The Best Used Cars for 2021 According to CarGurus

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Buying a car in 2021 has been different than any other year. The pandemic, the global chip shortage, and the resulting new and used car inventory shortages have made buying cars a tricky affair. These events have turned the automotive marketplace into a “seller’s market,” which means that many buyers have had a tough time scoring really good deals on used cars. However, CarGurus recently put together a list of the “Best Used Cars for 2021,” which can come in handy if you’re in the market for a used car this year.

CarGurus did its research to find the best used cars for 2021

Numerous 2009 Ford F-150 trucks are parked in a lot before being shipped. | (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

CarGurus is well-known for its classifieds section that guides users to finding fair, good, and great deals. But did you know that the editors at CarGurus provide plenty of insights and reviews to accompany those listings? It’s all in an effort to help you find the right car at the best price possible.

As such, CarGurus researched reviews from users and their editors, in addition to researching various depreciation rates, to compile a list of the most popular vehicles among CarGurus shoppers.

“CarGurus’ Best Used Car Awards have become an industry mainstay for the last five years, and the extra layer of guidance and trust they provide is even more important this year, as car shoppers consider purchasing a used vehicle due to the current new-vehicle inventory shortage,” said Matt Smith, Deputy Editor at CarGurus.

“Each of this year’s winners and finalists earned their accolades through our data-driven analysis that looked into several factors such as availability, value retention, and reviews from both industry experts and consumers.”

The Best Used Car Awards for 2021

Here are the awards that were given by CarGurus for 2021, listed in order by vehicle categories:

Best Used Small Crossover/SUV Award:
First place: 2017-2021 Mazda CX-5
Second place: 2017-2021 Kia Sportage
Third place: 2017-2021 Honda CR-V

Best Used Small Crossover Award:
First place: 2011-2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Second place: 2016-2020 Kia Sorento
Third place: 2013-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Best Used Large Crossover/SUV Award:
First place: 2011-2019 Ford Explorer
Second place: 2015-2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
Third Place: 2017-2021 GMC Acadia

Best Used Luxury Crossover/SUV
First place: 2016-2021 Volvo XC90
Second place: 2016-2020 Lexus RX
Third place: 2016-2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Best Used Sedan/Hatchback Award
First place: 2017-2020 Hyundai Elantra
Second place: 2016-2020 Kia Optima
Third place: 2016-2020 Honda Civic

Best Used Luxury Sedan Award
First place: 2014-2020 Lexus IS
Second place: 2011-2018 Volvo S60
Third place: 2015-2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Best Used Pickup Truck Award
First place: 2016-2021 Toyota Tacoma
Second place: 2015-2021 Chevrolet Colorado
Third place: 2017-2020 Honda Ridgeline

Best Used Full-Size Pickup Truck Award
First place: 2015-2020 Ford F-150
Second place: 2013-2018 RAM 1500
Third place: 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Best Minivan Award
First place: 2017-2021 Chrysler Pacifica
Second place: 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey
Third place: 2011-2020 Toyota Sienna

Best Used Sports Car Award
First place: 2015-2021 Ford Mustang
Second place: 2014-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
Third place: 2016-2018 Ford Focus RS

CarGurus has buyers in mind

2019 Ford Mustang
2019 Ford Mustang 5.0 is on display at the 111th Annual Chicago Auto Show. | (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

The award nominees were selected based on CarGurus consumer reviews, professional test drive reviews, popularity, availability, and CarGuru’s projected 12-year value retention. The models with the highest rankings were the winners.

This goes to show that CarGurus is not only dedicated to helping you find the right used car using its classifieds listings, but it can also help you from a well-rounded approach like these awards.

RELATED: Toyota Makes 2 of the 3 Best Road Trip Cars, According to CarGurus

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These Are the 3 Best RV Campgrounds for Fall Foliage in New England

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There’s nothing quite like RV camping in the fall, especially if you live in New England and find yourself lusting after those vibrant fall foliage views. And if you haven’t planned your annual fall foliage camping trip just yet? You might want to consider planning a road trip to one of the best RV campgrounds for fall foliage in New England. 

