The 2021 Ford Expedition Dominates Rivals in 1 Crucial Area

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Ford Expedition just keeps on flexing. It keeps defeating rival SUVs such as the Chevy Tahoe and Toyota Sequoia by coming in first place on various lists. Now the Ford Expedition claimed another victory as the best SUV for towing. 

Is the 2021 Ford Expedition good for towing? 

A 2021 Ford Expedition | Ford

Yes, the 2021 Ford Expedition is an excellent option for towing trailers, campers, boats, and more. According to Cars.com, it’s the best SUV for towing. When properly equipped, the Expedition can tow up to 9,300 lbs. 

The Dodge Durango SRT can tow up to 8,700 lbs, the Nissan Armada can tow up to 8,500 lbs, and the Chevy Tahoe can tow up to 8,400 lbs. So, the Expedition can tow about 900 lbs more than the Tahoe. 

What towing equipment does the Ford Expedition come with? 

RELATED: The 2022 Ford Expedition Gains Much Needed Interior Upgrades

When equipped with the optional Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, the 2021 Ford Expedition achieves its best-in-class towing capacity. Plus, the standard 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine provides 375 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. 

The Trailer Tow Package includes trailer sway control that works with the AdvanceTrac Roll Stability Control (RSC). It also has the Blind Spot Information System with class-exclusive trailer coverage to assist you with watching your blind spots around the vehicle and trailer. 

Also, the available Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature helps you steer a trailer in reverse with a twist of the knob. You select what direction you want your trailer to go, and the system steers for you. 

The integrated brakes controller (TBC) synchronizes vehicle and trailer brakes for smooth stops when towing a larger boat or camper-trailer. The TBC controls are easy to use and are positioned to the right of the steering wheel. 

Plus, the Ford Expedition has plenty of space, including eight seats for passengers. There are 20.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 63.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 121.5 cubic feet of cargo space total. The maximum payload capacity is 1,750 lbs. 

Is the Ford Expedition good for road trips? 

A red 2021 Ford Expedition parked at a campsite with an Airstream trailer
2021 Ford Expedition | Ford

Yes, the 2021 Ford Expedition is an excellent option for family road trips. This SUV is large enough to bring all the kids and their stuff. You can get started with a new Expedition for about $49,025. 

The Ford Expedition has a peppy acceleration with light and responsive steering. The brakes are a little squishy, and take some practice for smooth stops. Each row features large, comfortable, and supportive seats for adults. 

An 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comes standard. A rear-seat entertainment system is available too. More optional features include navigation with real-time traffic and weather updates. 

Only automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection comes standard, but you can opt for adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance with lane departure warning. The Expedition is pretty safe and earned a five-star crash rating from the NHTSA. 

The Ford Expedition will continue to flex as the strongest SUV with tons of perks for the entire family to enjoy. The option Trailer Tow Package can make traveling with an RV or other equipment much easier.

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The Major Problem With the 2021 Volvo V90 R-Design Is That It’s Not Practical

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Shoppers looking for a family car alternative in an SUV-dominated market have few choices. But Volvo continues to provide a solution with the V90. Although the 2021 Volvo V90 features the same design as last year, critics continue to heap accolades on this wagon, calling it “Volvo’s best-kept secret.” However, as much as reviewers love this car, some call its R-Design model’s practicality into question.

Impracticality is the Volvo V90 R-Design’s biggest flaw

MotorTrend has plenty of good things to say about this year’s Volvo V90 R-Design. But its review also points out that the V90’s “swoopy roofline eats cargo space,” making practicality its biggest drawback. The wagon’s exterior design has improved the boxy look that plagued Volvo designs for decades. However, those sloping lines negatively affect the V90’s interior.

With all of its seats in place, the V90 allows for only 19.8 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s right, and this wagon hopes to compete in an SUV-dominated market. In fact, with 23.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity, the smaller V60 provides almost four cubic feet more than the V90. Critics note the wagon’s cargo space is the equivalent of a compact hatchback, severely hurting the V90’s family-car practicality.

But the Volvo V90 R-Design’s perks make it worth considering

A lack of practicality is a major drawback for family car buyers. But the Volvo V90 R-Design has plenty of positive features to recommend it. MotorTrend calls it “quick, posh, beautiful, good fun to drive, and every inch the anti-SUV.” Those are desirable attributes for any prospective buyer to keep in mind.

Another major advantage the Volvo V90 R-Design has over SUVs is its 2.0-liter super-turbo inline-four engine’s performance. And that’s without forcing its owner to pay higher prices at the gas pump. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. Engineers were able to draw 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque from the V90’s fuel-saving engine. However, with a Polestar Performance upgrade option, the wagon’s output jumps to 330 hp and 325 lb-ft for $1,200 extra.

The Polestar-upgraded V90 — with all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmission — performed well on the MT’s test track. It sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds (0.5 seconds faster than the previous model tested), MotorTrend reports. And thanks to its sportier suspension, the V90 R-Design boasts sharper and more accurate road handling than its clumsy predecessors.

Stepping into the cabin, drivers can expect a traditional sliding gear shifter instead of the electronic types in some Volvo models. Occupants will also find user-friendly infotainment and navigation systems. And the driver-assist system — Pilot Assist — includes adaptive cruise control and lane-centering to reduce driver fatigue on long trips.

This wagon may be impractical, but it performs well

It’s no secret SUVs are more popular among today’s families, but drivers seeking an alternative should consider the Volvo V90. Its improved exterior design eliminates outdated Volvos’ boxy look. However, that creates a lack of cargo space, apt to lead to buyer hesitation.

