They’re talking about a specific new Toyota: the 2026 Corolla Hatchback in the FX trim. It’s a small, practical car, but in a hatchback style.
Term
$28,000
The host quotes a specific price point for the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback FX. Price mentions like this are typically tied to the car’s listed MSRP or a review-referenced transaction baseline, which helps listeners gauge affordability.
The Range Rover is a large luxury SUV made by Land Rover. It’s designed to feel comfortable and high-end, but it can also handle rough roads. The podcast brings it up because it’s a well-known premium SUV model.
That’s a plug-in hybrid version of the Range Rover Sport. It can run on electricity for a while, but it also has a gas engine when you need more range or power.
The Toyota Camry is a regular, everyday car in the midsize sedan category. People often choose it because it’s practical and easy to live with. The podcast mentions it as a common option when comparing popular sedans.
Standard equipment is the stuff that comes with the car without extra cost. The point here is that the luxury versions include more features by default.
Real leather is actual leather material, while synthetic leather is a man-made substitute. The speaker is saying the nicer cars may use higher-end materials like real leather.
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan, meaning it’s a family-friendly car that’s not too big. It’s popular because it’s comfortable and practical for daily driving. The podcast mentions it because people often compare its top versions to other similar sedans.
Depreciation rate is how quickly a car loses value as it gets older. If a car depreciates slowly, it usually costs less over time because you can sell it for more later.
Automatic headlights are lights that turn on by themselves when it gets dark. They use a sensor to decide when to switch the lights on so you don’t have to remember.
Daytime running lights are lights that turn on in the daytime so other drivers can see you better. The goal is fewer accidents because your car stands out more.
Stop-start is a feature that turns the engine off when you’re stopped and turns it back on when you go again. Some people hate how it feels or how often it activates.
A water pump moves coolant around the engine so it doesn’t overheat. If it starts leaking or fails, the car can run hot and you may need a costly repair.
This is a gadget that stops your car from automatically turning the engine off when you come to a stop. Some people prefer it because it can feel smoother or reduce wear for certain driving situations.
The host is framing a discussion about whether an electric car fits a person’s lifestyle and driving needs. Key considerations typically include charging access, daily mileage, total cost of ownership, and how the car’s range matches real-world use.
Barter means trading something you can do (like writing and singing ads) for something you want (like a truck) instead of using money. In this story, the musician offered his work to help get the truck.
A small SUV is a compact vehicle that’s bigger than a sedan but easier to park than a large SUV. They’re saying they need something small because their driveway is narrow.
Audi is a luxury car brand. Here it matters because the speaker thinks Audi’s small SUV (the Q3) is the best choice in that size category.
LIVE
It's time for the CarPro Show where you always get straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive from Jerry Reynolds, the CarPro.
Two-time winner of USA Today's Dealer of the Year.
Six-time winner of the Texas Auto Writers Association Award for Best Radio Show in Texas.
And a member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.
Todd Chambliss is Jerry's co-host.
He's a noted voiceover guy and a celebrated Tibetan throat singer.
So get ready to either call in with your question for Jerry or a song request for Todd on the CarPro Show.
Boy, I hope you have a great Easter.
Then get to spend some time with some families and remember what Easter is all about.
I would also ask that you say a little prayer for our troops over in Iran.
They have run across maybe a little more formidable or formidable.
I never know how to say that.
I think you're doing pretty well.
Follow with the Iranians.
And so let's say a little prayer for them because there's an empty chair at tables all over the country from people in our military, our police and our first responders.
And there's just, you know, some people, they're still working when we're enjoying our time.
And let's keep that in mind.
CarPro.com, that's the website.
That's where you go to get a lot of information, including all of our car reviews this week.
We put up a new review on the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback FX.
That's a lot going on there.
Good looking little Toyota Corolla coming in at $28,000 on the winter sticker that Amy Plymouth spent a week with.
With the nice white wheels.
White wheels.
Boy, that'll get your attention.
That's something I hadn't seen in a while.
And I had the 2025 Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid.
What a nice, nice SUV.
And you didn't flip it over either.
Like somebody else might have done here recently.
