About this episode
The hosts discuss a long winter drive in a 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE Dynamic plug-in hybrid, focusing on its performance in harsh New England winter conditions. The vehicle impressed with its power, comfort, and handling on snowy, icy roads, highlighting why SUVs with AWD and ground clearance are essential in such climates. However, the episode also critiques the heavy reliance on touchscreen controls for climate and other functions, which proved distracting and unsafe in whiteout conditions. The conversation blends practical driving experiences with broader reflections on vehicle design and usability in extreme weather.
This week, Nicole tells us about driving home in a remote area of New England in the Range Rover Sport SE Dynamic while Robbie shares some thoughts on the new Mercedes-Benz GLS and GLE. Sam shares thoughts on the gas guzzling Toyota Sequoia and has mixed feelings on the Polestar 4.
While visiting his daughter in Denver, Sam saw one of the new Waymo Ojai robotaxis in her neighborhood. Lexus announces pricing of the new 2026 ES which will start cheaper for the electric version than the hybrid. Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh provides updates on the brand's progress toward production. Kia is dropping the EV6 GT from its US lineup and Hyundai is dropping standard versions of the Ioniq 6. Chris Fuell is out at Chrysler and replaced by Matt McAleer. Kia added a solar canopy to its West Point Georgia factory to protect cars from hail and make some power.
BYD has launched a new version of its Blade battery that charges at up to 1,500-kW. Our pals at TFL have acquired a very dubious vehicle and Nicole shares thoughts on the base R/T version of the Hurricane-powered Dodge Charger. Sam recommends a croissant place in Denver.
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Links
Waymo robotaxis are now operating in 10 US cities | TechCrunch
2026 Lexus ES Pricing Revealed, and the EV Costs Less Than the Hybrid
2027 Scout Traveler and Terra Harvester EREV Details, Engine, and Launch Updates
Tariffs Just Killed the Kia EV6 GT in America - Autoblog
Kia Built a Massive Solar Canopy to Shield 15,000 Vehicles From Hail
Garage Find - This Is By Far The Most Underrated 4x4 AND Now It’s Ours!
Nicole Drives the 2026 Dodge Charger R/T in Vermont
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Land Rover Range Rover
"...ead. ⁓ I have been driving a, I've been driving a Range Rover. ⁓ I, fact, it was super fun to drive and I kind ..."
Honda Accord
"... your garage. I don't know. Like you have a Honda Accord as your backup, yeah. But if you don't have a Hon..."
Dodge Charger
"... Accord and a Range Rover. Nicole Wakelin (02:49) Charger winter drive up in Stowe Vermont, which is genera..."
PHEV
"vehicle it has with the hybrid it's a three liter six cylinder pheav in there 454 horsepower five 487 pound feet of torque it moves you mash the gas and it moves so i thoroughly enjoy driving the handling the ride it's very comfortable plenty of room in the second row was great for handling all the mess that is the new england roads during the winter"
PHEV means the car can run on electricity and gas. You can charge it by plugging it in, so it can drive some distance without using gas.
PHEV stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, which uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor with a rechargeable battery. It can run on electric power alone for short distances and switch to gasoline for longer trips.
torque
"vehicle it has with the hybrid it's a three liter six cylinder pheav in there 454 horsepower five 487 pound feet of torque it moves you mash the gas and it moves so i thoroughly enjoy driving the handling the ride it's very comfortable plenty of room in the second row was great for handling all the mess that is the new england roads during the winter"
Torque is the force that helps a car start moving and pull heavy things. More torque means the car feels stronger when you press the gas.
Torque is a measure of rotational force produced by the engine, which affects a vehicle's ability to accelerate and tow. Higher torque means better pulling power, especially at low speeds.
white knuckle driving
""It was definitely white knuckle driving. In fact, I did not see a plow the entire time I was driving back. Now mind you, my two hour and 20 minute drive was almost three hours and 20 minutes. So when I say it got bad, it got bad.""
White knuckle driving means holding the steering wheel very tightly because the driving is scary or hard, like in bad weather.
