According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver guidance, fuel economy drops in cold weather—and the effect on hybrids can be substantial, especially on short trips. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), meanwhile, has highlighted how larger blind zones can raise pedestrian-crash risk during left turns, a reminder that “bad weather” is also … Read more
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, a plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) typically drives on electricity until the battery is nearly depleted, then automatically switches to its gasoline engine—meaning the trip does not end when charging isn’t available. The U.S. EPA also notes that some PHEVs operate mostly on electricity until the … Read more
According to AAA’s 2025 Your Driving Costs study, average all‑in costs are 68.53¢/mile for a Compact SUV, versus 79.11¢/mile for a Midsize Pickup and 98.54¢/mile for a Half‑ton pickup (based on standardized assumptions over five years and 75,000 miles). Consumer Reports’ “SUV or Pickup” guidance also frames the everyday tradeoff clearly: pickups are great when … Read more
According to Subaru’s official 2026 Outback page and Car and Driver’s 2026 Outback specs table, the redesigned Outback pairs standard AWD with 34.6 cu ft of cargo behind the second row (and 80.5 cu ft with the rear seat folded), aiming at the “two people + gear + rough road” weekend. Toyota’s official Grand Highlander … Read more
According to Tire Rack’s testing and related reporting, winter tires can cut stopping distance dramatically on ice compared with all-season tires (one Tire Rack test cited by MotorTrend showed a winter‑tire RAV4 stopping in 34 feet vs 57 feet for all-seasons from 12 mph on ice). Michelin’s winter-driving guidance also notes that AWD helps acceleration … Read more
According to Honda’s 2026 CR‑V specifications sheet, the CR‑V offers 39.3 cu ft of cargo volume behind the rear seats with the second row in place—plenty for many two‑day trips when the back seat is for kids or one adult. But once a family needs all seats filled and still wants stroller/cooler space without putting … Read more
According to Car and Driver, Kia confirmed the Telluride skips the 2026 model year, with the all-new 2027 Telluride expected to arrive in U.S. showrooms in Q1 2026. Honda, meanwhile, has a clearly defined 2026 family-hauler in the 2026 Pilot, and Honda’s official specs list 18.6 cu ft of cargo behind the third row (up … Read more
According to Toyota’s 2026 Sienna overview, Sienna is a hybrid-only minivan with an EPA-estimated combined rating up to 36 mpg, built around sliding-door convenience and family cargo flexibility. A typical three-row SUV, by contrast, trades minivan access for SUV posture and towing: Honda’s official 2026 Pilot specs list 18.6 cu ft of cargo behind the … Read more
According to Car and Driver’s back‑to‑back highway test with a roof box and a hitch‑mounted carrier, the hitch setup returned 25 mpg versus 21 mpg for the rooftop box on the same vehicle and route—an immediate signal that roof‑mounted cargo usually costs more fuel at highway speed. Consumer Reports’ testing also finds rooftop carriers reduce … Read more
According to AAA’s Your Driving Costs 2025 study, average all‑in ownership costs for a Small Sedan are listed at 55.87¢ per mile, while a Subcompact SUV is 66.11¢/mile and a Compact SUV is 68.53¢/mile (based on standardized assumptions over five years and 75,000 miles). The IRS, meanwhile, set the 2026 business standard mileage rate at … Read more