 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan vs. 2020 Subaru Forester: Compare Crossover SUVs
Just like every culture has a distinct take on a stuffed dough ball—empanada, pierogi, panzarotti—every automaker has a distinct take on a compact crossover. The 2020 Subaru Forester is the steamed bun of this analogy, and the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan is the lesser known bierocks. Both are distinct, both are boxy, both have good standard...
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Nissan adds large vehicles to Takata airbag recall
Nissan is recalling large vans, SUVs, and trucks for a faulty driver-side airbag inflator that could rupture and spray metal fragments into the cabin and cause injury or death, the automaker announced last week. In paperwork filed with the NHTSA, Nissan said 216,678 vehicles were affected but there were no known incidents. The issue is unique to...
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Review update: The 2020 Lexus ES 300h shelters drivers in the right place
Long-distance journeys may have settled into your mind, in this time of sheltering in place. One day we'll be able to drive far, far away—and for that day your shopping list could start and begin with the 2020 Lexus ES 300h Ultra Luxury. If you can avoid the lure of a crossover SUV, the 2020 Lexus ES stands out among four-door sedans. We...
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When does a three-row small crossover make sense?
There aren’t many compact crossovers like the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan that offer a third-row seat. The Dodge Journey, Tesla Model Y, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Lexus RX 350L squeeze in a third row, but most three-row vehicles are much larger, such as the Volkswagen Atlas. Yet, for the 10% of Tiguan customers who opt for the third row, it...
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2020 Mazda CX-30 vs. 2020 Mazda 3 hatchback: Compare Cars
Mazda has presented a curious case with its small cars. Following the evolutionary chart of the Mazda3 hatchback leads to a split in what we can now call the Crossover Era. While the lovable Mazda3 continues on one trajectory, the split presents a new subspecies known as the CX-30 subcompact crossover. The CX-3 exists in that split, a small...
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2021 Genesis G80 preview
When it goes on sale late this year, the 2021 Genesis G80 mid-size luxury sedan will share much with the recently introduced 2021 Genesis GV80 crossover SUV, including a gorgeous interior loaded with all the latest technology. The striking fastback design is all its own—and it’s gorgeous. The low-slung sedan wears the brand’s...
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2021 Honda Odyssey
If smart is sexy then the 2021 Honda Odyssey is a centerfold. The refreshed minivan is big on space and interior comforts, even as the competition has shifted ahead with more innovative powertrain options. Still, the Odyssey excels at what it was meant to do well: haul families and their gear in space, comfort, and safety. It earns a 6.8 on our...
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Average gas price in US drops to $1.99: AAA
The national average for a gallon of gasoline dropped to $1.99, AAA announced Tuesday. It's the first time in four years that average prices for gas fell below $2 due to two global problems. The global coronavirus pandemic has suppressed oil demand and a crude oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia have combined to lower crude oil to less...
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Gas prices drop, as do EPA mileage targets: What's New @ The Car Connection
Average gas price in US drops to $1.99: AAA The global coronavirus pandemic has suppressed oil demand and a crude oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia have combined to lower crude oil to less than $20 per barrel, the lowest price since 2002, AAA reports. Review update: 2020 CX-30 is Mazda’s better, larger small crossover If the...
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Review update: 2020 CX-30 is Mazda's better, larger small crossover
If the Mazda 3 hatchback were to grow up, it would become the new 2020 Mazda CX-30 crossover. First, it would have to go through an awkward but small rebellious phase as the CX-3. With the CX-30, Mazda has matured its small crossover to become more practical and responsible, but it still retains some youthful driving fun. The CX-3 is still around...
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Review update: The 2020 Ford Expedition Max Platinum poses issue for car seats
The Ford Expedition Max Platinum is nearly 19 feet long with space for up to eight passengers or nearly 122 cubic feet of cargo. It is the definition of a Bed Bath & Beyond runner or family hauler, yet it’s not compatible with some top-rated car seats. With a TCC Rating of 7.0 out of 10 the 2020 Ford Expedition Max Platinum hits big with...
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2020 Kia Sorento vs. 2020 Kia Telluride: Compare Crossover SUVs
The 2020 Kia Sorento and 2020 Kia Telluride are both three-row crossover SUVs that share similar missions to get the family to soccer practice on time. The biggest question for shoppers: How many players do you need to haul and how many shin guards and cleats do you need to carry in the back? Both the Sorento and Telluride offer three rows of...
