The 2021 GMC Yukon Is Significantly Better Than Last Year’s Model, Says U.S. News

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The competitive nature of the auto industry means brands must continually update their vehicles to keep up with rivals. Although the GMC Yukon may not have been as popular as desired last year, a 2021 redesign has significantly improved its ratings from U.S. News. Here’s what makes the redesigned Yukon so much better.

The GMC Yukon’s improvements

Reviewers at U.S. News liked the 2020 GMC Yukon, giving it an overall score of 6.7/10. This low score was partially due to the vehicle’s size: It has only 51.7 cubic feet of cargo space even with the third row folded down. Reviewers also found that the 2020 Yukon was not spacious enough for adults to be comfortable sitting in the third row.

By contrast, the redesigned 2021 Yukon received an overall score of 8.3/10, improving 1.6 points. Although its new score does not push it to the top of the rankings, it does bring the Yukon firmly up to the middle of the class rankings, rather than languishing at the bottom.

Critics praise the spacious cabin, which now offers 72.6 cubic feet of space with the third row folded down. Legroom has also improved considerably, with U.S. News noting that adults can now sit in the third row comfortably without feeling cramped.

Another area where the Yukon has improved is in its power and driving experience. In fact, reviewers state the 2021 Yukon “delivers better steering and handling than ever.” 

The redesigned SUV also has quite a few new standard features. These include forward-collision warning, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic emergency braking, and a 10.2-inch touchscreen display.

Features and pricing for the 2021 GMC Yukon

The 2021 GMC Yukon is available in four trim levels: SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali. The SLE starts at approximately $50,700. It features a 5.3-liter V8 engine that makes 355 hp. A 10.2-inch touchscreen comes standard, as do automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and front pedestrian braking.

The next level up is the SLT, which starts at about $57,800. This is the trim level that comes most highly recommended by U.S. News, as it features significantly more technology and comfort features than the base trim. Leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and lane departure warning all come standard.

The AT4 starts at approximately $64,800. It comes standard with four-wheel drive, hill descent control, and skid plates, making it an excellent option for off-roading.

Finally, the Denali trim starts at around $68,400. This price bump brings second-row bucket seats, rear pedestrian alerts, a head-up display, and a V8 engine harnessing 420 hp.

What do reviewers say about this vehicle?

Critics at U.S. News praise the GMC Yukon’s classy cabin, which they call “arguably the most upscale interior in the large SUV class.” They also praise its comfort levels, power, and intuitive technology. The reason this vehicle did not make it to the top of the SUV rankings is that its predicted reliability rating is a below-average 2.5/5

However, despite this drawback, the 2021 GMC Yukon undoubtedly offers drastic improvements over the previous model year. Its abundance of legroom and headroom, easy-to-use infotainment system, and excellent handling all make the redesigned Yukon stand out from the crowd. So if you’ve been looking for a new full-size SUV but didn’t like the Yukon’s small size, the 2021 version is definitely worth considering.

RELATED: 2020 or 2021 GMC Yukon: What’s the Difference?

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The Haval Tank 300 Definitely Copied the 2021 Ford Bronco

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Drivers can’t get enough of boxy SUVs these days. That’s why the Jeep Wrangler has been popular for years, and the 2021 Ford Bronco made a return. China may have wanted to latch on to the success of vehicles like the Ford Bronco and Mercedes-Benz G-Class with the Haval Tank 300. 

The Haval Tank 300 copied the 2021 Ford Bronco and more 

Haval Tank 300 | Haval

They say imitation is the best form of flattery. So, do the 2021 Ford Bronco, and Mercedes-Benz G-Glass feel special? Because China’s Haval Tank 300 SUV borrowed a lot from both of these boxy vehicles. 

According to Fox News, the Great Wall Motors’ Haval Tank took features from some of the world’s most popular SUVs. The front has a wide grill with bisected headlights, like the Bronco. It also has a similar body shape and design. Plus, there is a big spare tire on the back of the tailgate. 

The interior layout seems to match what you’ll find inside of the Mercedes-Benz G-Glass too. The infotainment screen, position of the circular controls and vents, and the placement of the center console and buttons almost seem identical. 

