Is Buying the 2021 Jeep Gladiator a Mistake After 3 Months?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Fans have a lot of strong feelings about the 2021 Jeep Gladiator. It’s either a love it or hate it truck. If you’re on the fence about buying one, then we have an in-depth three-month Jeep Gladiator review to consider. 

The most significant 2021 Jeep Gladiator issues after three months 

2021 Jeep Gladiator | Stellantis

We have a review about the 2021 Jeep Gladiator after three months of use. The team at All Terrain Nation goes into detail about what they like and dislike about the Gladiator to help people determine if it’s worth buying. 

Just for a bit of background information, you can get started in a Gladiator for about $34,645. It comes with standard four-wheel drive, which is a nice perk compared to rivals like the Ford Ranger. It is a little pricier than competitors but includes the largest backseat in the segment and can go topless. 

Issues with the Gladiator 

The All Terrain Nation host, David Boyd, has put about 6,000 miles on a 2021 Jeep Gladiator Willy’s Edition. He admitted that he hasn’t put enough miles on it yet. He likes the attention he gets with this truck. 

But the first potential issue involves how loud the tires are, but they aren’t too loud on the highway. But the Jeep Gladiator is built for serious off-roading and has a boxy shape. It’s not exactly aerodynamic, so it will be louder than other trucks. 

David wishes the 7.5-inch screen was bigger and that it had Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But plugging his phone in for Apple CarPlay isn’t bad. Also, the Ford Bronco has a better sound quality. 

The Gladiator feels more like an adventure truck than a work truck. Which makes sense for what it is. If David was towing daily, he would go with a full-size truck instead. However, the Gladiator can tow up to 7,650 lbs when properly equipped. 

Last but not least, the seats could use extra padding. They’re stiff and can make your butt sore on longer drives. Even David’s 11-year-old daughter complained about the lack of support. 

What is loved about the Gladiator? 

2021 Jeep Gladiator
2021 Jeep Gladiator | Jeep

David enjoys the 2021 Jeep Gladiator for its solid amount of power. The 3.6-liter V6 engine has 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It provides ample power for getting up to speed and passing others on the highway. 

He’s also enjoyed towing with the Gladiator. It can tow campers and boats, but he’s only towed smaller items like lawnmowers so far. The Gladiator can tow things up steep inclines without any issues. 

One of the best features is the freedom it provides as a truck. The doors and roof can easily be removed in about 20 seconds. He can make a run to Lowe’s or a hardware store while still feeling free. 

The seats look nice, and they’re durable. Even though the cloth is a darker color, they don’t absorb too much what or feel too hot. It’s also easy to quickly modify if you want to personalize your build. The Gladiator can be a daily driver around town or an extreme rock crawler. 

David was also impressed with its fuel economy. He averages about 20 mpg. It gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and up to 28 mpg on the highway. 

So, we’re going to say it wasn’t a mistake to buy the 2021 Jeep Gladiator. It proves to be a fun and capable ride. But the seats need to be a little more comfortable.

RELATED: A Jeep In Wolf’s Clothing: The Jeep Gladiator Pulled a Fast One on Us

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What Is the Dent Repair Scam, and How Can You Avoid It?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There’s no shame denting your car in a minor fender bender, I’ve done it many times before. In fact, I hang onto those dents like Mater from the Cars movies does. They’re somewhat sentimental, and remind me of certain lessons learned. They’re also expensive to fix, so watch out, because people will offer you “cheap dent repair” to make a quick buck.

Woman Inspecting Car for Damages or Dents | Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

What is the dent repair scam?

Imagine, if you will, that you’re in a parking lot about to get groceries. You get out of your car and begin walking the store when, suddenly, a guy walks up to you. “Hey, I saw your car needs repairs, I happen to work at a body shop and I’ll fix it for cheap while you’re shopping.” It’s a lucrative offer, no doubt, and extremely convenient. But be wary because nine times out of 10, this is the perfect setup for a scam.

The first red flag you’ll likely face, other than being approached by a stranger in a parking lot, is that they’re insistent you pay upfront. “$200 cash,” they’ll say while supplementing you with price points at their local mechanic. Sure, dent jobs are expensive, but paying upfront isn’t the way to go. Chances are, they’re just going to take the money and run.

