The 2021 Kia Sportage Is Reliable But You Might Regret Buying It

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Kia Sportage is a new compact SUV under $25,000. An affordable price tag isn’t all that this year’s new Kia Sportage has going for it either. According to Consumer Reports, this year’s Sportage is also among the most reliable new compact SUVs. But, as reliable as it is, you might regret buying this new Kia model. Read on to find out why.

Is the 2021 Kia Sportage a reliable car?

2021 Kia Sportage | Kia

Yes, the 2021 Kia Sportage is a reliable car. In fact, it’s among the most reliable new compact SUVs. Consumer Reports even gave it a five out of five predicted reliability rating. That’s not the first time the Kia Sportage has earned such high marks either.

As a matter of fact, the 2020 and 2018 Kia Sportage also secured a five out of five reliability rating. The least reliable Kia Sportage model, however, is the 2019 model. Unfortunately, Consumer Reports gave it a two out of five reliability rating, citing common problems with the compact SUV’s paint, trim, and overall body integrity. 

Why you might regret buying this compact SUV

A red 2021 Kia Sportage parked
2021 Kia Sportage | Kia

While the 2021 Kia Sportage finds itself among the most reliable new compact SUVs, there is a chance you might regret buying it. Because, despite giving it a five out of five reliability rating, Consumer Reports also gave the 2021 Kia Sportage a two out of five predicted owner satisfaction rating. But let’s break that score down:

Driving Experience: 66/100
Overall Comfort: 66/100
Styling: 79/100
Value: 61/100

Consumer Reports added that only 59% of current Kia Sportage owners would consider re-buying the compact SUV. Though, it’s not all bad news. While the Kia Sportage did earn a rather disappointing predicted owner satisfaction rating, Consumer Reports says that it remains a compelling option among its segment. After all, it’s reliable, delivers somewhat sporty handling, and boasts a roomy interior that’s easy to live with. 

Consider checking out these Kia Sportage alternatives instead

But if that two out of five predicted owner satisfaction rating has you considering other options? You’ll be pleased to know that these Kia Sportage alternatives are worth your attention. Take, for example, the 2021 Subaru Forester. 

According to Consumer Reports, this year’s Forester is the best new compact SUV of 2021. It’s not only recommended by Consumer Reports but the organization also gave it a four out of five reliability and owner satisfaction rating. It scored a 90/100 in road tests too. 

And if the 2021 Subaru Forester isn’t the best Kia Sportage alternative for you? Consider the 2021 Mazda CX-5. Much like the Forester, the CX-5 finds itself among the best new compact SUVs of 2021. It’s recommended by Consumer Reports and secured a 78/100 in road tests. The organization also gave it a five out of five reliability rating and a four out of five owner satisfaction rating.

Is the 2021 Kia Sportage a good car?

When it comes down to it, the 2021 Kia Sportage is a good car. After all, it’s among the most reliable new compact SUVs and, according to Consumer Reports, is a compelling option among its segment. But if you think you might regret buying it? There are several Kia Sportage alternatives worth checking out instead. 

RELATED: The 2021 Kia Sportage’s Biggest Weakness Is the Subaru Forester’s Strength

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Hyperion XP-1 Hydrogen-Powered EV Supercar Has a 1,000-Mile Range

by Gabrielle DeSantis

You might have never heard of the Hyperion brand before, mainly because it sounds like something out of the future. Well, the Hyperion XP-1 is a hydrogen-powered electric vehicle supercar from the future. What specs does this space-age supercar have, and will hydrogen power ever be a viable fuel source?

Is the Hyperion XP-1 real?

Hyperion XP-1 Hydrogen-Powered EV Supercar | Hyperion

According to Robb Report, the Hyperion XP-1 is currently a prototype. However, it has a lot of science behind the brand. Hyperion works with NASA to bring space-travel technology to commercial applications, like the XP-1. A team of PhDs founded the brand to focus on hydrogen as a power source. While hydrogen-based power hasn’t exactly taken off yet, Hyperion thinks it is about to. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is apparently adding a hydrogen class by 2024, which would be a huge move.

Hyperion hopes to start delivering the Hyperion XP-1 to buyers in early 2022. Hyperion will make only about 300 Hyperion XP-1 supercars, but no pricing is out yet. Angelo Kafantaris, Hyperion’s CEO, said, “With the XP-1, we’ll be inspiring first and then explaining how we’ll bring hydrogen mainstream.”

