This Newcomer to the Midsize Luxury SUV Class Can’t Compete Against the 2021 BMW X5

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Audi e-Tron is a fairly new car to the midsize luxury SUV class, and it’s a pretty solid car. Additionally, it’s electric, which is a huge advantage. However, it can’t compete against the Consumer Reports-recommended 2021 BMW X5. Let’s look at why Consumer Reports likes the 2021 BMW X5 over the 2021 Audi e-Tron.

2021 BMW X5 | BMW

The X5’s road test score is higher

The BMW X5 has a very high road test score of 98, while the e-Tron has a still-high score of 90. Why is the BMW’s score so much higher?

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 BMW X5 scores a 5/5 for its acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in 6.0 seconds. Routine handling receives a 4/5, while emergency handling only gets a 3/5. The BMW X5’s max avoidance speed is 52 mph.

Braking is excellent in the X5. It scores a 5/5 and can brake from 60 mph on dry pavement in 129 feet. On wet pavement that becomes 142 feet.

Consumer Reports also gives the 2021 Audi e-Tron a 5/5 for its acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in 6.3 seconds. Routine handling also receives a very good 4/5. Like the X5, the emergency handling rating is only a 3/5. The Audi e-Tron max avoidance speed is 50 mph.

The biggest difference in the road test is the brakes. The e-Tron’s brakes are still very good, getting a 4/5, but that just isn’t good as the X5. It can stop from 60 mph on wet pavement in 131 feet and dry pavement in 134 feet. 

The Audi e-Tron has more safety features

The 2021 Audi e-Tron comes standard with all of Consumer Reports’ recommended safety equipment.

Both the IIHS and the NHTSA have crash-tested the 2021 Audi e-Tron. The IIHS gives it all good ratings. The NHTSA gives it five stars for overall crash, side crash, and side-crash on the driver and passenger side. However, the overall frontal-crash, frontal-crash driver and frontal-crash passenger ratings are four stars. The side pole crash gets five stars, as does the 4WD rollover. 

The 2021 BMW X5 comes standard with nearly all of these features. The exceptions are automatic emergency braking at highway speeds and lane keeping assist, which are optional. 

Both the IIHS and the NHTSA have crash-tested the 2021 BMW X5. The IIHS gives the X5 all good ratings. The NHTSA gives it 4/5 stars for its overall crash, overall frontal-crash, overall frontal-crash: driver, and overall frontal-crash: passenger tests. The 4WD rollover test rating also gets 4/5 stars (there’s no available 2WD rating). Everything else gets 5 stars. 

The BMW X5 is way more reliable than the 2021 Audi e-Tron

The 2021 BMW X5 gets a 3/5 for its predicted reliability, while the 2021 Audi e-Tron gets just a 1/5. BMW BMW X5 owners give the X5 a 4/5 for owner satisfaction, and 79% would buy it again. 

Even though the Audi e-Tron’s reliability score is abysmal, e-Tron owners love their SUVs. The owner satisfaction score for the e-Tron is a 4/5. 75% of Audi e-Tron owners would buy their SUVs again. 

Obviously, the fact that the X5 is a fuel-powered car and the e-Tron is not is a huge difference between these two SUVs. However, if you’re still torn, Consumer Reports is pretty clear: the BMW X5 is the winner.

RELATED: The 2021 Lexus RX and the 2021 BMW X5 Are Both Safe – But Only One Is an IIHS Top Safety Pick

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The Fisker Ocean EV Heads to LA With Over 17K Reservations

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Electric vehicle announcements have been coming in fast from all sorts of automakers recently. But while some of these future EVs are still some years away, others promise—or rather claim—to be right around the corner. One of these, in fact, is scheduled to make an LA debut: the Fisker Ocean electric crossover/SUV.

The Fisker Ocean electric crossover is set for a 2021 LA Auto Show appearance

Fisker Ocean prototype low-angle front 3/4 | Fisker

When Fisker first showed the Ocean prototype at the start of 2020, the EV company claimed that the production version wouldn’t debut until late 2021. Since then, Fisker has announced plans to build additional EVs, including a pickup truck. But these other models will have to wait because the Ocean is headed to production first. And based on Fisker’s recent announcement, the electric crossover appears to be on schedule. Well, kind of.

Firstly, the production-spec Fisker Ocean will make a late 2021 debut at this year’s LA Auto Show on November 17th, InsideEVs says. After that, Fisker plans to open several ‘experience centers’ in the US and Europe while it tests production prototypes. And if all goes as planned, full Ocean production will start on November 17th, 2022, at Magna Steyr’s Austrian facility. That last name should ring familiar to off-road fans, as it’s the same company responsible for vehicles like the G-Wagon.

