Brendan Appel of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Brendan and Tom open the show talking about the changing character of car engines, and how small turbocharged examples lack the character—especially exhaust note—of older, larger engines.

Tom shares news regarding deep price cuts on the Tesla Cybertruck. Per Elon Musk, the new, cheaper Tesla pickup may not be available long, so interested shoppers may want to act quickly. Brendan and Tom discuss what the price adjustment might mean for the resale value of existing examples of the controversially designed pickup truck.

Still in the first segment, Tom reviews the 3-row Lexus TX luxury crossover. Listen in for his take.

In the second segment Brendan and Tom welcome Zack Pradel of Shooting Cars to the show. Zack is just back from Japan where he drove a number of the country’s “kei” micro cars. As it has been suggested that kei cars could be the answer to rising new-car sticker prices in the U.S., Zack’s take on these tiny vehicles is especially interesting.

In the last segment Zack joins Brendan for this weeks quiz. The show warps up with a quick look at the current Polestar lineup.

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No donuts today as Jill isn't feeling well (listen to her voice) and Tom says he's on a diet. The hosts open the show by discussing big Toyota news: The Highlander is going EV only for 2027. Listen in for Jill and Tom's take on this announcement.

Next, Tom shares a brief take on the very-affordable Chevrolet Trax in topline Activ trim. Should entry-level shoppers take a look at Chevy's least-expensive model? Listen in.

Still in the first segment, the hosts co-review the sporty Alfa Romeo Stelvio Intensa small crossover. Jill and Tom agree that there is a lot here to like here, though the very-engaging Italian model is not without its compromises.

In the second segment, Jill and Tom are joined by Evan Frank, Seat Engineering Manager for Nissan. Evan explains why denim especially is so tough on car and truck seats, and how Infiniti has been using a jeans-clad robot to test vehicle seats for long-term wear resistance. It's a great conversation.

In the final segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Even More Spelling" quiz, plus, the duo discusses Cadillac's surprising commitment to electric vehicles, and a North American Car of the Year/Society of Automotive Engineers-sponsored scholarship program. Listen in for details.

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Jim Obrill of the Chicago Auto Show drops by for a quick update on the show. The show includes a number of surprise displays including the $400,000 Cadillac Celestiq electric sedan.

Tom owns up to an error in last weeks show, listen in to find out what he got wrong.

Jill and Tom continue to share several news items, including the return of the rugged Nissan Xterra SUV.

Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the all-new 2026 Subaru Outback. Tom laments the passing of the Outback’s traditional station-wagon design; however, Jill's takes is overwhelmingly positive. Listen for details.

In the second segment, the hosts are joined by Mark LaNeve, Partner at Franchise Equity Partners. Mark walks Jill and Tom through the auto dealership acquisition process, and explains how dealer principals fund growth, and new sales point purchases.

In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom’s “Was it a Pickup” quiz, and Tom talks about his daughter’s recent new-car purchase.

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Jill and Tom sift through an enormous amount of news this week, including the announced deaths of four car models, including two from Tesla. Other news items covered include a name for Ford’s new electric small truck, BMW’s new electric-car architecture, and the unexpected comeback of the minivan.

Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander small crossover. Listen in for her take.

In the second segment the hosts welcome Brian Moody of Kelley Blue Book to the show. Brian shares his take on the new-car market in 2026, as well as KBB’s Best Buy picks.

In the third segment Jill is subjected to Tom’s “How Red is It?” Quiz.

Be sure to visit ConsumerGuide.com.

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Jill and Tom open the show acknowledging a few foreign cities in which there are Car Stuff Podcast listeners. Listen in for the list.

Stories this week include news that Mercedes-Benz is dropping its Drive Pilot semi-autonomous driving system in the U.S., and Buick is moving production of the U.S.-market Envision small crossover out of China. Tom also shares the results of his very unscientific “Most American” car poll. Did the Corvette, Mustang, or Wrangler win? Listen in for details.

Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback. Does the hatch make for a better compact Kia? Signs point to “yes.”

In the second segment, Jill and Tom are joined by automotive legend Steve Saleen. Steve talks about the development of the S7 super car, modifying Mustangs and F-150s, and his super-car show at the LeMay Museum in Tacoma, Washington. It’s a great conversation.

In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom’s “2025 Car Sales” quiz. The hosts close the show discussing the impact of cold weather on the Lucid Air, and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

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Jill and Tom open a topic-packed show acknowledging the winners of the 2026 North American Car of the Year voting. Listen in for complete list.

Moving on, Tom noted that General Motors CEO Mary Barra said publicly something he had long feared regarding plug-in hybrids. Barra suggests the news will impact future product development.

Subsequent to last week’s Zeekr conversation, Tom shared some interesting news regarding the prices of the Chinese cars in Mexico versus the maker’s home market.

Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV in high-end Trail Boss trim. Listen in for her complete review.

In the second segment, the hosts welcome Eric Ruble of Nissan to discuss the design of the all-new 2026 Leaf electric crossover. Eric shares a number of insider details related to the Leaf’s overall look, including some fun insights regarding Easter eggs hidden in the vehicle’s trim.

In the last segment Jill is subjected to Tom’s “2026 Honda Accord” quiz, including a Mexican Burger King bonus question. After the quiz, Jill shares her impressions of riding in a Waymo autonomous taxi.

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Jill is back in the co-host seat this week for a topic-packed episode. Tom opens the show asking if $61,000 seems like a lot for a Hyundai—any Hyundai. The hosts discuss the Korean maker’s luxury/value equation, and note that Tom’s test car, a 2026 Palisade Calligraphy Hybrid is, without question, a luxury vehicle. Listen in for more of the conversation.

Tom goes on to share his frustration with Stellantis for killing all of Jeep’s “4Xe” plug-in hybrids, along with the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Listen in for some crankiness.

Still in the first segment, Jill details her CES Chinese-car adventure. Jill was able to take short drives in a number of luxury electric Zeekr models (a division of Volvo’s parent company Geely) and came away very impressed. Her quick takes on these vehicles are worth a listen. Are these premium EVs coming to the U.S? here’s the scoop.

In the second segment, Jill and Tom are joined by friend of show and sustainability expert Robert Colangelo. Robert addresses the fallacy that EVs are a threat to the U.S. electric grid, and details the real power-consumption challenges that lay ahead for the country. It’s a great conversation you don’t want to miss.

In the last segment Jill is subjected to Tom’s “Is it a Dodge?” quiz.

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For the first show of 2026, Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill who is traveling. Paul and Tom address a number of topics to open the show, including annoying helper AI bots on dealership websites, the death of the Karma Revero (once known as the Fisker Karma), and the return of the Hemi engine to the Ram 1500 lineup.

Still in the first segment, Tom reviews the 2026 Nissan Kicks. Tom is impressed by just how much equipment can be had on this small, practical crossover.

In the second segment, Paul and Tom are joined by Tim Healey of The Truth About Cars. The guys dare to predict what’s coming for the car industry in 2026, especially for electric cars and Cadillac; they also address vehicle affordability and sales.

In the last segment Tim joins Paul for Tom’s “Best Sellers of 1976” quiz. Listen in to hear who won. Paul wraps up the show with a surprisingly long list of vehicles that didn’t return for 2026.

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