2 SUVs Under $10,000 Consumer Reports Rates Are the Least Expensive to Maintain

by Gabrielle DeSantis

SUVs can be pricey, with some costing as much as six figures. They’re also usually less fuel-efficient than cars, adding to ownership costs. And whether you drive an SUV or sedan, maintenance and repair costs continue long after you’ve driven the vehicle off the lot.

However, you can find affordable used SUVs that don’t cost much to maintain or repair. For example, according to Consumer Reports, you can’t beat the annual maintenance and repair costs of the 2011 Kia Sportage and 2011 Honda CR-V. Plus, you can buy either for less than $10,000.

Assessing maintenance and repair costs

In a recent Consumer Reports roundup, “Least and Most Expensive Cars to Keep on the Road,” staffers surveyed 2011 vehicle owners about how much they spent each year on maintenance and repairs. CR’s reviewers assessed 10-year-old cars because many later models might still be under warranty, affecting the true cost of maintenance.

Consumer Reports evaluated responses about cars, SUVs, and pickups ranging in price from under $5,000 to $20,000. Vehicles that made it into the least expensive category had annual repair and maintenance costs ranging from $0 to $300. The 2011 Nissan Leaf was the sole entry on the list to require nothing to keep running on the road each year, while most other vehicles cost between $200 and $300.

The most expensive 2011 vehicles to maintain included cars, SUVs, and minivans, with purchase prices from under $10,000 to $20,000. Unsurprisingly, the list shows several luxury vehicles, including the BMW 5 Series, which costs a whopping $1,200 a year to keep running. Other vehicles range in annual maintenance and repair costs from $500 to $900, with most between $500 and $600.

But two compact SUVs rank among the best.

The 2011 Kia Sportage is cheap to keep on the road

Though the 2011 Kia Sportage isn’t the flashiest compact SUV on the road, it’s reliable, boasting a 5 out of 5 predicted reliability score from Consumer Reports. It’s also solidly designed, even if its exterior styling is a bit mild. Its powertrain pairs a standard six-speed manual transmission with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (also standard) or a 2.0-liter direct-injected, turbocharged four-cylinder. With the 2.4-liter, you’ll get 176 hp, 168 lb-ft of torque, and an acceleration speed to 60 mph in about 8.8 seconds. But you’ll also get just 25/27 miles to the gallon in the city or on the highway, respectively, which compares poorly to similar models of this year.

However, the Sportage earns points for a roomy cabin with plenty of leg and head space. Despite this, the Sportage’s small sloped windows, rear roof pillar, and front windshield pillars impair visibility and make the cabin feel a bit more intimate than it is. The interior styling is fairly simple, almost sparse, but of no lesser quality than similar vehicles. You’ll also get a touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth. And pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and forward-collision warning are standard across all trims.

There are, of course, extra features that come with the higher trim levels. However, the average cost a 2011 Kia Sportage owner will pay each year for maintenance and repairs is a low $250. Combine that with a likely purchase price of less than $10,000, and any 2011 Sportage is a great value.

The 2011 Honda CR-V also doesn’t cost much to maintain and repair

Another compact SUV that did not win praise for its exterior is the 2011 Honda CR-V, though it’s reliable, boasting a 5/5 rating from Consumer Reports. However, this model has a whopping 12 recalls, which prospective buyers should note. But the CR-V handles well, thanks in part to a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. It produces 180 hp and gets about 21 mpg, which is not great compared with other 2011 compact SUVs.

The CR-V also boasts a comfortable cabin but feels as spacious as it is, unlike the Sportage. The interior finish is filled with hard plastics that, though well-crafted, are prone to scratches. The base model comes standard with decent storage space, along with an infotainment system with Bluetooth compatibility. And several safety features, such as stability control and antilock brakes, come standard across trims.

The Honda CR-V’s higher trim levels also boast enhanced features. They include a seven-speaker stereo system and built-in navigation.

And if you’re looking to pick one up, expect to spend only about $300 a year for maintenance and repairs.

