The 2022 Subaru Ascent Is a Bargain SUV for Families

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you love Subaru models but need more seats, check out the Ascent. The 2022 Subaru Ascent provides three rows, allowing you to take all of your kids and even the dogs on adventures. Best of all, the Subaru Ascent includes tons of value with its price. 

How much does the 2022 Subaru Ascent cost?

2022 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition | Subaru

The 2022 Subaru Ascent begins at about $33,420. According to Cars.com, this is a $75 price increase over the 2021 model. Also, this price includes the destination fee. The Base, Premium, Limited, and Touring trims are returning. Plus, the new Onyx Edition has arrived. 

With the Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition, you get a black-finish exterior and 20-inch alloy wheels. It also has unique interior details, including water-repellent seat material. The Onyx begins around $39,120 and comes with safety and convenience features such as reverse automatic braking, a hands-free liftgate, heated steering wheel, keyless access, and push-button start. 

Is the Subaru Ascent good for families? 

RELATED: The 2021 Subaru Ascent Just Won a Top Safety Award

Yes, the 2022 Subaru Ascent is an excellent option for families. It is the largest Subaru model that can seat up to seven or eight passengers. Plus, each model comes with standard all-wheel drive and X-Mode with Hill Descent Control. This provides the ability to confidently traverse slippery conditions in various types of weather and for going off-roading. 

The Subaru Ascent comes with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that provides 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, the Ascent can tow up to 5,000 lbs. This is more than enough power for towing trailers and smaller family campers. 

Behind the third row, you can access up to 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space, with up to 86.5 cubic feet total. The load floor isn’t perfectly flat with the seats folded down, but it provides a sufficient surface. The second row has plenty of space for adults, but the third row might be reserved for kids. 

The 2022 Ascent makes safety a priority with the Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. The package includes advanced adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, steering responsive LED headlights with high beam assist, and a seat belt reminder for every seat. 

You also get forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The 2020 Subaru Ascent was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). 

How comfortable is the Ascent? 

The 2022 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition Interior from the passenger side
2022 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition Interior | Subaru

The 2022 Subaru Ascent provides a smooth ride, but the acceleration can be sensitive. The steering is light and responsive, and the brakes feel confident. It’s pretty agile and easy to maneuver, but wind and road noise may enter the cabin. 

You’ll find the interior to have an upscale and comfortable feel. The tri-zone front and rear automatic climate control keep everyone comfortable. There are two USB ports in the front and two for the second row. The Ascent also comes with 19 cupholders! 

A 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard, but you can upgrade to an 8.0-inch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and you can opt for the available Wi-Fi capability. 

The Ascent is known as the four-season family SUV. It’s well equipped for daily driving and adventuring in the snow or dirt-covered trails. You get everything you need to keep your family safe and happy.

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Smoke Pot? GM Might Hire You

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Yes, GM might hire you if you smoke marijuana, but not because you smoke it. Right now GM is desperate for new hires as fill-ins for assembly line workers taking off for summer vacations. Both its Flint, Michigan, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, assembly plants are where it builds pickup trucks. It needs 450 temporary hires at Flint, and 275 at Fort Wayne.

GM doesn’t hire pot smokers

People work on a Chevy pickup truck on the assembly line of the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant | Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

But it doesn’t hire pot smokers. Potential hires are tested for marijuana use. If you test positive your application ends up in the circular file. But now the Detroit Free Press says changes could be afoot. 

UAW shop Chairmen, Eric Welter and Rich LeTourneau told the Freep GM’s pot policy is causing it to miss hiring opportunities. That maybe it is time to revisit the idea. Especially, since marijuana is legal in Michigan. 

In Indiana, marijuana possession means jail time

GM truck assembly at Flint, Michigan
Line workers work on the chassis of full-size General Motors pickup trucks at the Flint Assembly plant | JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Indiana is a different story. Possession of any amount of marijuana means jail time. So, while a change in policy might make sense at Flint, Fort Wayne might be a different story. When GM was approached about the policy change spokesperson Dan Flores would only say that the subject has been “discussed internally.”

