Emergency Handling Isn’t Great in the 2021 Genesis GV80

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Genesis GV80 is a popular newcomer to the midsize luxury SUV class. It isn’t hard to see why. With its good road test scores and positive owner experience, it makes sense that the GV80 is a favorite. Yet its reliability isn’t very good. Let’s see what Consumer Reports thinks of Genesis GV80.

2021 Genesis GV80 | Genesis

The road test is good – except for emergency handling

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Genesis GV80 scores a perfect 5/5 for its acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in 6.0 seconds. Its transmission scores a 5/5. Routine handling receives a very good 4/5.

Emergency handling only gets a 3/5, which is a sore spot for the GV80. Consumer Reports says they measure the emergency handling by considering the “avoidance maneuver speed and confidence, as well as how the vehicle behaves when pushed to its limit.” The Genesis GV80’s max avoidance speed is 52 mph.

The Genesis GV80 gets a perfect 5/5 for its braking. It can brake from 60 mph on dry pavement in 129 feet and 139 feet on wet pavement. The GV80’s headlights only score a 2/5.

As far as comfort, the 2021 Genesis GV80 gets a very good 4/5 for its ride. It’s quiet: it scores a perfect 5 for its noise. Front seat comfort gets a perfect 5/5, while rear seat comfort gets a respectable 4/5. Interior fit and finish get a perfect 5. The trunk and cargo space scores only a 3/5, with just 39 cubic feet of storage space.

Safety is pretty good in the 2021 Genesis GV80

Consumer Reports recommends a slew of advanced safety features that car shoppers should consider. These include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking at city and highway speeds, lane-keeping assistance, and lane departure warning. Consumer Reports also says that pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning are important to have. 

The 2021 Genesis GV80 comes standard with all of these features except for automatic emergency braking at highway speeds, which isn’t available for the 2021 Genesis GV80. 

Only the IIHS crash-tested the 2021 Genesis GV80. It gave the GV80 all good scores. The NHTSA didn’t crash test the GV80.

RELIABILITY

To determine the reliability of a vehicle, Consumer Reports sends out surveys to people who have bought previous versions of the vehicle. They then combine this survey data with what they know about the current model. Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Genesis GV80 only a 2/5 for its predicted reliability. Since it’s a newcomer, there isn’t any data about previous models of the GV80.

Despite this poor reliability rating, Genesis GV80 owners rated the owner satisfaction a 4/5. There is currently no data about previous owner satisfaction. 75% of GV80 owners would buy their GV80 again.

Overall, the 2021 Genesis GV80 isn’t a bad car, but it may be dicey in an emergency handling situation. Make sure you do your research if you’re considering the GV80. Learn about what emergency handling entails, and just why the GV80 didn’t perform better. Of course, this is just one part of car buying, but it’s an important part of car safety.

RELATED: IIHS Top Pick: 2021 Lexus RX

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The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Can Still Tow In New Hands-Free Super Cruise Mode

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many believe that the roads of the distant future will be populated by autonomous vehicles driven by A.I. cars while the humans read, nap, or nearly any other thing you might find someone doing on public transit. Whether this comes to pass or not, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500, as well as many other automakers, are gunning for this hands-free, mind-free driving. However, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Super Cruise is the first that has set its sights on autonomous towing and other work-related driving. 

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Super Cruise mode can tow

Some MotorTrend folks got a chance to get some seat time in the unreleased, still camouflaged 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali with a 5,000-lb box trailer in tow. MotorTrend wasn’t allowed to drive the 2022 Sierra on public roads for multiple safety and confidentiality reasons. Instead, they lapped GM’s five-mile test loop. 

With Tesla stepping further into the murky waters of “self-driving” cars, a major aspect of motoring has gone largely unnoticed; towing. 

What is GM’s Super Cruise?

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 | GMC

GM’s Super Cruise is a newish  “hands-off” driving mode that uses a myriad of cameras and sensors to allow the truck to use a much more advanced version of cruise control. Unlike Tesla, GM understands that naming this feature something that promises more than just that would be reckless and irresponsible. 

