Mike Lale
The road-trip budget usually gets blamed on hotel rates or gas prices in general. The quieter hit is the SUV that quietly demands a pricier pump before the weekend even starts. AAA’s premium-fuel research says there is no benefit to paying extra for premium in vehicles designed for regular gas, or in vehicles that only … Read more
Hybrid SUVs sound like easy road-trip math until the highway stays fast for hours. The problem is not that the hybrid system stops working. It is that aerodynamics start charging rent. The U.S. Department of Energy says gas mileage usually drops quickly above 50 mph, and its Energy Saver Guide says roof racks can cut … Read more
The lift kit looked right in the driveway. The highway is where the bill shows up. Car and Driver’s 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport drive noted that the off-road-flavored version was a bit noisier on the highway, while its recent CR-V Hybrid vs CX-50 Hybrid comparison said the stiffer-riding Mazda let more road harshness into the … Read more
The click is easy here. Three Japanese legends. One highway weekend. The harder part is being honest about what happens after the first hundred miles. Hagerty’s market trackers show the 2002–2007 Subaru WRX/STI still around the $29,900 mark while the 2003–2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII sits closer to $45,800, and Hagerty says 2009–2024 Nissan GT-R … Read more
Summer exposes the wrong family SUV fast. Not on the spec sheet. On the second hour of a hot drive, when the front row feels fine and the back starts getting cranky. NHTSA’s heatstroke guidance is the blunt reminder behind this whole topic: a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an … Read more
According to Subaru’s drivetrain explainer, full-time AWD can send varying amounts of torque to both axles all the time, while Subaru describes 4WD as sending a more fixed amount of power and usually requiring driver input to engage it. Jeep’s official 4×4 FAQ makes the practical difference even clearer: with a part-time 4WD system, prolonged … Read more
According to Car and Driver, it has long measured interior noise at a 70-mph cruise and now adds sones alongside decibels to better reflect perceived loudness—because “calm” is something drivers feel after a few hours. That makes a 300-mile weekend a better real-world test than any quick spin around town. In 2026, the quiet-cabin question … Read more
According to Subaru’s drivetrain explainer, AWD sends variable power to all four wheels as needed, while Subaru’s AWD-vs-4WD guide says 4WD typically sends a more fixed amount of power to both axles. Toyota’s support guide adds that part-time 4WD is driver-selectable, while full-time 4WD keeps both axles driving continuously. In plain English, the weekend question … Read more
According to Consumer Reports’ minivan buying guide, captain’s chairs are often more comfortable than a bench because they’re typically better padded and shaped like individual seats. But family weekends are a different test than a quick test-drive: they’re parking lots, car seats, snack stops, and third-row access under time pressure. IIHS guidance on LATCH also … Read more
According to AAA’s late-February 2026 travel-intentions survey, 58% of Americans expect to take multiple trips this year—exactly the pattern that turns “weekend car fit” into a repeat problem, not a one-off. IIHS adds a city-driving reality that matters for weekends, too: its November 2025 study found a large driver-side blind zone is linked to a … Read more