2022 Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander Review: Which One Is The New Crossover King?

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February 4, 2022

This is one of the most competitive segments in the industry.

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander fight pits a revitalized opponent against the current sales champion. I agree, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander battle may seem like a yawner to some. These are not off-roaders (although Nissan likes the image) and neither are invigorating to drive either. The mid-size, three-row segment is the domain of the family who needs space, with a whisper of the adventurous spirit, depending on which model you’re looking at.

This class caters to vehicles that are not only comfortable for families, but are extremely utilitarian. That means they can haul the goods, in all weather conditions, comfortably – with little drama. Both of these vehicles excel at that, and they are a snap to drive daily as well. Many of their numbers are close, especially on paper, but they feel very different.

Power and performance

The 2022 Toyota Highlander has a few powertrains to choose from, including a hybrid, but we got our hands on a V6 all-wheel drive (AWD) model that directly competes against the Nissan. That 3.5-liter V6 makes 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it returns an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined. Its real trick is the new “torque vectoring” AWD system which actually works. It sends up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels, and splits the power to whichever rear wheel needs power. This helps on and off road, but it truly is a boon for better on-road handling.

For the most part, the “Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD” system is seamless, but you also have a Multi-Terrain Select terrain mode. This system changes the throttle mapping and traction control system for various types of terrain. It’s not for off-roading, and there is no tow mode.

How does the Pathfinder compare?

Nissan opted to keep their old 3.5-liter V6 in the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. While making 284 hp and 259 lb-ft isn’t outstanding (neither is its 22 mpg combined) it is still plenty quick. That has to do with the gearing of the all-new nine-speed automatic transmission. It’s not only world’s better than the former continuously variable transmission (CVT), it’s smoother than many rivals. The Intelligent 4WD system has a seven-position Drive and Terrain Mode Selector. It’s actually an AWD system, but it’s pretty good. Not only can you keep power running 50/50 front and rear (at slow speeds), but there is an actual tow mode as well.

The Nissan Pathfinder tows up to 6,000 lbs, the Highlander is rated at a maximum of 5,000 lbs. While the Pathfinder is marketed to be more rugged than some in this class, it’s off-road measurements fall short of the Toyota Highlander. Seriously, neither should be doing any boulder bashing.

Both vehicles are very close in weight, yet they handle their mass differently. The Nissan, with its longer wheelbase, seems to be a slightly more comfortable ride. The Toyota, on the other hand, feels far more athletic – at least in the Platinum which gives you wide/stiff rubber and that trick AWD system. Honestly, the overall feel of the cars boils down to their interiors.

Interior and cargo volume

On paper, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander are closely matched. Oddly, while the all-new Pathfinder is larger on paper, the Highlander can hold more cargo behind the first and second row of seats. Maximum cargo space (with both rows folded) has the Highlander at 84.3 cubic feet, and the Pathfinder at 80.5 cubic feet. Behind the second row, the Highlander has over three cubic feet more space, but the Pathfinder has about a half-cubic foot of space behind the third row.

Actually, the seating is where the Nissan truly shines. It has the most usable space, the most comfortable seats, and the easiest to use seating as well. Being that these are family rides that are dependent on easy to use, comfortable interior spaces, that’s where Nissan makes up for other limitations.

This is a close one folks.

In the video below, you will see what makes these two vehicles different, and which vehicle might be right for you:

Is Charging Your EV At The Airport Really That Much Of A Pain In The…?

By

Nathan Adlen

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February 4, 2022

2017 nissan leaf charging in progress — (Images: TFLcar)

During a snowy Colorado week, I parked my Nissan Leaf at a Level 2 charging station through ‘ParkDIA’.

I had a press event to attend in warm and sunny Florida, and opted to try ParkDIA — a facility near Denver’s airport — to charge my vehicle while I was gone. There are several parking options at Denver International Airport, from their pricey on-site parking to less expensive services like ParkDIA farther from the terminal. Recently, Roman tried the pricy on-site underground parking with his EV Mini, and it didn’t go well, as you can see below.

