The Chevrolet Suburban is a large vehicle that can carry many people and their stuff. It's popular for families and businesses because it has a lot of space inside and can pull heavy things like trailers.
A midsize SUV is a type of car that's bigger than a small SUV but smaller than a really big one. It's good for families because it has enough room for several people and their stuff.
ProPilot Assist is a technology from Nissan that helps drivers by automatically adjusting the car's speed and helping keep it in the lane. It's designed to make driving easier and safer, but it can sometimes be a bit too aggressive.
The Nissan Murano is a type of SUV that is designed to be comfortable and stylish. The 2025 version has been updated with new features, making it more appealing to buyers.
The Nissan Leaf is a car that runs entirely on electricity. It was one of the first electric cars available to the public and is known for being easy to drive and good for the environment.
The Nissan Ariya is an electric SUV that is larger than the Nissan Leaf. It has a stylish design and is part of Nissan's efforts to create more electric vehicles.
A flat bottom steering wheel is shaped so that the bottom part is flat instead of round. This makes it easier to get in and out of the car and gives it a sportier look.
A dual charging port means the car can use two different types of chargers. This makes it easier to charge the car since you can use more places to plug it in.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is a larger version of the Highlander SUV, which means it has more room for people and stuff. It's a good choice for families who need extra space.
I-Force Max is a type of hybrid engine from Toyota that gives more power and torque, which is useful for towing heavy things, but it doesn't save as much fuel as other hybrids.
Third row seating means there are extra seats in the back of an SUV or minivan, so more people can ride along. It's great for families or groups who need to travel together.
Power folding seats let you fold down the back seats of an SUV by just pressing a button. This is really helpful when you need more space for stuff without having to do it by hand.
The Chevy Traverse is a large SUV that can fit a lot of people and their stuff. It's designed to be comfortable and has many features that help families.
The Hyundai Palisade is a medium-sized SUV that can fit a lot of people and their belongings comfortably. It's known for being nice inside and is a good choice for families who need space.
An infotainment system is the technology in cars that lets you listen to music, get directions, and connect your phone. It helps make driving more enjoyable and convenient.
A trim level is a version of a car that has different features. Higher trim levels usually have more fancy options and technology than the basic version.
An extended warranty is like extra insurance for your car that helps pay for repairs after the regular warranty ends. It can save you money if something goes wrong later on.
A powertrain warranty is a type of insurance for the main parts of your car that make it go, like the engine and transmission. It helps pay for repairs if those parts break down.
Dealer cost is the amount of money a car dealership pays to get a car from the manufacturer. If you can buy a car for that price instead of the higher retail price, you can save a lot of money.
The Subaru Outback is a type of car that looks like a wagon but is built to handle rough terrain. It's popular for outdoor activities because it has all-wheel drive.
The Volkswagen Golf is a small car that has a hatchback design, which means it has a rear door that opens up for easy access to the trunk. It's great for people who need to carry things like sports equipment or groceries.
The Toyota Crown is a big, fancy car that offers a lot of comfort and high-tech features. It's aimed at people who want a nice driving experience and a stylish vehicle.
The Toyota Venza is a medium-sized SUV that looks nice and is comfortable to drive. It also comes in a version that uses less gas, making it a good choice for people who want to save on fuel.
The Hyundai Genesis is a fancy car that offers a lot of luxury and comfort. It's designed to compete with other high-end brands and has nice features for a smooth driving experience.
The Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV that is very popular because it's reliable and has a lot of space inside. It's a good choice for families and people who like to go on trips.
The Toyota Camry is a popular car that is known for being dependable and getting good gas mileage. The 2025 version is only available as a hybrid, which helps save fuel.
A naturally aspirated V6 engine gets air into the engine without any extra help from a turbo. This means it can respond quickly when you press the gas pedal, but it might not be as fuel-efficient as some smaller engines that use turbos.
The Jeep Wrangler is a tough-looking car that can drive on rough roads and trails. It's popular with people who like outdoor adventures and want a vehicle that can handle tough conditions.
The Subaru Crosstrek is a small SUV that can handle rough roads and trails. It's good for people who want a car that can be used in the city but also go on adventures outside.
The Honda Passport is a medium-sized SUV that has plenty of room for people and their gear. It's good for families and can pull heavy things like trailers, making it great for trips and adventures.
