Here's the Thing

2024 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro — A hybrid powered off-road brute



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(March 17, 2024) When Toyota finally came up with an all new Tundra full-size pickup for the 2022 model year after a long 14 years since the last model debuted, we knew an all-new Sequoia that pairs with the Tundra truck couldn't be far behind. The aging and long-neglected Sequoia barely hung in there for 2022 and 2023 saw the debut of an all-new Sequoia grabbing the best of the Tacoma pickup's style, brawn, platform and capable architecture.

Survey finds need for fast chargers across the country



(March 16, 2024) FLO, a North American electric vehicle (EV) charging company and a smart charging solutions provider, found that a majority of EV drivers rely on DC fast chargers for extended trips according to a recent customer survey. The results, gathered from almost 40,000 EV drivers in the U.S. and Canada, provided insight into EV drivers' charging habits and the activities they regularly engage in while charging.

Negative equity trade-ins pick up steam as used car values dwindle



Edmunds' analysts say average amount
owed on upside-down car loans soars


(March 15, 2024) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A growing number of consumers are finding themselves upside down on their car loans as the used vehicle market continues to stabilize and used values dwindle. "A storm is brewing in the used market as incentives and inventory continue to trickle back into the new vehicle market," said Ivan Drury, Edmunds' director of insights. "With demand for near-new vehicles on the decline, used car values are depreciating similarly to the way they did before the pandemic, and negative equity is rearing its ugly head."

Filling up won’t cost a pot ‘o gold this St. Patrick’s Day



(March 15, 2024) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national average for a gallon of gas has been rising leisurely since last week, moving a mere two cents higher to $3.41.  However, with the cost of oil crossing the $80 per barrel mark and gas demand popping with warmer temps and better weather, change may be coming to the pump. Another critical factor is the arrival of more expensive summer blend gas, which tends to increase pump prices by 10 to 15 cents.

'Greenest' car in ACEEE's rankings burns gas



(March 14, 2024) Despite the attention on dozens of new electric models, the Toyota Prius Prime SE plug-in hybrid is the greenest model of 2024, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's annual GreenerCars ratings of the most environmentally friendly cars.

13 of 14 driver-assist systems rated ‘marginal' or ‘poor' in IIHS test



Partial driving automation safeguard
ratings show industry has work to do

(March 13, 2024) The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is introducing a new ratings program to encourage automakers to incorporate more robust safeguards into their partial driving automation systems. Out of the first 14 systems tested, only one earns an acceptable rating. Two are rated marginal, and 11 are rated poor.

Average new-vehicle transaction price down second straight month



Kelley Blue Book finds February
prices down 2.2% year over year

(March 12, 2024) ATLANTA — New-vehicle transaction prices (ATP) in February held mostly steady, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book, falling less than one-tenth of 1% from the revised January ATP. The average transaction price of a new vehicle in the U.S. last month was $47,244, down 2.2% from February 2023 and down 5.4% from the market peak in December 2022.

Drowsy driving — The quiet killer stalking our roads



(March 9, 2024) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Driving while battling the urge to fall asleep is a familiar feeling for many. However, new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals the shocking lethality of drowsy driving. And with Daylight Saving Time upon us, the darker mornings and lost hour of sleep will lead to more drowsy drivers. Previous Foundation research points directly to sleep loss as a key culprit in drowsy driving crashes.

Subaru Crosstrek enters third generation with 2024 model



By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(March 8, 2024) Introduced as a 2012 model to replace the Sport version of the iconic Outback SUV, the subcompact Crosstrek continues to be a stellar seller for the Japanese automaker Subaru, challenging the Forester and Outback the company’s No. 1 spot. Over the last three years, the Crosstrek has occupied the No. 1 (2022), No. 2 (2023), and No. 3 (2021 place in Subaru’s yearly sales in swapping positions with the Forester and Outback.

Gas prices rise ahead of Daylight Saving Time



(March 8, 2024) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pump prices have maintained a steady march higher, rising eight cents since last week to $3.39. More expensive oil is a likely culprit, as crude accounts for nearly 60% of pump prices. The cost for a barrel of oil is edging closer to $80, about $10 more per barrel than a few months ago.