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

Fuel-Saver Flashback: First-Generation Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is probably the most recognized car on the planet by now and it’s no surprise that it keeps getting better with every new generation. However, does anyone remember the first generation of the Toyota Prius? Probably not. Let’s take a look back to the turn of the century and find out how …
Published on
Hybrids & EVs

Not All Hybrid Powertrains are Created Equal

From luxury cars to consumer cars, hybrid powertrains have been one of the most popular types of engine platforms to use among manufacturers in an effort to make cars more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly. But what is a hybrid powertrain and how do they work? There are actually a few different hybrid systems used in cars …
Published on
Hybrids & EVs

5 Reasons Why the Hyundai Ioniq is Better than the Honda Insight

Hybrid cars have gained a lot of popularity in the past decade with the Toyota Prius being the most ubiquitous. However, automakers like Honda and Hyundai have thrown their hats into the race in the past couple of years with the debut of the new Insight and the Ioniq, respectively. Which made us take a …
Published on
1900 Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus hybrid
Hybrids & EVs

When Was the First Hybrid Car Built?

It might seem like the hybrid car was created just a couple of decades ago with the invention of the Toyota Prius. However, the hybrid car actually dates back to over a century ago and has had a spotty history ever since. Let’s take a look at the history of hybrid cars and find out …
Published on
Hybrids & EVs

Fuel-Saver Flashback: First-Generation Honda Insight

Some may call the first-generation Honda Insight “the first hybrid,” while others still think it’s the Prius. Truth be told, the original Honda Insight debuted before the first Prius and achieved some pretty good success during its production cycle, it just wasn’t as well-known. Let’s take a look back at the first-generation Honda Insight and …
Published on
Red 2000 Honda S2000 with the top down on a back-country road
Cars

Why the Honda S2000 Beats the Miata at its Own Game

Since it debuted in 1999 for the 2000 model year, the Honda S2000 has constantly been compared to the Mazda MX-5 Miata. In all fairness, the Miata did come out about a decade before the S2000, so it makes sense. But ask any S2000 owner the magic question, “The S2000, that’s like a Miata, right?” …
Published on
Hybrids & EVs

Fuel-Saver Flashback: Second-Generation Honda Insight

Upon first glance, you might look at the 2010-2014 Honda Insight and think that Honda was copying the Toyota Prius to a T. In some ways, you would be correct. But a closer look reveals that Honda had a method their madness in creating this iteration of their fuel-saver passenger hauler. Let’s take a look …
Published on
Cars

3 Reasons Why the Toyota Corolla Hatchback is the Best Corolla Ever

For many years, the Toyota Corolla has been widely perceived as being practical, fuel-efficient, and affordable. However, other descriptive words like “boring,” “bland,” and “slow” also come to mind. Fortunately, the Corolla was completely refreshed for 2019 and comes in a new hatchback body style, which we think is the best Corolla that you could …
Published on
Red 2020 Acura MDX PMC Edition
Cars

Are Acura’s PMC Edition Models Worth the Higher Price?

Last year, Acura unveiled the PMC Editions of the TLX and MDX models at the New York Auto Show. While most might dismiss both models as just being the same old TLX and MDX with special paint jobs, they would be remiss in noticing the finer details that make each one special. The TLX and …
Published on
Trends

Is the Mazdaspeed6 a Sport Sedan Bargain?

Sport sedans are typically designed to be unassuming. They’re the type of car that you buy when you want to live out your “racer dreams” but still be practical enough for daily errand duty and picking up the kids from school. The Mazdaspeed6 was a great example of a sport sedan, and while it didn’t …
Published on
Trends

First-Generation Audi R8: A Surprisingly Affordable Super Car

Owning a supercar has probably crossed everyone’s mind at least once in their lives. Whether it’s the exotic look, the extreme amounts of horsepower, or the prestigious feeling that comes with driving a car that costs over $100,000, the thrill of being able to drive a supercar every day might typically seem like a pipe …
Published on
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
SUVs

5 Reasons Why the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is Better than the Honda Passport

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and Honda Passport are like Manny Pacquaio and Floyd Mayweather; they’re pretty even in most aspects, including size and weight, however, they differ vastly in the style department. Looks aside, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a newcomer to the two-row SUV segment and has a lot of ammo to …
Published on
2020 Dodge Journey
Cars

The Journey is the Worst Dodge Vehicle You Should Never Buy

You might think that a compact, seven-passenger crossover that’s been around for the past decade would be a tried-and-true combination for reliability and practicality. With some manufacturers and models, like a Toyota RAV4 or Kia Sorento, you would be right, however, if you’re thinking of the Dodge Journey, you would be wrong. The Journey didn’t …
Published on
Trends

What Finally Made CD Players in Cars Extinct?

Do you remember compact discs? Those little round, shiny things that played songs and contained whole albums from music artists? Yeah, they are a distant memory for us, too. Not just because no one really uses them anymore, but also because CD players have been showing up less and less in new cars as the …
Published on
Trends

5 Reasons Why You Should buy a 2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

Just like minivans, wagons aren’t exactly the first type of car on everyone’s mind when it comes to shopping for a family car. With the growing allure of SUVs and the steady popularity of crossovers, it’s no wonder that cars like the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack sit in the shadows, hoping to be noticed. So let’s …
Published on
Customers visits an electric and hybrid vehicles store in Shanghai
Trends

Coronavirus and Car Buying: Is it a Good Time to Buy a Car?

With the recent Coronavirus pandemic affecting the economy and having an even greater economic effect on households across the nation, many consumers are plagued with financial burden. On top of the financial stress, social distancing has become the norm and many states are issuing mandatory quarantines. And although we need to keep human contact to …
Published on
Trends

5 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Honda S2000 CR Now

Cars are depreciating assets, no matter how you look at them, that is unless you own a rare model. In case you’re not into the classic hot rods or supercars, you can set your budget sites a little lower and aim for a Honda S2000 CR. Yes, they still exist, and here five reasons you …
Published on
An assortment of new cars parked in a dealership lot.
Trends

Is the “New Car Smell” Toxic For You?

There are many joys when buying a new car: The feel of new seats that have never (or barely) been sat in, all the latest and greatest features, and best of all, the “new-car smell.” It’s the scent that stains your nostrils for the first year of ownership and gives you the feeling that you …
Published on
Cars

5 Reasons Why The Honda Insight is Better Than The Toyota Prius

When it comes to hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius has reigned supreme for the past couple of decades. In fact, when most consumers think of a hybrid car, the Toyota Prius is most likely the first, and probably only, car that comes to mind. Until 2019, when the Honda Insight came back into the market …
Published on