The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Excels as the Perfect Family SUV

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Woo hoo, the school year is coming to an end, and temperatures are heating up outside. It could be time to take your family on a trip, so you may want to consider doing that in the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. Check out which features make the Nissan Pathfinder an excellent family SUV. 

Is the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder a good SUV? 

2022 Nissan Pathfinder | Nissan

Yes, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is an excellent SUV option, especially for families. It just received a fresh new look and got a few technology upgrades to take on modern rivals such as the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Toyota Highlander. 

The official price for the revamped Nissan Pathfinder hasn’t been revealed yet. However, according to The Car Connection, it could begin around $30,000, and higher trim levels could cost about $50,000. This price keeps the Pathfinder competitive against other three-row SUV options. Also, it should be available this summer. 

How does the Nissan Pathfinder perform? 

RELATED: Nissan Teases a 2022 Pathfinder Worth Waiting For

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder benefits from a new transmission, all-wheel-drive system, and electronic steering rack to enhance its performance over various terrain. Both on-road and off-roading capabilities have been upgraded. 

It has a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 284 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque that’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The previous model uses a continuously variable automatic transmission. 

Front-wheel drive comes standard with the Pathfinder, but you can upgrade to all-wheel drive. New driving modes include Sand, Snow, Mud/Rut, and Tow.

But Edmunds mentioned that the Pathfinder only has seven inches of ground clearance, so while it can handle harsh conditions, it’s not built for hardcore off-roading adventures. 

Most Nissan Pathfinder models can tow up to 3,500 lbs and have standard sway control. You can opt for the available towing package to tow up to 6,000 lbs. This provides more towing power than rivals in its class have to offer. It’s enough muscle to haul mid-sized campers and trailers. 

What makes the Nissan Pathfinder family-friendly? 

An image of a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder parked outdoors.
2022 Nissan Pathfinder | Nissan

Well, along with being able to tow the family camper, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder now features optional captain’s chairs in the second row. According to Car and Driver, captain’s chairs are preferred by families instead of a traditional bench seat. 

Nissan also added more storage bins around the entire vehicle to store small and bigger items. Under the center console, you will find a large bin that the driver and front-seat passenger can access. 

Behind the third row, you can access up to 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space with up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space total. An eight-inch infotainment system comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These systems can be synced wirelessly on higher trim levels. 

Optional features include a 12.3-inch digital cluster display, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless smartphone charging pad, head-up display, in-dash navigation, and SiriusXM satellite radio. All of which can keep people happy and comfortable during long trips. 

Plus, the Pathfinder comes with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite. It includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. Optional features include adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. 

The new Nissan Pathfinder is ready to tow and go. It should provide a more comfortable ride than the previous generation and has more driving modes to handle challenging terrain with updated tech and comfort amenities. 

The post The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Excels as the Perfect Family SUV appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Do Luxury Cars Get Pulled Over Less?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Nobody enjoys getting pulled over by the police, especially when you’re in a hurry to get to your destination. Of course, practicing car safety, like avoiding distracted driving, speeding, or busted taillights, will help you avoid getting stopped. But it turns out that certain types of cars might also reduce your chances of getting a ticket. Could it be that driving luxury cars could help you?

Common reasons for getting pulled over

According to National Motorists Association Blog, the most common reasons police stop drivers are speeding, distracted driving, tailgating or unsafe lane changes, hazardous driving, and equipment violations (like expired tags or overly dark-tinted windows). The blog also reports that men get pulled over about 30 percent more than women, and 20-year-olds get stopped more than any other age. Plus, the speed at which drivers are ticketed most frequently is 15 mph over the limit. 

So, if you’re a 20-year-old male going 15 mph over the speed limit while driving in a hazardous way with expired tags, chances are good a cop will pull you over. This is especially true if you drive a certain type of car. But the makes and models that are likeliest to get stopped are quite surprising.

Are luxury cars pulled over less than other vehicles?

