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Articles by Eric Collins
Still Changing Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles? Hyundai Says Most Drivers Are Doing It Wrong
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] The long-standing automotive maxim mandating oil changes every 3,000 miles no longer reflects modern synthetic fluid formulations, leading major manufacturers like Hyundai to calibrate maintenance schedules around displacement, induction type, and operating severity.
Pickup Trucks Got Too Big and Too Expensive—Now the Small, Cheap Ones Americans Miss Are Coming Back
[Maverick / Courtesy of Ford] America’s appetite for smaller pickup trucks is expanding rapidly, driving automakers to reposition production lines around accessible, light-duty platforms. Ford’s unibody Maverick has already validated the commercial viability of an affordable compact truck, prompting competitors to prepare distinct alternatives.
Chevy Colorado Is America’s No. 2 Midsize Truck—Yet a 5-Foot-10 Driver Says He Can’t Fit Behind the Wheel
[Colorado / Courtesy of Chevrolet] The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss delivers generous cabin dimensions, responsive dynamic road manners, and the practical trail capabilities expected of a modern midsize utility platform. However, physical track and road evaluations revealed an unexpected ergonomic challenge: dialling in a fatigue-free driving position proves surprisingly difficult, even for a driver exhibiting standard five-foot-ten proportions.
Toyota GR Corolla Owner Pays Cash, Rejects a $1,500 GPS Tracker—Then Finds One Hidden Under the Dash. Now He’s Suing the Dealer
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Automotive ownership occasionally brings the delayed discovery of undocumented features, such as global window drop functions activated via key fob transponders or concealed sub-floor storage trays. For an owner of a high-performance Toyota GR Corolla in the United States, however, inspecting an unexplained electrical failure revealed an unwelcome discovery: an active GPS tracking module spliced into the chassis wiring harness without customer knowledge or consent.
Genesis G90 Has Everything Old-School Buyers Say They Want—Yet Sales Are Down 35%. December Could Change Everything
[G90 / Courtesy of Genesis] The Genesis G90, Hyundai Motor Group’s flagship full-size luxury sedan, is experiencing an aggressive domestic sales contraction as long-wheelbase executive buyers migrate toward newer market entries. According to production delivery logs released by Hyundai Motor, domestic G90 registrations plummeted 34.6 percent year over year to 3,705 units through the first nine months of the calendar year, averaging an anemic 412 vehicles per month.
A ‘Free’ Inspection Turns Into a $905 Toyota Tacoma Quote—Mechanics Say the Parts Cost Less Than $250
[Tacoma / Courtesy of Toyota] Commercial oil-change bays routinely utilize complimentary multi-point inspections as loss leaders to uncover preventative fluid services, presenting aging truck owners with substantial maintenance estimates. That classic service-drive crossroads recently confronted the driver of a first-generation 2001 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner, who arrived for a routine engine oil service only to receive an itemized estimate demanding $904.62 before taxes and shop supply fees.
Subaru Outback Owner Gets Hit With a $7,000 Dealer Quote—Then Another Mechanic Fixes It for $200
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Dealership service bays frequently utilize astronomical mechanical estimates on aging platforms to steer owners away from necessary maintenance and directly toward whole-vehicle trade-in auctions. That classic service-lane dilemma recently surfaced for the owner of a fourth-generation 2014 Subaru Outback showing 150,000 miles on the odometer, who presented the vehicle to an authorized dealership service department following thermal and cooling anomalies.
Woman, 79, Drives 1.4 Miles With Man Clinging to Her Hood—Then Says She Was Late for a Doctor’s Appointment
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Police in Japan have arrested a motorist accused of traveling more than a mile with a pedestrian clinging to the hood of her vehicle following an escalated parking lot dispute. The 79-year-old female driver was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly driving approximately 1.4 miles with a 56-year-old male victim stranded on the hood in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture.
Jeep Just Broke a 40-Year Wrangler Tradition—With the One Thing Bronco Owners Have Been Bragging About for Years
[2026 Wrangler / Courtesy of Jeep] Every Jeep Wrangler built since the nameplate debuted in 1986 has used a solid front axle, and for many owners, that’s the whole point. Now Jeep is openly asking whether that should change. At the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Tim Kuniskis, head of American brands at Jeep parent company Stellantis and the executive often called the father of the Dodge Hellcat, unveiled the Jeep Wrangler Scrambler SRT Concept.
