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01/03/2024

Now that the plug battle is over I'm seeing some revisionist history already creeping into the epitaph being written for CCS so let's try and set history right. NACS won not because it's a better connector (even though it is a better connector), nor because there are more NACS connectors in the wild (because there aren't, but more on that later), or even because they have the largest EV share in the USA (although it has now dropped to ~50% of new EV sales). No, Tesla won the plug war because they made a DC fast charging network that simply works. Tesla could cooked up the biggest, fugliest connector imaginable, and that still would have won in the end.

Pain points are interesting research because they don't have to happen frequently to be a problem. Case in point: DC fast charging. Most EV owners don't do it very often and many never do it at all. BUT, every EV shopper is worried about it when they buy the car. On average under 10% of charging is at a fast charge station.

Oddly that 10% is the only key area where Tesla's connector out-indexes CCS. According to the DOE, Tesla had 24,400 Supercharger ports at the end of 2023 in the USA vs just 14,245 CCS ports. More interesting perhaps: ports that support over the next generation of 300+ kW charging? Around 4,500 and all are CCS, although there are under 100 Tesla V4 stations out there that may one day go over 250kW.

Meanwhile for the 30% of charging that happens on the go, but not on a DC charger what do things look like? Very different. J1772 outnumbers Tesla's destination network by a whopping 11.5:1. There are 115,000 J1772 public ports registered with the DOE and an estimated 40,000 unregistered ports (like the ones at my office that are employee-only). Compare that to 10,000 Tesla destination chargers and an estimated 5,000 unregistered ports. Interesting perspective, isn't it?

Now for the odd part. NACS may be the defacto standard going forward, but it's entirely likely that CCS vehicles will outsell NACS for the next 18-24 months in N. America. That's the awkward part about changing standards.

Now. Why is NACS better? No, it's not the cable size, nor the latch mechanism, or it being easier to repair (it's actually less repairable on the connector side), it's mainly because it's easier to use and using the same pins for AC and DC just makes sense.

Given the N. American appetite for fast charging, you know what might have made more sense? Using the Chinese GB/T standard which would allow EVs to charge nearly 3x faster than the theoretical limit of the Tesla connector...

01/03/2024

Where should the charge door on an EV be? Oddly enough I think the driver's rear or driver's front are the worst places to put them, but those are pretty popular locations. Why the worst? Because if you're curb side charging in an urban area like I have done often in Europe, your plug is on the traffic side making things less safe and increasing the likelihood someone will damage the car and connector. Also: think of the cyclists. Currently front and center is winning the YouTube polll. To sound off, click the link in the comment section.

01/03/2024

Looks like things are going pear shaped for Fisker, and not in the way they had hoped. The car company that literally named a car after a pear (yep, the fruit) looks like it may be going out of business (for a second time). They just announced that they have "substantial doubt about Fisker’s ability to continue as a going concern." So if anyone you know has a Fisker... It might be time to trade it in soon... Also: any bets on who's next to go belly-up?

01/03/2024

Unfortunately our invitation to drive Volkswagen's refreshed ID.4 got lost in the mail, but since the basics remain the same it's pretty easy for us to talk about. The main change for 2024 is more power in the 82 kWh models and easier to use controls on the interior. Big caveat: most of these changes don't apply to the base model which still gets 201 HP, 209 miles of range, and only mild tweaks to last year's infotainment system.

Step up to the big battery however (like I suspect most people will) and the improvements are noticeable. RWD models get a new 282 HP rear motor that scoots the ID.4 to 60 in 5.9 seconds. Adding AWD drops that to 4.9 seconds thanks to 335 total HP from the dual motor system. Range goes up vs last year also with the RWD model coming in at 291 miles and the AWD model at 263. Since the ID.4 launched VW has gradually improved charging speeds and the big-battery model can now charge 10-80% in about 30 minutes with a peak of 170 kW.

On the inside the main change is a new shifter and a bigger LCD in the center of the dash with faster processors, a more logical screen layout and illuminated climate control sliders. I'm not the biggest fan of the touch-slider controls, but having them lit up means you'll finally be able to adjust things at night. The infotainment software now put a bank of fixed buttons at the bottom of the screen for easier access and the faster processor has eliminated lag according to some folks I know that were invited to drive the ID.4.

As before the ID.4's mission is to appeal to the same shopper that might be looking at a RAV4, CR-V, or VW's own Tiguan and it does a solid job at that with better 0-60 times than really anything else in the gas segment. The cargo area is large, the back seats are roomy, and the ID.4 rides like a regular crossover, not a firmly sprung sports sedan. VW also designed the interior with a clear nod to the mainstream shopper. There are a few things that are quirky (like the lack of separate rear window switches), but by and large any enthusiast would be able to get in and know how to drive and park the ID.4 without a training course.

