Episodes
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Chinese Cars Are Coming (To Canada), Volvo Needs A Zeekr Transplant, BMW's New X5
Chinese EVs that charge 10-80% in under nine minutes, a 1,400-horsepower plug-in hybrid SUV, and a Tesla Roadster that sucks itself to the road. Alex and Travis break down what we saw and drove at the Paris Auto Show: the Geely EX5 and Starray, the Zeekr 7GT, and the Zeekr 9X, plus why Canada is...
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Nissan Finally Hybrids, BMW's M5 Makes Sense, & Nobody Makes Cars for Kids
Nissan just showed up to the hybrid party — only about fifteen years late. But here’s the thing: the new Rogue Hybrid might actually be worth the wait. Three big electric motors, rear torque that would make a RAV4 blush, and a three-cylinder engine that exists purely to keep the electrons…
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Nissan Finally Goes Hybrid, Nobody Makes "Family" Cars Anymore, Volvo's Odd Update Schedule
Nissan just showed up to the hybrid party — only about fifteen years late. But here's the thing: the new Rogue Hybrid might actually be worth the wait. Three big electric motors, rear torque that would make a RAV4 blush, and a three-cylinder engine that exists purely to keep the electrons…
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The Case Of The Missing Podcast - PHEVs Aren't Evil, Recon vs R2, EREVs
Sorry about what will be yet another dupe for some of our listeners on other platforms, but we're hoping third time's the charm to fix a bug in the podcast RSS feed....
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Debunking The PHEV Falsehoods, Wagoneer S Needs To Die, Jeep Recon vs Rivian R2
Plug-in hybrids are under attack from both sides — greens who want everyone in a full EV yesterday, and gas loyalists who think an electric motor belongs nowhere near a combustion engine. Caught in the crossfire is a perfectly reasonable technology that, at least in America, is actually working....
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America's Most Disappointing Cars, Repo Auctions, Family Car Shopping, iX vs EQS
After a brief hiatus for a new baby and some globe-trotting, the Auto Buyer's Guide crew is back with a deep listener Q&A session. Things kick off with a surprisingly entertaining look at repo car auctions — what actually ends up there, why the demographics of default make those lots rough, and…
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Repair or Replace? EV Break-Even Math, The 2-Seat Insurance Myth, Ford Fathom & the Kia EV3
This week's Auto Buyer's Guide comes to you from Bogotá, Colombia, but the questions are as grounded and practical as ever. The episode is driven almost entirely by listener Q&A, covering everything from the perennial "when do you stop throwing money at a used car" debate — anchored by a real…
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Polestar Pulls Out, Durango Booms, Our EV Might Catch Fire, & Luxury Underdog Fight
This week the guys dig into why used EV prices are climbing back up now that federal tax credits are gone, why the Dodge Durango just posted its best sales in two decades, and whether crash test scores actually move the needle for shoppers. They also break down Polestar's decision to walk away…
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Seltos First Drive, Niro vs Seltos Hybrid & Is Honda-Nissan Too Integrated to Be Good?
Travis returns from a sweaty Kia Seltos first drive — bigger, bolder, and available with a 1.6-liter turbo that makes it genuinely fun through the hills — but the story isn't the car itself, it's the incoming hybrid everyone's actually waiting for. The guys dig into Kia's curious trim-level...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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Best Budget Manuals, EV Subscription Costs & Reliability Myths Explained
This week, we’re recording from the back seat of Volvo’s smallest EV while diving into your latest car-buying questions. We break down the reality of buying a budget manual car in today’s market, unpack the growing frustration around subscription-based features in EVs like the Silverado, and take…
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What's Wrong With Honda?
In today's episode, Alex, Travis and Mack Hogan from InsideEVs attempt to diagnose what exactly is wrong with Honda lately. From canceled EVs to joint ventures without a future, sagging Acura sales, and some products going stale, Honda is betting a great deal on their new large car platform…
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Underwater Car Loans Are An Increasing Problem, Digital Air Vents Suck & Is The ZDX A Good Idea
After we recorded this video, Acura announced that their new EV that was supposed to start production in just a few months, has been cancelled, so if you want an EV with an Acura logo on it... The ZDX is your only way to go. In this video Alex and Travis also talk digital air vents, all digital...
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Hybrid Comebacks and EV Crossroads: The Future of SUVs and Trucks
Return of the Jeep Cherokee as a hybrid, including its new drivetrain, design changes, and positioning in the SUV market. Comparisons between SUVs and crossovers, discussing features, pricing, and off-road capabilities across brands like Jeep, Toyota, and Subaru. Listener Q&A on car buying and...
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Jeep's Cherokee Is Reborn As A Hybrid, Subaru's EV Offensive, Caddy's EV Overload
Today in our first on-the-road podcast we drive around in a Jeep Cherokee hybrid and talk about Jeep's newest hybrid, Subaru's EV lineup expanding to include a 3-row and the reality that Cadillac now has more EVs than gas models in their lineup. Also, is Lexus the new Acura?
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Can PHEVs Survive Without The Tax Credit? Do Families Buy "Family Cars" Anymore?
Alex and Travis dive into the rapidly shifting automotive landscape, starting with the growing affordability crisis as average new vehicle prices surpass $50,000 and manufacturers like Toyota signal multiple price increases per year. We cover the all-electric 2027 Highlander, and how it stacks up...
