Car lovers have many clever gifts at their disposal. Sure, an air freshener, a “Stay away” fender, or a bumper sticker can be fun, but there are much more practical ways to gift the auto enthusiasts on your shopping list.
The Consumer Reports auto team has put together a list of tips to boost your holiday shopping. These suggestions are based on our tests and trials. Most can enhance the driving experience and potentially make it safer.
Prices range from Christmas socks to great whims. Here are some practical gifts for car lovers.
Music subscription
With the ability to connect a smartphone to the car stereo, drivers have more music options than ever. Newer cars can play stored or streamed music from a phone, and some can even control cell phone apps.
Pandora and Spotify are integrated into many infotainment systems, providing a good alternative to terrestrial and satellite radio. Each app has a basic free ad-supported service (meaning you’ll hear an ad every now and then between songs).
For $ 5 a month, Pandora Plus removes ads from its streaming service. radio and Pandora Premium, which costs $ 10 per month, allows you to search for individual songs or albums and create your own playlists. The family plan costs $ 15 a month. And there are special rates for students and military.
Spotify, a similar music service, also has an ad-free Premium service starting at $ 10 a month. (By $ 15 two users can share Premium Duo). Premium Family costs $ 16 per month and allows family members of the same household to enjoy up to six Premium accounts. The student plan includes Hulu and Showtime for $ 5 a month.
Many cars from the last decade come with a satellite radio receiver, allowing access to more than 140 entertainment channels with a subscription to SiriusXM.
The service offers an introductory subscription of 12 months for $ 72, allowing the music fanatic on your list of Holidays Play country, rock, hip-hop, classical or pop music in the car and through an app. The price rises to $ 18 per month after one year.
Platinum streaming option expands entertainment to more than 140 channels in the car and 350 in total for $ 99 the first year, then $ 23 per month.
Phone support
A phone holder can be an inexpensive way to add convenience and even safety to your car. CR evaluated 16 cell phone mounts a couple of years ago, from the ones that mount on the air vents to the ones that attach to the windshield, to see if any will work best regardless of the type or model of vehicle. Our car experts used all the supports in their daily driving for weeks and recorded their opinions.
We found the pros and cons of each type and ultimately preferred one that mounts to the windshield with built-in charging capability to offset the energy demands of using phone-based navigation .
Learn more about choosing the right phone holder for you and take a look at our staff’s choices.
Buy phone holders: Amazon , Target and Walmart
Battery pack for jump starters
Micro batteries are powerful enough to start a car with a discharged battery. They can also be used to recharge portable devices like mobile phones and tablets, making them useful for an emergency kit, as long as you keep them charged and ready to go. Most weigh just a pound and are roughly the size of a pocket novel.
All of the units we tested had at least one built-in USB port for those recharging tasks, as well as a built-in flashlight. Some had connectors that allow certain laptops to be charged. These features add great versatility to starter packs, making them practical for campers and quite useful during a power outage.
Learn more about auxiliary starters.
Buy auxiliary starters: Amazon, Home Depot and Walmart
Tire pressure gauge
A simple tire pressure gauge can be a good reminder for drivers to check the pressure on a monthly basis. Car tires must be properly inflated for maximum performance, safety, and tread life. Without the correct pressure, tires can wear faster and unevenly, waste fuel, and compromise vehicle handling.
There are three basic types of gauges: dipstick, dial, and digital. Our tests show that you don’t have to spend a lot to get a good meter. Dipstick meters are the most compact, so they are easy to store in the glove compartment. The Accutire MS – 4400 B digital drive is our choice for accuracy, durability, and ease of use, as well as being reasonably priced. The Intercomp 360060 is the enthusiast’s choice.
See our tire pressure gauge buying and rating guide.
Tire sealant
Sealants in pressurized cans, Tire sealants and liquid tire sealants can be smart additions to an emergency car kit, but each has storage and performance limitations for treating flat tires. Regardless of the type you use, make sure the tire is repaired or replaced by a professional as quickly as possible, usually within 99 miles or as per product instructions.
