Which Used SUVs Under $30,000 Have the Best Fuel Economy?

The myth of the Cadillac coffin is one that has haunted pop culture for decades, even popularized in the song Willie the Wimp by blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughn in the mid-1980s. The idea of being buried in a luxury car might seem like a one-off tribute to the ancient Egyptian pharaohs (who were routinely interred with all of their worldly possessions), but the twist in Willie's tale is that it's based on a true story.Willie "Wimp" Stokes Jr., Chicago gangster and over-the-top gambler, was indeed laid six feet under in a bizarre coffin-sized replica of his pimp-mobile (pictured above), which combined the wheels, grille, and trunk from his personal ride with a windshield, dash, and license plate. Willie's corpse was propped up inside this creation to look as though he was driving himself through the gates of Hades.Dig a little deeper and even more exhumed urban legends acquire an unexpected factuality. It seems like car lovers have been bending the rules to be buried in their favorite rides for decades. One of the earliest recorded instances speaks of heiress Sandra Ilene West, a Texan who departed for the afterlife inside her 1964 Ferrari California. Aurora Schuck, another Cadillac fan (although without Willie's links to organized crime) and her 1976 Eldorado convertible were craned into a 24-by-12-foot plot dug specifically to accommodate the Caddy in 1989, followed by George Swanson taking his '84 Corvette to the afterlife six years later, and Lonnie Holloway in his 1976 Pontiac Catalina in 2009.Whither the extreme automotive enthusiast who desires to make a mausoleum of their favorite hunk of metal in the year 2022? As a Boomer-led tide of death pushes cemeteries to the brink of real estate availability, environmental legislation tightens regarding what you can legally put into ground, and social media lies in wait to pounce on anyone who elects to extend their flamboyance into the afterlife, we wanted to know if it was still possible to be buried in your car?Make Room!The answer to that question, it seems, varies significantly depending on where you plan to rest eternally. There's actually no single overarching framework that governs how cemeteries are managed, or how human remains must be disposed of, which means each jurisdiction is on its own to create (or not) a set of regulations regarding burials.The first daunting step in the quest for a car coffin is to secure a cemetery plot of adequate size. Ms. Schuck had the luxury of scooping up roughly 16 plots to combine into one Caddy-sized pit (taking into account the need to build a full concrete foundation and then surround the vehicle with even more cement). Even Swansons' more modestly-sized Corvette required four plots in total (with a layer of concrete poured on top to prevent settling). It can be a struggle in some urban areas to find standard-size side-by-side plots so that spouses can dream together forever, let alone carve out a car-sized slice of terrain, so it definitely helps if you plan on being eternally linked to a Miata rather than an Escalade.Then there's the question of access. The kind of heavy equipment required to dig a sizable hole in the ground needs a fair amount of space to operate, not to mention a pathway to the plot(s) in question, and that's before you take into account the logistics of fitting a car-capable crane onto ground that may or may not be hard enough to accommodate its weight.Of course, you could always opt for home burial, which alleviates many of the above problems (in all but Indiana, Washington D.C., Washington State, and California, where it's not legal). There are roughly 10 states that require you to get a funeral director to move the body to its intended burial spot, but almost everywhere else it's the Wild West when it comes to its transportation and burial/cremation (as long as you take care of it within the 24-48-hour window that precludes the need for embalming, and don't try to cross state lines).Don't Confuse Your Backyard For A DumpEven if burying someone on your own land is nearly 50-state legal, you still have to consider the environmental implications of stuffing a vehicle filled with toxic fluids and forever-plastics under the ground. It turns out the federal government is a bit touchy about what you can dump a shovel of dirt on, regardless of who owns the land.The flip-side of this is that cemeteries themselves aren't exempt from environmental concerns associated with even a traditional burial. Chemicals like formaldehyde (used in embalming), and arsenic (formerly used in embalming) have been leaking into groundwater from graveyards for decades, not to mention the myriad coffin paints, finishes, and metals that are part of a traditional funeral. Even cremation takes its toll on the environment at large.The bottom line? Each state has its own regulations that either modify or complement federal guidelines about waste management, and you'll have to take those into account when deciding how best to manage your auto-tomb's afterlife emissions, regardless of whether you're twisting the arm of a local cemetery manager or simply burying your loved one's motorcade in the backyard. In Pennsylvania, George Swanson's family had the entire drivetrain drained prior to interment, but in more permissive Indiana, Aurora Schuck's Cadillac was actually driven into the grave just before the burial began.Maybe Don't Do It?A final word of advice, should you choose to pilot your precious muscle machine or low-rider on the ferry across the river Styx: try to keep it on the down-low and avoid turning the burial into a show.What are we saying—there's absolutely no way to avoid word getting out about an automotive-adjacent event like this one. Be prepared for the onslaught of social media stars trying to score points as they alternately laud and lament your choice to go all-in on an automotive afterlife, not to mention the endless parade of purists who will roast your decision to deprive the world of one more example of whatever make and model coffin you select.A vehicular funeral isn't for the attention-averse, and while you might be slumbering peacefully on the rich, Corinthian leather of your casket, your loved ones will have to deal with the digital looky-loos and snide commenters haunting their Insta profiles and email inboxes.

