Is Toyota Still One of the Most Reliable Car Brands?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Toyota has long been regarded as one of the most reliable brands. In the eyes of consumers, Toyota and Honda are the brands to beat when it comes to reliability. That might come from a stigma that’s been around since the 1980s. American cars back then were hot messes, and next to the reliable Hondas and Toyotas it was a no-brainer. 

Today, American cars are reliable, but they still carry that same reputation from 40 years ago. Some consumers may look at Toyota with rose-tinted glasses, pointing at the past to prove its dependability. Today, however, may paint a different picture.

Countless class-action lawsuits

Toyota 4Runner Frame Rust | ELG, P.C.

For a brand that supposedly makes some of the most reliable cars ever, Toyota has a habit of putting its cars’ owners in danger and then ignoring it. Toyota just settled a $3.4-billion class-action lawsuit for rusted frames in its trucks, just a few years ago. Unless Toyota got a time machine, it’s going through the same thing again. 

As of 2018, Toyota is in another class-action lawsuit over more rusted frames, this time in its 4Runners from 2003-2009. That’s not all either. Toyota has undergone over 300 lawsuits in both state and federal courts for its faulty accelerators. 

Horrible engine and transmission problems

Owners experienced sludge buildup in their Toyota engines. This came to a head in 2007, when Toyota settled a class-action lawsuit covering 2.5-million vehicles under Toyota and Lexus brands, between 1997-2002. Toyota chalked it up to poor maintenance, but fixed the problem anyway. 

While it could very well be due to poor maintenance, sludge buildup occurs when the oil is exposed to high heat for a long time, and typically doesn’t manifest as sludge in as quick as five years. Even if it was from negligence, 3.5 million owners experiencing the same problem is an awfully big coincidence. 

Automatic transmissions were a constant point of failure in the RAV4 for multiple generations. Owners cite violent jerking and banging noises, and total transmission failure. These problems continued through 2019. Some transmission problems were traced back to the ECU, which would cause gear slippage and the car to jerk forward. ECU failure wasn’t cheap, and Toyota didn’t recall the issue, nor did it recall the sludge problem.

The Toyota RAV4 is particularly problematic

Toyota RAV4 outside dealership
Toyota RAV4 outside dealership | Getty Images

Though several Toyota models suffered from the various issues listed, the RAV4 seems to have caught the brunt of it all. Sludge buildup, ECU failure, transmission failure, and rear suspension arm tie rod corrosion all affected the RAV4 at some point. For being touted as one of the brand’s most reliable cars, this history certainly doesn’t bode well. 

Is Toyota still one of the most reliable brands?

Considering its checkered history, and how far other brands have come with their own reliability, it’s probably a toss up. Comparing a Camry to a Civic is probably a moot point, as is comparing a Tundra to an F-150. Reliability has come a long way for many brands, so realistically it’s fair to say they’ve probably caught up to Toyota. 

RELATED: Most Reliable Cars From the 1990s (Including the Toyota Land Cruiser)

The post Is Toyota Still One of the Most Reliable Car Brands? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Is Alcantara Better Than Leather in Cars?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re a fan of cars, chances are you’ve heard of or seen Alcantara. Only a few years ago, car lovers were interested in mainly the performance and exterior of their vehicles. But today, auto manufacturers must ensure cars look spectacular and perform well on the inside too. That’s where Alcantara comes in.

What is Alcantara, and how do you pronounce it?

High-performance cars, such as this Ferrari SF90 Stradale, come with optional Alcantara seats | Martyn Lucy/Getty Images

“Alcantara” is pronounced “al-KAN-taa-ruh.” This trade name for a soft suede-like material is used on vehicles’ steering wheels, headliners, seats, shifters, and door panels. It’s often used in luxury vehicles and supercars. Despite its resemblance to an exotic sueded leather, Alcantara is a synthetic fabric developed by Toray Industries in Japan in the 1970s.

Some consider this material preferable to leather in high-performance vehicles. Read on to discover the attributes that make this fabric stand out and why it might be a better option than leather for your car’s interior. 

Pros and cons of Alcantara and real leather

According to MotorTrend, Alcantara has been gaining popularity as an ideal material for car interiors. This is because it has additional attributes that leather lacks, the company Alcantara claims. Alcantara has many benefits and some drawbacks. Here are some pros and cons, according to Autoweek.

