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Should You Lower Tire Pressure to Gain Traction in Snow?

When it comes to winter driving, most people know the importance of having good tires to provide a sure-footed grip for ice and snow. But a question that often comes up in the winter months is whether lowering the tire pressure can give you even better traction in the snow.. Off-roaders and beachgoers sometimes reduce inflation pressure to increase the surface area of tires that come in contact with dirt, mud, and sand so that they don...
Posted:Mon Jan 20 06:00:13 EST 2025

Preview: 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Amps Up Fuel Economy and Power

The hybrid revolution continues to gain momentum, with more models and even more automakers embracing the efficiency made possible by combining a gas engine and electric power. After a pause from marketing a plug-in hybrid Crosstrek from 2019 to 2023, Subaru is bringing a Crosstrek Hybrid (non-plug-in) to the market.  Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. CR's Take. Outside. Inside. What Drives It. Active Safety and Driver Assistance more on suvs C...
Posted:Thu Jan 16 09:00:08 EST 2025

Talking Cars 463: Driving the Nissan Kicks

Main theme: The 2025 Nissan Kicks subcompact SUV has undergone a thorough redesign with optional all-wheel drive, tons of standard safety features, and attractive styling. But is it worth buying or are these updates just cosmetic enhancements? Our panel shares first impressions. . Read CR’s First Drive review of the 2025 Nissan Kicks.. Audience Questions• CR talks a lot about bad infotainment systems. Do any new cars have easy-to-u...
Posted:Wed Jan 15 06:00:01 EST 2025

What to Do If Your Car Catches Fire

Imagine you’re driving down the road and suddenly smell smoke or see flames shoot from under the hood or dash. What should you do? Read on for Consumer Reports’ advice on how to stay safe if your car catches fire. . You may have seen news reports about recalls and investigations into models with a fire risk. For example, thousands of Hyundai and Kia vehicles have caught fire since 2010, according to the National Highway Traffic Saf...
Posted:Tue Jan 14 15:02:11 EST 2025

Americans Want Better Fuel Economy

Americans are more likely to name fuel economy as the factor that needs the most improvement in the vehicles they drive often, according to a new nationally representative survey from Consumer Reports. This has been consistent in eight surveys conducted over nine years.. And a majority of Americans support regulations that push automakers to deliver new vehicles that cost less to fuel and have fewer emissions. . These are among the find...
Posted:Tue Jan 14 09:00:01 EST 2025

First Drive: The Impressive 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV Goes Big in Every Possible Way

The Chevrolet Silverado EV may share a name with the conventional line of light- and heavy-duty pickup trucks, but the all-electric truck has little else in common with its internal-combustion-engined siblings.. Chevrolet based the Silverado EV on a bespoke electric vehicle architecture (also used by the GMC Hummer EV) instead of modifying an existing pickup truck platform like Ford did when it created the F-150 Lightning. By taking thi...
Posted:Mon Jan 13 16:46:51 EST 2025

How to Escape Your Car If the Electronic Door Handle Fails

Instead of a simple, familiar mechanical latch, it’s now common for a car’s exterior door handles to remain flush against the door until the car is unlocked, requiring an electric motor to open. On many vehicles, interior door handles have been replaced by buttons that also need electricity and motors to work. It’s innovation but with mixed results.. To make matters worse, these electronic handles may not work if the car loses pow...
Posted:Mon Jan 13 16:35:55 EST 2025

Best Booster Seats for Kids

Children pass many milestones during their early years, including going from an infant car seat to sitting independently with a seat belt. A key step on that journey is a booster seat, which gives your child enough height to position the car’s seat belt most effectively.. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s car seat guidelines, children are ready to graduate from their forward-facing car seat to a boost...
Posted:Sun Jan 12 06:01:40 EST 2025

Hot, New Electric Cars That Are Coming Soon

The ongoing business impact of the coronavirus pandemic has slowed auto development and production, but manufacturers’ plans to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) continue unabated. In fact, dozens of pure electric models are set to debut by the end of 2025. MORE ON ELECTRIC CARS How to Decide If a Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid, or Fully Electric Car Is Right for You. .Electric Cars 101: The Answers to All Your EV Questions. .Automakers Are A...
Posted:Fri Jan 10 14:38:26 EST 2025

Tesla Recalls More Than 239,000 Cars to Fix Backup Cameras

Tesla is recalling some 2023-2025 Model X and Model Y SUVs and 2024-2025 Model 3 and Model S sedans because their backup cameras may not display an image while the car is in Reverse. MORE ON CAR RECALLS Car Recall Guide: Your Questions Answered. .Federal Regulators Investigating Tesla’s Autopilot Recall Fix. .Tesla Recalls Models With Full Self-Driving Due to Software-Related Crash Risk. Although Tesla says an over-the-air software u...
Posted:Fri Jan 10 11:42:09 EST 2025

Which Electric Vehicles Can Charge at a Tesla Supercharger?

By the end of 2025, nearly all EVs will have access to some of Tesla’s Supercharger fast EV charging stations. Already, some Ford Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1S and R1T owners have received adapters that allow them to plug into Tesla Superchargers. GM, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar EV, and Volvo owners can now access Superchargers as well, as long as they purchase an adapter. . Connecting a non-Tesla vehicle to a Tesla Supercha...
Posted:Thu Jan 09 16:45:37 EST 2025

Preview: High-Tech 2027 Afeela 1 Born From Honda and Sony Partnership

What do you get when Sony and Honda have a baby together? An expensive, nondescript electric sedan, as it turns out.. Formed several years ago, the Sony Honda Mobility electric-car partnership unveiled its first production-intent model at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. But while preordering has opened, there’s a catch. For the time being, the Afeela 1 will only be available for preorder in California. Afeela 1. CR's ...
Posted:Tue Jan 07 18:18:10 EST 2025

First Drive: 2025 BMW X3 Proves Sporty and Sophisticated

Redesigned for 2025, the fourth-generation BMW X3 makes an evolutionary step forward, with incremental gains in stature, power, and equipment. The fresh appearance looks inspired by the automaker’s electric vehicles, as the X3’s styling moves closer to that of the iX both inside and out. The cabin transformation is the most dramatic aspect of the new X3, shifting to a high-tech, minimalist interior aesthetic. . The reimagined X3 la...
Posted:Mon Jan 06 12:09:02 EST 2025

Best All-Weather Tires

Many drivers in cold climates invest their time and money to switch their all-season tires for winter/snow tires with optimized traction to tackle winter’s challenges. But there’s an emerging tire type that provides similar cold-weather traction without needing to be changed seasonally: all-weather tires.. These are designed to stay on year-round. Some all-weather tires cost more than the all-season tires they typically replace, but...
Posted:Sun Jan 05 06:00:12 EST 2025

Ford and Lincoln Recall More Cars and SUVs to Fix Backup Cameras

Ford is recalling more than 30,000 vehicles to fix faulty backup cameras that could show a blank, fuzzy, flashing, or inverted image. There’s no fix for the problem yet. Owners will probably have to go to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for a free repair as soon as one is available. MORE ON car RECALLS Ford and Lincoln Recall More SUVs to Fix Faulty Backup Cameras. .Ford and Lincoln SUVs Are Recalled to Fix Backup Camera. .What to Do When Th...
Posted:Thu Jan 02 13:48:15 EST 2025