You can’t remove the roof of the Haval Tank like you can with Jeep Wranglers and Broncos. But the Haval Tank 300 is under consideration for export to Australia, and Ford doesn’t currently have any plans to sell the Bronco there. 

But wait, there’s a Big Dog too? 

An orange Haval Big Dog SUV on with a white background
Haval Big Dog | Haval

There is also a new Haval Big Dog, which looks reminiscent of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport or Jeep Renegade. The smaller option has large circular headlines and a boxy design with a less aggressive attitude than the larger Haval tank. 

Similar to how the Renegade and Bronco Sport are lighter versions of the Wrangler and Bronco, the Big Dog is paired with the larger Haval Tank. the Big dog is expected to start at around $35,000, while the Haval Tank begins at about $45,000. 

Instead of having a unibody design, these vehicles have a body-on-frame design. Also, the interior of the Big Dog seems to match the Bronco Sports and Jeep Renegades. There is even a bar going across the front of the glove box on the passenger side. 

Can the Haval Tank rival the Bronco? 

A yellow 2021 Ford Bronco compact SUV traveling on trail near a wooded area
2021 Ford Bronco | Ford Motor Company

The 2021 Ford Bronco is built for off-roading adventures while still providing comfort on the road. The Haval Tank 300 is built on a ladder-frame chassis and features a two-speed transfer case, solid rear axle, and a front independent suspension with Eaton locking differentials. 

Ford went with an independent front suspension for the Bronco to improve its ride quality. Jeep uses a solid axle, and both are good for off-roading. However, an independent suspension can provide more stability and prevent death wobbles. 

With the Haval Tank, you get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 223 hp. This engine is similar to the 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine found in the Bronco with 270 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque. You can also upgrade to the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with the Bronco for 310 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. 

The Ford Bronco can tow up to 3,500 lbs when properly equipped and carry a payload of up to 1,370 lbs. The Haval is expected to tow over 6,600 lbs and claims to have the ability to crawl up a 70 percent grade. 

The Haval Tank 300 and Big Dog probably won’t go on sale in the United States, but Australia certainly wants them!

RELATED: What Does the ‘Sport’ in the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Even Mean?

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What Causes an Engine to Misfire?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

What causes an engine to misfire, and how do you know if it’s happening to you? If you’ve ever been driving your vehicle down the street and had it suddenly feel funny – almost like it dies a little while you’re driving it – you may know what it feels like. Even with regular maintenance, you can have a problem. Why does this happen and how bad is it for your car?

A man performs engine maintenance | Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images

What causes an engine to misfire?

An engine misfires when one of its cylinders doesn’t produce power, according to Cars.com. That’s that stalled feeling you may get for a second. There are a whole bunch of reasons why an engine can misfire, though some are certainly more common than others. 

In the past, most engine misfires occurred because spark plugs would give out. That’s no longer the case, as most spark plugs are designed to last 100,000 miles. Technology has caught up to maintain the rest of the engine even as the spark plugs are going. This has resulted in way less engine misfires being caused by worn spark plugs. However, it does still happen, and old spark plugs can keep the engine from firing correctly. 

Another possible explanation is a faulty fuel injector. If your vehicle’s fuel injector becomes clogged, then your engine will misfire. Or, sometimes your cylinder’s ignition coils fail, and there’s no spark to fire your engine in the first place. Your engine may also have a leak in one of its vacuum hoses, which basically causes your engine to become confused and not know how to fire correctly. 

How do you know if your engine is misfiring?

It can be a confusing moment when it happens to a vehicle you’re driving. You may even wonder if you imagined it, or if you’re overreacting. If you think that your engine may be misfiring, it’s important to get it checked out as soon as possible. 

Some of the signs that your engine might be misfiring are the aforementioned feeling above that your car has lost power or stalled for a second. It can be a brief blip, so don’t ignore it. When you first turn your car on or it’s otherwise sitting idle, your vehicle may shake a little bit, or it may feel funny because it isn’t operating as smoothly as usual. Other signs include your vehicle not accelerating the way it usually does, or shaking while it’s accelerating. 

Your check engine light may come on, but it may not. Like karma chameleon, this may come and go (but your engine is dying). You also may go through more fuel than usual. 

