Published by Consumer Guide Automotive, Tom Appel, Jill Ciminillo
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Automotive
Whether you drive a car, need a car, or just occasionally bum a ride with friends, you’ve come to the right place. Join the editors of Consumer Guide Automotive as they break down everything that’s going on in the auto world. New-car reviews, shopping tips, driving green, electric cars, classic cars, and plenty of great guests. This is the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast.
Jill and Tom open the show by wishing Chicago radio friend and legend Steve King a happy birthday. Steve shares his birthday with none other than Mick Jagger. Tom shares details--what few there are--regarding a new Range Rover model due in U.S. showrooms within the next 36 months. The Range Rover GT is a sedan-like midsize/large crossover that will debut as an EV, and be made available later as a gasoline/hybrid model. Given its low profile, Tom questions the extent to which the GT will be a true off-road performer, like other Range Rover models. The hosts talk about the planned hiatus of the Honda Ridgeline midsize pickup truck. The truck is schedule to disappear from Honda showrooms after the 2026 model year, reappearing for the 2028 or 2029 model year. The new Ridgeline will be completely redesigned, and is said to feature a hybrid V6 powertrain. Still in the first segment, Jill and Tom review the new Lucid Gravity electric midsize crossover. The high-design EV mostly impresses, but a few software glitches left the hosts scratching their heads. In the second segment Jill and Tom welcome industry analyst Jamie Butters to the program. Jamie shares news regarding his new radio show, and walks the hosts through a number of big stories that broke this past week, including Ford opening a factory in Spain to Chinese-car production. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Which is Cheaper?" quiz, and the duo chat with producer Margaret about the team's group visit to Chicago's legendary Superdawg Drive-in. Listen in to hear what Tom, a vegetarian, orders at the Midwest's most-popular Drive-in. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jill and Tom open the show reviewing news from the city of Toledo where three members of a family perished in a crossover last week as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Little is known at this point regarding the tragedy, except that the vehicle was running with the air conditioning in use. The hosts also discussed recent news that potential EV shoppers no long worry about vehicle range as much as they do home charging. Listen in for why this might be the case. Tom notes that, five years into its run, the Ford F-150 PowerBoost (hybrid) does not seem to be generating as much consumer interest as might have been initially expected. Price may be an issue, or just a general lack of interest in hybrids by large-Pickup buyers. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the redesigned Mazda CX-5 compact crossover. Has the CX-5 lost some of its "Mazdaness?" Listen in for details. in the second segment, the hosts welcome Jeremy Barnes of Mitsubishi to the show. Jeremy talks about the the maker's updated Outlander compact crossover, as well as its Mitsubishi Motors Momentum 2030 business plan. Mitsubishi plans to roll out a new model every year until 2030 in the U.S. market. Listen in for details. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Is it a VW Trim Level?" Quiz. Listen in to see how she scored. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In place of the traveling Jill, Tom is joined this week by Brendan Appel of the Sons of Speed . Tom and Brendan open the show discussing updates to the 2027 Corvette, including a new base engine which lifts the cars top speed to 200 mph. The hosts go on to discuss Volkswagen's sales and financial woes. Though relatively healthy here in the U.S., the German carmaker is feeling the impact of poor sales in Europe and in China. Volkswagen is looking to cut manufacturing capacity from about 12 million units to 9 million, but faces stiff push back from European labor unions. In the second segment, Tom and Brendan welcome Bodie Grimm, host of the Kilowatt podcast . Bodie shares his insights into the EV market place, and looks ahead as carmakers struggle to sell electric vehicles in the U.S. and other markets. Bodie also shares a music listening suggestion for Tom. In the last segment, Brendan is subjected to Tom's "Corvette!" quiz. Brendan also talks about shopping for a 3/4-ton truck with which to do some towing. Did Brendan make a truck purchase? Listen in for details. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jill and Tom open the show by acknowledging that the Subaru Outback, now less wagonlike, is reportedly selling well, despite the break with its design roots. Tom was worried it might not. The hosts turn their attention to a series of spy photographs depicting what is claimed to be the Chrysler brand’s next products, the Airflow compact crossover, and the Arrow and Arrow Cross subcompact crossovers. Word has it the Airflow will arrive for the 2028 model year, and the Arrow and Arrow Cross shortly after that. Tom turned the conversation to the bizarre news that Ferrari will offer a fake manual transmission in an upcoming version of the brand's 12Cylindri sports car. The 819-horsepower Ferrari will feature a conventional 8-speed automatic transmission, but also include a gated chrome shifter and functional clutch pedal. No word yet as to how the system feels relative to a conventional manual shifter, but we do know that European-market prices start just under $700,000. Tom changed topics and wondered aloud if part of what is driving new-car transaction prices higher is the increase in the number of hybrid vehicles being purchased in the U.S. Jill isn’t so sure. