Minivans are the Hottest Since the 1980s (We’re Not Kidding)

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Things run in cycles. What’s hot today becomes so commonplace later on that nobody wants it. And right now the minivan is the hottest segment, and we’re not kidding.

Surprisingly, minivans are difficult to find right now

Chrysler Pacifica | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

This is according to Cox Automotive, which tracks available vehicles on dealership lots. Minivans are the most difficult to find on dealership lots. There is under a 20 day supply around the country.

By “day supply” that is the dealer’s measurement for how many days it would take to exhaust supplies on lots. At 20 days, that is the lowest supply of any segment right now. For comparison, the market average, and where manufacturers like to be, is right around 30 days. 

The minivan segment hasn’t been this hot since the first Chrysler minivans came out in the 1980s. Back then, Chrysler was the only manufacturer of minivans. But other automakers joined the bandwagon quickly. 

Three minivans are newly designed in the past year

A blue 2022 Kia Carnival, which resembles an SUV and a minivan, travels on a street past palm trees and a modern building
The 2022 Kia Carnival resembles both an SUV and a minivan | Kia

Today, there are only five companies manufacturing these vans. Of those five, three have newly designed offerings. Those would be the Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival, and Toyota Sienna. The other two are the Chrysler Voyager and Honda Odyssey. Honda’s Odyssey is considered the high-end of the segment. But none of them are just basic mom-mobiles anymore. 

Over the years they have fallen out of favor. It has been to such an extent that both Ford and GM no longer offer minivan choices. What everyone seems to want now are SUVs. 

Is the minivan’s surging popularity due to more people trekking to open spaces?

A white 2021 Toyota Sienna driving in the city
2021 Toyota Sienna | Toyota

But, how long will it be before they, too, become less popular? Just like station wagons and sedans before them. Whether due to the pandemic or just changing dynamics, more people are trekking out to open spaces. 

Minivans offer some of the best comfort and conveniences of any vehicle out there. Loading and unloading gear is a cinch. And it can be purchased for a reasonable price. 

“Currently, the supply of these vans is lower than full-size, midsize, and compact SUVs and well below the national average,” Brian Moody, Executive Editor of Autotrader. It also tracks new and used vehicle sales. If you haven’t looked at a minivan lately, maybe you should.

RELATED: The 1 Type of Person Who Should Buy a Minivan Over an SUV

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Atlanta Carjackings Are a Reminder You Can Never Be Too Safe on the Road

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Car safety extends beyond following the rules and wearing your seatbelt. It’s also about protecting your car and your life. Thieves won’t hesitate to steal a vehicle if given the opportunity, especially in some U.S. cities. In addition, last year saw an increase in a more serious crime — carjackings — up 537 percent in Minneapolis alone. And if you live in or visit Atlanta, police say you should be on the lookout for a new carjacking scheme sweeping the city.

Here’s what’s going on and what you can do to avoid carjacking.

Atlanta’s recent ‘bump and rob’ carjackings

Police cars outside the Georgia State Capitol | CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Dangerous carjackings are up 29 percent in Atlanta since the beginning of the year, the local NBC affiliate, 11 Alive, reported earlier this week. Robbers have been bumping their vehicles into motorists’ cars and waiting for them to exit their vehicles. This allows perpetrators to quickly take advantage of unsuspecting and unarmed drivers. After all, having their car stolen usually isn’t the first thing on people’s minds during a fender-bender.

In May, an anonymous driver told the news station that another car bumped her car from behind. When the young woman got out to inspect the damage, several people with guns emerged from the other car. With little choice, the victim let the robbers take her car so that she could escape unharmed.

Although this incident occurred at night, the driver’s car was bumped in slow-moving traffic with plenty of other motorists around. This just proves that criminals aren’t deterred by crowded areas and can strike anytime. As expected, the driver pulled over to the side of the road, where fewer witnesses could observe the crime.