Benefits of Alcantara

  1. It is made of a microfiber pile with a bristled surface. Alcantara gives the look and feel of suede but with none of the negative aspects.
  2. It comes in many colors, providing customers with variety.
  3. Unlike leather, it can be laundered in a washing machine and is not sensitive to cleaning detergents.
  4. It is a good material for steering wheels and seats because it creates good grip so that the driver’s hands and body don’t slip or slide.
  5. It is vegan. No animal has to be killed for your car to look and feel good.
  6. It does not heat up like leather or get soggy like cloth in high temperatures.
  7. It does not require high maintenance given its resistance to liquids and dust.

Drawbacks of Alcantara

  1. The material is more expensive than leather.
  2. It is not as durable as leather. Also, Alcantara cannot be repaired.

Pros of leather

  1. It speaks of class and luxury.
  2. It looks and feels great.
  3. If well-maintained, it can last for years.
  4. It is versatile in its uses and comes in many colors.
  5. It can be repaired or replaced easily.

Cons of leather

  1. It requires high maintenance to remain in good condition.
  2. Even though it is long-lasting, it easily wears when exposed to UV rays.
  3. If not taken care of, it cracks and wears. Fortunately, replacing it is easy.

Differences between Alcantara and real leather

Despite leather and Alcantara sharing many similarities, they also have significant differences.

First, leather has a uniquely soft feel that’s incomparable. However, Alcantara is considered better-looking than leather and offers a car’s interior an exotic feeling. It also comes in more colors than leather.

But leather is longer-lasting than Alcantara. Though the fabric is also durable, it easily wears when subjected to frequent high friction. It is also noteworthy that it has a higher friction coefficient than leather. Unlike leather, which easily slips off when oily, Alcantara offers a firm grip. This is why it is a preferred material for most race cars.

In the past, Alcantara was mainly used for expensive performance cars. For instance, the fabric is used in Formula 1 cars as a flame-resistant seat covering. But the material is now being used more often in mainstream vehicles, such as the Subaru WRX STI. Other cars that use Alcantara include the Ferrari SF90, Lamborghini Urus, Lexus LC 500, Audi RS 3, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, and BMW M3, M4, and M5.

The bottom line

Alcantara is considered a premium material. Its high friction coefficient makes it the number one option for sports cars. What’s more, when the material is used on a dashboard, it doesn’t reflect the sun’s rays, thus offering better visibility for drivers.

So if you’re a speed freak with fine taste in fabrics, an Alcantara interior is ideal for you.

RELATED: 10 Top Bugatti Car Models

The post Is Alcantara Better Than Leather in Cars? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Dodge Teases New SUV Exclusively For Mexico

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Dodge Mexico teased a new model in the lineup of SUVs, which looks a little familiar. The recently discontinued Journey had a similar front grille to that of the camouflaged new SUV. More importantly, it closely resembles the Trumpchi GS5 compact crossover, a model produced and sold in China. The teaser images don’t give much away, but the size of the vehicle and frontend design resembles a GS5.

What is the Trumpchi GS5?

Trumpchi GS5 | GAC Motors

The GS5 might not sound familiar, because it is not available in the United States and many other places. This simply means they are building the new model of Dodge for the brand, as they have previously for Jeep. GAC produced vehicles like the Renegade, Compass, Cherokee, and Grand Commander for China. With the history of the two companies working together, why not continue with the hole left in the Dodge lineup? The GS5 is between the Jeep Compass and Commander in size but is a bit taller than both of them. It averages 33-mpg with its 2.0-liter turbo engine, capable of producing 252-hp. The GS5 was redesigned and renamed the Trumpchi GS4 Plus for 2021, which changed the body and added new features. The infotainment system is CarLife by Baidu, with CarPlay and voice command in the higher trim level models.

What hole is Dodge filling?

Dodge discontinued the Journey following the 2020 model year. It ran from 2008-2020 and sold nearly 1,000,000 units over that time. The midsize crossover SUV being discontinued left the Durango alone as the only SUV available in the Dodge lineup. The automaker’s rumored Dodge Hornet crossover PHEV is coming in 2023, but Dodge Mexico won’t wait as long for another SUV in its lineup. CarAndDriver speculated that the inevitable announcement of a Dodge EV would be based around the Durango. Given its popularity and current solo SUV presence in the lineup, that would’ve made sense. The Hornet rumors prove that wrong, and who knows what else Dodge has hidden as far as the next EV.

