Skip to main content
Avatar photo
MotorBiscuit Contributing WriterMore articles: Hybrids & Electrics

Joe Santos

Joe Santos has been an automotive journalist since 2013 and joined MotorBiscuit in 2020. He writes strongly on consumer advice and new cars, and we consider him an asset to readers looking for guidance in buying and selling autos.

Joe earned a Bachelor’s in Journalism from California State University, Fullerton, and spent years as a Road Test Editor at Kelley Blue Book, after which he served in various automotive-related roles, including an autonomous vehicle trainer for GM, a vehicle sales manager, and an Audi brand specialist.

Joe’s prized possession is a 2008 Honda S2000 in Laguna Blue Pearl, with which he attends local car meets. Joe is also a content creator for LTD Global, a B2B support firm.

2,773 posts From Author
Hybrids & EVs

This 280 mpg Volkswagen Was Built To Answer One Simple Question

Building a car that achieves extraordinary fuel economy is no easy task. Cars like the Toyota Prius, Hyundai Ioniq, and the Honda Insight are among the most fuel-efficient cars on the road today and they weren’t designed, engineered, and built all in a week. In fact, cars like those (as well as any car, really) …
Published on
Trucks & SUVs

5 Features I Love About the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

One look at the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and anyone can easily see that it’s meant for some serious off-road duty. Although, I have seen that it’s great for moving an apartment as well. And while the TRD Pro trim level does carry some sticker shock as it’s priced right around $50,000, I will …
Published on
Trucks & SUVs

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too With the 2021 Honda Pilot SE

If you and your family are in need of a three-row SUV, then one of the safest and most reliable choices would be a 2021 Honda Pilot. Fortunately, Honda “value packages” its cars really well so you can get all the features that you want without having to constantly add options a la carte. However, …
Published on
People look at a Chevrolet Bolt EV car during 2020 Canadian International Autoshow
Hybrids & EVs

This Electric Car and Bike Could Be the Best Eco-Friendly Dream Garage

When you think of your “dream garage,” it might include something like a Ferrari 488 and a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, or possibly an Audi R8 and a Ducati of some sort. However, for those that are looking to scale way down on their carbon footprint (and don’t want to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars) might …
Published on
Trends

Is It a Good Time To Buy a 2020 Acura TLX?

With the much-anticipated 2021 Acura TLX coming to dealerships soon, you might be wondering if it’s a good time to make a move on the 2020 models. Sure, the new TLX will have an updated look inside and out, new tech, and a couple of new engines, but the 2020 Acura TLX is still a …
Published on
2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro off-roading
Trucks & SUVs

2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro: If You Can’t ‘Send it,’ Haul it

Toyota’s tagline “Let’s Go Places” mainly refers to consumers using its products to travel anywhere and traverse the roads unknown. The latter is most likely the case when it comes to the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro as this iteration of the brand’s most popular truck looks like it’s purpose-built to crawl over rocks on …
Published on
A Kia salesperson sells a car to a baby boomer
Trends

What Is a ‘Straw Purchase’ and Why Is It Illegal?

If you need to buy a car and have troubled or no credit, then you do have options. You can wait to buy a car and save up money to pay for it in cash, you can spend time building your credit, or you can get a co-signer with better credit to co-sign on a …
Published on
A line of cars at a used car dealership
Trends

Is Rolling ‘Negative Equity’ into a Loan a Good Idea?

Cars will depreciate in value no matter what. If you drive a new car off the lot, it can lose up to 20 percent of its value within the first year of ownership and a lot more over time. If a car ends up being worth less than what you owe on it, then that …
Published on
Trends

Is Making a ‘Principal Only’ Payment on a Car Loan a Good Idea?

There’s an old joke that says, “Why do banks have drive-thru windows? So that cars can visit their real owners!” That’s right when you take out an auto loan for that fancy new car – or fancy old one – the lender that you get the loan from holds the title until the loan is …
Published on
Coupes

Are Coupes a Dying Breed?

