Showing posts with label Plug-In. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plug-In. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

2026 Toyota Prius Plug-In Nightshade: A Sexy Hatchback Exuding Coolness

Highlight: The driving range for the plug-in model is 44 miles.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $41,304 (Base MSRP): $34,970

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; a rear camera; a blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system; a rear cross traffic alert system; and a tire pressure monitoring system; and a pre-collision system

Sunday, August 17, 2025

2025.5 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Ultra AWD: The Brand’s 6-Seater Flagship SUV/Crossover

 

Highlight: All-wheel drive is standard on the vehicle.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $88,695 (Base Trim Plug-In MSRP): $73,195

Seating Capacity: 6 (Test Vehicle)

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a backup camera; collision avoidance features; a blind spot system; driver alert control; lane keep assist; forward collision warning; a tire repair kit; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Standard Equipment (Test Model): 21-inch wheels; 6 bucket seats; panoramic sunroof with sunshade; Nappa leather seats; ventilated front seats; a four-zone ventilation system; heated steering wheel; heated front and rear seats; a keyless ignition starter; a manual operated tilt/telescopic steering wheel; and a variety of driver modes

Friday, July 11, 2025

2025 Range Rover Sport Dynamics SE Plug-In: The British Brand’s Sporty Looking Off-Road SUV

 

Highlight: The Range Rover Sport is available in a pricier high-performance SV trim, producing over 626-horsepower.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $106,865 (Base Trim: $85,325)

Seating Capacity: 5 (Test Model)

Standard Safety Features (Test Model): airbags; ABS; a 360-degree rearview camera; a terrain system for on/off road driving; a hill launch assist system; a traction control system; a tire pressure monitoring system; a blind spot electronic system; a radar activated cruise control system; a lane keep assist system; a rear traffic monitor system; parking aids; a roll stability control system; and stability control

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

2025 Volvo XC60 T8 AWD Polestar Engineered Plug-In: The Brand’s Performance Oriented Midsize Hybrid


Highlight: Google built-in is standard on the XC60 T8 Recharge.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $77,345 (Base Model Core Dark): $59,195

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; AWD; a tire repair kit; a blind spot information system; automatic braking after a collision; a lane departure warning system; a lane keeping aid; oncoming lane mitigation; run-off road mitigation and run-off road protection; a hill start assist system; a hill descent control system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Sunday, September 1, 2024

2025 Mazda CX-70 Premium Plus Plug-In: The Brand’s All-New Upscale Five Seater Crossover

 

Highlight: This is one of a handful of two-row crossovers/SUVs available with a plug-in.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $59,275 (Base Model): $55,855

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; AWD; hill decent control; hill launch accent; off-road traction assist; tailer stability control; rearview camera; rear cross traffic alert; lane keep assist system; a lane departure warning system; a blind spot monitor; and an automatic brake hold feature

Friday, May 3, 2024

'Auto Trends' Talks With The Black History Maker Steering The Lexus Brand

Dejuan Ross, Lexus U.S. general manager, is posing with the all-new GX. (Photo Credit: Toyota)

When the Lexus brand was birthed by Toyota in 1989, our guest Dejuan Ross, was still in high school. Cadillac, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and BMW were the luxury elites at the time.

Like Lexus, Acura and Infiniti were also launching their luxury nameplates. This was an opportunity for Toyota, Honda and Nissan to move their brands upmarket with the hopes of rivaling the American and European legacy makes.

Decades later, Lexus has done just that. In fact, it has pulled ahead of both Acura and Infiniti, whom both currently lag a flagship coupe and sedan in their portfolio.

Saturday, April 20, 2024

2024 Lexus RX 450h AWD: The Luxury Brand’s Midsize Crossover Adds A Plug-In


Highlight: When parking on the street, the RX can detect if a vehicle or bicycle is approaching from the rear, preventing the inside occupants from operating the door.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $76,765 

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; back up camera; a stability control system; pre-collision system; rain detection system; a radar activated cruise control system; lane tracing assist system; lane departure with steering assist; intelligent high beam headlamps; a front collision warning system; a road sign assist; an automatic braking system; blind spot electronic monitor with a rear traffic alert system; a daytime cyclist detection system; rain-sensing windshield wipers; side mirrors with integrated turn lamps; and a first aid kit

Saturday, January 13, 2024

2023 Land Rover Range Rover SE: The Brand’s Flagship Plug-In SUV


Highlight: The brand’s flagship SUV is electrified again.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $128,475 

Seating Capacity: 4 Bucket Seats (Test Model)

Standard Safety Features (Test Model): airbags; ABS; a 360-degree rearview camera; a terrain system for on/off road driving; a hill launch assist system; a traction control system; a tire pressure monitoring system; a blind spot electronic system; a radar activated cruise control system; a lane keep assist system; a rear traffic monitor system; parking aids; a roll stability control system; and stability control

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

2023 Toyota Prius Limited: No Longer A Fuel-Efficient Ugly Duckling

Highlight: According to fueleconomy.gov, the Toyota Prius LE has a fuel driving range of 644 miles.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $37,445 (Base Model – LE): $28,545

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: air bags; ABS; a radar-activated cruise control system; a pre-collision system with pedestrian protection; a lane departure alert system with steering wheel assist; a brake assist system; an electronic blind spot monitor system with rear cross traffic alert; a hill start control assist system; a heated power outside folding mirrors; a backup camera; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Thursday, April 27, 2023

'Auto Trends' Electric Vehicle Guests Talk Best Times To Charge And Installation Prep Tips


Auto Trends with JeffCars.com continues our radio conversation this week talking about electric vehicles, but from a different angle. Stanford University's Dr. Ram Rajagopal, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, talks about a 2022 study he co-authored questioning why nighttime might not be the best time to charge an electric vehicle. His conversation will have all of us rethinking when, where and how often we charge.

