snake care

Editor Travis Langness gets behind the wheel of the redesigned 2020 Subaru Outback for a test drive. On the outside, the Outback is updated with fresh new looks in the form of new headlights and taillights, a new front grille, wider fenders, and a bigger opening for loading items in the back. The engines have changed, too, with a reworked version of the standard 2.5-liter engine still powering the base Outback and a new turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder available if you want to upgrade.

It may look like a wagon, but the Subaru is classified as a midsize SUV by our standards, which means it's spacious inside and has a serious amount of ground clearance. It also comes with all-wheel drive as standard.

Subaru has added a tablet-style 11.6-inch touchscreen, with crisp graphics and quick responses to user commands. This screen also employs Subaru's Starlink system, which we've been big fans of in the past and we expect it to perform well here, too.

2020 Subaru Outback Review:

The redesigned 2020 Outback features updated powertrains, more standard features, and more capability than ever before.

For starters, the Outback gets a new look — sort of. The wagon-like profile is still distinctively Outbackian. But there are new headlights and taillights, a larger front grille, wider fenders, and a wider opening at the rear hatch. It all sits on a new platform that Subaru says decreases road noise and improves structural rigidity.

Subaru says it reworked the Outback's base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Power is up from last year's 175 horsepower to 182 ponies in the 2020 model. Torque gets a similarly modest increase from 174 lb-ft to 176 lb-ft, as does fuel economy, which Subaru expects to be 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway.

The base powertrain, the non-turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine, gets a small increase in power and it now puts out 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. That's a healthy amount of power, but the optional engine is even better. The turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder replaces the old six-cylinder, and it produces 260 hp and 277 lb-ft.

The new 2020 Outback will be available in seven trim levels: base, Premium, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT and Touring XT. The base, Premium, Limited and Touring models all get the 2.5-liter engine, while XT models get the turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. Standard on all models is Subaru's EyeSight driver assist technology — a suite of active and passive driver aids. That suite includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist (plus lane centering), and DriverFocus, an infrared camera with facial recognition capabilities that can spot driver fatigue or distraction.

Standard on all but the base model is an 11.6-inch touchscreen display, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with Bluetooth connectivity and satellite radio. On upper trim levels, available features include LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, reverse automatic braking, a head-up display, a 180-degree front-view camera, heated and ventilated front seats, four USB ports, and a power rear liftgate. There's also plenty of available soft-touch materials and leather all around inside the cabin — enough to make long road trips comfortable.

Off-road, the Subaru Outback is just as trail-friendly as it has ever been. The 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel-drive system mean that gravel and dirt roads are no issue. You can even take on the tougher stuff by using the Outback's X-Mode system that operates hill descent control and selectable traction-control modes for snowy or muddy conditions.

2020 Subaru Outback Pricing and Release Date:
The 2020 Subaru Outback is slated for release in summer 2019.

Read more about the Subaru Outback: https://www.edmunds.com/subaru/outbac...

#subaruoutback #subaru

Make sure to subscribe to Edmunds to get all of the latest videos on car reviews, automotive news, car comparisons, and shopping advice. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Edmundsv...

Edmunds will help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing, and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com.

The 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 has subtle styling updates, such as aerodynamic drag-reducing parts and a Gurney flap, and a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires designed specifically for the Shelby. That's as good of a reason to get behind the wheel as any, which is exactly what we did.

To sample these new upgrades, Ford invited us to the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. There, we'd get a closer look at the new parts and a few laps around the racetrack on site to experience the effects. Watch to find out more.

About the 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350:

The Shelby GT350 is a muscle car for the track-day obsessed. Yes, it shares some looks and interior parts with the standard Mustang, but the key differences are hidden from view. Under the hood is a non-turbocharged 5.2-liter V8. It revs up to 8,200 rpm, punches out 526 horsepower, and even has a flat-plane crankshaft that lends a distinctive warble to the engine's sound. From there, the GT350 has a race-tuned adaptive suspension, high-performance brakes and all sorts of supportive powertrain upgrades that set it apart. It'll lay down thick stripes of rubber in a straight line, naturally, but the GT350 is most at home around a complicated racetrack or a winding mountain road.

Despite its focus on performance, the GT350 is comfortable and relatively quiet (when your right foot isn't planted on the floor), and it could easily serve as a daily driver. Well-rounded and massively entertaining, the GT350 is definitely our idea of the ultimate Mustang.

Standard equipment for the base GT350 includes a 5.2-liter V8 (526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque), a six-speed manual transmission, 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers and heavy-duty springs, Brembo brakes, a Torsen rear differential (with 3.73 gearing), a front-suspension tower brace, three powertrain coolers (oil, differential and transmission), adjustable drive settings, xenon headlights, a rear spoiler and diffuser, and keyless ignition and entry.