Quechee State Park is among the best RV campgrounds for fall foliage in New England

Vermont in Fall | John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

New England is known for its vibrant fall views, making it no surprise that Koa highlighted Quechee State Park in Vermont as one of the best RV campgrounds for fall foliage in New England. The Vermont campgrounds feature a total of 45 tent and RV sites. The campgrounds are open through October 17 too. 

Quechee State Park isn’t just one of the best RV campgrounds for fall foliage in New England either. This Vermont campground is also home to Vermont’s deepest gorge, which was created by glacial activity 13,000 years ago. Visit the gorge during peak fall foliage season, and you’ll be sure to enjoy the views of the Ottauquechee River, flowing 165 feet below the gorge.

Franconia Notch State Park is a fall foliage destination in New England that shouldn’t be missed

Autumn landscape at Echo Lake in Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire. one of the best RV campgrounds for fall foliage in New England
Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire | John Greim/Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Perhaps RV camping in Vermont isn’t quite your style. The good news is that Franconia Notch State Park is another great fall foliage destination in New England. As a matter of fact, according to RV Life, Franconia Notch State Park is one of the best fall foliage destinations in New England. 

The RV campground is located between the Franconia and Kinsman mountain ranges in northern New Hampshire and is home to the “Great Stone Face” immortalized by writers Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster. While you’re there, ride the aerial tramway at Cannon Mountain, dip your toes in Echo Lake, and ride your bike on the Recreational Trail. At the end of the day, settle in at Cannon Mountain RV Park.

Hammonasset Beach State Park is the perfect waterfront RV campground for leaf peepers

Looking out over the marshes in Long Island Sound near Westport, Connecticut, close to Hammonasset State Park
Long Island Sound | Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images

With more than two miles of beach along the Long Island Sound and a boardwalk that spans about 3/4 of a mile along the water, it’s no surprise that RV Life highlighted Hammonasset Beach State Park as one of the best RV campgrounds for in New England. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good oceanside view? 

Of course, Hammonasset Beach State Park has more to offer than peak fall foliage views. Hammonasset is Connecticut’s largest public beach park and offers more than 550 grassy campsites. To make your trip even more convenient, the RV campground offers a dumping station, bathrooms, and even showers.

There are plenty of other fall foliage destinations in New England to check out

Fall is the perfect time to plan an RV camping trip. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good view? Fortunately, the best RV campgrounds for fall foliage in New England make for some pretty sweet spots to visit. 

RELATED: The Best Scenic Drives for Leaf-Peeping In the Northeast

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Can You Die From Inhaling Gas Fumes?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Since the turn of the century, the auto market has focused more and more on electric vehicles (EVs). In addition to being convenient and quiet, EVs allow consumers to move toward a more sustainable future. No one knows how close we are to running out of fossil fuels, but concern that gasoline is a limited resource drives EV production and innovation. Whether they’re gas-powered or use electricity created by fossil fuels, it’s only so long until cars are forced to use cleaner propulsion methods. Gas has become cleaner over the years, but it’s still made of toxic chemicals that threaten car safety standards.

Gas is safer than ever, but…

A car emitting gas exhaust fumes from its tailpipe | Osama Faisal/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

If you’re part of the younger generation, you might have seen an “unleaded” sign on a gas pump and wondered what it means. For most of the 20th century, gasoline (like paint in the same era) contained lead. Years of scientific research proved that lead was causing adverse health effects, especially in growing children. In the 1970s and 1980s, America converted the fuel supply to unleaded, eventually banning leaded gasoline in 1986. It’s no longer hazardous to stand within the exhaust range of American cars, but that doesn’t mean that modern gasoline is 100% safe.

Medical News Today recently updated its information page regarding gasoline poisoning. The extremely flammable liquid that produces fumes and generates exhaust is (unsurprisingly) still dangerous to inhale, even if it isn’t as blatant as leaded gas used to be. The largest danger of breathing in gas fumes is that the hydrocarbons can enter the bloodstream and eventually affect the brain and other organs.

Can you really die from inhaling gas fumes?

