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20/02/2025

I finally got to see the new Hyundai Palisade in person! Admittedly it’s a South Korean model on a car transport truck 😅 But… we all know this is the one coming to America! What we don’t know for sure is whether or not the 329 HP hybrid or 2.5L turbo will come to America, but we should know soon….

19/02/2025

Today we’ve flown all the way to South Korea to sample Hyundai’s flagship SUV, the 2026 Ioniq 9. We can’t talk about how it drives until March 5, but we can talk about everything else, so post your burning questions below!

The main thing to know about the Ioniq 9 is that it’s huge inside. If you’re looking for the roomiest 3-row EV this side of a Cadillac Escalade IQ, this is it! It may give off EX90 vibes, but it’s much bigger inside. Also smaller? Rivian R1S, EV9, Vistiq, and Model X. On the other hand, the Buzz is bigger.

Range? An impressive 335 miles maximum and more impressive is the 311 miles that this top end Performamce model is rated for with 429 horsepower, and 285mm wide tires.

Hyundai gets the range figures with an aggressive focus on aerodynamics and weight. Despite using a steel unibody and a big 110 kWh battery, the ~5,700 lb curb weight isn’t far off the Model X. Most of the ~500 lb difference can be explained by the 15kwh larger usable capacity, the bigger body and lower use of aluminum body parts.

Pricing? We’re still not sure, but in Korea is starts at the equivalent of $46,500 for now.

What burning questions can we answer for you all?

18/02/2025

What's new with the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander? Unfortunately some of the biggest changes are ones we can't talk about for a few days but what we can show you is this new (prototype) Trail Edition trim! We don't have too many specifics on this either but there are some clear visual changes including body cladding and a notable graphics package. This looks to be among the kind of some other "adventure" inspired trims from other brands, what would you most closely compare this to?

17/02/2025

Looking for a cheeky little EV that’s under $21,000 without any kind of tax credit and NOT made in China? That would be this funky Hyundai Casper Electric (aka the Inster). It has a range of ~220 miles (likely under 180 if rated by the EPA, but unlike “compliance cars” like the 500e, Hundai didn’t hobble the Casper with awkward EV conversion ergonomics, a reduction in cargo room, or give it slow AC charging. In fact, you can charge the battery completely in around 4 hours on a home charger, and the interior has a shocking about of room. Size-wise, it’s 9 inches shorter than a Venue, but taller inside and honestly better packaged. With an MSRP range of ~$21,500 to around $32,000, this is not just an inexpensive EV, it could be one of the least expensive vehicles of any description in the USA… if only it would come here. Hyundai says they have no plans at the moment to bring it to America. 😢

14/02/2025

Acura just announced pricing on their smallest crossover, the new ADX. As expected, it's a pretty solid deal as long as you're not looking for something too speedy. For 2025, the ADX will start at $36,350 which is about $2,000 more than the Acura Integra, with which the ADX shares the 1.5L turbo and CVT. Why get the ADX? Mainly for the more upright seating and the option of AWD which can be added for an extra $2,000. Sadly however, the 2.0L turbo from the Integra Type S is nowhere to be found (sad trombone). Expect horsepower to come in at ~200 and... yep, it'll have a Honda CVT sending power to the ground. I'm curious to see how the ADX does for Acura. It's handsome, well priced, comes with Acura's reputation for reliability and decent dealerships... but... it lacks the power and premium touches you find in the European competition.

About that competition. This segment is weird. It's not the BMW or Audi that's teh best seller, that would be the Volvo XC40. Second? That's also unlikely, it's the Cadillac XT4. With that in mind, what do you think about the "Luxury HR-V"?

14/02/2025

Hybrids seem to have finally gotten over the "hump" with customer interest on the rise, availability improving, and more manufacturers jumping in. For 2025 the compact SUV segment in America will offer at least 8 different hybrid options and the one we're playing with this week is Hyundai's best-seller: the 35 MPG 2025 Tucson Hybrid.

