Fuel-Efficient Used Compact SUVs Recommended by Consumer Reports

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Since new cars are hard to come by these days, a reliable five-year-old compact SUV sounds like a good buy. Consumer Reports compiled a list of some good options for anyone looking to buy a used car.

2016 Toyota RAV4, a fuel-efficient used compact SUV

The RAV4 is a fuel-efficient used compact SUV | KovalevTASS via Getty Images

The 2016 Toyota RAV4 has been one of the top-ranked models consistently for years. Consumer Reports picked the RAV4 because of the reliability and hybrid options. 2016 was a refresh year for the Toyota SUV, which meant a quieter cabin, updated safety features, and a hybrid option.

The regular 2.5L engine got around 25 miles per gallon combined. A hybrid option offered around 31 miles per gallon overall. The RAV4 is practical and roomy for a compact SUV.

Price Range: $18,825 – $23,900

A luxurious used compact SUV: 2016 Lexus NX

RELATED: The 2022 Lexus NX Redesign Was Accidentally Leaked Online

The 2016 Lexus NX 300h hybrid got around 29 miles per gallon when tested by Consumer Reports. The Lexus is definitely a bit sportier and more luxurious than the RAV4 but has some flaws elsewhere. The interior is small but has high-end bits like stitching that balance it out. CR suggests looking for a version with blind-spot warning to make up for the lack of visibility.

Two engine variants are available. A 2.4L four-cylinder turbo getting 235 horsepower and a 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid getting 194 horsepower. The overall reported mileage was around 24 miles per gallon.

Price Range: $24,625 – $27,375

The weekend warrior used compact SUV: 2016 Subaru Forester

The 2016 Subaru Forester is always on best used car lists for a reason. The Forester does it all while being reasonably affordable and getting good fuel economy. It gets an overall 26 miles per gallon from the 2.5L four-cylinder. Owner satisfaction is always high, and the reliability score is a respectable four out of five stars.

CR found the backseat roomy, and the blind spots were few and far between. It has some off-road capability and standard safety features others missed out on. It also is offered in a manual transmission.

Price Range: $15,550 – $19,850

A budget-friendly option: 2016 Mazda CX-5

RELATED: What Problems Does the Mazda CX-5 Have?

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 handles well and is still fun to drive for a compact SUV. In tests, the CX-5 got 25 miles per gallon overall from the 2.5L four-cylinder engine. While the ride was a bit rough and the cabin was loud, it was fairly reliable. Top trims included upgraded safety features, but the base-level trims missed out.

The Mazda CX-5 is versatile and budget-friendly enough to suit a lot of needs. While it might miss out on some of the creature comforts other SUVs offer, it still brings a lot to the table.

Price Range: $15,000 – $18,175

Old reliable: 2016 Honda CR-V

The 2016 Honda CR-V scored a five out of five for reliability. The CR-V is affordable, reliable, and within a reasonable price range. CR found it easy to park, and it did not compromise on the cargo space. The mid-2015 version received a refresh, so this is an updated body style with newer wheels. The 2.4L four-cylinder engine clocked 185 horsepower.

The Honda SUV came in at 24 miles per gallon overall, with an annual fuel cost of around $1,185. Look for one with extra safety features, if possible.

Price Range: $17,525 – $23,850

If you are struggling to find a solid fuel-efficient used compact SUV, perhaps one of these will fit your needs. Depending on what your priorities are, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, and Mazda make some excellent options for every budget.

The post Fuel-Efficient Used Compact SUVs Recommended by Consumer Reports appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

What Tesla Model Has Falcon Wing Doors?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There’s no question Tesla cars have unique features. And one Tesla model is even more special. Probably this EV’s most unique features are its doors. It sports falcon-wing doors similar to a DeLorean‘s, but they can open in tighter parking spaces. And they’re available on only one Tesla model.

What are Tesla’s falcon wing doors exactly?

RELATED: Recall Alert: Your Tesla Model X’s Roof Could Fly Off

Gull-wing doors, or what Tesla calls falcon-wing doors, are hinged to open upward instead of swinging outward. The hinge is located on the vehicle’s roof. But the big difference between gull-wings and Tesla’s doors is that falcon-wings boast a double-hinge.

In theory, this allows them to open in tighter spaces than average gull-wings. But these doors come with problems normal doors don’t. That includes less-than-ideal leak protection.

