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Continue reading 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV Second Drive Review: Moab made easy

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Road rage on its own is bad enough, but things move to a whole new level of stress and danger when firearms are involved. While drivers in some states see very little traffic-related gun violence, a handful show alarming numbers of incidents that could make driving an actual life-or-death situation for some.

ConsumerAffairs dove into the data, finding the states with the most and least road rage, but the most interesting data points in the study come from its look at gun violence. There have been 2.08 incidents of gun-related violence per 100,000 residents in New Mexico, making it the worst state on the list. The “top ten” states with the most gun violence per 100,000 residents include:

• New Mexico: 2.08/100k residents
• District of Columbia: 1.64
• Tennessee: 1.19
• Wisconsin: 1.10
• Arizona: 1.02
• Texas: 0.98
• Colorado: 0.81
• Kansas: 0.68
• Missouri: 0.66
• Georgia: 0.61

It’s important to take these numbers in context, as the population varies wildly between some of the states on the list. New Mexico had just over two million residents in 2022, while Texas had a shade over 30 million. That could make New Mexicans look like gun-crazed lunatics due to the sparse population, and Texans look less dangerous, despite the fact that there are 15 times more people living there.

ConsumerAffairs shared some pointers on avoiding road rage, which are especially important in these shockingly violent times. If you’re sharing the road with an aggressive driver, back off and give them as much space as possible. Move over when you see someone tailgating, as it’s best to get out of the way rather than provoke them by brake-checking or slowing down.

Always be aware of your surroundings, and don’t hesitate to call the police if you’re experiencing harassment or if someone is following you. Remember, arriving alive is better than getting a few moments of satisfaction from responding to an aggressive driver or, worse yet, seeing the business end of their firearm.

Gas prices have climbed to record highs in some places, but the data show that vehicles with internal combustion engines are still cheaper to drive than EVs. In fact, according to a recent iSeeCars study, the 15 most expensive vehicles to drive per mile are all plug-in models.

iSeeCars looked at the number and cost of miles driven by different fuel types between November 2022 and April 2023. EVs were driven the least and were the most expensive to drive 1,000 miles. Gas cars were driven the most but were slightly more expensive to operate over that same mileage cycle. Breaking things down further by model, the most expensive vehicles to operate on a per-mile basis were all plug-ins, with the Porsche Taycan being the priciest.

The 10 most expensive vehicles per mile:

• Porsche Taycan: $22.02/mi ($22,021 per 1,000 miles)
• Porsche Cayenne PHEV: $14.69
• Tesla Model S: $11.62
• Audi e-tron Sportback: $9.27
• Audi e-tron: $8.78
• Polestar 2: $8.55
• Lincoln Aviator PHEV: $7.71
• Volvo XC40 Recharge: $7.44
• BMW i3: $7.24
• BMW X5 PHEV: $7.35

The higher purchase price, combined with the fact that higher-end luxury vehicles tend to be driven less, pushes their average cost per mile higher than other models. That point becomes more apparent when looking at the two Porsche’s average new prices, which land at $138,914 and $111,985 for the Taycan and Cayenne PHEV, respectively. They’re also the only two in the study with six-figure average price tags.

Hybrids, on the other hand, comprise most of the 15 cheapest vehicles to operate per mile. The Honda Insight had a per-mile cost of just $1.46, followed by the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid at $1.81 and the Toyota Corolla Hybrid at $1.86. iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer said that hybrids are becoming more attractive for buyers as the cost gap between them and traditional gasoline models continues to shrink.

Automakers are increasingly stepping back from EV-only product roadmaps in favor of more hybrids and PHEVs, and recent driving cost data between November 2022 and April 2023 from iSeeCars shows that this might be good for buyers in more ways than one. While electric vehicles can save money on gas, they cost more and are driven less, which makes the cost per mile much higher than that of other fuel types. Hybrids were found to be much less expensive to drive, dominating the list of the cheapest cars to drive per mile.

The 10 cheapest cars to drive per mile

The Honda Insight was the least expensive in the iSeeCars study, at $1,463 per 1,000 miles, or $1.46 per mile. Other vehicles on the list include:

• Honda Insight Hybrid: $1.46 per mile ($1,463/1,000 miles)
• Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid: $1.81 per mile
• Toyota Corolla Hybrid: $1.86 per mile
• Toyota Prius: $1.88 per mile
• Hyundai Elantra Hybrid: $2.18 per mile
• Chrysler Pacifica Plug-Hybrid: $2.32 per mile
• Ford Escape Hybrid: $2.40 per mile
• Toyota Camry Hybrid: $2.40 per mile
• Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: $2.60 per mile
• Honda Accord Hybrid: $2.60 per mile

Hybrid vehicle pricing continues to fall, making them more comparable with gas models. Those more reasonable purchase prices, combined with in-town fuel savings, make them appealing for buyers looking to put some miles on the clock, driving down their average cost per mile. Only one PHEV made the top 10 list, with two in the top 15, including the Toyota Prius Prime in 12th place at $2.71 per mile.

