The Ford Maverick’s Low-Tech Infotainment Is a Blessing in Disguise

by Gabrielle DeSantis

I’m sure it’s happened to you before. The incessant binging and bonging and beeping and booping of your devices has driven you insane. It takes forever to shut them off, and if you’re old enough, you think back to the days when this just wasn’t an issue. Whether intentionally or not, the Ford Maverick caters to this sense of being overwhelmed by new technology. Its infotainment system is… decidedly low-tech, at least in appearance if nothing else.

Sometimes, less is more

Finally, a physical volume knob | Ford

The less-is-more philosophy is clearly something the Ford Maverick takes to heart. I mean, you can get steel wheels on a brand new truck. That’s insane. Nearly unheard of. Moreover, the whole design language of the new truck leans on that philosophy of practicality and usability without being overcomplicated. Look at the image above. Precious screen real estate has been lost to a storage cubby.

What would you put in there? Who cares, all that matters is it’s there. Note the physical controls. Ferrari has haptic feedback touch panels on the steering wheel, which will break, and the Ford Maverick says “no thanks” and puts in good ol’ fashioned hardpoint controls. Thankfully, you do still get a bit of functionality from the elderly touchscreen, like Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

You can tell where the money went on the Ford Maverick

The interior of the new Maverick with a low center console and tan leather seats
Ford clearly put money into making the interior much nicer, sans radio | Ford

On the surface at least, it would appear that the Ford Maverick is cheaping out. The base XLT trim starts at $21,490, per Ford, and you get that head unit? But that head unit is a blessing in disguise, and so is the rest of the interior. There’s a real, solid button for almost everything. Climate controls buried in a laggy screen menu? Hell no! They’re right on the dash where they belong. The Ford Maverick is a masterclass in not reinventing the wheel.

For those of us that do prefer a little more binging and bonging from our cars, there’s still some modern features, like wireless charging. No, the big Blue Oval didn’t put a bunch of money into disguising a $20,000 truck as a luxury vehicle. The brand was clearly careful about where the money went and it shows. Honestly, as long as the buttons are physical and the radio works, it’s better to put the money into making a better truck.

I, for one, welcome our new low-tech overlords

Ford's blue oval logo
The Blue Oval may be onto something | Metin Aktas via Getty Images

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a “Ford Guy.” Hell, I’m not even a truck guy. I drive broken German sports cars. And I applaud Ford for putting this kind of thought into their products lately. The Bronco has about all the interior bells and whistles an off-roader needs, and the Maverick’s infotainment is a perfect example of less being more. Well done Ford. You’ll make a Ford Guy out of me yet.

RELATED: Make GMC Your Internet Provider With Free in-Car Wifi

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The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Only Has 2 Potential Drawbacks

by Gabrielle DeSantis

My week with the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan is coming to a close, and honestly, I will miss this SUV. It feels like an excellent option for road trips and for driving around town. The Volkswagen Tiguan is definitely an excellent daily driver, but it does have two drawbacks to consider. 

Two 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan drawbacks to consider 

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan | Allison Barfield

Just for some quick background information, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan begins at about $25,245. I’ve been spending the week with the VW Tiguan SEL, which is the highest trim level. It raises the price to about $33,000. 

You may be surprised to learn that the Tiguan has three rows of seats. Many people seemed shocked when I told them that Volkswagen has three-row options. But it’s smaller than the Volkswagen Atlas, and this leads to the first potential issue. 

1. The third row is tight 

The third row of the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan is pretty tight. It’s for small kids only back there. You have to push the second row forward to have enough space to raise the third-row seats. Otherwise, it’s blocked by the headrests. 

There isn’t a power fold button, but that’s fine. This isn’t a luxury SUV. I had to wrestle with the second and third-row to get into the back. I’m 5’1,” and the headrest of the third row sat between my shoulder blades. 

But the seat was still comfortable and supportive. I was able to push the second row forward to have enough knee space. It took some acrobatics for me to fit through the back door opening to get back there, but once I fit, I could sit. I’m sure a regular owner would quickly learn how to handle the seats to get their kids back there. 

2. The infotainment screen in the VW Tiguan could be updated

My second potential issue to consider is a little subjective. I thought the layout of the 8.0-inch touchscreen looked a little dated. Plus, the glass quickly gets covered in fingerprint smudges. But it works great. 

The graphics look great, and the system is fast and responsive. It was easy to learn. Also, the VW Tiguan isn’t outdated in terms of tech. The SEL model has a wireless phone charger, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a customizable digital gauge cluster. With the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan around the corner, the screen will have a new layout soon enough. 

What I liked about the VW Tiguan 

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan interior
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan interior | Volkswagen

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan is very comfortable. The suspension absorbs impacts well for a smooth ride, and the interior has a sense of quiet luxury. It was peaceful, even when driving through I-85 and I-26 construction zones with heavy traffic. 

Each row of seats is perfectly comfortable, except for taller people in the third row. The seats are well-padded and supportive. Also, the driver’s seat offers tons of lumbar support controls for the perfect position. 

The fuel tank is massive. It holds about 15.9 gallons of gas. When I received it, I had 450 miles left before needing a fill-up. It gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and up to 29 mpg on the highway, which is pretty good. 

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan is very agile and easy to maneuver in tight city areas. It’s straightforward to parallel park and can make tight turns. Overall, my week with it felt exciting, comfortable, and convenient.

RELATED: Are the Volkswagen Tiguan and Atlas the Same SUV?

