5 Spacious SUVs for Big Families

by Gabrielle DeSantis

For big families car shopping, SUVs are the new minivans. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a reliable one with tons of standard safety features. However, unlike minivans, SUVs are much more versatile, combining plenty of space with off-roading capabilities while not sacrificing things like technology or quality materials. Additionally, most SUVs are often cheaper to insure than sedans, and some minivans, due to their durability and safety features. 

Don’t fret if you are not sure which SUV is the best for you and your family. There are several “best of” lists to help you decide. We looked at a few lists and picked out five of the best spacious SUVs for big families. 

The 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2022 Honda CR-V Touring SUV | American Honda Motor Co., Inc

U.S. News named the 2020 Honda CR-V the best compact SUV for the money in 2020, and it also ranks high on the list of most spacious cars and SUVs for families. The CR-V is a two-row SUV that seats five and is one of the roomiest compact SUVs available, with ample head and legroom. It has two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear window seats and additional single tethers and anchors. In terms of cargo space, the CR-V has 39.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, and if you fold down the rear seats, it opens up 75.8 cubic feet. 

The CR-V gets an EPA-estimated 28/34 mpg city/highway rating, with all-wheel drive models getting a 27/32 mpg city/highway rating. It has predicted reliability above average and received top safety ratings from the NHTSA and the IIHS. Standard safety features include automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, road departure warning, and a rearview camera. 

The 2021 Kia Telluride

The Telluride was named the best three-row SUV for families by U.S. News, and it also ranks near the top of the list for spacious cars and SUVs for families. This three-row SUV seats between seven and eight passengers, with roomy and well-padded seats. It has three complete sets of LATCH connectors, as well as additional top tether anchors.

There is 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and if you fold down the third and second rows, that opens up to 46 and 87 cubic feet, respectively. The Telluride gets an EPA-estimated 20/26 mpg city/highway rating, with all-wheel drive models getting a 19/24 mpg city/highway rating. Its reliability ranking is slightly above-average and is a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, with top marks from the NHTSA. Standard safety features include rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and pedestrian detection.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4

U.S. News named the 2021 Toyota RAV4 the best compact SUV for families and is number six overall in the compact SUV class. This spacious SUV has a roomy cabin that seats five, with ample leg and headroom in both rows. There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors and an additional tether anchor. Behind the second row, there is 37.6 cubic feet of space, which increases to 69.8 cubic feet when you fold the second row down. 

The RAV4 gets an EPA-estimated 28/35 mpg city/highway rating, some of the highest in the compact SUV class. It has an average reliability ranking and received high safety ratings from both the NHTSA and the IIHS. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and road sign recognition. 

The 2022 Acura MDX

The website Parents named the 2022 MDX the best luxury redesign for three-row SUVs in their list of best family cars for 2021. It seats seven in a completely redesigned interior that is both comfortable and spacious. The second row boasts three complete sets of LATCH connectors, and the third row has a tether anchor for each seat. Behind the third row is 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space, and folding down the third and second rows increases this to 39.1 and 71.4 cubic feet, respectively. 

The MDX gets an EPA-estimated 19/26 mpg city/highway rating for front-wheel-drive models, while models with all-wheel drive get a 19/25 mpg city/highway rating. While the 2022 model doesn’t have an official reliability ranking, the MDX has historically received excellent reliability rankings. The IIHS gave the MDX top marks in every safety test. Standard safety features include driver drowsiness monitoring, a rearview camera, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. 

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

Another spacious SUV from the Parents list is the 2022 Pathfinder, deemed the best SUV for adventures. This three-row SUV has seats for between seven and eight passengers that are comfortable and provides ample leg and headroom. Depending on the seating configuration, there are three to four complete sets of LATCH connectors. There is 16.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, and folding down the third and second rows bumps this up to 45  and 80.5 cubic feet, respectively.

The Pathfinder gets an EPA-estimated 21/26 mpg city/highway rating, and all-wheel drive models get a 21/27 mpg city/highway rating. At the time of writing, the 2022 Pathfinder doesn’t have an official reliability or safety ranking, but historically both have been average to above average on past Pathfinder models. Standard safety features include rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. 