Hyundai's hybrid system is unique in this segment, not just for using a traditional automatic transmission but for also using a turbocharged engine and mechanical AWD system. There are pros and cons to every engineering decision, but the main reason you might want to consider a Hyundai (or Kia Sportage) is for the traditional driving feel. Aside from the engine turning on/off now and then, it drives just like any SUV with an automatic transmission. As we discovered this week when we got 14 inches of rain in 48 hours, the AWD system feels just like a regular Tucson's AWD system as well, and that's a solid improvement over the eAWD system in the CX-50 or RAV4. In addition, if you're the kind of person that is worried about a hybrid "running out of steam" when the battery is depleted, that's where the 1.6L turbo steps in. This engine produces the most torque in this segment (hybrid compact SUVs), and that's certainly noticeable on long uphill climbs.

The downside? Clearly a 1.6L turbo based hybrid system will be more mechanically complex and therefore, possibly have higher long-term maintenance costs. For instance, the starter/generator belt has to be inspected/replaced every ~60,000 miles and prices for that seem to vary from $200-$700. Also, the more powerful engine and mechanical AWD system are the main reasons that fuel economy is 4-5 MPG below the RAV4 on the same driving loops. We averaged a solid 36.6 MPG in this model, above the 35 MPG EPA rating, but in a RAV4 you'd be getting 40-41 MPG in the same test cycle.

What else does the Tucson have going for it? Space. This interior is MUCH bigger than the RAV4 and that's clear in our child seat tests where you'd easily fit a rear-facing seat behind a 6-foot driver and the cargo area which swallowed 6 of our 24-inch roller bags with room to spare. Speaking of spares, although Hyundai deletes the spare tire in the Tucson Hybrid, they don't delete the space where it would go or the mounting hardware. That means that unlike the upcoming Forester hybrid, you could add a compact or full-sized spare yourself very easily.

14/02/2025

It's here! The closest thing we can get in America to a broad-sample survey on "reliability." The reason I put that in quotes is that JD Power's VDS contains data I consider somewhat tangential to reliability, *AND* is greatly misunderstood.

First, where do the responses come from? This is the key point that separates JD Power data from Consumer Reports. Rather than depending on a dwindling number of subscribers and their purchase preferences, JD Power uses car registration data to send surveys out to registered owners. This means they have fewer holes in their data vs CR (CR's latest data set is missing a significant percentage of models on sale).

Next thing to know: VDS is a measure of "problems" per 100 vehicles in the THIRD year of ownership. This is not years 1+2+3, it's year 3 only. If your engine blew up in year 2, that's not in this data.

Also worth knowing: JD Power doesn't give us detailed data. So when they say 140 problems per 100 Lexus models, what exactly are those problems? Who knows. You see, a problem isn't just "this broke", JD Power includes "driving experience" and issues with infotainment systems, bluetooth pairing, etc in its numbers.

That said, the numbers don't surprise too much. Lexus is on top, Toyota ranks highly, Mazda's old platform designs help keep them on the top of the pile also. Do any rankings jump out at you?

11/02/2025

Can’t wait for a Rivian R3X but you want a ruggedly styled hatch with a bit more soft-road capability? There’s a Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT for that. What is it? Well, it’s not “an electric Wrangler” that’s for sure, but I think it’s OK to look at this as an electric Subaru alternative. Vs the Subaru Solterra, this has a bit less ground clearance (7.1 inches), but you get notably more power (320 HP) oddly enough this is the one with massive functional recovery hooks up front. How massive? Well, these guys look like they belong on a F-250, I’ll put it that way. Oddly however Hyundai didn’t put any hooks on the back…

Aside from the ground clearance and hooks, the XRT also gets different bumpers for better approach and departure angles, but you’ll still need to watch for rocks due to the clearance and the lack of a spare tire. Yep, it gets all-terrain tires, but no spare.

Range is rated for 259 miles and charging can take as little as 20 minutes (10-80%) at the right station. Give yourself 50 minutes and you can get 100% full. At the moment the MSRP is $55,400 and the only options are paint colors and a tow hitch.

Tax credits? That’s complicated, but in a nutshell, you’ll get $7,500 off any way you slice it. Since the IONIQ 5 (non N models) will be built in the USA, and the batteries and related parts will be built here as well, all models should get the full credit starting in April/March and until then Hyundai is taking $7500 off the lineup.

What do you think? Is this the right thing to get your mountain bike closer to the trailhead? Or would you still want a spare….

