Is the 2021 Range Rover a Better SUV Than the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The name “Land Cruiser” has been a part of Toyota’s lexicon for a long time. 1958, to be exact. Nearly as long as the name “Range Rover” has been a part of Land Rover’s lexicon. Both are incredibly storied names, yet only one stands for luxury and opulence. Can Toyota change that with the Land Cruiser for 2021?

Is the Toyota Land Cruiser a bargain luxury SUV?

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser | Toyota

Typically, the Land Cruiser badge is a byword for off-roader. However, in recent years, Toyota has also wanted to make it the brand’s luxury offering; the absolute best that the Japanese brand is capable of in nearly every way. As far as halo cars go for the brand, the Land Cruiser is right up there with the problem-child Supra. Happily, Toyota hasn’t forgotten the Cruiser’s roots in off-roading.

This SUV certainly does boast some serious off-roading chops. Equipped with a locking center differential, a two-speed transfer case, and a V8 making a healthy 381 hp, the Land Cruiser doesn’t mess around. Its off-road skills are the highlight here, and the interior certainly sends the message that luxury comes second to outdoor fun for this SUV. Per Car and Driver, the 2021 Land Cruiser starts at $87,030, with the optional Heritage Edition kicking the price up to $89,240.

The Range Rover is a premium SUV

An army green Range Rover sits in the sun by the sea.
2021 Range Rover | Land Rover

RELATED: Is the 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition worth it?

Land Rover has always taken the opposite approach with the Range Rover. The Range Rover has forever been focused on on-road comfort and luxury, and it shows both inside and out. Like a British gentleman, the Rover is still willing to get its hands dirty when absolutely necessary, and still proves to be a competent off-road choice. Still, the Range Rover shines brighter on tarmac with a near-silent Rolls-Royce-like ride and excellent material choices in the cabin.

But price is where the Range Rover really hurts its chances against the Toyota’s Land Cruiser. While the Cruiser Heritage Edition stops around $90,000 with options, the Rover starts at $93,350 according to Car and Driver. Options can take the big SUV well into six figures. It’s not all badge that you’re paying for with the Range Rover though. The options are as luxurious as they are plentiful, from beautiful wood trim to a refrigerator masquerading as a center console. Both SUVs are kings of what they do best, but only one is the right choice.

Which one is better?

The Land Cruiser badge on the back quarter panel of the 2021 Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser badge | Toyota

Cars are a very subjective thing, and just because my personal pick is the Land Cruiser doesn’t mean that is the end of the story. While the Land Cruiser is a fantastic value compared to Land Rover’s Range Rover, the interior quality is a little shy of the price the Japanese automaker charges. There is also a certain je ne se quoi about the Toyota’s retro badging that can’t be beaten.

Frankly, the only downside of the Range Rover is its price. $93,000 is quite the base price, and options are more still. But, the Range Rover is unmatched in road presence in any zip code. Whether you want the off-road-ready Toyota or the presence and poise of the Range Rover, it’s all down to what you want your luxury SUV to do.

The post Is the 2021 Range Rover a Better SUV Than the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Car Rental For Memorial Weekend? You’ll Pay Plenty

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re planning on traveling over this Memorial Day weekend and you need a rental car, be prepared. Rental car prices are through the roof. Like crazy high. Some rental car companies are charging over $1,000 for a few days of rental. What’s going on?

Why are rental car prices so high right now?

A Hertz car rental agency stands in Manhattan | Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Well, a lot as it happens. There are many loose ends that have tied together to make rental car prices soar. It’s a perfect storm of bad circumstances mostly due to COVID-19. But not all of it can be blamed on that. 

First, domestic travel is really picking up. We’ve all been through this thing called a pandemic. You know, right? Now that it has been tamed, people want the hell out. Bookings are through the roof as is demand. 

A lot of the price hikes are from COVID-19, but not all

A lot of rental cars at an airport
Car rental AVIS parking lot in better times | Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

So there is all of that. But also, with the rental car business decimated due to COVID-19, many had to sell off large parts of their fleets to barely survive. Now, there is a need for replacements that aren’t available. That’s because of the combination of COVID-19 shutdowns last year and Microchip shutdowns this year. Production of vehicles from around the world has been affected.

