These Are the Most Expensive Car Brands to Maintain

The most expensive thing most Americans own, after their house, is their car. On average, Americans spend 5% of their income on purchasing a car. Another 5% goes towards on-going maintenance and insurance costs.

But not every car costs the same to keep it running. And different cars have varying risks of leaving their drivers suddenly immobilized.

At YourMechanic, we have a massive dataset of the make and model of the cars we have serviced and the type of maintenance done. We decided to use our data to understand which cars break down the most and have the highest maintenance costs. We also looked into which types of maintenance are most common to certain cars.

First, we looked at which major brands cost the most to maintain over the first 10 years of a car’s life. We grouped all years of all models by brand to compute their average cost by brand. In order to estimate annual maintenance costs, we found the amount spent on every two oil changes (as oil changes are generally done every six months).

Luxury imports from Germany, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, along with domestic luxury brand Cadillac, are the most expensive. A Toyota is about $10,000 less expensive over 10 years, just in terms of maintenance.

Toyota is by far the most economical manufacturer. Scion and Lexus, the second and third most inexpensive brands, are both made by Toyota. Together, all three are 10% below the average cost.
Most domestic brands, like Ford and Dodge, are in the middle of the pack.

While luxury cars call for the most expensive maintenance, many budget vehicles rank relatively high. Kia, an entry-level brand, surprises with maintenance costs 1.3 times the average. In this case, sticker prices don't represent maintenance costs.

Knowing the relative maintenance costs of brands can be informative, but it’s also important to consider how car costs change with age. This chart looks at the median annual cost of maintenance across all brands.

Source with more of the article;
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/the-most-and-least-expensive-cars-to-maintain-by-maddy-martin

Autoblog.com: 2017 Honda Ridgeline enters the landscape block war

by Jeremy Korzeniewski of www.autoblog.com

In the test of pickup truck beds, if steel is apples and aluminum is oranges, Honda wants you to know that composites are pineapples. Chevy recently performed a test in which its own Silverado was pitted against its most obvious competitor, the Ford F-150. A loader dropped over 800 pounds of landscaping blocks into the two truck beds, and Ford's aluminum bed ended up with more damage than Chevy's steel bed. Check that test out right here.

Honda apparently wasn't content to let Chevy throw stones alone. In a new test, the Japanese automaker replicated the block-drop test using its brand-new Ridgeline truck, which features a composite bed. As you'll see in the video above, there was very little damage to the high-strength plastic bed of the Ridgeline after a similar load of landscaping blocks were dropped from a loader.

Without being on hand at any of these tests, we can't say with any degree of certainty that they match up in severity. But they all look pretty similar, and this is actually a test that Honda performed in front of journalists (ourselves included) earlier this year. We visually inspected the composite bed of a Ridgeline after a demonstration just like the one on video above, and can confirm that there was basically no damage to Honda's truck. Chevy went an extra step by flinging a heavy toolbox into the Silverado and F-150; Honda didn't match that particular test.

Does any of this matter? That's up to truck buyers and owners to decide, naturally, but we doubt anyone would actually dump a load like this into their own truck. And it's also worth noting that a heavy-duty spray-on bedliner would probably minimize damage to the metal surface below, whether steel or aluminum. If nothing else, it's memorable marketing.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/06/12/2017-honda-ridgeline-pickup-truck-bed-test-video/

Honda to halt production of CR-Z hybrid sports car

by Kyodo News

TOKYO - Honda Motor Co said Thursday it will halt production of the CR-Z hybrid sports car by the end of this year due to sluggish sales.

The CR-Z, which was released in February 2010 and later acclaimed as the best passenger car in Japan, had sold a total of about 40,000 units by last month, against the Japanese automaker's initial target of global annual sales of about 40,000 to 50,000 units.

Honda launched the hybrid sports car with the aim of revitalising a shrinking sports car market, with car ownership among young people declining. The CR-Z won the title of Car of the Year Japan for 2010-2011.

"We made a comprehensive judgment, including sales condition," the automaker said regarding its decision to terminate production of the vehicle.