So, no matter how tempting the price is, don’t pay upfront. I wouldn’t even suggest toying with the idea if they allow you to pay after the work is done, as that just gives them permission to mess with the car. But if you want to trip up the scammer, or are genuinely curious to see if they’re legit, here are some questions to ask.

Heres how you can catch and avoid a dent scammer

Cars Parked in Parking Lot
Cars Parked in Parking Lot | Patrick Whittemore/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

We’ll start with what may be an obvious one, “where are the tools?” They’ll likely answer that they’re in the car, and if you ask to see them to prove he’s legit, he might stumble to find excuses, or just move on. Scammers like easy targets, so don’t make yourself an easy target. And it’ll make them look pretty foolish, as most people don’t carry dent repair tools in their trunk.

That said, while I can advise you to ignore these potential scammers altogether, I’m not your mom. You’re able to make your own decisions, and maybe you actually want to go through with this person who may fix your car. If that’s the case, allow me to offer some advice, starting with the aforementioned do not pay upfront.

If they pass the tool test, get their offer in writing. While it might be weirder to have an invoice ready to go rather than dent repair tools in your car, keeping receipts of any transaction is the main way to prove you either have or haven’t been scammed. And if they don’t want to put it in writing, then you’ll know their true intentions right away.

But for about the same money as this stranger is offering you, you could go about this the safest way possible: by trying to fix the dent yourself.

RELATED: What Car Colors Are the Worst at Hiding Scratches, Dents, and Dirt?

Is it easy to fix a dent yourself?

Now, this is a bit of a loaded question, as fixing a dent isn’t exactly easy. But there are plenty of tools available and resources online that’ll help determine whether or not your dent is easily fixable. The general rule of thumb, however, is that smaller dents on flat sheets can be fairly easily fixed. Any damage to the metal itself, and you’ll have no choice but to take your car to the shop.

If you are lucky to have a simple, flat dent, then you can repair it using a number of simple strategies. While you’ll look silly doing it, sticking a toilet plunger on the surface and giving it a pull might just be enough to straighten things out. From there, touch it up with some of the manufacturer’s paint and go from there.

There are other temperature tricks you can use to bend the metal, such as blowing it with a hairdryer or pouring boiling water, that might pop the metal back into place. After all, heat expands things, and that metal wants to be bent to its proper shape. But dent repair is a topic for another article. For now, we’d suggest avoiding anyone who walks up to you on the street and offers their services.

Oh, and that should go without saying for more than just dent repair.

RELATED: Consumer Reports Suggests This DIY Fix For a Dented Bumper

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The IIHS Gives the 2021 Hyundai Palisade a Higher Score Than the 2021 Kia Telluride

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade and 2021 Kia Telluride are two very similar three-row SUVs that appeal to many of the same buyers. They combine the space necessary for a family (even a large one) with style and safety. Yet which is safer, the Palisade or the Telluride? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluated them both and while the Telluride won a safety award, the Palisade earned a top one. 

2021 Hyundai Palisade | Hyundai

The IIHS gives out two safety awards

The IIHS gives out two safety awards, the Top Safety Pick and the Top Safety Pick+ awards. To be awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick award, an SUV must score a good rating in all IIHS crash test ratings. These include the driver-side small overlap front, the passenger-side small overlap front, and the moderate overlap front. Additionally, the vehicle must get a good score in the side crash tests, roof strength, and head restraint tests. To get a Top Safety Pick+ award, the vehicle must ace all these tests.

The SUV must also have an advanced or superior in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. Headlights must have a good or acceptable rating available. Oftentimes one trim level has good headlight ratings while another trim level does not, so it’s important to check the test results of the trim level you’re considering purchasing. To receive the Top Safety Pick+ award, the headlights on all trim levels must be good or acceptable. 

The 2021 Kia Telluride is a super solid SUV

Make no mistake about it, the 2021 Kia Telluride is a safe SUV. It gets good ratings in all of the important crash test categories. Even the subcategories in the small overlap front driver and passenger sides, moderate overlap front, and side crash test ratings are all good. 

Front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian in the 2021 Telluride is superior. It’s the headlights that make the Telluride fall short of receiving the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award. 

There are two different headlight variations available in the 2021 Kia Telluride. One applies to all of the trims except for the EX trim equipped with Tow package. This first headlight variation receives an acceptable rating. The headlights aren’t curve-adaptive, though they do have high-beam assist. 

