The 2022 Kia Telluride Fails to Fix Its Most Frustrating Problem

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Would you just look at the 2022 Kia Telluride? It’s looking pretty fly with the new Kia logo. Now, this award-winning family SUV looks even better. However, the Kia Telluride still has one potential issue to consider. 

The 2022 Kia Telluride isn’t the most fun to drive 

2022 Kia Telluride | Kia America, Inc.

According to AutoBlog, the 2022 Kia Telluride is merely just OK to drive. The engine is nothing special in terms of fuel economy and acceleration. Wow, this sounds a bit harsh, so let’s dig a little deeper into the Telluride’s dynamics. 

It has a 3.8-liter V6 engine with 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Telluride can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds, which is average for its segment. The Kia Telluride doesn’t feel as responsive as rivals do at lower speeds. 

Also, the ride is a little on the firm side. Harsh pavement can send bumps through the cabin. It doesn’t exhibit much body roll, and the steering is light. On a positive note, the brakes are smooth, consistent, and confident. 

The Telluride gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and up to 26 mpg on the highway, which is below average. Perhaps a hybrid powertrain or a more fuel-efficient option will come out soon. Also, just because the Telluride isn’t sporty doesn’t mean it should be avoided. 

What’s new for the 2022 Telluride? 

Not much is new for the 2022 Kia Telluride. It just came out in 2020, so it’s too early for a mid-cycle refresh. However, the Telluride did get the fancy new Kia logo badges to spice things up. 

Lower trims such as the LX and S models now come standard with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and Highway Driving Assist adaptive cruise control. So, there isn’t much of a reason to go for the 2022 model unless you like the new logo. 

You can equip the Telluride with all-wheel drive. Like the outgoing models, it can tow up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped and carry a payload of up to 1,664 lbs. We wouldn’t recommend off-roading. 

The Kia Telluride is on the short side with an 8-inch ground clearance. It has limited approach and departure angles. Plus, it doesn’t have skid plates to protect its underbody. But it does have Snow mode to tackle slippery conditions. 

What’s great about the 2022 Telluride? 

2022 Kia Telluride interior
2022 Kia Telluride interior | Kia

The 2022 Kia Telluride is still the highest-ranking family SUV. It’s incredibly comfortable with large supportive seats. While the ride can be rough, the cabin is well insulated and provides a sense of quiet luxury. 

Your family won’t feel cramped in the Telluride. The second and third rows provide tons of space. There are 21 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats, with up to 87 cubes total. Also, child seats are easy to install. 

Along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, standard features include forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. 

Just because the 2022 Telluride isn’t the most fun or sporty SUV option to drive doesn’t make it a bad choice. It has plenty of quality features to enjoy.

RELATED: The 2021 Kia Telluride Just Lost Its Crown to the Sorento

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Don’t You Dare Park Your Chevy Bolt Inside, or Outside for That Matter

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The hits keep coming for the popular electric vehicle as one neighborhood has asked Chevy Bolt owners not to park in certain lots. And by certain spots, the owner means the entire parking lot. With no solution in sight, what is next for the Bolt EV?

Why can’t the Chevy Bolt park here?

Recalled Chevy Bolt | Big-Benefit-8595/Reddit

The Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV are still struggling. As the news mounts that these vehicles continue to catch fire out of nowhere, property managers are fighting back. One Reddit user saw a sign explicitly prohibiting having Bolts part in the parking lot. The parking area is outdoors, but the owner is taking no chances. This specific lot is run by SP+ and is a private lot, which gives the owner the right to do so.

The person who posted the image on Reddit is a 2019 Bolt Premier owner and was looking to park in the area. The sign reads, “For customer safety: Chevrolet Bolt EVs are strictly prohibited from parking at this facility. Thank you for your compliance.”

The Bolt has been spontaneously combusting around the country, and Chevrolet has warned owners not to park indoors. However, some Bolt EVs parking in outdoor lots have been catching other vehicles on fire. One 2017 Chevy Bolt Premier caught fire just last week while outside and took out a Hyundai and a Maserati.

Is this dramatic, or the right move for the Chevy Bolt?

RELATED: Is $11,000 Enough to Talk You Into Buying a 2021 Chevrolet Bolt?

