From Rags to Riches: Driving a 2020 Nissan Versa to the Hamptons

When the average car shopper considers a Nissan Versa, they’re doing so with one primary purpose: value.

Today’s automotive marketplace is awash with brilliant, beautifully engineered vehicles that, unfortunately, often costs well into the tens of thousands of dollars. The average transaction price for a new-car purchase sits well over $30,000, and that number rises every year.

So, when Nissan puts a car like the Versa up for sale starting at $14,730… well, bargain shoppers take notice. Especially when the car in question looks as good as the 2020 Versa.

What’s the Plan?

It’s one thing to buy a car for an urban commute. It’s a whole other thing when you need to take that car on a road trip. To really get an understanding of how well a subcompact sedan like the Nissan Versa handles a long drive, we embarked upon one of America’s great automotive tests: the road trip.

In an attempt to bring a romantic irony to the experience, we decided it was only appropriate to drive one of America’s least expensive cars to one of it’s most expensive towns. Departing from Boston, we would travel roughly 100 miles to New London, Connecticut. From there, we’d park the Versa on the Orient Point ferry, followed by another 40 miles to Westhampton, New York. After two days sequestered in a house (with a pool, thank goodness), we’d do the same trip in reverse.

How Does the Nissan Versa Handle a Long Drive?

Nissan redesigned the Versa for the 2020 model year, delivering a transformation rare in cars of this size and at this price point.  At our disposal was an SR trim optioned up to $21,885 and painted Monarch Orange Metallic. To say the least, we wouldn’t lose this one in a parking lot.

The all-new Versa sits 2.3 inches lower to the road, stretches 1.6 inches longer from nose to tail, and spans and extra 1.8 inches across the middle. The new dimensions result in substantially reduced rear-seat legroom, which will hurt if you’re taking the whole (hopefully small) family out of state. However, if you’re embarking on a two-person road trip, the new car’s dramatically larger front-seat area is a welcome change. On top of it, trunk space remains near the top of the segment, at 15 cubic feet. Unfortunately, the Nissan Versa Note was discontinued with the arrival of the 2020 Versa.

Hit the open road in a Nissan Versa, and you’ll enjoy great fuel economy—we measured 39 miles per gallon along our mostly highway drive against the EPA’s estimate of 32 mpg city, 40 highway, 35 combined. Because the Versa is a subcompact sedan, it doesn’t insulate well from road and wind noise. Engine noise is also a disappointment. Paired with Nisan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Versa’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine makes a fair racket on its way to providing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque.

Is the Nissan Versa Easy to Live With?

Along the way to Westhampton, we joked that we’d stick out like a sore thumb. Or, to be more accurate, we’d stick out like an economy car amid a sea of Audis, BMWs, and Porsches. Amazingly, and certainly thanks in no small part to the Versa’s brilliant paint, we never felt out of place.

The Versa can’t compete with a luxury car, but considering it wasn’t designed to, it doesn’t feel terribly outgunned, either (at least in terms of style—don’t put it on a drag strip). This is a handsome little car.

Even better, Versa drivers will benefit from its comparative lack of tech features. No, there’s no night vision or augmented-reality camera feed on this mass-market vehicle, but its 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system sports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and most importantly, is very easy to use.

Is the Nissan Versa a Good Value?

The Versa is likely the most compelling sedan on the market for shoppers looking to spend less than $20,000. That may sound like a half-hearted compliment, but there’s a very clear case to be made for buying a brand-new Versa, and it boils down to price.

New cars come with a lot of perks, like up-to-date technology and safety features, not to mention new-car warranties. As most shoppers know, however, new cars also come with unavoidable depreciation. And, with few exceptions, the more expensive a car is, the quicker is tends to lose its value. But keep the cost of that new car relatively low, and there’s limited room for it to depreciate. Rental-car companies have known this for years, and it’s why you won’t find top-dollar options and features on your rented Jeep Compass.

But the Versa packages a lot of those options in as standard equipment. Additionally, the seats are comfortable, the tech is easy to use, and the car’s impressive list of safety features rarely intruded into our drive. If you want space for five adults and leather upholstery, the Versa’s not the best way to spend your money. That said, if you’re only moving yourself or one passenger, you want some good baseline tech and safety, and you want the security of a warranty without huge depreciation, the Versa may make a lot of sense. Across 300 miles, you’ll certainly know that you’re driving a subcompact sedan, but with the 2020 Versa, that reality isn’t as painful as it has been in the past.