Of the three types, we prefer kits. They include a can of sealant and a compressor that work together. The sealant connects to the tire through a threaded tube and the compressor connects to an accessory port of 12 volts. In most kits, the compressor pushes the air into the flat tire through a container of sealant. Unlike pressurized sealant cans, these kits can inflate a truly flat tire to the recommended pressure. And since the sealant is not pressurized before use, you can store the kit in your car. (Pressurized cans risk breaking if left in a hot car.)
Among recently tested units, staff prefer the AirMan ResQ Pro + (available on Amazon, $ 55).
See our full evaluation of tire sealants.
Wireless tire inflator
A cordless tire inflator is a great way to increase the air pressure in a tire. No need to use a big compressor or haul hoses at a local gas station. They usually come with a connection to inflate car tires and, in addition, a needle adapter to inflate basketballs, soccer balls, and the like. Most also include a special adapter to inflate inflatable objects, such as pool toys, and some have adapters to inflate high-pressure bicycle tires.
Many cordless tire inflators are compatible with a line of battery operated tools, so it is tempting to add the inflator as part of a kit rather than as a separate item. We’ve tested small drill-like inflators and slightly larger ones, and found that the capabilities of the larger models are worth the additional expense. A real advantage of these larger compressors is that most allow you to set the desired pressure and then do their job. No need to stay crouched, holding the air nozzle in place. They can inflate a car tire in just 4 to 7 minutes.
If you are buying a cordless tool kit and you like to have a great inflator, choose the DeWalt inflator 19 V Max ($ 129 without battery at Home Depot) for your combination of good overall performance, user-friendly features, quiet operation, and use of logical hose storage. Consumer Reports found DeWalt’s Heavy Duty Cordless Drills also perform well.
Learn more about choosing a cordless tire inflator.
Headlight restoration kit
A headlight restoration kit can be a brilliant gift idea.
A As cars age, especially those that are parked outside regularly, the headlight lens cover can become cloudy or foggy from exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. A AAA study found that over time, clouding can reduce the amount of light emitted by up to 80% compared to when the car was new.
There are kits Affordable DIY kits to remove the veil and reseal the plastic coating on those lenses. It takes a bit of effort, but the improvement can be significant. A few years ago we evaluated various kits and were impressed with the Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit ($ 20 on Amazon) and the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System ($ 13 on Amazon). Kit prices typically range from $ 10 and $ 22.
More information in our headlight restoration kits buying guide.
Emergency kit
If the wrong Holiday time leaves you stranded along a slippery, snowy road, a well-stocked emergency kit can help you get back on your way, or at least make waiting time for help less stressful.
Emergency kits vary greatly in price and content, but generally include auxiliary cables for the battery, a basic first aid kit, a flashlight, a thermal blanket, a snow shovel, a tow strap, an ice scraper and emergency warning triangles. These kits are available from Amazon and Survival Supply.
We bought some winter emergency kits on the internet to evaluate what is available and how useful they can be be in an emergency. The ones we buy cost between $ 45 and $ 80. They may seem expensive, but you will likely spend more than $ 100 if you buy several of the items separately to build your own kit.
Find a kit that is suitable based on how and where you drive, and consider how much space it could occupy in a car.
More information on how to put together your own emergency kit.
T-shirts and car accessories
There is also the option of a simple automotive-themed T-shirt, hoodie, baseball cap or keychain.
Discount clothing stores, such items as Kohl’s, and mass market stores such as Walmart typically carry these items.A fan may more appreciate the official brand clothing available through car dealerships or an auto manufacturer’s online store.
In addition to the usual items, you may find an em Modern or classic car problem that can be a fun decoration.
Driving school
Driving schools offer everything from car control training for inexperienced drivers to advanced skills for aspiring drivers. race car drivers.
One-day events hosted by the respected schools listed below, typically held on US circuits, start at about $ 600. However, a high speed ride can be had for about $ 100. Check the links below for prices and specific locations, and search the internet for schools in your region.
