Mike Lale
According to the IRS, the 2026 standard mileage rate for business use is 72.5 cents per mile, a widely used “all‑in” yardstick that bundles fuel, depreciation, maintenance, insurance and other ownership costs into one number. AAA’s Your Driving Costs 2025 analysis shows why that framing matters: total cost-per-mile varies by vehicle category and is driven … Read more
According to the IRS, the 2026 business standard mileage rate is 72.5 cents per mile, a widely used “all‑in” yardstick that bundles fuel, maintenance, depreciation, insurance and other ownership costs into one number. AAA’s Your Driving Costs 2025 study shows why this matters: its average cost-per-mile varies by vehicle category (for example, a Small Sedan … Read more
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 Consumer Reports’ access testing, some cars, SUVs, and minivans are noticeably easier than others to get into and out of, a factor that matters when trips include older adults with knee, hip, or balance limitations. AARP’s guidance on vehicle access similarly notes that minivans often rate well for older adults, while very tall … Read more
According to Honda’s 2026 CR‑V specifications, the CR‑V lists 39.3 cu ft of cargo space behind the second row with the seats in place—enough for many weekend loads when the rear seat is occupied by child seats. But the “child seat + cooler + stroller” problem is a different test: it’s bulky gear plus passengers, … 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