Pricing? That's been an ID.4 strong suit since they moved production to Tennessee and therefore reclaimed the $7,500 tax credit which now will happen at the point of sale. That credit means that most folks could get into the base model for as little as $33,660 making it easily one of the best EV deals in America for 2024 and not much more than a RAV4 hybrid. Want the bigger battery? That's $38,800 or about $6,000 less than a RAV4 Prime and about $1,000 less than a Sportage or Tucson PHEV.

The ID.4 has long been a solid EV for the average SUV/CUV shopper that wants to go electric. Thanks to the recent changes, and the retention of the all-important tax credit, there are more reasons than ever to check out the ID.4. Sometime soon we should also see NACS charging adapters that will give ID.4s access to Tesla's superchargers and VW has pledged native connectors some time in 2025...

29/02/2024

Which Tesla Superchargers can Ford use? About 2/3 of the stalls, but currently fewer than 1/3 the locations. On the left are the Superchargers that Ford owners (and others once their adapters are available) will be able to use vs the right side which are the Superchargers available to Tesla owners. *Grey stations are unopened planned stations that will likely support both.

This represents a massive increase in charging availability for Ford Lightning and Mach E owners, but it might not help your next road trip as Tesla has not upgraded many of the stations along major interstates for use with NACS adapters yet...

29/02/2024

Here's how Ford owners will charge at 2/3 of Tesla Superchargers. Starting today you can reserve your free adapter if you already own a Ford EV. (Link in comment section) Once you get your adapter you'll use the FORD app, *not the Tesla app* or the in-car nav system to locate and start charging. You can also just plug in and charge automatically if you have set up Plug N Charge on your Mach E or Lightning.

Why do you need to use the Ford app to find stations? Because only "upgraded" Superchargers are compatible. This would be the 250kW stations. The older 75 and 150 kW stations aren't supported. Ford says ~15,000 of the ~23,000 Superchargers are ready. That's more than I had expected.

What's not upgraded? The mom jeans in this stock photo. Erm, I mean the cable length at the Supercharger stations. There were some rumors swirling that the only compatible stations would be the "V4" stations with the longer cables. Nope. This means a Ford occupying two charging stalls is coming to a Tesla charging station near you! 🥳

If you're not sure if you need an adapter, order one anyway. You'll have to get your order in before June 30, 2024 top get a free one. After that (and for future Ford EV buyers) you'll need to pony up $230.

What about 3rd party adapters? We're not sure if they will work or not. There's no logic inside the adapter so I don't see that it would be a problem but we'll have to wait and see...

28/02/2024

The Mercedes GLA: is it a hatchback or a crossover?

28/02/2024

The average new car purchase in America is $44,000. While it's gone down a hair over the last year, that's still out of reach for many folks that simply want a new set of wheels they can rely on to get to work. Study after study says that reliable transportation is a barrier to entry for many Americans looking for a job, and imported cars from China could be the answer. Is that the answer we want? Let's discuss how cheap things can be.

While we don't know pricing on this new MG3 hatchback from MG, we know that the previous generation could have stickered *UNDER* $15,000 had it been sold in the USA. This new model will be a hybrid rated for ~50 US MPG so expect a higher MSRP, but it could still one of the cheapest cars in America. If it ever came here.

Clearly the made in China by the Chinese government component of this is an issue for many. MG is owned by SAIC which is a state-owned car company based in Shanghai. The other issue is the import tax. Cars made in China face a stiff 27.5% import tariff that would take this sub $15,000 hatchback into Corolla territory.

What's the solution? I don't know there is one, but for self-serving economic reasons I would suggest something like this: An imported car would be tarrif free from china if it sold for under $15,000 and got 5 stars from NHTSA and all A scores from the IIHS for their test. The MSRP cap could be indexed to inflation so we'd always have an option for a cheap new car in America. The economic benefit to the USA for having a reliable transportation option could be large and since nobody else is competing for this business, the impact to established car companies is unlikely to be big.

What do you think? How cheap would this need to be before you said "sure, bring it over"? $10,000? $8,000?

Sidebar: Companies can escape the import tariff if they export a car from the USA to China. This is how Buick and Lincoln will get around imports: they simply ship a car from the USA to China for every one that comes this way. Ditto Volvo with EX30 (S60 is made in the USA and soon EX90 will as well).

27/02/2024

The EPA just dropped fuel economy numbers for the new Lincoln Nautilus! The 310 HP hybrid comes in at 30 MPG which is 3 better than the Lexus RX 500h and 6 below the RX 350h. Although I'm not driving the Nautilus until next week, my guess is that the performance of the Lincoln will be closer to the RX 500 than the RX350.