For more auto news, check out these articles:

• We Tried City Living with an Electric Car
• The Mercedes CLA-Class: A Luxurious Super Commuter
• With the 2020 Infiniti Q50, Style Comes Standard

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Buying a Used Truck? These 5 Rule the Worksite

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The best used trucks have come a long way from the days of basic bench seats and vinyl upholstery. Modern trucks are more powerful and more capable than ever, but they are also more comfortable, as automakers have responded to the changing demands of truck owners.

In this guide, we’ve highlighted five rugged trucks that are ideally suited for the worksite. If you don’t find the perfect work truck here, check out listings on CarGurus, where you can narrow down your search based on bed-size, cab-size, trim, engine, options, and more.

1. Ford F-150

Years: 2017-2019
Trim: XLT SuperCab 8’ Bed 4×4
Approx price: $17,000 — $30,000

The Ford F-150 SuperCab has a clamshell door design, which means you have to open the large front door to open the smaller rear half-door. If you plan on mostly using the front seats, this is fine, but if you plan on hauling the kids around a lot, you’d do well to step up to the SuperCrew version of the F-150 with its full four-door setup.

If you want the convenience of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto look for a model from 2017 onwards with Ford’s SYNC 3 touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2017 F-150 comes standard with a 282-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, and many XLT trims are available with one of the more powerful EcoBoost V6 engines. For 2018, there was a shakeup in the powertrain offerings, including a more powerful base V6, now making 290 horsepower.

Search for a Ford F150 SuperCab on CarGurus

2. Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Years: 2017-2018
Trim: LT Double Cab 4×4
Approx price: $23,000 — $30,000

The previous generation of Silverado was coming to an end in 2018, which means Chevrolet added extra equipment to entice buyers who might otherwise have waited for the new model.

Step inside and not much has changed from this older truck to the latest version. The control layout is nearly identical, and the latter years of the LT trim come with the MyLink infotainment system that provides a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Unlike the F-150, which has clamshell doors on its extended cab truck, the extended cab version of the Silverado utilizes conventional second row doors. Many models also feature a front bench with a middle seat that folds into a center console.

While the standard engine is a 4.3-liter V6, those wanting more power should keep an eye out for a model with the 5.3-liter V8, which puts out a stout 355 horsepower. All versions of the Silverado come with the helpful bed corner steps.

Search for a Chevrolet Silverado on CarGurus

3. Ram 1500

Years: 2016-2018
Trim: SLT Quad Cab 4×4
Approx price: $17,000 – $27,000

Ram does things a bit differently from Ford and Chevy. The truck-maker acknowledged and responded to the idea that its pickups were being used for a lot of things other than worksite duties, such as commutes and road trips. As a result, the Ram 1500 does away with traditional leaf spring suspension, and instead features a multi-link setup at the rear to give it a more comfortable ride. But that doesn’t mean the Ram 1500 can’t handle a bit of work.

The Ram 1500 comes standard with a 3.6-liter V6 making 305 horsepower, but many vehicles from these years can be found with the 395-horsepower 5.7-liter V8. Some are even available with the EcoDiesel V6, which offers V8-levels of torque with improved efficiency.

Like the Silverado’s Double Cab, the Ram 1500’s Quad Cab uses conventionally opening second-row doors. Inside, the Ram 1500 uses high-quality cabin materials, and has easy-to-use controls. The SLT comes with power windows and locks, as well as Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Higher trims come with a larger touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (starting in 2018), and the RamBox cargo system. There’s no doubt that, for the money, the Ram 1500 offers a comfortable ride, a strong base V6, and a spacious interior.

Search for a Ram 1500 on CarGurus

2016 GMC Sierra All Terrain SLT

4. GMC Sierra 1500

Years: 2015-2016
Trim: SLT Double Cab 4×4
Approx price: $19,000 – $30,000

The previous generation of both GM trucks (Silverado and Sierra) have more conventional styling than their current counterparts.

