Driver's Drift

When considering electric vehicle dominance worldwide, Tesla, an American company, and BYD, a Chinese company, are the frontrunners. One report, however, notes that BYD paddled Tesla on the backside for their Q3/2024 quarterly sales. It adds that BYD will likely continue to pull away from its American competitor. Unfortunately, BYD’s vehicles aren’t currently sold in the U.S. due to hefty tariffs applied to Chinese EV makers, so you might know little about the company.

There is no such thing as a luxury or high-end model that is cheap to maintain. Most popular models among medium—to high-income demographics will cost quite a bit to keep on the road. Even when one buys a used vehicle at a fraction of its original market price, they often have to spend serious money on maintenance and repairs. Unfortunately, this presents a problem for individuals who have a dream car. They may be the best in class, but they’re often the best at draining the wallet.

Now that Thanksgiving and Black Friday are in the rearview mirror, it’s time to prepare for winter. The snow will be here soon enough if it hasn’t already arrived wherever you reside in the United States. If you live in a part of the country that gets bone-chilling temperatures, tons of snow, and freezing rain during the cold weather season, you must ensure your car is up to the challenge. Here are 16 tasks for your to-do list so your car is winterized and ready for the brutal weather.

Have you ever been inconvenienced by a vehicle breakdown? If not, you likely know someone who has. One source says the United States has 69 million vehicle breakdowns annually. That means that roughly one in three American motorists is negatively impacted by breakdowns. The source adds that vehicle breakdowns rank number five on American motorists’ top five fears. Considering how common these incidents are, it pays to be prepared. You don’t have to live in a paranoid state of mind.

The EX90 is a dual-motor electric SUV that takes things to another level in technology and design. Built on an updated electric-only version of the SPA platform, it looks like a refreshed iteration of the XC90. Smooth and silent on the road, the EX90 is also a pleasure to drive, considering its size and weight. The EX90 starts at $79,995 at the base trim before incentives, so it is bound to be a hit in the market.

While some may think that towing and electric vehicles don’t go well together, the reality is that it depends. On the one hand, electric motors deliver 100% of their available torque from zero rpm and are essentially adapted to pulling loads at relatively low speeds. On the other hand, the trailer’s aerodynamics, the load’s weight, the speed of travel, the terrain, and the weather all impact the available driving range. Indeed, one source says towing can.

A car is made to be driven, but not all driving habits are good for its long-term health. Some people prefer leisurely cruising, while others are a bit more aggressive. So, what are these value-hurting vices, and what can you do to stop them? Stick around as we share 12 everyday driving habits damaging your car’s value! A heavy right foot is a sure ticket to damaging your car’s value.

Around and light vehicles were sold in the United States in 2023—up 12.3% from the year earlier. While cars, trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and minivans sold like hotcakes, that doesn’t mean everything was hunky-dory for the owners. Some ended up with buyer’s regret. That can suck if you signed a multi-year car loan that you’re still tied to. But you might want to right the wrong and get something else.

When vehicles with manual transmissions and stick shifts were still the norm, car fans turned their noses up at the upstart automatics. Considering how much more common automatics are than manuals , with the latter now making up a paltry 3.7% of all cars in the US, it’s hard to believe there was ever a time when many motorists didn’t know what to make of vehicles with auto transmissions.

Did you know the average cost for comprehensive car insurance across the U.S. is? Bankrate adds that the national average income is $68,852, which means that motorists spent an average of 2.93% of their income on vehicle insurance in 2023. Whether paying more than average, just about average, or quite a bit less than average, you don’t want your insurer to drag its feet if you file a claim for an accident you were involved in.