Category: Auto

The market is brimming with different types of pickup trucks, and it can be difficult to shortlist when considering one for yourself. If it’s your first time buying a pickup truck, it’s wise to carry out thorough research. The first step of buying any pickup truck would be to know how many types are even available. This article shares types of pickup trucks and their uses to help you understand which one suits you best.

Full-size pickup truck
Full-sized pickup trucks are known for their high-towing and payload capacity, generous space on the inside and out, and all-terrain tires. These types of trucks are easily available in all-wheel-drive capability, offering ease of driving. Depending on their payload capacity, they’re further divided into tons to provide customers a suitable match. If your business or work involves carrying cargo on a daily basis, a full-size pickup truck should do the job. Some of the best-selling trucks that fall under the full-sized category include Ford F-series, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500.

Mid-size pickup trucks
If you’re looking for a balance between a strong cargo car and a car that you won’t have to haul when not carrying anything, a mid-size pickup truck is a perfect choice. These mid-size trucks can carry heavy loads that a full-size truck can, but not every day. These cars are designed to easily accommodate into garages. Auto brands have increased their offering in this category to meet the increasing demand. The best offers on the market for mid-size trucks include Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Ford Ranger, and GMC Canyon.

Compact Pickup trucks
Don’t let the name fool you. Mini or compact trucks aren’t all that small. They’re capable of nearly pulling loads of the size that a mid-size pickup truck can carry. A compact pickup truck could accompany you and your family on road trips. Some of the trucks that befit this category include Chevy Colorado, Honda Ridgeline, and Jeep Gladiator.

Hybrid Pickup Trucks
Auto brands are trying to up the supply of hybrid pickup trucks, as many truck owners are keen on making the switch. Ford’s F-150 hybrid truck got a lot of attention when a man from Texas used his car to keep the lights on in his home during the 2021 historic winter storm. It’s safe to say that a hybrid car can be used as a mobile generator. Some hybrid trucks that own the current market include Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, RAM 1500, and Toyota A-BAT truck.

Electric Pickup Trucks
Electric pickup trucks will soon be a norm, with the market offering crossovers. All auto brands are focused on innovating electric cars, as it is the need of the hour. But very few brands are considering betting their money on electric pickup trucks. One of the drawbacks of these is the investment in heavy-duty batteries. However, if you’re considering getting an electric pickup truck, your options include Rivian R1T and Atlis, XT.

Paying extra money applies to every aspect of life, including car insurance. Be it a Model S or Camry, you’d hate to unnecessarily shell out to insurance companies. While you don’t have control over big-impact factors like the car’s age, you can control certain factors and bring down the overall insurance cost. So with that in mind, here are a few quick tips to help you cut the cost of car insurance.

Lookout for Better Premiums
Limiting yourself to a few famous insurers isn’t the right approach. When you are looking for a renewal on your current plan or searching for a new one altogether, compare quotes from different companies to have an idea of the cheapest plan in the market. Also, you must ensure that the insurer you chose is legitimate and has good reviews. There’s no point in getting a cheap plan if the insurer doesn’t have the capability of paying out the claim.

Increase Your Deductibles
You have to pay this amount before the insurance company comes in to complete the transaction. The cost of a deductible typically ranges from $250 to $1,000. And customers generally have the option to choose how much deductible they want to pay. To avoid paying higher premiums, it’s best to increase your deductible as this factor is inversely proportional to the insurance premium. That means the higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premium, and vice versa.

Keep Your Car Secure
A car without injuries invites lower insurance premium rates as compared to the heavily damaged ones. Insurance companies will offer you a more affordable plan if you manage to keep your car in top condition. So, you must take the utmost care with your car, if you don’t already do that. Keep it in a well-locked garage or, if the need arises, even a secure car park. Avoiding parking it overnight on the road as it could be vandalized or damaged.

Be a responsible driver
You should always drive carefully, even if you do not aim to lower your car insurance premium. This habit is not just for your own good but also for the other drivers on the road. As far as the connection between driving carefully and lower insurance premiums are concerned, insurance companies offer significant discounts to drivers who have a clean record. You could end up saving between 10% and 23% on premiums if your record shows that you’re a responsible driver.

Drive Less, If You Can
The chances of having an accident increases as you drive more. So insurers tend to charge higher premiums for drivers that have more mileage. Hence, if you’re looking to reduce your premium, it’s best to avoid taking your car everywhere you go. Take a cab instead, or use public transport especially for work.

We all love going on vacations now and then. And a vacation that involves a road trip is like a cherry on the cake. Road trips are full of great songs, views, and good company. But if the car isn’t right, your fun trip can turn into a tediously long drive. Certain vehicles fare better than others when used for road trips. Here are the seven most comfortable SUVs for long-distance travel you should consider.

Dodge Durango
Dodge has a couple of excellent SUV models that people love for longer journeys. The 2020 Dodge Durango is one of them. The vehicle is extremely comfortable and will make your road trip experience all the more enjoyable. It offers plenty of legroom at the front and back and can easily accommodate as many as five people in a ride.

Jeep Renegade
The Renegade is one of the most affordable SUVs made by Jeep. But what makes it stand out apart from its price is its strength and durability on and off the road. It is incredibly comfortable to take for longer drives and is installed with an easy-to-use interface.

Ford Expedition
Ford is known to be one of the most popular brands in the market for SUVs. The 2020 Ford Expedition is another comfortable car that can make your road trip special. It offers plenty of cabin space and provides a perfect ride considering its king size.