The Flint UAW Local 598 has over 5,100 GM hourly workers as members. Though turnover isn’t high, the Silverado and Sierra plant needs about 100 temporary hires a week. But it is getting harder and harder to find good applicants. It is lucky to find 20-25 to fill those 100 openings. 

GM uses hair specimens to trace marijuana. It can show up weeks after inhaling pot. Welter says that it deters especially younger people from even applying for jobs at the plant. But there are other deterrents.

GM’s $16.67 starting pay may also be a reason applicants are few

GM truck assembly at Flint, Michigan
Workers inspect General Motors Co. (GM) Chevrolet 2019 Silverado HD and 2019 GMC Sierra HD pickup trucks on the assembly line at the GM plant in Flint, Michigan | Jeff Kowalsky/Bloomberg via Getty Images 

The $16.67 starting hourly wage is only slightly above McDonald’s starting pay. And applicants have to agree to work a variety of shifts. Plus, there is no guarantee of full-time employment after the summer. 

Unfortunately, GM is facing other problems that are slowing down pickup truck production. Issues with parts suppliers and of course, the semiconductor chip shortage is creating havoc. GM is already eliminating cylinder deactivation fuel management because of the lack of chips. 

What about at Ford?

GM truck assembly
A person in a cowboy hat works on building a Chevy pickup truck on the assembly line of the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant | Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Across town in Dearborn, Ford has holding lots full of completed 2021 Ford F-150 pickups waiting for chips to complete the otherwise finished trucks. It is a problem being faced by most auto manufacturers around the world. But the lack of available help does add to the problems all manufacturers are facing. 

If you live in or around Flint or Fort Wayne there was a time when hourly wages at the GM plants were very attractive. But with two-tiered wages now in effect, new hires are not attracted because of better-than-average pay.

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Leaked 2022 Kia Telluride Photos Show New Logo, Specs

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Kia is on a roll! The new 2022 Kia Telluride has leaked, and the photos show a refined but classic SUV. Since the Telluride made such a splash in 2020, it isn’t a surprise the brand stuck with what drivers already know and like. Check out some of the unverified information and photos below.

Is the Kia Telluride worth the money?

The 2022 Kia Telluride | The Korean Car Blog

The Korean Car Blog was the first to report on the leaked images of the 2022 Kia Telluride. While the images aren’t very high quality, it is the first look we’ve seen for the refreshed SUV. One of the bigger updates is the new Kia badging that will accompany all future vehicles. However, it does flow well with the design of Kia’s from the last year or so.

Since the 2021 Kia Telluride was such a hit, it makes sense there wasn’t too much to change for 2022. According to the source, the Nightfall trim has a redesigned emblem and wheel caps.

The LX trim has a glossy black front grille and chrome trim. The S, EX, and SX trim have the same gloss black front grille with satin chrome trim. In addition, all three trims have a 10.25-inch Thin-Film Transistor touch screen with a three-way split-screen feature. This is now standard for the S, EX, and SX, in addition to navigation.

The large SUVs have dual-zone automatic temperatures and automatic temperature control. Finally, Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curve (NSCC-C) and Highway Driving Assist (HDA) are standard on all Telluride trims. The S also comes with wireless phone charging.

Will the Kia Telluride hold its value?

The 2022 Kia Telluride back | The Korean Car Blog

The 2021 Kia Telluride has an MSRP of $32,190. However, based on the success of the vehicle and the upgrades ahead of 2022, we can see a price increase shortly. The Telluride seats seven or eight (depending on the configuration) and has many safety features that make it a good buy for families. In fact, this has been one of the harder to track down SUVs currently on the market.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the Telluride has an expert score of 4.8 out of five stars. It is a Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award winner and deemed an “excellent value.” One of the only cons listed is that there is no hybrid variant. While that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for 2022, it is certainly a possibility down the line.

It seems that the Kia Telluride will certainly hold its value, especially since these vehicles are so hard to come by.