Inside, you'll find manually adjustable Recaro front seats with simulated suede inserts, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth, a 4.2-inch center display, Track Apps performance telemetry, a rearview camera, phone and audio voice commands (Sync), smartphone app integration, and a six-speaker sound system with two USB ports.

Opting for the Electronics package equips the GT350 with dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen with Sync 3 (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity), a navigation system, and a nine-speaker audio system with satellite radio. The Convenience package adds leather upholstery, driver-seat memory functions, six-way power-adjustable sport front seats with power lumbar for the driver, and heating and ventilation for the front seats.

Read more about the 2019 Ford Shelby GT350: https://www.edmunds.com/ford/shelby-g...

Make sure to subscribe to Edmunds to get all of the latest videos on car reviews, automotive news, car comparisons and shopping advice. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Edmundsv...

Edmunds will help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com

The fully redesigned 2020 Toyota Highlander has what it takes to be one of the most family-friendly three-row crossover SUVs in its class. This fourth-generation Highlander rides atop Toyota's new global platform, promising improved agility and ride quality. It's 2.4 inches longer than before, which should increase cargo capacity and provide more third-row passenger space. Up front, the new style adopts some of the brawny character in Toyota's truck lineup, as well as the new RAV4.

Toyota will offer the 2020 Highlander in L, LE, XLE, Limited and Platinum trims. Lower trims feature cloth upholstery and a second-row bench seat. Higher trims get simulated leather and second-row captain's chairs, reducing capacity to seven passengers, but the bench is available as an option. Last year's weak four-cylinder base engine is gone. Instead, all Highlanders will come with the same 295-hp V6 from the last generation. There will also be a new Highlander Hybrid that will return 34 mpg combined. That's an increase of 6 mpg over its predecessor, but in return it loses 66 hp, for a total output of 240 hp.

2020 Toyota Highlander Price and Release Date:
We expect prices to start around $35,000 for the base Highlander and $45,000 for the top Platinum trim when it goes on sale in December. The Highlander Hybrid should cost a few thousand more and will arrive in February.

Read more about the 2020 Toyota Highlander: https://www.edmunds.com/toyota/highla...

Make sure to subscribe to Edmunds to get all of the latest videos on car reviews, automotive news, car comparisons and shopping advice.
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Edmundsv...

Edmunds – we help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com/.

Resident truck expert and Director of Vehicle Testing Dan Edmunds just got back from driving the new 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. In this video, he shows what it's like to drive and tow with gas- and diesel-powered variants. We also get a look at a comprehensive camera system along with a functional look at the interior and bed.

With extremely capable engines and transmissions, smart technology and a functional bed, the Silverado 2500 makes a great first impression. Yes, the interior may not be as nice to look at as some of the competitors, but we think the Silverado HD will put up a strong fight when we compare it to its key rivals.

A glance at the Silverado's specs makes Chevy's claimed tow rating seem like some kind of trick. After all, Chevrolet's 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel may have been revised to the point where its 445 horsepower outmatches Ram's top-dog diesel, but its 910 lb-ft of torque falls short of the Ram's nice, round number. So what gives?

The answer may lie in the transmission. Chevrolet pairs its Duramax diesel with a 10-speed automatic, while the Ram soldiers on with a six-speed. The extra gears reduce the gear splits dramatically, and that alone could make up the difference. Whether that's really the case, the extra cogs will certainly be a boon in the form of better drivability and improved fuel economy whether you're towing or not.

Not into the whole diesel thing? The HD's new non-turbocharged 6.6-liter gasoline V8 now makes a healthy 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, and it can tow as much as 17,400 pounds. Those three figures represent 11%, 21% and 18% improvements over last year, respectively. What hasn't changed is the transmission. The gasoline V8 is still paired with a six-speed automatic.

Whether towing is your prime directive, the Silverado HD's lengthened wheelbase will pay dividends each and every day. The most popular combination, especially for the 2500HD version, is the crew cab with the standard bed. This combination has had its wheelbase stretched by 5.2 inches, which results in two major improvements.

Rear legroom in the Chevy's crew cab has increased by nearly 3 inches — also bringing the Chevy to within a couple of tenths of the Ford F-250. Look at the front and rear legroom together, however, and the Chevy takes the win. Meanwhile, the Ram crew cab languishes behind because its new 2500 and 3500 trucks didn't get the enlarged crew cab the automaker bestowed on the Ram 1500. Why? Because the Ram HD offers a Mega Cab option, with about the same rear legroom as Chevy's new crew cab, plus reclining rear seats and behind-the-seat storage.

Read more about the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD: https://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/sil...

Watch our 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD & 3500HD first look video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03dCm...

Make sure to subscribe to Edmunds to get all of the latest videos on car reviews, automotive news, car comparisons, and shopping advice. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Edmundsv...

Edmunds will help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing, and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com.