What's really intriguing about the Nautilus hybrid is that this new turbo-hybrid drivetrain uses the same 2-motor planetary gearset hybrid system that Lincoln has been using for some time. In terms of design it's essentially the same as the RX 350h only with a more powerful engine. This has me setting my expectations high for refinement and power delivery. The 6-speed automatic and single-motor hybrid in the RX 500h is a bit disappointing in the refinement department. Also worth noting: this is a mechanical AWD system, not an e-AWD setup like we find in the Lexus.

MSRPs start at $50,415 for the base 2.0L turbo Nautilus and the hybrid is just a $1,500 option. Seems like a no brainer to me.

27/02/2024

GM Authority just dropped some spy shots of the new Buick Enclave! And, um... I'm not sure I'm loving that front end. I preferred the Buick Enclave to the GMC Acadia over the last few generations but I think that with this new set of bid SUVs from GM... The Chevy and GMC are my favorites. Of course we're still waiting on the Cadillac XT6 redesign which will likely be the Caddy quadruplet in the family. What engine do we expect? The 2.5L turbo of course, but aside from that we're not sure. Link to the original article in the comments below.

26/02/2024

I'm sure by now many of you have seen the leaked photos of the upcoming adapter Ford will be shipping so folks can charge their Mach E and Lightning at Tesla Supercharger stations. Many of you have asked, why no AC pins? Well, that's easy and complicated at the same time. Since NACS/J3400/Tesla uses the same pins for AC and DC, the Tesla onboard systems are designed to be OK with that. Meanwhile the average CCS vehicle is NOT designed for the AC charger to be presented with 500+ volts DC, nor is the DC battery relay OK with 240V AC. This means if you want to Supercharge *AND* use destination AC chargers you'll need two adapters.... BUT, keep the voltage thing in mind from our earlier post. J3400 supports 277V charging which may (or may not, the just is out still) damage EVs designed to support 240V maximum when AC charging. Right now 277V "destination" chargers are as rare as hen's teeth, but that could change soon thanks to the broader support of J3400...

26/02/2024

DC fast charging gets all the headlines, but it's the 277V charging that J3400 supports that has the potential to make a bigger impact. Here's why: Almost every single family home in America has 240V AC power available for "Level 2" charging, but that's a voltage you don't usually find in schools, office buildings, churches, grocery stores, the mall, larger apartment buildings, etc etc,. Basically outside of a single family home and small apartments, 240V power just doesn't exist. Instead these locations have access to 480V, 277V, 208V, or 120V.

Here's how it works. At an office like mine, power is delivered by the utility at 480V/277V three phase AC. Line to linbe voltage is 480V, line to neutral/grounbd is 277V. In many offices the higher voltages are used to run AC compressors and other big motors and high-draw devices. 277V is usually used for office lighting. To get 208V/120V power a business has to install a stepdown transformer at their own cost. Stepdown transformers don't just cost money and square footage for their existance, they can extact up to a 2% efficiency toll on power run through them.

By supporting 277V charging, the new SAE J3400 standard (AKA Tesla connector or NACS) has the potential to make charging station installation less expensive, faster, and easier for many businesses. It'll also remove the 2% loss from teh stepdown transformer and allow companies to install more charging staitons trhan they otherwise would be able to.

The downside is: If we do see a proliferation of 277V J3400 connectors out there, existing J1772 cars could be shut out. An adapter will allot you to pluyg your existing car in, but all bets are off as far as how the car will behave. There are reports of Chevy Bolts frying their onboard charger when using an existing 277V Tesla destinaiton chgarger with an adapter.

26/02/2024

I think the thing I love about the new cars on the market from startup companies is that their products have a personality. Whether we're talking about a BMW 5-Series, a Toyota Camry, a Honda Pilot or a Chevy Suburban, most new vehicles from established automakers seem somewhat boring in comparison. Not all personalities are good of course, Vinfast's product line hasn't been getting much love, but at least it's not the same old formula with a different logo on the hood. What do you think? Should traditional car companies think outside the box more? In the pursuit of high sales volume it's important that a RAV4 or CR-V be as inoffensive as possible, but is that the right strategy?

25/02/2024

Mazda's CX-90 is exactly what they promised: a Mazda alternative to a Lexus or an Acura. Thanks to the new RWD platform, the CX-90 is more dynamic than a Lexus TX, and the interior is more pleasing to my eye as well. There's just one little problem: it doesn't actually fix the biggest complaint about the CX-9 it replaces, which is that it's still a little small on the inside...

23/02/2024

Details are scarce still, but here's the newest vehicle from the newest off-road brand, this is the Ineos Fusilier! Here's what we know so far. It'll be "smaller" than the Grenadier, although how much smaller we don't know. It certainly looks like a scale model from most angles however with a very similar look up front and in the back. Powering the Fusilier will be your choice of a battery and motors with a target range of 249 miles OR a "Range Extending EV" model which will offer 168 miles plus unlimited gasoline range. Color me intrigued by that last option.

Both will have dual motors but Ineos hasn't said anything about motor specifications or batteries yet.