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Generally speaking, it doesn’t appear as though luxury cars as a whole are pulled over less than regular cars. However, some models of luxury cars are less likely to get stopped than other luxury cars. YourMechanic reports that the most ticketed luxury car in 2016 was the Lexus ES 300, with 33.4 percent of ES 300 drivers getting a ticket. On the other hand, the Lexus IS350 was the least ticketed model in the luxury car class, with only 3.4 percent of drivers getting a citation. 

Those percentages are comparable to other categories, such as the most and least ticketed SUVs. The Mazda Tribute saw 29.9 percent of owners receiving a ticket, whereas Buick Encore drivers got a ticket only about 3.2 percent of the time. 

So, no, driving a luxury car alone doesn’t necessarily make you less likely to get a traffic ticket. But certain luxury models might play a role in getting you fewer tickets. Other factors, like color and type of vehicle, also come into play. 

Colors or types of vehicles likeliest to get stopped

National Motorists Association Blog says the color of your vehicle might play a role in how often the police stop you. You might think cars with flashy paint jobs are the likeliest targets. But, no, the top color in a 2016 report was white. Red came in second, gray in third, and silver in fourth. So maybe avoiding tickets is as easy as taking your car in for a new paint job, perhaps a nice black or blue shade. 

Beyond color, sporty cars, like convertibles and coupes, often associated with younger generations, tend to get pulled over more. By contrast, vehicles typically associated with families, like minivans and sedans, are less likely to get pulled over and ticketed. Interestingly, one of the least likely vehicles to get ticketed is the Chevy Suburban, a huge SUV known for toting large families.

It’s definitely not fair that cops would top some vehicles more than others. But it’s also possible that some vehicles are likelier to attract owners who tend to drive recklessly. It could be one of those classic chicken-or-the-egg scenarios with no clear answer. 

The post Do Luxury Cars Get Pulled Over Less? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Impossibly Rare Lotus Elan Barn Find Unearthed Wearing Super Limited F1 Livery

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Nothing gets the blood pumping like a fresh (dirty) barn find. That moment a crusty relic long forgotten is pulled from its dusty depths into the light is what vintage car nerds live for. Take this insanely rare Lotus Elan Barn find, for instance. Not only is it a Lotus, but it is also an extremely rare version wearing the gold and black livery of Lotus F1 cars from the time. 

Lotus Elan “John Player Special” | H&H classics

Imagine finding a Lotus Elan barn find

There are so many cool layers to this barn find. Each next layer makes this situation all the cooler. According to Silodrome, this is no normal Lotus Elan. This is a 1973 Lotus Elan +2 130S/5 “John Player Special.” 

Lotus Elan barn find pulled out into the sun
Lotus Elan “John Player Special” | H&H classics

Only 155 of these black on gold Lotuses were ever made. These special edition Lotus Elans were built to commemorate Lotus’s 50th Grand Prix victory. This one is also the coveted +2 130S/5, widely considered the best Elan because it was fitted with a highway-friendly five-speed gearbox and the “Big Valve” version of the Lotus Twin Cam engine producing 126 hp. 

That may not seem like all that much, but for this time period, most British sports cars came in under 100 hp.

This barn find is a rare bird, indeed 

There isn’t much information about where this car came from. Silodrome says the Elan was drained of its fluids and put away in 2002. Nearly 20 years later, it has re-emerged and been taken away to auction. 

Lotus Elan barn find pulled out into the sun
Lotus Elan “John Player Special” | H&H classics

RELATED: This Former Dealership Is the Motherload of All Barn Finds

Not only is the Lotus Elan +2 a rare car in its own right, but the John Player addition with the best options also makes it a real unicorn. Lotus never kept great records, and as a result, we don’t really know the production totals of the Lotus Elan +2. Most people agree that the total production is somewhere between 3,300-5,200. 

To make this more exciting, it has the coolest gearbox and the best version of the little Lotus four-banger. Not to mention its gold and black. This is scientifically the coolest color combo known to Man. 

What is the difference between a Lotus Elan +2 and a regular Elan?

