by Gabrielle DeSantis

Today we have a battle of the Pros. Literally, the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X is coming after the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. But does the new Nissan Frontier Pro-4X have the chops to take on the champ?

The 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X vs. the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 

2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X | Nissan

Finally, after receiving its first redesign since 2005, the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X looks the part. It has a more prominent stance and boxy design for a more confident look. It also has a more prominent grille, new LED lights, and a new rear end. 

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro still looks excellent, but now it could seem a little dated in comparison. The Tacoma was redesigned in 2016, making it the youngest member of Toyota’s current off-roading selection. 

Does the Frontier or Tacoma have more power? 

The base engine in the 2021 Toyota Tacoma is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder option with 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. But you can upgrade to the 3.5-liter V6 engine with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. 

With the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X, you get a 3.8-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, the Frontier can tow up to 6,720 lbs and carry a payload of up to 1,867 lbs. The Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 lbs and carry up to 1,685 lbs. 

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has the edge for off-roading. The Tacoma has electronic aids such as crawl-control off-road cruise control, hill start assist, and Multi-Terrain traction control, while the Frontier does not. However, both trucks feature a part-time four-wheel drive system with a dedicated low range.

Plus, the Tacoma features internal bypass Fox shock absorbers, dedicated off-road front and rear springs, and TRD Off-Road wheels wrapped in Goodyear All-Terrain Kevlar-reinforced tires. Both trucks feature a factory-installed life, skid plates, and an electronically locking rear differential. 

The off-roading trims provide a bumpier ride. But both trucks have made improvements for a smoother ride with updated insulation materials to keep noise out of the cab. The Frontier may have the edge on on-pavement comfort, though. 

Does the Frontier or Tacoma have better features? 

2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in Electric Lime
2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in Electric Lime | Toyota

You can get started in the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X for about $37,490. The base model starts at around $29,015. The 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro begins at about $44,325, and the base model starts at around $26,400. 

The Frontier has an updated cabin with more quality materials. The Tacoma’s interior is starting to age and still uses a ton of plastic materials. Also, the Frontier offers more storage cubbies and a place to store items under the backseat. 

With the Frontier, you get an 8.0-inch touchscreen that can be upgraded to a 9.0-inch unit. The Tacoma has a 7.0-inch display that can be upgraded to an 8.0-inch screen. Both trucks offer Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. 

The Tacoma features standard forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. These features are optional with the Frontier. 

So while the Frontier Pro-4X can’t keep up with the TRD Pro in the wild, it’s still highly capable. It may also be the more comfortable and refined daily driver. We recommend giving both options a test drive.

RELATED: Nissan Frontier vs. Toyota Tacoma: Which Truck Is More Reliable?

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Kia Telluride and the 2021 Toyota Highlander are both Consumer Reports-recommended SUVs. The Telluride has an almost perfect road test score, as well as a perfect reliability rating and a decent owner satisfaction score. The 2021 Toyota Highlander has an excellent road-test score, as well as an excellent reliability rating and a very good owner satisfaction score. So which is better, and how can you choose between them?

2021 Kia Telluride | Kia

The Kia Telluride’s road test score blows away the Toyota Highlander’s

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Kia Telluride a 4/5 for its acceleration. It takes 7.2 seconds to go from 0 to 60. Its transmission scores a 5/5. Routine handling is a 3/5 and emergency handling gets a very good 4/5. The Kia Telluride’s max avoidance speed is 54 mph.

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Toyota Highlander a 4/5 for its acceleration. It takes 7.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60. Its transmission scores a 4/5. Routine and emergency handling get a 3/5. The Toyota Highlander’s max avoidance speed is 50 mph. 

The Kia Telluride gets a perfect 5/5 for its braking. It can brake from 60 mph on dry pavement in 127 feet and 133 feet on wet pavement. The Telluride’s headlights score an excellent  4/5.

The Toyota Highlander gets a 4/5 for its braking. It can brake from 60 mph on dry pavement in 132 feet and 141 feet on wet pavement. The Highlander’s headlights score an okay 3/5.

Comfort in the 2021 Kia Telluride and 2021 Toyota Highlander is similar

As far as comfort, the 2021 Kia Telluride gets a fantastic 4/5 for its ride, as well as for noise. Front-seat comfort is very good, at a 4/5. Rear seat comfort gets a fantastic 5/5. Third row comfort is only a 1/5. Interior fit and finish get a very good 4/5. The trunk and cargo space also score a 4/5, with 47.5 cubic feet of storage space.