The bummer? It'll be a wait. This model will be built in Austria in a Magna factory starting in 2027. Assuming it all goes to plan of course. This will certainly be the option for people looking for better on-road dynamics. It looks like it'll have a fully independent suspension and a traditional rack and pinion rack, unlike the solid axles and recirculating ball steering in my Grenadier.

Any guesses? My guess is that this is sized a bit more like a Wrangler. The Grenadier is quite a bit taller and a bit wider than the current 4-door Jeep.

Who's Ineos? Check out our video on the Grenadier for that. Link in the comment section.

INEOS Grenadier

23/02/2024

JD Power's Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) is one of the most misunderstood reliability metrics out there, so let's dive into this year's winners, this year's losers and what VDS is and IS NOT.

As you'd expect, Toyota and Lexus remain at the top with Toyota and Lexus also winning the most awards in the various vehicle type categories.

First things first, although the title says 2024, this study's data set is made of 2021 model year vehicles. The data was collected between August 2023 and November 2023 and ONLY contains data about the third year of ownership. This is not a measure of what went wrong from the date of purchase to 2023, it's only what went wrong the last 12th months of ownership.

The other thing to know is how the data is collected. JD Power uses registration data to send surveys out to a randomized list of registered owners. This is different from Consumer Reports who only uses data from subscribers and it means that JD Power in theory has access to a broader base of respondents. (This is important as CR's data has some pretty gaping holes in it.)

The last thing to know is that no, car companies do not buy their award. This is a persistent conspiracy theory with zero basis in fact. Car companies may license the award from JD Power if they want to advertise their award, and car companies can buy the raw data from JD power for their own research. At this time every major car company except Tesla buys the raw data. This means that adjusted for volume Chrysler is paying as much as Toyota and trust me, nobody "pays to be last."

Now onto the data. The most reliable models in America from 2021? Not surprisingly they are the Lexus ES, IS, NX, RX; Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Corolla, Tacoma, Tundra; Buick Encore; Chevy Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe; BMW X1, and X6. Well, OK, maybe that X6 thing is surprising.

What is a "problem"? Well, I'm glad I asked for you because this is another thing that the average news post glosses over. Rather sadly JD Power, like Consumer Reports and others, includes things like Smartphone connectivity in the problems list. Also, JD Power includes "driving experience" in their tally of 184 "problem" areas and doesn't tell us how these various sections are ranked.

And lastly, the important thing to remember about the luxury brands on this list is that problems are ranked per 100 vehicles surveyed, not by miles driven. This is not a big deal when you're comparing a Sienna to a Pacifica owner, they probably drive similar averages, but it does mean that Porsche scores higher than you'd think. Depending on the Porsche model, average mileage can drop as low as 3,500 miles a year so by this 3-year study's conclusion the average Toyota likely had more than 30,000 miles more on the odometer than the average 911. Want to guess why the Porsche 718 was the most reliable sports car? It's because it lives in a climate controlled bunker and rarely moves if it's not dry and perfect outside.

Looking for surprises on the list? The pre-redesign Grand Cherokee finished its life scoring a rare podium finish behind the Toyota 4Runner. Also, the Kia Sedona edged out the Sienna and Odyssey. Lastly, the F-150 and Titan proved the least reliable 1/2 tons falling behind the Tundra, Sierra, Silverado and RAM (in that order.)

22/02/2024

How does it drive and what does it look like? Join me for a deep-dive into the 2025 RAM 1500 with a new 3.0L inline 6 engine and up to 540 HP!

22/02/2024

RAM's new hands-free driving assistant comes out of the gate a little better "baked" than Ford's Blue Cruise system, but honestly Ford and RAM need to put these guys back in the oven a bit longer to compete with Super Cruise. (Also, the name Super Cruise is pretty epic). How does it fare? I tested the 2025 RAM 1500 on I35 in Texas to see how it does. This system will be offered on 2024 Grand Cherokees you can buy today and on the RAM 1500 when it goes on sale in a month.

22/02/2024

So is the 2025 RAM 1500's new engine a Hurricane? Or more of a "Tempest in a teapot?" Let's dive in and talk about why I'll shed some tears over the passing of the 5.7L HEMI, but not as many as I had thought...

First, the 540 HP version of the engine and how it drives: It feels just like the pre-refresh RAM 1500 with a quieter engine and better acceleration. How fast? Try 4.7 seconds 0-60 for a fully-loaded 4WD Tungsten trim. As you'd expect, there's a hint of turbo lag, but after 1-2/10ths of a second you get hit by 521 lb-ft of torque, the most in the segment outside of a Raptor R's supercharged V8. There's so much power and it's so easily accessible that I'd recommend the full-time 4WD system if you're not interested in burn outs.

