Welcome to “The Drive” with Alan Taylor. First contributor is George Kennedy III is a co-founder of Cartender.com, and the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association. He contributes to U.S. News & World Report, CarGurus, Forbes Wheels, and here on The Drive. George gave a great review of the GMC Canyon AT4X AVE and the 2024 Hyundai Kona on “The Drive” with Alan Taylor. The GMC Canyon AT4X AVE is a mid-size truck with impressive off-road capabilities, priced between $36,000 and $65,000. It offers a refined interior and good towing capacity. The 2024 Hyundai Kona has been completely redesigned and now includes an N Line model with a turbo four engine, addressing previous criticisms and making it a great car overall. Next up is Karl Brauer, an Automotive Industry Analyst and Forbes Autos Contributor, discusses Ford’s 2024 Raptor, a high-performance version of the F-150 or Ranger, and its competition with the Ram TRX. The Ford Ranger Raptor features a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 405 horsepower and advanced Fox shocks for off-road capability. The 2024 full-size F-150 Raptor has 450 horsepower, while the Raptor R boasts 720 horsepower. ISeeCars.com conducted a study on car colors, finding that grayscale colors accounted for 80% of car sales in 2023. Additionally, the luxurious 2024 Genesis GV80 SUV, offered in two-row and three-row options, is known for its stylish design and interior comfort, starting at $60,000. Lauren Fix- Editor in-Chief for Car Coach Reports joins us next. Lauren read an interesting survey about how the car you drive can reflect your political affiliation. Democrats tend to drive import vehicles like Toyota, while Republicans prefer German luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It’s fascinating to see how our choice of vehicle can reflect our political beliefs. The next topic is Odometer fraud, which is a concern for both mechanical and digital odometers. To avoid this, have a trusted technician inspect the car thoroughly before purchasing. Studies have shown over 2.1 million vehicles on the road today have rolled-back odometers, indicating a significant increase from previous years. I’ve been test-driving the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport with the new I-Force Max engine. It’s definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a new vehicle. Brian Moody, Executive Editor of Auto Trader.com and KBB.com, and Alan discussed the top 10 best new cars for recent college graduates and the importance of considering used cars. Safety features and modern technology like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are important for used cars under $15,000. Brian also mentioned the best new cars for recent college graduates priced at about $28,000, including the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda Civic, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Ford Maverick, Kia Niro, and Mazda 3. He also shared an interesting conversation about a woman in Colorado who bought a used electric car for less than $700 after applying state incentives. [00:00:00] – Contributor George Kennedy III[00:06:55] – 2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV[00:13:00] – 2024 Hyundai Kona[00:20:51] – Contributor Karl Brauer[00:31:14] – 2024 Ford Raptor[00:37:21] – 2024 full-size F-150 Raptor[00:44:10] – Contributor Lauren Fix[00:52:34] – Odometer Fraud[00:57:10] – 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD[01:05:00] – Contributor Brian Moody[01:15:40] – Top 10 Best New Car for Graduates[01:21:31] – State Incentives CREDITS Host: Alan TaylorProducer: Dave MilliganCopy Editor: Colleen Mahi Contributor: George Kennedy III Contributor: Karl Brauer Contributor: Lauren Fix Contributor: Brian Moody