Autos

Despite swapping its old and less powerful turbo 2.0-liter I-4 for a newer and bigger turbocharged 2.5-liter four-pot with 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, the updated rear-drive 2022 Stinger four-cylinder now returns 22 mpg in the city, 35 on the highway, and 25 combined, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The outgoing I-4, meanwhile, couldn’t crack 30 mpg on the highway, plus it only packed 255 horses in its stable—45 less than the 2022’s 2.5-liter unit. Opt for all-wheel drive, and the 2022 Stinger 2.5T’s fuel economy numbers fall to 21/29/24. Predictably, the 368-hp twin-turbo V-6 of the Kia Stinger GT models still sips fuel at a far faster rate than its four-cylinder counterpart, with the EPA rating the rear-drive Stinger GT at 18/25/20 mpg and th...

Volkswagen has announced official EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2022 Taos, its new entrant for the crowded subcompact SUV segment, and the numbers are good. Due to go on sale this summer and starting at $24,190, the Taos comes with a single engine choice: A 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder developing 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. The small engine benefits from variable geometry turbocharging, which delivers improved performance and better fuel economy. See all 16 photos Case in point, the front-wheel-drive Volkswagen Taos is EPA-estimated at 28 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined. These figures earn Taos FWD a tie for best-in-class highway fuel economy. For example, Nissan’s front-drive Kicks is EP...

A pandemic couldn’t stop the onslaught of electric vehicles coming—in some cases the crisis accelerated it. But that’s not the only headline-grabbing “disruption” in the auto industry. No, the real disruptor these days is the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage—and the prognosis is not good, which can mean customers will be waiting even longer for hot new products. The computer chip shortage and its impact on production will get worse before it gets better, Ford CEO Jim Farley told investors on a call to discuss the company’s first-quarter earnings. A few months ago, Ford executives thought the shortage (which is forcing automakers around the world to temporarily stop making vehicles) would be on the rebound within months and lost production would be made up i...

Now that we’ve gotten our first look at the all-wheel-drive 2021 Volkswagen ID4 GTX, launching this summer for Europe, we also have some clarity on the upcoming ID4 AWD for the U.S. market. See all 122 photos VW GTX Performance Sub-Brand Name Is for Europe Only Adding a model with AWD and performance is a logical next step for the ID family, Volkswagen Brand’s R&D Board Member Thomas said in a roundtable with media. It is the first model of the new performance-oriented GTX sub-brand in Europe—reviving the GTX name for electric vehicles, with styling cues that future GTX models will adopt. And it is the first all-wheel-drive model in the ID family of electric vehicles. The ID family will continue to grow with the larger ID6 shown at the Shanghai auto show and an ID...

VW recently revealed the ID6 for the Chinese market. Alas, the brand’s keeping mum on whether it’s going to sell the ID6 in the United States. Nevertheless, we think it makes a lot of sense for VW to bring the ID6 to our shores. For starters, Americans love SUVs. Plus, there’s the fact that VW wants to expand its market share in the U.S. In other words, the ID6 seems made for our market. The ID6 is built on the now-familiar MEB platform. In China, the three-row EV will be sold in two different variants: the ID6 and the ID6 Crozz. Casting a shadow 11.6 inches longer than that of the ID4, the ID6 features seating for seven—two more than the ID4. It also features the larger 12.0-inch infotainment setup that’s optional on the compact ID4. As you’d expect, the ID6 ...

The first 4xe-specific addition is a Jeep Performance Parts 2.0-inch lift kit. Why does the 4xe necessitate its own 2.0-inch lift when JPP already has such a kit for the Wrangler? We figure it’s because of the added weight of the 4xe’s electric bits (battery pack, motors, wiring) that add at least 500 pounds to the SUV’s curb weight. The JPP lift kit—technically an industry-first for a plug-in hybrid—includes four springs, four Fox shocks, front lower control arms, front and rear stabilizer links, front and rear bump stops, and all the necessary hardware to fit it to your Wrangler 4xe. It all comes bundled neatly in a neat JPP wooden crate that can hang around the homestead for years to come. The kit runs about $1,495. The second 4xe-specific product is a 240-volt electri...

The Civic sedan will no longer be offered with a manual—regardless of trim or engine option. A revised version of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) found in the outgoing Civic will serve as the only transmission option if you want a Civic in this traditional three-box body style. However, if you decide to spring for the forthcoming Civic hatch, you’ll likely also get the option of a six-speed manual gearbox. Like the Civic hatch that came before it, the 11th-generation model will likely offer a stick shift with the Sport trim, which will likely continue to include the compact car’s available 180-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter I-4. This might not seem like a lot of grunt, but consider the last Civic hatch we tested weighed in at a svelte 2,937 pounds—that’s...

Honda has released early estimates on fuel economy for its all-new Civic sedan lineup. The mild increase in the four-door Civic‘s miles per gallon (mpg) will likely not have a substantial impact on customers’ savings at the fuel pump, but improved fuel efficiency is an improvement nonetheless. See all 34 photos 2022 Civic 2.0L Fuel Economy The 2022 Civic sedan is available with two engines. Beginning with the base model Honda Civic LX, which is powered by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder rated at 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque, the city, highway, and combined mpg figures rise by 1, 2, and 2 mpg to 31/40/35 mpg. Opt for the Civic Sport trim equipped with the same 2.0-liter engine, and those figures drop slightly to  30/37/33 mpg. The Sport’s efficiency on...

The Volkswagen ID4 wants to be an everyday SUV for everyday drivers first, and an electric vehicle second. One thing the ID4 doesn’t have currently that most of its SUV competitors do is all-wheel drive. This changes with the sporty ID4 GTX variant—at least in Europe. While VW has no plans to bring the GTX name to the United States, its latest ID4 trim is said to preview the upcoming U.S.-spec ID4 AWD, which we think will—sadly—ditch some of the GTX’s sporty styling details. See all 21 photos The ID4 you can buy right now relies on a lone 201-hp motor that powers the rear wheels and afford an EPA-rated driving range of 250 miles—a figure we were able to meet or slightly exceed in normal driving during our own testing. For now, however, we Yanks receive nothing like the GTX trea...