And, as a different driver learned just a couple of weeks ago, even your own gun won’t always save you from a carjacking. Another group of suspects tried to carjack a man using the same bump-and-rob technique, 11 Alive reported. The driver pulled out his gun, resulting in a shootout between the man and the suspects. Although the suspects ultimately stole the driver’s car, he still survived.

How to avoid getting carjacked

According to the Insurance Information Institute, you should avoid lingering in your vehicle for too long in isolated areas. Carjackers also like to hang around unpopular ATMs, where they can get access to your money and your car. Try not to park in dimly lit areas with fewer cars surrounding yours.

When stopping in unfamiliar areas, always keep your phone fully charged in case of emergencies. If you notice someone lurking around your vehicle for an extended period of time, call 911 immediately.

If someone starts flashing their car’s headlights at you after a light bump from behind, don’t pull over. Call the authorities and continue driving to the closest police or fire station. If possible, try to give the emergency operator a description of the car that’s tailing you.

Can you ever be too careful?

Drivers are understandably fearful of carjackings, but some people take advantage of that fear to make unsubstantiated claims go viral. One TikTok user posted a rumor that sex traffickers tie wires on car door handles of their next intended victims. The driver is supposedly an easy target to be abducted while distracted by removing the wire.

Though possible, any instances of this crime have yet to be reported and have even been debunked by law enforcement. To avoid inciting panic and paranoia, try to avoid sharing stories that haven’t been properly fact-checked.

Even though it’s a rumor, there’s still some common sense to be learned from that story. If you notice something strange about your vehicle, trust your gut. Call for help or safely remove yourself from the situation.

RELATED: Americans Admit to Some Scary Driving Habits in New Survey

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The 2022 BMW X3 Is Killing the Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain in the U.S.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Most automakers continue to grapple with the best ways to sell battery-powered vehicles — whether hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric — because many areas lack the infrastructure to support these cars. In some cases, it makes more financial sense for a brand to sell them in limited markets rather than try to penetrate all of the major markets. Such is the case for BMW, which recently discontinued X3 xDrive30e sales in the United States.

The new BMW X3’s plug-in hybrid option

2022 BMW X3 xDrive30e in Sophisto Grey metallic | BMW Group

Sitting on 18-inch wheels and featuring BMW’s attractive exterior styling, the 2021 X3 xDrive30e is an impressive compact crossover. Its powertrain — including a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, 12-kWh battery pack, and eight-speed automatic transmission — produces 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and hits 60 mph in just under six seconds.

Like its non-PHEV counterparts, the X3 xDrive30e handles well, providing good control in acceleration, braking, and cornering. It gets 60 MPGe combined city/highway and 18 miles when driving on the battery alone. The battery can charge in three and a half hours at a Level 2 charging station or 11.5 hours using a 120-volt outlet.

The X3 xDrive30e isn’t BMW’s only EV in the X3 series. It’s also the basis for the iX3, a pure EV with a 74-kWh battery pack purported to provide 286 miles of range. Early reviews note its adroit handling, thanks in part to adaptive recuperation and relatively light weight.

Though it doesn’t stray far from the exterior or interior luxury for which the X3 series is known, the powertrain provides 282 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Further, it can be charged to 80 percent capacity in only 34 minutes.

Unfortunately, the iX3 is available only in Europe. And BMW recently announced the 2022 X3 xDrive30e will be available only in Europe from now on as well, MotorTrend reports.

What powertrains are available?

So, does BMW plan to offer any hybrid options for its 2022 lineup? Yes. The six-cylinder all-wheel-drive M40i (paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission) option will include a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This system will offer an extra 11 hp on top of the 382 hp its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six already provides.

If you’re not looking for an EV, though, you can opt for an sDrive30i or xDrive30i. Both options come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 248 hp. The sDrive30i is rear-wheel drive, while the xDrive30i is four-wheel drive. There’s also the sporty X3 M, boasting a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing a whopping 473 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque.

Want even more power? Opt for the X3 M Competition, harnessing 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. The X3 M hits 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and the X3 M Competition nails it in a rapid 3.9 seconds. The X3 M and X3 M Competition both come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD.

