Florida Man in Camo Dodge Charger Plays Bumper Cars With Deputies

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Running from law enforcement is definitely not recommended, even if your car is decked out in camouflage. A Florida man recently learned the hard way on Monday, while trying to evade deputies in Martin County. Beforehand, the 21-year old suspect had led multiple police agencies on a high-speed chase while driving a powerful Dodge Charger.

They saw him rollin’

Deputies inspect a suspect’s Dodge Charger after pursuit | Martin County Sheriff’s Office

Per reporting by WPTV, the pursuit started dozens of miles away in Broward County. The man was fleeing law enforcement as the suspect of multiple burglaries. Apparently, after assaulting an officer he crossed into neighboring Palm Beach County and headed north. Among other things, he’s accused of ramming police vehicles during the high-speed chase that followed.

The Dodge Charger he was driving appears to be a Scat Pack model, judging by the front grille emblem and hood scoop. With the 392 cubic-inch V8 under the hood, that particular variant has 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. Given enough traction, it can go from 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds and top out around 175 MPH.

Despite having a 6.4-liter Hemi at his disposal, the suspect was eventually cornered by Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies. At least he put on a nice smoke show with the Charger’s rear tires before it all ended. Might as well, right?

Deputies were not impressed by Florida man’s donuts

After outrunning the attempted PIT maneuver from the black Ford Explorer, the suspect rammed into a pickup. Apparently, a deputy was driving that truck as well. We can see it a few frames later as part of a Dodge sandwich. Judging by the tire smoke, the Charger was having trouble putting all that power down in what was likely a panic situation.

At the end of round two with those vehicles, the authorities finally brought the Scat Pack to a halt. Amazingly, the Florida man somehow made it out of the driver’s door and then attempted to run on foot. Surrounded by deputies, he quickly surrendered moments later. Given the circumstances, that was the best thing that could have happened.

It’ll buff out…

A Florida man's Dodge Charger after high speed pursuit
Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies at the scene | Martin County Sheriff’s Office

Unfortunately, the Charger did incur some slightly massive damage to the front end and rear quarter panels. It could be fixed easily enough though and the car would definitely grab some attention at a police auction. Or it could make a nice addition to the fleet at Martin County Sheriff’s Office. It even comes in a fetching shade of blue and it’s actually not a bad paint scheme, as far as camo goes.

The suspect is facing charges of fleeing and eluding, burglary, and assault/battery on a police officer. Luckily, it appears that no one was seriously injured in the mayhem that stretched across three counties in South Florida. This could have easily gone in another direction and ended in a much more tragic fashion.

RELATED: How Helpful Is Dodge’s New Security Mode Feature?

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The Tesla Model S Has Some Interesting Competition for Most Popular EV

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Tesla Model S is a hell of an EV. Currently, the top-tier Plaid model is just about the fastest thing in a straight line out there. However, its biggest competitor isn’t another luxury EV like a Lucid or Rivian. No, it’s something a little more… economical. The Nissan Leaf. Frankly, it’s pretty surprising. The two really could not be more different. However, given the wealth divide we see in America, maybe it makes sense.

The Tesla Model S deserves its spot

The Plaid is about the fastest thing on four wheels right now | Tesla

I’m going to try really hard to be nice to Tesla here, as I’m historically not. For good reason. However, that said, the Tesla Model S is a fantastic EV. No, it’s a fantastic car. It absolutely deserves that MotorTrend Car of the Year spot it won a few years back. I struggle to think of another car that has led to the adoption of an entirely new industry since the Ford Model T.

The Tesla Model S is truly groundbreaking. It made EVs cool again. Now, the Model S Plaid is just about the fastest thing on the street, with a near two second 0-60 time. Not to mention the Supercharger network, which works beautifully. The only drawback is its price. A used Model S, current market notwithstanding, will set you back around $50-$80,000. The new Plaid? North of $100,000.

