Kia Telluride vs. Tesla Model Y: Room for a Family of 5?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Looking for an SUV for a family of five isn’t the easiest of tasks. The Kia Telluride has a lot to offer for the price, but the Tesla Model Y has more technology. Since both have room for five passengers, what features set one SUV apart from the other?

Is the Tesla Model Y Performance upgrade worth it?

Visitors look at a Tesla Model Y SUV, but does it have as much room as a Kia Telluride? | Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

For 2021, The Tesla Model Y comes in a Performance and Long Range version. Tesla’s website has all of the specs to compare the two.

The Performance model comes with a long-range battery. It is a dual-motor all-wheel-drive platform. It weighs about 4,416 pounds and has 68 cubic feet of cargo space. The top speed is 155 miles per hour, and the range is an EPA-estimated 303 miles.

There is room for up to five and comes with a warranty for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The battery and drive units come with a warranty for eight years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first. The 0-60 time is 3.5 seconds.

The price for the Performance model electric vehicle starts at $60,990.

The Long Range model is also offered as a dual-motor all-wheel-drive platform. It also includes a long-range battery. It weighs the same 4,416 pounds and also has 68 cubic feet of cargo space. The top speed is 135 miles per hour, so about 20 less than the Performance. The range is a bit more at an EPA-estimated 326 miles.

It has room for up to seven with an optional third row. The 0-60 time is 4.8 seconds. The warranty is the same, but the price of the Long

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride a good car?

RELATED: How Long Will a Kia Telluride Last?

The 2021 Kia Telluride has a few trim options. The LX starts at $32,190. The S model starts at $34,590. The EX starts at $37,590. Finally, the SX trim starts at $42,490. For this example, we will use the top trim, the SX, for comparison against the Tesla.

The curb weight for the Telluride is 4,317 pounds for the front-wheel-drive option. The all-wheel-drive vehicle weighs 4,482 pounds.

The cargo is listed in three categories: behind the first row (87 cubic feet), behind the second row (46 cubic feet), and the third row (21 cubic feet). There is no top speed listed.

As far as range, the EPA-estimated mileage for the front-wheel-drive model is 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. The EPA-estimated mileage for the all-wheel-drive model is 19 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. The fuel tank capacity is 18.8 gallons.

The Telluride has room for seven and has two captain chairs in the second row. The Telluride is covered by Kia’s 10 years, 100k mile warranty program.

Which SUV makes more sense?

RELATED: Tesla Model Y: What Is the Range for This Electric Vehicle?

There are a few things to consider in this argument. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, weather can impact how well your electric vehicle runs.

“Extreme weather – very hot or very cold – impacts range in EVs. The additional heating or cooling needed for passenger comfort requires more energy than more moderate temperatures would. Cold batteries also have greater resistance to charging and do not hold a charge as well.”  

U.S. Department of Energy,

If you live in a place that experiences extreme weather, it is a good idea to take this into consideration. Additionally, not all areas have convenient access to chargers. The Tesla is a solid contender, but only if these stipulations don’t come into play.

If you need to use the third row for children, the Telluride might make more sense. It is easier to access the third row in the Kia vs. the optional third row in the Tesla.

If money is a factor, the Telluride will offer extra options in the top-of-the-line trim. The price of the Model Y will likely increase as extra options are added.

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James May Is Annoyed at His Tesla Model S Battery

by Gabrielle DeSantis

James May knows his way around cars. As the co-presenter of Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, he has been well-versed in cars for many years. After leaving his Tesla Model S plugged in while he was away, he returned to a dead electric vehicle in his garage.

Does James May own a Tesla Model S?

A charging cable sits plugged into a Tesla Model S | Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Yes, yes, he does. James has been away for a bit filming his Amazon Video show, The Grand Tour. While he was away, the Tesla Model S plugged in and went off. Assuming his car would be charged and ready for his return, May returned to a dead battery.

May explains that Tesla electric vehicles have two batteries. The first battery is the one that charges at home and at a station that powers the wheels. The second battery is a regular 12-volt battery that charges basically everything else.

