by Gabrielle DeSantis

Car manufacturers are making huge strides in safety these days. All-around safety has improved, and the amount of extra safety features offered have increased. Still, car shoppers have to sort through the safety features the car they’re looking at comes with. Let’s look at 10 midsize luxury SUVs for 2021 that come standard with all of the advanced safety systems that Consumer Reports says are key in new cars.

What advanced safety systems are important? 

Consumer Reports says that car shoppers should look for forward collision warning, which detects a potential collision and alerts the driver. Braking systems are also important: automatic emergency braking, city automatic braking and high-speed automatic emergency braking are also advanced safety systems that will keep you and your passengers safer. Pedestrian detection warns drivers about pedestrians in the path of the car. 

Cars, vans and SUVs can come with adaptive cruise control, which maintains a safe distance between vehicles. Lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance and lane centering assistance are becoming increasingly common. 

Some vehicles are coming with blind spot warning, which reduces the likelihood that drivers will change lanes and collide with a vehicle in their blind spot. Rear cameras are required on new vehicles, but additional rear cross traffic warning and rear automatic emergency braking can decrease the chances that a vehicle will reverse into a pedestrian. Considering children are typically the victims in these kinds of accidents, these advanced safety systems are a great thing to have. 

So which 2021 midsize luxury vehicles come with all of the advanced safety features?

RELATED: Luxury Cars Are Flying off Dealership Lots in 2021

Great question. Consumer Reports listed all of the vehicles with standard advanced safety systems. The following ten include every safety feature mentioned above.

2021 Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 is a three-row luxury midsize SUV with a 2-liter V6 that gets 20 miles per gallon. Not bad for a three-row SUV. The Audi Q7 also offers a smooth ride and a luxury interior. 

2021 Audi E-Tron

The Audi E-Tron is Audi’s all-electric luxury SUV. The E-Tron has a luxury interior and is fun to drive, but its range is not as good as other electric SUVs. With its 95-kilowatt battery, the Audi E-Tron only has a range of 220 miles, and takes 13 hours to charge. 

2021 Land Rover Discovery

The Land Rover Discovery is a luxury three row SUV that comes standard with a 2-liter turbo four cylinder engine, and an optional six cylinder turbo engine. Although the second and third rows are small, the cabin overall is comfortable and quiet. Still, having all of the advanced safety systems is a huge plus for the Land Rover Discovery.

2021 Lexus RX and RXL

The Lexus RX comes with either a 3.5-liter V6 or  a 450 hp hybrid. The RXL has a third-row, though it’s a bit cramped. Altogether, the Lexus RX has a nice interior and easy-to-use touch screens.

2021 Lincoln Aviator 

The Lincoln Aviator is Lincoln’s version of the Ford Explorer. It has a 3-liter V6, though you could also get a plug-in hybrid. The cabin is super luxe, and the Aviator has a large infotainment screen. Both the Lincoln Aviator and the Ford Explorer come standard with all of the advanced safety systems.

2021 Lincoln Nautilus

You can get the Lincoln Nautilus with a 2.7-liter V6 or a 2-liter, four cylinder turbo engine. The Lincoln nautilus accelerates easily, handles well and has a nice, quiet cabin. 

2021 Mercedes-Benz G Class

The Mercedes-Benz G Class is pricey, starting at $131,000. It comes with a 4-liter turbocharged V8 and 416 hp. It has large windows that enhance visibility (and the scenery), but it isn’t the most comfortable SUV to get in and out of. The addition of advanced safety systems updates the Mercedes-Benz G Class from its early days.

2021 Volvo XC60 and Volvo XC90

There are several engine options available for the 2021 Volvo XC60, including a hybrid. Volvo is known for safety, so it should come as no surprise that both the Volvo XC60 and its slightly larger sibling, the Volvo XC90, come with all of the advanced safety systems. Additionally, they both have nice interiors and a dizzying assortment of controls. 

If you’re shopping for a midsize luxury SUV and you can’t decide which of the advanced safety systems you can live without, you can’t go wrong with any of these SUVs. Each blends safety and luxury so that car shoppers can have the best of both worlds.

The post Consumer Reports: 10 2021 Midsize Luxury SUVs With Advanced Safety Systems appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Buyers looking for something unique might love the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon. Cars.com describes it as a “near-luxury [midsize] hatchback,” making it the only one in its class. It first arrived for the 2019 model year, and with a refreshed interior for 2021, it’s now even more upscale. It even features ambient lighting.

The upscale interior of the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon

Cars.com says that the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon is “a roomy, refined and refreshingly pleasant alternative for those willing to look beyond the mainstream sedan and SUV classes.” The premium interior has available two-tone Nappa leather-trimmed seats (synthetic leather is standard) and accents with brushed metal and glossy black trim.

The front seats have heated 12-way power-adjustable seats. Ventilated front seats, a massaging driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats are available options. Tri-zone automatic climate control is standard, and a panoramic sunroof is available.

The Arteon’s updates for 2021 give it a more luxurious look than most Volkswagen cars. Automobile points out that while Volkswagen cars generally have pretty similar interiors, the 2021 “Arteon’s interior looks like a concept-car rendition of the VW cabins we’ve come to know and love.”

The interior is also roomy enough to transport a family, with plenty of space in the rear seats and for cargo as well. Since it’s a hatchback, the Arteon’s cargo area is able to accommodate taller items as well.

Ambient lighting in the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon has an impressive ambient lighting system that helps enhance the cabin atmosphere. Translucent panels run across the tops of all four doors and connect across a light strip on the dashboard. The ambient lighting can be set to 30 different colors using the infotainment system touchscreen.

The color selections also change some of the colors used in the digital cockpit instrument cluster. This lighting package comes with the SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line trim levels but not the SE base trim.

The technology features to expect

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon has an updated dashboard space. It features the new Volkswagen MIB3 multimedia system. The 8-inch touchscreen is standard, and the menus are easy to use. However, Cars.com did find it strange that the tuning knob changes radio stations but not satellite stations. While there are a few knobs remaining, there are mainly touch-sensitive panels on the steering wheel that control the climate, which can be a bit tricky to use.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard as are a navigation system, an eight-speaker stereo, HD Radio, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. A 10-inch digital cockpit instrument cluster is also standard.

It can be configured and displays “car status, navigation, driving data, phone information and driver assistance features,” says Cars.com. Available tech features include wireless device charging, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a USB port for charging only.

Tech in the VW Arteon also extends to its standard advanced safety features. It provides a rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, reports U.S. News.

A number of other safety features are also available, including a surround-view parking camera system, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive headlights, front and rear parking sensors, parallel and perpendicular park assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and traffic sign recognition.

While rearview cameras are usually pretty basic, the Arteon has its camera located under the VW badge. It only appears when the car is in “reverse,” which keeps the view clear of rain, snow, and dirt. Cars.com liked this feature, especially since the Arteon doesn’t have great visibility out of the rear.

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon has a unique body style, and it offers a premium interior. Its ambient lighting, along with its refreshed tech and comfort features, helps give it an upscale feel.

RELATED: Is the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon Really Cool Enough to Be a Brand Halo?

The post Ambient Lighting Highlights the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon’s Upscale Interior appeared first on MotorBiscuit.