As far as comfort, the 2021 Toyota Highlander gets a fantastic 4/5 for its ride, as well as for noise. Front-seat comfort is very good, at a 4/5. Rear seat comfort gets a fantastic 5/5. Third row comfort is only a 1/5.

Interior fit and finish get a very good 4/5. The trunk and cargo space also score a 3/5, with 41 cubic feet of storage space.

Reliability and owner satisfaction in the Telluride is perfect

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Kia Telluride a perfect 5/5 for its predicted reliability. The 2020 also had an excellent reliability rating, with no problem areas. The power equipment in the 2020 did get 4/5, though everything else is 5/5.

The Telluride gets a perfect predicted owner satisfaction score, at a 5/5. The driving experience gets an 86, while comfort gets a 93. Styling gets a 91, and value is a 70. 91% of people would buy the 2021 Kia Telluride again, which is more than any other SUV in its category.

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Toyota Highlander a near-perfect 4/5 for its predicted reliability. Both the 2019 and 2020 have a 4/5 for reliability ratings. The in-car electronics in the 2020 get a 3/5. In the 2019 the fuel system and in-car electronics both get a 2/5.

The Highlander gets an excellent predicted owner satisfaction score, at a 4/5. The driving experience gets an 84, while comfort gets an 85. Styling gets a 79, and value is a 48. 78% of people would buy the 2021 Toyota Highlander again.

Although there isn’t a huge difference in the Consumer Reports ratings between the 2021 Kia Telluride and the 2021 Toyota Highlander, there is a difference. Perhaps most surprising is that Kia is offering up such a solid challenger to Toyota, which has been a longtime family favorite. If you’re in the market for a new SUV, the Kia Telluride is an excellent choice.

RELATED: What’s Behind the 2021 Kia Telluride’s Almost Perfect Consumer Reports Road Test Score?

The post The 2021 Kia Telluride Is a Standout Against a Longtime Favorite appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

After taking on the role as president, Joe Biden signed several executive orders in a few weeks. One such executive order, the “Buy American” order, is often overlooked and misunderstood, but it may significantly impact car sales and production in the United States. Learn more about how this “Buy American” plan differs from Trump‘s, Biden’s visit to a truck manufacturer, and when this plan will roll out below. 

Joe Biden’s “Buy American” plan differs from Trump’s

Joe Biden at the Mack Truck Lehigh Valley Operations factory | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Many have remarked that Biden’s “Buy American” plan sounds like an executive order that Trump signed during his tenure. Interestingly, Trump did have his own versions of “Buy American” executive orders, three of them to be exact, but they did not produce any tangible effects in the short or long term. In fact, the origins of the term “Buy American” span back decades, according to The Hill.

These orders from Trump encouraged government agencies and organizations to purchase American-made goods with monetary incentives for doing so, as well as fines and punishments for failing to do so. Unfortunately, there were and are several loopholes, in the form of waivers, with past efforts to encourage the purchase of American goods or services, so they often don’t produce the intended effect. This occurred during the Trump administration, rendering the orders ineffective.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration released a plan to have White House oversight on these waivers, hopefully reducing the number of agencies trying to game the system by using waivers. 

Joe Biden’s recent visit to Mack Trucks

Last month, Biden visited a Mack Trucks facility in Pennsylvania to announce his plans to put more federal funding into American-made products, including the Mack trucks that were on display behind him as he spoke. The current rule is that the federal government must spend a certain threshold on products made in America. However, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, this rule allows products made with only 55% of American parts or components to count as American-made. 

Biden’s new proposal would slowly increase that percentage up to 75%. Plus, he included that companies would have to prove that the products being labeled American-made truly have met that threshold instead of largely relying on the honor system. Biden called these proposals, “The biggest enforcement changes in ‘Buy America’ in 70 years.”

If you have ever seen large trucks on the highway delivering various types of cargo across the country, you have likely seen the work of Mack Trucks, a producer of semi-trucks. According to the Mack website, the company was founded in 1900 and has been one of North America’s largest semi-truck producers for decades. 

