‘Clever’ Subaru Outback Scores a Spot in Consumer Reports’ Top 10 of 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Subaru Outback is popular for many reasons. For instance, it offers standard all-wheel drive, great comfort, and plenty of passenger and cargo space. That makes it a favorite for daily commutes and weekend road trips alike. A wagon with excellent ground clearance and great capabilities, the Outback is also more than a match for most small and midsize SUVs.

In fact, the 2021 Subaru Outback secured a spot in Consumer Reports‘ “10 Top Picks of 2021: Best Cars of the Year.” Here’s what else makes this Subie a winner.

Consumer Reports’ top 10 cars of 2021

Consumer Reports reviewers compile an annual list of the 10 best cars of the year. With more than 250 new vehicles hitting the market each year, how do they narrow it down to the top 10? The CR team anonymously buys test cars and puts thousands of miles on each to see how they perform in everyday driving situations. Meanwhile, they evaluate each model based on consumer needs, such as comfort, fuel efficiency, and safety.

The 10 vehicles that earned spots on this year’s list did so through outstanding performance in over 50 evaluations at the CR Auto Test Center. They also earned good marks for both owner satisfaction and reliability from CR member surveys. They also earned high scores in all NHTSA and IIHS safety assessments and key CR safety tests, such as accident avoidance maneuvers.

Each vehicle on the list also boasts a high overall score from Consumer Reports that places it at the top of its segment. Plus, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and forward-collision warning are required. That’s because these features save lives and prevent injuries in auto accidents.

Best SUV/Wagon of 2021: The Subaru Outback

Part wagon and part crossover SUV, the 2021 Subaru Outback is a class act. It offers an attractive balance between a car’s driving experience and an SUV’s functionality and safety. As a result, the Outback appeals to a wide variety of consumers, from families to adventurers.

The cabin boasts a functional, comfortable, according to Consumer Reports. There’s plenty of room for passengers and their cargo. It also offers what CR calls “clever” features, such as a roof rack for use on trips that can be tucked away when you don’t need it.

The Outback’s ride is among the best, with a suspension that absorbs road blows so that you and your passengers don’t have to. And that excellent ground clearance pairs with standard AWD for navigating various terrains.

What’s new for the 2021 Subaru Outback?

There’s more to the latest Subaru Outback than its drivetrain, cargo space, and rugged good looks. 

Subaru redesigned the Outback in 2020, Car and Driver reports. And for 2021, three key changes make this vehicle even better. They’re adaptive headlights, a passenger seatbelt warning system with audible and visual cues, and a rear-seat reminder. And they all come standard across the lineup.

It also offers a choice of two four-cylinder engines, one a 2.4-liter turbo for a more spirited drive. The Outback doesn’t offer big thrills, but for a comfortable, serene ride, it would be hard to do better. It’s the perfect vehicle for families, road trips, daily commutes, and more.

Overall, the 2021 Subaru Outback provides safety, comfort, and an adventurous vibe, earning it a coveted spot on Consumer Reports’ annual list of the best vehicles.

RELATED: The 2021 Subaru Outback Gets Another Win With Inexpensive Insurance Costs

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Riding Lawn Mower Safety Rules You Should Never Break

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Riding lawn mowers are a convenient way to keep up with yard maintenance without breaking a sweat. However, failure to take care of your mower could make it unsafe. OSHA also warns of the dangers of rollover accidents on these machines, which are easily preventable with good safety practices. Here’s how you can avoid potentially deadly injuries while using a riding lawn mower.

Common dangers associated with riding lawn mowers

Riding lawn mowers can tip over, leading to deadly consequences. For instance, in 2004, a groundskeeper died after running over a rock and was thrown from the vehicle, which then fell on top of him. Another worker was killed when trying to navigate a path that was too narrow, causing the mower to flip.

A common cause of riding lawn mower accidents is speeding. To avoid tipping over, drivers should always ease up on the gas around turns or while riding down slopes. You should also always mow in an up-and-down motion instead of side-to-side.