Drive 10,000+ Miles a Year? These 3 Hybrid SUVs Pay Off Fast—No. 1 Breaks Even in Just 2.5 Years
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Commuters tackling a forty-three-mile daily round trip frequently hesitate before purchasing a hybrid crossover because recovering the higher initial acquisition price requires substantial operating time.
Cadillac Put a 55-Inch Screen in the Escalade—‘It’s a $130K TV That Comes With a Free Car’
[Escalade / Courtesy of Cadillac] The 2026 Cadillac Escalade takes American luxury to another level, pairing its signature V8 power with a massive 55-inch dashboard display and advanced hands-free driving technology.
Toyota’s Forgotten ’80s Hatchback Gets a GR Makeover—And People Want It Back
Courtesy of DepositPhotos What would the Toyota Starlet look like if it returned as a sporty hatchback? That question inspired a fictional “Starlet 2027” rendering that is attracting attention. The image is an independent design study unrelated to Toyota’s official plans or designs. No actual launch plans or development news have been announced.
That Blue Cap on Your Diesel Looks Harmless—One Wrong Pour Can Cost $16,000
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Diesel exhaust fluid, universally abbreviated as DEF, serves as the critical chemical operating medium for modern diesel selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment systems. The solution relies on a precise stoichiometric mixture of 32.5 percent pharmaceutical-grade urea and 67.5 percent deionized water, engineered to vaporize inside exhaust downpipes once exhaust temperatures climb past 392 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chevy’s New Silverado Can Hit $80,000—Here Are 4 Builds That Stay Under $60,000
[Silverado 1500 / Courtesy of Chevrolet] The redesigned 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is now available to order, presenting full-size truck buyers with an expansive matrix of cab configurations, bed lengths, and mechanical packages. Entering the core of the North American truck market alongside its GMC Sierra 1500 sibling, the half-ton platform demonstrates that personalizing a pickup goes far beyond checking a top-tier luxury badge.
Your Tire Pressure Light Went Away After a Few Miles—Most Drivers Assume It Was Just the Cold
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Freezing morning temperatures routinely trigger an amber tire-pressure warning light on the instrument cluster, only for the warning indicator to extinguish after several miles of highway cruising. Relying on that self-clearing indicator as proof of proper tire health, however, remains a dangerous operational mistake.
Another Day, Another Ford Recall—102,159 Truck Owners May Not Even Know How Fast They’re Going
[F-150 / Courtesy of Ford] Ford is recalling 102,159 trucks from its F-150 and Super Duty lineups because an internal defect in the instrument clusters can display inaccurate vehicle speeds and incorrect engine RPM readings.
Your Key Fob May Be Draining Your Car Battery—Here’s the One Place You Shouldn’t Leave It
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Modern production vehicles demand unprecedented levels of electrical current compared to platforms engineered decades ago, running networked powertrain computers, high-draw infotainment displays, radar safety arrays, and constant sensor suites.
The Half-Tank Gas Trick Sounds Smart—Until You See What It Actually Saves
Courtesy of DepositPhotos Some drivers fill their tanks only halfway, figuring a lighter car will save gas and handle better. Does it actually work? Fuel tanks in passenger vehicles typically hold about 8 to 18.5 gallons. Keeping the tank half full means carrying roughly 4 to 9.2 fewer gallons. Gasoline weighs about 6.3 pounds per gallon, so a half-full tank saves roughly 25 to 58 pounds. That’s a few carry-on bags, and less than the weight of one passenger.
Your Car’s SOS Button Isn’t Just for Crashes—3 Times You Should Actually Press It
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Modern production vehicles increasingly feature a distinct red SOS button mounted overhead within the dome-light console, integrating a direct lifeline into factory telematics safety suites. While drivers recognize the hardware as a dedicated safety feature, widespread confusion persists regarding the exact operational parameters governing its use.
He Put Regular Gas in His Wife’s Lexus Instead of Premium to Save $12—The Video Went Viral and the Comment Section Blew Up
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Pain at the pump has reached absurd levels across America, pushing plenty of drivers toward desperate, penny-pinching shortcuts at the fuel island. That pain point went viral when a Florida husband posted a TikTok video showing himself boldly pumping 87-octane regular unleaded into his wife’s late-model Lexus RX 350 at a Vero Beach Sam’s Club, completely bypassing the factory-mandated premium requirement.