The Land Rover Defender is a fancy SUV that can go off-road, meaning it can handle rough and bumpy paths. It's known for being strong and comfortable, making it a good choice for people who want to explore nature in style.
LIVE
Hey everyone and welcome back to The Straight Shift, your favorite no BS car podcast.
So grab a coffee or an adult beverage, no judgment, buckle up and let's talk cars.
Today we are diving into my annual pilgrimage to the Charlotte International Auto Show.
And yes, I go every single year because it is a critical part of my research process.
Now, if you're imagining the LA show or the Detroit show, just stop right there.
That is not Charlotte. We're a smaller market and a smaller show.
In fact, not every manufacturer even bothers to show up anymore.
But it's put on by our local dealers and the auto show organizers do a fantastic job with what they have to work with.
They make it engaging. They make it very family friendly, accessible.
It's honestly one of my favorite weekends of the year.
So today I'm going to tell you about some of the newly redesigned vehicles that really stood out to me at the show.
And which ones had me kind of scratching my head wondering what the fruitcake were they thinking.
Also, if you want to actually see the cars that I'm talking about, head over to my YouTube channel and watch the video version of this podcast there where I integrated some B-roll so you can see the cars.
So let's get into it. I started out my tour of this year's Charlotte International Auto Show with the Nissan.
And I started with the Armada. The Armada was actually redesigned in 2025.
And I really like it. It's a lot more rugged. I really like what Nissan is doing with their styling now.
They have always been very bold and never afraid to take risks. Some have paid off. Some of them have not.
This is why we call Nissan the Jaguar of Japan. You kind of never know what you're going to get with them, but you can't fault them for their boldness.
And I really like the new Armada. It doesn't feel like a truck anymore.
You definitely need running boards to get up into it because it is still large, but it just doesn't feel like you're getting into like a Tahoe or a suburban or some of those that are very much truck based.
It feels like you're getting into an upscale SUV.
The interior is gorgeous and you have this huge center console with wonderful storage.
I'm not getting my purse in there, but it is large. If I had a small purse, it would fit.
But you have almost like this table between the driver and the passenger.
And I think you could play poker on it if you were stuck in traffic. It's literally that big.
The car also has good cargo space, but not as much as you would expect for the large SUV category.
It doesn't have the same amount as, say, a Chevy Tahoe and certainly not something as huge as a suburban.
And it actually is smaller than the Toyota Grand Highlander, which is technically a midsize three row SUV.
But if you are looking for a very comfortable vehicle to haul your family around,
maybe you're doing a lot of carpooling and you need to get some people in a reasonable size third row,
there's a lot of wonderful, very comfortable space in this car.
Now, of course, they're having some reliability issues, but what manufacturer isn't these days,
particularly they're having some problems with their ProPilot assist technology.
It gets a little overly aggressive with the steering assist and I think it beeps at you entirely too much.
And the wireless charger has been known to overheat certain models of iPhones.
But this is why I say don't buy the first year of a major redesign,
especially with a company like Nissan that takes a little bit more risks,
but it's a damn comfortable, really beautiful vehicle.
I also looked at the Nissan Murano, which was also redesigned in 2025,
but I had not had the opportunity to see one in person.
The Murano is a vehicle that most people forget even exists.
It has a very niche market and part of it was because of the previous styling.
It was a little unusual and it definitely did not appeal to everyone.
It was very sloppy, a little bit funky, but it's a two row midsize SUV.
People either loved it or they hated it and most people forgot that it even existed.
It still has the sleek styling and the slopeier roofline that it's known for,
but I think it looks a little more futuristic.
They really did a good job with it.
The only thing that I don't like is that they have plastic wheel covers over the aluminum wheels.
Don't get me wrong, they look good and they did it to lower the weight and lower the drag coefficient
because we've got to squeeze every ounce of fuel economy we can out of these things,
but it's a little bit weird and I'm really worried that they're not going to hold up.
You knock on them and you're like, oh, yeah, that's plastic.
That's probably going to break.
So trade off there, but it's a beautiful, good size, midsize SUV that still only has two rows.
So if you don't need that third row, you need some cargo space and you want to be very comfortable,
it's definitely one to consider and it's not as funky as it used to be.
The Nissan that impressed me the most was the new all-electric Nissan Leaf.
The Leaf was one of the first all-electric vehicles that came out years and years ago,
but it looked a lot like a lunchbox on wheels.
