This week, we reported about 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L prices, the new Mercedes-AMG E-Performance line, Porsche’s new Taycan Cross Turismo, and Volvo’s switch to online sales. Speaking of Volvo, it debuted a new crossover coupe thingamabob called the C40 Recharge this week.
In other news, we published reviews of the new 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV and the refreshed 2021 Honda Ridgeline, a comparison of the 2021 Honda Civic vs. 2021 Toyota Corolla, and advice about how auto financing works. And if you’ve ever wondered what one-pedal driving is, we’ve explained it for you.
But that’s not everything that was happening in the automotive space.
Mitsubishi has announced a rebirth, and the Outlander is the opening salvo. Now, prices for the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander are available for your consideration.
Based on the recently redesigned Nissan Rogue and chock-full of similar connected and safety technologies, the compact Outlander ranges in price between $25,795 for the base ES trim to $36,445 for the top SEL trim level with the Touring Package and all-wheel drive. These prices do not include the $1,195 destination charge.
The new 2022 Outlander arrives in showrooms in April.
Last week, we reported on the Nissan Rogue’s lackluster 2-star front-passenger crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2021 Nissan Rogue the NHTSA tested rolled off the assembly line in Kyushu, Japan, not Smyrna, Tennesse.
This week, Nissan said it started making changes to address the problem on all Rogues built in Kyushu after January 28th, 2021. Autoblog reports that the changes include replacing the seat belt and updating the airbag for the front passenger, along with software refinements. Rogues built previous to that date will be called in for a retrofit to apply the modifications.
The NHTSA said it would re-test the 2021 Rogue in May, and Nissan hopes these changes will improve the popular SUV’s score.
Engineers Rate U.S. Infrastructure as Sub-par
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the wealthiest, most powerful country in the world rates a C- for the quality of its roads, bridges, water systems, and public transit.
Years of underfunding infrastructure projects and political logjams have resulted in a low grade that the group said will take about $5.9 trillion over the next ten years to address, which is more than double the $2.3 billion of the current spend in both public and private funds.
The report includes grades for 17 infrastructure categories. U.S. rail and ports receive grades of Bs, four sectors get Cs, and in 11 categories, including roads and highways, the U.S. barely passes with Ds. Still, the overall rating is slightly improved over the D+ grade that the U.S. received in 2017.
As a fellow middling student named Jeff Spicoli might say: “Bogus.”
U.S. Traffic Deaths Rise
Anyone who had to drive during 2020 appreciated the deserted roads and freeways as people stayed home and away from others.
You would think less traffic and fewer drivers would result in reduced collisions, but no. The National Safety Council reported that in 2020, 42,060 people died in car crashes – the most fatalities in 13 years, and an 8% increase over the 39,107 souls who perished in 2019. The best guess as to why? Higher speeds on empty roads led to more severe collisions.
The National Safety Council also said collisions led to 4.8 million injuries requiring medical treatment and estimated that the cost of crashes reached $474.4 billion.
Honda Legend is World’s First Level 3 Autonomous Car - Find the best Honda deals!
While vehicles around the world are currently limited to Level 2+ advanced driving assistance systems (think General Motors Super Cruise), Japan leaps ahead to Level 3. The country has approved a limited run of Honda Legends (think Acura RLX) equipped with the world’s first Level 3 ADAS approved for public use.
Part of a Honda Sensing Elite system, Traffic Jam Pilot works at lower speeds and takes full control of the vehicle, allowing the driver to focus on other tasks. However, the driver must be able to take over at any time. If the technology requests that the driver resume control of the vehicle and the driver is unresponsive, an automatic emergency stop assistance system engages. The car will pull over on the shoulder of the road, stop, and turn on the hazard lights.
The Honda Legend with Honda Sensing Elite is available only for lease, not purchase.
You are now subscribed to the J.D. Power Cars Newsletter.
