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Should you buy a dealership ‘loaner’ car?
How to Find a Rental Right Now
PHOTO: JOHN POWERS/CONSUMER REPORTS
Dealers often end up selling the cars they set aside as “loaners” for customers who need to leave their vehicles overnight for repair. We think it’s okay to buy one of these used cars as long as you take some precautions. We recommend an inspection from an independent mechanic, and avoiding any used car with signs of extreme wear, such as average annual mileage of more than 15,000. The sale price on a loaner will likely be lower than a regular used car of the same make and model year. “There can be substantial cost savings,” says John Ibbotson, CR’s chief automotive services manager. “Just make sure the dealership fixes anything that’s wrong before signing the paperwork.”
FIRST DRIVE
Nissan Pathfinder
ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW HOLLISTER
T H E V I TA L S TAT I S T I C
38 Number of states where self-driving test vehicles are allowed on public roads. Given the risks to the public, CR wants strong safety standards for these vehicles. Source: AAA.
Travel demand is surging as COVID-19 restrictions ease, according to AAA. But a shortage of new cars due to a microchip supply disruption has prevented car rental companies from restocking their fleets, leading to a tight supply and higher prices. Hertz says it expects the situation to last at least through the summer. If you need a rental car, CR has tips: Book and pay as soon as you can—even up to six months in advance—to lock in a rate; avoid airports and try other locations; and consider services like Turo or DriveShare, where people offer their personal vehicles for rent.
The redesigned 2022 Pathfinder is a user-friendly, highly functional SUV. Its generously sized three-row cabin seats up to eight and can fit three child safety seats in the second row. The 284-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine is paired with a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission. The ride is supple and controlled, and handling is
responsive due to limited body lean and fairly quick steering. CR’S TAKE: Our rented Platinumtrim Pathfinder was a big step up from the lackluster previous generation. We’ll buy the more popular SL trim and put it through our full testing. PRICE RANGE: $33,410-$48,090 DESTINATION CHARGE: $1,150 PRICE AS DRIVEN: $50,290
RECALL
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz is recalling about 340,000 coupes, convertibles, sedans, and SUVs from the 2019 through 2021 model years because of faulty software that may prevent backup camera video feeds from displaying. Customers have reported that when they put their vehicles in Reverse, the display remained blank. That creates an increased risk of backing over a person or into an object. WHAT TO DO: Mercedes-Benz will update the multimedia/ infotainment system in affected vehicles either over the air or at a dealership at no cost to owners. For more information, call customer service at 800-367-6372.
AUGUST 2021
CR.ORG
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