But despite this drawback, its performance capabilities, fuel economy, and handling make the 2021 Volvo V90 R-Design a worthy family car with a kick.

RELATED:Missing Component in Review Model Leads to Questions About the 2021 Volvo V90 R-Design

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Acura TLX Type S: Better than an Audi S4?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Acura’s Type S badge is back with a vengeance, targeting established German competitors in the market like Audi’s S4. It’s been quite a while since the Type S badge was on the scene, last appearing on the Acura RSX and Tl models back in the early 2010s. Competition in this segment is stiff, and the Japanese brand needs to make an impression with its newest offering after the lukewarm A-Spec TLX from last year.

Acura’s TLX Type S hits back

2021 TLX Type S | Acura

However, on paper, the Type S makes a strong statement. For around $53,000 you get a V6 motor making a healthy 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque via a twin-scroll turbo. This engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission operated either with the driver’s right foot or steering wheel-mounted paddles. Propulsion of all four wheels is handled Acura’s newest model is handled by their brilliant SH-AWD system. Larger brakes and suspension changes and have also been made to give the Type S that sporty feel.

Not a bad start from a company that hasn’t made a real sports sedan in the last decade or so. Acura has put real effort into the Type S, at least on the surface. It’s not just skin deep, as MotorTrend reports. Additionally, the Type S gets some creature comforts that are otherwise optional on the TLX. After all, a good sports sedan has to strike a balance between speed, comfort, and price.

The Audi S4 is hard to beat

A grey 2021 Audi S4 in the desert at sunset
2021 Audi S4 | Audi

RELATED: 2021 Acura TLX – Safer Luxury Than You’d Expect

It’s harder to find a better example of a car that strikes that balance better than the Audi S4. It’s a storied badge to be sure and has a dedicated enthusiast following. For 2021 the Audi also looks promising on paper. It also carries a turbocharged V6 motor, producing 349 hp. Sitting just behind this V6 is Audi’s fantastic dual-clutch automatic transmission. Like the TLX, the S4 is moved by all four wheels using Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Moreover, the Audi has one of the best interiors in the business, bar none. The German brand has been on their A-game with the interiors as of late, and the S4 really benefits from that. Perhaps that fantastic interior is why the Audi is at a premium over the Acura. New S4s range from $50,000-$64,000 according to MotorTrend. But are you really getting that much more car for the money?

The TLX Type S upsets the status quo

A gold TLX Type S flies by with a blurred foreground and background
2021 TLX Type S | Acura

In theory, that answer is no. That answer gives testament to what a fantastic job Acura has done with the TSX Type S. The Japanese brand has made a car to compete with the S4 on all fronts, from performance to driveability. Not only does the TSX compete with the Audi, but it also demolishes it in the looks department.

No timeline exists where Audi would sell you a car with “Tiger Eye Pearl” paint. Speaking of paint, visual cues to Acura’s NSX are present throughout the bodylines, including the headlights and tail lights. All this to say nothing of the price. The TSX undercuts the Audi there too. Options are plentiful, and it’s certain you’ll get more for your money with the Acura. The question is, how will Audi respond?

The post Acura TLX Type S: Better than an Audi S4? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Ready For a VW Pickup Truck? Because it is Coming

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Volkswagen makes a variation of the Ford Ranger in Europe and other countries. But the last time VW sold a truck in the US was the Rabbit car/truck. Before that, it was the Microbus with the fold-down bedsides in the 1950s and 1960s. But now there are signs VW is preparing its next pickup truck to sell in the US. 

VW has trademarked the “Amarok” name for its pickup truck

VW Amarok concept | VW

The main reason is due to our “chicken tax.” Trucks built outside of the US get a 25 percent tariff which kills their ability to be competitive. Now, VW has trademarked the “Amarok” name used for its pickup back home. 

Ford and Volkswagen have working relationships with each other. Ford will be making electric vehicles using VW’s MEB EV platform. And VW will use Ford’s Ranger architecture for its next Amarok. 

Ford Ranger and Amarok truck will be built on the same assembly line in Wayne, Michigan

2021 Ford Ranger front 3/4 view
2021 Ford Ranger | Ford

Since both the Ranger and Amarok will be built on the same assembly line in Wayne, Michigan, there is no reason not to sell the Amarok here. And VW has made moves over the years indicating it wanted something pickup-like to sell here. Its Tarok concept truck from 2019 is only one example of publicizing it is eyeing the pickup truck segment. 

VW has already stated that the next Amarok won’t be a badge-engineered Ranger. While the 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter diesel are planned for the Amarok overseas, diesel doesn’t sell here. So we expect a new 4-cylinder or V6 engine to reside where the oil-burner once did. 

We hope that if VW does bring the Amarok to the US that it separates itself from the Ranger. Consumers need a reason to buy one vehicle over another. Mazda and Ford shared minitrucks in the 1970s but the Ford clearly dominated the segment though they were virtually identical. 

VW badge-engineered its Routan minivan-we hope it doesn’t do that with the Amarok

VW pickup concept rendering
VW pickup concept | VW

A decade ago VW tried to badge engineer its Routan minivan. It was just a Dodge Caravan with a slightly altered fascia. Volkswagen sold it here from 2009 to 2014 but didn’t sell well.  

And generally, VW is always late to cover segments that do well in the US for decades. Then when it does release a vehicle it disappoints. We’re talking models like the Touareg which shared its architecture with the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. 

Because of the platform being more upscale the Touareg was priced higher than US buyers expected. Sales were never great but really dropped after about 2007 to around 4,000 to 7,000 annually. In the past few years, it has seen sales dip to 160 in 2019 and only 34 sold in 2020. 

RELATED: The 8 Pickups You Want But You Can’t Have

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