Prior to the halt of production, Honda will release on Friday a CR-Z with special features such as black interior and embroidery logos on car seats, priced at around 2.8 million yen (920,000 baht).

Source;
http://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/news/1005865/honda-to-halt-production-of-cr-z-hybrid-sports-car

2017 Honda Accord Hybrid gets more power, efficiency

by Hans Greimel of www.autonews.com

TOKYO -- The re-engineered 2017 Accord Hybrid delivers what Honda calls class-leading fuel economy thanks to a tweaked two-motor hybrid system that improves power and efficiency.

The updated sedan, which goes on sale this spring in the U.S. and Japan, gets a version of a new gasoline-electric drivetrain that debuted in February in the Japan-market Odyssey minivan.

The U.S. Accord Hybrid achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 49 mpg city/47 highway/48 combined. Honda says that makes it the most fuel efficient midsize hybrid sedan on the road.

The ratings are calculated under new, more stringent requirements demanded from the 2017 model year. The ratings represent a +1 mpg city/+2 highway/+1 combined increase over the 2015 Accord Hybrid, if that car's ratings were calculated under the same method.

Banking on better mpg, Honda expects North America to be the top market for the renewed Accord Hybrid, Chief Engineer Koji Ninomiya said at a May 11 briefing. Honda expects U.S. annual sales to double their previous high of 14,000 vehicles in 2014. In Japan, by contrast, Honda expects to sell 1,800 a year.

By cutting the size and weight of key components such as the battery and power control unit, Honda engineers upgraded the two-motor hybrid system previously used in the Accord Hybrid. Honda dubs the system the Sport Hybrid i-MMD powertrain.

The new hybrid system's power control unit and electric motors are 23 percent smaller than those in the outgoing Accord Hybrid, Ninomiya said. But the motors deliver more torque and horsepower. The power control unit is also 27 percent lighter.

The intelligent power unit, which includes the lithium ion battery, is 33 percent smaller and 13 percent lighter.

The battery is supplied by Blue Energy Japan Co., a battery-making joint venture established in 2009 between Honda and Japanese battery company GS Yuasa Corp.

Honda consolidated production of the Accord Hybrid at its Sayama plant north of Tokyo for the current version, Ninomiya said. The carmaker also had been making the Accord Hybrid in the U.S., but Honda ended output there last summer as part of an effort to boost factory utilization rates in Japan.

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20160606/OEM04/306069953/2017-honda-accord-hybrid-gets-more-power-efficiency

USNEWS: Head to Head: Honda CR-V vs. Subaru Forester

• By Matt Rand
• 02:05PM Jun 01, 2016

2016 Honda CR-V (American Honda Motor Co., Inc.) 

 

Americans brought home more crossover SUVs last month than any other type of vehicle, and the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester are two of the most appealing choices in this booming segment. Both compact SUVs excel in terms of practicality and utility, offering good gas mileage, a spacious cargo area, and roomy seating for the class.

The CR-V was last redesigned in 2012, while the Forester’s most recent makeover came in 2014. Over the last couple years, the CR-V and Forester have received more modest updates to stay fresh in terms of technology and styling. While they have similar strengths, there are some key differences between the two that may influence your buying decision, so read on to find out which SUV is better for you.

Pricing

2016 Subaru Forester (Subaru of America, Inc.)

Winner: Forester
The Subaru Forester’s starting price of $22,395 undercuts the CR-V’s $23,745 base price. Both SUVs come standard with convenience features like a USB port, Bluetooth, and a rearview camera. With the Forester, you’ll also get a standard touch-screen infotainment system and HD Radio, both of which will cost you extra with the CR-V.

Under the hood, both the CR-V and Forester have a four-cylinder engine. An automatic transmission is standard with the CR-V, while the Forester comes with a manual. Opting for an automatic transmission in the Forester bumps up the price to $23,395, which is still $400 less than the CR-V’s base price.

The Forester comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), so if you want that added traction in bad weather, Subaru’s SUV is the better value. An AWD-equipped CR-V raises the price to $25,045.