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Sidewalk Edition returns to 2021 Mini Cooper S convertible
The 2021 Mini Cooper S convertible comes with a Sidewalk Edition trim package that will start at $39,250 when it hits dealerships in late April, the automaker announced on Friday. First launched in 2007, the Sidewalk Edition is a puzzler. BMW says it was a popular special edition, but aside from being equipped like a Cooper S in Signature trim...
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Car shoppers cash in on deals during coronavirus pandemic
Americans are taking advantage of historic new car deals thanks to automakers slashing interest rates and letting owners defer payments, among other incentives. “I got a deal with 0% interest, plus 120 days until my first payment, which is crazy,” said Scott Carpenter, 60, from Nashville, Tennessee. The contractor brought home a 2020...
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2020 Honda HR-V vs. 2020 Subaru Crosstrek: Compare Crossovers
Small crossovers with versatile interiors and all-wheel drive come in handy for many shoppers. For many daily needs, they make sense—and they even save dollars and cents compared to bigger rivals. Little ‘utes like the 2020 Honda HR-V and 2020 Subaru Crosstrek have low prices but big value. Both flex on versatile interiors and a tall...
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2020 Toyota Highlander crossover earns Top Safety Pick award
The redesigned 2020 Toyota Highlander is a Top Safety Pick even with tougher criteria for the latest model year, the IIHS announced Thursday. The three-row crossover SUV aced all six crash tests, and its ability to avoid forward collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians was rated "Superior." The only thing keeping it from the highest TSP+...
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2021 Honda Insight
The 2021 Honda Insight is smart money. The compact hybrid sedan returns this year with a few new safety features on some trims, although the good stuff doesn’t change. It still returns more than 50 mpg combined in most trims, according to the EPA, and it costs less than $30,000 in every configuration—LX, EX, and Touring. It’s a...
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Car care during coronavirus Q&A: Should I run my car during lockdown?
As the coronavirus pandemic reaches its peak and more states are imposing shelter-in-place restrictions, most vehicles are hibernating in garages or on the street. How long can a car sit before it is negatively affected? What sort of exercise should it get? Does it matter? Most newer vehicles won't need the more extreme measures taken by snowbirds...
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Automakers slash rates, add deals, offer help to new buyers amid coronavirus slowdown
Automakers across the U.S. are slashing interest rates, assisting with payments, and offering other incentives to buyers and owners as shoppers largely hunker down during the typically busy spring season. Although it's unclear how a prolonged outbreak may impact owners and shoppers, several automakers have offered assistance for up to six months...
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Tailgate wars: Comparing GMC's MultiPro and Ram's Multifunction tailgates
Now that pickup trucks come with luxurious interiors, soft-riding air suspensions, and enough technology to equip a mobile office, automakers are looking to their beds as the final frontier of innovation. The tailgate is the new differentiator in the cutthroat truck wars, and the leading pioneers are GMC’s MultiPro and Ram’s...
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2020 Nissan Altima vs. 2020 Toyota Camry: Compare Cars
The 2020 Nissan Altima and 2020 Toyota Camry are workaday commuters, built to chill—not thrill. As such, the expectations for both mid-size sedans are roughly similar to the same expectations we have for our refrigerators: they’re supposed to run without a problem and deliver us our daily needs. The Altima and Camry do most of the...
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Ford recalls cars for doors that can open while driving
Ford is recalling select compacts and sedans for an issue that could result in a door opening while the car is moving, the automaker announced Wednesday. The recall includes 248,912 vehicles in the U.S., including the 2014-2015 Ford Fiesta, the 2014-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ mid-size sedans. Ford said a certain latch design can crack and...
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2021 Honda Insight adds new available safety features, costs $23,885 to start
It'll be harder to sneak up on the 2021 Honda Insight when it arrives in dealers this week. The compact hybrid sedan adds to its roster of available safety equipment blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert, and a new red hue. The 2021 Insight will cost at least $23,885 to start, including destination, which is the same as last year's...
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2020 Jeep Gladiator vs. 2020 Jeep Wrangler: Compare Trucks
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator and 2020 Jeep Wrangler serve different market segments—one’s a pickup and the other’s an SUV—but they are very similar. In fact, the Gladiator amounts to a longer version of the Wrangler with a pickup bed. Both cater to buyers looking for adventure, both are great off-road, and both get expensive...
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2021 Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevy Traverse is among the most prolific three-row family crossovers on the road and there’s hardly a cul-de-sac or suburban shopping center without one. It’s popularity is a blessing and a curse. The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse finds new bends in its sheet metal this year for a more distinctive look. It’s a good look, and our...