The crux of the issue here is that the Chevy Bolt seems to catch on fire randomly. The vehicle does not need to be on or charging to catch fire. It happens while the car is turned off the charger, which is a scary thought. While this might seem like a dramatic move, perhaps the owner has already had an issue with the EV.

The official Bolt Recall instructions noted that the Chevy Bolt EVs (2017-2022) and Bolt EUVs (2022) should not charge overnight. It also states that vehicles should be parked outside immediately after charging. This leaves a lot of leeway for owners to still be within these instructions and park in some garage.

“Park your vehicle outside immediately after charging, and do not leave your vehicle charging indoors overnight.” Technically, a Bolt parking in an indoor parking garage is still within these instructions.

At this time, production has stopped for the EV

According to Inside EVs, GM has decided to halt production of the Bolt at the Orion Assembly plant. While GM has recalled every Bolt produced, the production halt is more bad news for the company. GM is working alongside battery producer LG Chem to find out the issue and how to move forward. Until then, Bolt owners are forced to figure out how to live with a vehicle that might spontaneously combust at any moment.

No matter how you slice it, this is bad press for electric vehicles and GM in general. Just when people are starting to get used to the idea of an electric vehicle, the Bolt problems have threatened to wipe out all of that progress. So far, the fires have cost GM almost $1.8 billion, and there’s been no solution yet. That number is likely to increase exponentially.

For now, Bolt EV and Bolt EUV owners have found themselves in quite a pickle. Not everyone has the option to park in an empty parking lot with no one parked next to the vehicle. While GM says the company is working on a solution, said solution isn’t coming quickly enough.

RELATED: Best Electric Cars and SUVs You Can Buy Under $50k

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Ghost Sighting: Rare 2021 Rolls-Royce Wraith Kryptos for Sale for $450,000

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Rolls-Royce is synonymous with the pinnacle of luxury, and most car lovers can only dream of owning one or even renting one. Rolls-Royce specializes in customization, and each of its models is custom-ordered, with virtually every aspect of the car hand-selected by the soon-to-be owner. And as you might expect from a custom ultra-luxe car that often costs close to a half-million dollars, most Rolls have everything you’d want in a vehicle.

In addition, Rolls-Royce produces limited runs of themed collections. But glimpsing one of these ultra-rare coupes is like seeing a ghost.

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Wraith at a glance

Rolls-Royce Wraith Kryptos | Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Even with no changes from previous years, the 2021 Rolls-Royce Wraith is the ultimate bespoke luxury coupe. And owners can customize theirs like “commissioned works of art,” Car and Driver reports.

These exquisite sculptures boast a twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Harnessing 624 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque, the Rolls-Royce Wraith floats from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. As you might expect, the fuel economy isn’t spectacular, with an EPA-estimated 12 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

The interior, with four bucket seats, is a mix of old-world craftsmanship and modern touches. The front seats have a massaging feature, optional ventilation, and heating. Also, expect dual-zone automatic climate control, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and an 18-speaker audio system.

Additional features include rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive headlights, and power-folding, auto-dimming side mirrors. Standard driver assists include a lane-departure warning system and front and rear parking sensors. 

Then there’s an even rarer model: the Rolls-Royce Wraith Kryptos.

The duPont Registry listed an ultra-rare Rolls-Royce Wraith Kryptos for sale

The Rolls-Royce Wraith Kryptos is so rare that glimpsing one is like seeing a ghost. Like an apparition, these models are elusive.

In fact, Rolls-Royce created only 50 examples for its special Kryptos collection. The duPont Registry briefly listed one for sale, but this ultra-rare car was gone in an instant. The asking price was a cool $450,000. And like a ghost, this coupe brings mystery and secrets.  

Why does it have ‘Kryptos’ in its name?

The story behind the model name, Kryptos, is actually pretty cool. No, it isn’t a play on the word “crypt,” which you might assume when reading about this ghostlike car. “Kryptos” refers to “cryptographic” because hidden within the design is a secret message.

According to MotorTrend, the collection’s designer, Katrin Lehmann, has a passion for cryptography puzzles. So the Kryptos brims with ciphers that, when combined, form a message. In fact, only two people at Rolls-Royce know the message — the designer and the CEO. The answer lies in a sealed envelope in the CEO’s safe. 

So far, no Kryptos owner has claimed to have decoded the message, or if they have, they’re not spoiling it for anyone else.