Inside, both SUVs are available with a wide range of convenience and tech features including dual-zone automatic climate control, an upgraded audio system, navigation, and plenty of driver-assistance features.

Top-of-the-line pricing is similar at $33,395 for the CR-V AWD Touring and $33,795 for the Forester 2.0XT Touring, but you’ll get a more potent turbocharged engine with the Forester.

Safety

2016 Honda CR-V (American Honda Motor Co., Inc.)

Winner: CR-V
Regardless of whether you choose the CR-V or Forester, you’ll have a very safe vehicle. Based on crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the CR-V receives an excellent safety score of 9.7 out of 10. The Forester’s is just a little lower at 9.3

Both SUVs received “Good” ratings (the best possible) in all of IIHS’s crash tests. In NHTSA’s tests, the CR-V and Forester earned perfect 5-star ratings in side crash protection and 4-stars in rollover protection. In front crash tests, however, the CR-V received 5-stars while the Forester earned a 4-star rating.

In terms of driver-assistance technologies, both the CR-V and Forester are available with lane departure warning, pre-collision automatic braking, and adaptive cruise control. The CR-V can also be equipped with the Honda LaneWatch blind spot camera.

Reliability

Winner: CR-V
The CR-V’s 3.5-circle (out of five) predicted reliability rating from J.D. Power is slightly above average for a compact SUV, while the Forester’s 2-circle rating is among the worst.

Over the long haul, the more reliable CR-V will likely save you money in maintenance and repairs relative to the Forester. These ratings do have some backing, as Honda scores better than most as a brand in J.D. Power’s most recent dependability study, while Subaru scores about average.

Fuel Economy

Winner: CR-V
The base CR-V with an automatic transmission returns an EPA-estimated 26/33 mpg city/highway, which is very good for a compact SUV. An automatic transmission-equipped Forester makes 24/32 mpg city/highway, which is closer to the class average.

Keep in mind, the Forester comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), which generally hurts fuel economy. The Forester’s 27 mpg combined city/highway is good for an all-wheel drive SUV though. If you opt for a CR-V with all-wheel drive, gas mileage is similar to the AWD Forester at 25/31 mpg city/highway, or 27 mpg combined.

Performance

Winner: Forester
Under the hood, the CR-V and Forester each have four-cylinder engines that produce 185 and 170 horsepower, respectively. That’s adequate muscle for daily driving in both SUVs, but some rivals like the Volkswagen Tiguan and Kia Sportage offer more spirited acceleration.

If you want a livelier engine, you can upgrade to the Forester’s turbocharged 250-horsepower four-cylinder ($29,195), which has more than enough strength to make easy passes on the highway and climb hills. The CR-V isn’t available with a larger engine.

On winding roads, the CR-V and Forester have composed handling and precise steering, but rivals like the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5 are better choices for sporty dynamics. On rougher roads, both the CR-V and Forester deliver a smooth and comfortable ride.

If traction in inclement weather is a top priority, the Forester is a better value. Its all-wheel drive system provides stability in tough conditions and you can get it with an automatic transmission for about $1,600 less than you can with the CR-V. The Forester’s more powerful engine option also pushes the scales toward Subaru when it comes to performance.

Seat Comfort

2016 Subaru Forester (Subaru of America, Inc.)

Winner: Draw
You can’t go wrong with either SUV when it comes to comfortable and spacious seating. Both the front and back rows in the CR-V and Forester are very accommodating, even for adults, and not much road or wind noise penetrates either cabin. Rear-seat headroom is slightly better in the Forester, while there’s a little more generous legroom in the CR-V.

Both SUVs are available with heated front seats, leather upholstery and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. With similar comfort, space, and features, there’s no clear winner in this category. What is clear is that you and your passengers will be comfortable in both the CR-V and Forester.

Cargo Space

Winner: Forester
The Forester and CR-V are both standouts in terms of cargo space. With the rear seats folded down, the Forester boasts 74.7 cubic feet of space, which is one of the best figures of any compact SUV. Keep in mind, if you opt for the Forester’s panoramic moonroof, available luggage space drops to 68.5 cubic feet. The CR-V’s maximum storage space measures 70.9 cubic feet for all trim levels.