Yeah, some famous golfer might have.
I think so.
If you knew how hard it was to flip a Range Rover.
Now, the weird thing is, and I put this on our Facebook page last week, the weird thing was back in 2021, I was reviewing the Genesis GV80 for the very first time.
The week that I had the GV80, Tiger just destroyed a GV80.
He was lucky to be alive and lucky he didn't lose his leg.
So turn the page to last week, I had a blue Range Rover Sport.
And guess what?
Tiger turned over a blue Range Rover Sport.
For the love of all, what's going on there?
What is the deal?
I had people accuse me of it being my fault that Tiger had a wreck.
Oh, come on now.
That's a little coinkydink there, isn't it?
It's a little strange, it really is.
That's strange.
Let's talk to Clayton, and he is in Hawkins, Texas.
Clayton, welcome to The Car Pro Show.
Thank you, first time caller.
Good to have you, man.
Happy Easter.
Thank you, to you too.
I wondered, I haven't heard this directly addressed before.
I'm kind of thinking about kicking around the idea of getting another car, and I keep them forever.
I'm thinking like, what's the difference between a Honda, say a Corde, and its accurate counterpart,
or a Camry, and it's, I think maybe an ES250.
What do you get extra for your money?
I'm sure there's a few bells and whistles, but is it, I mean, it's essentially the same car with just different trim, is it?
Yeah, you get a higher level of standard equipment when you go with the Acura or the Lexus,
and particularly the Lexus, but they're on, you know, they're on the same platform,
and so driving, they're going to drive very, very similar to each other.
But for instance, in the Acura or the ES, you're going to get real leather versus synthetic leather.
You're going to get real wood.
You're going to get more ambient lighting.
They say that you're going to get a quieter ride.
I don't know about that for sure, but that's what they say.
And sometimes there are differences in size of the body, even on, even though the cars are on the same chassis.
So in the case of the Lexus ES versus the Camry, the ES is larger, so it's got a bigger back seat,
and that's where they put the extra room.
But drive-wise, powertrain-wise, they're the same.
So, you know, I tell people, Clayton, you got to figure out what your priority is.
What's most important to you?
And if it's room, then you might look going with the upper-scale models.
If it's price, then you look at the lower-scale models, and look, there it is.
Let me tell you.
Nowadays, a Honda Accord top-of-the-line and a Camry top-of-the-line are extremely nice cars.
And that wasn't always the case, but they have really evolved with those.
So those are things that you look at when you're trying to decide if you want to go upscale or not.
What about, well, I've got a Honda Accord that I bought new 20 years ago.
I'm still driving with $250,000.
I've got a Mazda 6 that has 175 that is 11 years old that both of them have been tremendous cars.
But if I, so long-term, is Toyota, is a starter or an alternator cheaper than a Lexus starter or alternator,
or is the service more expensive per hour on the higher-dollar vehicle?
Yes, yes, but there's also amenities that go with that.
You know, a bigger availability of loan cars at a Lexus store than there is a Toyota store.
You're going to sit down in a nicer waiting room in a Lexus store than you are a Toyota store.
And so, you know, yeah, you're going to pay more for service.
And a lot of people, and I'm one of these, that once a car is out of warranty,
I'm going to try to find a really reliable shop that I can trust, and I'm going to build a relationship with them.
And so, yeah, so, yeah, if you're paying for repairs at a Lexus dealership and it's the same repair,
because it's the same alternator, it's the same air conditioning compressor on both cars, the Camry and the ES.
But you're going to pay $200 an hour at the Lexus store, and you're going to pay $150 an hour at the Toyota store.
That's kind of the way it is, brother.
But we're running up against the clock, but I do appreciate the time and I appreciate your call,
and I hope you and yours have a wonderful, wonderful Easter.
800-926-7777, that's the Chase.com CarPro hotline.
I'd love to talk to you.
Well, it may be part of what's going on with the economy and people's fears about maybe getting a brand new car,
and maybe they're looking at resale value of used cars, and so with that, the most clicked item in the newsletter this past Friday,
the 25 best and worst cars for resale value according to iccars.com.
