0:00 / 0:00
Cheaper Cybertruck, Lexus TX Review, Japanese Micro Cars for America

Cheaper Cybertruck, Lexus TX Review, Japanese Micro Cars for America

Car Stuff Podcast Feb 23, 2026 56 min
0:00
0:00

About this episode

The hosts dive into the evolving landscape of automotive engines, lamenting the shift from smooth V6s and V8s to smaller turbocharged fours that sacrifice driving ease for efficiency. They discuss the Chevrolet Traverse's new turbo engine and the Lexus TX's similar powertrain, noting mixed feelings about power delivery and fuel economy. The conversation also touches on the sensory experience of driving, emphasizing the importance of engine and exhaust sound. Additionally, they cover Tesla's introduction of a cheaper Cybertruck variant, exploring its trade-offs and potential market impact.

Filter:
|
Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

Catalytic Converter

"I just wrote a piece called What is a Catalytic Converter? Just in case you're wondering what your neighbors just had stolen from their vehicle."

A catalytic converter is a part in your car that cleans the bad gases from the exhaust so they don't pollute the air as much.

Car

Chevrolet Traverse

"I just got into the Chevrolet Traverse, which was redesigned last year, and one of the interesting things I've heard from people..."

The Chevrolet Traverse is a big SUV that got a new look and new features last year. It's good for families and has lots of space inside.

Car

Ford Mustang

"...nk you, California. So basically, except for the Mustang and a few other vehicles, you really don't get a..."

The Ford Mustang is a famous car that looks sporty and is fun to drive. People like it because it has been around a long time and is easy to recognize.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"... evening. And one of the cars that came in, a C2 Corvette, had to be a 427. I didn't hear it come in, but ..."

The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish car made in America. The C2 version is special because it has a big engine that makes it go really fast.

Concept

Formula E

"And I feel like if I ever went to a Formula E race where it was just silent, it would, I don't know what that would be."

Formula E is a type of car race where the cars run on electricity, so they don't make loud engine noises like regular race cars.

Term

electric cars

"I've never watched a Formula E race, but for people who don't know, those are electric cars. Right."

Electric cars run on batteries and motors instead of gas engines. They are quieter and don't produce exhaust smoke.

Term

horsepower

"just something with like a very high horsepower, loud exhaust vehicle."

Horsepower is a way to measure how strong a car's engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can go faster or pull heavier loads.

Car

Ford Ranger

"...rd with a five-speed manual before that. I had a Ranger with a five-speed that was totally useless and sn..."

The Ford Ranger is a small truck that is easy to drive and useful for carrying things. Some older versions with manual gears can be hard to use.

Term

rust

"even if it had 50,000 miles, probably had so much rust in it that, you know, you just, it was, it was basically gone."

Rust happens when water and air make metal parts on a car start to break down and get flaky. It can make the car weak and look bad, especially if the car is old.

Term

dual motor

"Yeah, pissing people off, but there's a new base all wheel drive, dual motor for 59,990."

Dual motor means the car has two electric motors, one for the front wheels and one for the back wheels, which helps it go faster and handle better.

Term

all wheel drive

"Yeah, pissing people off, but there's a new base all wheel drive, dual motor for 59,990."

All wheel drive means the car sends power to all four wheels, helping it grip the road better when it's slippery or rough.

Term

towing capacity

"You lose the air suspension, the ventilated seats, the leather, some towing capacity."

Towing capacity means how much weight a car can pull behind it, like a trailer or a boat.

Term

ventilated seats

"You lose the air suspension, the ventilated seats, the leather, some towing capacity."

Ventilated seats have tiny fans that blow air through the seat to keep you cool when it's hot outside.

Term

air suspension

"You lose the air suspension, the ventilated seats, the leather, some towing capacity."

Air suspension means the car uses air-filled bags instead of regular springs to make the ride smoother and let you raise or lower the car.

Car

Tesla Cybertruck

"So the thing about the Cybertruck is everyone loves to hate the way it looks. And I'm sure I don't disagree."

The Tesla Cybertruck is a new kind of electric truck that looks very different from regular trucks. It can go fast and carry heavy stuff, and many people find it fun to drive.

Car

Tesla Model S

"And this is coming from somebody who owned a Model S Plaid and a Cybertruck and said they'd rather drive the Cybertruck."

The Tesla Model S Plaid is a very fast electric car that looks like a regular sedan but can go really fast and has lots of cool features.

Car

Ford Maverick

"...s. You know what they really need is they need a Maverick size truck and it doesn't need to look like it c..."

The Ford Maverick is a small truck that's cheaper and easier to park than big trucks. It's good for people who want a truck but don't need a huge one.

