Welcome To Rides Ranked
How We Started
The first article ever published on Rides Ranked came out of a bad decision. A two-hour dealership visit, a test drive that felt impressive in the lot, and a lease signed before the right questions were ever asked. Three months in: the wrong fuel economy, the wrong cargo space, and an infotainment system that made a 2009 radio feel intuitive.
Sound familiar? It should. Because it happens thousands of times a day—not because buyers aren't smart, but because the information available to them is either too shallow, too biased, or too buried in fine print to be useful.
Rides Ranked was built to fix that gap. Not from the outside, theoretically—but from the inside, practically. Our team has worked in automotive journalism, car retailing, fleet management, and road testing. We've sat in the seats, driven the routes, and read the comparison sheets that only dealers usually see.
What you get here is what we wish we'd had: clear, structured, genuinely independent insight that treats the person making the decision like the smartest person in the room—because with the right information, they are.
Our Focus
Driving Tips
Practical knowledge for the road—fuel efficiency habits, safety techniques, maintenance awareness, and the kind of driving intelligence that most people don't learn until something goes wrong. We cover it before it does, clearly and without condescension.
Auto Innovations
The automotive world is moving fast—EVs, driver-assist technology, new powertrain options, connected car features. We cover what's genuinely changing the driving experience, explain what the technology actually does, and help you understand whether it matters for your situation right now or later.
Smart Comparisons
Side-by-side analysis built around the decisions real buyers are making. Which trim level is worth the step-up? How does a two-year-old certified pre-owned compare to the equivalent new option? We run the comparisons that answer the questions people are actually asking.
Drive Better Decisions
Rides Ranked is built for drivers who want to buy well, drive well, and stay ahead of the changes happening across the automotive landscape.
What We Measure
The factors that consistently determine whether a vehicle delivers on its promise over real-world ownership—and the ones Rides Ranked weights most heavily in its rankings and comparisons.
💰
Purchase price, depreciation, insurance, fuel or charging, and servicing—the full financial picture over a realistic ownership period.
🛡️
Independent crash test ratings, ADAS availability and real-world efficacy, and the safety features that demonstrably reduce accident risk.
⛽
Independently verified fuel economy and EV range figures that reflect mixed driving rather than optimized test conditions.
🌍
Lifecycle emissions data, real-world carbon comparisons between drivetrain types, and the sustainability claims worth taking seriously versus those that don't hold up.
The Bylines
Lance Regence
Senior Automotive Affairs Editor
Automotive journalist and former industry analyst with 15 years covering the consumer vehicle market across both editorial and research contexts. Lance has evaluated several hundred production vehicles and developed a deep familiarity with how manufacturer positioning diverges from real-world ownership experience.
France Hissrich
Tech & Innovation Writer
France focuses on the evolving relationship between people and transportation. His work explores emerging vehicle technologies, electric mobility, and the innovations shaping the future of driving. She has a background in transportation journalism and enjoys translating technical developments into practical insights for everyday drivers.
Cole Thornton
Consumer Comparisons Editor
Cole specializes in side-by-side vehicle comparisons that highlight the differences drivers actually care about. He has always been fascinated by how two similar-looking cars can offer very different ownership experiences once you look closer. His comparisons aim to answer the questions car shoppers naturally ask when choosing between models.
Tom Birch
Driving Experience Writer
Tom approaches vehicles from the perspective of the driver. Having spent years reviewing cars and working with automotive media outlets, he’s especially interested in how different vehicles feel on the road and how those differences affect everyday driving. Tom focuses on ride quality, usability, comfort, and the small details that shape the overall ownership experience. His writing helps readers picture what it’s actually like to live with a vehicle day to day.
Pull Into the Hub
Pull Into the Hub
Whatever you're trying to figure out—which car beats which, what that feature actually does, or whether the deal you're looking at is a good one—start here. We'll give you a straight answer.
Or email info@ridesranked.com