Honda Is Finally Building a Real Body-on-Frame Pickup—But There’s Bad News for U.S. Truck Buyers
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Honda is preparing to re-enter the traditional ladder-frame truck arena through an industrial development alliance with Mitsubishi, aiming to put a rugged body-on-frame utility vehicle into production by 2028.
A Quarter-Million-Dollar Escalade-V? Cadillac Is Building Just 252 of Them
[Courtesy of Cadillac] Cadillac has pulled the sheet off the 2027 Escalade-V 125th Anniversary Collector Series, creating the first factory-serialized special edition in the full-size nameplate’s history to commemorate the brand’s founding milestone. Strictly capped at 252 examples across the United States and Canada, the limited production run avoids arbitrary numbering by anchoring its volume to verified corporate heritage.
Owners Gave This Genesis EV a 9.4/10—But Its Price Scored Just 6.8
[GV60 / Courtesy of Genesis] Owner evaluation data for the refreshed Genesis GV60 reveals a sharp divide between mechanical satisfaction and financial acceptance. In recent driver feedback metrics, the electric crossover posted an exceptional 9.4 overall rating out of ten, driven by flawless marks for chassis dynamics, build quality, and interior refinement.
Kia’s 3-Row SUV Just Sold 110,038 Units in 9 Months—Owners Say It’s Hard to Beat for the Money
[Telluride / Courtesy of Kia] The Kia Telluride continues to dominate the American three-row crossover sector, surpassing 100,000 annual retail deliveries in the United States for the fourth consecutive year. According to official investor relations filings published on October 26, cumulative deliveries from January through September reached 110,038 units, marking an impressive nineteen percent surge over the 92,498 haulers delivered during the identical timeframe last year.
4 Things Your Automatic Shifter Does That You’ve Never Tried
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Automatic transmission levers feature familiar foundational settings that handle daily transit, yet secondary quadrant gates frequently go unused by mainstream motorists. Beyond the primary forward Drive, Reverse, Park, and Neutral positions that manage everyday commuting and towing decoupling, selector assemblies often include alphanumeric gates labeled 2, S, L, and B.
Acura Is Building an SUV Bigger Than the MDX—But Its Boxy New SUV Could Make 4Runner Buyers Think Twice
[MDX / Courtesy of Acura] Acura is preparing an aggressive product assault on the North American utility market, committing to expand its showroom portfolio from four distinct models to six. Rather than relying solely on midsize sport sedans and pavement-biased crossovers, the luxury brand is addressing two major mechanical omissions: a rugged trail-rated all-terrain vehicle and a legitimate full-size three-row luxury cruiser.
His Tundra Was Knocking—Toyota Dealer Said Keep Driving. A Month Later, Repairs Hit $9,000
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] A Toyota Tundra owner is facing a disputed $9,000 mechanical catastrophe after an authorized dealership allegedly instructed him to continue driving a misfiring truck following front-end collision repairs.
This SUV Looks Great—Until Its Bone-Jarring Ride Makes You Want to Walk Away
[Courtesy of MINI] Its rounded contours and quirky retro-futuristic styling may catch your eye across the showroom floor, but getting behind the wheel of the all-electric MINI Aceman SE can deliver an unexpected shock to unprepared motorists.
The Hidden Gas Pump Trick That Could Get You More Fuel for the Same Money
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Sustained spikes in wholesale fuel costs are prompting motorists to look past simple pump price hunting and scrutinize mechanical fueling techniques to stop invisible vaporization losses. While individual drivers cannot manipulate barrel prices, federal excise taxes, or refinery output, altering how and when gasoline enters the filler neck provides a tangible method to maximize usable volume.
Dodge Built Fewer Than 500 of These Pickups—Yet You Can Still Find One for Under $15,000
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] The original Dodge Li’l Red Express remains one of the most celebrated factory performance pickups in American history, arriving on the rugged D-Series chassis for the 1978 and 1979 model years.