It's interesting to note that on this particular survey, they did a five-year run of determining depreciation rates,
and they found the average to be just about 40%, the average of all of them.
At the top of the list, losing the least amount of value, a Porsche 718, 9.6% of its value, and the worst are EVs, like over 57%.
Nobody says 718.
They don't?
No.
718?
Yeah.
Okay.
You got a sour look on your face.
Oh my God, I never heard anybody.
No?
I've heard of 944.
Is it 944 or 940 or 944?
Or which one is it?
944 or 944?
944.
See, there was a song that came out.
They said 944.
That's where I got that from.
So blame a British artist from the 80s for making me say that.
A Porsche 911, you don't say 911.
I don't know.
That's when you...
That's a different thing now.
That's when you...
That's when you call if you got a problem.
That's right.
That's right.
Well, you know, anyway.
That's why...
Oh my God.
Man, I...
Of that whole story, that's what you pulled the way I said 718.
I...
You said 718.
No, but I'm correcting now.
I didn't hear a word after that.
I was so floored with 718.
718.
How about that?
Much better.
Oh my goodness, boy.
Glad we crossed that hurdle.
I've worn out.
Glendora, California, Dan.
Dan, Happy Easter.
Happy Easter, Jerry.
Thank you, buddy.
Thank you.
I've purchased several vehicles through you and I've referred several.
Well, thank you.
And today I have a question that's more technical.
So automatic headlights.
Nowadays, they have the headlights on as well as the dashboard lights.
So I'm seeing a lot of people driving at night without their tail lights on,
thinking that their headlights are eliminated.
And it's becoming more and more often.
I don't know if anybody else has noticed this.
And I wanted to get your opinion on it.
If you understand what I'm saying.
I think I do.
You've got...
Most of the cars nowadays have got daytime running lights, right?
Yes.
But I haven't driven a car in years that didn't have automatic lights that came on
once it got dark.
Right.
Of course.
So what I've noticed, and I found this in a rental car I was driving,
if you don't have it on the auto mode and you just have it on,
what the daytime running light modes or even some cars,
they just automatically have daytime running lights.
Yeah, most do.
You have your headlights eliminated at a lower power and you have your
dashboard lights eliminated, but the tail lights are not on.
Right.
And if you drive at night, pay attention.
You might see that more often nowadays.
And like I had an old Corolla, like an 03 Corolla,
that it automatically turned on the headlights when it got dark.
Yeah.
You know, the whole system.
Nowadays they have the overrides switch, which you can turn on auto or just
DRL or whatever it may be.
Yeah.
That's right.
And that's what I see most of the time.
I see that the cars got automatic headlights, but you have to have the
light setting correct.
And in so many of these cars, the light setting is also on the
blinker.
And I think that causes a problem because some people, when they're using
their blinkers, they may inadvertently turn the automatic setting off.
So when it gets dark, they don't notice it.
And the real fear for me is they get used to having automatic lights that
come on when it gets dark.
And then it gets turned off and they don't notice because they're not used
to checking, you know.
Daytime running lights have become a big thing.
And I tell you, it really started in Canada because for many years now,
20 plus years, it's a law in Canada that every car must have
daytime running lights.
And they say, whoever they is, they say that it has cut accidents.
I don't know that it has because when you get something that everybody
does, everybody's got, you tend to stop paying attention to it.
And it's like when you're in a parking lot and somebody's horns honking,
we used to look around to see if their car was being broken into, but now
you just keep walking.
That's a great question, Dan, and thanks for the call.
And we go to St. Charles, Illinois with Sam, Sam, happy Easter.
Happy Easter to you and Todd.
Thank you, Sam.
And I want to tell you that you have just a great show and a great newsletter.
And I used to listen to you on, I think it was WLS out of Chicago years ago.
Yeah.
Lost that station.
Yep.
They went paid programming in my slot.
That's a shame.
Yeah.
Can you ever come back to the area?
You know, we're looking hard at it.
I love to be back in New York.
My New York listeners loved us.
I mean, they loved us.
And, you know, I'd love to be back in all three of those places.
Just radio went through a really tough time.
And if they could get paid programming, you know, the quality of the show wasn't
as important as the revenue.
