4 Nissan Vehicles Achieve Best-in-Class Rankings in the 2021 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Nissan vehicles have gained popularity for their cutting-edge performance integrated with innovative styling. Even though this brand name was launched in the 90s, it first penetrated the U.S. market under Datsun. Many decades later, Nissan dominates the market, and it’s not hard to see why. The brand strikes the ideal balance between affordability and quality performance.

A quick overview of the 25th annual AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSAs) 

The 2021 Nissan Armada full-size SUV model | Nissan Motor Corporation

The annual AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards have been analyzing vehicle satisfaction surveys for more than two decades to identify and provide motor vehicle enthusiasts with the best-performing cars. All the surveys are objective and filled by vehicle owners to provide an accurate view of the car in question. On the other hand, vehicle rankings are based on  36 attributes, including best in class, reliability, interior design, and vehicle performance. 

Identifying the winners is methodical, and the top cars are determined from more than 50,000 responses of new car owners, who represent a full and accurate view of the vehicle ownership experience. This makes the AutoPacific VSAs the best place to get true and unbiased insights into your favorite vehicles, especially if you’re looking for a car that will give you the most satisfying experience. 

Top 4 Nissan models that won AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards this year

Nissan has been reigning over the AutoPacific VSAs, taking home the most awards for three years straight. It also has the most best-in-class awards compared to other brands, with the Murano being a five time-winner and the Maxima a four-time winner. Four models from the Nissan NEXT transformation plan collection won the award for best-in-class, and all of them have been extensively redesigned as part of Nissan’s global plans to transform the car ownership experience.

Nissan released a press release on its win, and the Nissan U.S. Marketing and Sales senior vice president, Mike Colleran, highlighted that new models would be hitting the showrooms soon. He further stated that they were glad that the company’s vehicle redesigns provided customers with a satisfying experience and hoped that the reinvented Nissan brand would continue thrilling them. 

The four Nissan models that won the AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards in 2021 are the 2021 Rogue as the best selling mid-size crossover SUV, the 2021 Armada as the most satisfying large SUV, the 2021 Sentra as the best selling compact car, and the 2021 Versa as the most satisfying subcompact car. 

How were the 4 winners chosen?

The 2021 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards involved more than 86,000 vehicle owners. Here’s why these four Nissan models won:

Nissan Rogue: best selling mid-size crossover SUV

Instead of focusing on one individual attribute, the Nissan Rogue balances out a wide range of features to deliver a satisfying experience. It has a huge cargo area, a roomy cabin, a sleek exterior and is available with both standard safety tech and all-wheel drive. 

Nissan Armada: most satisfying large SUV

This Nissan model has won in this category for three years in a row. It has clearly won the hearts of its owners with a great experience, and even though it was competing against three grand SUVs, vehicle owners rated it as the best in 29 categories out of the 36 attributes. 

Nissan Sentra: best selling compact car

The Nissan Sentra is very sleek, which is why it’s not surprising that it was either ranked equally or very satisfying on all available attributes. Vehicle owners especially loved it for its great color pallets, modern cabin, sharp exterior, braking, fuel economy, and acceleration, among other areas. 

Nissan Versa: most satisfying subcompact car

Nissan Versa owners praised it for its sleek styling, front-seat comfort, interior design, high fuel economy, driver’s seat, and visibility. They were particularly impressed at how the Versa was budget-friendly, despite its many features.  

RELATED: Nissan Might Be the Most Vegan-Friendly Car Brand Around

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Is Toyota Teasing Us With This Weird Diesel Video?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

After nearly two decades of not changing all that much, Toyota has crammed 15 years’ worth of overdue updates into the last year. First, the 2022 Toyota Tundra is getting a massive update, and now Toyota is dropping weirdly cryptic teasers like Jeep was doing about diesel engines on its official YouTube account. Does this mean a diesel Toyota Tundra, Tacoma, or 4Runner? 

What’s so weird about Toyota posting a diesel video? 

Of course, in other markets in the world, Toyota makes plenty of diesel-powered trucks and SUVs. However, in the U.S. market, Toyota doesn’t offer a single one. Does this mean it is about to? Why else would Toyota post a video called “Engines 101: How does a diesel engine work?” 

