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Auto Buyers Guide Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Auto Buyers Guide
The Auto Buyers Guide team is dedicated to bringing you the latest in automotive industry news, car buying advice, car reviews, and all things car, truck, SUV, and EV. Every week Alex and Travis try to tackle important questions like: are software defined cars a thing? Should shiny black plastic be banned?
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- 4 days ago1h 37m
Polestar Pulls Out, Durango Booms, Our EV Might Catch Fire, & Luxury Underdog Fight
This week the guys dig into why used EV prices are climbing back up now that federal tax credits are gone, why the Dodge Durango just posted its best sales in two decades, and whether crash test scores actually move the needle for shoppers. They also break down Polestar's decision to walk away from the US market instead of appealing its sales ban, GM's plan to bring the XT5 and XT6 back to Cadillac from China, and the wave of battery recalls hitting the Volvo EX30 and VW ID.4. From there it's a deep dive into car features that quietly became essential (smartphone projection, ventilated seats) versus the ones that aged like milk (giant glass roofs, CD-based nav), plus why car theft rates keep falling despite hacker-level Bluetooth exploits. They close out with a full breakdown of the "almost-luxury" brand wars — Genesis, Lincoln, Infiniti, and Acura — and where each one is headed next. 0:00 Intro – what's on deck 1:18 EV resale values rebound as tax credits vanish 5:43 Dodge Durango's record-breaking sales year 13:27 Do crash test scores actually matter? 19:09 Polestar quits the US market 29:27 GM revives the XT5 and XT6 for Cadillac 34:09 Battery recall fears: Volvo EX30 and VW ID.4 40:44 Honda's new US factory and EV strategy 47:19 Why car thefts are plunging 49:51 Car features: essential now vs. aged like milk 1:14:15 Quirky luxury market: Genesis, Lincoln, Infiniti, Acura 1:29:27 Listener mail and sign-off
- 1 weeks ago57 min
Seltos First Drive, Niro vs Seltos Hybrid & Is Honda-Nissan Too Integrated to Be Good?
Travis returns from a sweaty Kia Seltos first drive — bigger, bolder, and available with a 1.6-liter turbo that makes it genuinely fun through the hills — but the story isn't the car itself, it's the incoming hybrid everyone's actually waiting for. The guys dig into Kia's curious trim-level decision (1.6T only at the very top of the X-Line), what the Seltos hybrid might actually deliver in fuel economy versus a Corolla Cross, and the bigger strategic question it raises: if the Seltos gets a great hybrid system, what exactly is the Kia Niro for anymore? The comparison to the Trax/Trailblazer split is floated — different shapes, different buyers — but the Niro's remarkable fuel economy might be the only thing that saves it. From there the conversation covers the serial vs. parallel hybrid debate (Honda's system as the test case, Nissan's incoming serial system as the punchline), what the Honda Prelude should've been if they'd just added a PHEV battery and a bigger electric motor, whether the Honda Element is really coming back or just generating SEMA concept buzz, and how integrated Honda and Nissan should actually get before the partnership stops making sense for customers. The episode closes with the Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV arriving on a Leaf platform (more differentiated than the Rogue Hybrid, at least), a breakdown of the Toyota-Subaru partnership and who's really steering it, a listener's fully electrified Volvo household singing the praises of the XC90 Recharge PHEV system, a viewer's first-ever new car purchase (a Mini Countryman S All4), and the story of a colleague who found themselves surrounded by police at a grocery store because a FLOCK camera flagged their press car as stolen.