Though the secret message likely isn’t an earth-shattering revelation, such as the secret to life or how life actually began, trying to figure it out could be a lot of fun if you enjoy puzzles. Maybe it answers one of life’s most-asked questions: What was in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction?

RELATED: Pricey 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost Isn’t Fazed by Its Size

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What Does G.O.A.L. Mean to Truckers?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

I like going on road trips, and at one point I wanted to go off the grid and become a long-distance semi-truck driver. But earlier this week, as I was on I-95 South to Florida, I spotted a little sticker on the driver’s side mirror of an 18-wheeler. It simply said “G.O.A.L.” I’d never seen anything plastered to the mirror like that, but after a little digging, I learned exactly what that sticker meant, and other tidbits of truck safety you should know too.

Semi Truck Driving on the Highway | Tim Graham/Getty Images

What does G.O.A.L. stand for?

G.O.A.L. stands for “Get Out And Look,” and applies to truckers whenever they’re backing in a trailer. The most common accidents in the trucking world involve a big rig backing up and failing to see what’s behind it. In order to prevent that, drivers are encouraged (and sometimes required) to physically get out of the vehicle and look at what there doing. This applies to all truckers, no matter how experienced, as a simple measure to prevent expensive accidents.

According to the National Safety Council, backing accidents make up 500 deaths a year, and 15,000 injuries. They also account for one in four truck-related accidents. But getting out to look doesn’t just mean making sure you’re not about to hit anything behind you. G.O.A.L. implies that the trucker observes all six sides of the truck: the front and rear, the left and right sides, and above and below for clearance.

That’s because trucks have massive blind spots (even pickup trucks have them), and in order to keep you safe, it’s best that you know where they are too.

Where are a semi-truck’s blind spots?

Blind Spots, or "No Zones," of a Semi Truck
Blind Spots, or “No Zones,” of a Semi-Truck | Transurban

The short answer is everywhere around the truck. Though, if they had blindspots everywhere, then they wouldn’t be able to see at all. The main blind spots or “no-zones” of a truck are directly in front of it, directly behind it, and on either side next to the driver. There are a few simple measures you can take when driving around a truck to make sure they see you, and they don’t hit you.

For starters, if you see a truck flip its blinkers on, make a move. Whether that means slowing down to let them in front of you (the safer strategy) or finishing the passing maneuver you already started, don’t just hang out next to them or hesitate to get out of their way.

Secondly, keep a good following distance both behind and in front of a truck. As previously stated, a truck can’t see directly behind it. But you can back off enough where they will be able to spot you in their rearview mirror. The general rule of thumb I use is that, if you can see the driver in their side-view mirror, they can see you. If you can’t, they can’t.

And if you ever find yourself merging in front of a truck, don’t just cut them off. Trucks are legally required to keep a safe following distance since it takes a lot longer to stop a truck with a trailer than it does your tiny car. Make sure you completely pass the truck and then, once there’s enough distance between you and then, flip on your blinker and merge into their lane.

RELATED: How Many Miles Per Gallon Do Semi-Trucks Get?

Other strategies do truckers use to stay safe on the road

Semi Truck Driving on the Highway
Semi Truck Driving on the Highway | Tim Graham/Getty Images

Truck drivers are trained to drive trucks, and accidents don’t just threaten your life, it threatens their livelihood. Think of every truck on the highway like a mobile office. Those men and women are hard at work, and you don’t want to make their jobs harder.

Truck drivers often have what’s called a “space cushion,” which is another way of saying following distance. The only difference is that a space cushion applies to all sides of a truck. Though the flip side of that coin is you need to be sure you’re giving them all the room they need. Pass consistently and safely, don’t be unpredictable, as that makes things more dangerous for everyone.

If you do decide to be a bully on the road/brake check a truck (which we strongly suggest you don’t do), be aware that most trucks are fitted with dash cams. Assuming you survive a highway accident with a truck, the accident is readily available for all to see. And if it was your fault, you’ll have one angry trucker to confront, as well as a whole lot of legal fees.

The long and short of it is to just be patient. Truckers are workers too, just doing their job, and making their lives more difficult is extremely dangerous. After all, they can’t just look in their mirrors to back up, and rely on you to be aware of them just as they’re aware of you. After all, safety is the G.O.A.L.

RELATED: The Incredible Rediscovery of Ford’s 1-of-1 Turbine Semi-Truck

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