If this one dies, the car won’t start. It also won’t keep the smaller battery charged, so in general, it can die after some time.

Apparently, when the larger battery is fully charged, the charging system of the car shuts off. Thus, the 12-volt battery under the frunk (front trunk) was no longer charging. Since the smaller battery powers things like the locks, May was unable to get into his car.

The frunk would not open due to the dead battery, so he couldn’t even access the battery. In order to get to the battery, he had to get in through the emergency releases. After that, there was a myriad of parts still in the way. The journey to the 12-volt was not over.

How to access the Tesla Model S battery

RELATED: How Long Does It Take to Charge a Tesla Model 3?

May explains in the above Drivetribe video that the frunk would not open due to the dead battery, so he couldn’t even access the battery to charge it. In other words, to get to the battery, the hood must open. For the hood to open, the battery has to be working.

To get to the battery, May had to get in through the emergency releases. The plastic trim from the wheel has to be removed from both front tire areas to reach these emergency release cables. One must pull the emergency releases on both sides simultaneously.

After that, there was a myriad of parts still in the way. The journey to the 12-volt was not over. The battery is underneath a few panels, secured by some clips, and then under another panel or two.

As May fidgeted with the duct piece and the various panels, he noted it took an hour to finally get to. If it takes James May an hour to get to in his garage, surrounded by tools and knowledge, imagine how long it might take an individual with fewer resources?

Eventually, May was able to figure it out and get his Tesla charging.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E had a similar issue

RELATED: How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Ford Mustang Mach-E?

According to a service bulletin put out by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), early Ford Mustang Mach-E owners were having a similar issue. The bulletin notes that Mach-E electric vehicles built on or before February 3, 2021, might be impacted.

“Some 2021 Mustang Mach-E vehicles built on or before 3-Feb-2021 may exhibit the 12-volt battery becoming discharged while the vehicle is plugged in during the high voltage charging process. This may be due to the parameters in the powertrain control module (PCM).”

NHTSA

A software glitch was causing the 12-volt battery to discharge while the other battery was charging. This left drivers with a fully charged vehicle that was unable to start.

Dealerships were able to reprogram some of the electronic control modules to override the issue, but not before some drivers learned the hard way.

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The 2022 Chevy Silverado Already Got Delayed

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Wait a darn second, we were just celebrating the upcoming 2022 Chevy Silverado, but now it’s delayed? This means that the 2022 GMC Sierra could be delayed as well. Let’s dive in and see what’s really going on with the Chevrolet Silverado. 

Is the 2022 Chevy Silverado facing a delay? 

2021 Chevrolet Silverado LT Trail Boss | GM

Maybe. According to GM Authority, General Motors is struggling with the global microchip shortage. The 2022 Chevy Silverado and 2022 GMC Sierra may have to wait things out until production can fully resume. 

For 2022, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra were set to receive a new front and rear facia design, new exterior colors, new exclusive wheel designs for specific models and trim levels, and new lights. 

The interiors of both trucks were expected to be completely redesigned too. Updates could include a new dash, center stack, center console, infotainment center, and more. The trucks are supposed to gain GM’s new Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver assistance system, too, as they migrate to the new Global B intelligent platform. 

How long will the Chevy Silverado be delayed? 

RELATED: The 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Actually Means Business

General Motors is still working to reach a solution for the 2022 Chevy Silverado. They could continue producing the 2021 models for the Silverado and Sierra and then release the refresh models a few months behind schedule. 

The other option is to go ahead and release the 2022 models with light updates and then release the updated models later in the year. But part of the excitement of these trucks involves new tech that needs semiconductor chips. 

Vehicle components that use semiconductor chips include safety systems, fuel systems, electronics, and more. The chip shortage has removed about 121,000 vehicles from production, including 17,000 Chevy Equinox models. 

In Ingersoll, Ontario, the GM CAMI plant will be shut down until the end of June due to the shortage. Also, the GM Fairfax assembly play in Kansas is scheduled to be shut down until the first week of July. 