One of the most important things to remember is that just because your engine misfires (or you think it misfires) and then everything seems fine doesn’t mean that everything is fine. Misfires aren’t like worn brake pads, which get increasingly worse. Your engine can misfire here and there, all the while doing unseen (and very expensive) damage to your engine. 

How can I (or my mechanic) fix an engine misfire?

As you might imagine, this will depend on what’s causing the engine to misfire. The first thing your mechanic will probably do (or you can, if you have a high-quality engine scanner) is read the codes your troubled engine is giving. From there, your mechanic will be able to either diagnose the problem or figure out where to go next.

It can be expensive to fix a misfiring engine, but it can be even more expensive not to. In some cases, if left unfixed, your vehicle’s engine will give up and die. Of course this is a very generalized explanation of how your engine will die its untimely death, but because it could happen due to a variety of causes, it pretty much sums it up. No matter what, if you suspect your engine is misfiring, it’s important to get it checked out right away.

RELATED: The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Is the Most American-Made Car

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Pelican Causes a $1 Million Bugatti Veyron Crash; Driver goes to Jail

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The pesky pelican in this story took all of the blame! Andy House was leisurely driving his 2006 Bugatti Veyron back in 2009 when suddenly, a pelican caused him to take a dip in the lake. Does this supercar story ring a bell?

The non-amphibious 2006 Bugatti Veyron

The 2006 Bugatti Veyron crashed by a pelican | Chris Paschenko/The Galveston County Daily News

Andy House purchased this 2006 Bugatti Veyron back in October 2009 when he gathered up inventory for his personal salvage yard. This wasn’t an unusual situation for House, as he regularly bought wrecked exotics cars to resell. However, this was a new one for him.

According to local news station KTRE, House was driving the Bugatti that he paid $1 million for when he claims a “low flying pelican” came out of nowhere and caused him to crash into a lake. After that, things got a bit weird. Fortunately for him, he insured the 2006 Bugatti Veyron for $2 million before taking it out for a spin. House drove into the Gulf Bay near La Marque, Texas, and the rest was history. Or so he thought.

Unfortunately for House, but fortunately for the reputation of pelicans, there were first-hand accounts of what actually happened that day. Unbeknownst to him, someone was filming that 2006 Bugatti Veyron that day, probably because it was an exotic thing to see in La Marque, Texas.

The pelican vs. 2006 Bugatti Veyron

So while one person was filming this Bugatti Veyron driving casually into a lake, House set himself up for quite the payout. Once he drove into the lake, House left the motor running. This obviously caused catastrophic failure within the engine as it took on a lake full of saltwater.

When first responders arrived, House claimed he was reaching for his phone when he swerved and went into the lake. The crash took place on November 11, 2009. On November 12, House called and filed a claim on the amphibious Bugatti Veyron for $2.2 million. At the time, he still did not know someone had recorded his dip.

If you watch the video above, it seems pretty clear there is no low-flying pelican around. It also doesn’t look like he was reaching for anything. It appears House just decided the lake was his final destination. Apparently, the insurance company agreed with that decision.

That did not go as planned

As reported by Jalopnik, by the time November 2011 rolled around, Philadelphia Insurance decided to sue House for insurance fraud over the 2006 Bugatti Veyron. “It’s unusual that you have video of a car crash. It’s wonderful that a jury will be able to actually look at the sequence of events,” David Miller, attorney for Philadelphia Insurance, said.

According to the suit, someone named Lloyd Gillespie loaned House $1,050,000 for the 2006 Bugatti Veyron. Philadelphia Insurance claims that House crashed the car on purpose to recoup some cash. The video shows no evidence of a pesky pelican, and House managed to leave the Veyron running for 15 minutes while it was in the water. He claimed mosquitos were attacking him. The video shows no attempt at braking, stopping, or pelican-avoiding.

Philadelphia Insurance claimed that the Bugatti insured as a collector’s item was actually being used for personal errands in obtained court documents. House took the car to supercar rallies and offered friends joy rides, racking up over 2,000 miles on dealer plates before the pelican problems.

Eventually, House was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison back in 2015. He had to pay back the $600,000 insurance settlement and was subject to an extra three years of supervised release after he got out. The pelican was released of any liability as he was not able to be found.

RELATED: Lamborghini Almost Sold Out for the Year After “Revenge Spending”

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