Nissan’s Leaf is the EV for the masses

A map of the United States, showing which EV is popular in each state, with the Nissan Leaf pulling out a clear lead
The Leaf has pulled out a clear lead | iSeeCars

That’s where the Nissan Leaf comes in. You can lease one of these bad boys for under $200 a month, even in this market. For a brand-new EV. It’s no wonder iSeeCars discovered it was, state-by-state, more popular than the Tesla Model S. At least in the 25 states with the highest EV sales. Frankly, it’s easy to see why. The Leaf is the chariot of the EV masses. Its small, economical, and practical. That formula is exactly what made watershed cars like the VW Golf so popular.

Of course, price has quite a lot to do with it. A Tesla Model S is expensive. Most people can’t afford it. However, as I said above, the Leaf isn’t. It’s reasonable to own and insure for a much larger number of people. Put in hard numbers, a 2022 Nissan Leaf will set you back around $30,000 with options.

What does the wealth gap have to do with all this?

The Nissan Leaf EV, in silver, photographed in profile
The 2022 Leaf is a fantastic EV | Nissan

And that speaks to the divide of wealth in our country. The wealthiest percentages of our country make more than the majority of us. Some could buy a Tesla Model S a day and not lose their asses over it. The rest of us simply can’t EV ownership has become a reflection of our net worth, just as so many other aspects of our society have. That’s something we need to change, but for now, it at least makes sense why the Nissan Leaf is the Tesla Model S’s biggest competitor.

RELATED: How Are We Going to Recycle EV Batteries?

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Who Makes the Best Ev Charger for Your Ev?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As EVs become a larger and larger part of our lives, there’s naturally more competition in the marketplace. No, I’m not just talking about the sheer number of new EV makers out there. I’m also talking about charging. Outside of Tesla’s proprietary Supercharger network, Americans increasingly have more choice in where they charge. However, for now, there’s really only one manufacturer who’s really figured it out. I’ll give you three guesses.

Tesla’s Supercharger is the best EV charger

Tesla’s network is ever-expanding | Smith Collection via Getty Images

You probably cheated and used the pictures to figure it out, but that’s ok. Tesla’s Supercharger is without a doubt the best EV charger. Let’s start with availability. Currently, per Tesla, there’s more than 25,000 Superchargers globally. That is of course, a lot. A quick glance at their website shows a map that looks more like cell phone coverage than charger availability.

That’s a good thing, as range anxiety is still very much a problem for much of America, specifically more rural parts. I cannot think of another company that has put the resources Tesla has into developing a proprietary charging network. For a while, that was a little bit of a downer for non-Tesla owners looking to use the EV charger. However, that will soon be changing.

The Supercharger network is becoming more accessable

Tesla chargers outside a Target in China
Charging in Beijing | Zhang Peng via Getty Images

According to Elon Musk himself, Tesla Superchargers will become more like standard EV chargers later this year. Soon, Musk says you won’t need a Tesla-built adapter to charge at one of the brand’s chargers. Obviously, that’s good news given the size of the network other EV owners could soon have access to. Frankly, we need a standard, federally mandated EV charger plug.

It’s honestly absurd that automakers are going around each trying to make their own iPhone charger for EVs. It’s time to bend the knee and stick to one layout. Given the popularity of Teslas, maybe it’s best if the brand make the plug type open-source, so that other brands can make their own. Honestly, that plan seems very on-brand for Musk. We’ll have to wait and see if I get an email later. You can also thank me later if it happens.

Tesla needs the Supercharger to stay on top

A Model S plugged into a Supercharger
Clever charge port hiding is key | Mark Reinstein via Getty Images

However, it isn’t just accesability and usability that makes the Supercharger the best. As the name implies, they charge pretty fast. Tesla says 15 minutes at a Supercharger will get you 200 miles of range. That’s roughly equivalent to a fuel stop, plus or minus a few minutes. Honestly, the speed alone is what makes the Supercharger so great. Now we just need standard charging sockets, right Elon?