Hyundai Built a 334-HP 3-Row SUV That Gets 33 MPG—Now Its Engine Is One of America’s 10 Best
[Palisade / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Company] Hyundai secured premier North American mechanical recognition for its flagship three-row crossover as industry benchmarking authority WardsAuto named the Palisade’s 2.5-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain to its prestigious 2026 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems roster.
Toyota Sold 50 Million Corollas—This 2027 Version Looks Nothing Like the One You Remember
[Courtesy of Toyota] The Toyota Corolla stands as the undisputed titan of global passenger car mobility, having recorded more than 50 million sales across over 150 international territories since its historic 1966 introduction. With the current 12th-generation chassis running its course since its 2018 debut, the automotive world received a dramatic glimpse into the nameplate’s evolution at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, where factory leadership took the wraps off the futuristic Corolla Concept.
Think You’re a Good Driver? These 2 Habits Make Even Experienced Drivers Look Like Beginners
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] A motorist’s genuine driving proficiency is measured most accurately from the passenger seat rather than behind the gauge cluster. The true benchmark of vehicle control reveals itself through how seamlessly a chassis tracks through tight corners and stop-and-go intersections, specifically whether occupants remain stable or sway abruptly under erratic inputs.
Is Chevy Taking Tesla’s Route? This Silverado Drives Itself
[Silverado / Courtesy of Chevrolet] General Motors introduced a specialized driverless platform based on the heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado, built strictly for battlefield logistics rather than civilian commercial showrooms. Unveiled by GM Defense at the Association of the United States Army annual expo, this Unmanned Ground Vehicle transforms the Silverado 3500HD into a purpose-built tactical autonomous asset.
Ram Finally Brought Back the Hemi—10,000 Orders in 24 Hours, Sold Out in 90 Minutes
[Courtesy of RAM] The revival of the naturally aspirated 5.7-liter Hemi V8 ignited immediate chaos across dealership networks, culminating in more than 10,000 truck orders within a single 24-hour frenzy. That initial enthusiasm directly propelled the rollout of the all-new Ram 1500 Rumble Bee, where buyers exhausted the entire 2026 calendar-year factory allocation in just 90 minutes.
Hyundai’s New Hybrid SUV Keeps Winning in America—Now Its Engine Is One of the 10 Best
[Palisade / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Company] The Hyundai Palisade Hybrid has earned a spot on WardsAuto’s 2026 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems list, recognizing the engineering behind Hyundai Motor Group’s next-generation hybrid architecture. Hyundai announced on October 15 that the Palisade’s 2.5-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain received the award after judges evaluated 26 new vehicle powertrains sold across the United States.
Not Toyota, Not Chevy—This Hyundai Is America’s No. 3 Best-Selling EV
[Ioniq 5 / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Company] Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 ranked as the third-best-selling electric vehicle in the United States through the first nine months of the year, leading all non-Tesla contenders across the national sales charts. On October 13, industry publication Electrek reported the top 10 electric models from January through September citing registration estimates from Kelley Blue Book.
Replacing Your Timing Belt? Avoid This Mistake—You Could Pay for the Same Job Twice
If a timing belt replacement estimate also includes a water pump, it is natural to wonder whether the repair shop is recommending unnecessary work. On many engines, however, accessing the two components involves the exact same mechanical labor. Replacing the pump while the front timing covers and belt are already removed can save hundreds in duplicate labor costs compared to tearing the entire front of the engine apart a second time when the pump fails down the road.
Want to Tow With Your SUV? Avoid This Weight Mistake Even Experienced Drivers Make
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Heavy-duty pickup owners might scoff at the idea of towing with an enclosed family hauler, but modern full-size and mid-size SUVs can comfortably pull bumper-towed recreational hardware when the owner knows how to work the math. The real limitation has nothing to do with whether the engine can move the mass, but with hitch geometry and chassis physics.
Want a 2026 RAV4? Owners Rate It 9.5/10—So What Kept It From a 10?
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Toyota took seven full years to usher its benchmark compact crossover into its sixth generation, and early real-world feedback on the redesigned 2026 RAV4 Hybrid highlights a platform defined by mechanical excellence alongside unmistakable price sensitivity.