The Sierra SLE is very similar to the Silverado LT, in that it is slightly elevated from the base truck and provides some welcome creature comforts. The SLE can be had with many different options; while most will come with the basic 6-speaker stereo and USB port, others may be found with the optional GMC IntelliLink infotainment system. This is similar to Chevy MyLink and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The SLE trim comes standard with the 4.3-liter V8 engine, but many can be found with the 355-horsepower 5.3-liter V8 engine. If you don’t need four-wheel drive, you can save a few dollars by choosing a rear-wheel-drive model.

Search for a used GMC Sierra 1500 on CarGurus

5. Toyota Tundra

Years: 2012-2016
Trim: SR5 Double Cab
Approx price: $20,000 – $30,000

If you’re looking for something a bit different from the Big Three, the Toyota Tundra is big, spacious, and comes with standard V8 power for all the years we are recommending here. Despite being a bit long-in-the-tooth, Tundras hold their value well, with prices for the SR5 being close to that of Big Three trucks with similar bed/cab/powertrain configurations.

The standard engine in the Tundra is a 4.6-liter V8 making 310 horsepower, though many SR5s can be found with the optional 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8. While it may seem advantageous to go for the less powerful V8 to save a few dollars, it is actually less efficient than the larger V8.

The Tundra has a very spacious cabin. All trims, including the base SR come equipped with the Entune infotainment system, which was updated for 2016. It features a 6.1-inch touchscreen, but while it is very easy to use, it does lack Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Search for a used Toyota Tundra on CarGurus

Related Topics:

The Best Compact Crossovers—No Matter Your Budget
The Startup Electric Truck Wars
The 2019 Ford Ranger Packs Plenty for the Price

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We Tried City Living with an Electric Car

Range anxiety remains a major impediment to the widespread adoption of the electric car. After all, America is a big place, and plenty of us see more than 200 miles of highway every week. But imagine, for a moment, that you’re living in a city, taking public transit to and from work, and rarely driving far from home. Maybe you want a car for your trip to the grocery store once a week, to visit your brother 20 miles away, or to take Max to the good dog park—the one in the next town over. If any of this sounds familiar, you may look at an electric car and think, “Hey, that’s not a bad idea.”

For apartment-dwelling shoppers who drive only 200 miles per few weeks (or few months), electric cars offer a compelling proposition: low maintenance, low running costs, and a small environmental footprint. To see just how easy living with an electric car in the city is, I decided to try it myself.

Picking the Electric Car

Okay, so I didn’t really pick the car in this situation. Nissan lent me a 2020 Leaf SL Plus. With an EPA-estimated 215 miles of driving range, it would get me around town for my typical errands, and I’d still be able to drive my normal testing loop without worrying about running out of charge. I’d likely have to plug it in once or twice before returning it, giving the delivery driver a full battery for the drive back to the garage.

The Leaf is a good option for this test. Despite Tesla’s ubiquity among the collective young-urban-professional psyche, the comparatively humble Leaf remains the best-selling electric vehicle worldwide. It also offers both the standard Type 2 plug for slow and fast AC charging and the CHAdeMO plug for rapid DC charging. My Nissan Leaf could not use Tesla Supercharger stations.

Range Anxiety? Try Range Serenity

During my week with the Leaf, temperatures fluctuated between 30 and 60 degrees. I never had any issues with the displayed remaining range disappearing faster than the miles I traveled. After leaving home with 200 miles of range and winding through my 34-mile loop, covering stop-and-go traffic, wide-open freeway, a few select backroads, and a stretch of city driving, I parked the car with 165 miles left in the battery.

Electric cars like the Leaf all offer some sort of visual display illustrating the vehicle’s remaining range. In the Leaf, Nissan provides a handy map that shows just where you can drive on your existing charge. I may not have been able to make it to Burlington, VT, from my home in Massachusetts, but I could have made it pretty deep into the mountains.

That said, I was happy to not need to worry much about that map. Instead, I got to focus on the Leaf’s ProPilot Assist advanced driver-assistance system and its 7-speaker Bose stereo (both of which are exclusive to the top-of-the-line SL Plus trim)—and, of course, the road ahead.

