Car Stuff Podcast

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 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.

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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