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I Have Driven Over 250 Car Models: These Are the 3 Best and Worst for Your Money

I Have Driven Over 250 Car Models: These Are the 3 Best and Worst for Your Money

Yahoo4 days ago
With so many models and options on the market, choosing the right car for your money isn't easy.
The wrong choice leaves you trapped in a money pit, draining your finances with repair costs, poor gas mileage and lack of options to recoup your investment. But the right car purchase serve you well for years with affordable upkeep, great fuel economy and strong resale value.
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To help you get the most bang for your buck, we spoke to Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with AutoInsurance.org, to get her opinion on the car models she thinks are the best value, as well as which are the worst.
Best Values
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a compact sedan with great fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of up to 36 mpg combined for models with the 1.5L turbo engine. The base model 2024 Honda Civic LX has a starting MSRP of $23,950.
Don't let the small size fool you — the Civic's well-designed interior gives you plenty of room for passengers and cargo. Its strong resale value and low maintenance costs make it a smart choice for those seeking a dependable and economical vehicle.
'They have very few problems even when they reach high mileage,' said Musson. 'They're luxurious at a budget price.'
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Honda Odyssey
If you're looking for a minivan, the Honda Odyssey is a great pick. The cavernous interior provides comfortable seating for up to eight passengers, and the powerful V6 engine delivers smooth performance while still achieving a respectable 22 mpg combined. The starting MSRP is $38,240, and it will serve you well for over 200,000 miles with just routine maintenance.
'The Honda Civic and Honda Odyssey are two of the most reliable vehicles,' said Musson. 'Their safety features make you feel secure.'
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is a rugged midsize SUV with all-wheel-drive capability and solid fuel efficiency at 29 mpg combined. The roomy interior carries a lot of cargo. Subaru is also known for its durability — you should expect it to last well beyond 200,000 miles with proper maintenance.
'Subaru Outbacks are great buys for your money,' Musson said. 'The all-wheel-drive standard feature is hard to beat. The interior has a great, user-friendly design. They're workhorses and will provide reliable service for years.'
Worst Values
Ram 2500/3500 Diesel
If you're in the market for a truck, you may want to think twice about the diesel engine RAM 2500 or 3500. You might be drawn to the macho image of heavy-duty trucks, but diesel engines require more expensive maintenance and repairs.
'One of the worst vehicles for your money is a Ram diesel,' Musson said. 'The parts on a diesel truck are ridiculously expensive. Not every mechanic will work on a diesel, so your options for repair shops are limited. The parts fail, and you'll need repairs frequently.'
But what makes these trucks a bad value is their poor fuel economy. With an estimated 15-20 mpg combined, you'll spend big bucks at the pump. Diesel fuel also tends to be more expensive than gas, which will add up over time.
Land Rover Range Rover
Another worst buy, according to Musson, is the Land Rover Range Rover. While they're undeniably stylish, she says they're a maintenance nightmare.
'Their starting price is high, so you'd expect reliability,' said Musson. 'That's not the case though. They're one of the least reliable vehicles, and they're frustrating when parts start breaking down.'
The starting MSRP for the 2024 model is $107,400. For most buyers, these ​​luxury SUVs just aren't worth the financial pain.
Ford Focus
The Ford Focus has been a popular choice for car buyers on a budget for a long time. Ford has recently stopped making the Focus. You might be tempted to get an even better bargain by picking up a used one. But even for the price, they underperform consistently. One of the main issues is poor reliability.
'Skip the Ford Focus,' said Musson. 'It's a budget car to begin with, so at least you're not spending a ton on the purchase price. However, it's the kind of car that just has a lot of annoying problems like window electronics that stop working and a noisy ride.'
You might get a great deal upfront, but the high likelihood of costly repairs and low resale value make it a poor choice.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Have Driven Over 250 Car Models: These Are the 3 Best and Worst for Your Money
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2026 Subaru Crosstrek Review, Pricing, and Specs
2026 Subaru Crosstrek Review, Pricing, and Specs