Recharging Your Battery

So far, the Leaf indeed looks like an attractive option for city dwellers. However, even with the driving range appearing as advertised, there will still come a moment when the Leaf needs charging. And that, readers, is where complications arise.

Outside of California, the Greater Boston area may be the best place in America to charge an electric car. Apps like ChargePoint are easy to understand and quickly identify the closest EV charging stations to your current position, whether they’re currently in use, and how much it costs to use them. I found ChargePoint much easier to use than the Leaf’s onboard system.

However, the problem is that most chargers in my area juice up vehicles at a rate of 6.6 kilowatts per hour. The bigger-batteried Leaf Plus trims pack a 62-kWh battery, meaning going from empty to full on one of these chargers would take close to 10 hours. And, naturally, many of the chargers have time limits. When my battery had dropped below 150 miles of range, I plugged in at a 6.6-kW station for an hour and 56 minutes. I came away with an extra 46 miles.

Faster DC chargers do exist, which utilize the CHAdeMO charging port, rather than the Type 2 port. However, they’re rare. If you can’t charge your electric vehicle at home or work, make sure you know where you can find a DC charger—and plan to visit it often.

Is the EV Lifestyle a Good Value?

First, the good news: You can charge electric cars for free. Naturally, there’s some bad news, too. Truly “free” chargers are even more rare than DC chargers; most chargers cost somewhere between 10 and 15 cents per kWh. Typically, the free chargers are run by schools or municipalities; I charged my Leaf test vehicle for free, but I still had to feed a parking meter a few bucks to use the space. You can live with an EV in the city, but it will require some extra thought when it comes to keeping its battery topped up with electrons.

And, of course, electric cars cost more than comparable gas-powered cars. You can hypothetically buy a Nissan Leaf or Chevy Bolt for less than $40,000, which can ultimately drop below even $30,000 once you factor in various federal- and state-level tax credits. But if my Leaf SL Plus test car’s $46,045 cost (with destination) is any indication, your electric car likely won’t feel worth its price tag.

The 2020 Leaf SL Plus does have leather seats and it does have a premium stereo and it does have top-tier safety systems. But it also has a boatload of plastic materials and a painfully simple (albeit all-digital) driver display, and the piano-black trim around the infotainment display and center stack feels cheap and is hard to keep clean.

And the Leaf isn’t alone in this regard. Even Teslas, those flashy style icons, have suffered plenty of complaints from owners and shoppers about shoddy build quality. When shopping for an EV, the bottom line is that your money will buy you technology and green efficiency, but it likely won’t buy you more than that.

For more auto news, check out these articles:

• The Mercedes CLA-Class: A Luxurious Super Commuter
• The Range Rover Sport HST Hits the Sweet Spot
• With the 2020 Infiniti Q50, Style Comes Standard

The post We Tried City Living with an Electric Car appeared first on The CarGurus Blog.

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The Best Compact Crossovers—No Matter Your Budget

What are the best compact crossovers? That’s precisely the question we’ve attempted to tackle here, highlighting 10 different models across a range of budgets.

It’s a long and meandering road that has brought us to the current trend for these compact crossovers. The desire for truck utility and car comfort isn’t new, and the first attempt to fill that niche came nearly a century ago in the form of the station wagon, which served families well for decades. But folks are fickle, and the ‘80s saw the wagon fall out of favor, as first the minivan, then the SUV became the go-to choice for families needing to haul kids, groceries, and gear.

Crossing from SUV to Crossover

But SUVs have some drawbacks to go along with their rugged appearance and capability. A vehicle that does well off-road doesn’t usually ride well on pavement, and heavy trucks with aggressive 4-wheel-drive (4WD) systems generally don’t get great mileage. Those are big compromises when the vast majority of SUVs never leave the pavement, and they provided the perfect opportunity for the arrival of a new station wagon in disguise—the compact crossover. 

If you want to cross over to crossovers, the market currently offers so many that it can be a daunting prospect. Here, we’ll recommend great buys at a number of price points, so you can ensure you’ll get the most for your crossover cash. 