White knuckle driving refers to driving under stressful or dangerous conditions where the driver tightly grips the steering wheel due to fear or concentration.
ground clearance
""That's why you buy this because you want something with the ground clearance with you to get over the snow. That's not going to get bogged down.""
Ground clearance is how high the bottom of the car is from the road. Cars with more space underneath can drive better over snow or bumps without getting stuck.
Ground clearance is the distance between the lowest point of a vehicle's body and the road surface. Higher ground clearance helps vehicles navigate snow, rough terrain, or obstacles without getting stuck.
freezing rain
""It turned into a freezing rain. It was so heavy that it was literally, I was hitting the wipers every five seconds. Cause as soon as it hit the windshield ice, just it was...""
Freezing rain is rain that turns into ice when it hits the ground, making roads slippery and dangerous to drive on.
Freezing rain is rain that falls when surface temperatures are below freezing, causing the rain to freeze on contact and create ice buildup on roads and surfaces, making driving hazardous.
snow banks
""You're looking at the edge of the bump that is the snow banks from the rest of the winter and the little tiny markers that mark out your mile markers and stuff.""
Snow banks are big piles of snow pushed to the side of the road. They can make it hard to see where the road ends when you're driving.
Snow banks are piles of snow accumulated along the edges of roads, often created by plowing. They can obscure lane markings and road edges, making winter driving more challenging.
touchscreen controls
"just desperately trying to stay on the road. really is that kind of situation because the snow is so heavy you can't see. So it started to fog up and everything is on the touch screen. And when I had to check where things were honest to God to look away, it wasn't taking the hand from the wheel."
Touchscreen controls are buttons you press on a screen inside the car instead of physical buttons. They can be hard to use while driving because you have to look at the screen instead of the road.
Touchscreen controls refer to vehicle functions operated via a digital screen rather than physical buttons or knobs. They can include climate control, audio, navigation, and other settings, but can be distracting if they require the driver to look away from the road.
climate control
"All your climate control, all your volume control, anything that involves drive modes, none of that should be in a touch screen. ... It was three over three hours in the car trying to use those controls to do the climate in that kind of driving. Not fun."
Climate control is how the car keeps you warm or cool inside. You can change the temperature and fan speed using buttons or a screen.
Climate control in a car refers to the system that manages heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) to maintain comfortable cabin temperature and defrost windows. It can be operated via physical buttons or touchscreens.
physical controls
"Your windshield wiper, your lights, all those should be physical controls that you can figure out where they are without taking your eye off the wheel."
Physical controls are real buttons or switches you can feel and press in the car. They help you keep your eyes on the road because you don't have to look to find them.
Physical controls are tactile buttons, knobs, or switches in a car that can be operated without looking, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road. They are preferred for critical functions like climate control, lights, and wipers to reduce distraction.
defrost
"If I hit the wrong one, I'm like, nope, I haven't hit it. I just, whatever, put it on auto mode and then you'd hear it when it went to, you know, the defrost. You can't even see if you're in the right spot without looking at a touchscreen."
Defrost is a setting in the car that clears fog or ice from the windows so you can see better.
Defrost is a car climate function that clears condensation or ice from the windshield and rear window to improve visibility. It can be controlled via physical buttons or touchscreen.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
"In the key, the, in the IONIQ 5, I know that the, where the temperature controls are, the physical buttons, I know that just a little bit to the right of those is warmer, so I can turn on the heated seats, and a little bit right of that is like, you know, the defroster for the front and back."
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is an electric SUV with some real buttons for things like heating seats and temperature. This helps you use them without looking away from the road.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is an electric crossover SUV featuring a modern interior with some physical buttons for climate and seat heating controls, allowing easier operation without looking away from the road.
Subaru BRZ
"I can, in my BRZ, I know the left-hand side is the fan, the right-hand side is the temperature. I don't have to look at that."
The Subaru BRZ is a small sporty car that is fun to drive. It has real buttons for things like temperature and fan speed, so you don't have to look away from the road to use them.