Granted, I drive a Mini so I can't really talk about that,
but it was not exactly a wonderful vehicle.
It did a lot of good things, but it was not going to win any style competitions,
but now it's gone full-on crossover.
It's not just a little hatchback anymore.
It actually reminded me of a smaller Nissan Aria, which was their more midsize electric SUV,
which sadly they have discontinued, but it makes the Leaf a lot more sporty.
It actually looks really cool and the interior is what you would expect from a good EV.
It's very clean.
It's very simple.
It's ergonomic.
I love that it has a flat bottom steering wheel, which makes it a lot easier to get in and out of
because it is a small car.
It's got a nice fixed glass roof.
Rear visibility is not awesome, but that's also not unexpected for smaller cars with a slopeier roofline.
Similarly, second-row legroom is not generous, but this is a commuter car.
This is not a people mover.
If you are the one hauling your coworkers to lunch,
they're just going to have to suck it up and squeeze into the back seat
because it's still going to be a nice ride.
But the best part is the seats are so comfortable.
Nissan has the best seats in the entire automotive industry.
They used to call them zero-gravity seats.
I'm not sure if they're still using that term anymore, but they are so comfy.
Seriously, your butt has never been so spoiled.
They're cushiony.
There's good back and lumbar support, good side support.
They are just the best seats ever.
So if you spend a lot of time in your car, they are so, so worth it.
The New Leaf also has a lot of great standard safety features, great standard technology.
It actually comes with a dual charging port, so it'll work with the two most common charger types.
And it has a longer range.
You can get over 300 miles to a charge now, which is great
because the fast charge on this thing, not exactly fast.
So you want to have some good range to it.
The best thing is it's still relatively affordable, at least by new car standards.
And certainly by EV standards, it starts in the low 30s.
That is actually what is considered cheap for an electric car.
But this car is not cheap.
It is economical and inexpensive.
It's actually a really nice car.
And so the Nissan Leaf wins my most improved award for this year and really kudos to Nissan overall.
They need to fix some of their reliability issues and certainly the company's financial problems.
But I really like the direction that Nissan is going.
Then I headed over to Toyota because I wanted to see the Grand Highlander in person.
And I know that's weird because they have actually been out since 2024.
But they have been super hot.
Toyota has had inventory problems.
They've had supply chain problems.
They had the stop sale on these cars, which lasted for a good five months
because there was a defect in the way one of the airbags deployed.
And they're still getting caught up.
And of course, the demand for the Toyotas, especially the hybrids, is so high.
And the Grand Highlander was really a missing piece in Toyota's lineup
because the regular Highlander was nice.
But again, when you try to cram three rows in a midsize SUV, it gets really cramped really fast.
The Grand Highlander solves that problem.
It is so roomy.
You can actually get adults in the third row without them hating you.
And it comes in a hybrid version.
I think the hybrid version is definitely worth getting.
There are two hybrid versions.
There's the regular hybrid and then the hybrid I-Force Max.
The I-Force Max is a hybrid system that's designed to give you more torque
and more towing capability, not the fuel efficiency.
So if you're buying the hybrid because you want to maximize your fuel economy,
don't get the I-Force Max.
Get that one if you're going to be towing something and you need that extra torque
because it actually does not get great gas mileage at all.
But the regular hybrid is getting 35, 36 miles per gallon,
which for a very roomy midsize SUV, three-row, that is huge.
It's a game changer in the industry.
And otherwise, you know, this is just something that you would expect from Toyota.
It's comfortable, easy access to the third row, the third row even reclines.
So you can like put your drunk friends in the third row
and let them sleep on the way home if you're the designated driver.
Overall, I would say this is arguably the best midsize three-row SUV on the market,
especially the hybrid version, which explains why they're really hard to get.
Now, if you want something swankier but still has that practical roominess,
take a look at the Lexus TX.
It is the swankier older sibling to the Grand Highlander.
They're built on the exact same platform.
This is not just a rebadged Toyota.
It is definitely a Lexus.
It gives you power folding second and third rows, which are great.
And they are smart enough to know that if you're pushing that button and power folding the third row,
the headrests automatically flip over and tuck in so that the seats can fold in behind the second row.
You're not going to have that third row headrests banging into the second row,
which you do get on a lot of other power folding third row SUVs.
