Rental Car Prices Soar Sky High for the Fourth of July Weekend

by Gabrielle DeSantis

With Covid-19 restrictions alleviating throughout the country, many Americans are choosing to travel for the July 4th weekend. This comes as no surprise, considering many people spent the past year couped up in their houses, but what’s a little surprising is the massive uptick in rental car prices and interest for the holiday weekend.

Rental car prices cost more than plane tickets

Avis rental car parking lot | Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

According to USA Today, about 47.7 million Americans are expected to take road trips between July 1and 5, which is the second-largest travel volume on record. That’s a staggering amount of people, but what’s even more staggering is the number of car rentals, which is also at a record high. According to Motor.com, places like Kahalui, Anchorage, and Jackson are hotspots for the holiday weekend and their rental car prices have reflected that.

Rental car agencies in those places are charging an average of $306 to $436 per day, which is a huge increase over the usual $100 to $200 per day. Kayak reports that the rental car shortages have a lot to do with the increase in price as does the increase in consumer demand. Alaska and Hawaii aren’t the only popular vacation spots, though. Here is a list of other popular destinations for the upcoming holiday weekend:

  1. Denver
  2. LA
  3. New York
  4. Orlando
  5. San Diego
  6. Las Vegas
  7. Miami
  8. Chicago
  9. San Francisco
  10. Boston

When is a good time to travel for the holiday weekend?

Vehicles with hazard lights on in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 95 northbound in Miami in September 2018
Finally, Florida motorists can legally use vehicle hazard lights | David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS

If you’re among the millions of Americans that are planning to hit the road this weekend, then it’s important to travel at the right times. Unless you like being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, then here are the worst and the best times to travel, according to USA Today:

Thursday, July 1:

  • Worst time: 3-5 pm
  • Best time: After 7 pm

Friday, July 2:

  • Worst time: 4-5 pm
  • Best time: Before 12 pm

Saturday, July 3:

  • Worst time: 11 am – 1 pm
  • Best time: After 2 pm

Sunday, July 4:

  • Traffic should be lighter all day

Monday, July 5:

  • Worst time: 4-5 pm
  • Best time: Before 1 pm

While the aforementioned travel times might seem like a no-brainer considering they are the typical rush-hour times, you would be surprised as to how many people still travel at those times. Beat the rush and remember to plan your trip around the optimal driving times this weekend.

Consider taking alternate forms of travel

A Boeing 737 MAX airplane lands following an FAA recertification flight at Boeing Field in Seattle in June 2020
Boeing begins MAX 737 test flights after FAA approval | Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

If you happen to get stuck when renting a car or decide that renting one simply costs too much, then you may want to consider buying a plane or train ticket. If that doesn’t work, then you can rent a U-Haul, which is what some vacationers have been doing.

Rental car fleets are currently low thanks to the pandemic and the global chip shortage, but there are ways around it. If anything, the worst-case scenario would be to postpone your travel plans to another weekend, but what would be the fun in that?

After all, watching fireworks and spending time with your friend and family is the whole point of the holiday weekend, so we wouldn’t blame you for sticking to your plans. Just keep in mind that it could cost you a pretty penny to do so.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: Best Deals on New Cars for 4th of July

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Tesla’s Model Y Butts Heads With Ford’s Electric Crossover

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Tesla Model Y and 2021 Ford Mach-E are two electric vehicles that are competing for the same market. They’re both larger than the average electric vehicle, making them attractive to people who want more space than something like the Nissan Leaf has to offer, and they come from major names who customers trust. While Teslas have been on the road for some time, the Ford Mach-E is a relative newcomer, and the two are going head-to-head. In the battle of Tesla Model Y vs Ford Mach-E, who will win?

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E

Tesla has the advantage of experience in the Model Y vs Mach-E battle

A dark gray 2021 Tesla Model Y against a black background.
2021 Tesla Model Y | Tesla

Tesla has been making electric vehicles since 2008. Although Ford has been tinkering with electric vehicles since 1914 (hard to believe, isn’t it?), they haven’t been a major contender for electric vehicle sales until now.

Car and Driver notes that Tesla’s network of Superchargers is a major selling point for their electric vehicles. They also have the Autopilot function, which despite its name is only a semi-autonomous driving system. Of course if you opt for the $10,000 Full Self Driving (FSD), your Tesla may be updated with better self-driving technology as it becomes available. 