$10,000 and Less

Fourth-generation Kia Sportage (2015 – present)

If you want to grab a compact crossover for less than 10 grand, you’re going to have to go back a few years, making a warranty more important than ever. With its impressive 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, you’re guaranteed to get more than a few years out of even a well-used Kia Sportage. And while the Sportage can be a little cramped when it comes to cargo space, your passengers will have more than enough room.

Search for a 4th-gen Kia Sportage on CarGurus

Second-generation Nissan Rogue (2014 – present)

The Nissan Rogue has been chastised for its lackluster engine and transmission, but things aren’t as bad as they seem. Auto journalists are notoriously picky about drivetrains, but if you give the Rogue a spin and aren’t bothered, you’ll be rewarded with a crossover that does nearly everything else right. 

Search for a 2nd-gen Nissan Rogue on CarGurus

$10,000 – $20,000

Fifth-generation Honda CR-V (2017 – present)

The Honda CR-V might be the most well-balanced crossover on this list. It’s easy to find vehicles that get better gas mileage, handle better, haul more, or drive faster, but finding one that does all those things as well as the CR-V is a challenge. Look to the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine for a little extra oomph, as the base engine prior to 2020 isn;t strong, especially with a full load. 

Search for a 5th-gen Honda CR-V on CarGurus

First-generation Infiniti QX30 (2017-2019)

A Mercedes GLA in disguise, the Infiniti QX30 wraps a Mercedes platform and powertrain in a unique and attractive shape. Its unusual design can make for a tight fit for passengers and interesting rear visibility, but the QX30 slips effortlessly through city traffic and looks great doing it. Discontinued for 2020, deals can be found on some examples from this car’s three model years, but pay special attention to the transmission. It seems neither Mercedes nor Infiniti got the shift points just right. 

Search for a 1st-gen Infiniti QX30 on CarGurus

$20,000 – $30,000

Second-generation Mazda CX-5 (2017 – present)

No crossover at this price point drives better than the Mazda CX-5, but that’s not why it’s being recommended. Mazda has been consistently updating its interiors lately, resulting in cars that look much more expensive than their price. Handsome on the outside, classy and comfortable on the inside, the CX-5 will make you feel like you’re lapping at the edges of luxury. 

Search for a 2nd-gen Mazda CX-5 on CarGurus

Fourth-generation Subaru Forester (2012 – 2018)

Subarus have always prioritized safety, from their impressive visibility to their standard symmetrical all-wheel-drive (AWD), and the Subaru Forester is one of the few vehicles available that has maintained the ability to see out the back. That alone would warrant a spot on this list, but the Forester’s ground clearance and capable AWD make it a smart pick for foul-weather journeys.  

Search for a 4th-gen Subaru Forester on CarGurus

$30,000 – $40,000

First-generation Jaguar F-Pace  (2017 – present)

One of the bigger entries on this list, the Jaguar F-Pace pushes the limits of what can be called a compact crossover, but that means your passengers and cargo will have plenty of room. The fact that your passengers and cargo will get to enjoy one of the best driving experiences you can get in one of the most attractive crossovers on the market is just a bonus.

Search for a 1st-gen Jaguar F-Pace on CarGurus

Second-generation Volvo XC60 (2017 – present)

Volvo’s commitment to style and safety culminates in its XC series of crossovers. The Volvo XC60 offers a wealth of engine options that are largely unrestricted by trim level, meaning the used market should offer lots of potential candidates. The XC60 is one of the best-balanced options on this list, with a level of design often missing outside the luxury segment.

Search for a 2nd-gen Volvo XC60 on CarGurus

$40,000 – $50,000

First-generation Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class (2016 – present)

The fact that the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class has been winning awards shouldn’t surprise you. It has the combination of style, safety, performance, and tech you expect from luxury crossovers. What should surprise you is that it manages to win while competing with the likes of Audi’s Q5 and BMW’s X3. Technology buffs should take note—if you want to sample the new MBUX, you’ll need to go with a 2020 model. 

Search for a 1st-gen Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class on CarGurus

First-generation Porsche Macan (2015 – present)

Some dismiss the Porsche Macan as a vehicle for those who prioritize performance over practicality, but if compact crossovers were created for those wanting SUV utility and a car-like driving experience, the Macan may be the ultimate vehicle. Take a drive and you’ll see that Porsche concentrated on more than just performance, with top-notch materials, fit, and comfort. Be savvy when shopping, though, as the options list can make two seemingly similar cars have very disparate prices.