And if there is something in the way, say the driver's seat, if you're folding the second row,
it's going to stop and it's going to beep at you.
It's like, oh, wait, I can't do this.
There's a problem.
Something needs your attention before I can continue.
It doesn't just try to jam itself in there.
The Chevy Traverse, even the new Hyundai Palisade,
which I'm going to talk about a little later in this episode,
they get jammed up.
You can actually wedge the headrest into the seat in front of you and it actually gets stuck
and that mechanism is going to break.
The Japanese engineers are a lot smarter than that.
They anticipate this.
They kind of know that people are in a hurry.
They're not thinking through these things.
So they're just going to prevent you from having these problems in the first place.
And it's really relatively quick for a power mechanism.
So you can get in and out of that third row really easily, really fast,
which if you've got people, especially kids in the third row that are running to school,
kids move fast and they want to be able to get in and out quickly.
So really practical.
And in the TX, you just get so much car for your $65,000, $70,000.
That's actually a really good value for a luxury midsize SUV.
And again, there's a hybrid version.
Speaking of midsize hybrid 3-row SUVs, I was so excited.
You finally get to see the brand new fully redesigned Hyundai Palisade.
I have been waiting for this car to come out for so long and in a hybrid version.
And I really thought that this was going to be my pick of the auto show.
And don't get me wrong, I liked it.
It's absolutely gorgeous inside and out.
I'm going to have to get used to the exterior styling.
It's very futuristic.
And I really liked the old classy styling of the Palisade,
but I'm sure it's going to grow on me.
But there were some things that when I really looked closely at it,
I was like, hmm, that's actually a little disappointing.
First thing, the sleek new design of the grille, everything is just fully integrated.
But it's a lot of plastic covering things like the headlights, the full grille.
Is it going to crack?
Is it going to fade?
Is it going to yellow like my kitchen appliances did over time,
like your headlights do on a car over time?
So this is just something that once these cars have been out for five, six, seven, eight years,
it's going to be interesting to see how well all of that stuff ages.
Now, again, if you get into an accident, I'm sure it's going to be extremely expensive to get repaired.
But again, that's the reality of the cars being so technology heavy
and so overengineered these days, overengineering no longer just applies to the German cars.
Speaking of that overengineering, let's talk about the power folding seats in this car.
In the Toyota Grand Highlander in the Lexus, everything was very smooth, very quick, very intuitive.
Not so much in the Palisade, which surprised me because Hyundai's technology is normally very intuitive.
I love their user interface, their infotainment system.
But the way the power folding second and third rows work is not at all intuitive.
And this was the calligraphy, the highest trim level.
So of course it has all the bells and whistles.
And I do realize that there is probably a certain amount of user learning curve involved.
But I'm usually pretty good at figuring these things out because I'm a bit of a nerd.
Unlike in the Toyota, which had up and down switches, you think seat up, the button goes up.
It's kind of like a light switch up and down on and off.
Hyundai decided to do it more sideways, and so you have to push them forward and backwards.
And what they did was they gave you one set of buttons to control both the third and the second row power folding seats.
So there's a toggle switch that you have to shift it between if you want it to function for the second row,
or you want it to function for the third row.
Once you kind of get used to that and figure it out, that's not a big deal.
But they were so painfully slow.
I mean, a tortoise could get out of the third row faster than your kids in this thing.
And the mechanism that handles those power folding rows in the seat rails that are attached to the floor,
that attach the seats to the floor, they're exposed.
Normally those things are covered, but it was just right out there for you to see,
which means that debris is going to potentially get in there and damage these mechanisms.
Because you're buying these cars for the most part to transport kids.
Kids come with things like dirt, mud, goldfish crackers, just things that make a mess in your car,
especially in the floorboards.
So I'm just a little concerned that debris is going to get caught in those mechanisms,
and that's going to cause problems.
There is an all button that just says, hey, fold everything down.
I'm about to load up the car with a bunch of crap.
And that was really nice, but it didn't work consistently all the time.
But my biggest pain with it was it was just so slow.
So you are not going to be the fastest parent in the carpool line there when you're dropping off all the kids from school,
because it's going to take them time to get in and out of the vehicle.
So just get the captain's chairs and let them walk through the aisle in the middle.
Don't worry about power folding the second row to get the kids out.
Just make them crawl over. They won't mind.