Both SUVs are available with a power liftgate, while the CR-V’s low cargo loading floor makes lifting in luggage a little easier. Up front, the Forester has a large glove box that helps with stowing smaller items.

Interior Tech

2016 Honda CR-V (American Honda Motor Co., Inc.)

Winner: Draw
A 6.2-inch touch-screen infotainment system comes standard with the Forester, while a larger 7-inch touch screen is available. The CR-V doesn’t come standard with one, but a 7-inch touch screen is optional. Features like dual-zone automatic climate control, an upgraded audio system, satellite radio, push-button start, a power moonroof, and navigation are available with both vehicles.

In terms of usability, the CR-V does well, as all the climate and audio controls are intuitively located and easy to use. The Forester’s standard touch screen is a little small and can be difficult to read on a sunny day, but the larger screen has better graphics and can be operated using pinching and swipe gestures like a smartphone. Plus, all the Forester’s climate and audio controls are easy to use, and both iPhone and Android devices can be paired with the available Harman Kardon audio system.

With similar standard and available features and easy-to-use controls, the CR-V and Forester are in a dead heat on the technology front. You’ll likely be more than satisfied with either SUV.

Winner: 2016 Honda CR-V

As you can see from this tight head-to-head showdown, the CR-V and Forester have a lot in common and are both strong choices for your next compact SUV. Ultimately, the CR-V comes out on top largely due to its superior safety and reliability ratings.

In fact, the CR-V is currently the top-ranked compact SUV, and we named it the 2016 Best Compact SUV for Families thanks to its family-friendly space and features, great safety and reliability ratings, and excellent expert reviews. It was also a finalist for the 2016 Best Compact SUV for the Money award due to its combination of quality and value.

The Subaru Forester isn’t an award winner and it currently sits in tenth in our compact SUV rankings. While its standard all-wheel drive, spacious interior, and long list of tech features are appealing, its poor reliability rating ultimately holds it back. Until that improves, the CR-V is the better choice for a practical, comfortable, and durable compact SUV.

Source;
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/best-cars-blog/2016/04/Head_to_Head_Honda_CR-V_vs_Subaru_Forester/

Consumer Reports: 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup Looks More Trucky, Yet Remains Innovative

Second-generation hides car-like qualities under tough truck appearance

By Mike Quincy

After a two model-year break, Honda’s unique Ridgeline pickup returns as a 2017 model. Most obviously, it now looks more like a traditional truck; for example, the truck bed, instead of tapering downward toward the tailgate like it did before, is now a lot lower near the cab, making it easier to load from the side. The bed is also an important four inches longer and a half-inch wider, making it considerably more useful. But the bed is shallow, so you'll need to brush up on your knot-tying techniques for taller items.
Honda pleased many weekend warriors with the 2005 introduction of its previous Ridgeline, which was considered a smaller, lighter pickup than its work-bred competitors. Rather than following the decades-old formula of body-on-frame design and a live rear axle, the Ridgeline used unit-body construction and an independent rear suspension—borrowing underpinnings from the mild-mannered Honda Pilot SUV.
Despite that seemingly sound logic, the unconventionally-styled first-generation Ridgeline wasn’t a sales success. Maybe it just wasn't "trucky" enough. Maybe the design was too weird.
Undaunted, Honda has pressed forward with their second-generation pickup truck. The base, two-wheel-drive 2017 Honda Ridgeline starts at $29,475. While most trucks offer a variety of body styles, you can only get a Ridgeline as a four-door crew-cab. 

Driving Impressions

Despite the new look, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline retains some of the key ingredients that made this svelte truck so appealing—such as the innovative tailgate that can swing open like a door, or flip down in normal fashion. All Ridgelines also get a handy, lockable trunk-like cargo space beneath the bed floor. 

The Ridgeline's tailgate can swing down or to one side, giving access to the water-tight, in-bed trunk.