- 3 weeks ago58 min
Tesla's A "Legacy" Car Maker Now, Who'll Be Hands Free Next, Polestar & TRX vs Raptor
A listener wants a fun weekend car with supervised self-driving that is not a Tesla, which sends us down a rabbit hole on when Ford, GM and Rivian might actually ship level three autonomy, and whether Tesla has quietly turned into a legacy car company. We dig into Tesla's R&D spending per vehicle versus GM, why the charging and range crown has slipped to Hyundai, Kia and Lucid, and what we would actually do to fix Tesla's product lineup and priorities. From there we cover GM's Ultium charging push, the strange story behind Volvo getting a connected-car waiver while Polestar did not, and whether EV road trips make sense with young kids in the car. We also talk through GM's heavy but practical EV trucks, why a hybrid or gas Silverado EV would be a game changer, and settle the debate between the Ram 1500 TRX, Rumble Bee and Ford Raptor R. 0:00 Intro: winging it this week 0:22 Listener question: a fun, self-driving car that isn't a Tesla 4:16 Has Tesla become a legacy car company? 11:07 Tesla's R&D spending compared to GM 20:56 How we'd fix Tesla 29:31 GM's Ultium push for faster charging 32:15 Volvo's connected-car waiver and Polestar's problem 37:27 Road tripping in EVs with young kids 43:08 GM's EV trucks, the mid-gate, and wanting a hybrid Silverado EV 47:48 Ram TRX vs Ford Raptor R showdown
- Jun 30, 20261h 7m
What's Wrong With Toyota's Lineup? Slate Truck Review & The Real Reason Hybrids Save Fuel
This week we diagnose Toyota's identity crisis — after the CEO admitted the lineup is "out of control," we go model by model through what should stay, what should die (Crown, Land Cruiser, Supra, GR86, the plug-in hybrid), and where Toyota needs more options in the middle of its SUV range. Plus, first impressions from spending real time with the new Slate electric truck, including configurator surprises and who it might actually make sense for. Toyota lineup, Toyota CEO comments, Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Crown Signia, Lexus, GR86, Supra, Prius, Corolla, Camry Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid, Slate electric truck, Slate truck review, hybrid explainer, Atkinson cycle, regenerative braking, hybrid transmission, hybrid reliability, hybrid battery replacement cost, used car vs new car, car buying advice #Toyota #HybridCars #SlateTruck #CarNews #AutoBuyersGuide #CarBuyingAdvice #ElectricTruck #ToyotaHybrid #CarPodcast #4Runner #LandCruiser 0:00 Intro: the laryngitis edition 0:20 Shameless plugs: the new novel and Kiva microlending 7:23 Slate electric truck: first impressions 17:34 Diagnosing what's wrong with Toyota's lineup 29:12 What we'd cut from Toyota's lineup 34:38 Listener Q&A: best hybrid SUV pick 46:33 How hybrids actually save fuel (Atkinson cycle) 55:19 Hybrid transmission changes explained 59:34 Hybrid reliability and battery replacement costs 1:04:22 Why your current car is the cheapest car you own
- Jun 18, 20261h 3m
Spare Tires & the 2027 Silverado
Spare tire or no spare tire? After limping the last 50 miles of a 1,000-mile road trip home on a donut, the crew digs into whether the spare still matters in 2026 — the Consumer Reports data behind what new cars actually carry, why Honda and Subaru hybrids bury the spare-tire well under a battery and waste the space entirely, what a replacement donut really costs, and the safety reasons you should almost always mount the spare on the rear axle. Along the way: a listener voicemail making the case for aftermarket modern-spare kits, the truth about whether AAA brings you a tire (spoiler — they don't), the right and wrong way to use fix-a-flat, and how often you should really be checking your spare's pressure. Then it's on to the 2027 Chevy Silverado refresh — the surviving 2.7L turbo now bolted to the 10-speed, the new 5.7L and 6.6L V8s replacing the old 5.3 and 6.2, a detour through the wild history of the segment's diesels (Cadillac, Fiat, and Land Rover all make an appearance), the new triple-screen interior, and why a GM sport truck could give the Ram Rumble Bee a real run for its money. 0:00 Intro: spare tires and what's ahead 0:22 Limping home on the donut after a 1,000-mile trip 1:50 Glad I skipped the Blazer EV (no spare) 3:00 Voicemail: John from Philly on modern-spare kits 5:44 Spare tires, regions, and brand culture 8:18 The AAA myth: do they bring you a tire? 9:14 The data: Consumer Reports spare-tire stats 14:27 Spare categories and donut limitations 16:47 The five-tire rotation philosophy 20:10 Honda & Subaru hybrids: batteries in dumb places 24:43 What a replacement spare actually costs 26:31 Is fix-a-flat an okay compromise? 28:31 Checking spare pressure & air compressors 31:20 Where do you even put the full-size spare? 34:55 Front vs. rear: mounting the spare safely 38:14 Upgrading: modern-spare universal kits 41:55 The 2027 Chevy Silverado refresh 44:01 Engines: 2.7L turbo, new V8s, and the 10-speed 48:19 Diesel history: Cadillac, Fiat & Land Rover 50:24 Power estimates for the 5.7L & 6.6L V8s 53:33 New triple screens & smartphone integration 55:12 Sport truck speculation vs. the Rumble Bee 59:11 Torque-split 4WD and why it matters 1:02:24 Wrap-up
- Jun 4, 20261h 24m
Sedans Are Back, Dodge Is Confused & Should Acura Just Die?