Car

Chevrolet Volt

"...the fly, too. If you remember when the Chevrolet Volt came out in 2000, I think they had it at the 201..."

The Chevrolet Volt is a car that can run on electricity but also has a gas engine for longer trips. It helped people get used to electric cars.

Car

Dodge Charger

"Ram Rev. So I was at the Ram Charger. I think you're a dammit."

The Dodge Charger is a big car that can go very fast. It looks cool and is made for people who like strong engines.

Concept

electric vehicle

"Because Letterman was just ripping on it like it's an electric vehicle that goes 40 miles. What's the point?"

An electric vehicle is a car that runs on electricity instead of gas. It uses batteries to power the motor, so it doesn't need fuel like regular cars.

Car

Toyota Grand Highlander

"OK. What is it? Have you driven the Grand Highlander? No, actually, I have not."

The Toyota Grand Highlander is a big SUV that can fit more people and stuff inside. It's good for families who need extra space.

Car

Toyota Highlander

"But the funny thing here is the Highlander is going away. The Toyota Highlander and that's becoming electric only."

The Toyota Highlander is a popular family SUV that will soon be available only as an electric vehicle, meaning it will run entirely on battery power.

Car

Lexus RX

"The RX very much like the Highlander mechanically and dimensionally."

The Lexus RX is a fancy SUV that shares many parts and size with the Toyota Highlander but has more luxury features.

Brand

Genesis

"And Genesis owns the interior, right?"

Genesis is a fancy car brand from Korea that makes cars with nice interiors and lots of features.

Brand

Lexus

"Yes. The Lexus interior is arguably made me more refined and a little bit more restrained."

Lexus is a luxury car brand from Toyota that makes comfortable and reliable cars.

Term

2.4 turbo

"That's a 2.4 turbo."

A 2.4 turbo means the car has an engine that is 2.4 liters big and uses a turbocharger to make the car go faster.

Car

Jeep Grand Cherokee

"...f I take it in and I get a loan or they give me a grand Cherokee that has one level, which is the surface of the ..."

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a big car that can drive on rough roads and is also comfortable inside. Many people like it because it can do many things.

Term

supercar

"But that's going to be even more expensive. So this that's sort of near super car price, but not quite, you know,"

A supercar is a very fast and fancy car that is better than most regular cars. It is usually expensive and looks cool.

Car

Porsche 911

"So this that's sort of near super car price, but not quite, you know, it was sort of an affordable 9-11 convertible competitor. I mean, compared to that car, it was it was a bargain."

The Porsche 911 is a very fast and sporty car that many people dream of owning. It looks special and is fun to drive.

Car

Toyota Crown

"... 500 bucks a year where normal cars like a Toyota Crown in Japan would be like $3,000 a year to register..."

The Toyota Crown is a fancy car mostly sold in Japan. It costs more money every year to keep it because of special rules there.

Brand

Mercedes-Benz

"brand new car. Well, now Smart tried this through Mercedes-Benz many years ago."

Mercedes-Benz is a famous car company from Germany that makes luxury cars. They worked with Smart to make small cars for cities, but those cars didn't sell very well everywhere.

Car

Chevrolet Sonic

"... didn't buy these things. Also Chevy had the the Sonic and Spark. Yeah. The spark was so tiny."

The Chevrolet Sonic is a small car that is a bit bigger than the Spark. It's good for people who want a small car but with more room inside.

Car

Chevrolet Spark

"...y these things. Also Chevy had the the Sonic and Spark. Yeah. The spark was so tiny."

The Chevrolet Spark is a tiny car that's easy to park and uses little gas. It's good for driving around the city but doesn't have much room inside.

Part

CVT

""It was a six hundred, six hundred and sixty CC turbo, three cylinder CVT.""

A CVT is a special kind of transmission that helps the car speed up smoothly without feeling like it changes gears.

Term

traction control

""But it had four airbags. It had traction control.""

Traction control helps stop your car's wheels from slipping when you press the gas, so you stay in control.

Term

airbags

""But it had four airbags. It had traction control.""

Airbags are cushions inside the car that pop out quickly if there's a crash to keep you safe.

Car

Chevrolet Trax

"... now, if you can find one, is a base level Chevy Trax with no options. And I think you're twenty four."

The Chevrolet Trax is a small SUV that's good for driving in the city. The cheapest versions don't have many extra things inside.

Car

Toyota Corolla

"So I rented my entire trip. I had a Toyota Corolla Touring, which is the wagon version of the Coroll..."

The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people buy because it doesn't break down often and uses little gas. The Touring is a version with more room for stuff.

Car

Honda S660

"...mfortable? Every single one except for the Honda S660. I adore the Honda S660 tremendously."