Super Cruise can now detect when a trailer is hooked up by sensing the electrical connection for the trailer lighting and brakes and also by sensing the trailer’s presence via the short-range radar units that otherwise monitor the truck’s blind spots in the back. 

This computer system can even compute the rough gross weight of the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 and the trailer by comparing the throttle position with the truck’s acceleration while also gauging any potential grade the rig may be climbing up or down. All of this data is collected in what must be mere moments to calculate braking distances, acceleration, and turning. 

Super Cruise can now account for towing but some features will be disabled 

Super Cruise will normally sense when a car ahead is traveling slower than the GMC Sierra and use the sensors to check the blind spot; if the coast is clear, it will signal and change lanes to maintain the set speed. However, with a trailer in tow, the blind spot sensors are blocked by the trailer, and the automatic lane change feature is disabled. 

But, wait! That’s not all

Super Cruise towing isn’t the only towing tech that GM bestowed upon the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. One of these new features is an optional 15-camera view of the truck and whatever it’s towing. 

However, the coolest new towing feature for the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 is the Transparent Trailer view, which BLends a remarkably contiguous view “through” the trailer, as stitched together from the camera you mount to the trailer, the tailgate camera, and the cameras on the side-view mirrors. 

This video game-esq feature is one of the trippiest and most useful of all modern towing features. This will eliminate many of the dangers of towing, both for the one towing and other drivers.

Obviously, towing a big enclosed trailer greatly obscured a driver’s vision for lane changing and making hard turns. This will allow drivers to see what’s beside and behind them while towing. This will also greatly help the embarrassing moments for a novice driver when backing a trailer. A great field of vision should make the high-pressure maneuvers a little easier. 

Lastly, the cameras can also predict where the trailer will go based on the position of the wheels. Again, GM is looking out for those of us who struggle to back a trailer. Hell, even if you’re a pro, this feature seems like a welcomed addition. It looks like towing a trailer is getting much easier. 

RELATED: The 2021 Ford F-150 Gets 3 New Genius Features Adding to Its GOAT Status

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The 2021 Kia Niro’s Gas Mileage Drives It to the Top of This List

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It’s no secret that the sales of compact SUVs have been increasing steadily in recent years, as individuals and families shift away from small cars or larger trucks for a vehicle that provides the best of both worlds. Fuel efficiency is a top priority for many when looking at compact SUV models. When one reviewing website made a list of the best compact SUVs based on their gas mileage, it came as no surprise to see the Kia Niro top the list. 

TrueCar’s list of ‘Best Compact SUVs by Gas Mileage

A red 2021 Kia Niro Touring model | Kia America

TrueCar released a list of their top picks of compact SUVs that provide plenty of bang for their buck in fuel efficiency. The 2022 Chevy Trailblazer came in 10th with an estimated 31 mpg on the highway, and the 2021 Lexus NX came in ninth place with an estimated 29 mpg in the city, though its hybrid version brings home 31 mpg overall. In eighth came the 2021 Lincoln Corsair with a predicted 29 mpg on the highway, and the seventh-place spot went to the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek for its 34 mpg rating on the highway. 

The 2022 Hyundai Tuscon finished in sixth with its 29 mpg highway rating. In fifth place, we have the 2021 Honda CR-V, which delivers 32 mpg on the highway. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime and 2021 Toyota RAV4 came in fourth and third place, providing about 36 mpg and 34 mpg on the highway, respectively. The second-place finisher, the 2021 Ford Escape, is capable of 34 mpg on the highway. 

Lastly, the 2021 Kia Niro came in first place. According to TrueCar, the Niro provides incredible hybrid fuel economy that cannot be beaten. 

Why is the 2021 Kia Niro number 1?

Although the 2021 Kia Niro has been met with lukewarm reviews by many critics, the Niro is the most efficient compact SUV on the market when looking at raw efficiency. According to U.S. News, the standard hybrid model can get up to 46 mpg on the highway. The plug-in hybrid can get 46 mpg combined with gas and 105 MPGe with full electricity. Additionally, it can go a full 26 miles on just electricity before needing to switch to gas.