Looking ahead for 2022

Kelley Blue Book suggests that the 2022 model will have the same engine as the 2021 version as there haven’t been many complaints. The 3.8L V6 is powerful enough but isn’t exactly the most fuel-efficient on the market. However, for such a big SUV, that is almost to be expected. In addition, KBB notes that the lack of fuel economy is exaggerated with the all-wheel-drive option.

One of the added benefits is Kia’s warranty. Kia has an industry-leading warranty that consists of 10-years and 1000,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage. In addition to that, there is also a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty for some vehicles. Since the first year for the Telluride was only 2020, there is a good chance a used Telluride still has a bit of warranty left.  

While we wait with bated breath for the official announcement of the 2022 Kia Telluride, hopefully, these leaked photos soothe buyers for now.

RELATED: Is the Kia Telluride SUV Worth the Money?

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Ultra Rare Ferrari J50 Is One of Ten – And It Could Be Yours

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re the kind of person who needs to have that one-of-a-kind, super expensive sports car, then this is the car for you. This ultra rare Ferrari J50 is one of just ten made, and it’s for sale. That’s great news if you’re a multi-millionaire who wants a collector’s item they’ll probably never be able to drive in the United States. If you’re just a regular old millionaire though, you might be out of luck.

Ferrari J50 | Ferrari

The 2016 Ferrari J50 is currently for sale for $3.6 million, according to Road & Track. Ferrari made ten of these J50s as limited versions of the Ferrari 488 Spider. It was designed by the Ferrari Design in Maranello to commemorate Ferrari’s 50th anniversary in 2018. 

What’s the difference between the Ferrari 488 and the Ferrari J50?

The Ferrari J50 is like the 488, but better, and not just because there are only ten of them and it’s super expensive. The biggest differences are the horsepower and design. The Ferrari 488 Spider is capable of 670 horsepower, while these special limited Ferrari J50s can get up to 690 horsepower. 

Both the Ferrari Spider 488 and the J50 have 3.9-liter, twin turbo V8 engines. They also both have seven speed, dual clutch transmissions. The Ferrari J50 can get from 0-60 mph in just three seconds. It’s not as fast as the Tesla Model S Plaid, but there are definitely more than ten of those.  

What does the Ferrari J50 look like?

The 50 years tag on the Ferrari J50.
Ferrari 50 years on the Ferrari J50 | Ferrari

When Ferrari made these ten ultra rare J50s, they allowed them to be personalized. The original two-seater Ferrari J50 on display had a three-layer red body. It also has a leather and Alcantara interior. The particular Ferrari on the market has a black body. Unlike the Ferrari 488’s folding hard top, the Ferrari J50 has a two-piece targa roof. 

Ferrari made these ten Ferraris just for Japan, saying they were for clients who wanted an “innovative, low-slung roadster.” It was supposed to recall earlier Ferraris such as the GTO, F40 and F50. 

Where can I get one?

The interior of a Ferrari J50.
Interior of a Ferrari J50 | Ferrari

And yet being in Japan is the biggest problem for anyone considering purchasing this ultra rare Ferrari. The one up for grabs (well, for grabs as long as you bring your checkbook), is at a Tokyo Ferrari dealership. They can’t be imported into the United States until they’re at least 25 years old or are on the “Show or Display” list. The Ferrari J50 is neither of those things. 

Whoever owned this particular Ferrari J50 before obviously treated it like a collector’s item as well. The car only has 430 miles on it. Its exterior and interior remain untouched, or looking untouched, anyway. And if you’re collecting Ferraris, that’s probably what you want. 

Just in case there’s some hidden damage or a problem with your $3.6 million J50, Ferrari is covering maintenance costs on them until 2026. 

If you really, really want this Ferrari J50 (and if you can afford it), you’ll probably be able to figure out a way to get it, even if you can’t import it to the United States. And, if you decide to actually drive it, you’ll probably never see anyone else with the same car.

RECOMMENDED: This McLaren is Barely Street Legal

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