How is General Motors responding to the shortage? 

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 towing a boat down a winding road
2021 GMC Sierra SLT | GM

General Motors isn’t alone in facing delays with popular vehicles such as the 2022 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. Ford has also been facing delays with the new Ford Bronco models. The general plan of action is to use the chips they have to build and ship their most popular models. The most popular vehicles just happen to be full-size trucks and SUVs. 

Ford’s first-quarter earnings report trimmed its vehicle production forecast for the second quarter of 2021 by 50 percent. Ford also predicts that the chip shortage could last into 2022, which would be a shame. We’re ready for those new trucks and SUVs. 

Seeing the new Chevy Silverado and Sierra models pushed back until 2023 wouldn’t surprise us with the way production is going right now. They already delayed the 2021 Chevy Traverse refresh for a year. 

If you can’t wait for the new models, you can spend time learning about the 2022 Chevy Silverado Z2R model. It could be the new off-roading variant that takes things a little further than the Trail Boss. Also, the interior is expected to be similar to what’s found in the recently updated 2021 Chevy Tahoe. 

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Gasoline Has a Shorter Shelf Life Than You Think

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Depending on the U.S. region you call home, filling your cars‘ gas tanks might be challenging right now. With the latest headlines of various fuel shortages, you might feel like it’s a good idea to fill up. You might even feel the need to take a few extra gas cans to stock up before stations run out. But before you do that, keep reading. Gasoline has a shelf life. And it’s shorter than you might think.

Did you know about the shelf life of gasoline?

RELATED: The Secret Dashboard Indicator That Will Save You a Lot of Trouble

You might be thinking you already know about the shelf life of gasoline. After all, you probably have some in your garage that sits there for use with your lawnmower. But other components determine the usability of gas. And much like the medications in your medicine cabinet, gas can lose its potency over time.

Regular unleaded gasoline can last three to six months unused in your car’s tank, J.D. Power reports. During the first three months, organic ethanol can begin to evaporate and lose combustibility.

What about diesel fuel?

RELATED: What is the Difference Between the Most Common Fuel Types?

When gas stations run out of reserves, even those driving diesel-powered vehicles are affected. And diesel fuels are also susceptible to shelf-life limitations. Filling your tank and a few extra cans with diesel might last longer than regular unleaded. But diesel, too, can begin to degrade between six months and a year.

The latest rush to the fuel pump

RELATED: Top 5 Ways to Improve Your Motorcycle’s Fuel Efficiency

The gas shortages are believed to be the result of the recent ransomware cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline. Headlines from the Washington Post and other outlets show various gas stations across the East Coast with no fuel. Consumers are flooding social media with tips on which stations are depleted and where to find locations whose pumps are still flowing. 

The pipeline recently restarted operation, CNN and others have reported. However, officials indicate it could still take several days for the effects of the shortages to reverse. Supply chains, diesel, and jet fuel lags are expected to level out in the coming weeks. Per the Colonial Pipeline‘s website, company officials predict some markets might continue to experience “intermittent service interruptions” during the restart phase of production.

Filling up may be futile

So, before you head to your local service station, consider the gasoline expiration component. And it’s not just how long the fuel sits in your car’s tank or that extra gas can. By the time you pump the gas, it’s already experienced an undeterminable amount of shelf life during transportation and storage. It might already have a month of life on it by the time you swipe your card at the pump. Trying to stock up on gas, especially knowing the gas shortage is expected to be short-lived, might be futile.

If you already have extra gasoline at home, be mindful of its smell and appearance. Fuel that has reached its shelf life will look muddier and have a sour odor. And if you don’t anticipate using the gas in your car for a while, you can also use a stabilizer additive to help prevent fuel breakdown. 

When you see news of fuel shortages, it’s understandable that you feel compelled to gas up immediately. But stocking up on reserves might be a waste of money. The pipeline is back online, and soon the resources at your local stations will replenish.

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