The reason the Fisker Ocean is ‘kind of’ on schedule is that the electric crossover was originally supposed to launch in late 2021. But several months after the first prototype debuted at CES 2020, Fisker delayed the launch until “late 2022,” Roadshow explains.

What do we know so far about the Fisker Ocean EV?

An overhead rear 3/4 view of an orange Fisker Ocean prototype on oceanside bluffs
Fisker Ocean prototype overhead rear 3/4 | Fisker

Fisker says it plans to reveal the Ocean EV’s full production specs at the 2021 LA Auto Show. We do know the electric crossover will be built on Magna’s EV architecture. But as of this writing, Fisker’s website lists no official horsepower, torque, range, ground clearance, or ride height details.

It does say, though, the Ocean will offer AWD, a 16” center touchscreen, 9.8” digital gauge cluster, a heads-up display, and standard 20” wheels. The electric crossover will also offer a full-length solar-panel roof, a vegan interior with fully-recycled carpeting and ‘eco-suede,’ and a driver-assistance suite. Plus, Fisker says the Ocean will have an optional tow bar, roof rails, third-row seating, and 22” wheels. And during the EV’s CES 2020 reveal, the company claimed it offered an 80-kWh battery pack with a 250-300-mile range.

However, since then CEO Henrik Fisker has tweeted several updated claims about the Ocean, Motor1 notes. In 2020, he said the EV would get a dedicated off-road package. And later that same year he claimed Fisker was going off-road racing. Then, in June 2021, he said that the Ocean would offer over 545 hp in two-motor, AWD form. The ‘base’ model, though, will likely have a single motor and roughly 300 hp, Autoblog says.

Can you still pre-order/reserve one?

As of this writing, Fisker claims that it’s received 17,300 “paid reservations” for the Ocean, InsideEVs reports. In addition, the company says over 62,000 “hand-raisers” for the $37,499 EV.

Reserving an Ocean costs $250, plus a 10% administrative fee. That fee is non-refundable, though the deposit is cancellable. And yes, the company is still taking reservations. But if you want to wait until you know more about the Ocean, you won’t have to wait long.

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RELATED: Foxconn and Fisker in Talks About Affordable EV Production in Wisconsin

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Why Ford Will Reap the Most Benefits When the Chip Shortage Ends

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The global chip shortage has made a huge impact on the automotive industry. Car prices have reached unprecedented highs. Automakers across the board are being put into compromising positions because of the minimal supply of chips. Ford is seeing some of the worst consequences from the lack of chips, but it is prepped to bounce back better than ever.

Why Ford will be the champion of the post-chip shortage period

The Ford logo | Jeremy Moeller via Getty Images

This current semiconductor chip shortage is certainly one for the books. It will be hard to forget a supply issue that made car prices go through the roof and caused automakers to delay orders. Some consumers who have purchased Ford vehicles won’t be getting them anytime soon, and they are not happy.

So why is Ford going to make such a huge comeback? The answer is simple: anticipation. Some consumers are forced to wait for their Ford purchases, but many are still willing to wait. Ford has one of the most exciting new vehicle lineups of the year. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is the first Ford Mustang SUV, and it is also an electric vehicle. It is powerful and has an amazing battery range.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric truck that has shocked the world. The F-150 nameplate is responsible for much of Ford’s sales and success, so this development was fascinating. Ford will come out of this chip shortage more successful than other automakers because the company has given consumers options worth the wait. Let’s not forget about the off-roading SUV, the Ford Bronco, that has reemerged after decades. Consumers are so excited about the Bronco that they are paying over $100k to purchase it from private sellers. If demand is still so high despite the company’s many missteps in handling this issue, it will be wildly successful once the semiconductor chips are flowing in abundance again. Ford will continue to win after it gets through the worst of the chip shortage, but how did we get here in the first place?

What is causing the chip shortage?

A new type of 300 millimeter wafer with semiconductor chips and finished microchips of the semiconductor German manufacturer Bosch is pictured in Dresden, eastern Germany on May 31, 2021.
Semiconductor chips | JENS SCHLUETER/AFP via Getty Images

Several different factors contributed to today’s lack of semiconductor chips, one of the biggest factors is the global pandemic. Semiconductor chips play a huge role in how electronic devices like cellphones and even automobiles function. The pandemic caused factories where these chips were being manufactured to close down. Businesses that relied on semiconductor chips foresaw the shortage as the pandemic raged on and began to place huge orders.