ParkDIA is a bit under 5 miles from the terminal, but offers a reliable shuttle service that stops near every parking section. If needed, the driver will even write up a ticket reminding you where you parked. It takes between 5-15 minutes to get to the airport after pickup, depending on when you get there.

I own (or, rather, I stole my kid’s car that I bought) a 2016 Nissan Leaf. It has about 75 to 80 miles of range in its 30 kWh battery during warm days. But, that remaining range for this five-year-old EV drops precipitously when it’s cold. Given the weather system hitting Denver, I decided to give the kiddo my Jeep, and I would take her Nissan. At the time, I knew that with freezing temperatures and a 40-mile trek to the airport, I could be in for a charging debacle. There was no way that the Leaf could get me home if it was freezing, left out in the cold, and wasn’t charged during my press trip.

There are 12 Level 2 outlets at ParkDIA — not that you’ll necessarily have free choice over which one to use every time. (Image: TFLcar)

So, is charging a pain at ParkDIA?

On this trip, I noticed several charging stations near the front of its covered parking section. It had a few open stations, and it appeared to have all twelve plugs working. But, as some nay-sayers may immediately point out, there’s a catch. The charging is actually free, and part of the covered parking, if there’s a station available. More on that in a moment.

The process to reserve parking at ParkDIA is fairly straightforward, and you can get through the reservation process in about 5 minutes. However, I noticed that there was nothing in the registration process that mentioned the chargers. There is no way to reserve them, or to see if they are currently in use. In fact, I even called ParkDIA to see if they knew if there were any empty chargers.

The polite employee stated that it is first-come-first-served. They have no way of knowing which unit (if any) is open. So, you could be rolling the dice depending on when you bring your EV to their lot.

A reference for anyone traveling through Denver Airport: Covered parking rates are $14.95 per day, if you reserve a spot early, or $15.95 per day when you park without a reservation. Right now, ParkDIA is running a $5.00 per-day uncovered parking special if you don’t need to be at an EV charger (or otherwise don’t mind parking your car in the elements).

This is their blurb on parking at Denver’s airport:

“ParkDIA is proud to now offer EV charging stations for no additional cost in our covered lot. Keep your car fully charged at one of our 12 car charging stations near DIA, so when you get back from your trip, your car is ready to go! If you have any questions about our charging stations regarding if your car is compatible, which it probably is, contact us now.”

Some of these Teslas looked like they had been parked there for a while — like a month or two.

Huzzah! The parking gods smiled upon me (this time)

There are very few charging options near DIA. I had to gamble to see if I had an open charger when I got to ParkDIA. Fortunately, there was ONE left! As I plugged in my Leaf, I noticed that some of the vehicles have been there for a while. It was apparent that those chargers were plugged into a vehicle that could have been there for a month or more.

The chargers themselves were easy enough to use. If you own a Tesla, you will need to bring an adaptor, which most owners have. There are no buttons to push, as you merely have to grab the SAE J1772 plug and po it in. The light will come on indicating you’re charging, and off you go.

A couple criticisms

When I returned on a 12-degree Fahrenheit evening, the old Nissan Leaf was fully charged and good to go. Despite my good experience, this is where ParkDIA needs to make some changes. At the very least, they should have a method to where they can tell you whether or not chargers were available. Or, perhaps they could add more charging units, including a slew of 120 volt outlets so folks can at least charge at Level 1 (1.3kW – 2.4 kW). That would be a huge help.

All in all — this is not a sponsored take — but I was pleased with ParkDIA. I had a better overall experience than its nearby competitors, all of whom I’ve sampled over the years. It’s a well-maintained facility, and both parking options are as good, if not better, than parking within the airport’s own lots (only a couple of which get you any closer to the terminal anyway). It’s a little off the beaten path, but not too far, and needing to use an EV charger is a bit of a gamble.

Then again, so is every other option apart from parking right next to the airport. That’s an expensive proposition, not to mention you still have to get lucky with an open EV charger. On that subject, Roman did just that, and at least my experience was less expensive and less stressful than his parking issues…

Have You Experienced “Phantom Braking” Or Seat Belt Chime Issues With Your Tesla In Recent Months?

