Big news! Automotive Map has moved to a new site and has changed its name to Your Test Driver. You'll notice the same format, writing style, and content on the new site. That's because Your Test Driver is run by Chris Teague, the former editor of Automotive Map. We hope to see you there for continued coverage of news, reviews, and features from around the automotive industry.
Photo courtesy of American Honda Motor Co.
Honda, Acura establish online used vehicle marketplaces
Honda and Acura are, like many automakers, taking advantage of the change in buyers' attitudes toward in-person purchasing our to COVID-19, and using the opportunity to transition into new, more modern forms of shopping for and purchasing a new or used vehicle. Acura is the premium brand of American Honda Motor Co.
Both companies are now selling non-certified used vehicles via specialized websites: AcuraCertified.com and HondaCertified.com. The move is in an effort to streamline the buying process for customers and serves as an extension of the Acura Precision Certified and HondaTrue Certified certified pre-owned (CPO) programs.
Shoppers that visit the websites are able to shop dealer inventories of Acura and Honda used vehicles that include up to 10 previous model years. Vehicles traditionally undergo major changes every three to four years. By including these search results, buyers can see if they might be able to get a better deal on a very similar vehicle just one or two (or more) model years older or younger.
"With the continued rise in new-vehicle prices, the first vehicle purchase for many buyers will come from the used-car market, and our upgraded website makes this process more simple and enjoyable," said Dan Rodriguez, manager of auto remarketing at American Honda. "As a leading brand among first-time and younger buyers, expanding our branded website to include used vehicles up to ten years old offers customers more high value options with quality Honda products and their local Honda dealer standing behind their purchase."
Both companies will be adding enhancements to the website in the near future aligning with Acura's Precision Purchase and Shop Simple by Honda online buying tools. This will take the process of purchasing a used Acura vehicle to the next level by enabling customers to complete most of the purchase process online.
Photo courtesy of Acura
Acura turns commercial into a mobile racing game
Forget Candy Crush, Forge of Empires, and Words with Friends. Acura has turned its "Less Talk, More Drive" television commercial into a mobile racing game.
The game, dubbed "Beat That!" allows players to race through multiple gaming eras while behind the wheel of some of Acura's most iconic vehicles like the NSX and Integra. The graphics of each level are period correct for the vehicles driven, from 8-bit to photo-realistic scenes.
Acura's "Beat That!" Game: Main Screen
Photo courtesy of Acura
In the six-level game, there is a different vehicle driven at leach level. The vehicles each race on a different track and have their own driving characteristics.
- Level 1: 1991 Acura NSX – 8-bit Beach
- Level 2: 1998 Acura Integra Type R – Warehouse Complex
- Level 3: 2020 Acura RDX A-Spec – Snowy Summit
- Level 4: Acura ARX-05 Daytona Prototype race car – Grand Prix Circuit
- Level 5: 2020 Acura NSX – Super Skyway
- Level 6: Acura Type S Concept – Cyber Tunnel
How do you level up? Beat a specific lap time to unlock the next level of the game for racing. Once a player completes a lap, they can challenge a friend to "Beat That", by completing a lap at a faster time.
The game features dynamic share cards allowing players to share times and challenge their social networks. These share cards contain the level, vehicle, and individual lap time that each gamer earned on a specific track. In addition to being able to share across social feeds, players also can send a challenge to friends and family through Facebook Messenger or any other instant messaging platform.
Players also can test their skills through challenge lap times on the daily top 10 or all-time top 10 leaderboard. They can do so by clicking the "Challenge" button next to an individual lap time on the leaderboard. This will overlay a "ghost car" of that run into the game, giving the player the chance to "Beat That" time.
In addition to the mobile and desktop versions, "Beat That" is available for play in the Facebook Instant Games platform. Players can access this version by visiting:https://fb.gg/play/acura-beat-that. The mobile and desktop versions can be played at acura.com/playbeatthat.
Photo courtesy of Land Rover
Land Rover, Mitsubishi have the best websites according to a new J.D. Power study
Before buyers set foot in a dealership, nearly all of them explore their options online. A new study from J.D. Power has determined that Land Rover and Mitsubishi have the best website experiences of all mass-market automakers.
The U.S. Manufacturer Website Evaluation Study is a semiannual examination of the usefulness of manufacturer websites during the process of shopping for a new vehicle. J.D. Power studied four key usability features of the sites as part of the evaluation: information/content, appearance, navigation, and speed.
Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors
"This year's study was redesigned to underscore several recent trends seen in automotive vehicle manufacturer websites," said Jon Sundberg, senior manager of digital solutions, J.D. Power. "We've taken note of the digital advancements OEM websites are implementing to evolve the automotive shopping experience. Items like personalization, customization and digital retailing are being implemented or are on the digital road map for many OEM sites, and we wanted to ensure the customer has a voice in these areas. We've even added self-guided videos and transcripts of shoppers using OEM websites to give further context to the shopping experience."
To conduct the study, 10,031 new vehicle shoppers were surveyed. To be considered a new vehicle shopper, respondents had to indicate that they will be in the market for a new vehicle within the next 24 months. The survey was fielded in November 2019.