No matter which way we look at the new car market today, we have to admit that SUVs and crossovers are reigning supreme. And while sedans aren’t getting as much love as before, coupes are darn near extinct. It makes sense, considering the two-door, sporty nature of a coupe body style lends itself to being …
Published on
a red Ford Ranger pickup travels down a dirt road.
Trucks & SUVs

Is Buying a Used Ford Ranger a Good Idea?

If you’re looking for a full-size pickup truck, then the Ford F-150 is a great way to go, but if you need something smaller, then the Ford Ranger is a great choice. Of course, if you can’t afford the all-new 2020 Ford Ranger then you’ll likely be turning toward the used market. And while it’s …
Published on
Hybrids & EVs

This Overlanding Tesla Model Y Can Tackle the Toughest Terrain

An “Overlanding electric vehicle” might sound like an oxymoron, however, for one Tesla Model Y owner, it’s a weekend hobby. Brian Jenkins, who runs the i1Tesla YouTube channel, is not only taking advantage of the Tesla Model Y’s “Off-Road Assist” mode but is also taking his car a step further with the help of some …
Published on
Trends

What Does ‘Loan-to-Value’ Mean and Why Is it Important?

When you apply for a car loan, there’s a lot more to that lenders take into account that just your credit score and history. They will look as factors like your annual income, your outgoing debt, the value of the vehicle that you’re buying, and the loan amount that you’re looking to borrow. When considering …
Published on
Tesla Model 3 | Tesla
Hybrids & EVs

Now Might Be a Good Time to Buy an Electric or Hybrid Vehicle

While some consumers may have struck discount gold while car shopping over the past few months – thanks to the pandemic and the dealers’ need to stay in business – those wanting an electric car or a hybrid could strike pay dirt if they shop now. According to Consumer Reports, the prices for various Tesla …
Published on
a white subaru forester crossover SUV at speed on a scenic road
Crossovers

5 Reasons the Subaru Forester Makes the Honda CR-V Look Weak

When it comes to comparing compact crossover SUVs, it’s pretty common to think of the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. However, the Subaru Forester is still a formidable contender in the segment and although it’s often overlooked, it can still hold a candle to a perennial favorite like the Honda CR-V. In actuality, the …
Published on
Trends

Could This New MPV Compete With the Honda Odyssey?

The Honda Odyssey has been one of the most highly-regarded minivans on the market for the past couple of decades and while it continually goes toe-to-toe with the Toyota Sienna, there’s one MPV that could be a likely contender. Wuling, which is one of GM’s subsidiary automakers based in China, just debuted its Victory MPV …
Published on
A Toyota Prius out for a test drive
Hybrids & EVs

Toyota Prius Owners are Asking for a Recall Over a Popular Theft Item

You might think of the Toyota Prius as an “affordable hybrid,” but it’s actually more valuable than you think. Sure, it might only be priced in the mid-$20,000 range and its interior is not exactly Lexus quality, however, it’s what is on the outside that counts, more specifically, underneath the car. Unfortunately for many Prius …
Published on
a side rear view of the cr-v in motion on a suburban road
Crossovers

There Is 1 Feature in the 2020 Honda CR-V That Needs Updating

The 2020 Honda CR-V is easily one of the top crossovers in the market and has been the brand’s top seller for years. If you read almost any article about it, including the ones that you can find on Motor Biscuit, you will likely be treated to a barrage of praise and adoration of Honda’s …
Published on
Motorcycles

What is a BlackTea Moped?

When it comes to two-wheel motoring, a small-engine gas bike is a great way to start out, but what if you want something smaller to get you around town? Sure, there are great scooters like the Honda Ruckus and Monkey that will do the job just fine, but for those looking for a more eco-friendly …
Published on
A red 2020 Kia Soul going around a corner
Trends

Why Is the Kia Soul Meant for Millennials, but Popular Among Baby Boomers?

Do you remember when Kia Soul commercials consisted of large anthropomorphic hamsters in baggy clothes dancing and shuffling to pop music? It was pretty blatant that the brand was trying to market to millennials, however, one look into the driver’s side window of almost any almost Kia Soul that passes you on the street and …
Published on