2020 Mazda CX-5
Like Ford, Mazda is another car brand known for making exceptional SUVs that are comfortable and functional without being too expensive. The 2020 Mazda CX-5 offers a beautifully designed interior that is spacious and stylish. It features a user-friendly interface and is extremely reliable to take on long road trips.

2020 Kia Sportage
The 2020 Kia Sportage is a compact, medium-sized SUV with a powerful turbo engine. The latest version has been redesigned to look sleek, sporty, and stylish. The interiors are extremely comfortable, and the soft seats will make you want your long drives to be longer every single time.

Audi Q5
If you are willing to consider options that are more fancy and expensive, consider the Audi Q5. It is one of the best luxury SUVs in the market right now, and rightfully so. WIth impressive interiors and straightforward and user-friendly features, the vehicle is worth the extra bucks you put in to get it.

BMW X3
Another popular luxury SUV to consider is the 2020 BMW X3. It is incredibly spacious and can easily accommodate five people. It also offers a massive luggage space, something you cannot do without if you are using it for long-distance travel. While it may dent your bank account, you will not regret your decision.

Buying a car is a big deal. One needs to understand their needs, budget, and so many other things before even considering a certain model. As people are realizing the impact cars make on the planet, they are looking for models that reduce emissions. Hybrid and electric cars are thus gaining popularity. In this article, we will be discussing the differences between hybrid cars and electric cars.

Types
There are three main types of hybrid cars

• Mild
  Mild hybrids are usually cost-efficient and simple vehicles. Basically, the car cannot function on battery power alone, but the electric battery helps the car’s engine to function more efficiently.
• Series
  In this type, electric power is generated from a battery pack that runs on gasoline. These hybrids are ideal for traffic as they work best in a stop-and-go kind of way.
• Plug-in
  These cars have the ability to function on electricity alone and can be plugged into a charging station, thus the name plug-in hybrid. They have larger battery packs compared to other types of hybrid cars, making them more efficient.

The are two main types of electric cars are

• Battery
  These cars consist of a large battery that needs to charge so that the vehicle can function. Complex software programs are created to manage the cells that constitute the battery.
• Hydrogen fuel cell
  In this type, fuel cells, and as the name suggests, use hydrogen as their main element. The cells oxidize the hydrogen and create an electric charge, which is then used by the car’s battery.

Emission Levels
Hybrid cars emit 51.6 pounds of carbon dioxide every 100 miles. This emission is about 46% lower in comparison to conventional cars that emit 74.9 pounds every 100 miles. On the other hand, electric vehicles produce 0% direct emissions and thus, help improve air quality. However, emissions from the electricity generating source are possible.

Price range
Electric cars start at around $30,000 and can go up to $140,000. And brands such as Honda, Toyota, and Ford offer electric cars. Electric cars start at around $30,000 and can go up to $140,000. Such cars are made by brands such as Mercedes, Tesla, and Nissan.

Engine
Hybrid cars use the combined power of combustion engines and electric motors. The battery can’t be plugged in to charge as it charges when braking and by the internal combustion engine.
Instead of an internal combustion engine, electric cars have an electric battery motor. Thus, they do not need any gas at all to run.

Maintenance
Hybrid cars do not require any additional maintenance when compared to regular cars. The cost of maintenance too is similar to that of conventional cars. And the cost and requirement of maintenance for electric cars are lower compared to hybrid cars. The only maintenance concerns are oil changes, cooling systems, and replacing the air filter.

We can’t deny that a compact car comes with its perks: fuel efficiency, great mileage, and ergonomic designs—all at affordable prices. This year, the small cars on the market have supreme features. From automatic transmission options to built-in infotainment systems, compact cars are much more than space-saving design. If you’re looking to get a small yet ultramodern car, take a look at these spectacular models.

Mazda 3
The new Mazda 3 2021 is an elegant power-packed car with a stellar core interior. The car’s smooth handling features complement its stunning design. The powerful four-cylinder engine delivers 155-227 HP and is also available in a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine variant. The easy-to-use infotainment system makes the driving experience memorable. It is also noteworthy to mention that Mazda has integrated several key safety features like adaptive cruise control and an auto emergency braking system. This was only a feature of the brand’s more premium cars.

Kia Forte
With spacious passenger seating and cabin, the new Kia Forte is unquestionably one of the best models in the small car segment in 2021. The car is engineered to provide a superior and versatile driving experience. The safety features and user-friendly infotainment systems make it a promising car with useful features overall. It delivers an economic mileage, and its functionality is above average in comparison to other small cars.

Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla brings value for money and quality by offering a dynamic and responsive infotainment system, a clean driving experience, and top-notch mpg ratings. The limitless driving experience, coupled with Toyota’s advanced safety features, encourages you to hit the road often. The car has a sleek, modern, eye-catching design that is sure to make heads turn.

Honda Civic
The Honda Civic 2021 offers excellent performance, which is beyond comparison in this segment. The car has superior handling and great fuel efficiency. With ample passenger and cargo space and ergonomic interior design, the car definitely makes for smooth driving and traveling. The exterior design has retained the classic and bold features of its previous versions. The engine dynamics and the variety of engine options add to the versatility of the car.

Hyundai Veloster
The Hyundai Veloster, with a single door on one side and two doors on the other, is an extraordinary hatchback to drive. This model has smooth suspension and steering to make the overall experience flawless. The car comes with 29 cubic feet of cargo space, giving you just enough room for your compact luggage. The highlight is that drivers can pick between a manual or automatic transmission and drive according to their preference. It’s also no secret that this car looks amazing, especially the HUD, which is visually spectacular and displays information clearly.