Facing a government-mandated requirement of new cars averaging 54.5 mpg by 2025, automakers are going into overdrive figuring out ways to improve fuel economy. Some of the solutions are high-tech, with innovations and increased …
GM
What’s Behind GM’s New 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee?
Getting our money back for purchases we no longer want or need is the norm almost everywhere except car dealerships. But this summer, you’ll be able to drive off with a Chevy and then return it weeks later.
Don’t Like the Car’s Price? Wait an Hour
This is the kind of negotiating that a car buyer could get used to. Through Monday, eBay is selling at least 10 new cars per day in a very unique way: The asking price for each vehicle starts at MSRP—and then drops by $500 every hour until somebody buys.
Once-Struggling Cars That Are Suddenly Hot Sellers
Fiat and Toyota, both of which had a rough sales year in 2011, can’t seem to produce cars fast enough for buyers lately. One much-hyped plug-in vehicle is also faring better in the marketplace in 2012. After struggling to attract …
Driving like a Jerk May Cost You an Extra $100 Per Month in Gas
How can one driver average 37 m.p.g. and get 575 miles per fill-up, while another driver — driving the same model car — tops out at 21 m.p.g. and 325 miles per tank? The answer is that these two drivers drive very differently.
Does Mitt Romney Deserve Credit for Saving Detroit? Not Quite
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s claim that he deserves “a lot of credit” for saving the auto industry prompted an immediate reaction from critics — and they have a point. Although Romney is right that the vehicle …
Top 10 Most Buzzed-About New Small Cars
5 Mainstream, Cost-Effective Alternatives to Alternative-Energy Cars
Soaring gas prices should be equating to free marketing for energy-efficient plug-in vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt. The higher prices are at the pump, after all, the more a driver stands to save by using a car …
Even with $4 Gas, Few Drivers Choose Electric Cars—Or Even Hybrids
With each passing month, and with the average gallon of gas rising 1¢ more each day, consumers are turning more and more to fuel-efficient cars. The average new car sold in February got 23.2 mpg, up from 22.9 mpg in January and …
Why Do Consumers Avoid One Car and Buy Another? Often, for No Good Reason at All
A new study shows that when many drivers are shopping for cars, they don’t winnow their searches by researching vehicle quality and reliability reports. Instead, they often make their decisions based on preconceived notions and …
Is That a Ford? Fiat? U.S. Consumers See Fewer Differences Between Car Brands
I’ve never been a car guy. I can’t tell you the difference between Honda and Hyundai. I don’t see a classic speedster (that’s the term, right?) on the road and say, “There goes the ’69 Camaro SS 396 4-Speed. Boy, listen …
King of the Road: The 2012 Cars With the Most Bang for the Buck
Two major news organizations known for their rankings and ratings—Consumer Reports and U.S. News—have just released their latest lists of the automobiles offering the most value for the money. Which cars represent the wisest, …