The Honda S660 is a very small and light sports car made mostly for Japan. It's fun to drive even though it's tiny.

Car

Acura NSX

"...t's basically I said in my video, it's a shrunken NSX, right? It's a rear mid-engine three cylinder tu..."

The Acura NSX is a fast car with its engine in the middle, making it very balanced. It can be used every day but also goes really fast.

Car

Honda NSX

"It's basically I said in my video, it's a shrunken NSX, right? It's a rear mid-engine three cylinder turbo, but it's really cool."

The Honda NSX is a fast sports car with the engine placed behind the seats, making it very sporty and fun to drive. It is one of Honda's most famous cars.

Term

three cylinder turbo

"It's a rear mid-engine three cylinder turbo, but it's really cool."

This means the car's engine has three small cylinders and a turbocharger, which helps the engine make more power by pushing extra air in.

Car

Suzuki Cappuccino

"... it. Every other K car that I've driven with the Suzuki Cappuccino is in the same ballpark as that in the old AutoZ..."

The Suzuki Cappuccino is a tiny sports car from Japan that is light and fun to drive. It's similar to other small sporty cars made in Japan.

Car

Mazda 3

"...back seat of that car way better than I do my own Mazda 3 here in the states. So one of the things I'm hea..."

The Mazda RX-3 is an old sporty car with a special engine that is different from most cars. People who like unique cars really like it.

Car

Suzuki Jimny

""The S660 was really quick. The Jimny was decent enough.""

The Suzuki Jimny is a small SUV that can drive off-road and is tough even though it’s not very big.

Car

Ford Granada

"...that car and called other things. Yeah, like the Granada. Was that ever on the Fox platform?"

The Ford Granada is an older car that was made to be comfortable and nice inside. It was not built on the same parts as some other Ford cars.

Car

Ford Thunderbird

"The Marquis was Fox body. Yeah, and the awful Thunderbird. All right, you both have a point."

The Ford Thunderbird is a fancy car made for comfortable driving. Some versions were not liked as much because of how they looked or worked.

Car

Chevrolet Malibu

"Number two, this goes to you, Brendan. The Malibu. Was there a Chevrolet Malibu in the 90s?"

The Chevrolet Malibu is a medium-sized car that many people used to drive in the 1990s. It was known for being comfortable and not too expensive.

Car

Chevrolet Chevelle

"...icked up again. Yeah, it was a trim level on the Chevelle for a while. And was it on the Chevy 22?"

The Chevrolet Chevelle is an old car from the 60s and 70s that was popular for being fast and cool. Some versions had special names to show they were better.

Part

three liter V six

"a Chrysler TC by Maserati with a Mitsubishi engine. The three liter V six was in there. So that was really international."

A three liter V6 engine is a type of car engine with six cylinders shaped like a V. It helps the car have good power and run smoothly.

Car

Toyota RAV4

"...Overlooked by Americans. All right, Brendan, the RAV4. Was there a RAV4 in the 90s?"

The Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV that can carry people and stuff easily. It has been around since the 1990s and is very reliable.

Car

Nissan Altima

""Then finally, this one goes back to you, Zach. The Nissan Altima. Was there a Nissan Altima in the 90s?""

The Nissan Altima is a type of car that many people drive. It is a mid-sized car that is comfortable and not too expensive.

Car

Nissan Maxima

""Oh, gosh. The Maxima was like the 90s Nissan. Yeah. And a half.""

The Nissan Maxima is a bigger and more powerful car than some others. It was popular in the 1990s and had features that made it feel a bit fancier.

Term

red herring

""I think that's a red herring. Turns out that the Wild Alaska Salmon Red Herring, thank you.""

A 'red herring' is like a trick or distraction that makes you look the wrong way. It's something that seems important but actually isn't.

Term

cash rebates

"They were actually doing those discounts off the purchase price. So the cash rebates, but I don't know what's going on there."

Cash rebates mean the car company gives you money back when you buy a car, making it cheaper.

Car

Volvo EX90

"We love that thing because, you know, what it was, it was it was a Volvo X in EX 90, right? Shrunk down to a more manageable size for those who don't need all that room."

The Volvo EX90 is a new electric car that is safe and not too big. It's good for people who want an electric car that's easy to drive and park.

Car

Dodge Avenger

"... shopping mall, by the way. They also had a Jeep Avenger there. Oh, that's a weird car."

The Dodge Avenger is a medium-sized car that was made to be cheap and simple. Some people think it looks a bit unusual.

34 cars featured

Request an Explanation

Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.

Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.

Want to learn more?

Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.

Explore Terms

Help improve this episode

See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.

Report incorrect info
Suggest better explanations
Flag missing cars