These unique doors also pose unique problems

As cool as they might look, falcon-wing doors have downsides too. First, they’re motorized and use radar sensors to prevent the doors from hitting anything when they open, Road & Track explains. Though that sounds like a good concept, what happens if you’re in an accident and the doors will not, or cannot, open because something is blocking the door or, worse, the car are upside down?

And even though one of their biggest selling points is their ability to open in tight spaces, Car and Driver reports that owners have had to use the Tesla Model X’s Smart Summon feature, which is supposed to allow you to park or retrieve your car without sitting inside it.  

The Tesla Model X and all of its cool features

The Tesla Model X comes in Long Range and Plaid versions. The Long Range has two electric motors that combine to produce 670 hp, and because one is in the front and the other is in the back, this model has all-wheel-drive capabilities. It has an estimated 360-miles range and a combined EPA rating of 105 MPGe. But this EV is also quick: Tesla reports a 0-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds.

However, the even faster Plaid model packs three electric motors and an insane 1,020 hp, propelling this model to 60 mph in only 2.5 seconds. The extra horsepower and acceleration drop the driving range to 340 miles, though.

The Tesla Model X’s dashboard is clean and simplistic: A touchscreen controls almost every feature in the car. A smaller touchscreen for rear passengers provides entertainment. Noticeably absent are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are absent. But you can add a self-driving feature for an extra $10,000. However, full self-driving is still in beta-testing and illegal. 

Overall, the Tesla Model X SUV has some cool features, like starting the car by pushing the brake and some hidden compartments. But it has seen many reported problems, such as sudden acceleration or the roof flying off. And though it might seem obvious, Tesla warns owners not to drive their Model X with the falcon-wing doors up.

RELATED: Which Tesla Model Costs the Most to Insure?

The post What Tesla Model Has Falcon Wing Doors? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Wayne Newton’s Custom Mercedes Proves Again Money Can’t Buy Taste

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The first thing you have to understand is that something that is “different” isn’t necessarily better. You can beat a car’s body with a shovel and that would make the car different. But we doubt anyone would say it is better. And so we have here Las Vegas performer Wayne Newton’s custom 380 SL Mercedes. Yes, it is different.

Yes, this custom Mercedes is different. No, it’s not good

But is this custom Mercedes better than a stock SL? No, not by a long shot. There is nothing compelling or sexy about what singer Newton had done to his different SL. That’s why we prove again that money can’t buy taste. This wasn’t designed so much as it was discharged.

We don’t know what would compel someone to take a classic SL and mangle it up like this. Oh, we know it is about stature, exclusivity, and the need for attention. But we don’t get why the end result would look so hideous? Maybe to embarrass Mercedes. Or Newton?

We have no idea why someone would do this to a Mercedes SL

The reason this monstrosity has reared its ugly head is that it is going to auction. A Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas, to be specific. The idea of having something that was in the possession of a well-known performer will compel someone to step up and buy this POS. And if that item were truly a beautiful custom car, it would be understandable. 

But the only reason to buy this is for some YouTuber to haul ass to the local car crusher and film it for his or her fans. While it is being crushed. That way it will have existed for a reason. And that reason is for the entertainment of YouTube fans and the satisfaction of those who feel it shouldn’t exist because it is so horrible. 

The auction house notes with glee that “every surface of the car has been touched.” Well, OK, then! The sharp-edged, blunt front is made worse by the out-of-scale rectangular headlights that don’t quite follow the plan view. Mercedes should sue to have its copper-plated badge removed from the grille. 

The sloughed-off rear ends with still more sharp-edged details hinting at the sheet metal origins of its customization. On a vehicle with stamped steel body parts the obviously fabricated “custom” front and rear look awkward. But whoever performed this mess had no concept of continuity. 

There is a Katana-like knife for a door handle. Why?

The heavy-handed copper trim at the beltline incorporates a katana-like Japanese sword-like door handle. Who knows why this was done? You can see from the handle detail that all of the body mods incorporate hard-edged fabrication that fights with the rest of the car. 

The driveline and interior remain stock. Why this desecration was limited to the outside is unknown. Buried into the press release is that Niko Sokol of Niko-Michael Coachworks gets the blame for the mods. They were known for hacking up Rolls Royce sedans into convertibles and other less notable conversions. 

This looks like the company’s most ambitious attempt at a redesign. Obviously, it didn’t endear other monied dimwits to have a similar mistake applied to their own elegant steeds. It takes a special person to want to drive this. We won’t say what kind.