So that is just my biggest complaint about that vehicle, but otherwise it was absolutely gorgeous.
The one they had at the auto show had some stickers on it for one of the charities that they're involved with.
So that was kind of cute, but the interior was very, very white.
And this is a trend that I am seeing across the market.
There's a lot of very white interiors, super, super light.
They are gorgeous for about the first 30 seconds, and then they're going to get dirty.
And especially in a three row SUV, you buy three row SUVs to haul around children.
Children are messy creatures.
So I don't really know who's going to keep this clean.
Personally, I think that family oriented vehicles should come with interiors called things like goldfish cracker.
That would be a great interior color because it would blend in.
A darker interior, something that's going to hide a little bit of that dirt, those scuffs, those goldfish crackers, whatever your kids are doing in the car.
It's probably going to be a little bit better.
Now, if you have older kids or teenagers or you're getting a vehicle because you're going to be hauling adults around, maybe you're a real estate agent.
Just keep in mind, you're going to be spending a lot more on that monthly detail to keep it clean.
But they are really, really beautiful.
My other advice with the Palisade specifically and the hybrid version is if you plan to keep it more than five years, which is what the factory warranty is, get the extended wrap warranty.
That takes the full coverage out to the 10-year 100,000 powertrain.
So it's going to cover all those high tech electronics and all those mechanisms that are probably going to fail at some point.
That is worth the cost, especially if you can get it at dealer cost.
Don't pay retail.
The next vehicle is that I was super excited to see because I was surprised.
I was not expecting to see these if a vehicle is brand new or just coming out or is going to be coming out soon.
We usually don't get it at the Charlotte on our show because the cars there are provided by the dealers.
They come out of the dealer inventory.
So it means you have to have one to bring it to the show, which is why I never got to see a lot of these Toyotas in the past.
But Subaru had not only the brand new redesigned 2026 Cross Trek, but also the Outback.
I'm so excited.
But let's start talking about the Cross Trek because these are starting to hit dealer lots.
And the biggest upgrade, so to speak, with the new Cross Trek is the release of a hybrid model.
Remember, Subaru has a partnership with Toyota.
So all their hybrid technology is Toyota's hybrid system, which is great.
It's the best system there is.
It's reliable and they have just married it to Subaru's powertrain and they're doing a very good job with it.
They released the Forester earlier this year as a 2025 model in the hybrid and it has been fantastic.
So same thing in the Cross Trek.
I actually have the hybrid model on order for a client up in Boston.
We ordered it in August and it should arrive in the next couple of weeks.
I'm excited.
The hybrid again, about 36 miles to the gallon.
But don't worry if you don't want the hybrid or maybe you can't get the hybrid.
The regular gas model in the Cross Trek still gets 28, 29 combined.
It's the best fuel economy of the small SUVs on the market.
And at the auto show, they had the wilderness edition, which I just love.
It gives you a little more ground clearance, a little more capabilities to take the car off the beaten path.
And it just looks awesome.
It just looks like what a Subaru was designed to do, which is take you on an adventure.
But then I looked over and I saw the new fully redesigned 2026 out back.
These things are not even due to hit dealer lots until probably later in December towards the end of the year.
Some dealers might not get until early January.
But one of the dealers here in Charlotte apparently got one early and they brought it to the auto show.
So I'm thrilled.
And this is a full redesign.
Subaru doesn't normally do radical redesign.
So if you look at the new Cross Trek, you're going to be like, okay, I see some differences.
But it's not like, holy cow, what is that?
They went full bore on this out back.
It actually looks like an SUV now, not the illegitimate love child of an SUV in a station wagon.
Now, some people are going to be sad about that because they liked the unique, wagony look of the outback.
That's what it has always been for Subaru and it's always been a very distinctive vehicle.
But other people are going to be like, oh, okay, actually like it now because they didn't like the kind of grungy,
outdoorsy, hippy look at the outback before.
It's much more boxy, which actually gives you more headroom and more cargo space,
which it already had a good amount of.
But yay, now you get more.
It is still a midsize two row SUV.
So if you don't need that third row, but you do want the cargo space for hauling hockey equipment, golf clubs,
all the junk that comes with kids, strollers, your camping equipment, your bike,
whatever you are hauling for your family adventures, you can haul in the outback.
It's wonderful.