EVs are more expensive to buy than other fuel types, and high-end models tend to be driven less, giving them some of the highest per-mile costs in the study. The Porsche Taycan was the priciest vehicle in the study, at $22.02 per mile. The Porsche Cayenne PHEV, with its six-figure average purchase price, was second most expensive at $14.68. iSeeCars attributes many of the higher prices to the cars’ extreme average purchase prices, all of which exceeded $48,000. The BMW i3 was the cheapest, while the Taycan was the most expensive, at almost $140,000 on average.

It’s no secret that charging an electric vehicle is often less expensive than fueling a gas car, but many don’t think about the higher purchase prices. A recent iSeeCars study showed that people tend to drive EVs much less, making their cost per mile much higher than that of internal combustion vehicles.

iSeeCars’ research looked at the costs to operate various fuel types between November 2022 and April 2023, finding that EV owners not only drove far fewer miles than gas owners, but their average costs to operate those vehicles over 1,000 miles were much higher. People drove EVs an average of 10,256 miles during that period, seeing costs of $5,108 per 1,000 miles. In contrast, owners drove gas vehicles 12,813 miles, averaging $3,123 over the same distance. The costs per 1,000 miles for other fuel types in the study include:

• Hybrids: $3,056
• Gas Cars: $3,123
• Plug-In Hybrids: $4,351
• EVs: $5,108

EV owners may worry about range and spotty charging infrastructure, which could contribute to the smaller number of miles driven. The higher purchase price of each vehicle is spread over fewer miles, making them significantly more expensive to drive. iSeeCars’ study found an average EV price of $52,387, compared to the $40,009 gas buyers paid.

Higher-end EVs likely played an outsized role in that average price. The most expensive three-year-old model over 1,000 miles was the Porsche Taycan EV, which cost an average of $138,914 when new. The Porsche Cayenne PHEV was second, with an average purchase price of $111,985, and the Tesla Model S was third most expensive, at $96,394.

iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer pointed out that hybrids have become more popular as automakers electrify popular models. They’re also much cheaper to buy than EVs and offer better fuel economy, especially in the city. Brauer predicted that hybrids would become the dominant drivetrain in the industry over the next few years, outpacing gas models as more companies backtrack on EV-only strategies.

Americans bought EVs in record numbers last year, with Cox Automotive reporting 1.2 million sales in 2023. They still only make up a single-digit percentage of the overall auto market here, and they are clearly being used in ways that are different from gasoline-powered cars. A recent study from iSeeCars found that gas vehicles saw the most mileage between November 2022 and April 2023, with EVs being driven the least.

Americans drove gas cars an average of 12,813 miles during that period, the most of any fuel type iSeeCars studied. In order, the average number of annual miles for three-year-old vehicles per fuel type:

• EVs: 10,256 miles
• Plug-In Hybrids: 12,199
• Hybrids: 12,471
• Gas: 12,813

Executive analyst Karl Brauer cited the limited charging infrastructure and range anxiety as contributing factors to the lower EV mileage number. Also, buyers are more likely to choose an EV specifically to be used for short-haul duties around town, where constant stop and go provides regeneration opportunities, and its more limited range is not a hindrance. Brauer noted that the gas engines in hybrids and plug-in hybrids add to their flexibility and appeal, landing them much closer to gas cars on miles driven.

• These are the best electric cars for high-mileage drivers

That said, it’s worth noting that hybrids and PHEVs tend to deliver their best fuel economy in the city, where stop-and-go traffic lets them utilize their electric motors to a higher degree than at highway speeds. Hybrids don’t need to be charged, but PHEVs must be plugged in to deliver their most efficient performance. Plug-in hybrids can bridge the gap between gas and electric powertrain options for many buyers. They offer a short all-electric range backed by a gas engine and somewhat traditional hybrid operation once they exhaust battery power.

Lower average mileage and more expensive purchase prices for EVs mean a higher cost-per-mile, making them the most expensive to drive over a 1,000-mile cycle. The average cost for an EV to travel that distance was $5,108, dwarfing the costs to drive any other fuel type. With their costs spread over a much larger number of miles, gas cars were the cheapest at $3,123 per 1,000 miles. Hybrids cost $3,056 to operate, and PHEVs $4,351.