RELATED: The Best Family Cars and SUVs Under $25,000 According to KBB

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Pick up a New Jaguar With up to $7,500 Off

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The federal electric vehicle (EV) tax credit has existed for a while now, and it’s still relevant in 2021. Some EV models are eligible for up to $7,500 off your taxes. This includes some vehicles from Jaguar, including its EV and hybrid models. But, what is the EV tax credit some Jaguar models are eligible for, and how to take advantage of it?

The federal EV tax credit

Jaguar logo | Getty Images

The federal EV tax credit is designed to encourage EV purchases over vehicles using an internal combustion engine. It’s mainly designed to help protect the environment from carbon emissions since EVs tend to be more eco-friendly.

The amount of the tax credit primarily depends on the battery size. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the vehicle must be acquired during or after 2010, which will earn a minimum of $2,500. Anything above this amount will depend on the battery. EVs with a 5 kWh battery will earn an additional $417, and for every kWh above this, it will add $417 to the total. The maximum tax credit is $7,500, and there are no exceptions to this cap.

There are limitations to this. If you earn a tax credit above what you owe on taxes, the leftover amount is not refunded or used on next year’s taxes. In addition, once a manufacturer has sold 200,000 electric vehicles from 2010 to now, the tax credit no longer applies to its EV models. Also, the tax credit only applies to new EVs, not used ones.

Despite these limitations, the tax credit may expand soon. The Biden administration is heavily pushing EVs at the moment, and according to Electrek, this amount may be increased to up to $12,500. Currently, this is sitting as a bill, and whether this will pass remains to be seen.

Jaguar models that are eligible for the credit

Jaguar is just starting when it comes to EVs. The company has a few hybrid models so far and one all-electric model, the Jaguar IPace. However, the company has announced plans to place much of its focus on EVs from now on. Many of its vehicles are eligible for the federal tax credit, some of which can net you the full $7,500.

According to the US Department of Energy, the 2021 Jaguar IPace is eligible for a maximum of $7,500. This includes three model types, including the HSE, SE, and S. It has a range of up to 292 miles and is equipped with a 90 kWh battery. In addition, the 2021 model is designed for faster charging than its 2020 counterpart.

The 2021 Range Rover PHEV is one of Jaguar’s hybrid vehicles, and purchasing it can earn you a tax credit of $6,295. It comes with a 13 kWh battery, and the entry-level model is estimated to have 254 hp.

Another model eligible for the tax credit is the Range Rover Sport PHEV, which, like the Range Rover, is also eligible for a $6,295 tax credit. It has even more hp compared to the Range Rover PHEV, coming in at 398 hp. It also has 19 miles of EV-only range and an acceleration from 0 mph to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

How to take advantage of the credit

If you’d like to take advantage of the tax credit, the process is simple. All you need to do is calculate and list the EV tax credit on your taxes for the year you purchase an eligible vehicle. You can do this using Form 8936, which you can find on the IRS website.

MORE: Why Are Tesla Electric Vehicles Not Eligible for the Tax Credit?

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The Best Motorcycle Helmet Latch May Surprise You

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Motorcycle helmet safety has been an important topic for decades. A helmet is definitively the top piece of safety equipment needed for riders. As important as wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle is wearing a well-fitting, DOT-approved helmet. With so many options and styles, it’s important to know the best choice for latches that fasten motorcycle helmets.

The history of motorcycle helmet latches

Motorcycle helmet | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The double D latch is the classic and standard style when it comes to motorcycle helmets. The style of the double D latch dates back to 14th-century Rome, FortNine reports. At that point, it was a design used for belt buckles, which remains a common application to this day. 

Besides the double D latch, another easily recognizable closure for many motorcycle helmets is the side release buckle. This iconic plastic buckle style also fastens tons of products, from duffel bags to shopping cart lap belts for children. A man named Dick Tracy patented the design in 1979, FortNine explains.

In 1997, Burton Snowboards patented a ratcheting binding strap used to fasten soft boots to snowboards. Although this clip design doesn’t seem ideal for use with helmets because of its high tension, FortNine notes that some helmets in Europe use this strap.

Only five years old, the most recent addition to the motorcycle helmet latch lineup is the German-designed Fidlock self-locking magnetic closure. This latch was designed for motorcycle helmets, but according to FortNine, this is a particularly over-engineered design.

