Hyundai’s Mysterious Upcoming Small SUV Is a Friendly Ghost

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Hyundai has a new small SUV coming down the pipe. The tiny SUV formerly known as the Hyundai AX-1 is now being referred to as “Casper.” There are still many question marks surrounding Hyundai’s small SUV, but we know that it will be smaller than the already compact Hyundai Venue. Initial reports suggested it would only be sold in India, but that seems to be changing. 

Hyundai logo | Raymond Boyd via Getty Images

Will we get the Hyundai Casper?

CarScoops reports that the Casper was only meant to be sold in the Indian market, but it might be expanding. Some reports suggest that Hyundai might bring the small SUV back home to the South Korean market as well. Unfortunately, this seems like yet another interesting car that Americans won’t see. However, the rest of the world seems to be getting a better shot at the little friendly ghost. 

The underpinnings for the little Casper are pretty much the same as the K1, which is already a common ride in India. Considering its built on the same platform as the K1, CarScoops reports the Casper will probably measure between 3.7 and 3.8 meters long and sport an upright and boxy design with angular pillars and a flat roofline.

When is this small SUV coming out? 

headlight up close from the Hyundai Casper a small SUV that we aren't getting
The headlight of the Hyundai Casper | Hyundai

Hyundai released some teaser images in May. The images showed a single headlight, revealing that the little cutie will have separate headlights instead of a light bar. One of the images was also of a single tail light, a complex array made up of many little LED triangles. Circular light units will also be located on Casper’s bumper. 

Hyundai will likely release another teaser before the Casper comes out into the light of day.

What else do we know about the Mysterious small SUV? 

tail light from the unreleased Hyundai
Hyundai Casper tail light | Hyundai

The entry-level Casper is said to sport a 1.1-liter making a very cute 68 hp and 77 lb-ft of torque. Because it is coming stateside, it comes with a five-speed manual transmission as standard and an optional five-speed automatic transmission. 

The bigger, hopped-up engine on the top trim is a beefy 1.2-liter making an earth-crushing 82 hp and 83 lb-ft of torque. 

Although there isn’t much to get excited about from a performance or enthusiast standpoint, it’s a shame that the Casper won’t come stateside. 68 hp is all that exciting, but these little city cars/SUVs are an efficient and affordable option that could really help many Americans. 

We simply don’t have anything this small, cheap, and practical here. As a result, it is nearly impossible to get a decent, reliable car without spending a boatload of cash. These micro-cars are fuel-efficient, cheap to maintain, and cheap to buy. 

Although American’s may never cave to slower, more economical vehicles like a Kei car, for instance, we can keep looking abroad and dream of having cheaper, more economical options for average folks.

RELATED: Hey Hyundai: This 2-Door Santa Cruz is What We Really Want

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Consumer Reports Loves the 2021 Porsche Cayenne, But Not as Much as This Midsize Luxury SUV

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Porsche Cayenne a high score, but there’s a midsize luxury SUV that they love even more: the 2021 BMW X5. Let’s look at the Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X5 to see what makes the X5 the highest-rated midsize luxury SUV.

2021 BMW X5 | BMW

Both midsize luxury SUVs have a good road test score

Consumer Reports tests vehicles at its enormous Connecticut facility. They purchase the cars so that there’s no question about bias or whether car manufacturers are giving them sound vehicles that don’t represent the model as a whole. Consumer Reports conducts tests such as emergency handling, braking, and comfort. 

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Porsche Cayenne scores a 4/5 for its acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in 6.5 seconds. Its transmission scores a 4/5. Routine handling receives an excellent 5/5, while emergency handling only gets a 3/5. The Porsche Cayenne’s max avoidance speed is 50 mph.

On the other hand, Consumer Reports gives the 2021 BMW X5 scores a 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 4/5, while emergency handling only gets a 3/5. The BMW X5’s max avoidance speed is 52 mph.

As far as comfort, the 2021 Porsche Cayenne gets a reasonable 3/5 for its ride. It’s quiet: it scores a perfect 5 for its noise. Both front and rear seat comfort also get perfect scores. Interior fit and finish get a perfect 5. The trunk and cargo space scores only a 3/5, with just 32 cubic feet of storage space.