Search for a 1st-gen Porsche Macan on CarGurus

For more auto news, check out these articles:

• The Range Rover Sport HST Hits the Sweet Spot
• The Jaguar F-PACE SVR: A Modern-Day Supercar
• 2019 LA Auto Show: Vehicles for Every Lifestyle

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U.S. Automakers Respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic

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In the course of just a few short weeks, the coronavirus (COVID 19) has had a devastating effect on daily life in America, as well as each of the automakers that builds cars here. Tens of thousands have been infected, hundreds have died, many are permanently or temporarily unemployed, and most of us have been advised to stay at home except for occasional runs for essentials like groceries and medications.

In this post we’ll take a look at what actions U.S. automakers are taking in response to the constantly evolving coronavirus situation and how these actions are affecting the millions of people earning a paycheck directly or indirectly from companies like General Motors (GM) and Ford.

Plant Closures: US Automakers

Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus and growing concern from employees, GM, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) formed an agreement on March 17 to throttle down production while also focusing on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, such as providing 6 feet of distance between workers, increasing the frequency of workplace cleaning, and allowing eligible employees to work from home. That plan was scrapped just one day later; on March 18, the three companies, often collectively referred to as the Detroit 3, announced they would suspend production at all their U.S. production facilities until March 30. Since then, Ford has reported that it will monitor developments daily but delay reopening its plants. FCA has informed the UAW that it now tentatively plans to restart operations on April 14.

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Plant Closures: Foreign Automakers

Several other car companies also build vehicles in the US. Toyota, with factories in Texas and other states, planned to close between March 23 and 25 to deep-clean all workspaces, but later revised that to a complete shutdown until April 20. Honda, which has factories in Ohio and elsewhere, stopped production on March 23 with hopes of restarting April 7. Nissan, with a large manufacturing presence in Tennessee, sent workers home on March 20 and, like others, plans to get things rolling again April 7.

Some folks may not know that Hyundai builds some of its vehicles here in the U.S., specifically in the state of Alabama. That plant was closed on March 18 and is due to reopen on March 31. Volvo has a relatively small production setup in South Carolina, which closed March 19 and isn’t due to go back online until April 14. Mercedes-Benz, another player with plants in the southeast, has sent its workers home until at least the end of March. Tesla shuttered its California factory March 23 with a restart date to be determined, though the company’s massive Nevada facility continues production. (Tesla’s partner in that plant, Panasonic, has idled its operations.) BMW, Volkswagen, and Subaru will all put a halt to their US production on March 29. Those closures are expected to last at least two weeks.

Assisting Employees and Communities

In an effort to support people affected by the coronavirus, automakers are taking various approaches to help. GM, for example, is offering $1 million in grants to non-profit organizations in areas where it operates, and Hyundai is donating $2 million to children’s hospitals.

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To assist employees through this difficult time, Honda announced it would provide full pay during its shutdown, which is expected to last until March 31. For companies with UAW contracts, workers will receive a combination of union and unemployment benefits.

Supplying Critical Equipment

Perhaps most significant is the role automakers can play in the development, production, and distribution of scarce medical equipment that will be needed as the coronavirus spreads. President Trump has activated the Defense Production Act, allowing him to direct US manufacturers to build essential supplies, but he has yet to force any companies to do so.

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GM didn’t wait for the call, as it initially announced that it would assist Ventec Life Systems increase production of much-needed ventilators. More recently, GM suggested it was looking at ways it could assemble those machines in its own factories. Hospitals need tens of thousands nationwide, and GM’s vast production capacity could help meet that demand quickly.

Ford is also stepping up to the plate with its own plans. In conjunction with 3M and General Electric (GE), the maker of Mustangs is using some innovative engineering solutions to address several shortages. Among them, a fan used to cool F-150 seats has been repurposed for use in an air-purifying respirator, 3D printers are being transitioned away from building car parts to creating components for medical equipment, and clear plastic face shields have been designed and are already being tested. Additionally, like GM, Ford is working with an outside company to expand the production of ventilators.