Out of 1,000 possible points, luxury automaker websites received an average of 834 points. The mass market brands averaged 826. Land Rover was the highest ranked with 864 points. Mitsubishi was the highest-ranked mass market brand achieving a score of 848.
J.D. Power first started surveying automaker websites in 1999.
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2023 Nissan Leaf pricing announced
Nissan is nearing the release of the Ariya, its first new EV in several years. Even so, the brand hasn't forgotten about its first mass-market EV, the Leaf. It was an early entrant in the space, and has been an efficient, affordable, commuter car for over a decade. The car got a mild facelift for 2023, with updated wheels and exterior styling accents. Today, Nissan announced pricing for the Leaf, which starts at just under $29,000.
The Leaf feels lively, despite middling power numbers.Nissan
The base Leaf comes with a 40-kWh battery capable of delivering a 149-mile range. Its 110-kW electric motor produces 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The Leaf SV Plus features a 60-kWh battery for a range of 212 miles. It comes with a 160-kW motor that makes 214 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. Nissan backs all Leaf models with an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
ProPilot Assist comes standard for the Leaf SV Plus, and brings a full suite of advanced driver aids that include adaptive cruise control, driver alertness features, and a surround-view monitor. All Leaf models get Nissan Safety Shield 360, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warnings, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking.
The Leaf SV Plus offers up to 212 miles of range.Nissan
The new Leaf starts at $28,895, which includes a $1,095 destination charge. The Leaf SV Plus starts at $36,895. The 2023 Nissan Leaf is on sale now, and may be eligible for federal tax credits of up to $7,500. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to receive a state tax credit or other incentives.
2022 Nissan Altima: Three things to know
The Nissan Altima may not get the attention or the praise that the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord get, but it's a solid entry in an ultra-competitive segment. It's also one of few options in its class with available all-wheel drive. We spent a week with the 2022 Nissan Altima SR Midnight Edition with AWD and came away from the experience impressed. Here are three things to know about the car.
The 2022 Nissan Altima is a Good Value
With a starting price in the mid-$20,000 range and available all-wheel drive, it's hard to complain about value here. The Altima is still reasonably priced at the top end, where it maxes out at around $35,000 before options and fees. That's a great value for a spacious, comfortable car like the Altima, and with all-wheel drive it's a great all-weather commuter.
Nissan offers the Altima in several configurations.Nissan
2022 Altima Interior Space and Comfort are Generous
It's easy to ignore Nissan's Zero Gravity seats as another marketing buzzword, but they are legitimately comfortable and supportive in a way that not many others are. Available leather upholstery and contrast stitching give the interior an upscale feel, but even lower trims' cloth upholstery feels nice and works well from a visual standpoint. Up front, there's room for both passengers to stretch out, and the driver won't feel cramped on leg or headroom. Back-seat passengers get a similar treatment, as there's plenty of space for adults and kids. Parents will find an easy time loading and unloading car seats as well.
The Altima gets an update for 2023 with fresh styling and more tech.Nissan
The 2023 Nissan Altima Gets an Update
Nissan is refreshing the Altima for 2023 with a facelift, new tech, and better safety features. The new car will go on sale in the fall of 2022 and will come in several trims, including one with Nissan's truck VC-Turbo engine. The Altima's most noticeable update will be its front fascia, which is all-new for 2023. Nissan gives the car a fresh grille design that varies depending on the trim, and LED headlights will be standard. Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard, and the Altima is available with all-wheel drive, ProPilot Assist, and more.
2023 Hyundai Palisade pricing announced
Earlier this year, Hyundai announced changes to the Palisade for 2023. The list includes a new front fascia, an updated grille with new headlights and daytime running lights, a 12-inch touchscreen with navigation, and more. A new XRT trim joined the lineup as well, bringing brawny off-road styling and dar exterior trim. Today, Hyundai announced pricing for the SUV, which starts at a little more than $32,000.
A new XRT trim adds rugged styling. Hyundai
The Palisade's powertrain carries over from 2022, which includes a 3.8-liter V6 that makes 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. Inside, the SUV got several new and updated technology features, including a more powerful wireless device charging pad, an updated digital key system, and a larger infotainment display.
As Hyundai's flagship SUV, the Palisade edges on luxury territory, with plush leather upholstery and a serene cabin that offers excellent noise cancellation and comfort. Captain's chairs and seven-passenger seating are available, but a second-row bench comes standard and brings eight-passenger capacity to the SUV.
Muscular SUVs are more popular than ever before, so Hyundai gave the posh Palisade an outdoorsy treatment with its XRT trim. The new Palisade XRT builds on the SEL trim with 20-inch wheels, a more rugged bumper and lower body cladding, a sunroof, and leatherette upholstery. To be clear, XRT is an appearance package that does not improve off-road capability to a large degree.
Top trims border on the quality and design of some luxury brands. Hyundai
Standard safety equipment is generous, and includes forward collision warnings with avoidance, lane keep assist, lane following assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, driver attention warnings, high beam assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Pricing for the base Palisade SE starts at $36,245, which includes a $1,295 destination charge. The top Calligraphy AWD model starts at $52,095 after destination. All-wheel drive is available for all trims as an added-cost option.