RELATED: 10 of the Ugliest, Most Ridiculous Celebrity Cars Ever Seen

The post Wayne Newton’s Custom Mercedes Proves Again Money Can’t Buy Taste appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Three Safety Ratings That Make the 2021 Honda Ridgeline a Better Pick Than the 2021 Ford Ranger

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Ford Ranger is a spacious, comfortable, compact pickup truck with a good tow rating. And yet the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is blowing it away in nearly every category, including safety. Here’s a look at three Consumer Reports ratings that make the 2021 Honda Ridgeline a better pick than the 2021 Ford Ranger. 

2021 Honda Ridgeline | Honda

The Consumer Reports road test ratings are better 

Consumer Reports uses a combination of its own safety tests as well as those done by the IIHS and NHTSA. The exact vehicles chosen for Consumer Reports’ tests are the 2021 Honda Ridgeline Crew Cab RTL V6-Cyl 9-Speed Automatic and the 2021 Ford Ranger Crew Cab XLT 4-Cyl 10-Speed Automatic. These tests show what makes the 2021 Honda Ridgeline a better pick than the 2021 Ford Ranger.

Consumer Reports conducts more than 50 tests on cars they’ve purchased at their Connecticut facility. These include emergency handling, braking, and acceleration.

The Honda Ridgeline scored an 83 out of 100 on the Consumer Reports road test, with a three out of five for emergency handling. The brakes on the 2021 Honda Ridgeline scored a four out of five, with a braking from 60 MPH on dry pavement distance of 134 feet and a wet pavement distance of 142 feet. The Honda Ridgeline scored a four for its acceleration, reaching a quarter-mile in 15.8 seconds.

On the other hand, the 2021 Ford Ranger only scored a 55 out of 100 on the Consumer Reports road test. The Ford Ranger scored a two out of five for emergency handling. Its max speed for avoidance maneuver was 47 MPH, compared to the Honda Ridgeline’s max speed of 53.5 MPH.

The brakes on the 2021 Ford Ranger weren’t quite as good as the 2021 Honda Ridgeline either, scoring a three out of five. When tested on dry pavement, the Ford Ranger took 143 feet to stop, and 150 feet on wet pavement. Acceleration on the Ranger was identical to the Ridgeline, reaching a quarter-mile in 15.8 seconds.

The NHTSA crash test ratings are better

A 2021 Ford Ranger climbs a dirt hill.
2021 Ford Ranger | Ford

RELATED: Car Buying: What Safety Ratings Should You Care About?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) puts all of the vehicles it tests through a battery of tests designed to simulate real world accidents. These tests are broken down into categories which can help you see just how safe that pickup truck you’re considering is. 

The overall crash test rating for the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is excellent, at five out of five stars. On the other hand, the 2021 Ford Ranger only scored a four out of five stars. The overall frontal-crash, passenger crash test rating was better on the Honda Ridgeline as well, at five stars compared to the Ford Ranger’s four. The overall frontal-crash, driver test simulates a full frontal head-on collision between two similarly sized vehicles. Both the 2021 Honda Ridgeline and the 2021 Ford Ranger scored five out of five stars on this test.

The Honda Ridgeline’s NHTSA rollover risk is slightly less

A blue Ford Ranger at a car show.
A Ford Ranger | Manfred Schmid via Getty Images

The NHTSA rollover rating is calculated based on the Static Stability Factor, which determines how top-heavy a vehicle is. This is combined with the results of a test to see how likely a vehicle is to tip over during a severe maneuver. The NHTSA breaks the rollover rating into two categories: 2WD and 4WD. 

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline scored a four out of five stars in both the 2WD and 4WD categories. On the other hand, the 2021 Ford Ranger scored only three stars in both categories. 

The 2021 Ford Ranger is a nice truck, but the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is the safer choice

A red 2021 Honda Ridgeline races down a dirt road. Consumer Reports ratings make the Ridgeline a great choice.
2021 Honda Ridgeline | Honda

With so much to love about both pickup trucks, it can be tough to choose between them. The Consumer Reports ratings can solve that problem. When safety is your number one priority though, it’s clear that the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is the safer choice. 

The post Three Safety Ratings That Make the 2021 Honda Ridgeline a Better Pick Than the 2021 Ford Ranger appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by