliable, efficient, and comfortable vehicles. However, the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid does all those things above and beyond the call of duty. The 2021 Honda CR-V hybrid review showed that it’s easily one of the best Hybrid SUVs on the market. 

2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid | Honda

Best is tough to calculate, but seeing as many customers are looking for comfort and utility from most crossovers, the 2021 CR-V Hybrid ticks so many of those boxes that it is hard not to see it as one of them the best hybrid SUVs on the market, at minimum.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid review shows Honda has still got it 

I spent a week running around LA, California, in the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid. This crossover SUV hits all the major points any crossover should. It is comfortable, easy to drive, and wonderfully efficient. 

First and foremost, the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a crossover SUV that averages 35 mpg. For a vehicle this substantial and roomy, this fuel efficiency feels astonishing. The CR-V Hybrid is one of the best Hybrid SUVs for this stat alone. Although the 2021 Toyota Rav4 hybrid squeezes an amazing 37 mpg, the Honda is still up there with much smaller sedans as far as fuel efficiency goes. 

What engine does the CR-V Hybrid have? 

the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid on display at an auto show
2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid | HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images

RELATED: 2021 Honda CR-V vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: Which Hybrid Is the Real Range Topper?

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid sports a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric drive that combines to make 212 hp. The Honda CR-V Hybrid review makes it hard to call the 2021 CR-V sporty or even close to fast, but that is not what it’s for. The CR-V Hybrid has just enough power to get you around without much thought given to the powertrain. 

Overall, Honda’s massively popular crossover is quiet, but there is a spooky UFO noise that reminds you of the futuristic nature of the electric part of the power plant. The four-cylinder engine does have a nasal tone when it kicks on and gets especially bad once it gets higher in the revs. 

Although this isn’t the most thrilling power plant, its efficiency, along with the smoothness of the CVT, makes the overall experience of driving easy and pleasant. 

The CR-V Hybrid Touring Platinum interior makes it one of the best Hybrid SUVs

A blue 2021 Honda CR-V Touring driving
2021 Honda CR-V Touring | Honda

I had the top-tier Touring Platinum trim, which tops out at $36,350, according to Consumer Reports. Although Honda isn’t really known for its luxurious cabins, this one was really quite nice. Both front seats and rear row had plenty of head and legroom. The light beige interior worked really well with the faux wood trim to step the CR-V into a near lux experience. 

The cabin is slathered in soft-touch materials and decorative touches. Also, the Honda CR-V Hybrid has tons of interior storage compartments. On more than one occasion, I had forgotten which compartment I had put my mask, sunglasses, keys, or anything else I haphazardly stowed in one of these many cubbies. 

The 2021 Honda CR-V is one of the best hybrid SUVs

In a $4-per-gallon landscape, driving something roomy, comfortable, good-looking, and this fuel-efficient feels like a real treat. It is clearly not the same thing as a sports car or a super-tough 4×4, but the level of comfort you get out of such a practical vehicle makes claiming it is one of the best hybrid SUVs easy to defend.

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