Speaking of that 4WD system. In a somewhat surprising move, RAM give all high-output 3.0L turbo models the transfer case from the RAM TRX and Durango SRT/Hellcat. The Borg Warner t-case delivers full-time active torque split 4WD which is notably different from the non-Raptor 4WD systems in the Ford, or anything offered in the GMC and Chevy. It allows 2WD operation for fuel efficiency, a complete lock of the transfer case for off-roading, and full-time AWD for improved traction on snow, ice, gravel roads while towing, etc.

How does the regular 3.0L do? That was pretty impressive as well. Power drops from 540 HP to 420 and torque from 521 to 469, but without testing equipment most folks won't notice too much difference. That's because the power delivery is still very linear and the torque is still a solid bump over the outgoing 5.7L V8. That's why all 3.0L engines get a stronger 8HP75 transmission sourced from ZF.

The sound? It's shockingly "BMW" to be honest. From the exhaust note to the induction sounds under the hood I would argue that if you're blindfolded you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a BMW M540i and a RAM 1500. It sounds "better" than Ford's turbo V6s, but let's be honest, there's no replacing the V8 sound track...

So it's all sunshine and roses? Not quite. The main deficiency with the 3.0L turbo is the reason Ford still offers a 5.0L V8 in the F-150: engine braking. There isn't much. For a lot of folks this won't be an issue. If however you live in a mountainous area (like Colorado or California), then you might want to snag one of the last 5.7L V8s before they are gone. The RAM offers no less engine braking than Ford's 2.7L or 3.5L turbo engines, but it doesn't offer any more either.

The other detail is the fuel. The outgoing 5.7L V8 preferred drinking mid-grade gasoline, the new 3.0L turbo has more expensive tastes and would like 91 octane. RAM confirmed that BOTH tunes of the 3.0L engine will "operate safely on regular unleaded" but they admitted that power output figures would drop on 87 octane. How much? That depends on the weather, but if it's a hot day outside in Phoenix and you put 87 in your Tungsten RAM you could see as much as a 10% drop in engine output. This is because the engine will tweak the valvetrain, timing and fuel injection to compensate and that results in less fuel burning which means less power.

As much as I'll miss the 5.7L V8, I suspect I'll shed more tears over the reality that we'll never see a 6.4L HEMI in a RAM 1500. That said, the 3.0L hurricane is simply a better engine than either V8 in almost every way that matters. It has more power and more torque for easier towing, it delivers fantastic acceleration performance and it's lighter and more efficient than the 5.7L. We don't have official numbers yet, but we averaged a respectable 22.6 MPG after a day of driving mixed driving. While we wait for the numbers to come out, I suspect that the base 3.6L V6 will still be the most efficient engine choice.

What do you think? Are you intrigued by the most powerful non-Raptor engine in this segment? Before you ask, no, a R1T and a Cybertruck are not in this segment. But... A 580 HP Lightning is, although I'm not entirely clear we could even include a 1/2-ton EV in the same conversation for most buyers. What do you think about that?

Ram Trucks

21/02/2024

Toyota just announced Land Cruiser pricing! The 2.4L hybrid is standard and it'll start way less than the last Land Cruiser in America at $55,950. The bad news? That hybrid is not as efficient as we'd all hoped. Late last year there was a leak that indicated the new LC would get 27 MPG. Nope, it's 23 MPG combined.

On the bright side, a Land Cruiser hasn't has a price tag this low in literally decades. The 2021 Land Cruiser MSRPd at $86,880 starting. Ouch.

Admittedly the Land Cruiser we're getting isn't the same animal that we had before. Toyota makes three different Land Cruisers around the world. Ye olde 70-series is the "classic" Land Cruiser many folks think of but that's only sold in a handful of countries. Then there's the Land Cruiser 250 (Prado), that's what the Lexus GX has long been based on and that's the model coming to America. If you want a Land Cruiser 350, the big-daddy Land Cruiser, you'll have to buy the Lexus LX in the USA because we're not getting that model.

About that hybrid... The single-motor system is similar in design to the Tundra hybrid and essentially identical to the upcoming Tacoma Hybrid. It gives you 326 HP and 465 lb-ft of torque but seemingly is more focused on performance than fuel economy. It's worth noting that the Tundra hybrid and the Hybrid Max transverse systems rolling out in Toyota's lineup are similarly focused. 23 MPG may disappoint some, but on the other hand it is way, way better than the 14 MPG combined you got in the 2021 Land Cruiser...

21/02/2024

Like the CX-90 but don't need 3-rows? That's what the CX-70 is for and today we have learned a bit more: not only is it a CX-90 with the 3rd row deleted, it'll cost the same as a CX-90 as well. Are you confused? So are we, but here's how the pricing works.

