10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Tesla Model X, Model Y Pull Ahead of SUV Towing Capacity
With Audi’s ever-expanding e-Tron series, Jaguar’s I-Pace and a plug-in Porsche Macan on the way, Tesla is no longer the only name in luxury long-range electric SUVs — but the brand still has that je ne sais quoi to boost its reputation. The one-two combo of the Model X and Model Y SUVs’ intangible appeal, plus the packaging of the whole Tesla thing into the body style du jour, continues to make the Silicon Valley-born automaker an enticing choice in the space.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Subarus Rein in Mustang Mach-E
Also enticing was Cars.com’s Tesla SUV buying guide, evidenced by its decisive first-place finish on our weekly countdown of most popular articles. The Model Y’s starting prices range from $52,690 to $62,190, while the Model X runs $91,190 to $121,190. But our comprehensive overview of both SUVs (high-riding hatchbacks, really, but what does that even mean anymore?) comprises so much more than just price.
For a full report on seating, cargo room, driving range and mileage efficiency, towing capacity, and physical and performance specs, as well as a rundown of the positives and negatives of each, follow the link below to Cars.com’s No. 1 article of the past week.
Meanwhile, with camper culture and RVing enjoying a pandemic-precipitated surge in popularity over the past year or so, how much you can pull behind your vehicles is at the forefront of SUV shoppers’ minds — and wouldn’tcha know it, we’ve broken down the 10 SUVs with the highest towing capacity for your convenient reference when narrowing down the options. The top five include the Ford Expedition, boasting 9,300 pounds of pulling power; the Dodge Durango, at 8,700 pounds; the Lincoln Navigator, at 8,700 pounds; the Nissan Armada, at 8,500 pounds; and the Infiniti QX80, at 8,500 pounds. For the balance of the top 10, as well as helpful context for each SUV, follow the link below to this week’s No. 4 article.
Taking the second-place spot, meanwhile, is our primer on how your credit score impacts your ability to secure a car loan, including a breakdown of how high a score you need to do so. Here’s a bit of good news for those who have, let’s say, unexceptional credit history: “An average score still can qualify for a relatively low-cost loan compared to the top levels. Experian reported that for the fourth quarter of 2020, the average new-car loan rate for scores of at least 661 was only about 1 percentage point higher than the interest rate for scores above 780. On used-car loans, which have higher rates overall, the spread still was less than 2 percentage points.”
For the full credit-score context, follow the link below to this week’s No. 2 article.
Beyond that, we have headlines on the Honda CR-V Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Carnival, Honda Accord and much more, so be sure to check out the entire countdown. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
2. What Credit Score Do You Need for a Car Loan?
3. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
4. These 10 SUVs Have the Highest Towing Capacity
5. Now Is a Good Time to Sell Your Extra Used Car; Here’s Why
6. Hybrid Head-to-Head: 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid Vs. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
7. Is the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe a Good Car? 5 Pros and 4 Cons
8. Is the 2022 Kia Carnival a Good Car? 5 Pros and 3 Cons
9. Steering Issue Prompts Investigation of 1.1 Million 2013-15 Honda Accords
10. Which Car Brand Has the Lowest Service Costs in the First 3 Months?
Related Video: 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid Vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: Head to Head
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