What do we know about the teased SUV?

New Dodge SUV is teased in the dark, camouflaged.
Camouflaged New Dodge SUV is Teased | Stellantis Mexico

Camouflaged silhouettes of the vehicle and a Dodge logo on the license plate are all that’s visible. There’s not much to see other than the shape, which makes the GS5 speculation easily determined, but unproven. Dodge will rebrand the GS5 with Dodge logos and other small changes for the Mexican market. Dodge is no stranger to rebranding other automaker’s vehicles as its own. It has spaces in its lineup just waiting to be filled. It is down to only three vehicles available for sale, the Durango, Charger, and Challenger.

Presumably featuring the same technology as the GS5, here’s what we can expect from the new Dodge. It’s capable of seating up to five passengers, has heated power mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, and available 17 or 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Varying with each of the three trim levels, buyers can also get a 7-inch instrument panel, 8-inch color LCD display, front row USB ports, leather and leatherette-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and more. Tons of safety features, Bluetooth, and a surround-view parking system make this small SUV a nice choice for the low price of the equivalent of $23,400 for the highest trim level.

RELATED: The Journey is the Worst Dodge Vehicle You Should Never Buy

The post Dodge Teases New SUV Exclusively For Mexico appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

YouTuber Drives Street-Legal Batmobile Tumbler From The Dark Knight

by Gabrielle DeSantis

One of the most iconic vehicles in media history, the Batmobile has had countless iterations over the years. Possibly now the most well-known, the Dark Knight movie trilogy featured the tumbler version. This one allowed the caped-crusader to escape on a motorcycle, roll down the road, and do plenty more combat-oriented things. What if you had the chance to drive a street-legal Batmobile tumbler?

Custom Batmobile Tumbler | TheStradman via YouTube

Recently, popular YouTuber TheStradman had the chance to take the street-legal replica for a spin on the roads of California. That’s not something you see every day. Californians might be more used to seeing expensive cars on the road than other areas, but we doubt most people have seen something like this roll up next to them at a red light.

A company that specializes in making vehicles, props, and other items for movies, tv shows, and other media called RPM Productions created this Batmobile. RPM used Hummer H1 taillights and was able to fully customize it street legal so it can be driven anywhere. The vehicle contains no fiberglass but is instead made entirely of metal and steel. Marc Irvin of RPM Productions along with YouTuber “LamboJesus” continue modifying and improving the tumbler to this day. The pair visit a professional metalworking and bending factory regularly since every piece of the tumbler is completely custom-made.

The tank of a vehicle looks exactly like the one from the movies. You can’t miss the 42-inch tractor tires coming down the road. If you don’t hear the roaring engine coming, you’ll certainly see the massive tumbler. Almost the entire vehicle from top-to-bottom is custom-made. Not that anyone would expect Batmobile parts to be available at AutoZone. TheStradman said it was surprisingly easy to drive despite low visibility. The compact windows and tinted windshield are better suited for Batman than civilians.

The Batmobile has hydraulic steering and fully automatic transmission, it’s also equipped with air conditioning and other quality-of-life features. The startup seems a bit complicated from the video, with combinations of buttons and switches being pressed strategically. It has levers for drifting the vehicle, but with the massive size of the Batmobile, that seems like it wouldn’t end very well.

Are more updates being made?

We’re not sure if the creator of the vehicle was joking or not, but they claimed an actual flamethrower will come from the rear soon. With all the other small details and movie-quality features already in the tumbler, it doesn’t seem too farfetched. The creator also claimed that they would be adding side and rear cameras for easier navigation. If they still plan on driving it around on the road and through parking lots, that’s probably a good idea. TheStradman almost hit a car driving through the parking lot. They also couldn’t hear a word the driver said because of how loud the Batmobile engine is.

The team behind this street-legal Batmobile tumbler seems hellbent on making it even better than the Dark Knight film version. On top of meeting street-legal requirements, they’ve added amenities like cupholders, air conditioning, and other luxuries Bruce Wayne must’ve neglected when designing his superhero tank.

RELATED: The BMW 3.0 CSL Batmobile Was so Aero It Was Illegal

The post YouTuber Drives Street-Legal Batmobile Tumbler From The Dark Knight appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by