Ford, on the other hand, doesn’t yet have its own network of chargers. Mach-E drivers will have to rely on third-party chargers like Electrify America, ChargePoint, and EVgo.

Range is comparable, but the Model Y has a slight edge

The basic Mustang Mach-E can get 211 miles from a single charge. The Mach-E also comes with 266 horsepower, and has a MPGe of 108 city and 94 highway.

The Tesla Model Y, on the other hand, gets 244 miles on a single charge. This may not be a huge difference, since you’d likely be charging your EV before you hit that distance anyway, but it’s worth noting. 

The Model Y comes standard with 384 horsepower and gets 115 MPGe city and 106 highway. How fast can it go 0 to 60? 3.6 seconds. 

Although Car and Driver couldn’t get the Tesla they wanted to compare it to the Mach-E they had, they were able to sort of even things out between the two they did have. Car and Driver performed their own range test by driving each vehicle 75 mph until they ran out of gas – I mean power. The Model Y was able to go 230 miles, while the Mach-E was able to go an impressive 250 miles. Advantage = Mach-E.

Car and Driver found the Tesla’s standard tires better on the track, but not as good for regular driving as the Mach-E’s. However, the Tesla did handle better around the test track. Perhaps Ford will remedy this in future Mach-E editions.

The inside of the Tesla and Mach-E are both kind of bad

Car and Driver thought that the “inconsistent panel gaps” inside of the Tesla Model Y weren’t worth the tested car’s $72,190 price tag. However, the Model Y infotainment had a “mini-stroke,” and Car and Driver was worried this may affect the Tesla’s ability to operate. Luckily it recovered quickly. 

The Mach-E had cheap, hard plastic parts, but more than one infotainment screen, which eased Car and Driver’s worry about a full system failure. At the same time, they found some of the graphics distracting. 

If you just get a standard Tesla Model Y, no Performance package or FSD, it’s a reasonable $39,990. The Ford Mach-E comes in at $42,895, but is eligible for a $7,500 tax credit, which the Model Y is not. 

Overall, Car and Driver found the Mach-E to be a better choice than the Model Y. Its price tag, durability, and quietness on test runs made it more appealing to the testers over at Car and Driver.

RELATED: Made In America: the Top 10 Most American Cars

The post Tesla’s Model Y Butts Heads With Ford’s Electric Crossover appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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The 2021 Honda CR-V Can’t Escape Second Place

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Darn it, the 2021 Honda CR-V came in second place again. This time the 2021 Mazda CX-5 just outranked it on a list of the Best Small SUVs for 2021. The Honda CR-V keeps getting to wear the silver medal, but never the gold. 

The 2021 Honda CR-V vs. the 2021 Mazda CX-5 

2021 Honda CR-V | Honda

According to Roadshow, the best small SUV for this year is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 instead of the 2021 Honda CR-V. This is yet another list where the Honda CR-V receives a ton of praise but can’t claim the victory spot. 

The Mazda CX-5 claimed the top spot because it has an interior that rivals luxury options, it’s fun to drive, and it’s easy to maneuver in tight city areas, and it provides enough space for the whole family. 

But the CR-V is listed as still worthy of plenty of attention for being affordable, providing tons of space for families, and being value-packed. Its drawbacks include having an outdated infotainment system and an average fuel economy. 

How do the CR-V and CX-5 perform? 

With the 2021 Mazda CX-5, you get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine for up to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. You need 93 octane fuel to reach 250 hp. 

When properly equipped, the Mazda CX-5 can tow up to 2,000 lbs. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds with the base engine, and it reaches 60 mph in about 6.6 seconds with the turbo. 

The 2021 Honda CR-V comes with a standard 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 1,500 lbs. Both of these SUVs can tow smaller boats and trailers, but we would recommend going with something more powerful to pull campers. 

The CR-V can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds. The CR-V has responsive steering and handling, but the CX-5 provides more control. Also, the CR-V has a smoother ride over bumps and may have a quieter cabin at highway speeds. 

With the CX-5, you get an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city and up to 31 mpg on the highway. The CR-V is a little better, with an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and up to 34 mpg on the highway. 

Does the CX-5 or Honda CR-V have better features? 

A red 2021 Mazda CX-5 driving through the city
2021 Mazda CX-5 | Mazda

According to Edmunds, the 2021 Honda CR-V has a more spacious and comfortable cabin. In the 2021 Mazda CX-5, rear passengers may feel cramped, and the seats feel a little firm. Smaller rear windows also limit visibility. 

