Most expensive car-buying mistakes happen before anything mechanically goes wrong. You buy more car than you need. Negotiate the monthly payment instead of the price. Finance an unfavorable deal for another year to make the payment look affordable. Assume a clean history report means a used car is clean. Or discover after signing that the … Read more
A used car can look excellent, drive normally for 15 minutes, and still be a bad purchase. The most expensive problems aren’t always obvious. A recently cleared warning light, poorly repaired collision damage, neglected cooling system, slipping transmission, or developing suspension problem can easily hide behind clean paint and a detailed interior. That’s why what … Read more
A Great First Car isn’t simply the cheapest one you can afford; it should also be affordable to insure, fuel, maintain and occasionally make beginner mistakes with. We therefore favor manageable cars with predictable costs, good visibility, useful safety technology and enough capability to keep for years—rather than unnecessary power, expensive wheels, aging luxury-car complexity … Read more
Choosing the safest midsize SUV sounds simple: find the model with the highest safety rating and buy it. Modern crash testing makes the answer more complicated. An SUV can protect the driver extremely well yet perform less convincingly for a rear passenger. Another may have excellent crashworthiness but weaker headlights or collision-avoidance performance. And an … Read more
When we first covered the 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander, it was a new compact SUV competing on equipment, warranty coverage and the unusual advantage of a third row. Two years later, the more useful question has changed: does the 2024 Outlander make sense now that used examples are entering the market? That is why we have … Read more
The Audi Guard Protection Kit is an accessory package designed to protect your Audi’s interior from everyday dirt, moisture and wear. Typically combining all-weather floor mats with a cargo liner, it provides a practical alternative to the standard carpet mats supplied with many vehicles. But is it worth paying extra for genuine Audi accessories when … Read more
The 2026 Kia Niro Hybrid reaches an estimated 53 mpg combined, making it one of America’s most efficient crossovers—but highest MPG doesn’t automatically mean best choice. The RAV4 Hybrid offers more versatility, the CR-V Hybrid prioritizes passenger comfort, and the Sportage Hybrid delivers generous space without excessive fuel consumption. The real question is which crossover … Read more
If fuel economy comes first, a full-size SUV isn’t the obvious choice. But if you genuinely need three usable rows, substantial cargo space or serious towing capacity, the better question is: which full-size SUV does the job with the least fuel? For 2026, the answer is surprisingly varied. Diesel, hybrid and turbocharged gasoline powertrains can … Read more
Honda has used CVTs in millions of Civics, Accords, CR-Vs and HR-Vs, yet owner experiences range from trouble-free high-mileage cars to expensive failures. The reason is simple: “Honda CVT” isn’t one transmission—different generations, applications and calibrations have different records, including some affected by recalls, software updates or warranty extensions. So, are Honda CVTs reliable? Generally, … Read more