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Review update: The 2020 Lexus RX 350 AWD still answers the call
The $46,575 2020 Lexus RX 350 AWD answers a very specific call—the call of the mild. It's been popular for two decades because it's a known entity, never too obtrusive, never one to step out of line. We nailed it in our full review thusly: "Performance isn't its big virtue—virtue is." That said, we gave the 2020 Lexus RX a TCC Rating...
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Volvo recalls all new models for faulty automatic emergency braking
Volvo is recalling all 2019-2020 models equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) because the system may not detect obstacles and stop the vehicle as designed, according to paperwork filed by Volvo to the NHTSA on March 12. Without AEB working properly, there is a higher risk of a crash. Volvo cited software code that is not compatible with...
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2020 Chevrolet Traverse vs. 2020 Ford Explorer: Compare SUVs
The 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Chevrolet Traverse are modern-day Lewises and Clarks of the open road, transporting families to every corner of the U.S. with long hours on pencil-straight interstates. Although the Explorer and Traverse aren’t plugging up the banks of the Mississippi or clambering across the Louisiana Purchase the hard way...
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10 best small but thoughtful new car features
Here at The Car Connection, we review more than 250 cars every year. We write those reviews with car buyers in mind. We consider several key criteria based on the six categories in our rating system: Design, Performance, Comfort and Quality, Safety, Features, and Fuel Economy. However, beyond those basics, automakers can slip in some little...
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2020 Chevrolet Silverado vs. 2020 GMC Sierra 1500: Compare Trucks
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 have always asked buyers which GM badge they’d rather have in their driveway. Mechanically, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 offer the same powertrain options and similar interiors, but the GMC offers slick features that simply can’t be optioned in the Chevy...
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2021 Kia Sorento three-row crossover gets more tech and hybrid engine
Kia has upped the ante again for three-row crossovers, and we don't we don't mean the Kia Telluride. The South Korean automaker debuted the redesigned 2021 Kia Sorento for the European market on Wednesday, and the most significant changes apply globally. The looks of the Sorento have evolved. The new crossover's nose is closer to the Seltos, with...
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2020 Ram 1500 Laramie Southwest Edition plucks heartstrings of Southern states
The 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie Southwest Edition luxury trim aims to please proud pickup truck buyers in Texas and Southern states of the U.S., the truckmaker announced Wednesday. Playing off the popular Lone Star edition, the Laramie Southwest Edition marks the eighth trim available for the second best-selling vehicle in America last year. But this...
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2020 Chevrolet Traverse vs. 2020 GMC Acadia: Compare Crossovers
The 2020 GMC Acadia and 2020 Chevrolet Traverse aren’t remarkable for any reason—and that’s reason enough to look at them. The two crossovers from General Motors are more distantly related now (they used to be much closer in size) and offer different takes on the three-row family-vehicle idea. The Traverse is a rounded corner;...
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2021 Hyundai Elantra debuts: More tech, hybrid powertrain, roomier interior
The glitzy 2021 Hyundai Elantra compact sedan unveiled Tuesday in Hollywood, California, strayed further from its economy car roots and followed closer the star Sonata mid-size sedan that was unveiled last year. The updated Elantra, which is lower, longer, and wider than before, now measures more than 184 inches long, which is more than 2 inches...
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2021 Hyundai Elantra preview
The 2021 Hyundai Elantra compact sedan goes longer in nearly every way: it casts a longer shadow compared to the outgoing sedan, it travels longer on a tank of fuel, it has a longer infotainment screen, and comes with a longer list of options. The only thing that’s shorter? Shoppers’ attention to small cars. Not much about the 2021...
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2020 Kia Niro
The 2020 Kia Niro hybrid pairs crossover-like styling and utility with excellent fuel economy in every form. It’s a high-value car ideal for the way most people use their vehicles, and the impressive Niro plug-in hybrid only adds to this lineup’s appeal. Overall, we rate the 2020 Niro at 6.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate...
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Automakers slash rates, offer deals to sell new cars amid coronavirus slowdown
Automakers across the U.S. are slashing interest rates, assisting with payments, and offering other incentives to buyers and owners as shoppers largely hunker down during the typically busy spring season. Although it's unclear how a prolonged outbreak may impact owners and shoppers, several automakers have offered assistance for up to six months...
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2020 Ford Ecosport vs. 2020 Subaru Crosstrek: Compare Crossovers
Little crossovers are a big deal. The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek and 2020 Ford Ecosport are two of the most popular for first-time buyers, empty-nesters, and city dwellers. Their smaller engines go longer on a tank of fuel, too. But only one goes longer on our TCC Rating scale. The Crosstrek earns a 5.8 TCC Rating compared to the Ecosport’s 3.7...
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