Though BMW doesn’t plan to compete against the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Audi e-tron, the X3 series certainly presents stiff competition in the luxury compact SUV segment.

Other BMW X3 features

Of course, the 2022 BMW X3’s benefits extend far beyond impressive powertrain options. It features an admirable (though not segment-leading) 40.3 inches of front legroom and 36.4 inches in the rear. And behind the second row, you’ll find 28.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Again, not segment-leading, but enough to get you and your luggage where you need to go.

As is the norm with BMW models, the 2022 X3 features magnificent and premium interior materials and trim. The base model boasts a 10.25-inch touchscreen and other tech amenities, including dual-zone climate control and front power sport seats. It also comes with advanced safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive LED headlights, blindspot monitoring, and lane departure warning. These driver assists doubtlessly help contribute to the 2022 X3’s 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.

And though these features come with the 2022 X3 xDrive30e PHEV, American consumers are out of luck. Still, if you’re not dead set on a plug-in hybrid, the 2022 BMW X3 is an excellent vehicle with plenty of attractive engine choices.

RELATED: The Quiet 2021 BMW X3 Has a Peaceful and Luxurious Interior

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Which Headlight Beams Are Best to Use in Fog?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Although drivers should be well aware of the rules of the road by the time they have their license and can legally drive, there are always a few things about car safety that are either forgotten or are never discussed in driver’s ed. One commonly misunderstood topic is when to use certain types of headlights, especially in fog. 

Learn more about the headlights you have in your vehicle, which ones are best for fog, and when you should use high beams. 

Which types of headlights does your vehicle have?

Car headlights in fog | Tim Graham/Getty Images

Most vehicles come with at least three types of headlights: regular headlights, low beams, and high beams. Regular headlights should be used for most night-driving situations because they help to illuminate road lines, signs, and other objects on the road. Regular headlights should be turned on 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset, DriversPrep.com explains. This time of day is known as civil twilight. 

Low beams, also called fog lights, direct light downward. They can help you see the lines on the road and objects that are immediately in front of your car, which might include bikers, other cars, branches in the road, and animals. These are best used in poor weather conditions, such as rain or snow, because they can help you stay on the road when you can’t see very far in front of you. 

High beams are best used at night when you’re driving at high speeds and there are no other cars around. These lights are incredibly bright, and they can help you see farther up the road. These lights cast straight or upward instead of downward.

Which headlight beams should you use in fog?

As mentioned earlier, low beams are best for poor weather, including fog. Fog can drastically reduce the distance you can see in front of you, but low beams can at least help you see the lines on the road so that you can stay in your lane. It’s also important to reduce your speed because you can’t see nearly as much in dense fog.

Regular headlights and high beams are not well suited for fog, rain, or snow because the water droplets in the air act like tiny mirrors that can reflect the intense light back at you, reducing your field of vision. Also, Firestone recommends using low beams in city driving when the roads are lit up with other light sources and other drivers are nearby. This prevents you from blasting other drivers with ultra-bright beams.

Most older cars have fog lights, but newer models generally don’t come with fog lights. According to The New York Times, some car companies say the latest high-tech headlights render fog lights obsolete, especially because most people are driving at speeds that are too high for them to work the way they are intended anyway. 

When are high beams a better choice?

High beams can help you see animals, street signs, and other objects farther ahead, and they can drastically improve safety at night compared to regular headlights. High beams are also helpful for night driving on country roads or interstate highways when you are traveling 40 mph or above. At these high speeds, it’s important to be able to see objects way ahead of you, and high beams make this possible. 

You should always return to regular headlights whenever another car is 500 feet in front of or behind you because these lights can blind other drivers and create dangerous situations. Definitely don’t use high beams when you’re surrounded by other cars or driving in wet or foggy conditions. 

RELATED: Could Flashing Your Headlights at an Oncoming Car Lead to a Potentially Deadly Gang Initiation Rite?

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