CR is actively supporting the Street Survival training program for teens. Its events hone the skills of a licensed teen by focusing on safe driving techniques and concepts. Street Survival is offered throughout the United States.
It is worth noting that there are some discounts available at driving schools for the holiday season.
• Richard Petty Driving Experience: Sessions range from one-lap drives to driving directions to NASCAR races on tracks throughout the United States. Prices range from $ 130 and $ 4, 499, depending on discounts , the course and the experience.
• Mario Andretti Racing Experience: Sessions range from one-lap IndyCars rides for two people to individual cars (as shown above) with directions on tracks throughout the United States. Prices range from $ 130 and $ 3, 899, depending on discounts, course and experience.
• Radford Racing School: Training courses, which take place on a track near Phoenix, include a teen driving experience (starting at $ 899) and High Performance Driving Skills Training with High Power Cars (Starting at $ 1, 899 for one day and up to $ 4, 699 for three days). In addition, there are competitive racing programs for karting, chopped, Formula 4 and more.
• Skip Barber Racing School: The long-standing Skip Barber school operates car control programs (for teens and adults), winter driving and high performance driving programs on the main tracks throughout the country.
• Street Survival: Teen driving sessions nationwide, including at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center before pandemic: $ 95.
High-performance tires
Better tires can transform a car’s performance on the road. So switching to higher-performance all-season or summer tires can improve a car’s handling and braking. In most cases, there is a better replacement tire than the one that came with the car.
A very special option is the Michelin CrossClimate2, our highest performance tire for all seasons. It is part of a new generation of all-weather tires, an emerging category that uses unique tread designs and improved rubber compounds to increase traction over a wide range of temperatures. This high-performance all-season tire does not need to be changed to winter / snow tires when changing seasons, unless you live in an extremely snowy area.
And for car owners SUV, there is the Michelin CrossClimate SUV.
Check our tire rating and buying guide.
Best New and Used Cars for Teens
The holidays can be a time to splurge on a great gift. For a teenager, there is nothing better than your own car. Whether you help a teenager with his first purchase or gift him something, make safety the top priority in your choice.
Adolescents are among the most risky drivers due to a combination of immaturity, inexperience and social pressures. As a result, collision rates for teens are nearly four times higher than for drivers in 20 years or more. Choosing the right car can help teens stay safe, but it can be challenging to balance all the factors that make a vehicle ideal for inexperienced drivers.
Consumer Reports in conjunction with Insurance Institute for Highway Safety jointly offers lists of cars, SUVs and minivans that balance accident prevention, crash protection, performance and reliability. Vehicle recommendations are great for teens, but can be useful to any buyer looking for a vehicle that stands out in those areas.
Check out the listings Complete of the best used cars and the best new cars for teens.
A new car
Every month, Consumer Reports tracks the best deals. We present the best deals on new cars and, more specifically, the best deals on new SUVs, analyzing the savings potential of the models recommended by CR; that is, those that stand out in our road tests, surveys and safety.
And we gather the models with the lowest transaction prices, recommended or not. Those are the most discounted new cars right now. Keep in mind that it is difficult to find a car, especially one with good ratings, that sells for less than the tag price. However, there is a relative saving when you consider that some models are selling for thousands of dollars above the MSRP.
Our listings highlight the latest domestic “deals”. You can check the prices of local transactions on our car model pages.
To easily find a good deal in your area, use the service Consumer Reports Build and Buy car purchase purchase.
Car seat
Whether you buy for your precious child or for that of a loved one, finding the best child car seat to keep them safe is top priority. CR’s tests show that buying an expensive car seat doesn’t necessarily mean having the best car seat. The higher price may offer you additional features, but that doesn’t mean they all work well or have a safety benefit.
We have ratings for infant seats, convertible seats, booster seats, booster seats for children small, and all-in-one seats to help you find the right model. To help you get the most for your money, our experts have designated the following high-performance seats as good value seats:
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 4400, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a just, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.