11/02/2025

The Ioniq 5 is the first non-Tesla to get the NACS/J3400 charge connector for native Supercharging! How does it work? Pretty well, but a little slower than at Electrify America or other charging stations. Why? Because the DC-DC conversion hardware to boost a 400v station up to the ~700 needed to charge the battery currently tops out at 127 kW, about half the maximum that the car can accept (257 kW max). That means a normally 20 minute charging session turns into a 31-32 minute charging stop. On the other hand, it brings native access to the most reliable charging network in America and double the charging options customers had last year.

Note: We were going for a quick post, not our usual technical deep-dives, but if you want the skinny, here it is: The IONIQ 5’s battery voltage is either 523 or 697 depending on the trim. This is above the ~450V max output that a Supercharger V2/V3/early V4 station is capable of. Older CCS stations (typically 80kW or below nameplate) also have a max voltage of ~500V or below. This is the “800v vs 400v” divide. It’s important to know that these are voltage ranges. 400V EVs can be as low as ~200V and as high as ~450V while “800V cars” start around 500V and go up to ~1,000V.

To enable the IONIQ 5 to charge from these stations, the car needs to be able to “boost” the voltage to what is needed to charge the battery. EGMP platform EVs from Hyundai/Kia/Genesis do this by using the rear motor inverter module and the primary winding for the rear motor as a boost circuit. It’s an elegant solution since it reduces electronics that would otherwise be “duplicated” in the car if it had a separate DC-DC boost circuit like in a Porsche Taycan. It also allows the car to avoid a mechanical contactor unit like in the Cybertruck or GM EV trucks that can fail.

The twist? That DC-DC conversion circuit maxes out at 127 kW of conversion at the moment. Hyundai is working on improving this, but don’t expect it to get a great deal higher due to the hardware involved. Plug into a CCS station with the adapter and it’s not a problem as they don’t need the DC-DC conversion.

Does it matter? Probably not. V3 stations will be upgraded over time to V4 stations which will be 1000V native and work just fine. Additional note: At the moment most V4 stations are “V3 on the back end” and don’t have 1000V capability. Actual 1000V V4 stations are very new.

06/02/2025

Here's a slice of Euro goodness that we're likely never going to see in America: It's the new Opel Grandland PHEV. I spent a few weeks in Sicily in the old Grandland PHEV and completely fell in love. Why? Because 300 HP in a small SUV/hatch with AWD is a ton of fun, and we averaged over 40 MPG so it didn't break the budget. This new model is roomier than the old model and has a claimed driving range of almost 700 miles, although that comes at the expense of AWD and the power falling to a still solid 195 HP.

Sure, the 54 miles of EV range is likely very optimistic, but even at 40 miles of range this would be a truly unique offering in a segment that has only the hybrid Corolla Cross as a competitor. Why not just clap a Chrysler badge on the front and call this the Chrysler Hail Mary? Anyone at Chrysler listening? Hmm...

06/02/2025

A Subaru with a fuel-efficient hybrid system seems like such a natural pairing that it's shocking we haven't really seen much action in this area before... Well, that's changing in a big way this year with not one but two hybrid Subies on sale by year's end. You've probably already heard about the 2026 Crosstrek hybrid? Well if you don't want to wait that long there's a 2025 Forester Hybrid for you. Yep, despite the later announcement, this is the one we'll see on sale first.

So what is it? Well, it's a hybrid of hybrids with a major emphasis on discretion. On the outside, the only change are the small hybrid badges. On the inside it's basically just the LCD instrument cluster that will spread across the Subaru lineup. Under the hood? That's where big things happen.

The 2.5L boxer engine should be familiar, but here it's been tuned to the more efficient Atkinson cycle. It is paired to a planetary power-split style hybrid system that uses Toyota motors and a Toyota planetary design re-worked to fit in a Subaru transmission case. Subaru didn't say where the motors come from in the Toyota lineup, but it's not the RAV4. If that sounds like the last gen PHEV Crosstrek, you're right. This is basically an updated version with a smaller battery pack. Peak power comes in at 194 HP and you'll get 40% better fuel economy despite it using the same mechanical AWD system. Yep, no eAWD here like we find in the RAV4 or CX50 hybrids. That mechanical AWD system might not give you 40 MPG like we find in the RAV, but it will mean that the Forester will feel exactly like the non-hyrbid model in the snow or on that trail at the national park.