[First though: Yes, this is literally a CX-90 without a 3rd row. The sheetmetal is identical and the 2nd row has not been repositioned. Aside from the 3rd row delete, it's identical]

Not all CX-90 trims are available in the CX-70 lineup. Mazda won't offer the base "Select" trim on 3.3L equipped models, or "Preferred Plus" and on the PHEV they deleted the "Preferred" trim. Aside from that the CX-70 and CX-90 get the same trim levels, same engines, same power figures and essentially the same features for the same price.

We also know now that the power and fuel economy numbers are basically the same as well. The base engine tune will give you 280 HP and 332-lb-ft of torque while the Turbo S tune bumps power to 340 HP and 369 lb-ft. Both will get 25 MPG combined. Tha PHEV model cranks out 323 HP and will have 26 miles of EV range from its 17.8 kWh battery.

What do you think? Should Mazda have shaved off a few bucks for the 2-row model?

Turbo Select - $37,845 (90)
Turbo Preferred - $40,445 (70/90)
Turbo Preferred Plus - $42,900 (90)
Turbo Premium - $45,900 (70/90)
Turbo Premium Plus - $48,900 (70/90)
Turbo S Premium - $52,450 (70/90)
Turbo S Premium Plus - $55,950 (70/90)
PHEV Preferred - $49,945 (90)
PHEV Premium - $54,400 (70/90)
PHEV Premium Plus - $57,450 (70/90)

21/02/2024

After decades of being overlooked we finally have a thriving and exciting mid-size truck segment in America. Well, "Mid-size" should be in quotes because they aren't as small as you might want. Despite the super-sized "small" footprint however we have more options than ever and most of them are new or... at least "new." From the new Colorado and Canyon to the even newer Tacoma to the Gladiator which isn't *that* old to the Frontier which is a heavy refresh it seems like there's a mid-tier truck for everyone. So who is the Colorado for? Let's find out!

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DC fast charging gets all the headlines, but it's the 277V charging that J3400 supports that has the potential to make a bigger impact. Here's why: Almost every single family home in America has 240V AC power available for "Level 2" charging, but that's a voltage you don't usually find in schools, office buildings, churches, grocery stores, the mall, larger apartment buildings, etc etc,. Basically outside of a single family home and small apartments, 240V power just doesn't exist. Instead these locations have access to 480V, 277V, 208V, or 120V. Here's how it works. At an office like mine, power is delivered by the utility at 480V/277V three phase AC. Line to linbe voltage is 480V, line to neutral/grounbd is 277V. In many offices the higher voltages are used to run AC compressors and other big motors and high-draw devices. 277V is usually used for office lighting. To get 208V/120V power a business has to install a stepdown transformer at their own cost. Stepdown transformers don't just cost money and square footage for their existance, they can extact up to a 2% efficiency toll on power run through them. By supporting 277V charging, the new SAE J3400 standard (AKA Tesla connector or NACS) has the potential to make charging station installation less expensive, faster, and easier for many businesses. It'll also remove the 2% loss from teh stepdown transformer and allow companies to install more charging staitons trhan they otherwise would be able to. The downside is: If we do see a proliferation of 277V J3400 connectors out there, existing J1772 cars could be shut out. An adapter will allot you to pluyg your existing car in, but all bets are off as far as how the car will behave. There are reports of Chevy Bolts frying their onboard charger when using an existing 277V Tesla destinaiton chgarger with an adapter.

The Mazda CX-90 Isn't Quite The Zoom-Zoom Family Hauler You Asked For

The RAM 1500 Hurricane Is More Than A "Tempest In a Teapot"

How does it drive and what does it look like? Join me for a deep-dive into the 2025 RAM 1500 with a new 3.0L inline 6 engine and up to 540 HP!

RAM & Jeep Finally Enter The Hands-Free Driving Game

The 2023-2024 Chevrolet Colorado Is A Solid, But Not Overly Exciting Mid-Sized Truck

The 2025 Ramcharger Represents a Tectonic Shift In The Truck Segment

Whether you want to call it an electric truck with a backup plan, a sport truck, a plug in hybrid, or all of the above... RAM's new Ramcharger might just end up being the RAM GameChanger. It combines a 70.8 kWh battery pack and dual-motors with a 3.6L V6 powering a generator. The total gives you 663 horsepower, 14,000 pounds of towing capacity and over 2,500 lbs of payload... The specs sound like most of the EV truck competition, except for the V6. The addition of the engine a generator means the Ramcharger can go ~150 miles on a charge and then another 540 miles on gasoline. It also means fast fill ups on road trips, no stopping to charge when towing, and when towing heavier trailers, the massive battery pack has plenty of reserve for "engine braking" all the way down the continental divide saving wear on your brakes. Sound like a win-win? Perhaps, because we don't know how much this will cost and it's not going to be cheap... On the other hand, because RAM decided not to develop a new unibody platform for the REV and Ramcharger, it could be less expensive than the GM trucks and likely more profitable as well. Essentially RAM designed an entirely new frame to hold the batteries, engine, motors and an independent rear suspension and then dropped the existing cab and bed ontop. Like rge Lighhtning, this means you can get the same options and bolt on the same accessories as a regular RAM. The only exception would be suspension lifts which would be tricky with the suspension design.

