Author: Michael S. Cole

The Best Cars for Snow: Maximize Winter Performance with the Right Tires and Vehicles When it comes to winter driving, the ultimate answer to "what’s the best car for snow?" is surprisingly simple: it’s the one equipped with winter tires. Even the most technologically advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) systems won’t perform at their best without proper winter tires. Why Winter Tires Make All the Difference Regardless of the vehicle you’re driving, having the right set of winter tires is crucial. Winter tires are specifically designed to handle slippery, slushy, and snowy conditions, significantly improving traction and safety. The…

If you’re planning to use a vehicle’s third row frequently, we believe a minivan is a smarter choice than any three-row SUV you’ll see on this list. Minivans offer more spacious, comfortable, and accessible third rows, ensuring happier kids and a smoother parenting experience. Nonetheless, if you’re set on a three-row SUV, you’re in luck. The current options are plentiful and quite impressive. They offer excellent family-friendly features and stylish designs that don’t scream “boring family car.” However, not all three-row SUVs are created equal, particularly when it comes to usable third-row space. Take the Genesis GV80, for example; it’s…

The Top Affordable Cars in the U.S. for 2024: A Detailed Look In today’s automotive market, the list of budget-friendly cars in America is rapidly shrinking. Defining "cheap" can differ greatly among buyers, but for the purpose of this article, we’ll set our threshold at $20,000. Interestingly, if you can stretch slightly further to $23,000, a handful of solid options such as the Kia Forte, Kia Soul, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza, and Volkswagen Jetta come into play. Even in 2024, there are still a few new cars that you can find below the $20,000 mark on dealership lots. Best New…

When selecting a large SUV, there’s more to consider than just the price or the sheer size of the vehicle. One essential aspect to examine is the underlying construction. Some SUVs are built on a truck-like body-on-frame chassis, fitting the traditional definition of an SUV, while others use car-like, unibody construction, categorizing them as crossovers. However, the most crucial factor is how you intend to use the vehicle. For most American families, a large three-row crossover is the optimal choice. These vehicles offer ample passenger and cargo space, along with better fuel economy, handling, and ride quality than traditional large…

Here’s a headline: Prices are rising across the board! This trend hasn’t spared new SUVs, whose costs seem to be on an upward trajectory. “Skyrocketing” might even be a more fitting term for the pace at which prices are increasing. With both higher prices and hefty interest rates, many potential buyers are struggling to keep up with the new car market. However, there are still affordable SUV options available, and they’re impressively competent. Unlike the drab and uninspiring cheap SUVs of yesteryears, the current crop offers a variety of choices brimming with character, capability, and style. Long gone are the…

Autotrader’s 10 Best Electric Vehicles of 2023 and Why Tesla is Surprisingly Missing Autotrader’s list of the 10 best electric vehicles (EVs) of 2023 is causing quite a stir for one glaring reason: Tesla, a brand synonymous with the EV revolution, is notably absent. While the list features a range of exceptional EVs from brands like Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, Ford, BMW, and Nissan, the absence of any Tesla models is hard to ignore. Why No Tesla? When queried about this omission, Autotrader spokesperson Brenna Buehler of Cox Automotive provided a somewhat ambiguous explanation: “Tesla models were included in consideration but…

Japanese and Korean Models Dominate Kelley Blue Book’s Best Family Cars of 2023 The Kelley Blue Book (KBB) experts have once again unveiled their choices for the best family vehicles of the year, with Japanese and Korean brands taking center stage. This year’s list predominantly includes two-row and three-row SUVs, alongside some versatile minivans, showcasing a wide range of options for family needs. Notably, Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai each have three entries on the list, while Ford stands as the sole representative of U.S. manufacturers with its highly regarded Ford Expedition. Rigorous Evaluation Standards KBB’s testers not only use Kelley…

In 2023, the pickup truck market has diversified to cater to virtually every need imaginable. Not long ago, choices were limited, especially in the midsize segment. Today, the landscape includes economical compact models and cleaner electric variants. With this variety, the customer base for pickups continues to expand. Whether you’re chasing luxury, need a workhorse, prefer something practical and small, or want a vehicle for off-road adventures, there’s a pickup for you. Here, we present our top picks for 2023. Top Full-Size Pickup Trucks for 2023 2023 Ram 1500: Score 9.0 2023 Ford F-150: Score 8.5 2023 GMC Sierra: Score…