Many people are paying above the manufacturer’s suggested price to get a new vehicle. Rental companies usually buy in bulk that includes discounts. Some are even owned by vehicle manufacturers. But none of that takes preference over buyers willing to pay more than retail. 

Rental car companies are competing with retail buyers for new cars

Enterprise rental order desk
Enterprise rent-a-car at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International airport | Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

So rental car companies can’t get new cars to bulk up their fleets. Some are even resorting to buying used cars off of dealer’s lots just to try and keep up with the flood of demand. It is just a crazy time in the rental business. 

In places like Florida, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Hawaii, prices are up to $200 a day according to ABC News. That number could go up. And it is expected to be like this through summer. So if you’re thinking about postponing because of rental car prices you might have to wait until the end of the year. 

If you’re renting a car here are some suggestions

Rental car agencies at airport
Rental car competing business counters Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty. | Photo by: Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Experts suggest you do these things to get the best rate you can. Book your car as far in advance as possible. If your rental company has a loyalty program, sign up for it. You can avoid some of the long lines people are finding at airport rental desks. 

If you can use the “pay later” option you can always cancel if you find a better rate later on. There are sites like AutoSlash that can find the best rates. Be aware that if you cancel with one of these sites you may still be responsible for some or all of the rental charge even though you’ve canceled. 

RELATED: 6 Things to Check Before Accepting Your Car Rental

The post Car Rental For Memorial Weekend? You’ll Pay Plenty appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Tyler O’Hara Is Pulling Double Racing Duty This Year for Indian

by Gabrielle DeSantis

King of the Baggers is a noticeably different racing series than MotoGP, but the competitors are no less skilled. And crucially, the racing itself is no less intense. But even so, some racers look for even more opportunities to hit the track. That’s why this year, Tyler O’Hara is hitting the asphalt and the dirt on board an Indian.

Tyler O’Hara is racing in King of the Baggers and American Flat Track

Tyler O’Hara on the 2021 S&S King of the Baggers Indian Challenger | Indian

It was arguably a given that Tyler O’Hara would return to King of the Baggers for 2021, considering he won the 2020 race. And as before, he’s racing as part of the S&S Cycle team on a specially-prepped Indian Challenger.

In a recent Zoom call, O’Hara said it took “around 100 laps” to get reacquainted with the KOB Challenger and make the necessary tweaks. But he now feels “more comfortable” on it than before. Appearance-wise, the S&S Challenger looks fairly unchanged from its 2020 configuration, so even with carbon-fiber bodywork, it weighs over 600 pounds. Though for the Bagger Racing League events, the team will likely “lighten it up” even more, he said.

Tyler O'Hara testing the #129 Indian FTR750 at the 2021 Atlanta Super TT
Tyler O’Hara testing the Indian FTR750 at the 2021 Atlanta Super TT | S&S Cycle

However, Tyler O’Hara isn’t only competing in King of the Baggers on an Indian this year. Although the KOB is a road-racing course, like fellow Indian rider Frankie Garcia, O’Hara has extensive flat-track experience. And when we spoke over Zoom, he was getting ready to race in a double-header weekend, going from KOB to the AFT (American Flat Track).

Tyler O’Hara was specifically gearing up to race in the AFT Atlanta Super TT. This race, despite being a flat-track race, isn’t a dirt-only course. It also incorporates asphalt sections and jumps, Road Racing World explains. And that required a different kind of bike: the Indian FTR750.

The Atlanta Super TT was only the second time Tyler O’Hara rode the Indian FTR750

RELATED: The Indian FTR750 Is the Brand’s First Hill Climb Racer in 80 Years

In his own words, Tyler O’Hara “grew up racing flat track,” so he has the necessary skills and is “an asphalt specialist.” But, although some racing techniques are universal, a flat-track Super TT course is noticeably different than, say, Laguna Seca.

Staying smooth is still important, but the FTR750 requires “a different style of riding,” O’Hara said. It has no front brake, for one, and you really steer the bike with the rear wheel, he explained. But unlike in MotoGP or KOB, sliding the bike is an expectation, rather than a rare occurrence. In our Zoom conversation, I compared it to dancing, to which Tyler O’Hara agreed. Adding to the complexity is that, unlike with asphalt, dirt changes shape, making traction management more complicated.

RELATED: Can a $1000 Kawasaki Versys 650 and Honda CBR300R Be Good Track Bikes?