By

Zach Butler

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February 3, 2022

Hertz — Tesla Model 3 purchase deal — Tesla cars are facing multiple issues, according to owners and documents published through the NHTSA. (Images: Tesla)

Over 100 Tesla owners have complained to the NHTSA about their cars “phantom braking”.

Earlier this week, the automaker sent documents to the U.S. safety agency, saying it will soon disable the Full Self-Driving system’s capability to roll through stop signs at slow speeds. Now, as the Washington Post reports, owners are filing complaints about their cars suddenly braking for non-existent hazards. That is a startling and potentially dangerous phenomenon, as the erratic nature of the problem could inadvertently cause a crash. Finally, though a relatively minor issue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also published documents noting a new recall covering some 817,143 vehicles — nearly one-third of all vehicles the company has ever built.

What’s happening with unexpected automatic braking?

The timing of the phantom braking complaints, totaling at least 107 as of January 2022, seems to coincide with Tesla’s changeover to a fully camera-based driver assistance system. Newer models do not use radar sensors to supplement the camera data, which drivers and safety experts posit could be a contributing factor to the problem, according to the Washington Post’s piece. Tesla says its camera system provides 360 degrees of visibility up to 250 meters around the car.

While it does also use a dozen ultrasonic sensors to interpret objects, owner reports note the “Tesla Vision” system may be overly sensitive to certain obstacles, like large trucks.

One of the latest available NHTSA complaints filed on February 1 lays out the problem in direct terms:

“The adaptive cruise control system is very dangerous due to constant “phantom braking” problems. With cruise control enabled, the car will randomly slow down, sometimes gradually and others times rapidly. Sometimes the deceleration happens when passing a large truck, or a car on the other side of the road. Sometimes it is in response to shadows on the road. Sometimes there is no discernable (sic) reason. Instances of rapid and unexpected deceleration make it likely we will be hit by another car or otherwise cause an accident.
This problem is prevalent throughout all Model Y cars and detailed online. Dealers say that there is nothing wrong with the vehicle and they hope it can be fixed in the future by software. However, in the meantime, the dangerous situation exists. My vehicle has not been inspected by anyone for this purpose, at least not yet. There are no warning lamps or messages when this happens.”

Complaints are not independently verified by the agency, though it has acknowledged it is in discussions with Tesla regarding owners’ phantom braking reports. At this point, Tesla has not made a public statement on the matter, and does not currently have a public relations department.

Tesla did recall their Full Self-Driving software in October over false positives specific to the automatic emergency braking system. However, complaints have continued and grown dramatically since the automaker release that update, prompting major concerns.

Tesla launched a new recall on February 1 for its seat belt chime warning

Another, separate problem emerged with Tesla vehicles this week, as shown in NHTSA documents. The automaker will recall approximately one-third of all its existing vehicles. That includes certain 2021 and 2022 Model S and Model X cars, as well as “all” Model 3s and Model Ys.

The issue centers around a software error preventing the seat belt chime from activating in certain conditions. According to the NHTSA report, “This condition is limited to circumstances where the chime was interrupted in the preceding drive cycle and the seat belt was not buckled subsequent to that interruption (e.g., the driver exited the vehicle in the preceding drive cycle while the chime was active and later returned to the vehicle, creating a new drive cycle).” The problem does not affect the seat belt chime when the belt remains unfastened and the vehicle exceeds 22 kmh. The visual seat belt reminder also remains active at all times when the car detects the seat belt is unfastened.

As long as the issue remains, affected Tesla vehicles are in violation of federal motor vehicle safety laws. The laws require a chime to sound when the vehicles are turned on, and stop when occupants fasten the front belts. Tesla is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the issue, and will fix it through an over-the-air software update in the coming days.

If you’re a Tesla owner, have you experienced either of these issues? Let us know if you have (or have not) had the issues shown in recent reports in the comments.

RIP Chevy Spark: One Of America’s Cheapest Cars Will End Production This Summer

By

Zach Butler

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February 2, 2022

The Chevy Spark will reach the end of the road in August 2022.