It’s the second headlight variation that comes with the EX trim equipped with Tow package that get the Telluride into trouble. This headlight variation receives a poor rating. They aren’t curve-adaptive and they also do not have high-beam assist. 

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade has great safety ratings and good headlights

Similarly to the Kia Telluride, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade has good safety ratings in all categories. Also like the Telluride, all subcategories in the Palisade’s crash test ratings are also good. 

Front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian are both superior. In the 12 mph IIHS crossing child test, the Palisade was able to avoid a collision, and in the 25 mph test the speed was reduced by 22 mph. 

Unlike the Telluride, the Palisade only comes with one headlight variation which applies to all trims. This headlight variation gets a good rating. Although the headlights are not curve-adaptive, they do have high-beam assist. 

Even though the 2021 Hyundai Palisade and 2021 Kia Telluride are both safe, it is because of this one seemingly small detail that gives the Palisade the top safety award and not the Telluride. Yet with more than half of fatal accidents taking place at night, it makes sense that car manufacturers should be taking headlights seriously, and equipping their vehicles with the best they can. And it follows that a safety organization like the IIHS would test headlights to make sure they meet certain standards. If you’re in the market for a three-row SUV with great safety ratings, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade is a great choice. 

RELATED: The Choice Between the 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Kia Telluride Is Clear

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Ford Bronco & Ford Maverick: Pirelli Created Brand New Tire for the Trucks

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Ford Bronco and 2022 Ford Maverick are popular vehicles hitting the market this year. The Pirelli Scorpion ATR is a new tire created for Ford vehicles appropriate for off-road adventures and whatever else you might throw at it. What sets this Pirelli tire apart from any other tire? It went through rigorous testing to be sure it could stand up to mud, dirt, highways, and even snow.

The trifecta: The Ford Bronco, Ford Maverick and Pirelli tires

Pirelli Created Brand New Tire for the Ford Bronco & Ford Maverick | Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A new lineup of versatile trucks requires a new versatile tire. Modern Tire Dealer reports that Pirelli made the new Scorpion ATR explicitly for the F-150, new Bronco, and new Maverick trucks. “The request was to develop an all-terrain tire with high off-road capabilities – able to combine the typical performance, handling, and comfort characteristics of an all-season tire,” a Pirelli official said. To do that, Pirelli focused on the tread pattern and compound.

The 2022 Ford Maverick is known for being a compact truck that is easier to handle. The 2021 Ford Bronco is an off-road vehicle as much as it is an on-road vehicle. In both instances, a unique tire was appropriate. The tread design was made to reduce tire noise but also be suitable for off-road. Designed for “optimal water, mud, and stone evacuation,” which sounds impressive.

To offer such a versatile tire, Pirelli used new technology to develop the tread. The company used simulation and engineering tools to test the tires throughout the development process. Pirelli says this also allowed the use of fewer tires throughout the testing phase.  

Are Pirelli Scorpion tires any good?

RELATED: The 2022 Ford Maverick Won’t Go Over $37k With Every Added Spec

The Pirelli Scorpion ATR first appeared late last year on the new Ford F-150. Pirelli and Ford said this was part of the rollout of the tire, which is ready for use on the new Bronco and Maverick. The tire offers excellent reliability and safe performance. Pirelli calls the versatile tire a “hybrid” for its ability to excel both on and off-road.

The tires also offer better braking and handling, plus work in the snow. With something like the Ford Bronco, the tire’s versatility gives owners the ability to go on and off-road at any time.

Off-road trucks and SUVs are in

RELATED: The Ford Maverick Is Barely Bigger Than a Mustang

The Ford Bronco is highly customizable, which makes it even more popular with buyers. It comes in various configurations like engine, transmission, two-door, four-door, and roof options. Plus, it’s brand new again this year, and people are obsessed.

As far as the Ford Maverick, this new light-duty truck is leading the pack. Its small size is supposed to make it easier to drive and park without sacrificing some of the benefits of a truck. Most of the trucks can tow and have enough room in the bed to get the job done. This is a good option for those who need the interior of an SUV with the body of a truck. Plus, the Ford Bronco is hard to get ahold of these days. No matter which Ford vehicle piques your interest, the Pirelli has the right tire for it. Multi-purpose off-road trucks and SUVs are here to stay.

RELATED: Is the Ford Bronco a Reliable SUV for 2021?

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