OSHA also highly recommends wearing personal protective equipment while riding a lawn mower. For example, a helmet could save your life in the event of an accident, while glasses can keep debris out of your eyes. It’s also not a good idea to wear jewelry or other clothing that could get caught in the blades.

When starting a riding lawn mower, always do it from the driver’s seat as soon as you’re ready to mow. Don’t attempt to dismount the vehicle at any time while in motion. OSHA warns there’s a chance the mower’s blades could strike your feet. Also, because there’s no place to secure passengers, only one person should ride the lawn mower.

Always check your surroundings before you operate a riding lawn mower

Before you begin mowing, ensure the terrain and slope conditions are safe. OSHA recommends using a slope indicator, which you can attach to the lawn mower. It calculates the steepness of an incline and whether your vehicle can safely traverse it.

If you don’t have a slope indicator, check the lawn mower’s manual for its angle limits. You should also evaluate the area for any rollover risks, such as large rocks or ditches. Plus, OSHA recommends staying at least two mower widths away from bodies of water.

Maintenance is key

Most riding lawn mowers already come equipped with a rollover protection structure (ROPS). You should never operate your riding lawn mower if this component is missing or damaged. If the mower never had one, it might have bolts in place so that you can install one yourself.

You can also attach other safety controls to your riding lawn mower, such as an operator presence control system. This device automatically stops the blades when you dismount the mower. In addition, interlocks prevent the mower from starting if it detects a blade has been engaged. It’s also a good idea to add and wear a seatbelt.

However, all of these precautions are useless if you don’t regularly inspect and maintain your mower. Keep a checklist of all these components and repair or replace them as needed. It’s best to leave repairs to qualified personnel instead of attempting to fix a riding lawn mower yourself.

Most important, don’t use a riding lawn mower without supervision or proper training. Riding lawn mowers are easy to use but can be deadly if you’re unaware of their risks and required maintenance. 

RELATED: Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips to Avoid Breakdowns

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Car Crashes Kill and Injure Women at Higher Rates Than Men, IIHS Study Shows

by Gabrielle DeSantis

One of the most important parts of car safety is how well a vehicle holds up in a crash. So a car’s safety ratings can mean the difference between life and death. That said, a new IIHS study shows women are likelier to be killed or seriously injured in car crashes than men. Here’s why.

How the IIHS gauges car safety

Founded in 1959, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provides research, ratings, and data to make driving safer for everyone. The IIHS is similar to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but there are key differences between the two organizations.

The biggest difference is that, while the NHTSA is a government agency with legal authority, the IIHS is not. Instead, the IIHS is a private organization that conducts its own car safety research. Regardless, many consumers consider IIHS and NHTSA safety ratings before purchasing a car because both organizations are reputable.

That said, aside from conducting crash tests, the IIHS also performs research studies that seek to answer questions about car safety. And according to a recent IIHS study, some real-world gender differences affect car safety. 

More men die in car crashes, but women are likelier to die

This can be a confusing distinction, but even though more men die annually from car crashes, women are significantly likelier to sustain injuries or die than men, the IIHS shows. The hard numbers reflect this. According to another IIHS study, about 10,000 women died in motor vehicle-related accidents, compared to 25,000 men, in 2019.

But when the IIHS compared men and women on a per-crash basis, it found that women were about 20 to 28 percent likelier to die in car accidents than men and about 37 to 73 percent likelier to sustain serious injuries. The IIHS wanted to know why, so it began digging deeper into the data.

Overall, the IIHS study revealed some interesting but not unexpected results. Though the institute will need to conduct more research, much of the study’s findings involve the kinds of cars involved in crashes and who’s crashing them.

Women drive smaller cars and are likelier to be struck

According to the IIHS, the two main causes of the gender difference in the likelihood of death and serious injury stemmed from car choices and women’s higher likelihood of being struck. The study shows that women tend to be in the cars that get struck. On the other hand, men are likelier driving the cars that do the striking.