As far as comfort, the 2021 BMW X5 gets a very good 4/5 for its ride. It’s quiet: it scores a perfect 5 for its noise. Front-seat comfort also gets a perfect score, while rear comfort gets a 4/5. Interior fit and finish get a perfect 5. The trunk and cargo space scores only a 3/5, with just 36.5 cubic feet of storage space.

Both the Cayenne and X5 value safety   

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. 

Rearview cameras are standard in all new cars. You should also look for anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and daytime running lights.

The 2021 Porsche Cayenne comes standard with nearly all of these features. The exceptions are lane-keeping assist and blind-spot warning, which are optional. Unfortunately, rear cross-traffic warning isn’t available. 

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. 

Reliability and owner satisfaction is excellent in both the 2021 Porsche Cayenne and 2021 BMW X5

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Porsche Cayenne a 3/5 for its predicted reliability. Although there are no reliability ratings for 2020, 2019 shows an average reliability rating. Problem spots in the 2019 include the engine minor, brakes, and power equipment.

Despite this mediocre reliability rating, Porsche Cayenne owners seem to love their SUVs. The owner satisfaction score is a 4/5. Most notably, the driving experience and comfort are a 92. Styling receives an 85. Value, however, is just a 35. 72% of Cayenne owners would buy their Cayenne again.

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 BMW X5 a 3/5 for its predicted reliability. The 2020 has a very good reliability rating. Problem spots in the 2020 include the climate system, paint and trim, and in-car electronics.

Despite this mediocre reliability rating, BMW X5 owners give the X5 a 4/5 for owner satisfaction. The driving experience is high, at a 93, and the comfort is a 92. Styling receives an 88 and the value is a 34. 79% of X5 owners would buy their X5 again.

Altogether, the 2021 BMW X5 gets better scores. With its excellent road test score, it’s no surprise that the 2021 BMW X5 is Consumer Reports’ highest-rated midsize luxury SUV.

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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Consumer Reports Says the 2022 Volkswagen Taos Is a Small SUV That ‘Missed the Mark’

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is another in an increasingly popular lineup of Volkswagen SUVs. The VW Taos fits in right below the bigger VW Tiguan landing it in the crowded waters of the growing sea of subcompact SUVs. While Volkswagen’s small SUV is riding on a fairly popular outgoing model, the 2022 Volkswagen Taos is not catching much love from Consumer Reports due to some powertrain and safety feature annoyances that might hold it back from greatness. 

2022 Volkswagen Taos | VW

Consumer Reports is not pleased with 2022 Volkswagen Taos so far

Consumer Reports has only begun to look at the 2022 Volkswagen Taos, and so far, they are less than pleased with the small SUV. CR begins the list of grievances by expressing their disappointment with the lack of safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning not coming standard on the base model Taos. 

This will undoubtedly knock the 2022 Taos down a few points on its overall rating from Consumer Reports. Although CR hasn’t bought its own Volkswagen Taos yet, the testers have had their hands on a loaner and have some thoughts. 

Is the 2022 Volkswagen Taos going to be a good SUV? 

The new VW Taos in blue parked in front of a house
2022 Volkswagen Taos | VW

The new small SUV from Volkswagen comes with a 158-hp, 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for every trim level. Front-wheel-drive models get a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission, while those with all-wheel drive are fitted with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

This 158-hp, 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is based on the 1.4-liter from the VW Jetta. Although VW told CR that the AWD got the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to give it a “sportier demeanor,” CR testers say they felt no significant benefit. 

In fact, Consumer Reports noted that the All-Wheel-Drive Taos with the dual-clutch gearbox “suffered from a big initial delay when trying to accelerate from a stop, followed by an abrupt burst of power as the vehicle got going.” This lurching and sporadic gearbox urged one tester to say, “this powertrain is absolutely demonic.” This lack of acceleration from a stop is not just car nerds whinging about wanting to drive fast; this flaw has serious safety implications. 

The example CR gives is, if a driver is pulling onto a busy street from a stop sign or yield sign, this lull in power can put drivers in a vulnerable and dangerous position. However, CR does note that at least the gear changes are smooth. 