The Honda CR-V offers 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats with up to 75.8 cubic feet total. There are only 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats of the Mazda CX-5, with up to 59.6 cubes total. 

With the Mazda CX-5, you get a 10.3-inch infotainment system, but it’s not a touchscreen. The Honda CR-V has a 7.0-inch touch screen with clunky menus. Both come with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both SUVs come with standard automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. 

The Honda CR-V begins at about $25,350, and the Mazda CX-5 starts at around $25,370. We think the CR-V deserves more respect as a more spacious and comfortable option against the CX-5. Sure, the infotainment system is a little slow, but at least it has a touchscreen. The CX-5 may provide more fun. Perhaps you should test drive them both.

RELATED: This is the 1 Honda CR-V Model Year You Need to Avoid at All Costs

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EVs Use More Carbon Than Gas Powered Cars to Make: Are They Really Cleaner?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Everyone assumes electric vehicles are cleaner than gas-powered equivalents, and they are. But not right away, and sometimes not within the first 50,000 miles of use. Depending on where the source of your electricity comes from it can take years and years for an electric car to match the carbon footprint of a gas-powered car. Here’s why.

How are carbon emissions determined?

A hose for an emission test is fixed in the exhaust pipe of a Volkswagen Golf | THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP via Getty Images

A company has put together a model for calculating carbon emissions for vehicles. It takes in from the materials used to make it all the way to its demise. It even calculates the number of various materials in the car and the carbon footprint to manufacture each of them. 

It’s called Argonne’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Technology or GREET model. Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago devised the metrics of the model. Now even the EPA and California Air Resources Board are nursing it to determine policies around EVs.

Electric vehicles generate more carbon than internal combustion vehicles. It is mostly because of the mining process for certain minerals in batteries. Based on that the GREET model can determine the break-even point where an EV becomes environmentally better than an ICE vehicle. 

Numerous factors are crunched to determine a vehicle’s carbon footprint

A look under the hood shows the hybrid gasoline-electric engine that drives the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid | Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Factors dictating that break-even point include the size of the EV’s battery, the fuel economy of the ICE vehicle, and how the electricity used to charge the EV is made. Here’s how you typically determine the numbers hypothetically based on a Tesla Model 3 and Toyota Corolla. 

First, if they are driven in the US then 23 percent of electricity comes from coal-fired plants, which are extremely dirty. Then the size of the battery, in this case, a 54 kWh battery and cathode made with nickel, cobalt, and aluminum. The Corolla weighs just under 3,000 lbs with 33 mpg. Each car’s demise was determined to be 173,151 miles of use. 

Under those circumstances, the Tesla sedan won’t start becoming environmentally better than the Corolla for 13,500 miles. At that milestone, it becomes less harmful to the environment. But if that Tesla is driven in Norway, the break-even number is 8,400 miles. That’s because Norway generates almost all of its electricity from renewable hydropower. 

Different countries where a vehicle is used yield different numbers

Electric charging plug | Alex Kraus/Bloomberg via Getty Images

If the same two cars are from China or Poland, the number goes up to 78,700 miles before break even. That is based on the numbers as determined by Reuters. In general, a new mid-size EV sedan generates 8.1 million grams of carbon dioxide to produce. So, that’s before it travels its first mile. 

A similar ICE sedan generates more than 5.5 million grams of carbon before it gets driven its first mile. But EVs emit much less carbon one the driving starts, related to gasoline production and consumption of the ICE vehicle. Even if electricity comes from a coal-fired electric plant the EV would produce 4.1 million grams of carbon a year. The ICE sedan would create 4.6 million grams.

Taking this model to the people, you can estimate your car’s emissions online. The particulars of what car, area, and the mileage you drive can give a ballpark number for what makes your car more or less environmentally friendly. But as elaborate and far-reaching as the GREET model is, there are those groups who deny its numbers. 

The American Petroleum Institute, as you can imagine, disputes the advantages of EVs. “Multiple studies show that, on a life-cycle basis, different automobile powertrains result in similar greenhouse gas emissions,” the API posits on its website. So the debate, in some circles, continues. However, the manufacturers and our government have answered the question with their EV plans for the next decades

RELATED: A Cheat Sheet to Debunking Myths About Electric Vehicles

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