4 Affordable Off-Road Vehicles According to Edmunds

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Are you in the market for a new off-roading vehicle to take on your summer camping trip? Edmunds compiled a list of affordable off-road vehicles that won’t break the bank. These trucks and SUVs are around $40,000 and have all of the upgraded features you might need to go off the beaten path.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is an affordable off-road vehicle

A 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is an affordable off-road vehicle | Subaru

Edmunds chose the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek for the affordable off-road vehicle list for a reasonable price. The Crosstrek comes with all-wheel drive and has a high ground clearance for adventures. These two options combined help assist the smaller SUV in off-roading. The Subaru SUV has roof rails for extra equipment, and the interior is fairly comfortable. The new addition of X-Mode makes this vehicle even more capable.

Edmunds noted the base engine isn’t as exciting as possible, but it packs many features in otherwise for a reasonable price.

Starting MSRP: $23,295

Edmunds reccomends the Toyota Tacoma as an affordable off-road vehicle

Like everyone else, Edmunds approves of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma truck. The Tacoma is an affordable midsize pickup truck that performs both on and off-road. The standard ground clearance of more than 9 inches sets the truck apart right off the bat. The Tacoma comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but buyers can upgrade to a four-wheel-drive system. The Tacoma hasn’t been redesigned recently, but it is also popular enough that it doesn’t need to be. An affordable off-road vehicle from Toyota? Sign us up.

Starting MSRP for the 2021 Toyota Tacoma SR 4×4 Access Cab: $28,705

The Ford Bronco Sport is a new and exciting choice

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has been making waves ever since it was announced. The regular-sized Ford Bronco is a bit more capable than the Sport, but the price is also much higher. The Baby Bronco comes with four-wheel drive for all models and a fairly reasonable price. The Sport comes with tons of storage room and cargo area for extra supplies, plus front-facing cameras for a technologically advanced off-road adventure. Edmunds notes that the Bronco Sports also offers a low-speed cruise control system, helpful in many off-roading situations.

Starting MSRP: $28,155

Edmunds also liked the Jeep Wrangler Sport

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport is probably the most obvious choice on the list. The two-door Wrangler offers all of the Jeep fun in a smaller package. It comes with four-wheel drive, tow hooks, and skid plates to protect the vehicle. The Wrangler Sport has all sorts of fun oddities like removable doors and a folding windshield. This one isn’t going to be the most comfortable ride out there, but that’s the whole point of a Jeep.

Starting MSRP: $30,395

These choices are affordable off-road vehicles that allow the remaining budget to go toward food or a camping slip. Affordable but capable vehicles are slowly trickling in from automakers who realize drivers don’t want a top-of-the-line trim for off-roading. Sometimes buyers are afraid to put these expensive vehicles to use because of the cost. That’s understandable, but also less fun.

RELATED: Consumer Reports Doesn’t Like the 2021 Jeep Gladiator, but Drivers Do

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Jay Leno Reveals the Real Reason He Bought Himself a Tesla Years Ago

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla is an empire, and CEO Elon Musk is the driving force behind it, but not everyone is on board with his ideas. But TV personality Jay Leno, a friend for quite some time, has always backed Musk no matter what innovation he brought to the table. Whether it be a Tesla with lightning-fast acceleration or the roadster he sent into space, Musk knows no boundaries. 

Leno bought himself a Tesla in 2015, and the reason isn’t what you might think. Why did he want the Tesla? Well, it had nothing to do with it being an environmentally friendly vehicle, CNBC reports.

Which Tesla models has Jay Leno driven?

TV personality Jay Leno has a sizable car collection | Christopher Polk/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Though Leno owns a Model S, it isn’t the only Tesla EV he’s had the chance to drive. He’s tested two other Tesla models, and both were on his show Jay Leno’s Garage. The first was the highly anticipated Cybertruck, which he showed off with his friend Elon Musk. 

The electric truck’s design impressed Leno even though it looks nothing like a typical pickup. Now, modern trucks’ styling seems more out-of-date than anything, Leno explained. But the Cybertruck’s angular design was intentional, said Tesla’s design head, Franz Von Holzhausen, who came up with the style. Tesla’s designers didn’t want the truck to resemble a traditional pickup at all. 

The other Tesla that Leno got his hands on was the Model Y, which he also showcased on his series, but this time without Musk. This compact SUV didn’t disappoint Leno — it had the power and speed he expected. He even demonstrated how much trunk space the EV offers. All he had to do was crawl inside to show there’s more than enough room for nearly anything you want to haul. 