Car and Driver

timean hour ago

  • Car and Driver

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Review, Pricing, and Specs

Overview The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV is an automotive antihero of sorts, shifting the focus away from performance and instead prioritizing core capabilities like standard all-wheel drive, reasonable fuel efficiency, and comfortable (if sparse) cabin appointments. Power comes from a 180-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine that funnels its torque to all four wheels via an unexciting but serviceable continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It can't be considered quick, and its handling can feel a bit languid, but those are not its primary missions. On the other hand, the Crosstrek offers up to 9.3 inches of ground clearance, enough to back up its rugged pretensions—we've driven it in mild off-road situations and walked away impressed. Though it may lack the contemporary style of the Mazda CX-30 or Volkswagen Taos, its endearing charm is hard to dismiss. Expert Tip: Subaru introduced a Crosstrek Hybrid for 2026. A cosmetic twin of the standard Crosstrek, it shares its spunky style but claims to offer improved city fuel efficiency. What's New for 2026? The 180-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder is now standard across the lineup, including the base model, which previously used a 152-hp 2.0-liter four. Crosstrek Limited and Wilderness trims get a heated steering wheel as standard equipment. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek starts at $28,415 and goes up to $35,215 depending on the trim and options. Base $28,415 Premium $29,415 Sport $32,045 Limited $34,415 Wilderness $35,215 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k $60k We recommend the Premium trim. Its nominal upcharge unlocks the larger 11.6-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and roof rail cross bars. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Engine: 180-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder 180-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder Transmission: Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) Drivetrain: All-wheel drive All models come with a 180-hp 2.5-liter four; a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is the only transmission option. As on most other Subaru models, all-wheel drive is standard. The Crosstrek's chassis isn't taking cues from Subaru's sporty WRX sports sedan. We'd called its on-road personality "relaxed." It's a soft-riding crossover, and while its cornering capabilities are likely far more than its intended buyer will ever exploit, it doesn't offer the same level of driving enjoyment as the Mazda CX-30or the Volkswagen Taos. The Crosstrek can probably do more off-roading than those crossovers though, as it boasts at least 8.7 inches of ground clearance and comes with hill-descent control and hill-start assist features. The Wilderness trim offers 9.3 inches of ground clearance and wears more aggressive all-terrain tires. During our initial test drive, we sampled some of the Crosstrek's capabilities on some rutted two-tracks and light off-road trails in Joshua Tree National Park outside Palm Springs, California. On those sorts of trails, it does just fine. 0–60-MPH Times C/D 60-mph Test: 8.1 seconds (Limited); 8.6 seconds (Wilderness) In Comparison: Chalk up the Wilderness model's slower acceleration to its all-terrain tires and rugged styling. Still, the similar Mazda CX-30 with the base non-turbo engine also required 8.1 seconds to hit 60. The turbocharged CX-30 did it in a tidy 5.8 seconds. View Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver Towing and Payload Capacity Max tow rating is set at 1500 pounds for all but the Wilderness trim, which is rated for 3500 pounds. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Test: 36 mpg 36 mpg EPA City Rating: 25-27 mpg 25-27 mpg EPA Highway Rating: 29-33 mpg The EPA hasn't released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Crosstrek yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings as high as 27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined for models equipped with the now-standard 2.5-liter engine. For more information about the Crosstrek's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo First Row: Comfortable utility is the theme here. Despite its subcompact dimensions, the Crosstrek's front passenger compartment has plenty of room for people of nearly all dimensions. Controls are easy to access, and the seats hide no sharp edges or pinch points. There's 42.9 inches of legroom and 39.8 inches of headroom. That's more than the CX-30's 41.7 and 38.1 inches, respectively. Second Row: The Crosstrek utilizes a 60/40 split-folding second row seatback. The seat cushions are satisfactory for most uses but lack the supportive padding found in more premium brands that take the pinch out of longer drives. The Crosstrek's 36.5 inches of rear passenger legroom are about average for the class. Cargo Capacity: With 20 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row and 55 cubes with it folded down, the Crosstrek easily beats out the CX-30 (20 and 45 cubes, respectively). In C/D testing, the Crosstrek fit 7 carry-on bags behind the second row, and 22 with it folded. View Photos Michael Simari | Car and Driver Infotainment and Connectivity Infotainment: 7-inch touchscreen (standard), 11.6-inch touchscreen (optional) Connectivity: Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (standard), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (optional) Audio System: 4-speaker stereo (standard); 6-speaker stereo (optional); 10-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo (optional) The base model makes do with a 7-inch screen, wired CarPlay and Android Auto, a four-speaker stereo, and a USB-A port alongside a 3.5mm audio jack. Moving to the Premium trim bumps you up to the larger touchscreen while adding wireless connectivity, six-speaker audio, and four USB ports (two front and two rear), making its reasonable price increase feel like a bargain. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features Every Crosstrek comes with Subaru's latest EyeSight driver-assistance feature bundle as standard. Available emergency steering is bundled with blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert. For information about the Crosstrek's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Standard Safety Features: Adaptive cruise control, automated braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Adaptive cruise control, automated braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Optional Safety Features: Automatic emergency steering, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Subaru's warranty coverage is exactly in line with that of most of its competitors. Limited Warranty: Three years or 36,000 miles Three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain Warranty: Five years or 60,000 miles Five years or 60,000 miles Complimentary Maintenance: None C/D Test Results and Specs We test every vehicle we can. Data in the chart below may be for a different model year if the model remained unchanged from when we last tested it. Specifications Specifications 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE Base/As Tested: $33,540/$35,810 Options: Option package (Harman/Kardon audio system, power moonroof, 10-way power driver's seat), $2270 ENGINE DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection Displacement: 152 in3, 2498 cm3 Power: 182 hp @ 5800 rpm Torque: 178 lb-ft @ 3700 rpm TRANSMISSION continuously variable automatic CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink Brakes, F/R: 12.4-in vented disc/11.2-in vented disc Yokohama Geolander A/T G015 225/60R-17 99T M+S 3PMSF DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 104.9 in Length: 176.4 in Width: 71.7 in Height: 63.6 in Passenger Volume, F/R: 55/4 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 55/20 ft3 Curb Weight: 3447 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 8.6 sec 1/4-Mile: 16.7 sec @ 83 mph 100 mph: 27.5 sec Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.7 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.6 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.3 sec Top Speed (C/D est): 120 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 175 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.81 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 22 mpg 75-mph Highway Driving: 27 mpg 75-mph Highway Range: 440 mi EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 27/25/29 mpg C/D TESTING EXPLAINED More Features and Specs