The interior is still very Subaru-ish, but it is a little nicer than it was before and they have a new infotainment system.
The screen is actually horizontal, not vertical like on the most of the Subaru's,
but it just, it's very ergonomic and everything is very easy to reach.
It's very easy to use.
The only downside that I see with this is that it is also more expensive.
It's about $3,500 more than the previous model.
But even so, even the top trim level is under $50,000, which is the average new car price now.
So for a midsize SUV with a good amount of space, a good amount of functionality, a good amount of technology,
that is a good value for the money and less than most of its competitors on the market.
This is the thing that cited me most at the auto show because I just so was not expecting to see it and I'm so glad that I did.
Going back to the Toyotas for a minute, another vehicle I wanted to see was the Toyota Crown Signia.
Again, this came out last year.
It replaced the Venza, so they basically redesigned the Venza completely and also rebranded it
because Toyota is kind of bringing out this new crown line that's going to supposedly be a little more upscale than your average Toyota.
I don't know if they'll ever spin it off as a full brand the way Hyundai spun off Genesis, but they might.
It's just kind of designed to sit between the Toyotas and the Lexus.
So I wanted to see the Crown Signia.
That's my crossover version.
The regular Crown is a sedan.
The Signia is an SUV.
It is based on the RAV4 platform just like the Venza was, but it is a little bit longer.
Yet somehow you get less cargo space because of the slopeier roofline.
I have to say I was disappointed in this car.
It wasn't as special as I thought it would be.
The seats were okay, not great.
Granted, my butt was used to the Nissan seats at this point in the day.
You do get a nice big sunroof and the second row is generous, so you will be able to take your coworkers around in the car for lunch.
But it didn't feel premium.
I mean, I wasn't expecting a Lexus, but I was expecting something a little bit more than a Toyota.
And it just didn't stand out to me in any way.
But one deal breaker, there was only one cup holder up front.
One cup holder.
Totally unacceptable.
You should not have to choose whether the driver or the passenger is properly caffeinated.
So they screwed up there.
And for a $50,000 price point, personally, I think I would rather get a gently used Lexus RX hybrid.
All the Crown vehicles are hybrids.
This is what Toyota is doing.
Toyota is moving to an all hybrid model and then we'll also be coming out with pure EVs.
But when they bring something new out, it is hybrid only.
You don't get a choice anymore.
And I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing because they do it well.
But I just, I didn't love it.
I just didn't love it.
Next to it was the new Toyota Camry.
Now that came out in 2025, so they've been out for a little bit and it is hybrid only now.
It's still a Camry.
You can't go wrong with a Camry.
They're stupid reliable.
They get great gas mileage.
It's the perfect commuter car.
But they had some weird things.
The glove box has all but vanished.
I mean, it's tiny.
You have to look like, is there even a glove box in there?
And it's actually a glove box now because a pair of gloves is all you're going to be able to fit in this thing.
I guess that's a good thing that all the owner's manuals are online now because you're not fitting owner's manuals.
You're not fitting anything in there except a pair of gloves.
What it did was create a much bigger opening for the passenger.
So they have a ton of leg room and it creates this kind of cockpit wall along with a high center console that very much separates the passenger from the driver.
I'm not really sure why they made this design decision if they had a lot of feedback of drivers complaining that their passengers were touching me while they were driving, keep them away from me.
Maybe it's because Toyota has always been about safety.
So now they're actually building birth control into their cars.
Because let me tell you, there is going to be no hanky-panky going on in the front seat of that Camry with that big barrier between the passenger and the driver.
So, hey parents, maybe this is a good car for a teenager because they're not going to be making out in that car, at least not in the front seat.
But it's still a fantastic vehicle.
I love the new styling.
It's starting to get much more aggressive.
It's not boring Toyota anymore.
And the one at the Auto Show is this deep reservoir blue that I really, really liked.
It was a surprisingly elegant, but still kind of badass looking color.
I really liked it.
Then I headed over to Honda because I really wanted to see the new redesigned Honda Passport.
It was a 2026 model, but it came out much earlier this year.
I think it was out by February of 2025.
It was the first of the 2026 models of anybody that was out.
And they had the Trail Sport Elite Edition.
And I really wanted to love this car.
I so did not.
It looks great.
Don't get me wrong, the styling is fantastic.
They had a blue one and it had orange tow hooks.
It's just orange trim on it.