WHAT IT IS: An all-electric performance model, reported to be a sedan and effectively a replacement for the two-door Camaro. It may retain the Camaro name, as Chevrolet has recently used the Blazer moniker on a crossover that bears no resemblance to historical models.WHY IT MATTERS: Parent company GM is transitioning all its brands to electric vehicles during the next 13 years, performance models included. The Corvette is already slated to adopt hybrid and pure electric powertrains in the next few years, but the Camaro's future is unclear after today's generation ends production in 2024 or so. In presenting its plans for an all-EV future, GM provided an illustration of its Ultium EV platform with an outline of a sports car hovering above. The picture bears striking resemblance to a profile view of the present Camaro, though Chevrolet wouldn't comment on the similarity. Reports indicate the car will be a sedan even if it retains the name despite all past Camaros being coupes. Although Chevrolet could theoretically put any type of body on the Ultium skateboard platform, Camaro sales in recent years have dropped sharply, and coupes in general have faded in popularity over the past a decade.PLATFORM AND POWERTRAIN: All of GM's EVs in the foreseeable future will be built on the company's Ultium platform, which can be tailored to fit any vehicle size or style. It also supports one to three electric motors, so this EV sedan could be anything from a classic rear-drive performance car to a 1,000-hp all-wheel-drive supersled. Chevrolet has given no indication what route it will take or whether it will offer multiple battery and motor configurations as GMC now does with the new Hummer EV pickup and SUV.ESTIMATED PRICE: $40,000EXPECTED ON-SALE DATE: 2024

toyota tundra Full OverviewProsModern technologyStandard V-6 twin-turbo engineSpacious, comfortable cabin ConsMiddling material qualityBouncy ride with Bilstein shocksIt took Toyota 14 years to come up with a new Tundra full-size pickup truck, but the wait was worth it. The model has always been known for its value in the segment, and the new model builds on that. The 2022 Toyota Tundra rides on a new platform, boasts dramatic new styling, and has modern technology relevant to today's buyers.Available with new gas-only and hybrid powertrains—both of which are based on a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6—the Tundra finally feels like a contemporary truck. It seemingly has the brash looks, features, capability, and assembly quality modern trucks need, but can it hang with the big (three) boys? Is it comparable to an American truck? We drove a Limited model with the Crewmax cab and regular, non-hybrid V-6 to find out.On the RoadThe Tundra is based on the all-new TNGA GA-F platform that also supports the Land Cruiser overseas and the 2022 Lexus LX here in the States, allowing it to deliver a better ride while enhancing its off-road capability. To address the former, though, Toyota ditched the rear leaf springs for coil or air springs, depending on the configuration.Our model came equipped with the TRD Off-Road package, which adds Bilstein shocks to better handle what Mother Earth tosses in your path. On the road, Tundra's ride quality represents a night-and-day difference from before, and it feels more stable and planted overall, including while handling tighter turns. It doesn't feel as polished as a Ram 1500 (which also uses coil springs), but it feels more settled than before. The Bilstein shocks add a bit of a bouncy feel over imperfections, but we're quite impressed by the new Tundra's comportment. The steering isn't as precise as the best domestic American trucks', but it's nicely weighted and not sloppy, which makes highway drives a snap.Also impressive is that 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6, which delivers 389 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, enough to scoot this big boy to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds in our testing. Crossing the quarter-mile mark took the Tundra 14.7 seconds, at which point it was going 95.3 mph, a decent showing considering its 5,820-pound curb weight.Compared to a 2021 Ford F-150 XLT with the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 engine, the Tundra is slower: The F-150 got to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, and it completed the quarter-mile run in 13.9 seconds at 99.9 mph. The biggest difference between these two is the