The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Just Outranked the Kia Seltos

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Give it up for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. It just took down the 2021 Kia Seltos. It’s no easy task for vehicles to beat the new options on the block, so the Subaru Crosstrek must have a few secrets up its sleeves. 

2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs. 2021 Kia Seltos 

2021 Subaru Crosstrek | Subaru

According to MotorTrend, the best subcompact SUV for 2021 is the Subaru Crosstrek. It outranks the 2021 Kia Seltos, which landed in third place. The Kia Soul is second, but the Seltos is an off-roader like the Crosstrek, so it’s fairer to compare those two SUVs. 

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek ranks highly from being comfortable, practical, and rugged. It has an excellent fuel economy and ground clearance for off-roading, and it now has a more powerful engine option available. 

The Kia Seltos ranks well for being fun to drive, with a spacious and versatile interior. It has a powerful engine and comes with tons of standard features, but the material quality could be improved. 

How do the Crosstrek and Selto perform? 

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has a 2.9-liter four-cylinder base engine with 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 1,500 lbs and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. 

With the 2021 Kia Seltos, the base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder option with 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 2,000 lbs and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. 

The Crosstrek gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and up to 33 mpg on the highway. The Seltos is a little more fuel-efficient with an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in the city and up to 34 mpg on the highway. 

Both of these SUVs come with standard all-wheel drive. The Crosstrek has an 8.7-inch ground clearance, and the Seltos sits at 7.3-inches. The Crosstrek is the better off-roader with its X-Mode system that includes driving modes for Snow and Dirt. 

The Seltos provides a bit of a sportier ride because body roll can be noticeable in the Crosstrek, and the handling is a little bland. But the Crosstrek offers a quieter interior with more supportive seats. 

Does the Seltos or Crosstrek have better features? 

A 2022 Kia Seltos driving on a dirt road
2022 Kia Seltos | Kia

You can get started in a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek for about $22,245. The 2021 Kia Seltos begins at around $21,990. The Crosstrek offers 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear with 55.3 cubes total. The Seltos provides 22.6 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear with up to 62.8 cubic feet total. 

The Kia Seltos comes with a 10.3-inch infotainment system in all models except for the base model. The Crosstrek has a 6.5-inch touchscreen that can be upgraded to an 8.0-inch unit. Both SUVs come with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Standard safety features with the Seltos include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. These features are available with the Subaru Crosstrek. 

Both of these SUVs seem pretty evenly matched. We think the Crosstrek took the top spot for having slightly nice interior materials and more off-roading capabilities. But the Seltos still provides light off-roading capabilities and a comfortable, sporty ride. We recommend testing them both.

RELATED: Did 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Solve Its Biggest Problem?

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4 Best Shop Vacs Under $200 to Keep Your Garage, Car, and More Clean

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A good shop vac can help you with clean-up and maintenance in your garage, home, and car. In fact, investing in a vacuum is a great way to maintain your car’s value. It can also be a valuable tool if you own an RV or even a boat. And a good shop vac doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. But before you go out and buy one, there are a few things you should know. 

Determining which shop vac is the best

Shop vacs are a great investment for your car and garage | Boniface Muthoni/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Roadshow by CNET released its editor’s choices for the best shop vac of 2021. The reviewers used several criteria to determine which shop vac is best. Two of the biggest criteria were customer satisfaction and expert recommendations. They also considered price, size, and function. Of those, we chose the four best for less than $200.

The 4 best shop vacs under $200

Best overall: Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 16-Gallon Wet/Dry Vac

As its name implies, you can use Craftsman CMXEVBE17595 16 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac for wet and dry messes. It also has three nozzles and a tank that’s easy to empty. Plus, it’s a heavy-duty model, which means it can tackle any mess. Bonus: It comes with a feature that lets you use it as a leaf blower. Best of all, it costs only $159.99 on Amazon as of this writing.