This week on Auto Buyer's Guide, the crew goes unscripted and ends up covering more ground than most planned episodes ever do. It starts with a Camry in the driveway and spirals into a genuinely compelling argument for why Toyota's all-hybrid midsize sedan is one of the shrewdest value plays on the market right now — outselling the entire Mercedes lineup in North America and costing buyers roughly $100 a month less than a RAV4 when you run the real numbers. From there the conversation widens into the broader sedan and hybrid sales resurgence, the questionable economics of the Prius versus Camry, why manufacturers keep killing promising vehicles too early, and a tour through what Honda used to get right with packaging that it no longer does. The back half of the episode gets into some of the thornier issues shaking up the industry: Dodge's $12,000 price hike on the Charger EV and the deeper identity crisis behind it, a candid review of the new Honda Prelude hybrid, the vanishing breed of affordable fun cars for everyday buyers, and a long-form discussion on what a Honda-Nissan merger might actually look like — including which brands (Acura, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Infiniti) probably shouldn't survive it. Tesla's luxury market positioning, Hyundai and Kia's dramatic move upmarket, and a listener question on vehicle sizing graphics round out a wide-ranging, opinion-heavy hour that sounds nothing like it wasn't planned. 00:00:00 - Intro: No Plans, No Filter Edition 00:00:33 - Camry Hybrid Deep Dive: Sales, MPG & the RAV4 Cost Math 00:10:30 - Sedans & Hybrids Are Making a Comeback 00:13:48 - When Manufacturers Kill Good Products Too Soon 00:34:48 - Dodge Charger EV: $12K Price Hike & the CAFE Connection 00:40:06 - What Dodge Should Have Done with the Charger 00:48:41 - Honda Prelude Review: Fun, But Is It Enough? 00:51:27 - Honda's Lost Packaging Magic & the Death of the Fit 01:00:28 - Affordable Fun Cars Are Disappearing 01:06:08 - Honda-Nissan Merger: Kill Acura? Brand Rationalization Debate
- Jun 1, 20261h 15m
Jeep's Toyota Secret, MSRP Is a Lie & Why Your Car's Legroom Numbers Are Wrong
Alex and Jared open with a revelation that stops most car shoppers cold: the new Jeep Cherokee hybrid isn't running some Stellantis-developed powertrain — it's essentially Toyota technology, sourced through Blue Nexus, the joint venture Toyota quietly controls via its majority stakes in Aisin and Denso. From there the conversation expands into the Cherokee's real-world performance (38 mpg, a 7.5-second 0-60, and a Motor Trend early-prototype controversy), how it actually sizes up against the RAV4 despite looking smaller inside, and whether a Jeep Cherokee that's really an on-road mall crawler can still legitimately wear the Jeep badge. The guys also dig into the deeper history of how Jeep went from a tiny niche brand to over a million global sales, the brand's increasingly crowded lineup, and where a rumored two-door Wrangler-based pickup might fit into all of it. The second half of the episode tackles one of the trickiest questions in automotive journalism: how should reviewers talk about car prices when Jeep and GM routinely sell at 10–15% below MSRP while Toyota holds at or above sticker? Alex breaks down how MSRP-to-MSRP comparisons can mislead shoppers, how resale value data is distorted by markups and dealer add-ons (and why Wrangler's "strong resale" is partly a statistical illusion), and how Toyota's own trucks are now hitting 10% off MSRP as competition heats up. The episode closes with a frank look at the Lexus lineup — including the ES's evolution from budget Camry rebadge to Lexus flagship sedan — and a quick update on what Volvo's SPA3 platform and the EX60 might mean for the forthcoming Polestar 3 refresh. 