Why did Jay Leno buy a Tesla in 2015?

Leno has admitted he buys vehicles for their uniqueness and the story behind them. Though some consumers buy Tesla EVs to prevent pollution, that isn’t what sold the TV personality on this electric vehicle. The feature that drew him to the Tesla Model S in 2015 was this four-door sedan’s incredible speed. It didn’t disappoint him either. 

He shared that he likes to have fun with some of his vehicles, too. So on weekends, he pulls out his 1960 Triumph TR3 roadster and takes it out on the open road. But during the week, he needed a daily driver in Los Angeles traffic. 

So he opted for an EV, saving save money on gas and avoiding polluting the air. He only needs to worry about charging it, except it’s not much of a concern because Tesla charging stations abound in LA. The purchase has been worthwhile — since he bought his Model S in 2015, Leno hasn’t had to do anything to it, no repairs, nothing. 

His thoughts on Tesla and Elon Musk

Musk has displayed some questionable behavior over the years, and it’s turned many people off. But Leno isn’t one of them. He has always thought highly of Musk, especially regarding Tesla. Leno said Musk is a smart businessman because he built not only Tesla but also an entire network to support it.

Musk came up with a super-network of charging stations that he grew to include several hundred locations. Fancy European EVs can’t compete with that, and neither can most American models. But many are trying by partnering with other charging infrastructures. 

Of course, Tesla isn’t the only Musk creation that impresses Leno. The entrepreneur’s SpaceX, which is said to cost about 1/10th of what the U.S. government spends on its space program, is another way Musk is paving the way for innovation. “That’s the way private industry is supposed to go — cheaper, faster, more efficient,” Leno stated. 

Tesla has come a long way in the EV industry, and it doesn’t look like it will slow anytime soon, thanks to Musk’s out-of-the-box thinking. There will probably always be critics who question his methods, but Musk will likely have a supporter in Leno for a long time to come. 

RELATED: How Did Jay Leno Become Obsessed With Cars?

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The 2021 Honda Odyssey is a Top Safety Pick+

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Is the 2021 Honda Odyssey safe? The IIHS thinks so. It’s a Top Safety Pick+. Just what is a Top Safety Pick+, and is that + sign important? Let’s look at why the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety bestowed its highest award onto the 2021 Honda Odyssey. 

2021 Honda Odyssey | Honda

What is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+?

To be awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must score at least a good or higher in all of the IIHS crashworthy ratings. These include the driver-side small overlap front, the passenger-side small overlap front, and the moderate overlap front. In addition to these front crash testings, the vehicle must get a good or higher in the side crash tests, roof strength, and head restraint tests. 

Additionally, the vehicle must have an advanced or superior in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. Headlights, often overlooked by car shoppers, must be good or acceptable on all trim levels. Oftentimes one trim level has good headlight ratings while another trim level does not. 

The 2021 Honda Odyssey gets a good rating in the important small overlap crash front tests

The 2021 Honda Odyssey has a good rating in the IIHS’ small overlap front: driver side crash test.  The IIHS does a small overlap front crash test on the driver and passenger sides of vehicles. The small overlap front: driverside test measures how well a car does when the front left corner of the vehicle hits something like a tree or another car. 

The IIHS started doing small overlap front: driver-side crash tests when they discovered that the front corners of cars weren’t as safe as the crush zones. In response, car manufacturers began improving the safety of the driver side of the car. 

However, many car manufacturers didn’t carry these safety improvements over to the passenger side of the car. The IIHS then implemented the small overlap front: passenger side test as well.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey also got a good overall score for the small overlap front: passenger-side test. It’s worth noting that under this category, the structure and safety cage only has an acceptable rating. All other subcategories in the passenger side small overlap test are good.

What else makes the 2021 Honda Odyssey a Top Safety Pick+?

The moderate overlap test ratings are all good, as are the subcategories within the moderate overlap category. Side crash test ratings are also all good, as is the roof strength and seat restraints. 

The front crash prevention for both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian are both superior, which is the highest safety rating they can. Advanced safety features are important for avoiding a crash. As more car manufacturers are making these standard in their vehicles, it’s nice to see that they’re testing well.

The headlights in the 2021 Honda Odyssey are only acceptable on all trims. That’s a shame because having good headlights is important, but it doesn’t preclude the Honda Odyssey from getting a Top Safety Pick+ award.

Overall, the 2021 Honda Odyssey is a solid choice for a minivan. Its excellent safety ratings are certainly a huge advantage to this best-selling van. Hopefully in the future the headlights will get a little better. Then the Odyssey just might be perfect. 