Our Def, er, I mean: Our Grenadier is here!

2024 Land Rover Defender 110 Review - Yep, There's Another 3-Row Defender

Rather unusually, Land Rover offers two different three-row versions of the popular defender SUV. Although I have been trying to get my hands on the longer 130 for what seems like an eternity, I was finally able to get a 7-seat Defender 110 for a while. Join me as I find out just how small that third row is. Spoiler alert: not as small as you might think...

2025 Ford Explorer

Join me for a walk around the refreshed 2025 Explorer with a new interior, new gaming-capable infotainment system, and more standard towing than before.

Electrochromatic "smart glass" has to be one of the coolest features on the new Lexus GX 550 and I'm thirlled that Toyota and Lexus seem to be pushing this tech into more and more models. You'll find a similar feature on the Venza, RZ, Crown Signia and now the GX as well. The laminated glass panel features a olymer-dispersed liquid-crystal device layer between sheets of glass, kind of like an enormous LCD. When electricity is applied across it, it becomes white. This doesn't just obstruct the view, it also blocks more visible, UV and IR light from coming through. If it's still not dark enough you can close the power shade. Nifty! The only downside is that the glass pane doesn't open if you chose this option. Hopefully we'll see an opening version in the future. #PLCD #LiquidCrystal #Moonroof #Lexus #LexusGX

Hopefully everyone is staying warm in the artic blast! Conditions at home base for Alex are: bonfire in the driveway. 😅

2023 Ford Raptor R - This Foretells The 2024...

Now that the RAM TRX has checked out, the last uber-truck standing is the Raptor R. Yep, I'm discounting the Cybertruck for now because it's certainly not the same kind of off-road dune-jumping champ the Raptor R is. Ford finally announced that 2024 brings us an extra 20 horsepower and some interior and exterior tweaks, but the vast majority of the Raptor is honestly the same. So what does about $100,000 buy you in a Ford F-150? Join me as we find out.

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Child Seat Test

Looking for a child seat friendly 3-row SUV that gets over 30 MPG? Well, you have basically one option: the Grand Highlander. It's not quite as practical as a minivan, or as the limited number of 3-row SUVs with child-seat compatible tilt/slide 2nd rows, but it's way more efficient and likely more reliable as well. Let us know what you think about this new review format while you're at it!

2023-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L - The Grandest Of Cherokees

Jeep's Grand Cherokee is America's best-selling mid-sized SUV by a mile this year, thanks in no small part to the three-row Grand Cherokee L. (Jeep combines sales figures, but even solo the Grand Cherokee would be in the top 2-3.) Oddly enough this isn't the first, or even second attempt at making a 3-row Grand Cherokee, but it looks to be their most successful. The first was the Jeep Commander, which only sold well the first year or so. The boxy styling was on-point, but the interior was teeny-tiny and nobody seemed to like the exposed screwhead theme. The second was none other than the third gen Dodge Durango. Here's how the story goes: Jeep supposedly decided that you shouldn't actually make a 3-row Jeep because it wouldn't be off-roady enough to wear a Jeep badge, so they stuck a Dodge logo on it and deleted the air suspension. Finally however Jeep came to realize that the brand's reputation may be go-anywhere, but the average Grand Cherokee shopper is more of a go-to-any-mall than a go-to-Moab demographic and the 2022 Grand Cherokee L was born. Arguably the reason the GCL is working because it's finally an actual 3-row Grand Cherokee. It's not re-styled to look like a Land Rover Discovery, it's just a stretched Grand Cherokee. The result is an SUV that's a bit heavier, a bit slower, a bit more expensive, and a bit less off-road capable, but adds a huge cargo area and room for 7. It's also one of the most child seat friendly options in the segment. Of course the problem for the GCL is the same as the 2-row model. It's MSRP. Get carried away with options and a V6 model for 2024 could get over $80,000. Ouch. Admittedly it'll have leather covering almost every interior surface and more LCD real estate than Times Square, but it's still pretty spendy for those that can't imagine Jeep as an American luxury brand. Actual customers? They seem to see it. The Grand Cherokee's average tyransaction ptice is more than $10,000 higher after discounts than a Pilot,

2024 Honda Ridgeline - Not The Update Some Had Hoped For

The rumors that 2024 would bring a new Honda Ridgeline were off-base. Instead we get a new Trailsport trim and more or less the same changes the Passport got recently. Is this enough? #2024Honda #HondaRidgeline #2024ridgeline

Here's What The Rivian R1S Is Like to Drive, Off-Road And Tow With

The R1S is wicked fast, has insane amounts of ground clearance, tows more than 7,000 pounds and has one motor per wheel for a different take on off-road capability. What's it like to drive? Well, it's not quite like anything else on the road today... Ride quality has improved over time and the R1S rides best with the all terrain tire option our tester had. Why? There's morre cushion from the tire. Some have complained that the ride in the R1T and R1S is "brittle" but I haven't found it much different than other heavy vehicles with adaptive air suspensions. There are certain relalities inviolved when trying to control the motion of 7,000 pounds afterall.