The independent suspension that makes the trunk space possible also contributes to a much more comfortable ride and better handling than all conventional trucks. It drives very much like a contemporary SUV rather than an antiquated load hauler—as the Ridgeline's basic platform is still shared with the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX. The interior is very quiet, even on an extended highway cruise.
The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 280 hp (a 30-hp bump from the last version). It runs through a six-speed automatic transmission. And for the first time, the Ridgeline will be available with front-wheel drive, along with the usual all-wheel drive. EPA fuel economy figures show 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway for AWD models. This improvement was important, as the previous Ridgeline was really thirsty for its size and horsepower. 

Honda claims the Ridgeline outpaces traditional midsized trucks in towing capacity and cargo hauling, but like the first generation, towing is limited to 5,000 pounds. Competitors like the Chevrolet Colorado (nearly 7,000 pounds) and the Toyota Tacoma (6,400 pounds) have greater towing capacities. The 2017 Honda Ridgeline has some off-roading capability, but it wouldn't be wise to take this truck on a day of serious boulder hopping. This is where the independent suspension will fall short compared to traditional pickup trucks.
Advanced safety equipment like blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning with automatic braking are optional, but only on the two top trim levels.

The Ridgeline has some off-roading capability, but it wouldn't be wise to take this truck on a day of serious boulder hopping.

Inside the Cabin

Inside, you'll find relatively comfortable seats and lots of handy bins and trays to hold stuff, including storage under the rear seat. All in all, it's a lot nicer in here than inside a Tacoma or Colorado. The layout of the 2017 Honda Ridgeline feels like a Pilot with a bed rather than a third-row seat. And all models come with keyless push-button start and a rear-view camera.
Higher-end models get an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system with navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. However, about that 8-inch screen: It’s a poorly-designed touch-screen that’s frustrating to use. There are no conventional knobs or buttons for the radio. It's just a sleek-looking pane of glass that reflects glare, the screen layout isn't intuitive, and the controls are hard to tab with your fingers as you roll down the road. We didn’t like this arrangement in the Honda Pilot, and we don’t like it here.
Lower trim lines have a 5-inch screen that’s easier to use, with more traditional knobs and buttons. 

The layout of the Ridgeline's interior feels like a Pilot with a bed rather than a third-row seat.

CR's Take

The new Honda Ridgeline has real appeal, thanks to its supple ride, relatively responsive handling, punchy engine, and a cabin and bed that are full of clever tricks. Whether it appeals to truck traditionalists more than the first one did is a big question. Just maybe it has moved ever cautiously toward the mainstream enough to broaden its appearance and utility to attract a larger audience. Likely it will attract current Honda owners who realize they need a larger space to tow their jet-skis, or to bring home their weekend's haul of antiquing. Check back with us once we finish putting it through the entire battery of Consumer Reports' tests.  

Source;
http://www.consumerreports.org/ridgeline/2017-honda-ridgeline-pickup-truck/

Inside Honda's ghost town for testing autonomous cars

by Roberto Baldwin of www.engadget.com

On the edge of the San Francisco suburb of Concord, California sits a ghost town. Dilapidated buildings and cracked roads are framed by overgrowth and slightly askew street signs. The decommissioned five acre portion of the Concord Naval Weapons Station that once housed military personnel and their families is now home to squirrels, jack rabbits, wild turkeys and Honda's mysterious testing lab for autonomous vehicles.

This former town within a Naval base -- now dubbed "GoMentum Station" -- is the perfect testing ground for Honda's self-driving cars. An almost turn-key solution to the problem of finding somewhere to experiment with autonomous vehicle inside an urban area. Thanks to the GoMentum Station, the automaker has access to 20 miles of various road types, intersections and infrastructure exactly like those found in the real world. Just, you know, without all the people getting in the way. While the faded lane markers and cracked asphalt might initially make it difficult for the car to figure out what's going on around it, that's exactly what you want when training a self-driving system.

Many roads in the real world are also in dire need of upkeep. Just because autonomous vehicles are hitting the streets doesn't mean the funding needed to fix all the potholes and faded lane markers will magically appear. The real world doesn't work that way and the robot cars that will eventually make our commutes less of a headache will need to be aware of that. Plus, it's tougher to train a car to drive downtown than to barrel down the highway at 80 miles per hour. A company is going to want to get as much practice as possible.