Best for cars: Armor All 2.5-Gallon Wet/Dry Utility Shop Vacuum

If you plan to use a shop vac only to clean your car, you don’t necessarily need a huge tank, but you need one that’s cordless or has a long cord so that you can reach every crevice of your vehicle. This Armor All model has a 10-foot cord and a six-foot hose and can handle wet and dry messes. It earned the Amazon’s Choice designation and costs only $50.94 through Amazon. 

Best for home use: Ridgid 4-Gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum

Using a shop vac instead of a regular vacuum to clean your home can be beneficial, particularly if it can handle wet and dry messes like this Ridgid model. It has a 20-foot cord and a seven-foot hose and is light enough to carry from room to room. It costs $99 at Home Depot.

Best cheap option: Vacmaster 12-Gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum With Detachable Blower

Cheap doesn’t mean shoddy in this case. This Vacmaster 12-gallon wet/dry shop vac can be used for wet and dry messes, and it comes with a slew of attachments to clean up various messes. You can get it on Amazon for $89.99.

5 things you need to know before buying a shop vac

First, where will you be using it? This is important because it can help you determine which size shop vac you’ll need and whether a cordless model would be more practical than a corded one. There are also some models made especially for use in cars.

Second, will you be cleaning up dry messes, wet messes, or both? Some vauums are not designed for use with liquids, so if you anticipate having to clean up wet messes, you need a shop vac that can handle them.

Third, what size tank do you need? There’s no need to get an extra-large tank if you’ll be cleaning only your car, particularly if it’s a small model. However, if you plan to clean your extra-large garage, you’ll want a tank large enough to accommodate the space. 

The last two things you need to know are how you use your shop vac and how to keep it running smoothly. You should be familiar with the instructions for your model before using it. This is important not only to ensure the shop vac functions properly but also for your safety. Cleaning up a huge puddle of water with a shop vac not designed for that can be dangerous. It’s also important to understand how to properly maintain your shop vac, including how to change the filter and how to empty the tank properly. 

RELATED: 5 Best Car Detailing Kits in 2021

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Is the Chevrolet Bolt EUV a Better Buy Over a Tesla Model 3?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The electric car segment is getting charged up with all kinds of rivals. Of course, when you think of an electric car today, you most likely picture a Tesla in your mind. However, there’s more than one automaker pumping out cars with electric propulsion. For example, there’s the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, which is an “electric utility vehicle” that’s packed full of value and a handy list of driver-assist features. In fact, there’s a chance that the Bolt EUV could actually be a better buy than a perennial favorite like the Tesla Model 3.

The Chevy Bolt EUV is cheaper than a Tesla Model 3

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV | Chevrolet

In to consider a car to be a “better buy,” we would first have to look at the pricing between the two cars. The Chevrolet Bolt EUV starts at $33,995 (including destination fees) while the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus carries a starting price tag of $41,190 (including destination). That’s a pretty large jump between the two EVs.

In addition to the large difference in price, Edmunds points out that the Model 3’s price of entry will include amenities like faux leather seating, navigation, and heated seats as well as other items. However, the fully loaded Bolt Premiere trim level will get you all of that plus ventilated seats for less than a base Model 3. Now that’s what we call “value.”

The Bolt’s Super Cruise is cheaper than Tesla’s self-driving suite

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV | Chevrolet

By now, we’re sure you have heard of Tesla’s claim to futuristic fame called “Full Self Driving.” If not, then you just need to know that it’s a suite of driver-assist aids that help keep the car on the road while semi-autonomous driving you to your destination. No, it does not make the car fully autonomous, nor does Super Cruise – which is basically the same thing.

However, the Super Cruise suite of driver-assist features costs $2,200 on the top-trim Bolt Premiere. Compare that to the Tesla Model 3’s “Full Self Driving” option, which costs $10,000 and you’ll quickly see why the Chevy is still a better value.

Electric range can be deceiving

A red 2021 Tesla Model 3 driving along the mountains, the 2021 Tesla Model 3 is one of the best new sports cars with all-wheel drive
2021 Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

One of the most important features that any prospective EV buyer looks at is the electric range that an EV can get. At first glance, it’s easy to be impressed by the Tesla Model 3’s 263-mile range. However, Edmunds pointed out that no Teslas that they have tested on their real-world test loop has achieved the EPA range estimate.