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ABG Pod Live Show - Alex Does Q&A!
It’s a packed Friday live show covering one of the biggest shake-ups in the modern car market: dozens of vehicles disappearing for the 2026 model year. We kick things off with a rapid-fire rundown of discontinued sedans, coupes, EVs, and SUVs—and what those cancellations say about where the...
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GM's PHEV Insanity, Acura's In A Pickle, Volvo's 400 Mile EV, Tesla Cancels Autopilot
In this episode of the Auto Buyer’s Guide podcast the hosts catch up after travel and dig into major industry moves: Mercedes’ luxury and AMG sales surge despite an overall decline, Acura’s supplier crisis that pauses RDX production for up to two years, and why that threatens Acura’s sales...
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2025 Sales Report: Ram’s Return, Toyota’s Hybrid Surge, and the Skyrocketing of Premium Buyers
In this episode of the Auto Buyer’s Guide, Alex and Travis take a deep, data-driven dive into 2025 U.S. auto sales for the manufacturers that have reported so far. They hit brand-by-brand analysis, covering highlights and concerns: Ram’s bold moves (TRX/SRT and a diesel Power Wagon), GM’s large...
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EVs, Trucks, Muscle Cars & 2025 Bad Takes - With Guest Host From CarBuzz
Welcome back to Auto Buyer’s Guide! In this jam-packed episode, Travis returns from travel and we’re joined by Jared from CarBuzz to break down the biggest car stories, hottest debates, and most questionable opinions in the auto world. Rumors around the next-generation Chevy Silverado The rising...
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Caddy's Vistiq is Confusing, A Fiat Designed For Unlicensed French Drivers, & Subaru vs Toyota vs Lexus
In this Almost-Christmas episode of the Auto Buyer’s Guide Podcast, we take a deep dive into the Cadillac Vistiq and the realities of GM’s Ultium EV platform, including charging speeds, battery design, and long-term ownership implications. We also debate whether buyers should skip the Mazda CX-70...
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Why Do RWD Vehicles Tow More? New RAV4 Towing, Nisan's e-Power Is Almost Here, No Kei Car Dreams
In this viewer/listener request episode, Alex and Travis explore a bit of confusion with the new RAV4's rowing numbers, whether a Corvette Stingray should get traded for a Lexus, and which new car features are over-engineered and unnecessary. They also deep dive into the controversial changes the...
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EVs in a Phoenix summer, Dodge brings back the V6, Jeep has too many EVs
In this wildly scatterbrained episode, we break down the biggest reveals from the LA Auto Show, including updates on Honda’s Prelude, the Jeep Recon, the redesigned Telluride, and Stellantis’ ever-confusing EV strategy. We also dive deep into Tesla’s shockingly high German inspection failure…
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Does Jeep have too many EVs while Volvo has too few? Also, Honda gets a new hybrid system.
Does Jeep have too many EVs while Volvo has too few? Also, Honda gets a new hybrid system.
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Toyota's New RAV4 Is A Winner, Jeep's EV Is Underbaked, Nissan's Versa Needs A Resurrection
In this episode Alex gets on his soapbox about affordable transportation and why a cheap new car is better than a used car, and why it's important for our economy that they exist. Travis talks about Toyota's all-hybrid RAV4 and how the new 324 horsepower GR Sport model compares against the...
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Nissan’s New Leaf, NACS Isn’t Perfect, Toyota Corolla Cross, & The Electric TrailBoss
Travis and Alex wander across a bunch of topics today from the dual-charging port weirdness on the new Nissan Leaf, they question whether the Silverado EV TrailBoss might really be a trail intern, and why the Corolla Cross might or might not be the ultimate Corolla.
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Lucid Air Review, "800V" Explained, Emissions Rollbacks, Lease End Options,
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…
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Over Mileage Leases, Durango's V8 Problem, & The Legacy Of Cash For Clunkers
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...
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China is driving safety, tire sizes explained, and minivans aren't all that after all?
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...
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New Car Buying Guide - Tips, Tricks, Dos, Don'ts, and Horror Stories
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
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Jeep's Cherokee was always a "Crossover", RAM's V8 is back, Kia's Sportage is less ugly than before
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:...
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Legroom Cheating Explained, Durango Gets Another Year, Blazer EV SS Is 'Murican Muscle Reborn?
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...
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Prices Are Going Up, Again, Alex's Daughter Is In The Hot Seat, Car Categories Are Confusing.
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...
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Want Your New Car To Last Longer? Don't Get These Features
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.
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Speed Cameras Are Evil, There's A New Mazda CX-5, Alex & Travis Get Political
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...
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We know less about reliability than ever, EV tax credits are toast (and Tesla with it?)
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...
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2025 Mercedes CLE And The Death Of The Convertible, Travis Almost Buys Something
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?
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Nissan Turns Over A New Leaf, Just As Hybrids Proliferate.
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…
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RAM Is Protesting... Themselves?
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?
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America's declining influence in the auto world might be a good thing?
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?...
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RAM's bringing back the TRX, EV maintenance schedules, how tariffs are impacting the car market
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…
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About this show
Every month Alex Dykes and Travis Grady tackle a new set of new vehicles, dive into why things are the way they are, pontificate about how car companies can do better, and generally babble about all things automotive.
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Auto Buyers Guide
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