How these helmet latches were tested

FortNine conducted a test to see which of these buckles was the strongest at a certain amount of pressure. To figure this out, testers fastened the straps to a wooden form resembling the shape of a chin. 

Then testers extended a scissor jack to see if the buckles would hold before the strap broke. The baseline was that the straps needed to withstand at least 900 pounds of pressure to ensure they didn’t break before the latch did. Basically, the buckles need to be strong enough to hold the motorcycle helmet on a rider in the event of an accident.

If the latch closure broke before the strap on the helmet, it would mean a potentially deadly situation for the rider because their helmet would no longer be secure on their head.

The results of the test

The side-release plastic buckle, which is the most popular choice for bicycle helmets, was the weakest. It broke at just 5.82 Newton-meters of pressure, which converts into about 4.3 lb-ft of torque or 329 pounds of lift force from the scissor jack.

The Burton Snowboards ratcheting buckle withstood more pressure but broke before the strap at 9.81 Newton-meters, which equals about 7.24 lb-ft of torque or 555 pounds of lift force from the jack. Not only that, but the force of the buckle breaking even broke a hole in a Plexiglas barrier protecting the camera.

The German Fidlock magnetic closure didn’t fail until 13.49 Newton-meters of pressure was applied, or approximately 9.96 lb-ft of torque or 763 pounds of lift force from the scissor jack. Although it held up to more pressure than the previous two closures, it still failed before the strap did. That means that regardless, it is still a dangerous choice for a motorcycle closure.

The surprising winner of the test, performing as it should have, was the classic double D latch closure. It was the only buckle or closure tested that didn’t break before the strap did. At 15.91 Newton-meters, or about 11.74 lb-ft of torque or 900 pounds of lift force from the jack, the strap failed, but the double D helmet latch remained intact. 

So, when you’re deciding which latch style is the safest, go with the centuries-old classic design: the double D motorcycle helmet latch.

RELATED: The 4 Most Dangerous Motorcycle Rides in America Might Surprise You

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Are You Accidentally Ignoring Your Car’s Transmission Service Intervals?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A vehicle’s transmission is one of the most important and yet most underrated aspects of your vehicle’s mechanical components. Without your transmission, your vehicle would not be able to move, regardless of having a perfectly fine engine and other components. Because of this, ensuring you are servicing your transmission at intended intervals or when you notice any potential problems is a critical part of vehicle maintenance.

How often should you service your transmission?

Colombian car mechanics work on a transmission in a car | Jan Sochor, Getty Images

Service intervals on most cars are relatively standard, such as how you should service your car’s oil every 3,000 miles or you should change your tires every six years. These intervals are just an average recommended by mechanics and service techs, but the actual interval can be brand-specific or even vehicle-specific and rely on several other factors. How often you should service your transmission is determined by your specific vehicle’s owner’s manual or any time you notice a potential problem with the transmission.

Signs your transmission is overdue for service

If you’ve kept up with engine maintenance but your vehicle is starting to act a little wonky, your next stop, if you’re vehicle has more than 60,000 miles, should be to consider the transmission. There are a few signs that your vehicle’s transmission is in need of service or attention, and some are more obvious than others. Signs your transmission is in need of service include:

  • Your car jolts when it is shifting gears — in many modern automatic cars, you can see what gear your vehicle is in on the dashboard
  • You hear a grinding noise coming from the transmission
  • Your car will no longer go into certain gears, such as reverse
  • You smell something burning
  • Your vehicle is leaking transmission fluid

How to keep up with service intervals

Your vehicle’s owner’s manual lists all of the important information about your vehicle included detailed information on basic service intervals and what needs to be replaced or refreshed at certain mileage increments. Because owners drive different distances within a year, almost all service intervals are recommended on the basis of mileage, but some services, such as oil changes, rely on mileage or time, such as once a year or every 5,000 miles, for example. The best way to stay on top of your transmission service interval as well as other important services like oil changes and spark plugs is to be aware of your mileage intervals and double-check the owner’s manual when you are unsure.

In some modern vehicles, the service manual is no longer provided as a paper copy in the glovebox but rather a digital copy that can be accessed through the vehicle’s infotainment system. If you have purchased a car used and notice that it does not have the owner’s manual with it, you can often find a copy of these online for free or from your local dealership.

RELATED: What Does High or Low Mileage Really Mean for Your Car?

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