Dan Edmunds visits the Easter Jeep Safari, an annual off-road gathering of Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts that happens in Moab, Utah. We drop by the town and then venture out onto one of the trails in the new 2020 Jeep Gladiator pickup to do a little exploring and see how it performs. Along the way, we check out the Jeep Gladiator Wayout and talk with a Jeep designer about the other concept vehicles the automaker brought. Dan also chats with one of the event's expert trail leaders about the Easter Jeep Safari and how the event has grown over the years.

About the 2020 Jeep Gladiator:

The new Gladiator may just be the perfect vehicle for those who want a Jeep but need a truck. It benefits from the Wrangler's well-sorted V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission combination, and it has the same impressive-to-look-at and easy-to-use interior as the newest Wrangler. And its pickup credentials are real: The Sport S can tow 7,650 pounds and has a 1,600-pound payload, but even the Rubicon can tow 7,000 pounds.

Yes, the driving experience does suffer a bit from the very Jeepy solid front axle, but a smooth-riding coil-spring rear suspension offsets that. And the Gladiator's wheelbase is indeed a bit long compared to other crew-cab pickups. That's a mixed bag because it smooths out the ride and tracks it straighter on the road, but it also reduces breakover clearance and makes it more likely to drag its belly off-road.

The Jeep Gladiator is available in four trim levels - Sport, Sport S, Overland and Rubicon - that provide increasing levels of comfort, convenience and off-road capability.

All come with a 5-foot cargo bed, a four-wheel-drive system and a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an eight-speed automatic is optional.

The Jeep Gladiator Sport trim is equipped with 17-inch steel wheels, all-season tires, crank windows, manual door locks and mirrors, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, an eight-speaker audio system, a 5-inch central display, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, and voice control capability.

The Gladiator Overland model dresses up a Sport S with style and function features such as 18-inch alloy wheels, body-color wheel arches, side steps, and tinted rear side and rear windows. Additional standard features include automatic headlights, LED ambient footwell lighting, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, the 7-inch infotainment system (with additional USB ports for the rear passengers), and a 110-volt outlet in the center console.

Finally, the Rubicon trim provides the most off-road capability with a different transfer case that provides a lower crawl ratio for better climbing and crawling, fenders with increased clearance to accommodate larger 33-inch all-terrain tires, locking front and rear differentials, an electronically disconnectable front stabilizer bar, Fox shock absorbers, and body-protecting rock rails and skid plates.

Read our Jeep Gladiator review: https://www.edmunds.com/jeep/gladiato...

More Jeep Gladiator Videos:
Watch our 2020 Jeep Gladiator Off-Road Truck Comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YShvf...
Watch our Jeep Wrangler vs. 2020 Jeep Gladiator Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtOTM...

About the Easter Jeep Safari:

The Easter Jeep Safari started in 1967 as a single-day trail run hosted by local Jeep enthusiasts eager to share the amazing old mining trails and incredible slickrock vistas that surround the town. The idea proved to be extremely popular, and it expanded to the point that it now spans a full nine days, each of which includes several guided trail runs to choose from.

But today's Easter Jeep Safari is more than a collection of trail runs. It's now a bucket-list item for Jeep owners and enthusiasts, drawing in adventurous off-roaders from all over the globe. For this reason, Jeep designers and engineers routinely participate so they can gather suggestions from dedicated fans and share future concept vehicles to see if they strike the right chord and make sense to produce.

Make sure to subscribe to Edmunds to get all of the latest videos on car reviews, automotive news, car comparisons, and shopping advice. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Edmundsv...

Edmunds will help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing, and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com.

Archival photos courtesy of The Times Independent

The 2019 Kia Sorento has had a mild redesign, gets a new eight-speed automatic transmission, and comes with now-standard third-row seating. Edmunds special correspondent Elana Scherr loaded up the Sorento with gear and friends to find out how useful that third row is and where the Sorento lands on the three-row SUV shopping scale.

Q: What engine is in the 2019 Kia Sorento?
A: The L and the LX come with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (185 horsepower, 178 pound-feet of torque) and a six-speed automatic. A 3.3-liter V6 (290 hp, 252 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic is optional on the LX and standard on the EX, SX and SX Limited. All but the L can be equipped with all-wheel drive.

Q: Can you get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in the 2019 Kia Sorento?
A: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all trims. The technology in the Kia Sorento is one of its strengths. The SX Limited trim offers nearly every modern driving aid available, and everything is easy to figure out and worked well.

Q: How much cargo space is in the 2019 Kia Sorento?
A: The 2019 Kia Sorento offers plenty of storage space for personal items, with a specific pocket for wireless phone charging. There is only 11.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, which is the trade-off for the smaller exterior size, but with that row down, the Sorento offers 38 cubic feet. The power tailgate is a plus.

Read our review of the 2019 Kis Sorento here:
https://www.edmunds.com/kia/sorento/

Edmunds – we help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com/.