December 2023

Kelley Blue Book names 10 Best used AWD vehicles under $20,000


2018 Subaru Outback

(December 21, 2023) ATLANTA — Winter is coming, so it's time for drivers to consider if their vehicle is ready to take on the elements. If drivers live in a region that gets lots of snow and ice or other treacherous wintry conditions, they may want to consider upgrading to an all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle of some type.

2024 predictions — 15.7 million new vehicles will be sold



Transition to full EVs has slowed
and hybrids may be the better choice

(December 19, 2023) SANTA MONICA, Calif.  — The car shopping experts at Edmunds say opposing market forces are expected to keep new vehicle sales relatively steady in 2024, forecasting that 15.7 million new cars will be sold. The forecast, tabulated from Edmunds data, represents a 1% increase from their estimate of 15.5 million new vehicle sales in 2023. EV market share is expected to tick slightly higher to 8% of total new vehicle sales in 2024, up from 6.9% in 2023 to date through November.

2024 Genesis Electrified G80 — Remarkably luxurious, exceptionally serene



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 18, 2023) Genesis, Hyundai's luxury arm, has added the brand's first fully electric version of its mid-sized G80 officially christened the Electrified G80, to its portfolio of excellent vehicles. While most automakers of all-electric vehicles seem inexplicably resolved to peculiar and unusually weird exterior style design, what makes the Electrified G80 unique from most new electric vehicle's is that it shares the same exterior sheet metal and gorgeous interior as the gasoline version of the G80.

2024 Buick Envista — Buick adds new entry level SUV to its portfolio


Photos by Paul Borden

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 17, 2023) In a prior life, the Buick Envista that debuts as a 2024 model might have been dubbed a hatchback coupe. But in keeping with company’s vehicle E-style nomenclature Buick prefers to call it a crossover SUV,  joining compacts Envision and Encore GX and the mid-size Enclave in the company’s North American portfolio.

Three midsize luxury SUVs excel in back seat protection by IIHS



(December 16, 2023) Three midsize luxury SUVs offer solid protection for front and back seat occupants in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s updated moderate overlap front crash test, which now includes a dummy positioned in the second row behind the driver. One vehicle in the test — the Cadillac XT6 — rated poor. The Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and Volvo XC60 earn good ratings, while the Acura MDX and BMW X3 are rated acceptable. The Audi Q5 and Lexus RX earn marginal ratings.

Gas prices 'sleighing' it at the pump



(December 15, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national average for a gallon of gas is within a penny of matching the 2022 low of $3.09 and will likely dip further in the coming days. For those keeping score at home, last year’s low came on December 23. Since last week, the national average has fallen by a dime to $3.10. The main reasons are tepid demand and a low cost for oil, which is hovering around $70 per barrel.

2024 Pathfinder Rock Creek — Family friendly and ready for adventure



Rock Creek challenges Arizona's
Butcher Jones State Park trails


By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 15, 2023) After being wowed by the completely redesigned Nissan Pathfinder when introduced for the 2022 model year, the Japanese automaker introduced a rugged off-road edition "Rock Creek" for 2023, and just this week we were able to test the 2024 edition that brings real differences to the game, not just with a rugged appearance.

Ten collector cars to watch in 2024



Hagerty announces its annual bull
market list of enthusiast vehicles


(December 12, 2023) TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Hagerty, an automotive enthusiast brand and leading specialty vehicle insurance provider, announced Monday its 2024 U.S. Bull Market list, an annual selection of wide-ranging enthusiast vehicles best poised to increase in value over the next year. Now in its 7th year, the list is compiled by the brand’s automotive intelligence team using a suite of data from public and private sales, insurance valuations and historic trends.

U.S. new-vehicle prices down year over year for third straight month



(December 13, 2023) ATLANTA — The U.S. new-vehicle average transaction price in November was $48,247, an increase of less than 1% month over month and down year over year by 1.5%, according to data released by Kelley Blue Book. November marks the third consecutive month that new-vehicle transaction prices were lower year over year, a unique milestone for the industry. In fact, the past three months mark the only time in the past decade that the monthly new-vehicle ATPs did not increase year over year.

115 million Americans expected to travel over Christmas, New Year



Second highest year-end holiday
forecast since AAA tracking began


(December 11, 2023) WASHINGTON, DC  — AAA projects 115.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the 10-day year-end holiday travel period. This year’s total number of domestic travelers is a 2.2% increase over last year and the second highest year-end travel forecast since 2000, when AAA began tracking holiday travel. 2019 remains the busiest Christmas and New Year’s travel period on record with 119 million travelers.