How does the Hyperion XP-1 work?

Hyperion XP-1 works with hydrogen fuel-cell technology. Hyperion claims the XP-1 has a range of 1,000 miles and a recharge time of three to five minutes. The brand also says the Hyperion XP-1 has a 0-60 time of 2.2 seconds and a top speed of 220 mph.

The Hyperion Hydrogen Propulsion System “uses advanced space flight technology to store more hydrogen in less volume than any other vehicles on the road today.” Hydrogen allows the supercar to release more electrical power after a chemical reaction breaks the molecules apart. “We can store more energy, for the weight, than a battery-electric vehicle,” Kafantaris told Robb Report.

The XP-1 uses a lightweight monocoque made of titanium-reinforced carbon fiber. This aids in the ability to go quick, accelerate faster, and be more efficient. The XP-1 even has a wing that provides solar energy and ample downforce at the same time. The hydrogen storage system isn’t impacted by high temperatures, either. That means it doesn’t need to cool down after prolonged use.

Will this supercar ever come to fruition?

People have reported seeing the Hyperion supercar on the streets in the last few months. The XP-1 was seen in California back in February, driving around in a camouflaged wrap. One of the most significant issues with hydrogen power is the lack of affordable hydrogen fueling stations. California has some, and Canada appears to have three. That seems to be it for now.

However, just like the electric vehicle charging network is expanding right now, hydrogen can too. The team at Hyperion has been working on the vehicle for almost a decade, and it will hit the market in 2022. Unless you live by a hydrogen station, it likely won’t be something you see on the road regularly. There are a lot of issues with hydrogen power but Hyperion is working on it.

Keep your eyes open for more news about the Hyperion XP-1 as 2022 approaches. And if you live in California, you might get lucky enough to see one roaming the streets.

RELATED: Do Electric Vehicles Have Lower Maintenance Costs?

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What Does RAV4 Stand For?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the most popular vehicles on the market today, and it’s had an interesting history. For example, its name is vastly different from the names of other Toyota models, but this compact SUV’s moniker is actually simpler than it seems. Here’s a brief look at the Toyota RAV4’s history and what its name means.

A brief history of the Toyota RAV4

The idea behind the Toyota RAV4 was simple. In fact, it’s an idea many folks might think of nowadays because it’s obvious to the average person. That idea was to create a car that could do some light off-roading like an SUV while offering the comfort of a passenger car, MotorTrend reports. The result was a vehicle with a unibody design like a car, different from the truck-like, body-on-frame SUVs that continue to dominate the segment.

The first iteration of the RAV4 came in 1989 at the Tokyo Motor Show. It was called the RAV Four concept, and unsurprisingly, it remained a concept. Toyota’s engineers made a second iteration that debuted as another concept in 1993. This was pretty close to what would eventually become the first generation of the RAV4 sold to consumers, MotorTrend reports. It debuted in Japan and Europe in 1994 crossed the ocean to debut in America in 1996. 

Since then, it has become the best-selling compact SUV.

What does RAV in RAV4 stand for?

Toyota RAV logo | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

“RAV4” stands for “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD,” MotorTrend reports. It isn’t a particularly creative name compared to something like the Prius or Tacoma, but it spells out exactly what Toyota intended this small SUV to be. And certainly, as the vehicle’s history shows, the automaker succeeded. 

The first-generation RAV4 was successful enough: Toyota sold about 300,000 units globally in the first three years. Toyota experimented a bit, and at one point, it even created an all-electric version, the RAV4 EV. This was a different all-electric version from the one Toyota designed with Tesla a decade later. However, both EVs failed for different reasons.

In any case, by 2012, Toyota unveiled the fourth generation of the RAV4, and it’s pretty close to the model that’s so popular today. In fact, to show how far this vehicle has come, Toyota now sells about 400,000 RAV4s a year, and that’s just in the U.S. alone, MotorTrend reports. It’s no surprise why it’s been such a popular car for so long because it has a lot going for it.

A brief overview of the 2021 model

The 2021 RAV4, which starts at about $26,000, still does what Toyota intended it to do all those years ago. It comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but it also offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. The RAV4 Prime PHEV provides a bit more power and far better fuel economy than the standard RAV4. But all models are capable of at least light off-roading.