And that's a shame.
But I understand it.
It's no different in the car business or any other business.
If there aren't dollars coming in, you know, nothing, nothing happens.
So I understood it.
I hated it.
But yeah, I'd love to be back in Chicago.
You're blessed.
There are some really good dealers in the Chicago area.
And I had some good ones.
But yeah.
Yes, you did.
I love listening to you and just love to have you back.
And we do have some good dealers here.
You do.
That's for sure.
Some markets I've been to.
I mean, Phoenix is the first one that comes to mind.
I had the worst luck with Phoenix of any market in America.
They were just all horrible.
My God.
I'll tell you, I won't risk that again.
Sam, what's...
Well, you'll be welcome back here.
Definitely.
Well, thank you.
Thank you.
And to answer your question on...
I have a...
You're right.
I have a 23 Ford Bronco, the Outer Banks.
And I absolutely love it.
And there's one issue with that vehicle.
And I have an F-150.
That one issue is that stop-start system.
And I just hate it.
And I've tried to train myself to get in the car and turn it off.
Yep.
That's what I do.
But there is an aftermarket product that I have had a lot of experience with.
And it really works.
And welcome back to The Car Pros Show.
Jerry Reynolds, The Car Pro, and me, Todd Chambliss.
One of the more clicked items on the newsletter this week has to do with the Meekam Glendale
Auction, a five-day event that ramped up just, what, a week or so ago.
More than 1,300 vehicles.
And the highest bid or the biggest auctioned vehicle was a 66 Shelby 427 Cobra Roadster,
$1.8 million.
Is that normally what cars of that type go for as far as...
Kind of is.
Okay.
And so they have another one coming up in Houston next week, I see.
That must be a fun little experience to go and check out.
Oh, it's great.
Yeah, Houston, you got the Meekam coming at you Thursday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
I'll have details and how to watch it on TV in next week's free weekly newsletter.
Like a rock and roll, like experience.
Oh, it's fun.
It really is fun.
Let's talk to Janet in Deer Park, Texas.
Janet, welcome to The Car Pro Show.
Happy Easter.
Happy Easter to you.
Thank you so much.
You're welcome.
What can I help you with?
Well, when I first called in, I said water filter, but I meant water pump.
I have a 2013 Ford Explorer XLT.
It was mine at about three months when it was about three months old.
So I've had it most of its life.
Yeah.
And I know there's an issue with the water pump.
And it's a big job to get to.
Yeah, it is.
My brother just had to deal with it.
He had the back pockets replaced first.
That didn't fix his missing.
It was missing.
And they just redid everything.
And it cost him a lot of money.
I just don't know what I need to look for.
I'm approaching, I'm right at 105,000 miles.
And his 2017, he's at one, almost 150.
So does that mean I have that much more time to go before I experience this problem?
Well, it really depends on prior maintenance.
How diligent have you been about changing the fluids, especially the oil and filter?
Absolutely on time.
Okay.
I mean, it might go three months past, but never two or three years, never, never.
Good, good.
That's a start.
You know, you can take two cars that run down the assembly line next to each other.
And, you know, one car may go 150,000 miles and the other one go 250,000 miles before they run into any problems.
It's just, it's an impossibility to try to predict.
I will tell you that that generation of the Explorer with that six-cylinder engine that you've got was a very reliable vehicle.
It really was.
So if you, you know, if you, if you've done the maintenance doesn't necessarily mean that you're not going to have a problem,
but the most likely thing is probably a transmission.
And if, when, when that happens, you know, assuming it doesn't happen anytime soon,
but let's say you get up around that 150,000 mile mark and then it happens, then you got a big decision.
Do I, do I want to sink $5,000 into this thing and continue to drive it?
Or do I just trade it?
And that's the decision that so many people are facing today.
And more people are facing it because they're trying to keep their cars longer because new cars are $50,000 now.
So can I tell you one little thing?
Yes, ma'am.
This, this car belonged to my daddy and he, I'm probably going to get emotional.
He was trying to spin down to get my mother on Medicaid because she was in a nursing home.
And we knew he, one of the things he was going to be looking at was a new car.