The +2 designation means there are now an additional two seats in the back – granted, these seats are only meant for small children. However, to make room for these seats, Lotus had to stretch and widen the Elan, giving it more stability with the higher powered motor option. 

Lotus Elan barn find pulled out into the sun
Lotus Elan “John Player Special” | H&H classics

RELATED: Rusty Monday: Plants Are Feasting On These Rusted Cars

Aside from any actual performance benefits, many Elan fans prefer the +2 because the larger dimensions take it out of toy car territory and give it proper sports car appeal.

The designers still used the same basic concept from the original Elan – a steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body, a front-mounted twin-cam engine, independent suspension on all four corners, and disc brakes front and back. 

Some barn finds have it all

This Lotus dressed in fancy gold, and black is truly a sight to behold. This little British ripper may not be a dust-covered Ferrari F40 that was forgotten and made someone millions of dollars.

However, this represents a very cool and rare car that has true value to the automotive world.

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The Most Complained About ATV Brands Don’t Have to Be the Worst

by Gabrielle DeSantis

ATVs are a fun way to get outdoors and enjoy some off-road trails. Many quad bike models are also great for handling most light-duty ranch work too. However, owning an ATV isn’t always pure fun and added convenience and owners have their complaints. But the most complained about ATV brands don’t have to be the worst.

Yamaha quad during Stage 7 of the 2018 Dakar Rally | FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

First of all, it makes sense that the most complained about ATV brands are also the most popular. Let’s take a look at some complaints to see which brands are complained about more than others. Then we can talk about why these complaints don’t necessarily mean that the most complained about four-wheeler brands are still good options.

The most complained about ATV brands

Naturally, the most complained about ATV brands are going to be among the most popular. The more models that a brand has in circulation, the more room there is for error. So it’s no surprise that verified reviewers on Consumer Affairs complain about Polaris ATV models a lot, as they are among the most widely produced quads in the world.

riding the 2021 Polaris Sportsman 1000 ATV in the forest on a trail
2021 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 | Polaris

Consumer Affairs also shows owner complaints about top brands like Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Arctic Cat. Unfortunately, there aren’t any owner reviews for other big names in the industry like Can-Am and Honda. In fact, determining which four-wheeler brand is the most complained about is nearly impossible.

Whether you wade through reviews of specific models, take a dive into forums, or simply look at the reviews on Consumer Affairs, you’ll find a significant amount of owners on each end of the spectrum. Each brand has its loyalists heralding their experience. There are also bound to be complaints about warranty coverage and quality issues from owners of pretty much every quad bike brand.

Just because someone complains doesn’t mean we should overlook an entire brand

The quality and durability of the models in each brand’s lineup depend on so many variables. One rider may complain of issues with a Yamaha quad, for example, while another could happily own their third unit of the same ATV with every intention of buying another because of their positive experiences. Every rider rides their ATV differently over varying terrain.

an ATV rider on a quad riding fast in the desert
A rider on a quad bike| Khaled DESOUKI / AFP via Getty Images

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Complaints about an ATV brand shouldn’t necessarily steer buyers away from that brand. Sometimes a brand produces a model that has more problems than others in its lineup. This can rack up complaints, but those number don’t represent the brand as a whole.

How hard you ride and where you ride plays a massive role in how your ATV holds up. Yes, quad bikes are designed to handle off-road conditions. But every ATV model has its limits. If those limits are regularly pushed, repairs and extra maintenance are virtually inevitable––no matter which brand you buy.

How to choose your ATV

Choosing the right ATV brand to buy from depends largely upon your intended use of the vehicle. There is a wide range of options. From beginner ATVs to utility models, to high-performance sport quads like the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 S, four-wheelers are generally purpose-built.

Places like ATV.com are great sites to visit. These websites also publish guides on how to choose the best ATV for your specific needs. New models continuously hit the market, but guides like this are timeless in most ways. Overall, it all comes down to the individual rider.

RELATED: Best New Tires for an ATV

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