What's the catch? Well, there are two. The first is that the lithium battery occupies the space where the spare tire would go and the second is the price. Hybrids will start at $34,995 which puts the Hybrid between the Sport and Limited trims in terms of starting MSRP. That's higher than competitive hybrids, but we'll need to get a bit more info on performance and trim levels before we can make a more direct comparison.

What do you think? Should Subaru have resurrected the PHEV system? Or was this the right thing to do? Personally, I am waiting for a hybrid Outback...

06/02/2025

A hybrid Forester? Yep! It's FINALLY here!

05/02/2025

Thanks to everyone who has subscribed, especially our channel members and Patreon supporters! We just hit a million and we literally couldn't have done it without you. Specifically: 1,000,306 of you at the moment.

05/02/2025

I'm somewhat surprised that VW isn't pushing the Buzz as the child seat-friendly family hauler, it sure fits the bill. Just keep those charging stops in mind.

04/02/2025

You're looking at the most childseat friendly vehicle in America. I have to admit, when I saw the dimensions of the new Buzz, I thought it would be a squeeze for families with young kids. Why? Because it's 8-10 inches *shorter* in length than a Sienna, Odyssey, Carnival, or Pacifica... but boy was I wrong. In reality, the Buzz has more room in the 2nd row for rear-facing seats than *anything* else. Nope, even a Suburban comes short of this insanity. And if that wasn't enough, the 3rd row gets a complete set of LATCH anchors AND enough room for ANOTHER rear-facing seat.

You might be thinking: Sure, but where is that front seat? Almost all the way back. We had a 6'5" person sit in the front and get comfy, then we stuffed the seats in. Check out the photos. The rear-facing Cleck infant seat has a whopping 9" of clearance from the front seat and the Chicco convertible seat has 5" of clearance from the 2nd row. Insane. While you *can* do this in other minivans, none will have as much room which is essential for getting around the seats and into the rear. Also: the Pacifica (non-hybrid) is the only other minivan that will let you tilt/slide the 2nd row forward with a child restraint LATCHed in place, but VW one-upps that with enough room to do that with a REAR-facing seat in addition to a forward-facing seat.

How is this magic accomplished? Two things: the Buzz has a roofline 7" taller than the rest of the minivans which allows for much more upright seats and more usable legroom as a result. Second, the cargo area is smaller. While a Carnival can swallow 8 24-inch rollerbags behind the third row, the Buzz can handle between 3 and 6 depending on the location of the 3rd row. If you slide the 3rd row all the way forward you'll get similar real-world legroom to the competition and a cargo area about the same size as a Pacifica. If it's all the way back you get crazy legroom but 1/2 the cargo space.

On the matter of legroom. Measurements are not consistent across brands because companies use several different methods for calculating it and in a vehicle like the Buzz where ALL rows slide forward/backward, the calculations get messy.

03/02/2025

FINALLY! Volkswagen sent us the ID. Buzz! While I kind of think I would have liked a resurrection of the Vanagon name, and with it Westfalia, but I can handle Buzz. Whatever you think of the look (and if you think it looks bad, you're crazy by the way), this Bus/Buzz gets more looks, thumbs ups, waves, and questions from passers-by than ANY Mercedes, BMW, or Audi that we've ever reviewed. It's quirky, irreverent, and you can get it in a semi-custom vinyl wrap for some extra flower power.

The only Buzzz bummer is the price tag which starts at $59,995. That's solidly more expensive than just about any other minivan in America, but you also get the only RWD minivan in America.

We just started our week with the Buzz, which I think could have sported a bumblebee theme, so we'll have more solid opinions later, but what do y'all want to know about the funkiest van in America?

31/01/2025

Tesla's once legendary margins appear to be slipping thanks to lower prices and aggressive discounts. It seems that in Q4 of last year, they fell to 13.6%, well below the estimated 16.3% margin the industry was expecting. What's more interesting, especially given the valuation of TSLA stock, is not the fact that this is well below Toyota's 21.3% gross margin, but that this is the margin on the whole enchilada. You see, the "real" gross margin on a Toyota (or anything sold via a dealer) is Toyota's margin + dealer margin which likely puts the average Toyota at a 30%+ gross margin.

Thoughts anyone?