As noted by Gear Patrol, most of the speculation as of now centers around the Toyota Tundra as the most likely recipient of the diesel transplant. The 2022 Toyota Tundra is set to launch really soon, and with it comes a whole host of upgrades, additions, and updates. This new version of the old pickup-truck-shaped dinosaur is meant to change the pickup truck market just like it did all those years ago when the Tundra debuted. 

Is the 2022 Toyota Tundra going to get a diesel engine? 

2022 Toyota Tundra | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc

Toyota has been releasing a lot of teasers surrounding the launch of the 2022 Toyota Tundra. This weird diesel video is only potentially one of many other teasers. All the hype surrounding the 2022 Tundra paired with the fact that it’s Toyota’s biggest truck makes it a perfect candidate for a diesel powertrain. 

Full-size pickup trucks have the most to gain from getting diesel power. Diesel makes more low-end power for bigger mpg figures. Given the working nature of full-size trucks, many Tundra owners would likely benefit from added towing capacity and fuel economy than a diesel power plant would offer. 

Toyota also needs to address the competition in this arena. GM and Dodge both have long been producing big diesel pickups. Ford has always offered one until just recently. For Toyota to go on ignoring this segment would be foolish. But seeing as how the new Land Cruiser also just launched with a new diesel makes the case that Toyota is definitely interested in bringing diesel to the American market. 

But what if Toyota doesn’t give us a diesel? 

The 2022 Toyota Fortuner parked in mud
2022 Toyota Fortuner | Toyota

This is still very possible. Sure, the video is odd and seems to point toward an American Toyota diesel pickup truck, but what if it isn’t. As previously mentioned, Ford recently cut the 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel from the Ford F-150 lineup. The progression of hybrid power has made a strong argument for the lack of need for diesel pickup trucks. 

Toyota has used other teasers to more clearly point to a hybrid Toyota Tundra for the 2022 model year. This makes much more sense than an oil burner. The winds of change are blowing across the automotive world, and Toyota may be using this time to get involved. 

For years the Toyota Tundra only came in a very fuel-heavy 5.7-liter V8. Many have criticized Toyota more recently for using such a non-environmentally friendly engine. While a diesel would make some sense for American Toyotas, a very torquey hybrid powerplant feels a little more “in touch” with the current market trends. 

The 2022 Toyota Tundra debut should hold all the answers 

As with all teasers and “what ifs,” we are simply going to have to wait until Toyota releases the new Tundra for us to get any real answers. Speculation is fun, but at the end of the day, nothing is certain until the truck goes into production. 

RELATED: Does the Toyota Tacoma or Tundra Come With a Diesel Engine?

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What Happens if a Dealership Totals Your Car?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

For many of us, our vehicles represent the culmination of hard work and countless hours determining what vehicle is the right one to buy. Buying a car in the first place can be a stressful endeavor, but it’s an investment. Cars depreciate pretty quickly once they’re driven off the lot, but having a loan can help build or repair credit, and having the car of your dreams that you’ve worked so hard for is a point of pride. When you do everything right and take your vehicle in for scheduled maintenance, it’s a blow if accidents happen while in the dealership’s care. Unfortunately, this has happened to a few people. So, if a dealership totals your car, what happens next?

What happens if a dealership totals your car?

A totaled vehicle surrounded by police tape | Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

Hopefully, this never happens. However, there have been cases when someone has dropped off their car for routine maintenance or repair at a dealership, and they have come back to find that their car has been damaged, wrecked, or, worse yet, totaled. How does this happen?

Oftentimes, when diagnosing a problem or taking a test drive after routine maintenance or repair, technicians will drive the vehicle on roads and streets around the dealership. This is common practice because a quick trip around the lot won’t usually do much. However, nything can happen on a short drive.

That’s what happened to a woman in Houston. She dropped off her new 2020 Ford Escape for a routine oil change and came to pick it up only to find it had been completely totaled. In her case, the dealership wouldn’t take responsibility, nor would the technician’s insurance. She had to file a claim with her own insurance and let them hash it out with the dealership and the other insurance company. 

Dealerships have their own general liability insurance that should cover just such an event. Every dealership should have this coverage. It covers anything that might happen while they have the vehicle in custody, whether they own it or not. Another policy they should have is a Garage Keeper’s policy. This policy would cover any vandalism, theft, or damage in the garage that isn’t related to driving the car. For example, if a lift broke and dropped a vehicle, it would be covered under the Garage Keeper’s policy.