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the compact Lexus IS sporty sedan. In the second segment, the hosts welcome Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions to the show. Sam shares his take on the demise of Polestar, what to expect from the USMCA negotiations, and what’s new at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Automobiles . In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom’s “Was it a Car Part” quiz. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jill and Tom open the show by discussing the shocking news that the Polestar brand will be leaving the U.S. at the end of this model. Tom questions why Polestar is not pushing back against this Commerce Department security decision. Jill notes that as information regarding the all-new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup is released, GMC has begun sharing tidbits--mostly photography--of the redesigned Sierra 1500. These launches are hugely important to General Motors, as the two trucks combined account for roughly one third of the carmaker's annual revenue. In the 2nd segment, Jill and Tom talk to Jimmy Douglas of Plug , an online remarketer of used EVs. Listen in to learn how dealers are acquiring inventory of late-model used electric vehicles, and why this might be a good time to sell your EV. Also, it turns out that Jimmy is a big fan of the Volkswagen VR6 engine discussed recently by Tom. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Bogus Blue" quiz, and has time to review the redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride 3-row crossover, which can now be had in hybrid form. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jill and Tom open a content-packed episode by welcoming the BMW M5 Touring to Tom's driveway. Expect to hear much more about this practical super-car in future episodes. Producer Margaret then shares details of her recent interview of Chicago-based radio reporter/journalist Jennifer Keiper, a peer of Jill's and Tom's. Jennifer lost her most recent position in the radio industry as CBS News wound down its broadcast operations. You can listen to that interview here . Tom share a list of the countries in which the Car Stuff Podcast is most popular, and it's rather surprising. Still in the first segment, Tom shares bad news for folks waiting to purchase a 2026 Toyota RAV4. The all-new compact crossover is in high-demand, and redesign rollover constraints have limited supply. Jill says the small crossover is worth the wait. The hosts also discuss slumping Lucid sales, and the most-popular model names of all time . In the second segment, the hosts welcome Jeep Vice President of Design Vince Galante to the show. Vince walks Jill and Tom trough all of the news surrounding the return of the compact Cherokee crossover to the Jeep lineup. Listen in for details. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Was it an Oldsmobile?" quiz, complete with a popular franchise-opportunity bonus question. Jill also reviews the all-new Subaru Uncharted small crossover EV. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jill and Tom open the show sharing news of a massive Jeep recall. Jeep has issued a "park-outside" warning for owners of many late-model Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators. Listen in for details. The hosts discuss Mitsubishi's new electric crossover, the Eclipse Sportback EV. Mitsubishi's first U.S.-market electric vehicle shares its basic architecture with the Nissan Leaf. Jill reviews the Mercedes-Benz E 53 Hybrid wagon. One of a waning number of true station wagons still offered in the U.S., the E 53 serves up power and tech, though exclusive pricing will keep the car a rare sight on U.S. roads. In the second segment, Jill and Tom welcome Automotive News' Larry Vellequette to the show. Larry talks about Toyota quality issues, the Gordie Howe Bridge, and surprisingly robust U.S. auto sales. Listen in for some great insights. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Who is that Guy?" quiz. The hosts wrap up the show with a quick take on Ferrari's first-ever electric vehicle, the controversial Luce. Check out the Car Stuff Podcast Facebook page for a picture of the Luce, and listen in for the price. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This week Tom opens the show clarifying the difference between mild-hybrid and full-hybrid applications. Tom notes that mild hybrid drivetrains are found mostly on European luxury vehicles. In advance of chatting with Scout Motors' Ryan Decker, Jill and Tom discuss how few all-new car brands have been launched in the past 25 years. Listen in for a list. Still in the first segment, the hosts are joined by fellow automotive journalist Ed Piotrowski. Ed attended the 2026 Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally, and wrote a comparison review of four compact crossovers : The Jeep Cherokee, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, and Volkswagen Tiguan. There's big news here, as for 2026 the Jeep and Toyota are all new--and now hybrid only--the Mazda is redesigned, and the VW has been treated to an updated powertrain. Listen in for Ed's insights. In the second segment, the hosts are Joined by Scout Motors Vice President of Strategy and Branding Ryan Decker. Ryan shares details regarding Scout's position in the market place, the products themselves, and what to expect regarding Scout's direct-to-consumer sales plan. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Is it still being built?" quiz. After the quiz Jill talks a little about the redesigned Subaru Outback Wilderness, with which she recently spent time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tom opens the show by acknowledging the passing of jazz saxophone legend Sonny Rollins. Sonny was the last living performer to have appeared in the 1958 Esquire magazine photo A Great Day in Harlem . The image appears on the Car Stuff Podcast Facebook Page. The hosts discuss the return of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz retro-themed electric themed minivan for 2027. Though little changed mechanically, the Buzz may be packaged to improve the pricey van's perceived value. Jill talks about a marked increase in airbag thefts in the Chicago area, especially among certain Honda models. The hosts address one possible way to dissuade would-be airbag thieves. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the all-new 2026 Lexus ES midsize sedan, which now comes only in hybrid and all-electric trim. Listen in for her take on this long-term brand staple. In the second segment, the hosts welcome John Vincent of U.S. News to the podcast. John walks the hosts through the outlet's 2026 "Best Adventure Vehicles" list. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Is it Built There?" quiz. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This week's episode is dedicated to the 2026 Consumer Guide Best Buy picks. In total, 32 vehicles in 13 individual categories are covered. You can check out the complete 2026 Best Buy list here . For a look further back, click here for the 2025 Best Buy list . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The hosts open the show discussing Jill's recent interview with the head of Infiniti USA regarding--among other things--the possible comeback of the humble sedan. This conversation dovetails nicely with Tom's news regarding the likely comeback of a Buick midsize sedan--and a possible Camaro, as well. Jill shared impressions of a would-be annual Land Rover event dubbed Defender Trophy Competition . The event would mirror the legendary Camel Trophy competitions of the Seventies and Eighties. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the Range Rover SE premium large crossover. Listen in for her take on this off-road-ready luxury hauler. In the second segment, the hosts chat with Caterham's Simon Sproule about the carmaker's tiny sports cars. Listen in for details regarding the history of Caterham , as well as U.S. availability of these storied automobiles. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Which Sold Better?" quiz, including a special Talking Heads bonus question. After the quiz, Tom talks about Elon Musk, and how apparently distracted he is from from developing his core automotive products. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this special bonus episode of the Car Stuff Podcast, Jill sits down with Vice President of INFINITI Americas Eric Ledieu for a conversation about the all-new QX65 fastback luxury crossover , Future Infiniti products, and a possible resurgence in buyer interest in sedans. How will Nissan and Infiniti differ moving forward? Listen in for details. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions sits in for Tom this week. Jill and Sam open this episode of the podcast touching on Sam's recent involvement with the 2026 Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance , a classic car show held in West Virginia each spring. The conversation turns to car news, with the hosts touching on Chinese car makers setting up shop in Canada, Tesla producing its last Model S sedan, and Honda deferring much needed updates of key models--including the Odyssey minivan. Listen in for details. Still in the first segment, Jill discusses her participation in the first Trinitē Road Rally, and her time behind the wheel of the $250,000 Lucid Air Sapphire electric sedan. In the second segment, Jill and Sam are joined by XPEL Product Manager James Melfi. XPEL produces, among other things, car-finish Paint Protection Film (PPF). James shares information related to the value, cost, installation, and longevity of XPEL's PPF products. In the last segment Jill shares sad news regarding the show's long-time producer Randy. In his honor Jill subjects Sam to a Pontiac Fiero quiz. Sam wraps up the show sharing some news about the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week, as she participates in the Trinitē Road Rally . Follow the link here for details. The hosts open the show with a number of topics, including blue-dyed diesel fuel, and Tom's one-mile test drive of the Mitsubishi Outlander SEL. Paul and Tom go on to discuss Stellantis's "Four Core Brand" strategy, which prioritizes a few of the carmaker's high-volume brands, in terms of product development and positioning. Tune in to hear what this means for lower-volume marques. Still in the first segment, Tom reviews the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness. In the second segment, Paul and Tom are joined by iSeeCars.com Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. Karl walks the hosts through some used-EV price data, noting especially interesting price swings for pre-owned Tesla models. In the last segment Paul is subjected to Tom's "Best Seller" quiz. Also, Paul shares his review of the Ferrari Roma. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Car guy Dave Piluski of RTM Engineering Consultants sits in for Jill this week. Tom opened the show by complaining about contemporary country music, especially someone named Luke Combs. This because Tom did not have time to Bluetooth connect with his new test car prior to recording. Dave and Tom discuss two major news items: Ford's constricted F-150 pickup supply, and Nissan's newly revealed turnaround plan. Because of the Iran Conflict, Ford is struggling to source aluminum for the F-150's body panels, and Nissan is working to rebuild sales in the U.S. and globally. Listen in for details. Tom also reviews the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Calligraphy. Turns out there's little here not to like. In the second segment Dave and Tom are joined by friend of the show Robert Colangelo. Robert shared the details--some horrifying--of his recent Model Y voyage from Northwest Indiana to Canada to catch a Guess Who concert. You don't want to miss this. In the last segment Dave is subjected to Tom's "Which Came First: Eighties Edition: quiz. