The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck receives its first price increase since launching last May, and it's a steep one. Base Lightning Pro models jump from $41,669 to $48,769, including a $1,795 destination fee, while top Platinum grades with an extended-range battery increase $6,100 to...Read More»
For drivers of the 2012-2013 Kia Optima sedan, it may seem like the sky is falling. On certain models, a ceiling plate above the driver or front passenger can detach from the headliner when the side curtain airbag is deployed. The plate can strike an occupant, as it has in one case that prompted a...Read More»
Newer versions of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, CLS-Class, and AMG GT are being recalled for a short circuit that increases the risk of fire, the NHTSA disclosed last week. A corroded connector in the transmission wiring harness of all-wheel-drive vehicles ("4Matic" in Mercedes-speak) could cause a...Read More»
The 2023 model year cars keep rolling into dealer lots, albeit in limited supply, and the most visited review we posted this week was the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. A perennial Best SUV To Buy at The Car Connection, the Grand Cherokee has minor changes limited mostly to the 4xe plug-in hybrid model...Read More»
The names might be new but the spin is the same: automakers keep introducing new crossover SUVs, but now, they're electric. Volkswagen just undercut the competition with a new base model of the ID.4 that costs $38,790. Announced Aug. 4, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Standard is powered by a 201-hp motor...Read More»
Mid-size cars don't hold up as well as crossover SUVs in a new side impact test conducted by the IIHS, the insurance industry-funded nonprofit announced Thursday. Only the 2022 Subaru Outback earned a top "Good" rating in a new crash test meant to reflect what happens when a car gets hit on the...Read More»
The Nissan Maxima joins the growing list of sedans driving off into the automotive sunset, Nissan spokesperson Dan Passe confirmed Thursday. "The current-generation Maxima will end production in the middle of 2023," Passe said when contacted by The Car Connection for comment. For decades, the...Read More»
A child safety seat anchor in new versions of the Toyota Tacoma mid-size pickup truck may not be safe at all, according to a recall order disclosed by the NHTSA on Tuesday. Welds on the upper child seat anchors can be loose enough to be moved by hand, prompting Toyota to recall 75,316 Tacomas from...Read More»
Mazda is going all in on its newest model and asking customers to pay more for the opportunity to join them. The 2023 Mazda CX-50 compact crossover gets an odd price increase of $800 across a lineup that went on sale new this spring. The destination fee increases to $1,275 as well. A new Meridian...Read More»
The 2023 Ford Maverick follows in the off-road path of Ford's larger trucks with a new Tremor package for 2023, Ford announced Monday. Ford also announced orders for the 2023 version of the popular Maverick will open in September following an early sell out of its initial production run. A small...Read More»
A new version of the 2023 BMW i4 electric car with a smaller battery pack presents a more affordable entry point to BMW's electric car lineup. The 2023 BMW i4 eDrive35 will cost $52,395 when it goes on sale early next year, BMW announced Monday. The long-roof electric hatchback styled like the BMW...Read More»
Chevrolet launched the 2023 Colorado mid-size pickup truck this week, marking the first redesign since 2015. Loaded with standard features and with five distinct trim levels, it heralds a slew of redesigned mid-size trucks coming to market. We got some seat time in the EQB-Class electric crossover...Read More»
The 2019-2021 Audi Q8 and 2020-2021 Audi Q7 crossover SUVs are being recalled for a faulty fuel pump that can cause the engine to stall, the NHTSA disclosed on Thursday. If a component inside the fuel pump breaks, the fragments can damage the pressure regulator. If it happens, owners may notice an...Read More»
Four Stellantis vehicle models are under investigation by the NHTSA for safety defects, with 1.34 million Jeep Cherokees accounting for the bulk of the scrutiny, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. The 2014-2020 Jeep Cherokee is being investigated for an electronic parking brake that can...Read More»
The 2023 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover earns its place in the Mazda lineup despite the launch this year of the fresher Mazda CX-50. Mazda's bestseller experiences only a modest price increase, averaging about $500 across its robust eight trim levels, Mazda announced Monday. Mazda does not seem ready...Read More»
The full-size SUV accomplishes a singular feat unmatched by any other automotive segment. It can transport a hockey team’s starting line and their gear in relative comfort, as long as you’re wearing nose plugs. The large truck-based SUVs that seat up to nine passengers are known for...Read More»
The redesigned 2023 Toyota Sequoia scores a key win over full-size SUV rivals. The EPA rates the new Sequoia and its standard hybrid powertrain at 21 mpg city, 24 highway, 22 combined, Toyota disclosed Monday. That's 3 mpg better than the next most efficient full-size SUV. Sharing a hybrid engine...Read More»
Chevrolet showed off its latest electric vehicle in the 2024 Blazer EV that shares nothing except a name with the gas Blazer. We revisited a bunch of GM crossover SUVs for the 2023 model year this week as well. 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV preview With a high-performance Blazer SS version, multiple...Read More»
What’s the best way to build an electric car for the masses? Design one that’s familiar to shoppers of gas-powered crossovers, as Toyota has done with the 2023 Toyota BZ4X? Or take a clean-slate approach and explore all the packaging and design possibilities afforded by electric vehicle...Read More»
The big news for Subaru for the 2023 model year is the launch of its first global electric vehicle, the 2023 Subaru Solterra. Yet, the small automaker with an outsized presence in the U.S. will cap sales here at 6,500 units in the first year. Instead of pushing its one electric car, the Japanese...Read More»
Volkswagen has been busy. The world's second largest automaker behind Toyota refreshed or redesigned its lineup of eight core vehicles in the U.S. in the last two years, and is busy ramping up production of its ID suite of battery electric vehicles. A new entry-level ID.4, with a smaller battery...Read More»
The new Ford Maverick hybrid pickup truck as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair are being recalled for an increased risk of engine failure that could lead to an engine fire, the NHTSA disclosed Monday. The recall concerns Ford's 2.5-liter inline-4...Read More»
Honda redesigned its bestseller, the 2023 CR-V compact crossover, and will offer it with a hybrid powertrain, while Toyota bucked the trend of all crossovers, all the time, by bringing over the Crown full-size sedan as a replacement for the Avalon. The 2023 Toyota Crown comes standard with...Read More»
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 charts a new course for a brand that helped pioneer the internal combustion engine 140 years ago. Evolving from the ethos of the S-Class, the German luxury brand’s flagship sedan, the EQS electric flagship points the tri-star forward with more efficient...Read More»
