car shopping

The Best Compact Crossovers—No Matter Your Budget

Last updated: May 1, 2020 at 10:03AM
Published on: Apr 28, 2020 by Mike Perkins

What are the best compact crossovers? That’s precisely the question we’ve attempted to tackle here, highlighting 10 different models across a range of budgets.

It’s a long and meandering road that has brought us to the current trend for these compact crossovers. The desire for truck utility and car comfort isn’t new, and the first attempt to fill that niche came nearly a century ago in the form of the station wagon, which served families well for decades. But folks are fickle, and the ‘80s saw the wagon fall out of favor, as first the minivan, then the SUV became the go-to choice for families needing to haul kids, groceries, and gear.

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How the Mexico Tariffs Will Impact Affordable Cars

Last updated: Sep 27, 2019 at 2:27PM
Published on: May 31, 2019 by George Augustaitis

Recently, the White House issued a statement announcing a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports that goes into effect on June 10, 2019.

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Looking for the Best Deals of the Year? Get Shopping!

Last updated: Dec 5, 2016 at 3:08PM
Published on: Dec 1, 2016 by tgriffith

“Now is the best time to buy a car!” It’s a marketing phrase that, oddly enough, car dealers tend to use throughout the year. It seems like it gets blasted over TV and radio waves on a daily basis. From a car dealer’s perspective, the best time to buy a car is always today. Consumers, though, may become numb to that message and write it off simply because they hear it so often. So when we write a blog that says now may be the best time to buy a car, we get that you may not pay too much attention.

But it’s true. If you’re in the market for a new car, now might be the best time of the year to buy.

What to Buy: A Base Premium Brand or a Loaded Non-Premium Brand?

Jul 18, 2016 by tgriffith

2016_Volvo_XC90

New-car shoppers continually debate between buying a fully loaded economy vehicle or a base-trim premium car.

When buyers realize that $40,000 can either buy a Kia or a Volvo, some interesting comparisons arise. Is it better to get a lower-end brand with the latest high-end features or a luxury brand that’s missing some desirable options?

For the sake of comparison, I spent the weekend shopping for two vehicles: a 2016 Volvo XC90 T5 FWD Momentum and a 2017 Kia Sorento Limited V6.

The base price of the Volvo is $2,450 more than that of the loaded Kia. Is the extra cost worth it?

Are We Always Passively Shopping for Cars?

Jul 8, 2016 by tgriffith

Whether you’re aware of it or not, you’re always shopping for a new car.

You can be casually scrolling through Facebook, thinking only of cat videos and the most recent “Game of Thrones” episode, when a post from a car dealer goes by featuring a shiny new Ford Explorer. You might wonder, even for a moment, if the new rig would make for a good replacement for your aging Honda Pilot.

Or maybe that first glimmer of desire for a different car appears when a friend posts photos of his or her new GMC Acadia.

Whatever the source of inspiration, you might start wondering if you should consider buying a car. At the very least, you’ll start thinking about the type of car you’ll want when the time comes to make a purchase.

Perhaps you’ll click on the dealer’s link out of curiosity, or even (innocently) begin a search inspired by your friend’s new car.

Even though you didn’t think you were in the market, a different car suddenly becomes a very real possibility. This is called “passive shopping,” and a new study suggests that social media has created an environment in which we’re doing it all the time.

car shopping

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