The new Taos also has a stiff ride

2022 Volkswagen Taos | VW

Not to pile on to the growing list of complaints, CR also was unimpressed with the 2022 Volkswagen Taos’ ride quality. CR goes so far as to say that Volkswagen’s small SUV feels more like it’s “crashing” over bumps in the road as opposed to riding over them. While the suspension seems to be of decent quality, CR postulates that the 19-inch wheels that come on the top-trim SEL AWD might be the culprit for the rough ride. They go on to say that the 18-inch wheels on the FWD version gave a bit of a better ride. 

It’s not looking great for the 2022 Volkswagen Taos on Consumer Reports

On top of the sketchy powertrain, lack of base-model safety features, and the stiff ride, the CR also found the interior to be very plastic and unappealing, and the price (which is the same as the bigger, nicer Tiguan). However, they found the cabin to be spacious, comfortable, and quiet. They also like the agility of the small SUV.

Until the full Volkswagen Taos review comes out, we will just have to wait and see to know the results of the rest of Consumer Reports’ extensive testing. 

RELATED: The 2022 Volkswagen Taos Is a Subcompact ‘SUV’ Made for America

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Even More Dead Batteries: New Subaru Lawsuit Claims at Least Five Models Come With Defective Batteries

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Sometimes a lawsuit is a reasonable response to an ongoing automotive problem. But in other instances, what began as one problem soon cascades into a series of legal challenges and issues. Subaru is facing one of these compounding scenarios. A new lawsuit claims what other suits before it already have: There’s a big problem with certain Subaru car batteries. 

More dead batteries are piling up for Subaru owners, and the latest lawsuit adds more claimants. In this updated filing, at least five models exhibit problems with potentially defective batteries. If you drive a Subaru, you’ll want to know the more recent details of what has now become a class-action lawsuit.

More than a few Subaru lawsuits already on the books

Subaru logo | Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto

There is a lawsuit now regarding Subaru batteries. But it’s not the only one. In fact, TorqueNews reported one of the original lawsuits from over a year ago. Since its original report, the automotive site has provided several rounds of updates as new owners of models with faulty batteries joined the fight. 

TorqueNews shared the details of Steven Scott, the plaintiff alleging Subaru of America needs to address a failing battery problem. Scott’s then-newer 2016 Subaru Outback had only 4,076 miles on the odometer when he began noticing electrical problems that reportedly drained the vehicle’s battery. But leaving the hatch open for less than 15 minutes shouldn’t drain any battery, especially on a new model vehicle with low mileage.

Problematic batteries at the center of the problem

CarComplaints.com pointed out several lawsuits that have since been consolidated into a class action. And while the earlier filings pointed to issues with the Forester, Outback, Ascent, Legacy, and WRX models independently, this class-action lawsuit represents them all.

Batteries are dying prematurely, but it’s not necessarily the battery itself that causes the problem. Subaru owners are replacing their batteries sooner than expected and more often due to faulty electrical systems, according to TorqueNews. The Controller Area Network (CAN) system, present in all affected models, operates components including microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators, all responsible for communicating with the battery. It’s this CAN system that claimants say is the problem. 

Affected Subaru model years and what owners can do

The more recent lawsuit includes 2015 to 2019 Subaru WRX, Forester, Outback, Ascent, and Legacy. Previous suits covered Outback and Ascent models through 2020. If you own or lease one of the models and you’ve experienced prematurely draining batteries, report your issue with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Then contact the legal team involved with the lawsuit, McKenzie Lake Lawyers. 

Subaru has contended the allegations and motioned to dismiss the case. The automaker said the claims are too broad in scope, as a “classic vague and inconsistent” pleading. Subaru also challenged a breach of warranty and requested a dismissal because the plaintiffs failed to initiate a pre-lawsuit notice. The latest class-action lawsuit suggests Subaru needs to authorize appropriate recalls for the battery draining and electrical system failures. The courts agreed, allowing the suit to continue into discovery phases, despite having dismissed several previous individual cases.

This case continues as a class action. So if you have questions about joining the lawsuit, contact the NHTSA and the representing attorneys. If the plaintiffs win this case, you could be compensated for your replacement battery costs.

RELATED: Subaru Has Made Its 20 Millionth AWD Vehicle

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