Buying a new vehicle increasingly means buying the hardware and then deciding which software-powered features you want to keep paying for. The important distinction is that these subscriptions generally are not required to drive the…
Author: Mark Jacob
Mark Jacob covers the business, strategy, and innovation driving the auto industry forward. At Dax Street, he dives into market trends, brand moves, and the future of mobility with a sharp analytical edge. From EV rollouts to legacy automaker pivots, Mark breaks down complex shifts in a way that’s accessible and insightful.
10 Cars That Almost Never Need a Water Pump
A water pump is one of those parts most drivers barely think about until coolant starts leaking or the engine begins running hot. Unlike oil, filters, or spark plugs, a water pump generally is not…
The EPA Set a Detergent Floor and Automakers Went Past It
Modern gasoline is not simply gasoline. Along with hydrocarbons and other required components, U.S. gasoline must contain certified detergent additives designed to control deposits in engines and fuel systems. The federal requirement dates back to…
The Old Mail Truck Returned Eight Miles Per Gallon
For decades, the unmistakable boxy mail truck was one of the most familiar vehicles on American streets. The Grumman Long Life Vehicle (LLV) was designed specifically for the U.S. Postal Service, with priorities that had…
8 Car Features That Can Cost You Thousands When They Break
Modern cars can feel remarkably sophisticated because manufacturers have packed them with technology that improves comfort, performance, safety, and convenience. The downside appears when one of those complicated systems fails outside warranty. A feature that…
10 US States Where a Salvage Car Cannot Be Registered
Buying a salvage car can look like a shortcut to a cheap vehicle, but the title can create a much bigger obstacle than the purchase price suggests. Across the United States, a vehicle carrying a…
Lotus Revives the Esprit With a V6 Engine Alongside a Hybrid V8
Lotus is bringing the Esprit name back into serious consideration as it reshapes its future around high-performance combustion engines and hybrid technology. The upcoming 2028 flagship, currently known internally as Type 135, was previously confirmed…
MG Introduces a Three-Row Electric SUV With a Battery-Leasing Option
MG is taking a different approach to making electric SUVs more accessible in India with the launch of the new Hector Tomahawk EV. The three-row electric SUV combines family-friendly space, a 517-km claimed range, and…
Headlight Ratings Do Not Favor LED Over Halogen
LED headlights are widely marketed as brighter, more efficient, and more advanced than traditional halogen systems. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the type of lighting technology does not determine how well a…
10 US States Where Sleeping in Your Car Is Illegal
Sleeping in a parked car is not automatically illegal across the United States. There is no federal law creating a nationwide ban, but state rules, rest-area regulations, parking laws, and local ordinances can change the…
The Cadillac CT5 Took Poor Ratings in Two Crash Tests
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 has struggled in the latest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, receiving poor ratings in both the updated moderate overlap front test and the updated side test. The results are significant…
5 Cars That Take Regular Gas and 5 That Demand Premium
Fuel choice is easy to overlook until the price difference at the pump starts adding up. Yet gasoline requirements vary considerably between vehicles. Some engines are designed to operate properly on regular unleaded fuel, allowing…
Volkswagen CEO Faces Growing Internal Battle Over Cost-Cutting Plans
Volkswagen is heading toward a decisive confrontation over the future of its German operations as CEO Oliver Blume pushes for deeper cost reductions while the automaker’s powerful labor representatives resist layoffs and factory closures. The…
5 Car Tires Mechanics Fit and 5 They Refuse
Tires are among the most important components a mechanic can recommend because they directly affect braking, steering, traction, ride comfort, and road safety. Yet choosing a tire based only on price or tread appearance can…
Santa Fe vs. Pilot vs. Ascent – Which Is Better?
The Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda Pilot, and Subaru Ascent all offer three rows, but they are designed around different priorities. The Santa Fe combines a turbocharged engine, a modern cabin, strong fuel economy, and an…
10 Warning Signs in a Used Car Listing You Should Never Ignore
A used-car listing can make a questionable vehicle look like the bargain of the year. A low price, spotless photos, and phrases such as “runs great” can create confidence before you have even seen the…
4 Car Batteries Mechanics Trust and 4 They Do Not
A car battery is easy to overlook until the engine refuses to start. Yet the battery affects far more than starting power. Modern vehicles depend on stable electrical voltage for computers, sensors, infotainment systems, safety…
Good Headlights Cut Nighttime Crashes by 19 Percent
Headlights are one of the most overlooked safety features on a vehicle, yet research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that their performance can have a measurable effect on real-world crash rates. Vehicles…
10 Highest-Riding Vehicles You Can Buy Without Going Commercial
Big SUVs have become so tall that some now stand only a few inches below the height of a typical doorway. For private buyers, that creates a fascinating combination of commanding visibility, generous cabin space,…
Top 10 Best F-150 Trims – Ranked
The Ford F-150 lineup has become so broad that choosing the right version can feel harder than choosing the truck itself. For 2026, Ford offers eight official F-150 trim levels, ranging from the work-focused XL…
Honda May Delay New North American Factory as Trade Uncertainty Grows
Honda is reconsidering plans for an eighth North American assembly plant as uncertainty over the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement creates another obstacle for the automaker’s long-term manufacturing strategy. Honda says it is approaching…
10 Vehicles With the Highest Collision Loss Ratings
A vehicle can be safe in a crash and still be expensive for insurers when collisions happen. HLDI’s collision-loss data measures the economic side of crashes by combining how frequently collision claims occur with how…
Durango vs. Grand Cherokee vs. Explorer – Which Is Better?
The midsize SUV segment is filled with vehicles that combine family practicality, strong engines, comfortable cabins, and enough capability for weekend adventures. The Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Ford Explorer approach that formula from…
10 Used Sedans That Can Survive the College Years
College changes what a car needs to do. It has to handle commuting, weekend trips, grocery runs, long highway drives, and plenty of stop-and-go traffic without turning every semester into another repair bill. For students,…
Fuel Economy Fell for 16 Straight Years Before 2004
For more than a decade, America’s new-vehicle fuel economy moved in the wrong direction. After reaching a peak of 22.1 mpg in 1987 and 1988, combined fuel economy declined for years, eventually reaching the bottom…
Six Vehicles Recorded a Driver Death Rate of Zero
Six vehicles recorded a driver death rate of zero in the latest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analysis, placing them at the bottom of the ranking for driver fatalities. The models were the Audi Q7…
10 States With the Greatest Vehicle Theft Exposure
A stolen vehicle is not necessarily gone forever, but the chances of getting it back can vary significantly depending on the type of vehicle, how quickly the theft is reported, and where the theft occurs.…
Land Rover Bringing Dakar-Winning Defender Technology to a Road-Going SUV
Land Rover is turning its success in one of the world’s toughest motorsport events into an unusually extreme production vehicle. The company has confirmed that a limited-run Defender Dakar will bring technology and hardware developed…
Stellantis Confirms Next-Generation Jeep Cherokee Will Be Built at Belvidere
Stellantis has confirmed that the next-generation Jeep Cherokee will be built at its Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, giving the long-idled factory a major role in the automaker’s next phase of U.S. manufacturing. The decision…
Two Thirds of New Vehicles Are Legally Trucks
The American vehicle market has changed so dramatically that a surprising statistic now describes the majority of new vehicles sold in the country: two-thirds of them are legally classified as trucks for federal fuel-economy regulatory…