RELATED: The 2011 Chevy Tahoe Is Surprisingly Cheap to Maintain, Consumer Reports Says

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$500,000 Ferrari 488 Pista Gets Wrecked by a $5,000 Renault Twingo

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Buying a Ferrari 488 Pista is no small feat. Aside from needing to cough up enough cash to cover its astronomical base price, Ferrari might not even allow you to buy one if you don’t have an established relationship or track record of buying previous models. Additionally, only around 3,500 Pistas ever left the production line, making it an incredibly rare machine. As a result, seeing one wrecked in an easily preventable accident is truly unfortunate.

That’s exactly what occurred in a recent accident covered by Motor1. The crash began as the supercar came around a corner and collided with a Renault Twingo that was leaving what appears to be a small parking lot. Despite occurring at slow speeds, the collision was enough to make the Pista catch some air.

How does a Ferrari 488 Pista crash into a Renault Twingo?

Unfortunately for the Ferrari 488 Pista owner, this crash occurred during a recent rally organized to pay tribute to the famous Mille Miglia rally. As a result, there were tons of other Ferraris in the area, meaning there were plenty of witnesses on the scene. The crash itself begins as a Renault Twingo leaves what looks like a small parking lot.

At this point, we can see the red Ferrari turning a blind corner at speed. Once the two cars spot each other, it’s already too late. Given the angle of the two cars, the supercar didn’t strike the hatchback’s rear end. Instead, it collided with its side. Judging from the video alone, it’s unclear if the supercar struck a wall to its right. However, we can clearly see that the impact with the Renault was strong enough to make the 488 Pista catch some air.

As the Renault Twingo pulls forward, we can also clearly see that part of the Ferrari comes off and ends up on the floor. While this accident happened quite quickly, determining who’s at fault can be a bit of a challenge.

Who is at fault here?

Ferrari 488 Pista | Ferrari

As you might imagine, it would be quite easy to blame the driver in the Ferrari 488 Pista and call it a day. However, there are a few aspects of this video that easily cast blame on both drivers. Let’s start with the Ferrari. Once the supercar appears in the frame, it’s turning a blind corner at what appears to be a high rate of speed. Given the fact that the rally was driving through what looks like a small town, this is definitely not a good idea.

On the flip side, we’ve got the Renault Twingo driver that failed to yield to oncoming traffic. However, if we play devil’s advocate, it’s not a stretch to imagine that the Ferrari wasn’t visible when the Renault driver began to pull out. As a result, it’ll take a deeper investigation to determine who is exactly at fault here.

How much does a Ferrari 488 Pista cost?

An image of a Ferrari 488 Pista out on a track.
Ferrari 488 Pista | Ferrari

RELATED: Custom-Built Muscle Car Has a Ferrari V12 Under Its Hood

Now that we know what it takes to total a Ferrari 488 Pista, let’s look into how much it costs to buy one. When the Pista first arrived back in 2018, it carried a base price of around 330,000. However, given its rare nature, finding a used example will low mileage these days will likely cost you around $500,000. Regardless of whether you think the Ferrari or the Renault was in the right here, the real losers are the insurance companies.

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Are Heated Seats Bad for You?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There’s nothing better than sliding into a warm seat when your car is cold. But can it be dangerous? Cars have come a long way over the years, but some areas could use improvement, and heated seats are one of them. In fact, some experts are concerned that overuse could lead to burns. And one driver learned that the hard way.

How do heated seats work? 

Though they might seem like magic, the inner workings of heated seats aren’t that complicated. It’s the same technology used in heated blankets, hair dryers, and water heaters, Bockman’s Auto Care reports.

Inside the seat is an element that acts as a resistor. When electricity flows through the coils, the resistor resists the electricity, in turn producing heat. This rises through the seat cushion and warms the occupant.

A thermostat in the seat is designed to track the temperature. When it reaches a certain point, the heating element is supposed to turn off automatically. However, the problem is that some manufacturers don’t add a thermostat that cuts off, so it’s up to the occupant to turn off the heat if it gets too hot. 

Too much of a good thing

As great as heated seats are, it’s possible to overuse them. The bad part is that you might not realize you’re doing so until you get burned.

According to WTOP News, the repeated use of heated seats could lead to “erythema ab igne” — Latin for “redness from fire.” Another name doctors call it is “toasted skin syndrome” or “TSS.”

So what is it exactly? Essentially, it’s when the skin on the back of your thighs becomes discolored from prolonged use of heated seats. 