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Every New Cadillac Will Be Electric From Here on Out

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The electric revolution is well on its way, and Cadillac has joined the long list of automakers that are going EV-only. Like other automakers, Cadillac has decided to set its deadline for fully transitioning into an EV-only automaker by 2030. Here’s a look at how the company plans to transition and what those EVs may look like.

Cadillac going fully electric by 2030

The Cadillac Lyriq EV SUV | Cadillac

According to Automotive News, Cadillac recently announced that every “new or redesigned” Cadillac in North America would be an EV. This is all part of General Motors’ goal of selling only EVs by 2035, but obviously, Cadillac aims to be a bit faster than GM. With that being said, not every “brand-new” Caddy will be EV just yet. As Automotive News wrote, while every new or redesigned nameplate will be an EV, Cadillac will continue producing conventional cars until 2030.

Cadillac will not give its gas-powered and hybrid vehicles major overhauls, but they will get facelifts now and again. That is, of course, until they eventually get redesigned into an EV or replaced by an EV. Due to how different its lineup is, Cadillac’s EV plans for its models are also different. Here’s a look at what Cadillac is planning to do in terms of electrifying its lineup.

Cadillac’s small cars and compact SUVs

The CT4 and CT5 are the brand’s current sedan offerings, and they will be gone soon. Automotive News says that Cadillac would give both models a refresh in 2023, but they will be gone by 2030. The plan is to replace them with EVs, though it’s not clear which models will replace them. However, the Michigan plant that makes the CT4 and CT5 would be retooled for EVs by around 2026. 

In 2023, Cadillac will also be introducing a brand-new EV, the Celestiq. It’ll be a very high-end and luxurious car, and as such, it’ll be expensive, as it’s estimated to cost about $100,000. According to Automotive News, Cadillac plans to produce just 1.2 Celestiqs a day. This slow production schedule is because they’ll be hand-built.

Things are looking similar for Cadillac’s crossover segment. Automotive News says that the XT4 would get a refresh in 2023, but it’ll be dead in 2025. The XT4, in particular, will be replaced by a similarly-sized SUV, named either the Optiq or the Symboliq. Whatever its title, the XT4’s replacement should start production in 2024. 

The company’s plans for its bigger SUV EVs

Something similar will be happening to the XT5 and the XT6 as well. Both models will get a refresh in 2023 before being fully replaced by an EV counterpart. The XT5’s EV counterpart, however, is actually pretty close to hitting dealerships. The XT5’s replacement is called the Lyriq, and Cadillac plans to have it available in 2022. The Lyriq will cost about $60,000, and it’ll have about 300 miles of range.

The XT6, meanwhile, will be getting a replacement at about the same time as the XT4 is. Automotive News said that the XT6’s replacement would probably launch in 2024, and it’ll be named either Optiq or Symboliq, with the other title going to the XT4’s replacement. The Escalade, meanwhile, will get a refresh in 2024. That said, the Escalade will probably live longer as a regular car when compared to the rest of the lineup due to its popularity with drivers.

According to Automotive News, Cadillac currently plans on launching an all-electric SUV that’s the same size as the Escalade by 2024. The larger Escalade ESV, meanwhile, will get an EV counterpart by 2025. Once all Escalade variants are on the market, Cadillac is expected to produce all four models until 2029, when the regular Escalades will be retired. 

RELATED: All-Electric 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ Looks Just Like the Concept and Starts Under $60,000

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Tesla’s Under-$25,000 Car Has already Been Built at China Factory

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We’ve been hearing for years that Tesla founder Elon Musk wants an under-$25,000 car. But now a leak out of China indicates that an under-$25,000 Tesla prototype has already been made. And that testing of this new prototype is ongoing. 

Where did the Tesla rumors come from?

Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

On the Chinese blogging site Sina Weibo, poster 不是郑小康 revealed the information. He is notorious for being an auto-industry insider with lots of information. As China is the site of Tesla’s second factory, there are bound to be leaks that originate from there. 

As part of the leak, it was also revealed that suppliers have already started making components, and those pre-production cars will start rolling out of the factory by the end of this year. Confirming the veracity of the leaker is Tesla influencer Ray4Tesla. So, while we can only call it a rumor, a lot of validation of the source is dancing around the poster.

According to insideevs there has already been other evidence that a running cheaper model is being tested. It says that an environmental impact assessment was underway back in January. And it also indicated that running prototypes should already be running around right now. 

Confirmation also has come from Tesla China President Tom Zhu

Tesla models parked in front of a Tesla building
Tesla logo and cars | JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

And the final confirmation came from Tesla China President Tom Zhu in February. He said a new model designed, developed, and made in the Giga Shanghai plant would be available in the not too distant future. And, he added, it would be sold worldwide, and not just in China. 

Getting this entry-level model ready for production may also be what has held back both the Cybertruck and semi-truck. Although margins for such a car will be less than the Cybertruck, The company should make it up in volume if it can hold the $25,000 price. 

Model 3 numbers are up a whopping 169-percent over last year

a blue Tesla Model S driving at speed on the road
Tesla Model S | Tesla

Tesla sees the most interest in its Model 3 sedan, which is also the cheapest sedan it makes. While its flagship Model S has seen sales plummet 63-percent, Model 3 numbers are up over 169-percent. The Model S has seen sales fall to a bit more than one-tenth of Model 3 numbers. 

So it seems apparent that something that falls below the $38,000 base price of a Model 3 should see some strong numbers. With that we expect spy shots to surface soon and look forward to seeing an entry-level Tesla for the masses by next year.

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