My brother and I told him, daddy, whenever you're ready, just let us know and we'll go to the leadership with you.
Well, he was very independent.
He went there himself, put his salesman in the car with him.
They drove to the credit union and he wrote them a check for the ticker price, which in 2013 was right at $40,000.
That's a little scary for me.
I understand.
Is your dad still with us?
Oh, no.
Sorry to hear that.
Yeah.
Luckily, people who listen to this show know that they can go get a good deal on a new car.
But your, your, your questions, a hard one to answer.
I think the odds are good that you'll, you'll get that 150 might even get 160,000 miles before you have to spend a lot of money.
Now, I don't care what you're driving.
When you cross that 100,000 mile mark, you're going to have things go wrong.
And it's going to be air conditioning compressors, a power window motor.
Power steering pump.
You know, water pump is, is certainly something that's going to go on a car at some point.
So is there anything belt driven under the hood?
Oh, yeah.
Chain driven.
And I don't know if that one, no, that, that, that vehicle definitely have a timing chain.
So you don't have to worry about timing belt.
That's the big one that a lot of cars have to go through.
And you're not going to have to deal with that timing chains seldom ever wear out.
They may stretch a little bit and you'll start hearing some noise, but they won't wear out and it won't keep the, it won't keep the, the vehicle from running.
So what I would tell you is be in tune with the car.
Yes, sir.
And I am.
Got a good head.
Notice, notice sounds that are unusual.
Your best defense is actually your nose.
Be aware of smells.
If you smell something different than what you've been smelling, then get it looked at.
Because sometimes if you can prevent a major repair, it's a much, much cheaper on you than letting it go and then finding out.
If you look, if you run into any issues suddenly, call me back.
I'll help you get a deal on one or tell you if I think you should put money into it or if I think you should trade it.
And I'll tell you the truth.
Always will.
I hope you have a wonderful Easter, my dear.
Thank you very much for the call.
How'd your video do this week?
You won last week.
Your, your, your quarterly win was last week.
My one win, maybe for the year so far, the way things have been going.
I was number seven this week.
Didn't make the top five.
So how did your video do?
I didn't make the top five either.
That's surprising.
Well, we had a lot of good content this week.
That's the deal right there.
You know, I'll take ahead if we have good content and they're going to it.
And boy, I'll tell you what, I think next Friday's newsletter is going to really be a good one.
Is that right?
Yeah.
Lots of stuff to talk about.
We had a caller that couldn't hold.
Autostop Eliminator was the website I gave our caller from Illinois earlier.
And for his Bronco, that was going to cost $99.
If you wonder whether an electric car is right for you, talk to the car pro about it.
Call thechase.com car pro listener line now at 1-800-926-7777.
If you have some time, go and check out the latest, this was actually written years ago,
but you're revisiting all of the true stories from a former car dealer in the newsletter.
It's near the bottom there.
And this week, there's a highlight to your number seven story about celebrities that you've met along the way.
I mean, there's all kinds of great stories of the, you know, some of the awards that you've had a chance to go and be a part of the trips you've taken.
And then the famous people that you've met along the way, sort of a who's who of some famous people that you've had a chance to meet or deal with.
Yeah, I've been lucky.
You have been and they won't give it away because I want people to go and read the story.
But there is an up and coming country music star that you had a chance to meet and he was pretty much unknown at that time.
Yeah, about 20, 22, 23 years ago.
And back then he was just starting out because I remember working at a station in the Dallas, Fort Worth area where we just started playing his music.
And he was looking, he needed a pickup truck.
So he wanted to go and write and sing commercials so that he could maybe exchange that like a barter thing for a pickup truck.
And after you met him and he's saying something for you, you said, you know what, come by the dealership and I'll get you into a late model.
You step 150.
So I'm not going to give away the guy's name.
I want people to go check the story out.
But me and him in a small, small, small room.
Really?
He had his guitar with him.
He had hair down to his shoulders.
Yeah, like a mullet going there at that point.
Yeah.
And he sang two songs.
And he became a huge star, which everybody knows today, huge music and TV star at this point.
So we'll leave it at that.