However, Kia didn’t stop there, as it also offers an all-electric Niro, which has 239 miles of range and gets 102 MPGe on the highway. None of the Kia Niro versions will provide a punchy or exciting ride, and the interiors of the Niro models aren’t particularly luxurious. Still, if fuel efficiency is the main priority for a prospective car buyer, the Kia Niro is a fantastic and affordable option. 

How does TrueCar make its vehicle selections?

TrueCar states that it uses cutting-edge data techniques to make their selections, deeming themselves a “data-driven company.” The site gathers data from consumer surveys, ALG industry research, and qualified data scientists to score several categories to make their vehicle selections. A few of these categories include comfort, performance, and of course, fuel efficiency.

These were factored in to determine which fuel-efficient and overall great compact SUVs belonged on this list. TrueCar looked beyond a simple mpg or MPGe metric for fuel efficiency, also factoring in how frequently the vehicle needs to be charged or refueled. 

TrueCar states that the site’s metrics help ensure their picks are as objective as possible to help consumers make more informed decisions and choose a vehicle that will work well for them. 

RELATED: The Best New Cars Under $50,000 According to TrueCar

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Driver-Assistance Name Game: What Automakers Call Their ADAS Features

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Advanced driver-assistance systems may make repairs more expensive, but they do have the potential to make roads safer. However, even the best car safety features aren’t invincible or perfect. And if drivers don’t understand how their ADAS features work, there can be fatal consequences. So, it doesn’t help when automakers call the same feature by different names. The guide below, though, should make things clearer.

What are ADAS features?

Ford Mustang Mach-E demonstrating the Road Edge Detection driver-assistance feature | Ford

Strictly speaking, ADAS features fall into the broad category of car safety features. And as their name implies, they assist the driver with operating a vehicle safely. But technically, things like traction control and ABS are driver-assistance features, too, Car and Driver says. So, what makes some of these features ‘advanced’?

Using traction control and ABS as examples, these safety features monitor your vehicle’s condition through sensor data. They don’t care what’s happening outside your car, just about its mechanical status. Advanced driver-assistance system features, on the other hand, actively monitor the surrounding environment and/or the driver, J.D. Power explains. That way, they can warn drivers about impending collisions and, in extreme cases, actively prevent them, the IIHS reports.

With that in mind, the following safety features are typically grouped into the ADAS category:

Some consider self-parking to be an advanced driver-assistance feature, J.D. Power notes. However, as neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA describes it as such, it won’t be listed in this guide.

Automakers often use different names for their ADAS features

Besides the state of technology, one major issue with ADAS features is driver confusion. Sometimes this stems from dealership employees not explaining these safety features properly. But as noted earlier, a significant factor is “confusing” automaker-specific terminology, Consumer Reports says.

Some brands refer to their driver-assistance features fairly plainly. Others, though, use trademarked terms or ‘buzzwords’ instead. So, if you’re shopping based on safety features, the table below should help (names sourced from automakers and MotorTrend).