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The hosts open the show by discussing Tom's new refrigerator, and his inability to keep Subaru's suite of new electric vehicles straight. Jill agrees to help him remember the names of the Subaru EVs. Jill and Tom go on to cover a number of news items, including the discontinuation of the Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossover, Chinese vehicles being built in Austria, and Kia's plan to build a midsize EV in American by the 2030 model year. In related news, a listener from New Zealand checks in to let the hosts know that he owns a Chinese-built Leapmotor EV (discussed last episode) and is very happy with it. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the all-new Jeep Cherokee. In the second segment, Jill and Tom welcome Alex Knizek, Director of Auto Test Development at Consumer Reports, to the Car Stuff Podcast. Alex describes the process by which Consumer Reports evaluates new vehicles, and walks the hosts through the outfit's 2026 Top Picks list. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "Dead Brand" quiz. Listen in to hear how she scored. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tom opens the show with news regarding Stellantis' joint venture with China's Leapmotor. Stellantis currently distributes Chinese Leapmotor-built electric vehicles in Europe, and may be looking to build Leapmotor models in its idle Brampton, Ontario factory. Listen in for more details. Jill gives a quick rundown of the new-product reveals seen at this week's New York Auto Show. A number of noteworthy introductions are covered, including models and concepts from Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia, and Subaru. Still in the first segment Jill reviews the redesigned Toyota RAV4, which is now offered exclusively with a hybrid powertrain. With gas prices rising, will the RAV4 Hybrid be in especially high demand? In the second segment, Jill and Tom welcome James Bell, Kia Head of Corporate Communications, to the show. James discusses the new Kia products seen at the New York Auto Show, as well as the redesigned Telluride midsize crossover. James also shares some insights regarding Kia's sales success in the U.S. In the last segment Jill is subjected to Tom's "Muscle Car Engine" quiz. Jill also discusses in-depth the Hyundai Boulder off-road concept vehicle seen at the New York Show. Tom has some doubts about the show car's viability as a production model. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The hosts open the show noting that the power-seat recall affecting the Hyundai Palisade has expanded to include the mechanically similar Kia Telluride. Listen in for details. As predicted in a previous episode, Tom shares news of the dissolution of the Afeela electric-vehicle brand. Afeela was a Honda/Sony joint venture nearing production of a premium midsize sedan built in the U.S. Tom also discussed the potential impact of E15 fuel, which has been federally approved for national distribution. E15 gasoline has 5 percent more ethanol content than E10, the latter of which is common in most states. The blended fuel may help lower gasoline pump prices, but has its downsides. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 midsize crossover. Listen in for her review. In the second segment, Jill and Tom welcome Matthew Valbuena to the show. Mathew is Mazda Project Manager of In-Vehicle Technology, and shares with the hosts a number of connectivity features found on the all-new 2026 CX-5 small crossover. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "CVT or Automatic" quiz, featuring a bonus question about radishes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jill opens this week's show with a correction. Listen in for her begrudging mea culpa. The hosts go on to discuss briefly Tom's time in the Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE AWD . Toms's review of the car is live now on ConsumerGuide.com. Tom shares a few details of the coming redesigned Lexus ES midsize sedan. New for 2026 is an EV variant of the popular model, while other examples of the ES will be hybrid only. Listen in for details. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the Toyota Crown Signia. Both hosts are fans of the wagon-like midsize car, but agree that it may be slightly over promoted as a luxury vehicle. In the second segment, Jill and Tom welcome Jamie Butters of the Butters Bureau LLC to the show. Jamie shares his take on how the Iran conflict will impact U.S. auto sales. Jamie also talks about Toyota's counterintuitive move deeper into EV sales at a time the rest of the industry is recoiling. Listen in for details. In the last segment Jill is subjected to Tom's "It's a Fact!" quiz, after which Tom shares some interesting Porsche sales statistics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jill and Tom open the show again sharing word of electric-vehicle cancellations. This time EVs from Honda and Volvo are being dropped. Tom discusses a new Texas DMV law which makes it difficult for undocumented shoppers to register a new or used vehicle. Though the regulations are relatively new, some area dealers are reporting small but measurable downturns in sales. Tom notes having recently reviewed the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited, which was priced at $40,000. Tom made the point that in an era of $50,000-60,000 midsize crossovers, a midsize sedan--especially in hybrid trim--might make a lot of sense. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the subcompact Audi Q3 crossover. The price-leading Audi has been redesigned for 2026, and features updated connectivity features, more power, and tweaked styling. Listen in for Jill's complete review. In the second segment, the hosts welcome Sean Tucker of Autotrader to the show. Sean talked about the volatility in the new- and used-car marketplace, but suggested that, despite economic uncertainty, this may be a good time to make a vehicle purchase. Listen in for details. In the last segment, Jill is subjected to Tom's "100,000" quiz. Jill also shared news of an important Hyundai recall involving faulty 2nd-row seat sensors in the Palisade midsize crossover which my fail to detect the presence of a person in the path of seat travel. One death has been attributed to this defect. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
