I Am Deeply in Love With the Kia Beach Ev and You Should Be Too

by Gabrielle DeSantis

I like the ocean. A lot. I grew up watching underwater documentaries in the IMAX with my diver uncles. The idea of the place calms me, and I enjoy being near the water. I surf at every opportunity, despite being landlocked 99% of the time. It seems Kia has unintentionally found the perfect candidate to tell you about the new Kia Beach EV one-off they’ve just built for the Boardmasters surf festival in Cornwall, England.

Built for surfers: the Kia Beach EV

The Beach EV gets more ground clearance and fat tires | Kia

I can tell you from personal experience that surfing is a pain in 99% of climates. Unfortunately, unless you’re in a beachfront house in Hawaii, sand is getting everywhere and there is nothing you can do about it. Thankfully, the Kia Beach EV is built for that, right on up from the three-inch lift and knobbly tires. The Korean brand has replaced the rear seats (who needs ’em) with a flat fold-out seat perfect for wetsuit dismantling.

Speaking of getting that wetsuit off, you can also hang it in the back thanks to a rack for drying said sand-filled item. The Kia Beach EV also takes into account the earth-consciousness shared by most surfers. As the name suggests, it is an EV, but those big tires eat into the original 280-odd miles of range. However, Kia dropped the ball there and saved it by making a nice bench in the back out of reclaimed wood.

Cars and surfing don’t always mix

Two surfboards ratchet-strapped to the roof of the Beach EV
Two boards can be fitted under the solar panel on the roof | Kia

Unfortunately, dropping the ball and saving it is something of a theme with the Kia Beach EV. While I went to Kia’s media site for images, I saw some, well, let’s call them issues. First of all, could Kia really not be bothered to come up with a more pro-looking surfboard rack? I mean, these ones are only a few hundred bucks. Surely, they could spare at least that? However, the brand says that the rack was custom built out of recyclable steel, so points for that.

Moving on, why is it that the solar panel looks like someone drew one onto some paper and affixed it to the roof? That said, the solar panel is there to help at the end of the day. Kia says that you can power other devices via the panel, though they don’t elaborate further. I’m thinking maybe a cell phone charger, but it would be great if a small camp stove were an option.

Eddie would go, and so did Kia

A man carries a surfboard on the beach, silhouetted by the sunset
In pursuit of the endless wave | Said Khatib via Getty Images

Flaws aside, I’m happy the Kia Beach EV exists. I love the idea of a vehicle specifically tailored to one of the activities I enjoy the most. Some people have their SUVs with roof tents, and now I’ve got my specialty vehicle too. It’s good to see manufacturers having a little fun with things, and that’s why you should like the Beach EV. Kia has been hard at work rebuilding their brand image, and it’s great to see a little bit of that goofy hamster-in-a-car style back.

RELATED: Forget the SUV and Take a Sports Car Camping Instead

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These Used Cars Have Seen Prices Increase the Least in 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Used cars have been spiraling out of control due to the poor selection of new cars as a result of the pandemic and related assembly line closings. And the used cars that have spiked in price you wouldn’t want to be buying right now. But there are some used models that have barely eked up in price. That’s what we’ll look at here.

These used cars are a good mix and a range of prices

Used car lots | Getty.

According to iSeeCars, these are the used cars that have seen increased prices of between 0.3 and 0.6 times what used to be the average. It is a good mix of vehicles. And it hits different price points depending on how much you have to spend.  

First on the list is the Mercedes GLC. It is one of the highest-rated vehicles in its class. But it is also one of the most expensive models, with an average price of $34,000. That could be the reason prices for them have not gone up-they are expensive, to begin with.

The midsize Volvo XC90 comes in second. It, and the third-place compact Audi SQ5, hovers at around $40,000. Fifth place goes to a midsize Audi Q7 which also is selling in the high-$30,000 to low- $40,000 range. It resides in the same luxury category as the GLC.

These used SUVs might counter the high-priced large SUVs

Used car lot
Used car lots | Getty.

The Subaru Crosstrek comes in fourth place. In that same category, the ninth Mazda CX-3 and tenth-ranking Mitsubishi Outlander all constitute subcompact SUVs and are some good-rated models. With the Outlander having just been redesigned, it tends to lower the prices of older models. If you need an SUV these might be a good choice should you be turned off by the huge spikes in full-size SUVs.

Coming in sixth is the Tesla Model S. Still the flagship for Tesla, it has lost sales to the lower-priced Model 3 and Model Y. Still, at $52,771 a used Model S sedan is still more than either other Tesla new. 

A used sedan might fit your budget and needs

Used car lots
Used car lots | Getty.

So, if you’re looking for a sedan but not the Model S, how about a Hyundai Accent. This subcompact ranked seventh, with an average price of $11,500. If that is too small, maybe an Audi A7 is in the cards. 

This is Audi’s large sedan, which has seen dwindling popularity for a few years. With its redesign in 2019, A7s built earlier will see fewer asking prices. Average sales prices are around $38,700. 

Keep in mind that as new car inventories slowly get back to normal the high used car prices won’t last. If you can hang onto the vehicle you have now you may reap the rewards of waiting. But the wait will last in 2022, so be patient. Otherwise, you might want to check into the cars listed above. 

RELATED: 3 Worst Used Cars You Should Avoid According to U.S. News and What to Buy Instead

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Mustang Mach-E Surprisingly Surpasses Production of Gas-Powered Mustangs

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Ford Mustang is an iconic car that’s been one of the most famous and beloved cars in American history. When Ford introduced the Mustang Mach-E, it signaled to the world that Ford was truly committing itself to create EVs. This commitment has paid off. Now, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has surpassed its gas-powered siblings in terms of production.