However, that wasn’t the only complication Tyler O’Hara faced in the Atlanta Super TT. The race was only the second time he’d be riding the Indian FTR750. Not competing, note, but riding it. Though admittedly, he did get some practice time before the race and at the Volusia track, he clarified. And while a local shop loaned Tyler O’Hara a road-going FTR to familiarize himself, “they’re completely different bikes,” he said.

How does the rest of his season look?

RELATED: Indian Is Brat Style Founder Go Takamine’s “Favorite Motor Brand”

At the time of our Zoom call, Tyler O’Hara hadn’t raced yet in the 2021 KOB season or at Atlanta. But now the results are in.

The first race of the 2021 King of the Baggers season took place at Laguna Seca, and once again, O’Hara took first place. He wasn’t quite as successful in the Super TT but still managed to finish in eighth place.

RELATED: You Can Cross the Sahara on a Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster

As of this writing, O’Hara doesn’t know if he’ll be riding in more AFT races; the Atlanta race was the second of 17. But he will be competing in the entire King of the Baggers season, including the Bagger Racing League. And if another flat-track racing opportunity presents itself, he’s more than willing to hit the dirt again.

Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page.

The post Tyler O’Hara Is Pulling Double Racing Duty This Year for Indian appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Why Did Consumer Reports Give the 2010 Lexus GX a ‘Don’t Buy’ Label?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re looking for a used three-row luxury SUV, then the 2010 Lexus GX 460 is a great choice. When it was new, critics praised the GX 460 for its tremendous off-road capabilities that mixed well with its luxurious interior and style. The 2010 GX 460 did well as a seven-seat SUV, so why did Consumer Reports give it the “Don’t Buy” label back then?

2010 Lexus GX 460 | Lexus

RELATED: What Is it Like to Drive a 2021 Lexus GX 460 Every Day?

The Lexus GX 460 was redesigned for the 2010 model year and came with a lot of upgrades over the outgoing model. At that point, the GX 460 had undergone some restyling and was powered by the same 4.6-liter V8 engine found in the LS, although it was slightly detuned. However, with 301 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque, the trusty GX 460 had plenty of power to go off-road and tow up to 6,500 pounds.

In addition to a powerful engine, the 2010 GX 460 also includes a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). This system adjusts the roll resistance that’s provided by the stabilizer bars and reduces the maximum roll angle by as much as 50%, according to Lexus. The KDSS is meant to enhance the Suv’s on-road handling response and off-road capability.

The 2010 GX 460 was considered a safety risk

interior shot of the 2010 Lexus GX 460
2010 Lexus GX 460 | Lexus

RELATED: The 2021 Lexus GX 460 Holds True to its Paradigm

Despite the 2010 Lexus GX 460’s capability and off-road prowess, Consumer Reports found an Achilles Heel during their testing procedures. In early 2010, Consumer Reports sent out a statement saying that it deemed the Lexus GX 460 a “safety risk” as they found that it didn’t handle as well when it was pushed to the limit.

During the handling part of the testing, the GX 460’s rear end slid out and the vehicle almost turned sideways before the electronic stability control kicked in and was able to control the slide. Although CR said that it wasn’t aware of any reports from any GX 460 owners of the issue, it still showed concern and urged prospective buyers not to purchase the vehicle until a fix was in place.

Apparently, the main issue had to do with the SUVs’ electronic stability control system and not the KDSS. Lexus responded quickly to the issue and notified its dealers as well.

Lexus issued a recall

Lexus quickly issued a voluntary safety recall on the GX 460’s ESC issue, which affected approximately 9,400 units worldwide. The fix seemed easy enough: update the software, which would result in the ESC intervening quicker. Fortunately, there were no other issues reported thereafter.

Fast forward to today and you can now purchase a 2010 Lexus GX 460 on the used market for under $20,000. Considering you’ll get a body-on-frame, three-row SUV that can accommodate up to seven passengers in luxurious comfort, we would say that’s a steal.

However, thanks to this brief history lesson, it’s important to note that If you are planning to purchase a 2010 GX 460, then make sure that this specific recall was taken care of. After all, you never know what can happen while driving on the street and safety is of the utmost importance.

The post Why Did Consumer Reports Give the 2010 Lexus GX a ‘Don’t Buy’ Label? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by