3 Practical Rental Cars for Your Summer Road Trip

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As more Americans get vaccinated and summer approaches, many are thinking about road trips. And if they’d rather not put miles on their own vehicles, they might think about renting a car. Rental car companies sold many of their vehicles in 2020 to help stay afloat when demand was low, The Drive reports. But if given a choice of rental cars, consider a practical model like the Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, or Hyundai Elantra.

Toyota Camry: A comfortable, spacious sedan for any road trip

The 2021 Toyota Camry is larger than the other two cars in this roundup. It has two engine options that provide surprising power yet good fuel efficiency, U.S. News reports. The smaller engine gets 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. The larger motor gets 22 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. This midsize sedan offers plenty of space for five people, including sufficient headroom and legroom. The 2021 Camry has 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, which is a little small for a midsize car.

The Camry’s seven-inch or nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use. Toyota added Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa as standard features in 2019 and Android Auto in 2020, U.S. News reports. The 2021 Camry also comes with Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, satellite radio, and two USB ports. Higher trims have navigation, Qi-compatible wireless charging, and HD Radio.

The 2021 Camry also comes standard with the Safety Sense-P suite of advanced safety features. It includes adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection, and other features.

Toyota Corolla: A safe compact brimming with amenities

RELATED: 3 Fun Rental Cars for Your Next Road Trip

The Toyota Corolla was recently redesigned for the 2020 model year. It’s a compact car available in sedan and hatchback body styles. It has two engine options that provide a nice ride, though they aren’t the most powerful. With the base engine, the 2021 Corolla is rated for 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Its larger engine is even more fuel-efficient, U.S. News says. It’s rated for an impressive 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

It’s easy to get in and out of the Corolla, and it has comfortable seats. There’s plenty of space in the front, but the headroom isn’t great for tall passengers in the rear. The trunk is a little small, too, offering only 13.1 cubic feet, but if you don’t have a log of luggage, it’ll work fine. The hatchback offers a bit more cargo space, with 17.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats. With the rear seats folded down, that increases to 23.3 cubic feet.

The 2021 Corolla also has an easy-to-use infotainment system with either a 7.0-inch or an 8.0-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay comes standard as of the 2020 model, and Toyota added Android Auto for the 2021 model. Also standard are Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, satellite radio, and two USB ports. Higher trims offer a 7.0-inch digital driver display, a navigation system, wireless charging, HD Radio, and an additional USB port.

Toyota also added more safety features as part of the 2020 redesign. The 2021 Corolla’s many driver assists include traffic sign recognition.

Hyundai Elantra: A rental car with impressive gas mileage

RELATED: Can Your Car Handle a Road Trip?

The redesigned Hyundai Elantra is a compact car available as a sedan. Before the 2021 model year, Hyundai also sold it as a hatchback. It offers three engine options, and all provide a smooth ride, U.S. News reports. But the 2021 Elantra stands out for its impressive fuel economy. The base engine gets 33 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway. Other trims get 31, 25, or 28 mpg in the city and 41, 34, or 36 mpg on the highway.

Plus, all seats are comfortable and spacious. Hyundai added even more passenger room for the 2021 model. There’s plenty of trunk space, too. The 14.2 cubic feet is above average for a compact car.

The infotainment system comes with an easy-to-use standard 8.0-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Expect Bluetooth, HD Radio, two USB ports, and voice recognition, too. A 10.25-inch touchscreen is also available, although not with wireless smartphone integration. Wireless device charging and satellite radio are also available. Hyundai includes other advanced safety features in the 2021 model, including blind-spot monitoring, driver attention warning, and safe exit warning.

Whichever car you decide to rent, expect to pay a premium this summer. With the vehicle shortage, along with higher demand, rental prices have skyrocketed. Luckily, the Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra are affordable and practical rental options. Plus, they typically cost less to rent than SUVs or luxury cars.

The post 3 Practical Rental Cars for Your Summer Road Trip appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Is the Lifted 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road the Best Trim For You?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When it comes to the mid-size truck segment, the Toyota Tacoma remains a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable and capable pickup. However, shopping for a Tacoma can be a little confusing considering there are different trim levels to choose from. We drove the 2021 Tacoma TRD Off Road for a week and realized that it comes with a lot of the features that most truck lovers would need. But is it the right one for you?

The Toyota Tacoma comes in six different trim levels

2021 Toyota Tacoma with TRD Lift Kit | Toyota

RELATED: 3 Reasons You Don’t Need a 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in Your …

For the 2021 model year, the Toyota Tacoma comes in six different trim levels: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. The good news is that the trim levels are spaced out well pricing and feature-wise, so buyers can typically choose the trim that fits their needs and budget without feeling like they’re missing out on something better.

