A small-sized pickup truck is your best bet If you plan to tow or carry light loads. With the plethora of pickup truck options available in the market, choosing the best small pickup truck can be confusing. Trucks from different automakers in various models offer different cab sizes, bed sizes, towing capacities, and features. Read on to find out the important factors to consider when shopping for the best small pickup truck. Cab size Choosing the right cab size according to your needs is very important as it directly affects the bed space available for cargo. A regular cab truck is the smallest and has 2 doors at the sides and a single row of seats with negligible space in between. Extended cab trucks are slightly bigger and have rear doors that are rear-hinged and can only be opened if its adjacent front door is open. Double cab trucks have 4 doors, but the rear seating doesn’t have enough legroom. If you’re looking to comfortably travel across the country with your family, go for a crew cab truck as it has 4 full-size forward-hinged doors and is spacious enough to stretch your legs. Bed size The bed is what makes a pickup truck stand out from other vehicles. The best way to know what bed size you need is to figure out the maximum size of the load you want to transport. Usually, bed sizes in a small pickup truck can be anywhere from 5 feet to 8 feet long, but it varies depending on the manufacturer and the cab size you prefer. Automatic or manual transmission An automatic transmission is the most prevalent choice today as they’re well suited for driving in cities, on different terrains, and provide great towing ability. Although trucks with manual transmission are not as popular now, some automakers still offer them.

A sports utility vehicle, or SUV, has become a go-to choice for many American families. One of the main reasons people consider buying SUVs is that it feels safer than other cars, thanks to their large and sturdy build. Moreover, modern SUVs are loaded with a wide range of safety and driver assistance features, making them incredibly safe and reliable. If you’re in the market for a new SUV, you must consider some latest options. 2022 Acura RDX This crossover SUV from Acura is currently one of the safest vehicles on the market. The automaker has outfitted all trim variants of the 2022 RDX with a suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, including lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition system. 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge If you’re looking for a compact electric SUV with excellent safety features, the 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge should be your choice. It’s equipped with vital safety and driver-assistance features, like lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and blind-spot detection. The vehicle also has an advanced body structure and a unique battery safety cage that can protect all passengers in a collision. 2022 Subaru Ascent With three rows and a seating capacity of up to 8 passengers, the 2022 Ascent is Subaru’s largest SUV. Its standard EyeSight driver assists technology can monitor traffic movement, optimize cruise control, and warn drivers when they’re outside their lane. Higher trim variants of the Ascent feature extra safety technologies like rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, among others. 2022 Mazda CX-5 Mazda is a Japanese carmaker known for making safe SUVs; the 2022 CX-5 is no exception. Armed with Mazda’s i-Activsense®1 safety technology, the SUV offers superior protection to the driver, passengers, and pedestrians. Features like adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and more are standard on all CX5 variants.

Not everybody can be a perfect driver on the road. The sheer number of variables, such as traffic rules, pedestrians, other vehicle owners, road conditions, and weather, means that even the most careful drivers make mistakes occasionally. On the other hand, certain driving habits can only be described as reckless, as they can land drivers, pedestrians, and other road users in danger. To avoid that, here are some driving mistakes everyone must try to avoid: Driving slow in the passing lane The high-speed passing lane is for the purpose its name suggests – for vehicles to overtake others and, basically, slam the throttle to get to their destination as soon as possible. Therefore, it is often referred to as a fast lane. Driving slowly on such lanes blocks the traffic and slows down everyone. More importantly, driving slowly on passing lanes can also result in vehicles tailgating each other and unavoidable collisions. What’s more, frustrated drivers who cannot get a move on in the passing lane may end up over-speeding on the inside lane. To avoid such dangerous accident-prone scenarios, drivers must decide the lane to take based on the speed at which they are most comfortable driving their vehicle. Under-using the turn signals Not using the turn signals accounts for about 2 million yearly accidents. It is one of the worst driving mistakes one can make. Drivers often forget to use turn signals when they change lanes or make a U-turn in the middle of the road. As one can imagine, a vehicle making a sudden lane change or turn without warning can blindside every driver and pedestrian on the road and cause nasty collisions. Therefore, one must regularize using turn indicators even if no vehicles are behind them. Also, making it a habit can help reduce accidents drastically and make the roads safer.

