VinCheckUp Vehicle History

  For more than a century, driving a car meant being mechanically connected to it. Turning the steering wheel rotated a physical column linked directly to the front wheels. Pressing the gas pedal pulled a throttle cable. Stepping on the brakes engaged a hydraulic system that you could feel through your foot. This mechanical connection gave drivers not just control but also a sense of feedback, what enthusiasts often call “road feel.” But in recent years, much of that tactile link has been replaced by something known as   fly-by-wire technology   and the changes it’s bringing to the driving experience are profound.     Fly-By-Wire Technology   What “Fly-By-Wire” Means   The term “ fly-by-wire ” originated in aviation. Instead of the pilot’s controls directly moving the plane’s rudder, ailerons or elevators, sensors detect the inputs and computers translate them into electronic signals that control actuators through electric motors and hydraulic systems....

  As EVs solidify their place in today’s highly competitive car market,   Honda   and their premium brand Acura find themselves seriously behind on in-house EV development. This is the precise reason why they have chosen to partner up with other companies on developing fully   electric vehicles .   Honda     In March of 2024 Honda unveiled a fully electric crossover called the   Honda Prologue . The issue with this new model was not so much that it was not well received; it has more to do with the fact that it was not much of a Honda underneath the Honda badge. Just like the   Acura ZDX   released in the same year, the Prologue was built on   General Motors’ Ultium platform . This is the same foundation behind the   Cadillac Lyriq   and   Chevrolet Blazer EV . The issue arose when people started to notice that the Prologue and the ZDX shared far more than just the electric drivetrain with GM models. They shared compon...

  As many of us remember, the   Nissan Xterra   was a rugged 4x4 SUV that entered the market in the US in 1999. It was Nissan’s answer to the   Toyota 4Runner   and the   Jeep Wrangler . It was originally based on a body on frame truck platform and experienced mixed reviews. Some faulted the SUV for its rough and unrefined driving characteristics, poor fuel economy and outdated technology. There was also a community that praised the car for its off-road capability, reliability and overall mechanical simplicity. However, the main nail in the coffin came from declining consumer interests and dwindling sales, forcing   Nissan to stop production in 2015 .   Nissan Xterra come back     The good news for all of us off-road enthusiasts and Nissan aficionados is that after a decade off the market, the long-rumored comeback of the Nissan Xterra is finally gaining substance. At a dealer meeting in Las Vegas on August 20, 2025,   Nissan Americ...

  The Cherokee name is an iconic part of Jeep’s heritage. As the original Cherokee was credited for introducing one of the first modern SUVs. It has off-road credentials while featuring surprisingly agile handling on regular asphalt. This was not a common trait that SUVs possessed in the early 80s. Most of the SUVs in that era were based on their truck counterparts, sharing a lot of the truck underpinnings and their overall uninspiring on-road handling. Needless to say, the XJ   Jeep Cherokee   became an instant hit amongst enthusiasts as well as regular consumers practically overnight.   Jeep Cherokee is back     Due to decreased sales and lackluster interest in the modern variant of the   Fiat -based Jeep Cherokee KL platform, the iconic model was discontinued in February 2023. However, we are happy to announce it is officially making its return for the 2026 model year. It is designed to fill the midsize SUV gap between the   Compass   and ...

  Back in December 2024, Japan’s auto giants   Nissan   and   Honda   surprised the industry by announcing plans to merge under a new holding company. This merger would essentially create the third largest automaker in the world, with a total worth anywhere from   $50 to 60 billion,   trailing behind only   Toyota   and   Volkswagen . The merger would offer multiple benefits to both companies; amongst the most valuable are deep savings through unified R&D, shared vehicle platforms and streamlined production.   Nissan merging with Honda     Nissan vehicle   reliability and reputation have been on a downturn the last few years with a decline in sales and serious budgetary constraints. Nissan needed resources to help revitalize its product and brand image. By failing to reinvest into R&D, Nissan fell behind in the new electrification craze; in fact, the brand currently only offers 2 EVs, the   Nissan Leaf ...