Automatic emergency braking Adaptive cruise control Adaptive headlights Blind-spot monitoring Collision warning Cross-traffic alert Lane-departure warning Lane-keeping assist
Acura Collision Mitigation Braking System Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow Auto High-Beam Headlights Blind Spot Information System or Blind Spot Assist Forward Collision Warning System Rear Cross Traffic Monitor Road Departure Mitigation System and Lane Departure Warning System Lane Keeping Assist System
Alfa Romeo Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go Automatic High-Beam Headlamp Control Active Blind Spot Assist Forward Collision Warning Rear Cross Path System Lane Departure Warning LaneSense Lane Keep Assist
Audi Audi Pre Sense Front/City Adaptive Cruise Assist High Beam Assist Audi Side Assist Pedestrian and Stationary Vehicle Detection Audi Pre Sense Rear or Rear Collision Detection Lane Departure Warning Active Lane Assist
BMW Emergency Brake Assist Distance Control or Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic High Beams Active Blind Spot Detection Frontal Collision Warning Cross-Traffic Alert Front Lane Departure Warning Active Lane Keeping Assistant
Buick (Enhanced) Automatic Emergency Braking or Front Pedestrian Braking Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic On/Off Headlamps Side Blind Zone Alert Forward Collision Alert Rear Cross Traffic Alert Lane Change Alert and Lane Departure Warning Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
Cadillac (Enhanced) Automatic Emergency Braking or Front Pedestrian Braking Adaptive Cruise Control Intellibeam Auto High-Beam Assist Side Blind Zone Alert Forward Collision Alert Rear Cross Traffic Alert or Rear Pedestrian Alert Lane Change Alert and Lane Departure Warning Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
Chevrolet (Enhanced) Automatic Emergency Braking or Front Pedestrian Braking Adaptive Cruise Control Intellibeam Auto High Beam Assist Side Blind Zone Alert Forward Collision Alert Rear Cross Traffic Alert Lane Departure Warning Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
Chrysler Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go Automatic High-Beam Headlamp Control Blind Spot Monitoring or Blind Spot Detection Full-Speed Forward-Collision Warning Rear Cross Path Detection LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist or Lane Departure Warning Plus LaneSense Lane Keep Assist
Dodge Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go Automatic High-Beam Headlamp Control Blind Spot Monitoring or Blind Spot Detection Full-Speed Forward-Collision Warning Rear Cross Path Detection LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist or Lane Departure Warning Plus LaneSense Lane Keep Assist
Fiat Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking Adaptive Cruise Control or Adaptive Speed Control Automatic High-Beam Headlamp Control Blind Spot Monitoring or Blind Spot Detection Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Rear Cross Path Detection LaneSense Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist or Lane Departure Warning Plus LaneSense Lane Keep Assist
Ford Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control or Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering   Auto High-Beam Headlamps Blind Spot Information System Pre-Collision Assist Cross Traffic Alert Lane Keeping Alert Lane-Keeping System
Genesis Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Start High Beam Assist Blind Spot Detection Forward Collision-Warning Assist Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Lane Change Alert and Lane Departure Warning Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
GMC (Enhanced) Automatic Emergency Braking Adaptive Cruise Control Intellibeam Auto High Beam Assist Side Blind Zone Alert Forward Collision Alert Rear Cross Traffic Alert Lane Departure Warning Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
Honda Collision Mitigation Braking System Adaptive Cruise Control Auto High-Beam Headlights Blind Spot Information System Forward Collision Warning Cross Traffic Monitor Road Departure Mitigation System and Lane Departure Warning System Lane Keeping Assist System
Hyundai Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist Smart Cruise Control High Beam Assist Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist and Blind-Spot View Monitor Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist Lane Keeping Assist with Lane Departure Warning Lane Following Assist and Lane Keeping Assist
Infiniti Forward Emergency Braking Intelligent Cruise Control Adaptive Front Lighting System Blind Spot Intervention System Predictive Collision Warning Rear Cross Traffic Alert Lane Departure Prevention with Active Lane Control Lane Departure Prevention
Jaguar High-Speed Emergency Braking Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist Adaptive Front Lighting System Blind Spot Monitor and Blind Spot Assist Emergency Braking Rear Traffic Monitor Lane Departure Warning Lane Keep Assist
Kia Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist or Auto Emergency Braking & Warning Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go High Beam Assist Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist with Blind-Spot View Monitor Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning Lane Keeping Assist with Lane Departure Warning Lane Following Assist and Lane Keeping Assist
