Mike Lale
According to Consumer Reports’ fuel-economy testing, adding a roof rack and rooftop carrier produced an overall 19% drop in fuel economy on its test vehicle—exactly the kind of “workaround tax” people pay when the cargo plan fails. Car and Driver’s back-to-back test found the same direction at highway speed: 25 mpg with a hitch-mounted carrier … Read more
According to AAA’s Your Driving Costs 2025 study, a Medium SUV averages 83.89¢ per mile to own and operate, compared with 68.53¢ for a Compact SUV and 66.11¢ for a Subcompact SUV—a gap that shows up fast when a “quick” weekend becomes five short trips plus parking. IIHS adds a second, less obvious pressure: its … Read more
According to Experian’s Q4 2025 auto finance report, the average used-vehicle monthly payment was $537, versus $767 for new vehicles in the same quarter—an affordability gap that changes “weekend freedom” more than most features do. Edmunds adds that 20.3% of financed new-vehicle purchases in Q4 2025 carried $1,000+ monthly payments, a sign many shoppers are … Read more
According to Consumer Reports’ luggage guidance, soft-sided bags are usually lighter, often expandable, and can flex and compress—a practical advantage when you’re packing around a small SUV’s seats-up geometry. NHTSA’s “Secure Your Load” guidance also reminds drivers that cargo must be secured so it doesn’t shift or escape the vehicle, because loose items can become … Read more
According to Yosemite National Park’s chain guidance, drivers must carry tire chains or cables when entering a designated chain-control area—even if the vehicle has four-wheel drive or is a rental. Car and Driver also says it’s changing how it reports interior noise at a 70-mph cruise, adding sones alongside decibels to better reflect perceived loudness—because … Read more
According to IIHS-HLDI’s research overview on advanced driver assistance, several crash-avoidance technologies (including front crash prevention and lane departure prevention) are associated with real-world crash reductions. NHTSA research also estimates lane keeping assist can reduce certain fatal single-vehicle road-departure crashes for vehicle models equipped with it. For weekend travelers, though, the feature people end up … Read more
According to Car and Driver, it has long measured interior sound at a 70-mph cruise and now adds sones alongside decibels to better reflect perceived loudness—because “calm” is what drivers feel (or don’t) after a few hours. J.D. Power’s 2025 Initial Quality Study also reports infotainment remains the most problematic vehicle category, and notes touchscreen … Read more
According to the National Park Service, some of the biggest spring weekend pinch points are predictable: seasonal road conditions, limited parking, and high-demand corridors that can back up quickly. Yosemite says it will not use a timed reservation system in 2026, and Arches says it will not require advanced timed-entry reservations in 2026—changes that can … 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. J.D. Power’s 2025 quality reporting also keeps pointing to infotainment as a persistent owner pain point, especially as more basic … Read more
According to Hagerty’s recent market coverage and current Classic.com listings, the collector market for older Japanese vehicles has matured, but it has not swallowed every useful truck and SUV whole. Clean Toyota 4Runners and Toyota pickups already carry a known premium. The more interesting play in 2026 sits one shelf over: the forgotten Japanese utility … Read more