The process can be a long one, if they don’t cooperate

Dealing with insurance companies can be a hassle anyway, but if the dealership doesn’t cooperate, then it’s even more of one. In the case of the woman from Houston, the Tomball Ford dealership didn’t cooperate. She had to contact several people before finally handing it all off to her own insurance company.

However, even when dealerships cooperate, you may be out some money. According to the Hartford Courant, a Mustang Shelby GT500 was totaled by a dealership, and the owner lost money in the incident. The dealership’s insurance covered the incident, but Marc Mastroianni, the owner of the Mustang, claimed that the vehicle was actually worth about $60,000. The dealership’s insurance only paid out $39,385. 

The Litchfield Ford dealership was sympathetic but didn’t offer more. They responded that Mastroianni could buy a far newer vehicle with the settlement, but that doesn’t consider either the sentimental value of the vehicle or the money that Mastroianni had already put into it. The 2008 Mustang Shelby GT500 was one of only 20 produced and was Mastroianni’s dream car. There’s no replacing that.

What can you do if a dealership damages your car?

Don’t be shy about contacting a lawyer if you feel that you are owed more than initially offered. All dealerships should have general liability and Garage Keeper’s insurance policies, but don’t walk away with the first offer if you feel like it isn’t enough to cover the vehicle’s value. After all, it’s up to the vehicle’s owner to get the best-negotiated settlement.

Hopefully, this never happens to you!

RELATED: 5 Questions You Shouldn’t Answer When You Walk Into a Car Dealership

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How Much Is a 1953 Corvette Worth?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Chevy Corvette holds a special place in the history and lore of American sports cars. And though many cars of the past are no longer produced, the Corvette has endured and continues to evolve. 

The birth of an American icon

1953 Chevy Corvette | Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The Corvette began as Chevrolet’s entry into the arena of world-class sports cars. General Motors’ design chief at the time, Harley Earl, was inspired by the European sports cars he saw racing at New York’s Watkins Glen International racetrack, Car and Driver recounts.

Chevy’s foray into the scene had a twofold purpose. First, it aimed at demonstrating an American automaker could contend internationally with the beauty and appeal of manufacturers like MG, Jaguar, and Porsche. Second, Chevrolet wanted to outsell and outdo its domestic rival, Ford.

Although its designers wanted Chevy’s sports car to be destined for greatness with a stylish and sleek design, the original 1953 Corvette had bare-bones options and trim, C/D reports. It would take time for the Vette to launch itself to the status it enjoys today. But its appeal is indubitable. 

What is a 1953 Corvette worth today?

According to Business Insider, one of the 300 original 1953 Corvettes commanded close to $250,000 each. It fetched that amount after being carefully garaged and meticulously restored to its original appearance and specifications.

Although these cars are sought-after now, the Corvette had an interesting start. In 1953, Chevy didn’t want to invest too heavily in the new endeavor because it wasn’t sure of the Corvette’s future, C/D reports. As a result, all 300 Corvettes from that year were a hodgepodge of components that Chevrolet already had on hand for other models. 

Performance-wise, the Corvette packed an inline-six-cylinder engine Chevy called the “Blue Flame.” It produced 150 hp and had a standard Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission. Its frame and sedan suspension were other borrowed parts. 

Optional extras were practically nonexistent and included an AM radio and heater. The Corvette offered only one exterior color and no interior options. So all 1953 production models bore Polo White paint jobs and red vinyl interiors. Interestingly, the cars had no external door handles, and Chevy replaced the windows with plastic side curtains.

But what set the Corvette aside was its innovative fiberglass body. The material was more readily available than steel, which was going toward the Korean War effort. Fiberglass was also lighter and regarded as an excellent modern material. The Corvette was actually the first mass-produced fiberglass-bodied car in the United States, C/D reports.

What was the 1953 Corvette price when it was new?

One of the original limited-production 1953 Corvettes retailed for $3,490, History reports. It was a considerable price to pay when the median annual income averaged $3,200, the U.S. Census Bureau reports. That figure adjusted for inflation today would be a little over 10 times as expensive, with a sticker price of about $35,300, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates.

It’s useful to note that other cars in the early 1950s cost around $1,500, Reader’s Digest reports. So even though its original MSRP and adjusted price might not seem like a lot, a Corvette was potentially twice as expensive as a typical car. Its limited production and pricing are part of what makes this iconic American sports car so intriguing. 

RELATED: This First-Ever Chevy Corvette C8 Is Coming to Japan Before Anywhere Else

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