Reliability matters more when an SUV is carrying children, commuting every day, handling road trips, and facing years of changing weather. For American families, a dependable vehicle can mean fewer unexpected repairs, less time in…
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.
5 Rust Treatments That Work vs 5 That Trap Moisture
Rust is more than an ugly orange stain. Once corrosion gets into steel, simply covering the visible damage can leave the underlying problem active. The most effective treatments either remove corrosion, chemically convert it, or…
12 Models With The Fewest Problems In The First 90 Days
The first 90 days can reveal a surprising amount about a new vehicle. J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Initial Quality study measures problems reported by owners after 90 days, using a problems-per-100-vehicles (PP100) score where fewer…
10 Models With the Best Trade-In Values Now
A vehicle that holds its value can make a major difference when it is time to trade it in for something newer. Kelley Blue Book’s 2026 Best Resale Value Awards show just how wide the…
Honda Moves Next-Generation CR-V Hybrid Production Forward in North America
Honda is accelerating the arrival of its next-generation hybrid strategy in North America, bringing forward production of the next-generation CR-V Hybrid to early 2027. The change comes as the automaker adjusts its product and manufacturing…
Nissan Debuts 2027 Rogue Hybrid With e-POWER in the U.S.
Nissan is introducing a substantially different hybrid powertrain to one of its key U.S. vehicles. The automaker has introduced the 2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid with its third-generation e-POWER technology, making it the first Nissan model…
Xpeng Plans to Sell Its Technology to More Global Automakers Beyond Volkswagen
Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturer Xpeng is preparing to expand beyond selling cars by offering its technology to other international automakers, building on the relationship it has already established with Volkswagen. The company is looking to commercialize…
GM Looks Beyond EVs With New V8-Powered Pickup Strategy
General Motors is putting renewed emphasis on gasoline-powered pickups as it adjusts its product strategy to changing conditions in the U.S. vehicle market. The centerpiece of that approach is a new generation of V8 engines…
Toyota Estimates Factory Automation Could Cost $6.4 Billion a Year From 2028
Toyota is preparing for a major transformation of its manufacturing operations, with the automaker estimating that modernizing its factories through greater automation and robotics could require spending about 1 trillion yen, or $6.4 billion, every…
10 New SUVs With Power Folding Third Rows
For families, a third row is useful only when it can quickly make room for people or cargo. Power-folding seats take that convenience a step further by allowing drivers to transform the rear of an…
10 New Trucks With a Column Shifter
The column shifter is becoming an unusual sight in new trucks as automakers move more transmissions to center consoles, rotary controls, and electronic selectors. Yet the traditional stalk behind the steering wheel has not disappeared.…
10 New Cars With an Analog Gauge Cluster
Digital dashboards have become nearly standard in new vehicles, with large screens replacing traditional speedometers and tachometers. Yet some new cars still offer a more familiar setup, with physical analog needles moving across conventional gauges.…
12 Cars Carrying Sensors That Cost $1,596 To Replace
Modern cars can see much more than older vehicles ever could. Cameras, radar units, and ultrasonic sensors now support automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring, and parking assistance. That extra technology…
12 Cars Insurers Flagged Before Thieves Did
Insurance data can reveal patterns that are difficult to see from theft totals alone. HLDI’s WT-24 report examined whole-vehicle theft losses for 2022 through 2024 model-year vehicles and compared each vehicle’s theft claim frequency with…
10 Bike Checks Worth Doing Before Every Ride
A motorcycle can feel perfectly normal and still have a problem that matters once it is moving. A slow tire leak, loose control, weak brake, failed light, or fluid leak may be difficult to notice…
5 Polishes Worth the Money vs 5 That Just Fill Scratches
A good car polish should do more than make damaged paint look better for a few washes. The best formulas use controlled abrasives or polishing technology to actually refine the clear coat, reducing fine scratches,…
Hyundai CEO Warns Chinese Automakers Could Surge Into the U.S. Market
Hyundai Motor CEO José Muñoz has warned that Chinese automakers could make a rapid push into the U.S. market if Washington weakens the trade barriers and market-access restrictions that currently limit their ability to sell…
Volkswagen Cuts 2026 Profit Outlook After $7 Billion Porsche Write-Down
Volkswagen has sharply reduced its 2026 profit outlook after taking a €6 billion ($6.9 billion) non-cash impairment charge related to Porsche, adding another major setback to a restructuring effort already being driven by weak Chinese…
10 Cars With The Best Infotainment In 2026
Infotainment has become one of the biggest differences between modern cars. A good system should do more than put a giant screen in the dashboard. It needs to respond quickly, present information clearly, integrate smartphones…
5 Repairs Worth Paying For and 5 Worth Doing Yourself
Car repairs can become expensive surprisingly quickly, but paying a professional is not always the best use of your money. Some jobs require specialized equipment, precise measurements, programming, or safety-critical procedures that make professional workmanship…
The Federal Crash Investigation Program Has Nearly Stopped Working
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Special Crash Investigations program is designed to give federal safety officials an unusually detailed look at serious and unusual crashes. But the program’s activity has fallen sharply in 2026,…
10 Cars With the Lowest Collision Claim Frequency
Insurance claim data can reveal a side of vehicle ownership that horsepower figures and crash-test ratings cannot. HLDI’s collision-loss data tracks how frequently insured vehicles generate collision claims, allowing different vehicle series to be compared…
10 States Where Motorcycle Helmets Are Required for All Riders
Motorcycle helmet laws differ sharply across the United States. Some states require every rider and passenger to wear a helmet, while others apply helmet requirements only to younger riders or certain situations. According to the…
Regulators Ordered a Recall Themselves for the First Time in Decades
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration took an unusually direct step in April 2026 when it ordered manufacturers and importers to recall a group of defective airbag inflators that the agency said had been linked…
10 Quickest SUVs to 60 MPH Ever Sold – Ranked
Modern SUVs have become fast enough to challenge sports cars, and the quickest examples can deliver acceleration that would have seemed impossible for a tall, heavy vehicle a generation ago. For this ranking, the key…
12 New Sedans Confirmed for 2028
Sedans are no longer the dominant body style in the U.S. market, but automakers have not abandoned them completely. Several manufacturers are preparing new generations, performance sedans, and revived nameplates for the latter half of…
10 Fastest Tire Inflators – Ranked
A slow tire inflator can turn a simple pressure adjustment into a surprisingly long roadside chore. The fastest models use stronger motors, higher airflow, or direct battery power to move considerably more air than tiny…
9 Hidden Features in the Ford Mustang Mach-E
The Ford Mustang Mach-E has plenty of attention-grabbing numbers, from its electric power to its available long-range battery, but some of its most useful features are easy to overlook. Several functions are tucked into the…
11 New SUVs That Still Offer a V6
V6 engines are becoming harder to find as automakers shift toward turbocharged four-cylinders, hybrids, and electric powertrains. Yet several new U.S.-market SUVs still offer six-cylinder engines, giving buyers more traditional power delivery, strong towing ability,…
8 Best Windshield Wiper Brands – Ranked
Windshield wipers are easy to ignore until the first heavy storm turns the glass into a wall of water. A good blade should maintain even contact with the windshield, clear water without streaking, resist deterioration…