Buying a car has become one of the most challenging decisions for one to make. Furthermore, buying becomes more demanding with the availability of multiple types and brands. However, many cars cater to all of one’s needs. This includes SUVs that are family-friendly and have various safety features to ensure the driver and passengers remain safe at all times. Therefore, this article will list some of the safest SUVs of this year. Safest SUVs of 2023 When buying a car, especially a sports utility vehicle (SUV), one must consider more than its strength and endurance. One of the essential features to consider is the vehicle’s safety features. Furthermore, safety becomes the highest priority if one plans to buy SUVs to accommodate their family. So, here are some of the safest SUVs to consider and their features. Mitsubishi Outlander One of the few compact SUVs that boast three rows of seats, the Mitsubishi Outlander stands on top of the list. It possesses an array of safety features that set it apart from the other automobiles in the market. Although this vehicle has limited cargo space, one can easily accommodate their luggage in the third seat and still seat passengers comfortably in the first and second rows. Furthermore, it possesses various standard safety features such as pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring, automatic high beam headlights, lane change assist, forward collision warning, rear parking sensors, and many more. Infiniti QX60 Another vehicle that has incredible safety features is the Infiniti QX60. It delivers outstanding performance in safety tests and will provide the driver and passengers with assured safety during an inevitable crash. The Infiniti QX60 boasts many standard safety features, including forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, predictive forward collision warning, blind spot warning, high beam assist, and lane departure warning, ensuring peace of mind for anyone who rides in it.

Most carmakers recommend that you do a car oil change every 5,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes before. In most cases, people usually look for oil change services near them and get it done through professionals. However, you may change the car oil yourself to save on costs. Changing or replacing it yourself may seem daunting, but avoiding these common mistakes is possible if you’re a first-timer. Not doing enough prep Before you get down to replacing your car’s oil, you need to thorough your basics to the T. Firstly, you must go through the car’s manual for instructions. Then, make sure to read through the section on maintenance. This will provide information regarding your car’s oil type, capacity, and how frequently you must change the engine oil. Also, make sure you do some research and search for information on DIY engine oil changes. Not having the right tools and equipment Tools such as ramps or a jack stand and a jack will be needed to raise your car to a level that makes it comfortable enough for you to get under your car safely. Many people often miss out on purchasing an oil drain pan with a spout and a lid when they buy a new oil filter. This mistake can be easily avoided. A drain pan will help you pour your old oil back into containers and recycle it. In addition, you will also need to keep ready a wrench of the right size to remove the drain plug. Not stocking up on basic necessities When you visit any car oil change services near you, you may have observed that everything needed for an oil change is within the professional’s reach. Similarly, keeping a few basic necessities near you would be best. Firstly, get a pair of oil filter pliers to deal with stubborn oil filters.

Most car owners pay attention to car maintenance only when something goes wrong. But this approach can escalate repair costs quickly. Moreover, not taking care of your car can lower its resale value. The solution here is to be aware of the various car maintenance mistakes to avoid; knowing these can help you extend your car’s life and improve its reliability and performance. Here are a few common mistakes you need to take care of. Skipping the car wash Whether or not you take out your car for a drive frequently, you must take it to the car wash regularly. Even if your car is parked in the garage most of the time, dust is likely to accumulate all over the place, possibly damaging your car’s exterior surface. If you drive your car regularly, it faces rain, sun, pollution, mud, and even chemicals that can cause lasting damage, such as peeling and rusting your car’s paint or ruining the undercarriage. So don’t commit the mistake of skipping the weekly or monthly car wash. Not cleaning the car interiors It’s not just enough to keep the exterior of your car clean. Proper car maintenance involves taking care of the interiors of the car too. Moisture, grit, dust, crumbs, food particles, and debris can collect in the insides, causing damage over the long run. So, the seats, dashboard, floorboards, interactive system, console, seat belts, and every other part of the insides of your car must be cleaned. Additionally, don’t make the mistake of forgetting to vacuum the inside of your car. Wipe down everything from seat belts to dashboard with mild antibacterial liquid and soft cloth, wash and dry the floor mats, and take care of any stains and spills immediately. Not checking the tire pressure It’s a mistake to check the air pressure in the tire only when it appears to be slightly deflated.