Editorial archive

June 2022

2022 Volvo C40 Recharge — Recharging for a price

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By David Boldt
MyCarData

(June 21, 2022) I’m at Trader Joe’s, parked next to a Volvo V70 wagon — and across from an older Tesla Model S. As the Tesla’s owner gets into his EV, he’s taking a long look at our C40 Recharge EV, Volvo’s first all-electric platform. And he takes another look, perhaps thinking it’s time to move on from his Tesla, perhaps thinking it’s time to move on from Tesla. And while Volvo’s all-new C40 Recharge isn’t intended as a replacement for the Model S, it can certainly be considered an alternative to Tesla’s Model 3 or Model Y crossover.

Customer satisfaction declines as auto insurers forced to raise rates

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(June 17, 2022) A record high number of serious collisions, skyrocketing used-vehicle prices and surging repair costs have created an unenviable scenario for auto insurers: raise rates or go out of business. It should come as little surprise that the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, released this week, finds that customer satisfaction with the price of auto insurance has declined sharply, but notable industry efforts to improve customer engagement has kept overall customer satisfaction at a level similar to a year ago.

Technology can be your friend or it can over-complicate your driving life

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By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

A friend of mine recently bought a new SUV and told me that he loves it, except for possibly one thing. It’s not for “old people,” he said. “Too many dials and buttons.”

2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT 4WD — Now the best Silverado ever

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By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(June 14, 2022) I grew up in mid-east Michigan on a farm about 125 miles straight north of Detroit. Most families like mine were farmers or blue collar with most employment dominated by large auto factories and foundries, almost exclusively General Motors, surrounded on the outskirts by fertile farmland that mainly grew wheat, navy beans, alfalfa and sugar beets. In that part of the state pickup trucks were a hard-working tool and as much an elemental part of the landscape as grain trucks, tractors and combines.

Gas prices continue to climb hitting $5.01 a gallon

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(June 14, 2022) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The cost of a barrel of oil is over $120, nearly double last August’s price, as increased oil demand outpaces the tight global supply. Meanwhile, domestic gasoline demand remains robust as the summer driving season ramps up even as the national average for a gallon of gas surged. It is 15 cents more than a week ago, 58 cents more than a month ago, and $1.94 more than a year ago. Today’s national average is $5.01—an all-time high never seen since AAA began collecting pricing data in 2000.

Senator passes high-priced gas, but at what cost in her EV?

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Editor's Note: Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., on Tuesday bragged about buying an expensive electric vehicle amid a global semiconductor chip shortage and being able to bypass historically high gas prices on her road trip to Washington, D.C.  MotorwayAmerica contributor Chris Sawyer's response to a question as to whether the senator did, indeed, merrily pass folks queued up at gas stations paying five dollars per gallon, or is the truth a bit more, uhm, nuanced.

By Chris Sawyer
MotorwayAmerica.com

(June 12, 2022) Okay, if Sen. Debbie Stabenow got a regular Chevrolet Bolt, the EPA range is 259 miles. It’s 247 for the Bolt EUV (Electric Utility Vehicle). Adding anything to either gets you to $40,000 before government rebate, but I’m sure Sen. Stabenow got employee pricing — or (much) better.

New-vehicle prices flirt with record high in May

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(June 10, 2022) ATLANTA — New-vehicle average transaction prices (ATPs) increased to $47,148 in May, according to new data released by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company. Prices rose 1% ($472) month over month and remain elevated compared to one year ago, up 13.5% ($5,613) from May 2021. The average price paid for a new vehicle in the U.S. last month was the second-highest on record, behind only December 2021, when ATPs reached $47,202.

No matter what it's called, the BMW X4 M offers driving thrills

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By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(June 9, 2022) Typically, an “X” in BMW’s branding designates an SUV in the German automaker’s luxury fleet, but not, apparently, when it comes to the new X4 M. The company refers to the 2022 BMW X4 M as a “Sports Activity Coupe,” which conflicts with the way many auto enthusiasts, even those in the reviewing business, look at the coupe.

Rising oil cost, high demand for gas keep pump prices surging

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(June 7, 2022) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The cost of a barrel of oil is nearing $120, nearly double from last August, as increased oil demand outpaces the tight global supply. Meanwhile, domestic gasoline demand rose last week in the wake of a robust Memorial Day weekend of travel. As a result, the national average for a gallon of gas surged 25 cents in one week to hit $4.86, according to AAA.

Electric vehicle consideration up, but skepticism still exists, study finds

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(June 6, 2022) Auto shoppers in America are more likely than ever before to consider buying a fully electric vehicle (EV), and new EV entries are responsible for much of the added consideration. These new entries, many from long-established vehicle manufacturers, are turning EV skeptics into likely EV considerers, according to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Electric Vehicle Consideration (EVC) Study.