0:00 Intro: The Cherokee, MSRPs & What's on the Docket 0:43 Jeep's Toyota Secret: Blue Nexus, Aisin & How the Cherokee Hybrid Really Works 4:20 Cherokee Real-World Results & the Motor Trend Prototype Controversy 7:00 Cherokee vs RAV4: Size, Cargo & the "Don't Believe Your Lying Eyes" Problem 10:00 How Legroom & Cargo Numbers Are (Mis)Measured — The C1100 Standard Explained 19:00 Can a Jeep Cherokee Be a Real Jeep? + Jeep Brand History 25:00 Jeep's Overcrowded Lineup, Global Growth & the Wrangler Pickup Rumor 34:00 Are MSRPs Meaningless? Pricing, Discounts & Resale Value Reality 44:00 Toyota Trucks at 10% Off & the Tundra Engine Recall 52:00 What Average Car Shoppers Actually Want (vs What Enthusiasts Think They Want) 1:03:23 Lexus Lineup: ES as Flagship, Lexus's Core Strategy & the IS We Miss 1:11:00 Volvo EX60, SPA3 Platform & What It Means for Polestar 3
- May 22, 20261h 21m
Rumble Bees Are Buzzing, Toyota's V6 Has More Issues, EX60, & Finally New Chryslers Are Coming
The auto world is heating up as Ram throws down the gauntlet with not one but three versions of the all-new Rumble Bee sport truck — and the hosts dig deep into what makes it tick: wider tracks, spool rear differentials, SRT-sourced all-wheel drive, and engine choices ranging from the 5.7 Hemi all the way to the Hellcat. But the conversation doesn't stop there. From Volvo's screaming-fast EX60 EV charging speeds and Toyota's alarming twin-turbo V6 recall, to GM quietly dominating the budget car market with Korean-built compacts, this episode covers the full spectrum of what's moving in the industry right now. Stellantis steals the spotlight in a major investor-day reveal: 60 new vehicles globally, with 11 headed to North America — including a revived Chrysler Airflow, a Dodge GLH to replace the Hornet, a new Durango with SRT versions, a Wrangler Scrambler pickup, and the Ram Rampage compact truck. The team also takes a hard look at the new Jeep Cherokee Hybrid, which secretly runs a Toyota-Denso transaxle under its hood, and debates the future of mild hybrids, inline-six performance, and whether Chrysler's rumored French-platform products can actually win over American buyers. It's a packed, opinion-heavy episode for anyone who loves trucks, EVs, and the business of cars. #RamRumbleBee #SportTruck #Stellantis #JeepCherokee #CherokeeHybrid #VolvoEX60 #ElectricVehicle #EVCharging #ToyotaRecall #TwinTurboV6 #DodgeGLH #ChryslerAirflow #WranglerScrambler #RamRampage #GMTrax #AutoNews #CarPodcast #TruckNews #AutoBuyersGuide #NewCars2025 #HybridCars #eTorque #SRT #Hellcat #carreview 00:00:00 - Intro: The Return of the Sport Truck 00:01:28 - Ram Rumble Bee Deep Dive: Specs, Suspension & Engines 0 0:06:40 - Rumble Bee vs Durango SRT & Future Wish List 00:12:21 - Stellantis & JLR US Manufacturing + Volvo Factory Talk 00:17:18 - Volvo EX60 EV: Charging Speeds, Range & Options 00:36:43 - GM's Affordable Car Dominance: Trax, Trailblazer & Envista 00:44:27 - Toyota 3.4L Twin-Turbo V6 Recall: 270,000 Trucks at Risk 00:47:58 - Jeep Cherokee Hybrid: Toyota Transaxle & Real-World Impressions 00:52:21 - Stellantis Investor Day: 60 New Vehicles & North America's 11 01:11:31 - Ram eTorque, Hybrid Futures & Chrysler's French Platform Dilemma
About Auto Buyers Guide Podcast
The Auto Buyers Guide team is dedicated to bringing you the latest in automotive industry news, car buying advice, car reviews, and all things car, truck, SUV, and EV. Every week Alex and Travis try to tackle important questions like: are software defined cars a thing? Should shiny black plastic be banned?
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