Everything Is Subject to Change

If there’s one thing we’ve all learned about life with the coronavirus, it’s that plans and forecasts are fluid and may be better described as hopes and guesses. The automakers, many of which operate in states closed to all “non-essential” businesses for at least the next couple of weeks, may not have the power to determine when their plants will reopen. On the other hand, conditions may improve, with switches turned on and people back to work sooner than anticipated. Time will tell.

For more auto news, check out these articles:

• The Range Rover Sport HST Hits the Sweet Spot
• With the 2020 Infiniti Q50, Style Comes Standard
• The Jaguar F-PACE SVR: A Modern-Day Supercar

The post U.S. Automakers Respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on The CarGurus Blog.

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The Mercedes CLA-Class: A Luxurious Super Commuter

At first glance, the Mercedes CLA-Class looks frivolous. Too small to chauffeur and too expensive to truly be considered “entry level,” the CLA has primarily been viewed as the Mercedes-Benz for drivers who value style over substance—and who can’t afford to pony up for the larger and more expensive CLS-Class.

Yet after a week driving a CLA 250 4Matic around the traffic hellscape that is Boston, Massachusetts, I was anything but eager to send the car back to the fleet. The CLA may fill a small niche for Mercedes shoppers, but it does so beautifully, combining style, poise, and technology in a gorgeous package.

Looking Good in the Neighborhood

The CLA’s sloping rear deck may not be the most practical design—just ask the passengers in the back—but damn, does it look good. Few cars on the road look as sharp as Mercedes’ little 4-door coupe. With the diamond-block grille and Mercedes-Benz’s new headlamp treatment, the CLA showcases a sharp and sophisticated look from both the front and the rear.

Painted a brilliant Polar White, the CLA wasn’t the easiest car to keep clean during a New England winter, but it shone like my own personal beacon of Florida’s South Beach every time the sun went down and the streetlights came on. This car oozes style.

A Technological Masterpiece

The Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or MBUX, serves as the CLA’s infotainment hub and the centerpiece of its impressive interior. While not quite as a large as the dual 12.3-inch screens we tested in the 2019 G-Class, the dual 10.3-inch displays that make up the CLA’s MBUX system are no less dramatic. Exceptionally customizable, MBUX takes a moment to fully understand, but once I found my bearings, navigating through the many menus and features was nearly effortless.

And it’s more than just information and entertainment. MBUX allows the driver to truly personalize the car’s interior environment. With the adjustable ambient lighting set to hues of pink and shades of blue, my test car didn’t just look like it would be at home in South Beach; inside, it practically felt like I was in one of Florida’s famous nightclubs.

Performance Made for the Urban Commute

As George Kennedy noted when he reviewed the 2020 CLA, the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder’s 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque feel great in a car this size, and the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic rarely stutters around town.

Moreover, the CLA is fitted with a near-perfect suspension for city drivers, managing to be both stable and composed through turns without getting knocked off its bearings when the inevitable pothole appears. Further, the CLA’s steering rack feels quick and direct. Like a good city car, maneuvering the CLA is a simple task of point and shoot.

Yes, we know these aren’t urban landscapes. Elliot’s photos were too good not to use.

Unfortunately, when you have the keys to a car this spritely, fuel economy often becomes a casualty. During this particular week, I drove the CLA exclusively in city-driving conditions—and quickly, at that. Despite the EPA’s estimate of 23 miles per gallon in those conditions (or George’s observed fuel economy of roughly 25 mpg in combined driving), I managed just shy of 14 mpg. Gulp.

The Weekday Warrior

At the end of the day, the CLA has its own specific time and place. It’s not built for long weekend road trips. Despite the available 4Matic all-wheel drive, you’re not going to take it on a ski trip, and if you need to carry more than one other person, the passengers relegated to the backseat won’t be happy. If these tasks are prerequisites for your next car, you’d do better looking further up the Mercedes lineup, starting with the marginally larger C-Class.

But if you’re in the market for a sharp-looking, luxurious, and tech-forward commuter car, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is without equal. The CLA looks and feels high-class, few competitors can hold a candle to the MBUX system in regards to functionality or style, and its driving dynamics will have you arriving at the office smiling—and can you really put a price on that?