Supply was devastated by the demand between the massive orders that companies placed and the limited production of semiconductor chips. The result was a semiconductor chip shortage that impacted the majority of the automotive industry. But what does this mean for your favorite automakers? Companies were inevitably forced to produce fewer vehicles and thus fall behind the demand.

Is the chip shortage getting better?

A blue 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning front 3/4 with open frunk at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning front 3/4 with open frunk | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit

The semiconductor chip shortage had some severe consequences for the automotive industry and its many automakers. Used and new car prices have increased just because of supply issues. Automakers have disappointed consumers by being unable to fill orders, often orders that had already been placed.

According to CNN Business, the chip shortage is expected to last for at least another year. So, frankly, it’s actually getting worse. It’s a horrible time to purchase a vehicle because there is so much uncertainty in the industry at the moment. Most brands were completely blindsided by this major event and have little power over whether or not the situation improves anytime soon.

Furthermore, there are still factors in play that are beyond any individual company’s control. What if the pandemic takes a turn for the worse again? The automotive industry has a bright future thanks to the introduction of electric vehicles, but it must get past this hurdle to advance. Luckily for Ford, it has a lineup that is worth waiting on.

RELATED: The 2021 Ford F-150 Is Struggling With the Chip Shortage

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The Sub-$20,000 2021 Kia Rio Will Make Honda Fit Fans Happy

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When an automaker discontinues a model, a few fans feel left out. Like when Honda retired the Honda Fit in the U.S. after 2020. Subcompact car consumers were understandably disgruntled. It may be worth your while to check out the 2021 Kia Rio if you’re missing the Honda Fit this year. Kia Rio aims to bring the value proposition that some former Honda Fit buyers miss most.

The discontinuation of other subcompact cars

2021 Kia Rio | 2021 Kia America, Inc.

The 2020 Honda Fit isn’t the only subcompact car leaving the market. Car and Driver points out a few others that are no longer available or plan to be discontinued, including the Toyota Yaris, the Chevy Sonic, and the Ford Fiesta. It’s not that these cars were necessarily poor in design or lacked features, either. The subcompact car segment just continues to be less and less popular among consumers who prefer their sporty performance sedans, spacious SUVs, and capable pickups instead. And much of the data points to the increasing popularity in the compact and subcompact SUV space over the tiny sedans.

Used car pricing continues to skyrocket in response to the pandemic-driven automotive shuttering and furloughs of early 2020. And now, those discontinued value-proposition subcompact cars would sure be handy for the budget-conscious consumer. Only a handful of vehicles are still available today under the $20,000 MSRP threshold. And the 2021 Kia Rio is one of them, in a prime position to make Honda Fit and subcompact sedan lovers very happy.

The 2021 Kia Rio continues to impress for less than $20,000

The 2021 Kia Rio feels like a stroll down memory lane, back when solid, honest small cars were the norm on dealership showrooms. But today, there’s hardly a contender, making the Rio the win-win. Car and Driver critics tested the Rio and complimented its sophistication on the road. They also love all the additions that come with the S Technology Package. It may be a cheap buy, but you won’t certainly feel cheap with an eight-inch touchscreen, proximity-key entry systems, and a pushbutton start. 

The assessments also suggest that the steering feels confident and weighted while the engine runs quiet and smooth. Every Kia Rio comes with a 120-hp 1.6-liter inline-four. And you’ll only have two trims, according to Edmunds, the LX, and the S. But again, it’s that technology package that brings all the goodies, including a hefty menu of driver aids, like forward collision and lane departure tech, along with lane-following assist and driver attention warning systems.

A few drawbacks you should know before buying

Subcompact cars aren’t for everyone. And the 2021 Kia Rio isn’t perfect. Some point out the less-than-inspiring style of either the four-door version or the hatchback. The Rio only comes in a front-wheel-driver offering, too, where many other sized sedans are harnessing all-wheel-drive instead. Some consider the Rio too small for what they need and let’s be honest, 120 horses aren’t going to feel all that peppy. However, despite its slow and tiny nature, critics continue to praise it, including MotorTrend, whose team rated it 8.1 out of 10 and first in the subcompact sedan class.

You might think you won’t be getting much when the Kia Rio ranges from $16,050 to $16,690. Think again. This may be the little subcompact that could, and it’s in a prime position to deliver the most significant value in this tiny car space. 

RELATED: Ditched 2020 Honda Fit Flips Off Its Maker by Topping This Year-End List

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