Subaru Wants To Give You The Chance To Race Against Travis Pastrana (Just Don't Expect To Win)
Subaru Wants To Give You The Chance To Race Against Travis Pastrana (Just Don't Expect To Win)

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Subaru Wants To Give You The Chance To Race Against Travis Pastrana (Just Don't Expect To Win)

Screaming down the forest rally stage at Goodwood Festival of Speed with Travis Pastrana at the wheel of Subaru's WRX ARA25 rally car is probably as close as you can get to the forrest defenders scene in "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." My stomach gets cozy with my spinal column as a blur of green leaves and black tree trunks blur past the windows. A few "wahoos" escape, along with some violently delightful horn honks during the donut portion of the track (hey, don't put the horn button at my feet and not expect a few toots) and then I let my rally-mashed brain ask a pretty stupid question: Does it ever get routine? Is it boring, screaming around the same track 20 times with some 20 journalists? Is this just another day at the office? "Never. I never get tired of it," Pastrana said. After our ride, Subaru rally co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino takes my helmet from me, with a grin as wide as mine. She, too, never gets tired of the speed, the sound and the challenge of rally driving. Seeing the joy on people's faces when they experience that familiar thrill is just as good. It's a joy Subaru wants to share, not just with some journalists, but with fans of the sport. Which is why Subaru is putting this legendary duo into a more accessible, closer-to-stock Subaru WRX ARA25L car, to bring this mad-cap joy to the masses and show that you — yes, you — can drive the same track as Pastrana and Gelsomino. Read more: These Mods May Look Good, But They'll Just Make Your Car Slower Do You Have The Car Of A Winner? The car we enjoyed a hot lap in is not the car Pastrana and Gelsomino will be driving in upcoming races. We did our laps in the WRX ARA25 car, which is the ride of American drivers Brandon Semenuk and co-driver Keaton Williams — the pair that nabbed the Subaru WRX ARA25 its first win in the car during its inaugural race at the Ojibwe Forests Rally in August 2023. The WRX ARA25 is meant for the Open series, so it is pretty far from stock. The team analyzed every inch of the WRX and, in conjunction with the World Rally Championship rule book, and made a faster, stronger version of the OEM car. Though it has the original chassis of a WRX and is recognizable as a WRX, everything underneath the bodywork is pretty specialized. While the WRX ARA25 still comes with a 4-cylinder boxer engine, this one took 18 months to develop and cranks out 320 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. That's actually less torque than the ARA25L's 460 lb-ft, but the ARA25 is still the toughest, more race-focused of the two builds. The ARA25L is closer to 90% stock verses the ARA25's 65%. When it comes to the engine, however, in the ARA25L is 99% stock, with the familiar 2.4-liter FA24 boxer engine coming out nearly unchanged. If you have such a fantastic rally car, why put your most famous driver in the Limited series, where the rules are much stricter about what teams are allowed to modify on their vehicles? Because the Limited car is all about aspiration. Rally has been around in the U.S. for around 50 years, but Subaru practically popularized the racing form in the U.S. by providing everyday fans with the chance to get behind the wheel of an affordable and powerful vehicle that could easily be upgraded for rallying. The sport is not in danger of losing its foothold in per se, but the accessibility is in danger as OEM builds get beefier and more specialized. Subaru, once again, aims to challenge those new norms with the WRX ARA25L. It's meant to open up the sport to regular joes like us, and encourage civilians with the dream of driving the same track as absolute legends like Pastrana and Gelsomino. Will you win? Hell no. But will you get to see a blue-and-yellow streak similar to your car scream by as you rebuild your suspension from the pits? Yep. Over The Hill And Through The Woods The WRX ARA25 car was built for performance from the ground up by Subaru and its partner Vermont SportsCar, plus many different suppliers besides. And all those special parts make the ARA25 shine. The car is so quick, Pastrana used every inch of his lightning-fast reflexes to pilot the car through the narrow Goodwood track and its slippery, dusty curves. All of southern England was brown and dusty from a drought, making the ARA25 skid around corners as if there were ice on the track. The Limited car doesn't sound like quite Pastrana's cup of tea, as his trademark style of throwing a car into the curves and pulling out when the ancestors speak to him won't quite work well with such a comparatively delicate build. "When I think I'm going to die? I'm really, really good at that," Pastrana said. "I like to go all out. The ARA25L might as well be a Cadillac compared to this car (the ARA25)." But in terms of importance to the sport? It could mean the world. While standing around in the paddock discussing the car with Subaru's engineers, Pastrana interrupted journalists for the sake of a young fan. "This guy says he's going to be a race car driver!" he said, while helping the kid, who couldn't have been more than 12, into the driver's seat of the ARA25. More smiles all around from drivers and pit crew. Maybe that kid will be the next one running in the Limited series in a WRX of his own. Only time will tell, but it's clear that both the WRX ARA25 and ARA25L are the stuff that dreams are made of. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.

Used cars under $20K have almost vanished from the market: Here's what's behind the surge
Used cars under $20K have almost vanished from the market: Here's what's behind the surge

USA Today

time5 hours ago

  • USA Today

Used cars under $20K have almost vanished from the market: Here's what's behind the surge

