Automobiles are a mode of transportation via land, not unlike boats or planes. Unlike boats and planes, automobiles use fuel (usually gasoline) to power their motors. Automobiles can hold up to six people, and have four wheels. They are usually used for transporting people, rather than goods. The automotive industry is one of the largest in the world, and provides jobs to millions of people around the globe. It has also helped revolutionize the way people live, and it allows for more freedom of movement than ever before.
The first automobiles were steam or electrically powered in the late 1700s and 1800s, but did not become practical for everyday use until gas power was discovered. The inventor of the first modern automobile was Karl Benz, who patented his Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886. By the 1920s, cars had replaced horse-drawn carriages as the dominant mode of passenger transportation. The development of the automobile had a profound effect on society, as it enabled families to travel great distances to work, school and shopping, and allowed more individuals to participate in the leisure activities that were becoming popular at the time.
As the automobile grew in popularity, many ancillary industries developed to serve its needs. For example, the automotive industry was the largest customer for steel and petroleum products and provided jobs to millions of people. The automotive industry has helped to define America as a consumer-oriented culture and contributed to the rapid economic growth of the United States in the twentieth century.
Automobiles have become a necessary part of life in the developed world, where over five trillion miles (almost seven billion kilometres) are traveled annually. There are over 1.4 billion automobiles in operation worldwide, and almost all of them are produced in the United States.
Modern automobiles are a complex mix of mechanical and electrical systems, with an increasing number of safety and comfort features. The design of an automobile depends on its intended use, with automobiles for off-road driving needing to be rugged and simple in construction with high resistance to extreme operating conditions. Automobiles for highway and limited-access road use need to offer more passenger comfort options and optimize high-speed handling and stability.
There are a wide range of cars on the market, from hyper-efficient electric vehicles to raucous V8 engines. The best cars for you depend on your personal preferences and budget. To help you decide, Consumer Reports uses road-test scores and assessments from owner satisfaction surveys and reliability tests to determine its rankings of the best brands.
To make the list, a car must have good performance in all areas: driving dynamics, fuel economy, safety, and value. The car must be a pleasure to drive and have the technology you need. You can find a car that fits you by using our online comparison tool. And don’t forget to check out our reviews and ratings for each model. Good luck!