I’d normally say pour one out for the diminutive Spark here — and you can, if you’d really like to — but this one is actually a bit of a puzzler for us. Not the fact that it’s going away, as its main Big Three rivals (i.e. the Ford Fiesta and Dodge Dart) have long since passed. Rather, it’s surprising that Chevy’s plucky little hatchback held on this long. Today, though, GM finally confirmed the Spark is not long for this world, as first reported by CarsDirect, and will not see a direct replacement when its production run ends in August 2022.

Of course, the Spark’s major selling point throughout its decade-long production run is its price. Even now as cars get crazy expensive (the average transaction price is over $47,000 these days), the base LS model comes in at $14,595 including destination. For that, you get a 98 horsepower, 1.4-liter engine sending power to the front wheels through either a CVT or a 5-speed manual transmission. This is one of the few cars left where you can actually get a manual transmission nearly across the entire trim walk, with the exception of the top end 2LT Automatic, at $19,490. While we’re on the subject of cheap, this is also one of the few cars left you can actually get new for under $20,000.

Now, folks wanting to stay inside the Chevy brand will have to opt for the aging Trax crossover, or the fresher (and only slightly more expensive) Trailblazer. Those crossovers start at $22,595 and $22,795 respectively. To get a car below that $20K mark, though, you’ll have to gravitate toward the $16,125 Mitsubishi Mirage or the $16,105 Nissan Versa — assuming you’re able to find inventory at the moment.

If you want to ditch gasoline altogether, you can find an electric Spark on the used market, as well:

The Polestar 2 Arctic Concept Could Come In Handy For The Winter Commute, Don’t You Think?

By

Zach Butler

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February 2, 2022

Polestar 2 Arctic Circle Concept — This Polestar 2 Concept leaves the pavement behind for some wintry fun on a frozen lake. (Images: Polestar)

Polestar runs its winter testing program for 15 weeks each year.

If there’s one place the Polestar 2 should feel at home, coming from a Swedish automaker, it’s snow. After it tuned up its electric sedan for last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (with a performance update that’s available for dual-motor owners, by the way), this Polestar 2 Arctic Circle concept gears itself toward delivering a similar experience tailored to snow and ice.

Like the earlier car, this Polestar 2 Arctic Circle still brings in a dual-motor setup with the Performance Pack. This time around, though, the ride height increases by nearly 1.2 inches, and you get studded winter tires wrapped around 19-inch wheels. The four-piston Brembo brakes from the Goodwood concept still make an appearance here, and Polestar engineers brought in three-way Öhlins dampers with 30% softer springs.

The Polestar 2 Arctic Circle concept still gets a power boost, to 469 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque, while other updates over Polestar’s previous efforts include four Stedi LED off-road lights, a carbon fiber skid plate and a cool-looking gray and white paint scheme.

On paper, this would be a pretty sweet winter car to tackle the winter storm much of the U.S. is experiencing right now, but Polestar (sadly) has no plans to actually put this into production, even as a package option. Still, it’s a look at what could come to pass with enough demand. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can at least get the power update soon enough, and pick up some of the parts necessary to build your own Polestar 2 into more of a winter beast.

Tesla Recall: Nearly 54,000 Vehicles With Full Self-Driving Software Will No Longer Roll Through Stop Signs

By

Zach Butler

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February 1, 2022

Teslas equipped with Full Self-Driving will no longer have “rolling stop” functionality.

Following meetings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tesla will recall 53,822 vehicles with the FSD system to disable a previously programmed feature, wherein cars could slowly roll through stop signs under certain conditions.

The recall campaign affects models across the entire range — including Model 3, Model X, Model S and Model Y. Vehicles that have the beta version of Full-Self Driving fitted currently have a “rolling stop feature” that allowed them to move through stop signs when it’s enabled (through what’s called “Assertive Mode”), without coming to a complete stop. According to the NHTSA, cars with the system active have to be traveling below 5.6 mph while approaching an intersection. If the system sees no “relevant” moving obstacles — other vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians — it will proceed without stopping. The prevailing speed limit on all roads leading up to an intersection also have to have a speed limit of 30 mph or less.