For example, if you need the bare necessities like dual-zone climate control, a power-adjustable seat, as well as the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver-assist features, then the Tacoma SR5 will work just fine. However, if you want to step into something a little more off-road-worthy, then you can opt for the Tacoma Off Road Sport.

For an additional $5,000, your Tacoma Off Road Sport is outfitted with a 360-degree view camera system, a set of 17-inch TRD wheels, and a premium audio system. But if you want to kick things up a notch, then you can get the Tacoma TRD Off Road.

What does the Tacoma TRD Off Road come with?

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma in the dirt
2021 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

RELATED: Is the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Actually Expensive?

If you’re an off-road enthusiast that likes to tackle the roads less traveled on the weekends, then the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road could be the trim level for you. It adds to what the TRD Sport trim has with the addition of Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select, and an electronically controlled locking rear differential.

There are other comfort features included as well, like heated seats, leather-trimmed seating surfaces, and automatic headlights. If you opt for the Technology package, then you’ll also get other handy features like front and rear parking sensors. The only downside is that LED headlights are also part of an extra package as well.

The TRD lift kit

TRD-lift-kit-shocks
TRD Lift Kit Shocks | Toyota

Our tester was also outfitted with the TRD lift kit, which can be installed on any 2020-21 Tacoma excluding the TRD Pro models. The kit adds a two-inch lift in the front and one inch to the rear of the truck. In our everyday testing, we found that the lift kit provided a decent height adjustment that’s not too tall and it also stabilized the ride under all types of driving conditions.

The lift kit retails for $1,450 from Toyota and it requires installation from a Toyota dealer in order for the warranty to remain intact. If you’re thinking about lifting a Tacoma and don’t want to deal with piecing an aftermarket kit together, the TRD version is a good way to go.

Why not just get the TRD Pro?

Considering our 2021 Tacoma TRD Off Road tester with the TRD kit came in at around $48,000 as tested, you might be wondering if it’s better just to get the TRD Pro trim level instead. In addition, to the lift kit, our tester was outfitted with the TRD Premium package as well as the Technology package, which together bumped up the price by about $5,515.

That’s a big increase, and in that case, it would be better to get the TRD Pro model instead, which starts at around $44,000. But if you don’t need all of the fancy add-ons and can live with the TRD Off Road model (with a lift kit), then it could be the smarter trim package for you. Otherwise, spend a little more on the Tacoma TRD Pro.

The post Is the Lifted 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road the Best Trim For You? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Hummer H2 Explodes After Gas Horder Fills the Trunk With Extra 20 Gallons

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The perceived “gas shortage” has led to more and more stories of people panic buying fuel and doing intensely foolish things. There has been everything from people trying to put diesel in their gasoline cars to rumors of people using flimsy plastic containers to hoard as much gas as possible. In Florida, a Hummer H2 owner filled the back of the truck with 20 gallons of fuel in gas cans right before the Hummer unsurprisingly went up in flames. 

Charred Hummer H2 | Citrus Country Chronicle

There is no gas shortage

The panic surrounding the “gas shortage” has been ill-founded and should have stopped before it began. The ransomware that affected the Colonial pipeline caused many Americans to panic buy as much fuel as they could carry, even though every report suggested that the problem would be solved by the end of the week. 

Despite the facts, many drivers queued up at gas stations with every possible container ready to be filled with gas. This hoarding of fuel is what caused stations to run out of fuel.

As the hoarding and foolish fuel storage became worse, officials warned drivers of the dangers of improperly stored fuel. Finally, this Hummer H2 fire in Florida validated all the warnings. 

Hummer H2 explodes in a gasoline-fueled inferno

melted gas cans in the back of the Hummer H2
Melted gas cans in the back of the Hummer | Citrus County Chronicle

According to The Drive, what was once a Hummer H2 got positively burnt to a crisp in Homosassa, Florida.

The driver filled up multiple gas cans with 20 gallons of gasoline and stashed them in the back of the Hummer. Within minutes of leaving the gas station, the Hummer caught fire, and all the fuel went up in quite the blaze. 

The Drive references reporting by the Citrus County Chronicle that says around 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, the local fire department was called to put out the Hummer fire.

Thankfully, the fire department put the blaze out quickly because the driver had barely gotten away from the gas station. You can see it directly behind the burned Hummer in the images. 

The investigation rages after the fire is out

The blaze was extinguished, and the scene was cleared in about three hours altogether. Fire crews found four five-gallon gas cans in the back of the Hummer. Little information has been released so far as the local authorities are still investigating the incident. 