While semi-autonomous driving on the everyone-going-the-same-way-at-a-constant-speed freeway is already a reality, navigating in an urban environment is far more complex. If you've driven on the streets of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago or Seattle you know that driving downtown takes far more concentration than cruising down the interstate.

With all that in mind, Honda's tricked out Acura RLX did a good job during an (admittedly very controlled) hands-free demo. It didn't hit either of the pedestrians walking across its path. It stopped at stop signs and even maneuvered around a mannequin situated in the middle of the road.

The reality is, watching a car drive around the block and safely avoid stuff is boring. Not to metion, Google has been doing this for a while in the real world. A few people joked that maybe someone should leap in front of the car to add some excitement. Honda, unsurprisingly, didn't seem too keen to that idea.

But, when it comes to autonomous cars, mundane is good. Boring driving is safe driving. Sure it was like watching an overly cautious driving instructor giving a lesson on how to avoid collisions. But, then you remember, there is no human in control. All the sensors, cameras, GPUs and development needed to keep the car from running into a pedestrian is insane.

Honda's Chief Engineer of Research and Development, Jim Keller, said the automaker has access to the facility for the foreseeable future. Part of the deal is that it has to take care of the upkeep. Eventually it'll paint new lines and add new signs. It's even going to create the driving conditions of European and Japanese roads. GoMentum Station will eventually go from quaint overgrown town to bustling car-testing mini-metropolis as the company aims for a 2020 release of an autonomous car. Just don't tell the squirrels.

Check this link out for more pictures and a video;
Source;
http://www.engadget.com/2016/06/02/inside-honda-gomentum-station/

Honda shows off self-driving cars at new Calif testing facility

An autonomous version of Acura's RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is pictured during a media tour of carmaker Honda's testing grounds at the GoMentum Station autonomous vehicle test facility in Concord, California June 1, 2016. REUTERS/Noah Berger

By Alexandria Sage

CONCORD, Calif (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co gave a sneak preview of its self-driving prototypes on Wednesday, saying it was already on its way to offering semi-autonomous safety functions to the mass market.

The Japanese automaker has been less vocal about its plans for self-driving cars than larger rivals like Toyota and General Motors, which in recent months have shown off major research and development projects and big-ticket acquisitions.

But under the radar, Honda has been building semi-autonomous functionality, including forward-collision warning, lane- departure warning and lane-keeping assist. These features are already being rolled out in Honda's Acuras and the Civic model year 2016, which costs about $22,000.

"We under-promise and over-deliver as a promise, as a company. There are a lot of promises talked about by a lot of companies," said Jim Keller, chief engineer for Honda Research and Development Americas, referring to the pervasive industry hype.

With the current roll-out of semi-autonomous functions, which it says will pave the way for full autonomy on highways by 2020, Honda says it differs from rivals, whose self-driving efforts have centered on their luxury models.

"This is a unique differentiator for Honda ... who is committed to the concept of safety for everyone," said Keller. "Unless we democratize it across our lineup it will be just a niche."

Honda showed off two prototypes it has used in testing at the GoMentum Station, a 5,000-acre former naval munitions zone that features 20 miles of paved roadway, tunnels and other infrastructure ideal for testing.

On Wednesday, reporters saw the cars accelerate, stop and cede the way for pedestrians, and turn in autonomous mode.

The site in Concord, California, about 30 miles northeast of San Francisco, hopes to lure other carmakers to test autonomous cars there. Besides Honda, the French maker of driverless shuttles, Easy Mile, also tests there.

The auto industry has been marked by a series of high-profile investments and acquisitions related to autonomous driving in recent months. General Motors in January bought autonomous vehicle technology start-up Cruise Automation for a reported $1 billion, while Toyota has committed to spending $1 billion over five years to develop technologies behind the self-driving car.

(Reporting by Alexandria Sage; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Source;
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/honda-shows-off-self-driving-cars-calif-testing-040445379--finance.html