At this time, Tesla notes it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the feature. Nevertheless, intentionally programming that feature into the system ran afoul of NHTSA regulations. “The Vehicle Safety Act prohibits manufacturers from selling vehicles with defects posing unreasonable risks to safety, including intentional design choices that are unsafe. I the information shows that a safety risk may exist, NHTSA will act immediately,” the administration said in a statement. Failing to completely stop when approaching a stop sign, it reasons, unduly increases the risk of an accident.

The firmware will be patched through an over-the-air update

In agreement with the NHTSA, Tesla will disable the rolling stop functionality within Full Self-Driving through an OTA update later this month. While its name would suggest otherwise, drivers should expect to take over from either Autopilot or Full Self-Driving systems in certain situations, and neither system is truly fully autonomous at this point in time.

The administration said in a past statement that it is looking into a crash allegedly caused by Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system in Brea, California last November. It is also looking into some cases where Tesla vehicles collided into emergency vehicles while using the less advanced Autopilot system.

Aston Martin DBX707 Throws Down The Gauntlet With Lamborghini-Beating Power

By

Zach Butler

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February 1, 2022

The Aston Martin DBX707 ups the ante for the brand’s performance crossover. (Images: Aston Martin)

Meet the DBX707: Aston Martin’s shot across Lamborghini and Porsche’s bow.

Not only are SUVs red-hot, but performance SUVs are in vogue to such an extent that having one somewhere in your lineup is pretty much a requirement. The Aston Martin DBX just took that to heart, by taking the standard 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and cranking the output up to eleven. Or, more specifically, this DBX707 cranks out 697 horsepower — 155 more than you’ll get from the normal car.

The “707” part of its name refers to its metric output (707 PS), while the Mercedes M177 motor also makes a whopping 663 lb-ft of torque. Even better, Aston Martin set this DBX up to send 100% of that torque to the rear axle, at least when the driving conditions allow it. For the time being, this reveal puts the automaker on top in the power race, as the DBX707 manages 56 more horsepower than the Lamborghini Urus. It also manages 27 hp more than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, 71 hp more than the Bentley Bentayga Speed and 80 hp more than the BMW X5M Competition.

To make the most of all that grunt, the Aston Martin DBX707 gets a new, AMG-sourced 9-speed wet clutch automatic transmission. Engineers also shortened up the electronic rear differential’s final drive ratio to 3.27 (from 3.07) to improve acceleration. Those changes have a profound effect, as the more potent DBX sprints from 0-60 in just 3.1 seconds — 1.2 seconds faster than the standard SUV.

Even more handling improvements set the DBX707 apart

On paper, at least, the Aston Martin DBX707 is as much of a bruiser as you’d expect (and appreciate) from the brand. Nevertheless, the automaker refers to its latest super-SUV as “a sabre in a segment of sledgehammers”, ostensibly referring to its handling prowess beyond the sheer brute force. Not only does the hotter DBX see chassis stiffening over the standard DBX, but engineers also increased damper compression and rebound, and reprogrammed the Electronic Active Roll Control system to keep the car’s heft in check. A six-piston caliper, carbon ceramic brake system clamps down on 16.5-inch rotors in the front, while the sports 15.4-inch discs in the rear.

Changes to the exterior and interior styling

On the appearance front, the new Aston Martin DBX707 gets a larger grille with double vanes and six horizontal bars. As ever, that look sets apart the more hardcore performance model from the ordinary version in the showroom and on the road. You get large 22-inch wheels as standard fare (in two styles), but if that isn’t enough 23-inch wheels are optional. A new daytime running light pattern, new intakes, cooling ducts, and dark satin chrome window surrounds further set this DBX apart.

Around the back, you get a new rear bumper, larger gloss black rear diffuser and a large diameter quad-pipe exhaust system.

Inside, sport seats come standard (if you want the more comfortable ones, that is a no-cost option), while Aston Martin further redesigned the center control panel and switchgear for the DBX707. Whichever seat option you pick, you’ll get 16-way adjustment in the front, while both front and rear seats are heated. Three choices of “interior environment” are also available. The standard fit is “Accelerate”, mixing in leather and Alcantara. Inspire Comfort and Inspire Sport can be swapped in, with semi-aniline leather if that’s more your speed.