When does the Biden administration plan to roll out his “Buy American” plan?

Biden’s 75% plan is set to roll out gradually to give companies enough time to adapt their products to rely more on American materials and labor. The first change, an expectation of 60% American components, would take place immediately. The expectation of 75% American-made components wouldn’t be put into place until 2029. 

According to the White House, the federal government spends about $600 billion on contracts in the United States, and around half of those funds go toward buying products.  The Philadelphia Inquirer states that these figures include the approximately 1,500 Mack trucks used by civilian and military agencies. 

Critics of the plan argue that this will require more spending from the U.S. government and state that this could negatively affect the number of jobs available in the future. Others speculate that this could make prices increase for everyday Americans even more. 

RELATED: President Biden Takes the Ford F-150 Lightning Out For a Spin: ‘This Sucker’s Quick’

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

In America, the second-generation Kia Soul had an all-electric version available. Not only that, it was incredibly affordable, and still is today. Those used electric Kia Souls can range from $10,000 to $15,000. But with the third generation Soul EV, Kia bumped the price tag up to the point where it doesn’t seem worth it.

2021 Kia Soul EV | Kia

The 2021 Kia Soul EV isn’t available in America, and costs an awful lot

Without modifications, the Kia Soul EV has a 201 hp electric motor that can go for a total of 243 miles before needing a recharge. But it starts at £32,000, or $37,000. That’s a hefty price tag for just 243 miles of range. And while you also get a few other goodies, it’s not $37,000 worth of equipment. There’s a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control, and that’s about it.

When you put into a comparison that the base model Kia Soul sold in America starts at under $20,000, and the top trim Turbo starts at $27,000, you start to wonder what Kia is smoking. And that turbo has the exact same 201 horsepower rating while costing $10,000 less.

If Kia were charging $37,000 for their beach-ready Boardmaster EV then maybe I’d bite. With an extra 4.3 inches of height up front and 4.5 inches at the back, roof racks that can fit two surfboards on top, and solar panel powered LED lights. Not to mention all the same interior features (minus the third row of seats)

But even the quality of this Kia-built Boardmaster isn’t exactly high. It looks like someone pieced this together with parts out of the junk bin rather than a $37,000 car made from the factory. Though, in some ways, maybe that’s a good thing.

The Kia Soul Boardmaster looks somewhat thrown together

Kia Soul EV Boardmaster Interior, Solar Panel, And Power Display
Kia Soul EV Boardmaster Interior, Solar Panel, And Power Display | Kia

You may think that’s a criticism, but it’s actually a compliment. The Boardmaster, presented at the Boardmaster surf and music festival in Cornwall, looks like something anyone build do at home. Its rudimentary style fits in perfectly with the surfing scene, with a wooden trunk to protect the fabric from loads of sand that’d be dragged in.

Would I buy a Kia Soul EV for $37,000 if it looked thrown together? No. But would I buy a Kia Soul for $19,190, then build the LED light strip and wooden trunk liner myself? Absolutely. The look of this Kia Soul alone is enough to bring beach bums to tears (of joy), but if I were going to have one, I’d want to make it myself.

However, the Boardmaster is a one-off built by Kia for the festival only. And since the Kia Soul EV won’t be available in the states, you’ll have to either build it yourself or hope automakers fill the very niche market of offroad electric vehicles.

Will we see more offroady electric cars?

Kia Soul EV Boardmaster Driving
Kia Soul EV Boardmaster | Kia

We’ve already seen Audi participate in the Dakar Rally with the RS Q E-Tron, and some automakers are coming out with off-road capable trucks like the GMC Hummer. Provided, offroading and beach bumming are two very different markets. One is about being rugged, the other is about being relaxed.

The closest production electric beach vehicle I can think of is the upcoming Volkswagen ID Buzz, which will be on sale in 2023. But that’s cheating a bit, since the Volkswagen Bus was infamous for being the king of chill road trips.

Maybe the Boardmaster will be the one and only example of a beach-ready vehicle from the factory. But as of now, an electric Kia Soul would only be worth $37,000 if it were as tricked out as the Boardmaster.

RELATED: The 2020 Kia Soul Was Voted the Best Affordable Car

The post The 2021 Kia Soul EV Is Ridiculously Expensive (In Europe) appeared first on MotorBiscuit.