RELATED: If You Buy One of These Four Pickup Trucks, You’d Better Have Night Vision

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Top 5 Best Manual Cars For 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Oh, manual transmissions. Why do we have to love you so much? Stick shift cars and trucks are clearly on the way out. This trend isn’t new, but it is spreading more with every next model. At this point, there are very few new cars and trucks that still offer “standard shift” as standard. Hell, even the Mazda Miata’s manual gearbox is on the way out. Even though the future of the manual transmission isn’t looking great, there are still a few holdouts. These are the top five best manual cars for 2021. 

Interior detail of a Porsche 997 GT2 RS sports car, taken on March 11, 2019. (Photo by Daniel Pullen/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The best cars that still come in manual aren’t the only cars that still have it

We must understand that although we want to bitterly blame the youths or increasingly lazy drivers for the death of the three-pedal car, the truth is, modern automotive technology is simply outgrowing the stick shift. 

According to Gear Patrol, not only are electric cars – who don’t really have gears like that – becoming more popular, the automatic transmissions are just getting more efficient. The stick shift is something that can’t really be justified anymore outside of the fact that enthusiasts just like them. While that is a very compelling argument, it turns out major corporations don’t really care about what we like; they care about what we buy – and people buy automatics. 

Although only five made the cut for this list, there are more than five models that still have a manual transmission here in the states. However, there aren’t all that many more…

The Jeep Wrangler is still manual, for now

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler easily navigates a sand dune and is great for beach adventures
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 | Stellantis

The Jeep Wrangler has been through more changes in the past three years than in the previous 30. However, the one thing that has yet to change is the Wrangler’s dedication to manual transmissions. While it may be an increasingly less popular option, it is still an option, and that is all that matters. 

Since this is a list of the best manual cars, the specific Jeep Wrangler that earns its spot on this list of best cars that still come with a manual transmission is the top-tier 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. This model comes lifted with trail-ready tires, cool off-road features like lights and winches, and special graphics packages and colors. 

The 2021 Ford Bronco comes in manual

The 2021 Ford Bronco slides through the sand proving its one of the best manual cars available in 2021
2021 Ford Bronco | Ford

The 4×4 community was skeptical of the resurrection of the Bronco. Still, once we learned more about what Ford intended to do, the skepticism quickly turned into a nearly rabid desire for more information. 

The fact that its turbocharged four-cylinder engine configuration came in a 7-speed manual transmission immediately perked the off-road fan’s ear’s up. The further we’ve gone through the saga of the 2021 Ford Bronco, the more we have learned our skepticism was unwarranted, and the excitement is more than warranted. This is easily one of the best manual cars for 2021.

Does the 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 come in manual? 

An image of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS Convertible build parked outdoors.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS Convertible | PCarMarket

Miraculously, yes! If the manual gearbox is endangered in regular cars, what does that make supercars with a stick shift? There are almost no high-end supercars these days that still come with a stand shift package. However, Porsche is still holding on for now. 

The rarity of the manual in this segment is strange because supercars like the Porsche 911 GT3 are already as impractical as it gets, but these cars aren’t for practicality; they are for enthusiasts. So, why not make Ferraris and Lamborghinis with three pedals? It seems like a no-brainer, alas.

The Mustang Mach 1 comes in manual

2021 Ford mustang Mach 1 with manual transmission in white
2021 Ford Mustang | Ford

This is an easy open-court layup for the best manual car of 2021. American muscle cars should always have a manual option, and the 5.0-liter V8 Mustang Mach 1 delivers on that patriotic ideal. 

If the muscle car segment – which has never bothered with trying to be current – loses the manual, then we are truly doomed. The Mustang is holding out, and for that, we should all be grateful. 

Thank God the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro still comes in manual

The pickup truck market is an eternally confusing one. Of all the vehicle types, this is the one that should never lack the cheaper, simpler manual option. However, there are very few trucks on the American market that still offer this pragmatic feature. 

Thankfully, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is giving people what they want. Since the Toyota 4×4 line is still living in the past, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see that it is still making some three-pedal trucks for those of us who miss the old unkillable pickups from the days long past. 

Long live the manual transmission!

No matter how hard will all hope and pray, the fact is, the writing’s on the wall. Manuals are on the way out. Whether by electric cars or some other futuristic paradigm shift, the manual transmission will disappear. For the time being, let’s enjoy one of the best manual cars still available in 2021. 

RELATED: Quit Complaining About a Lack of Manual Sports Cars, and Get a Subaru BRZ

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