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First Drive: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV Could Be the Best General Motors EV Yet

The Chevrolet Equinox EV is the most recent addition to General Motors’ lineup of electric vehicles. It follows the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Cadillac Lyriq, which we tested, and it precedes the upcoming redesign of the Chevrolet Bolt. With a starting price of $35,000, the Equinox EV is currently one of the least expensive EVs you can buy: It sells for thousands less than a comparable Tesla Model Y, and has a longer range than a similar...
Posted:Fri Dec 20 17:34:20 EST 2024

Talking Cars 461: Driving the Chevrolet Equinox EV

Main theme: The Equinox is Chevrolet’s entry-level electric, with a tempting starting price of about $35,000 for the front-wheel LT version that offers 319 miles of range. We bought an all-wheel-drive 2LT model that gets an estimated 285 miles of range, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The 2LT starts at $41,900, and with a few options, such as AWD and the Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance package. Our total ca...
Posted:Wed Dec 18 06:00:06 EST 2024

Most Reliable 3-Year-Old Cars and SUVs That You Can Buy Right Now

Even with the rise in used-car values, it’s still a wise financial move to buy a 3-year-old car instead of a brand-new one. That’s because 3-year-old models have many of the same safety and comfort features found in brand-new cars. This strategy also allows buyers to get a vehicle that’s almost equivalent to a new car but at a lower price. . Three-year-old models are also attractive because most leases are for three years. That me...
Posted:Tue Dec 17 14:12:14 EST 2024

Tires That Last the Longest

Tires are a vital investment in your car—and a pricey one, too. On average, Consumer Reports members spent $223 per tire, according to our latest survey. But the real value of that purchase depends on how long the tires last before they’re so worn they need to be replaced. After all, the longer a tire’s lifespan, the less it costs per mile to use. . Ideally, you want to find tires that are long-lasting while also possessing other ...
Posted:Thu Dec 12 06:00:17 EST 2024

Consumer Reports' Most Popular New Cars and SUVs

If you’re looking to crowdsource options for your next new car or SUV, you’ve come to the right page. The 10 vehicles highlighted here represent the top car model pages on CR.org, meaning they’re the vehicles people most frequently research on our site. . Many of these models sit at the top of our vehicle ratings charts because of their high Overall Score, which means they scored well in our road tests, have good reliability, com...
Posted:Wed Dec 11 06:00:20 EST 2024

Winter Driving Tips From Consumer Reports’ Experts

Winter weather is hard on your vehicle, and it can make driving more dangerous. Ask anyone who tests cars for Consumer Reports. They’re well acquainted with driving through the worst conditions that a New England winter can hurl at them. According to CR’s experts, the best way to stay ahead of plummeting temperatures and slippery roads is to make sure your car is properly prepared, and to reacquaint yourself with some basic winter d...
Posted:Wed Dec 11 06:00:01 EST 2024

Heavy-Duty Ram Trucks Recalled Due to Risk of Antilock Brake Failure

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017–2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis trucks due to the risk of an antilock brake (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and traction control system failure. The recall involves 317,630 trucks.  more on recalls 1.2 Million Ram Pickup Trucks Recalled to Fix Electronic Stability Control. .Ram Pickup Trucks Recalled to Fix Faulty Backup Cameras. .Ram...
Posted:Mon Dec 09 12:05:28 EST 2024

Best Luxury Cars and SUVs

By definition, luxury cars and SUVs are a cut above the mainstream. They promise comfort, performance, refinement, and the latest technology. But our road tests show that not all competitors shine in this premium arena.. Shoppers will find significant gaps between Consumer Reports’ Overall Score for the best luxury models and the worst. Luxury Cars. Entry-Level. Compact. Midsized. Large. Electric. Luxury SUVs. Entry-Level. Compact. M...
Posted:Mon Dec 09 11:17:13 EST 2024

What You Need to Know About Paddle Shifters

Only 4 percent of American drivers say that the vehicle they most often drive has a manual transmission, according to a May 2023 nationally representative CR survey (PDF) of 2,000 American adults. But many automatic cars today also have the ability to be driven like a manual—almost. . Have you noticed two flap- or ear-like appendages poking out from behind your steering wheel—one on either side? Maybe there’s a minus sign on th...
Posted:Sun Dec 08 06:00:11 EST 2024

How to Safely Drive Home With a Christmas Tree. And Should You Decorate Your Car With Lights?

Whether hauling home a Christmas tree or decorating a roof rack with lights or tinsel, lots of Americans use their cars to get into the holiday spirit. But unless you tie that tree down safely, it could pose a hazard to you and your car—not to mention other drivers on the road. And the wrong decorations could even run afoul of the law.. We talked to Consumer Reports’ auto safety experts, road safety advocates, automotive engineers, ...
Posted:Fri Dec 06 13:24:56 EST 2024

Which Car Brands Have the Highest Road-Test Scores?

With more than 260 new cars, SUVs, and trucks on the market, buying the best vehicle for your needs and budget can be a monumental challenge. That’s where Consumer Reports comes in. We purchase 45 to 50 cars every year and put them through an extensive, multiweek review in which our automotive experts conduct more than 50 tests and evaluations. The result is a single composite score—the road-test score—that encapsulates all of our...
Posted:Thu Dec 05 10:06:49 EST 2024

The Most and Least Reliable Cars by Type

New cars, trucks, and SUVs are on a spectrum of reliability. Some models can be predicted to provide years of trouble-free miles while others can be expected to have more than their share of problems. When shopping for a new vehicle, it’s wise to consider options that have earned better-than-average scores in Consumer Reports’ reliability ratings. . To predict reliability, Consumer Reports asks its members every year about potentia...
Posted:Thu Dec 05 10:06:07 EST 2024

Which Brands Make the Best Used Cars?

Consumer Reports’ brand ranking for used cars—focused on the reliability of 5- to 10-year-old models—makes it clear that buyers can reduce their risk of car trouble by concentrating on some brands over others. . Of 26 brands, Lexus and Toyota top the list with a commanding advantage over third-ranked Mazda. All three brands have consistently earned average or better reliability ratings over the years. Honda and Acura round up the...
Posted:Thu Dec 05 10:05:16 EST 2024

Which Brands Make the Best Cars?

Every year, Consumer Reports publishes a car brand report card. We rank automakers based on their vehicles’ average Overall Score—a combination of our road-test scores, safety ratings, and predicted reliability and owner satisfaction data. This provides a definitive number to help consumers see which brands shine and which might be best avoided. . We also present separate ratings specifically for each brand’s average road-test, r...
Posted:Thu Dec 05 10:04:33 EST 2024

EVs Are Getting More Reliable, but They Still Lag Behind Hybrids and Gas-Only Cars

Consumer Reports’ annual reliability survey has found that new electric vehicles (EVs) have fewer problems today than in the past. But EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are still likely to have more problems compared with both regular hybrid and conventional gas-only vehicles.. On average, EVs from the past three model years have had 42 percent more problems than gas-only cars, according to our exclusive survey data. That might sound li...
Posted:Thu Dec 05 10:04:12 EST 2024