I'll tell you what he sang.
Okay.
Okay.
Tell me.
Old Red in Austin.
Okay.
That probably gave it away to some people.
Probably.
Yep.
And I remember those the first two songs we played by this man on that country station I worked at.
I was blown away.
It was great.
Story songs.
Oh, both of them.
And he was so easy.
He's still so talented.
Oh, my God.
Yep.
Rick Los Angeles.
Welcome to the car pro show.
Happy Easter, buddy.
Same to you, Jerry.
Thank you.
Here's my question.
I've been listening to you for years and I basically listen to you when I take my Saturday run until K and X.
Well, thank you.
Listen what I can.
Yeah.
We're we lost.
We lost an hour on K and X.
We're on it.
10 Pacific now.
Yeah.
Very disappointing out here.
I was myself.
Nonetheless, I've leased four cars utilizing your system anywhere from BMWs down to a, I don't mean down in a degrading manner, but a Subaru Crosstrek, which I have now in the lease is coming due.
Yeah.
I've leased that car because I had a very large dog to unfortunately is passed away.
Oh, I'm sorry.
But thank you.
Was a wonderful dog.
A Bernie's mountain dog.
But I got it for him because there's hard.
They're hard on cars.
Yeah.
And but now I'm at the point where the lease is coming due and I think I want something a little bit nicer, not tremendously nicer.
But I have a very narrow driveway.
So it's got to be a small SUV.
I've looked and thought about a Tiguan and of course the Toyota RAV4, which I know you're a big fan of.
And I thought I would just ask you about your thoughts regarding the Subaru Crosstrek, a Tiguan or a Toyota RAV4.
I love the, I love the Crosstrek dog on.
I just, it's just such a wonderful SUV for the money.
Now, if you, and we haven't had the Tiguan yet, but I'm hoping we have it soon.
RAV4 is always a good choice.
And so is the Lexus NX.
If, if, if your buddy, your dog, if you're not going to get another large, large dog and you really want to get something that's small, but nice and quiet and great interior.
I'd certainly put the Lexus NX on the list, but if you, if you're not ready to go upscale, I'd stay right with the Crosstrek and there's a gazillion reasons.
Well, you're listening to The Car Pro Show coming to you from the Consignment Pros at retailmyride.com studios here in Dallas, Texas.
And James, you're up next on The Car Pro Show.
Hey, happy Easter, you and, you and Todd.
Thank you, sir.
And same to you.
My wife has a 2021 Volvo XC40 and she absolutely loves it, but it's got 64,000 miles on it.
And by the maintenance cost on it, this routine maintenance, it's not going to be able to keep this car as long as she usually does.
You're at that point with one of those that it starts to get really expensive.
Exactly.
What, what do you, I don't know if you know anything about, you don't review a lot of Volvos, but I don't know if you know anything about that, that small little Volvo.
What's out there that's similar in size and shape and quality, that kind of stuff?
Well, you, you've really got, that's a unique segment and it's, it's officially the subcompact luxury segment.
Okay.
And there's really only three players, at least in my mind, in that segment.
You got the BMW X1, you got the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes GLB, B like boy.
And that's a fairly new entry.
You know, some people would put the Lexus UX in that group.
I don't.
It's, it's even smaller than the XC40 and I don't, to me, it's not a real Lexus.
If I were in that segment and I were looking today, I'll tell you right now, I'd go with the Audi Q3.
It's a wonderful, small SUV and I do have a great Audi dealer there in Houston at my website.
It's a Sewell dealership.
James, thanks for the call.
We appreciate you.
About this episode
Jerry Reynolds and co-host Todd Chambliss kick off with Easter greetings, a prayer for troops, and quick hits on new reviews including the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback FX and a 2025 Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid. The show veers into listener Q&A: comparing Honda Accord vs Acura/Lexus equivalents, debating service costs after warranty, and a technical discussion on why some cars’ tail lights may not illuminate at night when DRLs are set incorrectly. Other segments cover resale-value trends (EVs worst, Porsche 718 best), major auction highlights, and a deep dive on Ford Explorer water-pump concerns and long-term ownership decisions.