The RAV4 still provides a comfortable ride, too. This is because of its unibody construction and spacious seating. That said, most trims don’t offer four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive as standard. Instead, they come with front-wheel drive as standard, but AWD is optional and even standard on the higher trims.

Additionally, the RAV4 has all the smart tech you’d expect from a modern vehicle, including advanced safety features and wireless connectivity. Add in Toyota’s reputation for reliability, and it’s no wonder this small SUV is a top seller.

RELATED: Are You the 1 Type of Driver Who Should Buy the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime?

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Space Flight Tickets on Virgin Galactic Are Now on Sale for an Astronomical Price

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The typical flight on Virgin Atlantic can cost anywhere from $900 to $10,000, depending on where you’re flying and how comfortable you want to be when doing so. That’s a pretty standard price for airfare nowadays, but if you want to go to space it will cost you a little more. Virgin Galactic recently announced that it’s selling space flight tickets and they cost as much as a house.

Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed space flight launched on July 11

Sir Richard Branson holds up photos that he brought with him into space, as he speaks after flying into space aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel. | (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

In case you’re unaware, Virgin Galactic completed its first fully crewed space flight on July 11 of this year. The airline’s SpaceShipTwo Unity 22 aircraft took off from the Spaceport America facility in Mexico with two pilots and four passengers aboard. One of them was the company’s head chief, Sir Richard Branson.

At the apex of the flight, the pilots and their passengers experienced four minutes of weightlessness before returning back to terra firma, reports Space.com. Fortunately, the entire flight, which took the crew 282,000 feet above Earth’s surface (lasting around an hour) landed safely and smoothly. Branson was quoted saying that it was “an experience of a lifetime.”

There will be three different purchase options

Sir Richard Branson flew into space aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel, a voyage he described as the "experience of a lifetime" at Spaceport America in New Mexico, the United States on July 11, 2021.
Sir Richard Branson flew into space aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel, a voyage he described as the “experience of a lifetime” at Spaceport America in New Mexico, the United States on July 11, 2021. | (Photo by Virgin Galactic / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

As you can imagine, that space flight garnered a lot of attention from the public after seeing its success. However, the space flight tickets were originally slated to cost around $250,000 back in 2014, but that was before sales were suspended following the V.S.S. Enterprise crash during a test flight. The company recently announced that tickets will start at a cool $450,000 and there will be three different ticket options available to those well-heeled customers.

Virgin Galactic customers can opt for a single-seat ticket, a group ticket, or an entire-flight ticket on the eight-passenger Unity aircraft. The company will also sell seats for microgravity research and professional astronaut training at $600,000 each.

Space.com noted the procedure for the space flight, which has the VSS Unity taking off under the wing of a carrier plane called VMS Eve. After leaving the runway, the flying duo will cruise up to an altitude of 50,000 feet before separating. The space liner will then ignite its rocket motor to blast itself to suborbital space, or the edge where space and the Earth’s atmosphere meet.

At that point, the passengers will experience about four minutes of weightlessness and get a front-row view of the blackness of space before making the descent back to Earth. To date, about 600 people have signed up for a spot on the space flight.

There will be more space flight testing

In this photo illustration, British billionaire Richard Branson is seen on a fragment of a Virgin Galactic Unity 22 Spaceflight Livestream Youtube video displayed on a smartphone with the Virgin Galactic logo in the background.
In this photo illustration, British billionaire Richard Branson is seen on a fragment of a Virgin Galactic Unity 22 Spaceflight Livestream Youtube video displayed on a smartphone with the Virgin Galactic logo in the background. | (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Although ticket sales have opened up, Virgin Galactic is still going through its testing phase, reports the New York Times. The next flight is reportedly taking place in late September and will carry paying customers from the Italian Air Force to conduct experiments.

There’s also a flight scheduled for the middle of 2022 for more testing, but after that, the space flight company is aiming to increase the frequency of the flights for the customers that paid to get on board.

Despite the ticket’s astronomical price tag, Virgin Galactic’s Chief Executive, Michael Colglazier, was quoted saying that the flight “delivers such a great value, that people who experience this journey with us can’t help but recommend it.”

We hope so, considering a flight to Europe costs a tiny fraction of the cost to space. Also, you get meals and in-flight entertainment. Those are two things you won’t get on a one-hour trip to the edge of the Earth. But we bet it has a better view from the window seat.

RELATED: Land Rover Helped Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson on His Space Flight

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