MEET THE NEW GUY!LIKE DRIVE SAID Kia to Uwharrie National
Forest, about 50 miles east of Charlotte,
North Carolina, and enter the Daniel Trail,
which the USDA Forest Service rates as
“extremely difficult.” It’s a course that
should’ve humbled a three-row family SUV,
but the Telluride’s 17-degree approach angle
and 8 inches of ground clearance kept it
crawling. When the terrain lifted the left
rear tire into the air (above), Kia’s trac-
tion control system prioritized power to
the wheels still on the ground, as if the Kia
had locking differentials like you’d find on a
G-Wagen or Wrangler. “The Telluride sum-
mits Daniel,” Ezra writes, “possibly making
it the first Kia ever to reach this particular
Can This
Family SUV
Go Off-Road?
Auto Editor Ezra Dyer can be
counted on to take a sensible
assignment (test-drive the new Kia
Telluride) and do something ambi-
tious—and potentially dangerous.
place on earth.” On the descent, a sharp rock
gave him a flat, but even with the donut tire,
the Kia made it back to asphalt. For anyone
who’s wondered how driving so slow could
be so fun and so satisfying, we’ll let Ezra
explain: “The thrill of off-roading is entirely
bound up in the process of accomplishing
something you thought was beyond the capa-
bility of your vehicle, of feeling that tension
as you wonder whether you’re going to make
it out or end up walking.”
Read more at popularmechanics.com.THE BEST HEADPHONES FOR A
REALLY LONG COMMUTE
While working on this issue, we moved our office out of New York City to our new
headquarters in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. In the weeks leading up to the move, I
made dozens of trips between those two locations, usually by bus. Those rides were a
good excuse to test three new and noteworthy headphones.—Alexander GeorgeROAD TESTEDMaster & Dynamic MW 65 ($50 0)
Expensive, lightweight, and with a
battery that lasted me through a
week of rides and desk work before
needing a recharge. An aluminum
core makes them lighter than they
look, and the leather covering over
the ear cups makes them feel like a
premium tech product.Powerbeats Pro ($250)
For years, my suspicion was that
Beats spent money on market-
ing that should’ve gone into
engineering. The Powerbeats
Pro bluetooth headphones,
however, are the best in its class.
Sweat- and water-resistant, the
Pros’ quality justify their price.Apple AirPods 2 ($199)
The upgrades are subtle: Wireless
charging, and longer talk time—
up to three hours. More impor-
tantly: Same as the old AirPods,
the new model is as convenient as
personal audio gets. The original
model was such a feat that im-
provement is a challenge.WISDOM
ON HIS SECOND day of work, we
asked Test Editor Brad Ford to
introduce himself and offer some tips
on assessing a tool like the rest of us
do: by reading specs online or staring
at it for 10 minutes at a big-box store.
(As if he could say no.)
I started out working on a farm,
where I learned to weld, repair, and
paint equipment. With those skills,
I got a job at a classic-car dealer, ser-
vicing Rolls-Royces and Jaguars,
and I amassed a collection of tools
housed in one of those big, red, roll-
ing toolboxes. I’ve built a barn with
those tools, renovated a 200-year-
old schoolhouse, repaired a septic
system, and prepped some rough-
sawn planks just this morning for an
upcoming tool test.
A good tool lasts. But you have to
know what to look for. Here’s how to
test a tool before you’re able to use it:- If you’re at a big home center,
check the rental area. They’re likely
renting the most durable brands. - Consider the tools you already
have. A drill that’s held up bodes well
for that company’s sanders. - What’s the amperage of the
motor? Voltage of the battery? More
is usually better. - Compare warranties. A com-
pany may use the date of manufacture
to determine eligibility. Could knock
a full year off—ask me how I know.
@PopularMechanics _ July/August 2019 7