Land Rover High-Speed Emergency Braking Adaptive Cruise Control Adaptive Driving Beam Blind Spot Assist Emergency Braking Rear Collision Monitor and Rear Traffic Monitor Lane Departure Warning Lane Keep Assist
Lexus Pre-Collision System with Automatic Emergency Braking Dynamic Radar Cruise Control Intelligent High Beams Blind Spot Monitor Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Lane Departure Alert Lane Keep Assist
Lincoln Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go Auto High-Beam Headlamps Blind Spot Detection and Blind Spot Information System Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection Cross Traffic Alert Lane-Keeping System Lane Centering and Lane-Keeping System
Maserati Autonomous Emergency Braking Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go Adaptive headlights Active Blind Spot Assist Forward Collision Warning Plus Rear Cross Path Lane Keeping Assist Lane Keeping Assist
Mazda Smart Brake Support and Smart City Brake Support Mazda Radar Cruise Control Adaptive LED Headlight and High-Beam Control System Blind Spot Monitoring Forward Obstruction Warning Rear Vehicle Monitoring Lane Departure Warning System Lane-keep Assist System
Mercedes-Benz Active Brake Assist Active Distance Assist Distronic Cruise Control Adaptive Highbeam Assist (Active) Blind Spot Assist Collision Prevention Assist Plus Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Active Lane Keeping Assist Active Lane Keeping Assist
Mini Automatic Emergency Braking Adaptive or Active Cruise Control Adaptive Headlights Blind-Spot Monitoring Pedestrian and Front Collision Warning Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Lane Depature Warning Lane Keeping Assist
Mitsubishi Forward Collision Mitigation and Rear Automatic Emergency Braking Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic High Beam Blind Spot Warning and Active Blind Spot Assist Forward Collision Mitigation with Pedestrian Detection Rear Cross Traffic Alert Lane Departure Warning Lane Keep Assist
Nissan Automatic Emergency Braking and Rear Automatic Emergency Braking Intelligent Cruise Control High Beam Assist Blind Spot Warning Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection Rear Cross Traffic Alert Lane Departure Warning ProPilot Lane Keeping Assist
Polestar Emergency Stop Assist Adaptive Cruise Control Active High Beam Blind Spot Information System with Steering Assist Adaptive Cruise Control and Pilot Assist Rear Collision Warning & Mitigation and Cross Traffic Alert with Auto Brake   Lane Keeping Aid and Pilot Assist
Porsche Collision and Brake Assist Adaptive Cruise Control Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus Blind-Spot Monitoring and Lane Change Assist Collision and Brake Assist Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Rear Turn Assist Lane Departure Warning Lane Keeping Assist
Ram Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go Adaptive Headlights Blind Spot Monitoring Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking Rear Cross Path and Trailer Detection LaneSense Lane Departure Warning LaneSense Lane Keep Assist
Subaru Pre-Collision Braking Adaptive Cruise Control LED Steering Responsive Headlights with High Beam Assist Blind-Spot Detection and Lane Change Assist Pre-Collision Braking Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Lane Departure and Sway Warning Lane Keep Assist
Tesla Automatic Emergency Braking Traffic-Aware Cruise Control Adaptive Headlights Blind Spot Collision Warning Forward Collision Warning Rear Cross-Traffic Alert Lane Departure Avoidance Lane-Keeping Assist
Toyota Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection Dynamic Radar Cruise Control Automatic High Beams Blind Spot Monitor Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection Rear Cross Traffic Alert Lane Departure Alert Lane Tracing Assist
Volkswagen Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) Adaptive Cruise Control High Beam Control (Light Assist) Active Blind Spot Monitor Forward Collision Warning and Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist) Rear Traffic Alert Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist)
Volvo City Safety Collision Avoidance Technology Adaptive Cruise Control Active Headlamps Blind Spot Information System Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Collision Warning Oncoming Lane Mitigation Lane Keeping Aid

Partial-autonomy suites build on this technology

To make things easier on customers, automakers sometimes bundle their ADAS features into a single ‘suite.’ Toyota, for example, calls its suite Safety Sense, while Honda offers Honda Sensing and Subaru sells EyeSight. And Tesla, infamously, has AutoPilot, which leads to an important point.

Driver-assistance features, ADAS or otherwise, don’t make cars partially autonomous on their own. They have to be linked with additional features and software before they can get to Level 2 on the SAE scale. For instance, Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite has multiple ADAS features, but it requires an additional Prep Package to offer Level 2 partial-autonomy. Ditto with GM’s SuperCruise—it uses adaptive cruise control but is more than just that.

Navigating a safety spec sheet is difficult enough without having to keep multiple names in your head. But hopefully, this guide makes your next car shopping decision easier.

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RELATED: Today’s ADAS Features Aren’t Advanced Enough

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