The long history of the Ford Mustang

Mustang Mach-E | The Ford Motor Company

The Mustang was always a powerful car, but it was more than that. The Mustang, much like the muscle cars that it competed with, lived heavily in the memories and dreams of people around the world. Not only was it powerful and fast, but it was also a cool car that people wanted to own and drive.

That was the case with the original Mustang, but its legacy has continued on. The vehicle has been changed to suit the times throughout the years, and Ford hasn’t stopped doing that now. While a gas-powered Mustang with a huge number of engine options is available to fans, so is the Mach-E. 

The Mach-E is an all-electric SUV, unlike the Mustangs of the past. It may not look like a Mustang, but it arguably lives up to what the car represents. It’s a very powerful and fast car, and it seems to represent what most folks will be driving, and that’s an EV.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has hit a very important milestone

The world is still years away from having roads full of EVs, but the Mach-E hit an important milestone recently. According to Green Car Reports, Ford has built more Mach-E vehicles so far in 2021 than it has built regular Mustangs. Green Car Reports said that Ford built 27,816 Mach-Es as of May 2021, while Ford built 26,089 gas-powered Mustangs in those same five months.

Green Car Reports also stated that the gas-powered Mustang still sells better than the Mach-E. Supply chain problems have slowed mustang production. What this milestone shows is that the Mach-E is a very in-demand vehicle. Some customers will have to wait months before they get their hands on a Mach-E. 

This milestone shows that Mach-E can be very successful even in the early days of Ford’s electrification process. While it doesn’t look or drive like a more traditional Mustang, the Mach-E can still compete with the Mustang anyway. 

The world will look very electric by 2030

Ford has been putting a lot of effort into its first few EVs. The F-150 Lightning is Ford’s electric version of the iconic F-150, and Ford wants to make sure that it’s as big of a hit as the Mach-E. Ford’s not stopping at two EVs. Like other automakers, Ford has a goal for electrifying its lineup.

Green Car Reports comments on Ford’s ambitions stating that Ford aims to have EVs make up 40% of its global sales by 2030. Other automakers have said that 2030 will be when their last traditional cars are sold. Regardless, while 2030 seems to be the big year for EV goals, it’s not the end game. Automakers that aren’t phasing out traditional cars by 2030 aim to do so at a later date. So, one way or another, the future will be electric.

RELATED: A BEV World: Mercedes to Expand me Charge Network Worldwide for Push Towards an All-Electric Future

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The Nissan Datsun Might Be Resurrected as an Electric Truck

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Everyone is getting in on the compact truck party. There’s the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Ford Maverick, possibly the Ram Dakota, and more. Now Nissan is getting in on the action, but they could come out with an electric option. Could this mean the return of the Nissan Datsun in EV form? 

The Nissan Datsun might be resurrected 

2021 Nissan Navara | Nissan

Nissan is really pulling a play from left field here. Who saw this coming? Reports suggest that Nissan is planning to build a new truck that slots under the Nissan Frontier. This new truck could also be electric. 

But what would they call the new Nissan electric truck? If we had to guess, then the classic Nissan Datsun would return. Also, if it makes a fully electric compact truck, it will be the first brand to do so. 

There is the Ford Maverick Hybrid, but it’s not a plug-in hybrid and still requires gas. But the Ford F-150 Lightning is a massive electric truck that people are excited about. The Telsa Cybertruck will eventually arrive too. 

But people are attracted to compact trucks because of their smaller size. They are much easier to maneuver than full-size trucks, which are now larger than World War II tanks. An electric Nissan truck would combine fuel efficiency with easy maneuverability. 

What happened to the Datsun? 

The Nissan Datsun has quite a bit of history. Datsun emerged in Japan back in 1911 as an automaker. DAT means lightning fast, which is a perfect logo for a new electric truck. It became a part of Nissan in 1934, and Datsun began exporting vehicles to other countries.  

In 1934, the first Datsun truck emerged, but then it was revived after the war in 1946. The compact Nissan Dastun was manufactured in Japan from 1955 until 1997. In American, the Datsun was also known as the Nissan Hardbody. 

You could get the Nissan D21 or Datsun in the United States in 1985. It was a direct competitor against the Toyota Hilux, which was the predecessor to the larger Toyota Tacoma that we have today. 

The Datsun was the predecessor to the midsize Nissan Frontier. It was discontinued in the United States in 1998. But Mexico continued making these hardbody trucks until 2008. 

What about the Nissan Navara? 

The 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X driving through dirt
2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X | Nissan

While the Nissan Datsun is a cool truck, the Nissan Navara provides more clues about electrification. The 2023 Nissan Navara EV will arrive in other markets such as South Africa and Europe with multiple upgrades. 

We hope that the Navara is a preview of what we can expect in the United States with Nissan’s new electric truck. It will feature a restyled grille, C-shaped LED lights, a new rear bumper, side steps, and redesigned taillights. 

The Nissan Navara Pro-4X will feature a more aggressive look for off-roading with beefy 17-inch wheels. Imagine a smaller electric version of the Frontier Pro-4X built for off-roading in America. This speculation is all very exciting. 

We know that Nissan is doing something with an electric truck, and an option that’s smaller than the Frontier will be available in the United States. We aren’t sure when we will see it or what it will be named. But the return of the Nissan Datsun truck would be epic.

RELATED: Why Can’t the U.S. Get The Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior?

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