Author: Tabitha
The Tucson’s cabin is a model of clean-slate, uncluttered simplicity. The two round digital gauges are propped up behind the steering wheel and appear a bit like afterthoughts beside the large (up to 10.25 inches) and neatly integrated touch-screen. You won’t find many knobs or switches, and push-button controls that have replaced the traditional transmission shift lever.
The redesigned Tucson offers a range of powertrain choices, starting with 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that puts out a healthy 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque.
The Backwoods camper is specifically designed to fit utility vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler. The 500-pound fiberglass-bodied unit attaches to a platform extension above the rear bumper. (The company claims it can be easily removed.) Inside is a king-size mattress (over the cab), storage bench and the layout for a basic kitchen (countertop and cabinets) and LED lighting. There’s also a pair of camper jacks with extendable leg supports. The Backwoods camper starts at $15,525 plus shipping. Full details are at www.backwoodscamperco.com or call 971.373.6039.
People who insist on a spotless vehicle know how much of a “pane” glass can be. The Inshield Wiper helps solve the problem: It’s a microfiber pad that attaches to the back of your hand, which makes it easier to use. The basic Inshield Wiper single pack sells for $15, but the company says best results are had when you use one for applying glass cleaner and a second one for wiping the glass dry. The two pack sells for $25. They can also be used for cleaning computer and tablet screens. Purchase from www.inshieldwiper.com.
Volvo’s spin-off brand has confirmed that the midsize 2023 Polestar 3, the compact 2024 Polestar 4 and full-size 2025 Polestar 5, are being added to the lineup. Currently, only the Polestar 2 hatchback is in production. But perhaps the most exciting development is the Polestar 02 concept. The stunning 2+2 convertible offers a removable top, consisting mainly of a large sunroof. It also comes with a drone, stored beneath the rear deck, designed to follow the car while taking videos of the occupants. The cabin’s oversize touch-screen appears similar to those found in various Teslas. Considering Polestar’s stated intention to…
Instead of making an electric vehicle out of an existing Jeep model, the off-road brand will initially offer an entirely new model using a platform developed for Europe-only subcompact Alfa Romeo and Fiat vehicles. Both brands are also part of Stellantis. The to-be-named Jeep, shown in concept form, is roughly the size of the Jeep Renegade, which is built in Italy. It could conceivably replace the slow-selling Renegade when it arrives here sometime in 2023. Stellantis has yet to release details regarding output, range or off-road capability. By decade’s end, Stellantis intends to have 25 electric Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler and…
The Outlander uses a nearly identical 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine to the Rogue that makes 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. For the Outlander, that’s a nice little bump over the previous base four-cylinder that produced 166 horsepower and 162 pound-feet. The previously optional 3.0-litre V-6 with 224 horses and 215 pound-feet has been put out to pasture.
The 2.5 is reasonably muscular and somewhat growly under hard acceleration, however it provides just 2,000 pounds (910 kilograms) of towing capacity compared with 3,500 pounds (1,590 kilograms) for the outgoing V-6-powered model.
A five-foot-long bed is standard with all four-door crew cab Frontiers. A six-foot-long variant is optional, but the King Cab gets it as standard equipment. Each box gets a dampened tailgate opening and dual lights at the rear of the bed. A factory-applied spray-on bed liner and special cargo dividers are available.
The Frontier’s standard four-wheel-drive system uses a two-speed, part-time transfer case with high and low ranges plus hill-descent control. This holds the truck to a fixed (low) speed when heading down steep inclines without the driver having to use the brakes.
The MX-30 can’t produce rapid off-the-line bursts and the throttle response is on par with a modestly powered four-cylinder gasoline engine.
The base MX-30 costs $44,000, including destination fees, and comes reasonably loaded, including navigation, heated front seats and an eight-speaker audio system.
The GT trim gets a power moonroof, 12-speaker Bose audio system, faux leather seat covers, 360-degree surround-view monitor and 18-inch wheels (16s are standard).
The Wagoneer and more luxurious Grand Wagoneer are at the top of the scale in terms of size, being significantly larger overall than both the seven-passenger Jeep Grand Cherokee L that was introduced for 2021, and the regular-length five-passenger Grand Cherokee that’s new for 2022. Combined, this utility-vehicle foursome represents unparalleled market saturation for the Jeep brand.
What differentiates the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer duo from the Grand Cherokee is primarily how they’re constructed. The bigger Jeeps — which are the same size as one another — use a body-on-frame chassis that’s similar to that of the Ram 1500 pickup (both Ram and Jeep are part of the Stellantis group), only with an independent rear suspension in place of the truck’s solid rear axle.
If the Maverick name sounds familiar, it’s because Ford once applied it to a small car in the late-1960s. Back then, it was the most affordable Ford you could buy. Well, the same goes for the 2022 Maverick, which on price alone is bound to garner plenty of attention from both traditional and nontraditional pickup buyers. It’s just about the cheapest Ford you can buy, next to the EcoSport subcompact crossover.
For nontraditional buyers, especially, the Maverick’s SuperCrew (crew cab) body style with four full doors and seating for five passengers makes it family-friendly and practical. The 4.5-foot-long bed is about six inches (15 centimetres) longer than the one connected to the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup. It’s also slightly longer than the Honda Ridgeline’s bed floor.