“The key here is repeated exposure, with symptoms developing over weeks and months of use,” WTOP News reports. “A red, netlike rash can develop after prolonged use on areas warmed by the seat heater, usually from the lower back to the back of the thighs and all points in between.”

The bad part of TSS is that it’s hard to spot. In cooler weather, most people wear pants, meaning others can’t spot the reddening skin. The symptoms can come on slowly, and by the time the skin hurts enough to notice, there’s already significant damage.

One man’s heated seat gave him third-degree burns

As wonderful as heated seats can be, they can be dangerous, as one man learned. On a road trip from Missouri to Louisiana, a driver arrived to find he had third-degree burns on his upper legs and second-degree burns on his lower legs.

He had accidentally turned on his car’s heated seats and didn’t feel the burning because he’s paralyzed and had no feeling in his legs. He spent months in rehabilitation and reportedly sustained “immense physical pain and emotional suffering.”

So how did this happen? The Chevy Silverado pickup he drove had heated seats but not an automatic shutoff, which would have turned them off when they reached a certain temperature. Because he didn’t have feeling in his legs, he had no idea the heat was even on. The driver is now suing General Motors for failing to include a shutoff switch. 

This wasn’t the first case of heated seats burning a person with paralysis. There have been many cases, and it’s now recommended that anyone with paralysis in their legs not use heated seats. 

If you’re looking to purchase a vehicle with heated seats, find out if the car comes with an automatic shutoff. It’s easy to assume vehicles would come equipped with it, but they might not. It’s better to know for sure before you spend money on something that could harm you and your loved ones.

RELATED: How Do Heated, Cooled, and Ventilated Seats Work?

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Is Genesis Killing the G90?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Genesis G90 luxury sedan has received mixed reviews since its 2017 debut. Consumer Reports recommended the 2020 model over the Lexus LS, thanks in part to a $20,000 price difference. The G90 also comes with many standard safety features that other luxury cars charge extra for. However, the 2018 model was less reliable and, as a result, lowered the 2020 model’s reliability score. But in general, the Genesis G90 is an attractive luxury car.

However, the G90’s sales have been painfully low for years. Will that spell death for this sedan?

Exactly how bad are Genesis G90 sales?

Even with a sticker price lower than many other luxury cars, as well as tons of standard safety features, the Genesis G90 has never sold well.

It saw its best sales nationwide in 2017, the year it debuted, with 4,398 units sold, GoodCarBadCar reports. The next highest year was 2019, with 2,239 units sold. 2018 and 2020 saw 2,136 and 2,072 units sold. And six months into 2021, only 746 G90 units have sold.

So it would be reasonable to wonder if Genesis plans to give the G90 the ax.

But the Genesis G90 will live to see another model year

Motor1 recently published spy shots of the 2022 Genesis G90 on public roads. The sedan wore plenty of camouflage and fake body panels to hide its design, standard in the auto industry. But even with the disguise, the new G90 looks to maintain its general structure and appearance.

More good news: The 2021 model won a recent award

The 2021 Genesis G90 also won Best Luxury Full-Size Sedan in Good Housekeeping‘s “The Best New Family Cars of 2021.” GH chose it for its smooth, quiet ride and the best warranty in its class, with the powertrain covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles and complimentary maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles. 

Here’s what else the 2021 Genesis G90 offers

The base engine in the Genesis G90 is a powerful 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 producing 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. This sedan can zoom from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. You can also get a 5.0-liter V8 harnessing 420 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, but it gets the same 0-to-60 time as the smaller engine. Both come with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The EPA-estimated fuel economy is 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, with the V8 having slightly worse fuel economy. But the V6 performed 2 mpg better than the EPA estimate when Car and Driver tested it.

The cabin boasts leather, suede, wood, and brushed metal. And heated and cooled front seats come standard. The G90 also comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Expect a 17-speaker Lexicon stereo system, too.

As for safety, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2021 G90 the highest honor, Top Safety Pick+. It comes with driver assists such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning.

Even though G90 sales have been dismal, Genesis doesn’t appear to be giving up just yet. The 2022 G90 might be this luxury sedan’s last chance to impress, but who knows? Only time, and sales, will tell. 

RELATED: Struggling Genesis G90 Just Won a Surprising 2021 Award

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