Auto Buyers Guide Podcast

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 week0:22 Listener question: a fun, self-driving car that isn't a Tesla4:16 Has Tesla become a legacy car company?11:07 Tesla's R&D spending compared to GM20:56 How we'd fix Tesla29:31 GM's Ultium push for faster charging32:15 Volvo's connected-car waiver and Polestar's problem37:27 Road tripping in EVs with young kids43:08 GM's EV trucks, the mid-gate, and wanting a hybrid Silverado EV47:48 Ram TRX vs Ford Raptor R showdown

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 edition0:20 Shameless plugs: the new novel and Kiva microlending7:23 Slate electric truck: first impressions17:34 Diagnosing what's wrong with Toyota's lineup29:12 What we'd cut from Toyota's lineup34:38 Listener Q&A: best hybrid SUV pick46:33 How hybrids actually save fuel (Atkinson cycle)55:19 Hybrid transmission changes explained59:34 Hybrid reliability and battery replacement costs1:04:22 Why your current car is the cheapest car you own

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 ahead0:22 Limping home on the donut after a 1,000-mile trip1:50 Glad I skipped the Blazer EV (no spare)3:00 Voicemail: John from Philly on modern-spare kits5:44 Spare tires, regions, and brand culture8:18 The AAA myth: do they bring you a tire?9:14 The data: Consumer Reports spare-tire stats14:27 Spare categories and donut limitations16:47 The five-tire rotation philosophy20:10 Honda & Subaru hybrids: batteries in dumb places24:43 What a replacement spare actually costs26:31 Is fix-a-flat an okay compromise?28:31 Checking spare pressure & air compressors31:20 Where do you even put the full-size spare?34:55 Front vs. rear: mounting the spare safely38:14 Upgrading: modern-spare universal kits41:55 The 2027 Chevy Silverado refresh44:01 Engines: 2.7L turbo, new V8s, and the 10-speed48:19 Diesel history: Cadillac, Fiat & Land Rover50:24 Power estimates for the 5.7L & 6.6L V8s53:33 New triple screens & smartphone integration55:12 Sport truck speculation vs. the Rumble Bee59:11 Torque-split 4WD and why it matters1:02:24 Wrap-up

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 Edition00:00:33 - Camry Hybrid Deep Dive: Sales, MPG & the RAV4 Cost Math00:10:30 - Sedans & Hybrids Are Making a Comeback00:13:48 - When Manufacturers Kill Good Products Too Soon00:34:48 - Dodge Charger EV: $12K Price Hike & the CAFE Connection00:40:06 - What Dodge Should Have Done with the Charger00:48:41 - Honda Prelude Review: Fun, But Is It Enough?00:51:27 - Honda's Lost Packaging Magic & the Death of the Fit01:00:28 - Affordable Fun Cars Are Disappearing01:06:08 - Honda-Nissan Merger: Kill Acura? Brand Rationalization Debate

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 Docket0:43   Jeep's Toyota Secret: Blue Nexus, Aisin & How the Cherokee Hybrid Really Works4:20   Cherokee Real-World Results & the Motor Trend Prototype Controversy7:00   Cherokee vs RAV4: Size, Cargo & the "Don't Believe Your Lying Eyes" Problem10:00  How Legroom & Cargo Numbers Are (Mis)Measured — The C1100 Standard Explained19:00  Can a Jeep Cherokee Be a Real Jeep? + Jeep Brand History25:00  Jeep's Overcrowded Lineup, Global Growth & the Wrangler Pickup Rumor34:00  Are MSRPs Meaningless? Pricing, Discounts & Resale Value Reality44:00  Toyota Trucks at 10% Off & the Tundra Engine Recall52:00  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 Miss1:11:00 Volvo EX60, SPA3 Platform & What It Means for Polestar 3

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

Honda's Product Delays, The RAV4 Is The only PHEV That Makes Sense & Alex Is Still Car Shopping