2024 Rivian R1S Review

Looking for three rows and a plug? You don't have too many options. Want a full EV? Even fewer. That said, the R1S isn't just one of the best 3-Row EVs in America, it's one of the best 3-row SUVs period. Range concerns aside (that's in part 2), the Rivian offers over 7,000 lbs of towing, a huge back seat, above average cargo capacity, more off-road capability than most shoppers will ever use and it's styling is distinctive without being bizarre like some SUVs I could mention. (I'm looking at you BMW and Mercedes.) In 2024 it's up against some stiff compettion however because soon we'll be getting the EX90 from Volvo and the EV9 from Kia...

2024 Lexus TX 550h+ First Look Review

The Lexus TX isn't a luxurty minivan, but it might just be the nest best thing. Thanks to minimal body changes vs the Grand Highlander it's based on, you'll get significantly more room in the 3rd row than in the MDX, XC90, Q7, or pretty much anything except an Escalade, Navigator or Wagoneer. Rather sadly we don't know how much the TX PHEV will cost and that could be a problem. The rergular hybrid Lexus TX is already more expensive than some of the PHEV competition and all bets are that the TX will likely start obver $80,000 with the V6 PHEV system. Yep, V6. If you want a TX with a V6, this is the only way to go. Check out the video and let us know what you think. Should Lexus have just brought us their Asian market minivan?

2024 Lexus TX - Not Quite The Lexus Minivan You Asked For

Although technically not the biggest Lexus ever, The TX is the biggest Lexus SUV, and it is also notable for being, well, a little less Lexus than I had expected in some ways. If you want a roomy box to shuttle your family and you'd like it to have a Lexus logo, Lexus reliability, and a Lexus dealer experience, this is the MDX alternative you've wanted. If you want excitement, real wood trim, luxury materials, and a dynamic driving experience. Well, there's a BMW X7 for you. Hammer the throttle in the base TX with the 2.4L turbo engine and Lexus says you'll get 0-60 in 8.0 seconds. That's about the same as a base Nissan Rogue and notably slower than an MDX, or essentially all the competition. On the other hand, the TX is HUGE inside. It has easily the biggest 3rd row outside full-size SUVs like the Wagoneer, Escalade, and Navigator. But that third row only seats 2. In fact, most TX models on the dealer lot will only seat 6 which is somewhat unexpected. Also unexpected? There's no 8-seat version at all. If you want to scoot to highway speeds faster, Lexus mates the same 2.4L turbo to a pancake motor and a 6-speed automatic (vs the 8 speed in the TX 350) which drops the 0-60 down to our initial test score of 6.0 seconds while also giving you 27 MPG. Win-win? Almost. The TX 500h just isn't "Lexus smooth" as we've come to expect from their hybrids. Why? Because this system shares zero with any Lexus hybrid that has come before. Lexus decided they for the RX 500h and the TX 500h they needed to create something "more engaging", hence the traditional 6-speed automatic. The downside is that sometimes the system isn't sure which gear to use, it spends far less time in EV mode than Lexus' other hybrids, and when region braking you’ll feel the 6-speed transmission downshifting. Sound like a Hyundai hybrid? Yep, it’s the same basic design. Despite wearing the F-Sport badge, the 366 HP hybrid isn't especially sporty. The suspension is compliant, body roll is notable, a

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The Mazda CX-90 Isn't Quite The Zoom-Zoom Family Hauler You Asked For

The RAM 1500 Hurricane Is More Than A "Tempest In a Teapot"

RAM & Jeep Finally Enter The Hands-Free Driving Game

The 2023-2024 Chevrolet Colorado Is A Solid, But Not Overly Exciting Mid-Sized Truck

The 2025 Ramcharger Represents a Tectonic Shift In The Truck Segment

2024 Land Rover Defender 110 Review - Yep, There's Another 3-Row Defender

2025 Ford Explorer

2023 Ford Raptor R - This Foretells The 2024...

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Child Seat Test

2023-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L - The Grandest Of Cherokees

2024 Honda Ridgeline - Not The Update Some Had Hoped For

Here's What The Rivian R1S Is Like to Drive, Off-Road And Tow With

2024 Rivian R1S Review

2024 Lexus TX 550h+ First Look Review

2024 Lexus TX - Not Quite The Lexus Minivan You Asked For

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