For more auto news, check out these articles:

• The Range Rover Sport HST Hits the Sweet Spot
• With the 2020 Infiniti Q50, Style Comes Standard
• The Jaguar F-PACE SVR: A Modern-Day Supercar

Photos by Elliot Haney.

The post The Mercedes CLA-Class: A Luxurious Super Commuter appeared first on The CarGurus Blog.

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The Range Rover Sport HST Hits the Sweet Spot

Land Rover needs little introduction to the luxury-shopping community. The famed British company owns nearly exclusive rights to the top of the luxury SUV mountain—at least for those with their eyes set below the two-hundred-thousand-and-up club dominated by Rolls-Royce and Bentley. The flagship, full-size Range Rover remains Land Rover’s crown jewel. However, the smaller Range Rover Sport model remains the best-selling Land Rover in the United States. 

Plenty of Power, Plenty of Posh

Like most vehicles in the Land Rover stable, the Range Rover Sport comes in a wide variety of trims. And before we start talking about “value,” it’s worth noting: All Land Rovers are expensive. At the bottom of the totem pole lives the SE, with prices starting at $68,650. There’s the HSE above that, starting at $74,250, and the fire-breathing SVR at the top of the pile, coming in at $114,500. Shoppers can choose among a range of engines—gasoline, diesel, and hybrid plug-in—although 4WD comes standard (this is a Land Rover, after all). 

Tucked away in the upper-middle section of the lineup lives the HST trim. Fitted with a spruced-up version of Land Rover’s homegrown Ingenium inline 6-cylinder engine, the HST delivers 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Land Rover augments that power with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system designed to save gas and pump fewer emissions into the atmosphere. Starting price? A Goldilocks $82,950. 

The HST clearly delivers the goods under the hood. Maybe it manages that a bit less excitingly than an SVR, but it certainly does it with more decorum. Inside the cabin, it’s all Range Rover, too. Red leather upholstery covers the dash, and interspersed black swaths add a racy flavor that will almost certainly appeal to Land Rover’s celebrity customers. 

High-Tech Touches

A premium Meridian sound system delivers crisp sound, and your tunes are easily managed whether you opt to use Land Rover’s infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto.  The dual-screen setup in the Range Rover Sport takes barely a minute to learn, and after a week of driving, we thoroughly preferred it to many competitors’ single-screen designs. In particular, it was nice being able to use Android Auto’s Google Maps feature on the top screen while still managing our Spotify choices on the lower screen. 

Despite Land Rover’s reputation for technological troubles, our test car never faltered. The only annoyance came from Land Rover’s perplexing Adaptive Speed Limited. Rather than working like traditional cruise control, the default setting pegs the car at the posted speed limit. You can ask it to keep the speed a few miles per hour faster or slower than the road signs request, but it requires an extra step. 

A Bull in a China Shop

Despite its cultured cabin, there’s no getting around the Range Rover Sport’s size. While it doesn’t look particularly enormous sitting in a driveway, it feels positively massive on the road. Driving next to an Audi Q5, we found ourselves looking over and thinking, “What are they doing all the way down there?” Adjusting the Sport’s ride height to off-road mode only adds to this feeling. 

Further, the Range Rover Sport has a nearly inexcusably large turning radius. Yes, we know we’re talking about a genuine, off-road capable SUV here. But at more than 20 feet, it’s significantly wider than a Toyota 4Runner’s. It was exhausting to wrangle this car through the narrow streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts. You’d think an iconic British brand would know the merits of a nimble steering rack. 

Regardless, the Land Rover badge still stands for something. Namely: luxury and capability. The Range Rover Sport’s HST trim fulfills those requirements at a (by Land Rover standards) reasonable price. Choose your options judiciously, and an HST can deliver everything you want out of a luxury SUV. 

For more auto news, check out these articles:

• With the 2020 Infiniti Q50, Style Comes Standard
• The Jaguar F-PACE SVR: A Modern-Day Supercar
• The 2019 Ford Ranger Packs Plenty for the Price

The post The Range Rover Sport HST Hits the Sweet Spot appeared first on The CarGurus Blog.

The Range Rover Sport HST Hits the Sweet Spot posted first on http://www.cargurus.com/blog/