And, we'll close out the program with Powering Chicago's executive director Elbert Walters, as he shares prep tips homeowners, landlords, business owners and nonprofits need to know before installing an electric charger. Powering Chicago represents all of the certified electricians in Chicago. Walters' insights will save one from experiencing a lot of missteps no matter where they are based in North America. 

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE AWD: The Brand’s Plug-In Compact Crossover


Highlight: This plug-in hybrid is capable of driving off of a 45 mile electric range.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $50,731 (Base XE Model: $41,515)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a rearview camera; vehicle stability control; traction control; pre collision system with pedestrian detection; a lane tracing assist; automatic high beams; a lane departure alert system; a radar activated cruise control system; a road sign assist system; and a tire pressure monitoring system; a hill start assist control; a trailer sway control system; anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer and a spare tire

Monday, August 8, 2022

The Pros And Cons: EV Buyers, Minorities And Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (Vehicles Eligible Included)


With the passage of Biden's game changing Inflation Reduction Act, this is expected to charge up the electric vehicle sales in both the new and used car segments.

Up until recently, Tesla, Toyota and General Motors customers were no longer eligible for upwards of $7,500 in tax credits toward the purchase of a new vehicle. Being that those automakers were early adopters of the electric vehicle movement and met the government requirement of selling 200,000 cars, this placed both their customers and the automakers at a disadvantage. 

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

2021 Volvo S90 Recharge T8 eAWD Inscription: The Brand's Flagship Plug-In Sedan


Highlights: The brand’s flagship sedan is fueled by, no pun intended, both gasoline and electricity. Recharge is the name Volvo uses to classify all of its electrified vehicles.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $70,640 (Base model: $61,045)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: air bags; ABS; blind spot information system; run off road mitigation system; lane departure warning system; all-wheel drive; rear view camera and a tire pressure monitoring system

Standard Equipment: 19-inch wheels; a plug-in hybrid; a keyless ignition starter system; Nappa leather seats; panoramic roof with power sunshade; retractable side view mirrors; headlight high pressure cleaning system; power front seats with driver’s side mirror; power cushion extender; smartphone charging system; a two-zone automatic ventilation system; heated front seats; all doors keyless entry system; power folding rear seat; and a navigation system

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e: The Brand’s First Midsized Electrified Crossover


Highlight: The BMW X5 xDrive45e has an electric driving range of 31 miles.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $81,695 (Base Gasoline Model: $64,695)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: air bags; ABS; electronic blind spot; a rear collision warning system; a frontal collision warning system; a pedestrian warning system with city collision mitigation; cross traffic alert rear with back up camera; speed limit information; stability control; and all-wheel drive

Standard Equipment (Plug-In): 19-inch wheels; an electric motor; an 8-speed automatic transmission; an all-wheel drive system; leather-like seats; power front heated seats; a 12-inch digital instrument cluster; haptic controls for the iDrive; power tilt/telescopic steering wheel; 3-spoke leather steering wheel; a navigation system; a keyless entry system; a panoramic sunroof; real time traffic with street parking availability; and power folding heated side mirrors

Saturday, March 20, 2021

2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge: The Brand’s Semi-Autonomous Flagship Plug-In SUV

Highlight: All of Volvo’s electrified vehicles have been renamed Recharge for 2021. By 2025, the Chinese-owned brand projects that half of the cars they sell will be all electric. And by 2030, every vehicle in its line up is expected to be pure electric.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $79,990 (Base MSRP: $64,945)

Seating Capacity: 6 to 7 passenger seating

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a blind spot information system; run off road mitigation; run off road protection; lane departure warning; lane keep aiding; headlight high pressure cleaning; automatic high beam; rearview camera; a hillstart assist system; stability control system; a radar-activated cruise control system; a drowsy/driving alert control system and front and rear park assist sensors

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander GT AWD: One Of The First Mainstream Plug-In Hybrid Crossovers/SUVs


Highlight: This two-row crossover/SUV plug-in hybrid can be fully recharged, while driving. The vehicle also offers applications for a 120-volt and a DC charging.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $42,350 (Base MSRP: $36,890)

Seating Capacity: 5

2026 Acura Integra A-Spec Tech Hatchback with a Manual Transmission

  Highlight: The Integra shares a platform with the Honda Civic.   Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $40,495 ( Base – FWD): $34,695 Seating Capacity...