Although there is no evidence to support this claim, The Drive mentions a Reddit user who claims the Hummer H2 driver had lit a cigarette on their way out of the gas station, which is what allegedly sparked the inferno. 

Florida’s Department of Environmental protection was called to assist with any spillage or contamination left by the fuel. The reports from that group were that, although the fuel was stored properly, the fumes were still potent enough to cause the fire. 

As we come out of this unnecessary panic, hopefully, drivers can keep their cool in moments like these. Coming out of Covid, we should well know by now that hoarding and panic buying is a deeply unhelpful and damaging behavior that needs to be kept in check.

The post Hummer H2 Explodes After Gas Horder Fills the Trunk With Extra 20 Gallons appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

The Best Lawn Mower Features to Look For In Your Next Mower

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Lawn care doesn’t have to be a challenge. In fact, with the right type of lawn mower, mowing the lawn becomes a much more manageable task. Having the right lawn mower on hand doesn’t just save time and effort either. It could also save you from having to hire a professional landscaper to get the job done for you. That’s why, when it comes to shopping for a new lawn mower, these are the best lawn mower features to look out for.  

The different types of lawn mowers

John Deere mowers. | Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

First things first, let’s talk about the different types of lawn mowers. After all, buying a new lawn mower isn’t as simple as heading to the local hardware store and buying any old lawn mower. Among the most common types of lawn mowers are electric lawn mowers, gas lawn mowers, lawn tractors, zero-turn lawn mowers, and rear-engine riders. Now, let’s talk about what these common types of lawn mowers actually do:

Electric lawn mower: Electric lawn mowers are push lawn mowers powered by a rechargeable battery pack. However, some electric lawn mowers must be plugged in. According to Consumer Reports, these types of lawn mowers are easy to store and maintain and are best for small yards.

Gas lawn mower: Gas lawn mowers are powered by, well, gas. They come in both push and self-propelled models and can cut much larger yards. When it comes to upkeep, gas lawn mowers do require regular maintenance, including oil changes, and blade sharpening.

Lawn tractor: Lawn tractors are best for yards bigger than half an acre. According to Consumer Reports, this type of lawn mower can cut two to three times faster than a push mower. The downside is that lawn tractors are typically more expensive.

Zero-turn lawn mower: Zero-turn mowers are best for yards bigger than half of an acre. They do best on level terrain too. These types of lawn mowers often cost more than lawn tractors but are easier to maneuver around large trees and garden beds.

Rear-engine rider: For yards up to an acre, consider a rear-engine rider. These types of lawn mowers are typically cheaper than lawn tractors. The bad news is that they don’t always cut as well.

RELATED: John Deere Topped Consumer Reports’ List of The Best Riding Lawn Mowers and Tractors

Lawn mower features to consider before buying

The type of lawn mower you buy isn’t the only thing worth considering. In fact, a lawn mower’s features are equally as important. Family Handyman reports that there are several lawn mower features worth your consideration.

Perhaps the most important lawn mower feature to consider is performance. While different types of lawn mowers are best for different types of lawns, different engine sizes will have a better time handling yard maintenance tasks like mowing tall grass, wet grass, leaf mulching, and even bagging.

Another lawn mower feature to consider is how comfortable a lawn mower is. When it comes to push mowers, Family Handman says to make sure the mower can be set at the right height for you. And when it comes to riding lawn mowers? Check that the seat is comfortable and easily adjustable.

RELATED: Lawn Mower Maintenance You Probably Aren’t Doing But Should Be

Consumer Reports’ favorite lawn mower features 

Consumer Reports is no stranger to lawn mower reviews. In fact, the organization has a few tried and true favorites. When it comes to the best push lawn mower features, Consumer Reports tapped features like uniform wheel sizes, a blade-brake clutch, electric start, and one-lever height adjustment among its favorite lawn mower features.

As for Consumer Reports’ favorite riding lawn mower features? Those tried and true favorites include features like a hydrostatic transmission, an electric power takeoff switch, and a safety switch for reverse. Tight turning was also included in Consumer Reports’ best riding lawn mower features.

RELATED: Here’s Why Buying an Electric Lawn Mower Might Not Be Such a Bad Idea

Choosing the best lawn mower doesn’t have to be difficult

Shopping for a new lawn mower doesn’t have to be a stressful endeavor. Begin by choosing the best lawn mower type, then consider what lawn mower features would best suit your lawn care needs. 

The post The Best Lawn Mower Features to Look For In Your Next Mower appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by