RELATED: The Tesla Model Y Is the Best-Selling EV This Year – So Far

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The Least Reliable Kia Models Still Recommended by Consumer Reports

by Gabrielle DeSantis

In the market for a new Kia? Chances are, you’re after one that’s among the most reliable new cars on the road today, which means steering clear of the least reliable new Kia models. While that train of thought certainly makes sense, there’s one thing worth keeping in mind. Although new cars like the 2021 Kia Sorento, Kia K5, and even the Kia Stinger are among the least reliable Kia models, Consumer Reports still recommends them. Let’s find out why.

The 2021 Kia Sorento is one of the least reliable Kia models

Unfortunately for the 2021 Kia Sorento, it’s not one of the most reliable new cars on the road today. In fact, it’s one of the least reliable Kia models of the year. Consumer Reports gave this year’s new Kia Sorento a three out of five predicted reliability rating. Such a low score isn’t unusual either. In fact, last year’s model was given a much lower, one out of five reliability rating. 

Despite the Kia Sorento’s reliability ratings, Consumer Reports does recommend the 2021 model. It even gave it a four out of five predicted owner satisfaction rating, adding that 71% of current Kia Sorento owners would consider rebuying the midsize SUV. If you ask us, that makes for a decent enough endorsement.

And if it doesn’t? You’ll be pleased to know that Consumer Reports gave the 2021 Kia Sorento an 83/100 in its road tests. While the organization says that this year’s model isn’t “particularly sporty to drive,” it comes equipped with much more tech and active safety features than previous Kia Sorento model years.

2022 Kia Stinger | Kia

If you’re a fan of the Kia Stinger, you’ll be pleased to know that Consumer Reports recommends both the 2021 and the 2022 models. Unfortunately, despite being recommended by Consumer Reports, the organization did give both model years a three out of five predicted reliability rating. Unfortunately, such a reliability rating isn’t all that unusual for the Kia Stinger. In fact, the organization has given most model years a similarly low rating.

As for why Consumer Reports recommends both the 2021 and the 2022 Kia Stinger? Presumably, it’s because the luxury compact car did well in road tests. The organization gave both model years a 75/100 in its road tests, adding that, the “Stinger proved to be a nimble car that combines performance, style, and practicality.”

Consumer Reports predicts that owners will be equally impressed with the new Kia Stinger. In fact, it gave both model years a four out of five predicted owner satisfaction rating. The organization added that 80% of 2021 Kia Stinger owners surveyed said they would consider buying the vehicle again.

The 2021 Kia K5’s reliability ratings might leave you wondering

The 2021 Kia K5 is also one of the least reliable Kia models still recommended by Consumer Reports. The organization gave this year’s model a three out of five predicted reliability rating. It also noted that this year’s Kia K5 has been recalled three times by the NHTSA. The Kia K5 recalls include problems with the midsize car’s fuel system, lane-departure system, and airbags.

However, much like the Kia Sorento and the Kia Stinger, the 2021 Kia K5 is still recommended by Consumer Reports. As a matter of fact, the organization gave this year’s model some pretty high ratings. After taking it out for a spin, Consumer Reports gave the midsize sedan an 82/100 overall score. “We found this competitively priced midsized sedan to be roomy, fuel-efficient, and user friendly,” Consumer Reports added.

The organization gave the 2021 Kia K5 a four out of five predicted owner satisfaction rating too. Though, that’s not too much of a surprise. The midsize car is competitively priced at under $25,000. It also comes stock full of standard features. And when it comes to safety? The IIHS tapped this year’s model as a Top Safety Pick+.

Is Kia a reliable car brand?

While these models are among the least reliable Kia models, they are still recommended by Consumer Reports. And if you’re a stickler for reliability? You can rest assured knowing that Kia’s lineup does feature several more reliable models. In fact, models like the 2021 Kia Sportage and the 2021 Kia Telluride are among the most reliable new Kia models recommended by Consumer Reports.

RELATED: The Most Reliable 2021 AWD SUVs Recommended by Consumer Reports

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