It just looks really cool.
But it was all looks.
You get inside and the seats were absolutely horrible,
which surprised me because it's supposed to have comfy seats.
I don't know who's butt tested that out.
It was not mine.
They were flat.
They were hard.
It was kind of like sitting on a piece of wood covered in faux leather.
If you're going to be in a vehicle that's supposedly designed to take you off road,
I want the seats to be comfy because you're probably going to be bouncing around a lot.
And that's just not going to feel good on hard seats.
So I don't know what's up with that.
But it does have a nice mix on roof.
Rear visibility is perfectly decent.
And mechanically, it still has Honda's pretty much bulletproof, naturally aspirated V6 engine.
It's a fantastic engine.
It makes good torque because you're not waiting for a turbo to spool up.
Everybody else is going to the four cylinder turbos and there's just a trade off with that.
So you're going to get more consistent performance out of that V6.
But the trade off is it gets really crappy gas mileage.
I mean, we're talking low twenties, which if you compare that to the Outback,
which gets nearly 30 and actually has higher ground clearance, like, OK,
there's definitely a trade off there and there's no hybrid option for this.
The other thing that really annoyed me is they're really touting this as an off road vehicle.
They want it to compete with the Ford Bronco with the Jeep Wrangler.
I suppose that depends on your definition of off road.
Make no mistake.
This is not a competitor to a Bronco or a Jeep in the off road category,
not even a Toyota forerunner.
It's going to do a great job on gravel roads, packed dirt,
but you are not going rock crawling in this thing.
It has a relatively low ground clearance for a vehicle that's touted as off road.
It's even less than the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Edition.
It does not have a good approach angle.
It doesn't have the articulation in the suspension that is needed for true off roading.
It would be great for camping because one thing it does do very well is tow.
It will tow to 5,000 pounds from properly equipped.
And that's unusual for this size.
Normally the smaller midsize vehicles, your Outback like the Hyundai Santa Fe,
those are only going to tow 2,500, maybe 3,500.
You can tow 5,000 pounds with the Honda Passport.
So if you want to go camping, not truly off roading,
you have a good size, good camper trailer.
This could be a really good vehicle for you.
Under the hood, there's some weird things going on here.
But what I couldn't figure out was there's this weird round large air hole
at the very front of the engine bay with a tube going to the engine.
It's for extra cooling.
I'm not sure how much air flow though, given where it's positioned.
It's actually going to give you.
But what it actually is, is it is a black hole into which the mechanics
are going to drop tools.
They are going to lose their beloved 10 millimeter sockets in this hole all the time.
I can just see it now.
But the worst part about this car is that it's $55,000.
It was not impressive for $55,000.
I mean, I already know the cost of everything is going up.
But when you think that you can get an outback fully loaded with more off road capability for under 50,
this is even getting into the starting cost of a Land Rover Defender.
Now, granted, it's going to be a lot more reliable than a Land Rover.
It's going to be more reliable than the Jeeps.
But just the price point just kind of shocked me for what you actually get with this vehicle.
So the winner of my infamous WTF award this year goes to the Honda Passport Trail Sport Elite,
which is not really trail sporty and it's not really elite.
Sorry, Honda, not impressed.
So finally, for my pick of the show this year, like I said, I thought it was going to be the new Palisade.
And it might have been a toss up between the new Palisade if it didn't have some of those usability quirks and the Subaru Outback,
which I was so excited to actually see.
I wasn't expecting it.
But this year was a little unusual.
There wasn't one vehicle that I went, oh my God, this is it.
I love it.
This is my favorite thing here in the whole show.
Nothing stood out.
Maybe it's because a lot of things are really starting to look so much alike, but nothing stood out.
But I still had a favorite pick of the show.
It was the EV test track, not the regular EV test track, which is for people over 18.
You can sign up and you can do a cool little ride along in a variety of different electric vehicles.
Last year it was all the European vehicles.
So the BMW, the Mercedes, the Porsche, and of course Ford had their little corner with the Lightning and the Mach-E.
This year Ford still had their corner, but it was all about the General Motors vehicles.
There was even an electric Hummer there, which I still have to laugh about.
But this year they added a kids EV test track.
All it was was a little area sectioned off with some little toy vehicles.
There was a little pink SUV and there was a little sports car.
These are the toys that you can buy at the toy store, the ride-alongs for kids.