The Auto Buyer's Guide podcast is back with a packed episode covering everything from major manufacturer shakeups to savvy used car shopping. This week, the hosts dig into Honda's shocking decision to delay four of its most critical vehicles — the Odyssey, Accord, HR-V, and MDX — past 2030, and what that says about the brand's strategic direction and engineering bandwidth. They also put the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid GR Sport under the microscope, break down why the two-door vehicle is nearly extinct, and tackle the real-world challenges of fitting child safety seats in modern cars. The conversation then opens up to the big-picture debate everyone in the auto world is talking about: should Chinese EV brands be allowed to compete in the U.S. market, and what does history tell us about what happens when foreign automakers enter the scene? Rounding out the episode, the hosts get practical and walk listeners through what the used car market actually looks like under $10,000 — including some surprising finds and a few cars to avoid. Whether you're shopping for your next vehicle or just love a sharp take on the auto industry, this episode has something for you. 00:00:00 - Introduction & Episode Overview 00:00:32 - Volvo XC60 First Drive: Why We Weren't Invited (& What's Next for the Host's Family Car) 00:03:24 - Honda Delays Odyssey, Accord, HR-V & MDX Until After 2030 00:10:33 - Honda's China Sales Slump & What It Means for the Brand 00:16:17 - Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid GR Sport Review & PHEV Market Analysis 00:32:44 - Toyota vs. Honda: Who's Winning the EV Strategy Race? 00:35:27 - The Death of the Two-Door Vehicle: Who Killed the Coupe? 00:36:06 - Child Safety Seats, Rear-Facing Laws & the Cars That Can't Handle Them 00:53:52 - Should Chinese EV Brands Enter the U.S. Market? 01:09:18 - Used Cars Under $10,000: Best Buys & What to Avoid 01:16:19 - Outro & How to Contact the Show

Why Chinese Cars Are So Cheap, Rivian R2 v BMW iX3 v Volvo EX60, GMC Sierra EV

In this episode of the Auto Buyer's Guide, the team goes deep on today's most talked-about vehicles and market trends. First up, they put three compact EVs head-to-head — the Rivian R2, BMW iX3, and the new Volvo XC60 long-range — breaking down real-world range, charging strategy, software ecosystems, and which one actually wins for everyday drivers. They also take a close look at the Silverado EV before diving into the Infiniti QX65, Infiniti's would-be Lexus RX fighter, and debating whether its troubled VC turbo engine and missing hybrid option are too little, too late. Then, the conversation shifts to the booming Chinese auto market — from Geely's Guinness-certified hybrid engine to BYD's ultra-efficient systems — exploring why Chinese cars deliver jaw-dropping specs at a fraction of Western prices, and what that means for the global industry.

Pickup Trucks, EV Lease Headaches & the Montana Loophole

In this episode: 🚛 Pickup Trucks: How Did We Get Here? — Why trucks went from work vehicles to $80,000 lifestyle statements, how the F-150 grew by nearly 3 feet since 1964, and why CAFE regulations accidentally made trucks bigger.
🔋 EV Lease Buyout Strategy — AJ from San Diego is staring down a $5,000 gap between his lease payoff and market value. We break down his real options, what dealers can (and can't) do, and why the leasing company may send the car to auction anyway.
🚘 Should Mark Ditch His 2016 Tesla Model S? — With 82K miles, $5K already spent on repairs, and the free Supercharging perk on the line, is it time to move on? We crunch the numbers and recommend some underrated alternatives — including Cadillac's surprisingly strong EV lineup.
📋 The Montana LLC Loophole — Explained — How wealthy buyers have been using Montana shell companies to dodge state sales tax and registration fees, why California alone estimates $2 billion in lost revenue since 2022, and why states like Utah, Tennessee, and Texas are now cracking down.
⚡ Why Did Horsepower Plummet in the '70s and '80s? — The real story behind the muscle car era's sudden power collapse: SAE net vs. gross ratings, catalytic converters, early emissions regulations, and why a 426 Hemi went from 425hp to basically dead in a few short years.

What Dealers Really Cost You, The Used EV Flood Is Coming, High Power Hybrids & Minivan Death Traps

This week on Auto Buyer's Guide, we're digging into why nobody's making high horsepower hybrids anymore (blame Toyota's pragmatism and the ghost of the Lexus LS 600h), answering viewer questions on 12-volt battery woes and whether you actually need to flush your brakes, and debating why ventilated leather seats are really just a solution to a problem leather created in the first place. We've also got a look at the incoming tidal wave of 800,000-plus used EVs about to flood the market from lease returns, the dismal IIHS rear-seat safety scores that somehow managed to make every minivan in America look bad, GM's surprise resurrection of the Camaro and a Buick sedan on a platform that was already too small the first time around, Geely's absurd 1,100-kilowatt charging demo that puts everything stateside to shame, the $4,000-5,000 dealer markup you're paying whether you realize it or not, and a Chinese plug-in hybrid three-row with 858 horsepower that costs less than a loaded Camry — which really makes you wonder what exactly we're doing over here.