Auto Buyers Guide Podcast

Welcome to another episode of the Auto Buyer's Guide podcast. This week we're driving the Lucid Air, the most efficient car in North America. Travis also got some time in the first ever electric Trail Boss from Chevrolet. We're going to discuss 400 volt, an 800 volt charging, what the new emissions rollbacks might mean for you and for vehicles in the future.

In today's episode, Travis and Alex discuss lease-end issues when you've gone over your mileage limit, luxury car maintenance costs, the death of the Nissan Ariya and the base Cybertruck. Also, Dodge's Durango continues for another year, but it loses the V6 and picks back up the 6.4L and Hellcat engines... Except if you're in CARB states where the 5.7 will be the only option. Is there a way around that? Not really. Lastly cash for clunkers did seem to cause increased used car prices, but the higher efficiency of the models traded in likely balances that out.

Once upon a time, China followed the world when it came to safety regulations and standards, but this is 2025, and China is forging its own path, especially when it comes to new tech like one-pedal driving and electronic door releases. Is this the right move or not? Travis and Alex also discuss minivans vs big SUVs and how tire sizes work. Travis drives a new Leaf, Alex continues his campaign against black plastic.

Here's what to do (and not do) when buying a new car and what you can expect. -Discounts -Invoice isn't the real cost -Financing works in your favor -Extended warranties -Shop around -Going out of state can go wrong

In today's rambling episode, we talk about the resurrected HEMI in Ram's 1500 truck, and why it is and isn't a big deal. Tesla has a new Model Y Performance, Jeep's new Compass is starting as a hybrid-only soft-roader... And that's ok. Why? Because news flash: it's never been a Wrangler. Also: since there's a 4-door Wrangler, and a 4-door Grand Cherokee... Why does the Cherokee need to be similar to either of those? Oh, and we chat about how to get the EV tax credit if you have an EV on order but it won't arrive "on time."

In this episode Alex and Travis take a deep dive into legroom. How it's measured, why you can't always trust the numbers, and why we always talk about legroom in a specific way. We also ask: is the Blazer EV SS the modern Grand National? -gasp- Oh, and Durango gets another year to live, standard V8s and a bonkers top-end price tag.

Where is the safest place for your child's car seat? Well, that kind of "depends." In this solo episode Alex tackles viewer questions while Travis is out sick including why there's a baby behind Alex's seat instead of being on the other side. Also, why car prices are on sharp rise skyward, why we're always comparing strange things, and just why is it that top trims are missing seats...

What should you do, and not do, if you want your car to last longer? Well, it's the 21st century so don't be afraid of power windows or doors locks, but you might want to think twice about performance options, DCTs, CVTs, and yes... Even manual transmissions.

What would tax policy be like if Alex and Travis ruled the US? Scary though, no? Less scary: the new 2026 Mazda CX-5 is finally coming! Although... Not everyone will be a fan of the styling and design direction which has gone more minimal than ever before. Oh, and speed cameras should be burnt at the stake.

Sadly due to one of the smallest datasets since CR started reporting on new car reliability, we know less about reliability than at any point in decades. How does a Dodge or some Jeep models compare to a Toyota? Who really knows. Honda vs Toyota? We have those numbers down, but the rest? It's a crapshoot. Travis and Alex also talk about the EV tax credit dying off, CAFE fines going to zero and what that might mean for the auto industry as a whole.

Over the last 20 years convertible sales have plunged by more than 80%. Ouch. Once upon a time ragtops were over 5% of all new car sales and now they are down to a fraction. Why has this happened? What can we do about it? And why might it be time for a Sebring resurrection?

Alex and Travis talk about Nissan's new entry-level EV, which is, let's be honest, unlikely to be as inexpensive as Chevy's upcoming Bolt replacement. They also deep-dive into hybrids from the new performance hybrid Corvette (no, not the E-Ray) to the Maverick and beyond. They also dish about sport trucks...

The HEMI IS BACK! With it comes a new logo, a symbol of protest! Yep! Protest the patriarchy! Um, wait, but they did this to themselves, so... RAM is protesting RAM?

Travis and Alex help a viewer decide which 3-row is right for them and then start theorizing about America's declining importance when it comes to automotive design. Now that the US is not the largest market in the world, and it's continuing to contract, will we see more interesting cars here? Also, why is it that "cars not designed for us" seem more interesting?

Travis and Alex are back after an extended break that's the result of too much travel, too much news, and Alex moving to Bogota for a spell. Yep, that Bogota. Anyway, in today's episode we talk about the impact of the US tariffs on imported cars and car parts, how it's changing not just the new car market but the used market as well. We'll dive into maintenance schedules on mainstream EVs, why maybe the NACS transition is a bit "cart before the horse" and rumors around RAM finally resurrecting the V8, or so we hope...

In this episode, Travis and Alex tiptoe around politics, talk about tariffs, who's actually buying new cars, and try to find exactly how small something has to be in order to be "compact." They also tackle the trickiest question in the business: just how do you pronounce Jaguar?

In this video we talk Nissan, Tesla, Mazda and more. Here's where we think companies have gone wrong, and what they can do to fix it... As if we knew how to fix a car company that is....

Watch out, this time we let you all have it! Yep, this is our unvarnished opinions of every car company that sells cars in America.

Subaru dropped a refreshed Solterra, a new EV, and a next-generation Outback at the NY Auto Show. Kia also introduced a K4 hatch, the US market EV4, and Hyundai followed up with the new Palisade that we all knew was coming because we saw it in Korea already.

How will tariffs reshape the American car landscape? We don't exactly know, but it's going to be a rocky road.