But it was just adorable and they called it the kids EV test track and they handled it in the same way.
It just makes this auto show very, very family-friendly.
I'm not even a big fan of small humans at all.
I don't have any. I never wanted any, but this was really adorable.
All I could think was that my pseudo-goddaughter Marissa, who's three, she would have absolutely loved it.
Unfortunately, they live in Tennessee, so I couldn't share that experience with her.
But it was just really cute.
And again, kudos to the Charlotte Auto Show organizers for including that and having something for the kids to enjoy.
And they were having a blast with it.
Now, if they'd had something like that when I was that age, I probably would have gotten thrown out.
So, yeah, anyway.
Well, I hope this has been helpful to you to learn a little bit about some of the brand new redesigned vehicles that are out there,
what I liked, what I didn't like, and I want to stress the importance of when you are looking for a new car.
It's not enough just to be blown away by how pretty it looks, how gorgeous is the interior, even how comfortable it is.
You need to do usability testing for your lifestyle.
You need to come up with use cases.
What am I going to do on a daily basis with this vehicle?
So, if you have sporting equipment, bring that with you to the dealership to test fit in the car.
If you are going to be loading and unloading children on a regular basis from the second and third rows,
bring some of them with you or at least test it out yourself as an adult.
How easy is it to access that third row?
How fast is it?
You need to make sure that the car really supports your lifestyle because it's those little things that you normally don't look at in detail on a test drive,
but that you will find out later when you actually own the car and they will drive you batshit crazy and will make you hate the car.
So, when you go into a test drive, do your homework and take some time to write down a couple of use cases for your family.
Think through your day.
What do you do?
What do you need this tool to do for you and your family?
And then walk through those use cases.
Test them out because that's going to give you a more realistic view of how this car is actually going to work for you,
not just how pretty and comfy it's going to be.
So, that is my car buying tip for the day.
And if you are thinking about buying a car by the end of the year, please don't wait until December 26th.
You're going to drive yourself crazy and I'm not going to be able to help you that late in the year
if you need something by the end of the year.
If you need something by the end of the year and you would like my help, please go to my website, thecarchic.com,
and fill out the contact form and let's have that conversation now so that we can figure out what is going to be your strategy
and make sure that I have enough room on my plate to be able to help you get that perfect car by the end of the year.
Thanks for listening, folks.
I appreciate you guys as always and until next time, drive safely.
I'm out of here.
This great shift podcast is copyright Lee Ann Shattuck, The Car Chick.
All views expressed by guest and or co-hosts are those of the guest and or co-hosts
and not necessarily those of Lee Ann Shattuck or The Car Chick.
About this episode
The Charlotte International Auto Show showcased a mix of newly redesigned vehicles, highlighting both impressive and puzzling designs. Key discussions included the rugged new Nissan Armada and the stylish Nissan Leaf, which has evolved into a sporty crossover. The Toyota Grand Highlander impressed with its spacious third row, while the Lexus TX offered luxury features. The Hyundai Palisade and Honda Passport faced usability critiques, particularly regarding their power folding seats. The episode emphasizes the importance of practical usability testing when buying a car, encouraging listeners to consider their specific needs.
In this episode of The Straight Shift, The Car Chick® shares her experiences and insights from the 2025 Charlotte International Auto Show. She discusses the latest vehicle redesigns from various manufacturers, highlighting the Nissan Armada and Murano, Toyota's Grand Highlander, 2026 Hyundai's Palisade, 2026 Subaru Crosstrek and 2026 Outback, and the 2026 Honda Passport. LeeAnn emphasizes the importance of usability testing for potential car buyers and shares her thoughts on the evolving automotive landscape, including electric vehicles and family-friendly features.
Takeaways
The Nissan Murano's new design is more appealing and less niche.
Toyota's Grand Highlander offers spaciousness and hybrid options, making it a strong contender.
The Hyundai Palisade's redesign has some usability quirks that may disappoint buyers.
Subaru's Crosstrek and Outback received significant updates, with the Crosstrek now offering a hybrid model.
The Toyota Crown Signia lacks the premium feel expected at its price point.
The Honda Passport's design is attractive, but it falls short in comfort and off-road capability.
Usability testing is crucial for potential car buyers to ensure the vehicle fits their lifestyle.
You can view a full list of resources and episode transcripts here.