On the other hand, Edmunds has also tested the current Chevy Bolt on their test loop and they were able to exceed the EPA estimate by 7%. Since the Bolt EUV is based heavily on the current model, it’s safe to assume that its 247-mile range could likely be exceeded as well.

The Chevrolet Bolt EUV offers a great value

As we can see, the 2022 Bolt EUV can pack a huge value punch in comparison to the Tesla Model 3. We do realize that the Model 3 has its advantages as well, but considering the Bolt EUV can likely beat it in range, price, and driver-assist features, it could very well be a much better buy.

RELATED: Suddenly, the Chevrolet Bolt Is an SUV?

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Thousands of 2021 Ford F-150s Are Finally Getting Shipped Thanks to Fresh Chips

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We are all getting very tired of the chip shortage. The insane used car prices, production delays, and lack of new inventory have really sent the automotive industry into a tailspin. However, there is a little glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for Ford. Thousands of incompletely 2021 Ford F-150s are finally getting finished after Ford secured a pile of much-needed semiconductor chips. 

2021 Ford F-150 | Ford

Can you buy a 2021 F-150? 

For the time being, the 2021 Ford F-150 will be back in stock. The Drive reports that after securing a supply of chips, Ford will start delivering thousands of 2021 Ford F-150s. The chip shortage has been felt across the automotive industry and video games and other electronics. 

Unfortunately, due to the popularity and utility of pickup trucks, this segment has been hit the hardest by the lack of chips. As we reported a few months back, Ford had so many unfinished trucks that you could see the stockpile from outer space. Hopefully, this batch of chips can shirk that pile a little. 

How many 2021 Ford F-150s will be shipped?

A black 2021 Ford F-150 parked at dusk, the F-150 is one of the best new pickup trucks under $40,000
2021 Ford F-150 | Ford

We have not confirmed exactly how many F-150s are getting sent out but can assume that Ford will prioritize the F-150, although many other models are also awaiting the same parts. 

It makes sense to prioritize the 2021 Ford F-150. First of all, it is the most popular vehicle in American and has been for decades. Secondly, this newest F-150 is easily the most practical and usable truck that’s ever been made. Ford is chomping at the bit to get these out into the world. 

The 2021 Ford F-150 is the best pickup truck ever made

Since we haven’t driven it yet, we can’t speak to its quality or toughness. However, the specs and options available for the 2021 Ford F-150 are unlike any pickup truck we have ever seen. It has a monstrously powerful hybrid engine package, bed and towing scales, and a built-in electric power generator that can literally power your entire house. This thing is ready to take over the world, yet it is seeing the worst sales numbers of its kind in a long time. 

Due to the chip shortage, Ford plants have shut all over the country. These plants have been building cars, trucks, and SUVs for months without finishing them due to the lack of chips. This has led to catastrophic sales numbers across the board. 

However, the 2021 Ford F-150 is the real shocker given that it regularly sees the highest sales numbers of any vehicle, period. According to The Drive, in June 2020, Ford sold 65,188 units in the half-ton and up categories—this year, that number dropped 26.9 percent to 45,673.

“We’re working to get chips into F-Series pickups and get them out to dealers. That’s our first priority,” explained Erich Merkle, U.S. sales analyst at Ford, to Freep. “We’ll see our inventories improve. It’ll take time, but stock will gradually start to improve the second half of the year.”

Will the F-150 make a comeback? 

2021 Ford F-150s have begun shipping again after the chip shortage
Ford F-150 pickup trucks | Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Without a doubt. Total F-Series sales numbers for the first six months of 2021 clock in at 362,032. This number represents only a 1.5 percent drop from sales this time last year. The demand is high, and Ford is looking good if they can just get their cars out to buyers. Between the F-150 and Bronco, the blue oval will be fine; they just have to weather this storm a little longer.

RELATED: The 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Can Actually Power Your House

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