Gasoline exposure can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms vary, but they can all be fatal.  Symptoms range from kidney disease to dizziness to irritability. However, it’s not likely to occur simply from driving in rush hour traffic (or from a new car smell). The cause is usually heavy machinery (or other gas burning) in an enclosed environment or exposure to open gas tanks (due to the fumes). To prevent gasoline poisoning, take the following steps:

  • Avoid breathing near exhaust vents or pipes.
  • Ensure you’re regularly getting fresh air when working around machinery.
  • Be careful not to ingest or allow gasoline to remain on your skin.

If you suspect that you or someone close to you is suffering from gasoline exposure, call Poison Control at 800-222-1222. In the case of severe symptoms, call 911.

How does gasoline poisoning occur?

The hydrocarbons from gasoline fumes (alkanes, benzene, toluene, and xylenes) can be harmful or fatal, but the more common danger is the exhaust produced when gas is burned. Carbon monoxide in an enclosed space can be deadly very quickly in high concentrations or over a longer time frame in lower concentrations. Purely breathing the fumes (gasoline inhalation) can result in the following symptoms: coughing and other breathing difficulties, headaches/dizziness, heart failure, and more. Because of how the hydrocarbons attack the nervous system, a wide range of symptoms is possible, but they can all eventually be deadly.

However, inhaling fumes isn’t the only danger when it comes to gas. Touching the liquid generally isn’t dangerous if it’s for a brief amount of time and quickly washed off. Still, over time, gasoline can cause rashes and burns, along with temporary (or permanent) blindness if it makes its way to the eye. It should go without saying, but ingesting gasoline in liquid form is also dangerous and potentially deadly.

RELATED:  Can You Start a Fire With Your Cell Phone While Pumping Gas?

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The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Needs Family Improvements

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We’ve been spotting a few Jeep Grand Cherokee L models on the streets. It’s pretty exciting to see the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L out on family vacations and running errands. But there are a few ways it could be improved for family travel. 

Is the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L worth buying? 

Two 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L models | Jeep

Yes, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a great option to consider. If you love Jeep, this one is a little larger with a third row. This means that you have room to take your kids, the dog, and all their stuff with you. 

You can get started in a new Jeep Grand Cherokee L for about $36,996. It gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city and up to 26 mpg on the highway, so it is a little thirsty. But the luxury interior, off-roading capability, and more should make up for that. However, one critic found a few things to improve for family travel. 

Possible Grand Cherokee L drawbacks 

According to the team at Cars.com, the third row in the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L doesn’t have latch anchors. The latch anchors are in the second row, and the anchors are easy to access and utilize. 

However, a latch anchor in the third row would provide an extra place for a child to sit. It would also make things more flexible for traveling families. Rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade have them in the back. You can use the seat belts in the third row to stall car seats, but this can be more difficult to figure out. 

When installing a booster or forward-facing seat, the car seat needs to be flush against the seatback to fit correctly. The head restraints on the seats may get in the way and prevent booster seats from fitting, and they can’t be removed. The head restraints are stuck where they are! 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is also missing the beloved Uconnect Theater functionality that’s found in the Chrysler Pacifica. It allows for the touchscreens in the second row to display DVDs, media from HDMI-connected devices, and built-in games. It serves as a feature that would be convenient during long road trips. 

What family-friendly features come with the Jeep Grand Cherokee L? 

The McIntosh MX950 audio system in a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve McIntosh MX950 audio system | Jeep

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is large and versatile. You can opt for captain’s chairs in the second row. There are 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row that expands to 46.9 cubic feet when it’s folded down. Also, there’s up to 84.6 cubic feet total. 

You can get up to 12 USB-A and C ports throughout the cabin, and there is plenty of storage for smaller items. You get side-window sunshades, a rear-seat reminder, and an in-cabin camera too. 

The 10.1-inch touchscreen can be equipped with in-dash navigation and real-time weather updates. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and you can upgrade to wireless connectivity. 

Plus, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers more standard safety features. You get standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. Lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control also come standard. 

RELATED: Why Does This 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Model Top $70,000?

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