29/01/2025

EX90 vs EX30 is a case of "flagship" vs "entry-level" but like most European car companies, they share quite a bit of styling. Is that good or bad? If you think it's a good thing, then answer this: Why does the "one sausage, different lengths" philosophy of design work for some car companies, but not for others?

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A hybrid Forester? Yep! It's FINALLY here!

I'm somewhat surprised that VW isn't pushing the Buzz as the child seat-friendly family hauler, it sure fits the bill. Just keep those charging stops in mind.

With a 3.4 second 0-60, Jeep says this is the quickest model they have ever built, besting the Grand Cherokee Hellcat by 1/10th. How'd they do it? With 600 horsepower and a big battery. Yep, this is the Wagoneer S, the first electric Jeep for North America. Think of it not as a Wagoneer, but rather as a Grand Cherokee electric, a Grand CherokEV if you will. Why not call it a GC? Or perhaps an eXe to go with the 4Xe naming scheme on the PHEVs? Jeep didn't have a great answer.

Volvo's EX30 is arguably the first EV made by a mainline car company that was "designed like a Tesla." What does that mean? Few buttons, almost no switches, a big screen, and the promise of new features via software. All of that's wrapped into a chunky SUV body and a low MSRP. How did they achieve that low MSRP? By creative corner cutting...

Looking for a small SUV in America? You are spoiled for choice because there are so many solid choices. Want something outdoorsy? There's a Subaru. Want a hybrid? Check out the Corolla Cross. Want a 250 HP turbo? Mazda. Low price tag? Hyundai Venue. So what then does the Kicks bring to the party? Well, that's tricky. It's well rounded, but aside from the style and comfy seats, it doesn't really stand out in any particular way. Is that good or bad? I'll let you decide.

Many of us were worried that Subaru would abandon their well-known AWD capability in the search for greater fuel economy, but those worries were baseless because we now know all about the 3rd generation Crosstrek Hybrid! Rather than reinventing the wheel, the 3rd gen system is basically the same as the previous-gen Crosstrek PHEV (Plug In Hybrid) with updated motors from Toyota. Yep, Toyota is still the hybrid-daddy for Subaru, and that's not a bad thing at all. The hybrid system still operates exactly the same as a Toyota hybrid with two big exceptions: Subaru uses their well known boxer engines up front, and in the back we still find the same mechanical AWD system found in other Subaru models. If you were worried that the new Crosstrek would go e-AWD, well, breathe a sigh of relief.

We just got an EX30! #Volvo #e30

Volvo's EX30 is the best-selling EV that isn't a Tesla in Europe, and it's finally coming to America! Here's the EX30 we just picked up, and... well, it's a hatchback Tesla impersonation with a Volvo logo, a low price tag, solid build quality... that's made in China. Yep, made in China for the moment. Why the moment? Because Volvo is spinning up a factory in Belgium to meet European demand and to build them in a location that *might* escape tariffs. Why not build them in South Carolina where there the EX90 is built? Well, I'm not sure but that seems like a good idea...

The 2025 Chevy Traverse is the best large SUV in America if you value cargo capacity and child seat practicality. It falls short on fuel economy and refinement vs some of the hybrid options, but none of the hybrids out there will have quite this much room inside.

2025 Chevrolet Traverse cargo test result? Best In Class!

Unlike the competition, GM seems to have bet the farm on filling every possible niche with an electric option. For 2025 that means not one, not two, but three electric trucks. Chevy's Silverado EV is the least expensive (for now) and will get the tax credit (as long as it lasts), the Hummer truck is the bonkers wide-body 5-ton off-roader (I exaggerate, but only a little), and the GMC Sierra is the best looking inside and out. It's also the only model to get Denali touches like real wood trim. But is that enough to justify a price tag in the $90,000 range? Ouch.

VW's Tiguan has been completely redesigned for 2025, and it's worth the wait if you're shopping for anything in the compact SUV segment. There's more power under the hood, VW is promising sharper driving dynamics, better fuel economy, and better performance... But the real game changer happens inside where we find not only a totally-new interior, but a significantly more premium interior than before and one of the best in the segment. VW is leaning so hard on the luxury touches that you'll even get real wood trim and massaging seats in fully loaded models. Big screens? You bet! The full LCD cluster is standard and a massive 15-inch touchscreen can be added. The only thing missing that I'll miss? The optional third row. On the other hand, apparently, nobody actually bought it, so....

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