Hyundai’s Wild New SUV Looks Like a Hit—Everyone Wants One, But There’s a Catch
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Hyundai is bridging the gap between futuristic concept design and interactive digital driving by taking its rugged Crater Concept into the virtual proving grounds. Gamers and off-road enthusiasts can now modify and pilot the aggressive all-electric SUV inside The Crew Motorfest, an open-world racing platform engineered by developer Ubisoft Ivory Tower.
Hyundai Sold 1.87 Million of This SUV in America—Now It’s Completely Rebuilt for 2027
[Tucson / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Company] The fifth-generation 2027 Hyundai Tucson made its global debut against the New York City skyline, reinforcing the compact crossover’s position as the bedrock of the Korean automaker’s North American retail strategy. American motorists have purchased over 1.87 million Tucsons since the nameplate first hit domestic dealer lots, and showroom momentum remained vigorous even as the previous generation prepared for retirement.
F-150 Lightning Sales Crashed 97%—Now Ford Is Betting on a $30K Pickup
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Ford is preparing to reset its electrification roadmap with the early 2027 arrival of the Fathom, an all-new electric pickup targeted to start around $30,000. The sub-$30,000 work truck arrives against the backdrop of an 80 percent plunge in Ford’s domestic battery-electric deliveries during the third quarter of 2026.
A Lexus Hybrid Under $7K? Don’t Buy One Until You Check This
[Courtesy of Lexus] A search for the Lexus ES on Encar.com shows 357 listings as of October 1, with 84 belonging to the sixth-generation ES 300h built between the 2012 and 2018 model years. The lowest-priced listing sits at approximately $6,700 for a May 2013 Executive model, dipping under the $7,000 threshold, but high odometer readings demand caution. That $6,700 example has logged over 120,500 miles, while the next cheapest car commands roughly $7,800 with approximately 125,000 miles.
Are You Officially Old? See If You Remember These 4 Forgotten Car Features
[Prius / Courtesy of Toyota] Automotive factory options have historically defined vehicle personalization, allowing buyers to select upgrades like glass sunroofs, premium multi-speaker audio, and tailored leather upholstery before an assembly line stamps out a finished car. Yet flipping through historical order guides reveals an era of peculiar, hyper-specialized equipment that mirrored the emerging technologies and cultural fads of their respective decades.
Even Experienced Drivers Make This Fog Light Mistake—Most Don’t Know They’re Doing It
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Among the most infuriating sights on modern highways, few match the laser-like glare of an intensely bright red lamp burning on the tailgate of the vehicle ahead on a crystal-clear night. While many motorists flip on their fog lights under the mistaken assumption that extra lumens simply improve their own forward vision, the reality is far more disruptive to surrounding traffic.
America’s Love for Big Trucks and SUVs Is Fading—So What Are Americans Buying Instead?
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] Relentless pain at the gas pump is forcing American drivers—long loyal to thirsty full-size pickups and three-row SUVs—into a pragmatic retreat. According to data from Cox Automotive released on October 7, U.S. sales of compact cars jumped 6.6% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026 to roughly 304,900 units, while compact SUVs surged 17.1% to approximately 385,700 deliveries.
Your EV Can Lose 77 Miles in the Cold—Check This Before Temperatures Drop
[Courtesy of DepositPhotos] When the mercury drops below freezing, EV range drops right along with it. Data from South Korea’s Ministry of Environment reveals that the gap between 77°F room temperature and 19°F winter conditions can easily wipe out more than 60 miles on a single charge. In severe cases, vehicles sacrifice nearly 30% of their total range to the cold.
Want a Used Hybrid? This Honda Might Be the One—Owners Rate It 9.3/10
[Accord / Courtesy of Honda] While the Honda Accord remains a bedrock of the American driveway, its overseas footprint recently hit a dramatic turning point. Honda Korea confirmed it will end passenger vehicle sales at the end of 2026, closing out a 22-year chapter that began back in 2004 following persistent sales headwinds and an aging product catalog.
Buying a New Ford F-150? Don’t Pay $12,545 Extra—It’s Just for This One Thing
[Courtesy of Ford] Distinctive paint colors and custom finishes can make a pickup stand out, but Ford’s latest styling option for the 2027 F-150 arrives with an unusually steep price tag. At $12,545, the newly introduced two-tone treatment represents roughly 20 percent of the starting price of a well-equipped F-150 Lariat SuperCrew, making it one of the most expensive standalone options on the truck’s order sheet.
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