DBX707 pricing and availability

Aston Martin will kick off production shortly, in the second quarter of 2022. Production will run around 5,000 units per year, with the bulk of that volume likely going to the U.S. and Chinese markets. The automaker has yet to announce specific pricing, but I’d expect it to run well over $200,000. As a reference, the standard DBX starts off at $176,900.

That’s A Nice Touch: The 2022 Lincoln Aviator Gets Slightly (And I Do Mean Slightly) Cheaper

By

Zach Butler

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January 31, 2022

2022 Lincoln Aviator Jet Package — Prices usually creep upward with each model year, but the 2022 Lincoln Aviator is actually getting less expensive this time around. (Images: Lincoln)

The 2022 Lincoln Aviator trims a little bit off its official pricing.

It’s by no means unusual to see some price hikes with a new model year, even if there aren’t many fundamental changes. Lincoln’s flagship Navigator, for example, gets a few choice updates with a reported price hike (per Ford Authority) between a mere $5 and $4,555 depending on which trim you choose. If you turn around and check out its smaller Aviator sibling, however, the official manufacturer pricing is actually moving in the other direction. That’s a nice change to see every once in awhile, though “official” is the key word there. Depending on what the dealers in your area are asking, your mileage may vary.

The base Standard model in both RWD and AWD forms shave a whole $5 off the asking price. That puts the Standard RWD at $52,660 including an $1,195 destination fee. While the destination charge went up by $100 for 2022, you still come out a little bit ahead should you want to get into the least expensive Aviator models.

Step up to the Reserve and beyond, though, and the savings are a bit more substantial. The rear-wheel-drive Reserve comes in at $58,550, or $130 less than last year. The Reserve AWD, for its part, comes in $130 less, at $61,080 to start. Picking AWD on either of the two models where it’s an option, the choice has gotten a bit pricier than in 2021. Now, powering all four wheels cost $2,530 extra ($20 more than the option was before).

If you’re sticking with the standard powertrain, the Aviator Black Label comes in at $80,545. That’s $105 less than last year, so we’re still not talking about massive savings this time around.

The Grand Touring has the largest discounts this year

On a dollar-for-dollar basis, the plug-in hybrid Grand Touring models are where the best savings lie. The 2022 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring starts off at $69,555 — a $1,085 drop from the 2021 model. The Grand Touring Black Label tops out the range, but even it is $89,100, or $980 less than last year.

Lincoln’s renamed “Jet Package”

For this model year, the Aviator’s building on the former Monochromatic Package, ditching the chrome to create the “Jet Package”. Virtually all the exterior trim gets a black-out treatment, while you also get gloss black 22-inch wheels as part of the package. It’s not available on the configurator just yet (at time of writing), but a bit more content will likely up the package cost past the $2,000 you’d have to shell out for the old Monochromatic Package. That option will available with four color options, including Pristine White, Infinite black, Silver Radiance and Burgundy Velvet.

This is one of the most competitive segments in the industry.

Power and performance

How does the Pathfinder compare?

Interior and cargo volume

During a snowy Colorado week, I parked my Nissan Leaf at a Level 2 charging station through ‘ParkDIA’.

So, is charging a pain at ParkDIA?

This is their blurb on parking at Denver’s airport:

Huzzah! The parking gods smiled upon me (this time)

A couple criticisms

Over 100 Tesla owners have complained to the NHTSA about their cars “phantom braking”.

What’s happening with unexpected automatic braking?

One of the latest available NHTSA complaints filed on February 1 lays out the problem in direct terms:

Tesla launched a new recall on February 1 for its seat belt chime warning

The Chevy Spark will reach the end of the road in August 2022.

Polestar runs its winter testing program for 15 weeks each year.

Teslas equipped with Full Self-Driving will no longer have “rolling stop” functionality.

The firmware will be patched through an over-the-air update

Meet the DBX707: Aston Martin’s shot across Lamborghini and Porsche’s bow.

Even more handling improvements set the DBX707 apart

Changes to the exterior and interior styling

DBX707 pricing and availability

The 2022 Lincoln Aviator trims a little bit off its official pricing.

The Grand Touring has the largest discounts this year

Lincoln’s renamed “Jet Package”

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