weight—the Ford's aluminum chassis cuts its weight down to 5,345 pounds, giving it an advantage at the track.The Tundra's transmission is programmed well, downshifting crisply when called upon, and upshifts are executed smoothly. While the engine feels well suited for the Tundra in terms of power and punchiness, it tends to deliver its force in gobs. On a couple of occasions, the rear wheels broke loose when accelerating from a stop even though the pedal was nowhere close to the floor; we wish the delivery was a bit more linear. But the power-to-weight ratio feels adequate for a big truck like this, and depending on which drive mode is activated, there's a growl almost as pleasing as the old V-8's.It was clear Toyota needed to modernize the Tundra to keep up with the segment, and the 2022 model is a big advancement. The Tundra feels more modern than before and puts up a good fight against the big three. It may not ride as well as the Ram (we aim to test a Toyota without the Bilsteins soon), but it's certainly relevant again, and worthy of cross-shopping if you're not beholden to a brand.Inside the Tundra's InteriorWhile the Limited trim sits at the middle of the lineup, it still feels richly appointed in terms of features. Enter the cabin, and you'll first notice the massive, 14.0-inch touchscreen that takes up virtually all the space in the middle of the dash. The screen comes standard with the Limited, and the new infotainment system has sharp graphics and the fast responses you're used to from your smartphone. We spent most of our time driving with Apple CarPlay active, and we applaud Toyota for allowing it to take over the entire screen, which makes Google Maps or Apple Maps really simple to read.The HVAC controls are laid out below the display as sort of piano keys—a nice detail that looks premium. While the cabin isn't as attractive to our eyes as, say, the Ram's, Toyota's designers did add characterful touches like the big, boxy air vents, and the center stack offers useful cubbies so you can stash stuff while leaving the cupholders free. A huge bin between the front seats can store large items like purses, laptops, and such. In general, storage space is plentiful.An area where we'd have liked to see additional improvement is in the quality of materials. The plastics on the door panels already feel dated, as they are hard and cheap. Some plastics have sharp edges, too. On the other hand, the leatherette on the seats feels nice enough for something carrying a $60,188 price tag.The rear accommodations are quite spacious, with the seatback reclined at an angle that should make long trips easier for passengers. Those seated back there also get two USB ports (one type A, one type C) and air vents, but we're a bit surprised to see a significant drivetrain bump in the floor. While it may not interfere with middle riders' feet because it's wide, it does make placing long items on the floor inconvenient. Should I Buy a New Tundra?The 2022 Toyota Tundra offers a better, up-to-date experience, and it does a lot of things well—well enough to, yes, deserve a seat at the big boy table. There are areas that can still be improved, but the thorough overhaul resulted in a much better truck. Plus, its long list of standard equipment—like the 3.4-liter V-6 twin-turbo engine and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which adds a bunch of safety technologies at no extra cost—gives it an advantage over the competition.It's unlikely to outsell any of the full-size half-ton trucks from Detroit, but the 2022 Tundra deserves a look.Looks good! More details?2022 Toyota Tundra Limited TRD Off-Road 4x4 Specifications BASE PRICE $56,680 PRICE AS TESTED $60,188 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door truck ENGINE 3.4L Twin-turbo port- and direct-injected DOHC 24-valve 60-degree V-6 POWER (SAE NET) 389 hp @ 5,200 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 479 lb-ft @ 2,400 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 5,820 lb (57/43%) WHEELBASE 145.7 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 233.6 x 80.2 x 78.0 in 0-60 MPH 6.2 sec QUARTER MILE 14.7 sec @ 95.3 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 135 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.72 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 28.5 sec @ 0.59 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 17/22/19 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 612 mi ON SALE Now Show All