Because the striking car is in a safer position than the car that’s getting struck, women are likelier to suffer serious injuries or deaths in those accidents. That means the men driving the striking car tend to fare better. On top of that, the types of cars men and women tend to drive also matter, the IIHS reports. 

Men are likelier to drive larger, heavier vehicles than women, and those bigger cars offer more protection in crashes than smaller cars. Another interesting thing the IIHS found was that women could be likelier to sustain leg injuries in car accidents. But the IIHS says this isn’t a “significant” finding and that more research will be needed.

RELATED: 5 Serious Safety Mistakes Women Make Road Tripping Alone

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As Used Car Prices Surge It Might Be Time to Invest in Car Maintenance

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Driving an old, worn-out car can be frustrating. Knowing when to pull the plug and buy a new car can be a difficult highwire act of financial planning. However, in the wake of the current chip shortage, finding a decent car without losing your shirt is proving to be pretty difficult. Welcome to the era of car maintenance. These days, fixing your car is probably a better call than paying these used car prices. 

Florida, Miami, Biscayne Boulevard, Jiffy Lube, vehicle oil change business, employees at work,

Used car prices might mean it’s time to dig into car maintenance

According to Consumer Reports, the time to sell your car when a pricey repair comes up is gone. Where once a crapped-out transmission or blown head gasket might signal that it’s time to dump your rust bucket, these days means you gotta pay to keep your hoopty around a little bit longer. 

The lack of microchips has greatly strained the new car supply and, in turn, sent used car prices into the stratosphere. As of May, the average used car price has gone up 30 percent from this time last year. Even though some car repairs and regular car maintenance can get really pricey, especially when it’s unexpected, it may save you money while used car prices are this high. 

According to Jill Trotta, vice president of industry and sales, car repairs are up from last year. As a result, many repair shops are slammed. This means many people are doing the cost-benefit analysis of fixing their old cars and waiting to buy something else. 

“When my sales team calls into shops right now, they say they’re booked three to four weeks out,” Trotta says. “I think that’s because people are investing their stimulus and tax refund money into their cars because a $3,000 repair bill could be better than a $500 car payment for the next several years.”

Car maintenance is the key to keeping an older car reliable

We know changing the oil, monitoring tire condition, and driving sensibly are all good steps to taking care of your car. What else can you do to stay on top of your car’s maintenance and keep maintenance costs down?

The first thing to do is stop waiting to do the maintenance you know your car needs. Deferring maintenance can turn a small, inexpensive problem into a massive headache. Doing things like flushing your car’s cooling system or other non-immediate fluid changes might be something that can wait till later, but staying on top of these jobs will help keep your used car happier for longer. 

With almost every machine, small problems, when neglected, can often grow and affect other parts of the machine. This, of course, means a more expensive fix down the road that could have been avoided. 

Don’t forget to do research on the shop and maintenance cost 

Most auto repair shops are upstanding and honest businesses, but some people are willing to take advantage of vulnerable, non-informed drivers in need of maintenance. Doing a bit of research can help to avoid these types of predatory shops. Also, having a cursory knowledge of your car’s needs is not hard to understand and can help protect you from getting taken advantage of. 

Another helpful tip is to get your mental state right. If you look at car repairs as an investment to keep you safer and more comfortable in your car, you can more easily digest the costs. This won’t help your bank account, but the maintenance cost won’t have to derail your morale. 

Car maintenance can be fun if you stay on top of it

In some cases, replacing broken OEM parts with upgraded aftermarket parts can actually be cheaper. Of course, doing this requires more time and automotive knowledge. As far as the mental game is concerned, upgrading your ride will feel a lot better than just maintaining it. 

If we are going to be stuck with our old rides, for the time being, we might as well figure out how to enjoy driving them and keeping them as reliable and safe as possible.

RELATED: Why Are Used Car Prices Skyrocketing Right Now?

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