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AAH #746 - Good Car Brands, Bad Brands and Everything In Between

Autoline After Hours Jun 06, 2025 68 min

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About this episode

A lively discussion unfolds as automotive experts evaluate major car brands in the U.S. market, offering thumbs up, down, or sideways assessments based on performance, product offerings, and market strategies. Guests Stephanie Brinley and Tony Gospic share insights on brands like Acura, Alfa Romeo, and Cadillac, while also addressing the impact of tariffs on manufacturers. The conversation dives into the strengths and weaknesses of each brand, touching on topics like electric vehicles, connectivity issues, and market positioning, providing a comprehensive overview of the automotive landscape mid-year.

Topics: brand evaluations tariff impacts electric vehicles market strategies connectivity issues SUV trends sedan market product offerings luxury brands consumer preferences

Technical Too Afraid to Ask

OWS Photography (CC BY 4.0)

Car

Acura Integra

"...at I mean, it's just you know, it's still got the Integra not doing so great. But you know, you think about..."

Jacek Halicki (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Honda Hrv

"... entry it's above kind of sharing a platform with HRV. They civic area, and it's an enter point. So the..."

Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Audi Etrons

"...ost got too confusing. Right, You've got all your etrons on top of your regular ones and and I don't even ..."

Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Volkswagen I

"Speaker 2: So so tell you, I mean, is there is there a brand point of view that you can say, Okay, this is an Audi versus this is something else, not like. Speaker 4: Their sister brand, Volkswagen. I mean, if you I think ABOUTI and I think of Volkswagen, and it's like there's just no comparison. I know, V's way down the road,"

LukaCali (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Chevrolet Silverado

"...ill rolling out the the trim levels and Chevrolet Silverado and GMC, so there's still more to come. Speaker 2..."

Bull-Doser (Public domain)

Car

Chrysler Pacifica

"... three of you. Would anybody really notice if the PACIFICA had a different badge on it. Speaker 4: Yes, beca..."

Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Dodge Charger

"... not bad. Speaker 5: You do you know, you do have charger, you do have you know, there's a way, there's thi..."

Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Dodge Challenger

"...nnect with people. But there's still I think with Challenger and Challenger Charger Daytona."

Elise240SX (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Dodge Hornet

"...days ago, the sedan came online and we've got the Hornet, which that I feel like nobody would really misse..."

Hans-Jürgen Neubert (CC BY 4.0)

Car

Ford Mustang

"...a lot of opportunity then for them in commercial. Mustang is just kind of falling off the cliff a little bi..."

Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Hyundai Genesis

"...move because I've been to the Independent the new Genesis dealers in there, they're wonderful. With Cherry ..."

Throwawayacc222 (CC0)

Car

Honda Accord

"...Honda, So you know, I think a lot of people think Accord and Civic and yet it surprises me how many other ..."

MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Honda Civic

"...ou know, I think a lot of people think Accord and Civic and yet it surprises me how many other vehicles t..."

EurovisionNim (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Honda Crvs

"... I'm the last month sales or fifty percent of the CRVS. Speaker 5: Part, and that's and that's working o..."

Benespit (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Hyundai Sonata

"..., speaking about the hybrids, I just got out of a Sonata Hybrid. I got forty five miles to the gallon with..."

Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Ford Bronco

"...'s it's had lots of competition from the likes of Bronco, the AT four or to a certain degree, right, And i..."

Mr.choppers (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Car

Jeep Cherokee

"...it's money. Speaker 1: But well they've got a new Cherokee coming that should help them a lot. They should h..."

Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Jeep Grand Cherokee

"...ng problem that you're talking about, because the Grand Cherokee stuff clearly went beyond what the brand can supp..."

Kahvilokki (CC0)

Car

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

"...ing issue, and if there's it. Speaker 1: Is I'm a Grand wagoneer went beyond where the brand can really support. S..."

ToyGTone (CC0)

Car

Lucid Air

"...he change has been made, because yes, Grand Wagon air went went higher faster than the brand was ready ..."

IFCAR (Public domain)

Car

Kia Forte

"...ntry level K four unfortunate name used to be the forte I mean gorgeous car, yeah, you know, for not big ..."

Autosdeprimera (CC BY 3.0)

Car

Toyota Crown

"...g the exterior styling is looking too much like a Crown and it's sort of sort of does and so from being t..."

Mr.choppers (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Car

Dodge Ram

"...g to turn that upside down? Speaker 2: All right, Ram, what will matter most? And E rev or a mid size o..."

Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Tesla Model Y

"...duct. They need product. That's different enough. Model y changes are doing Okay. Model three changes didn'..."

Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Car

Volkswagen Golf

"...ou know. I would have loved a VW EV that was more golf like, that was a little bit more precise and fell..."

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