Guides · Tech · History · How-to
Buyer’s guides, car technology explained in plain English, stories from automotive history and practical how-tos for anyone who loves life on wheels.
Fresh off the press. Start here if you only have time for one read.
Buyer's Guide
The most reliable, most fuel-efficient and cheapest-to-repair sedans, small SUVs, three-row SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks (compact, midsize, full-size and heavy duty), brand new, about five years old and under $15,000.
Read the full guideEvery article we’ve published, newest first. New stories and guides are added regularly.
Buyer's Guide
How summer, all-season, all-weather, winter and studded tires really differ, what the tests show, which road-legal semi-slicks to run on track days, how to read the markings on your tires, what pressure to run, and which type makes sense for where you live.
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Buyer's Guide
Everything to check before you buy a used car: history, recalls and liens, the walkaround, a cold start and OBD scan, the test drive, plus extra checks for gas, diesel, hybrid and electric cars, and when to walk away.
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How It Works
How mild, full and plug-in hybrids actually work: the four types, how Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Nissan build them, what plugging in really changes, how hybrids differ around the world, and a maintenance chart by kilometre. Part 4 of our Engines Explained series.
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How It Works
What actually happens when you press the pedal in an EV: the battery, inverter, motor and one-speed gearbox, how charging and regenerative braking work, the plugs used around the world, and a maintenance chart by kilometre. Part 3 of our Engines Explained series.
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How It Works
Why diesels need no spark plugs, how glow plugs and common-rail injection work, what DEF (AdBlue) does, how diesel differs around the world, and a maintenance chart by kilometre. Part 2 of our Engines Explained series.
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How It Works
What starts a gas engine, how fuel injectors and spark plugs work, what keeps it cool, and a maintenance chart showing which parts need service and when. Part 1 of our Engines Explained series.
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Tech Explained
The full story of the car battery: 160 years of history, the companies that make today's EV batteries, the chemistries inside them, the patents and inventors behind them, and where the technology goes next.
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Buyer's Guide
Gas, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric? A plain-English guide to how each one works, what it really costs to run, and which fits the way you drive.
Read moreEvery article is written for real drivers, not engineers. We skip the jargon, explain what actually matters and help you make better decisions about the cars you drive, buy and love. Got a topic you want covered? Tell us.
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