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half the used cars for sale in the nation were 3-year-old vehicles priced for $20,000 or less. Today, those same type of vehicles comprise only 11% of used cars. In fact, most shoppers who are in the market for a used vehicle would be hard-pressed to find a 3-year-old model below even $30,000, forget finding one for $20,000. According to a new study from research website called: "The sub-$20,000 used car is almost gone," the average list price for a used 3-year-old vehicle is now $32,635, that's $9,476 more than it was six years ago. "There's very little negotiation going on for used cars because demand is so high," said Karl Brauer, executive analyst with which is based in Woburn, Massachusetts. "The price of used cars was dropping for the last two years, not dramatically, but going down a little bit every month. The last three months, it's gone up again.' In February, the average list price for a 1- to-5-year-old used car was $31,257, up 1% from the year-ago period. In June, it was up to $32,437, a 4.8% bump from a year ago June, Brauer said. Of course, that's still cheaper than buying a new car. According to the average manufacturer's suggested retail price in June was $50,523, but the average transaction price — which is what a customer pays for the car — was $48,261. 'Who knows what will happen in July. Maybe the trend will stop?' Brauer said of used car prices climbing. In case you missed it: Used car prices hit record highs in 2025: What buyers need to know What's no longer available for $20,000 Metro Detroit reflects what's happening nationally. Brauer said in 2019, 52.2% of 3-year-old used car inventory in the Motor City was priced $20,000 or less. Today, only 13% of the used car inventory in metro Detroit consists of 3-year-old cars priced for $20,000 or less. Brauer told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that his company conducted the study in mid-June. It analyzed data on 2.6 million 3-year-old cars. They focused on 3-year-old cars because those are in the "heart of the age group in the used market," which are 1 to 5 years old, he said. The study showed that the bestselling 3-year-old used models that are virtually no longer available for under $20,000 include the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda Civic, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla. For example, Brauer said in 2019, 97.6% of 3-year-old Honda Civic cars could be bought for $20,000. Today, 5.7% of 3-year-old Honda Civics are available at that price range at $20,000. 'That's 94.1% drop-off," Brauer said. "The Toyota Corolla, 99.9% were available to a $20,000 buyer in 2019 and now its 62.9% so they've lost about 37%. Chevy Equinox: 88.1% were available in 2019 for a $20,000 buyer and now 22.3% for a $20,000 buyer.' The study found that passenger cars saw the biggest price increase since 2019, up 48.7%. Prices for used pickups rose 28.8% and used SUVs prices are up 15.4%. Here's how that translates to dollars: How COVID drove up car prices The dramatic shift in used vehicle market pricing can be attributed to a few things, Brauer said. First there is inflation, which the nation saw rise after the COVID-19 pandemic. But a $9,500 average price boost can't all be due to inflation, Brauer said. He blames it more on the restricted new-vehicle production in the second half of 2020 as automakers idled assembly plants because of the pandemic. Even though they were back online in a matter of weeks, it takes time to get the suppliers and production back to full capacity. When they finally did, many automakers were then hit with the semiconductor shortage in 2021 that hindered new vehicle production again. "So you had a huge hit for new car production from mid-2020 to 2022," Brauer said. "We're now in 2025 and the cars that would be 3 years old would have been built around 2021 to 2022 and they are not there in terms of the volume the used market needs. It is because the supply of new cars in three-plus years ago are restricted." On top of that, prices have systematically been pushed higher by demand as a result of the pandemic, which saw people move from urban to suburban areas when they no longer had to come into an office. With no public transportation in surburban areas, those people now need to buy cars. "So right when you had new car production restrictions, you had new car demand go up ... and this is three or four years ago," Brauer said. "That pushed up prices of new cars and pushed people into the used market, which pushed up the prices of used cars." To add to the lack of available late-model used cars, he said, the people who leased cars three to five years ago, came off those leases and saw the prices of new and used cars and realized buying out their lease was the cheapest way to get another vehicle. So those leased vehicles are not going back into the used market, he said. 'So all these things, almost every variable that could or would affect used car pricing, has done so in a bad way," Brauer said. "That's made them more expensive.' Used car buying advice So where does this leave used-vehicle buyers? "They have to buy older cars with higher mileage," Brauer said. "When you look at what's selling, for $20,000, it used to be a 3-year-old car and it had like 32,000 miles on it. Now, $20,000 buys you a 6-year-old car with 71,000 miles on it.' The good news is cars are built better so the older used models with higher mileage will last longer, he said. "If you're forced to buy an older, higher mileage car, thankfully older cars are better than they used to be," Brauer said. "I used to consider 100,000 miles as: 'That's disposable.' That's not true anymore. You can get to 200,000 to 250,000 miles fairly easily.' Brauer offers the following tips for used-car buyers: If you have to take a bus or a flight it might not be a big savings, he said. But Brauer is a big believer in expanding your radius in where you're willing to get a car to save a few bucks. 'Sometimes a dealer will ship it and that can be the most economical," Brauer said. "It might cost you $800 to ship it, but if you're saving $2,400 on the price, then you're still getting a $1,600 savings.' Likely no retraction on prices Brauer said it is possible for prices to reverse, but unlikely unless there is a "substantial and unwelcomed turmoil" in the economy. The average used-vehicle prices had stabilized over the last year. But when President Donald Trump applied 25% tariffs to all imported vehicles and car parts this spring, buyers flooded the market to buy new and used cars out of fear that the tariffs would inflate prices. That sudden rush of demand with limited inventory actually caused prices to rise, Brauer said. "We've stabilized. But I think it's unlikely we'll see 1- to- 5-year-old vehicles available for around $20,000 like we did before the pandemic," Brauer said. "I don't think that's going to come back. We'll see ongoing stabilization, but no retraction in pricing." Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@ Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

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