The Subaru BRZ is a compact sports car known for its rear-wheel-drive layout and driver-focused handling. It features physical climate controls that allow the driver to operate functions without looking away from the road.
Mercedes-Benz GLS
"... drive pre-production versions of the GLE and the GLS. They were pre-production, so it's hard to sort o..."
Mercedes-Benz GLE
"...cedes had me drive pre-production versions of the GLE and the GLS. They were pre-production, so it's ha..."
Mercedes-Benz GLC
"So like in November, I drove the G L C the electric G L C in some dunes and at the sort of the border of California and Nevada."
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a fancy SUV that you can drive in the city or on rough roads. It comes in gas and electric versions and is made to be comfortable and easy to use.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a compact luxury SUV that offers both traditional internal combustion engine versions and electric variants. It is known for its blend of comfort, technology, and performance in the luxury SUV segment.
pre-production vehicle
"Mercedes had me drive pre-production versions of the GLE and the GLS. They were pre-production, so it's hard to sort of"
A pre-production vehicle is a test car made before the real one is sold. It might have some problems because it's not finished yet.
A pre-production vehicle is a prototype or early version of a car made before the final production model. These vehicles are used for testing and evaluation but may have quirks or unfinished features.
Mercedes-Benz Sclass
"That said, the GLE was delightful. We drove it. These roads out to the dunes are a little curvy, not too bad. A lot of sort of sweepers, not a lot of super tight things. And a lot of up and down, you know, like at the end of, well, I'm not going to ruin a movie for Anyway, so yeah, so these are, they're supposed to, both of these vehicles supposed to make the premiere in spring of 2026. They ⁓ both have MBOS ⁓ and so, yeah, so the GLE ⁓ very nice to drive. The GLS felt a little wobbly. It's a very large vehicle. It's, you know, it's essentially a giant SUV of the S-Class. It felt. you know, the interior was nice, everything was nice, but it did feel like, like there was too much body roll. Again, pre-production, who knows what's gonna, what's happened in the last six, you know, six months between driving that car and then bringing the vehicle out, out to market. ⁓ That's kind of, unfortunately, that's kind of it. That's the weird thing about driving these vehicles months and months and months ago, ⁓ they're pre-production."
MB.OS
"They're supposed to, both of these vehicles supposed to make the premiere in spring of 2026. They ⁓ both have MBOS ⁓ and so, yeah, so the GLE ⁓ very nice to drive."
MB.OS is the computer system inside Mercedes cars that helps control things like the screen, safety features, and how the car drives. It's like the car's brain.
MB.OS is Mercedes-Benz's new software and vehicle architecture platform designed to integrate vehicle functions and provide a modern user experience. It supports advanced driver assistance, infotainment, and vehicle controls.
body roll
"The GLS felt a little wobbly. It's a very large vehicle. It's, you know, it's essentially a giant SUV of the S-Class. It felt like there was too much body roll."
Body roll is when a car leans to one side when you turn. Too much leaning can make the car feel less stable.
Body roll refers to the tilting or leaning of a vehicle's body towards the outside of a turn, which can affect handling and passenger comfort. Excessive body roll is often a sign of softer suspension tuning.
G-Class Gwagon
"On the way back, one of us, like a couple of us had flights earlier in the day. So they gave us a G-Wagon. I didn't get to drive that."
The Mercedes G-Class is a tough and fancy SUV that looks like a box. It's good for driving off-road but also very comfortable inside.
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, often called the G-Wagon, is a luxury off-road SUV known for its boxy design, strong off-road capability, and high-end interior. It has a long history as a rugged yet luxurious vehicle.
Toyota Sequoia Capstone
"Before we went to Denver, got to spend a few days with the latest Toyota Sequoia capstone. I've driven the Sequoia before. It's fine. It is not, I don't think it's one of Toyota's best efforts."
The Toyota Sequoia Capstone is a big SUV made by Toyota that is fancy and has a hybrid engine. It's built on the same base as the Toyota Tundra truck.
The Toyota Sequoia Capstone is a full-size SUV variant of the Sequoia lineup, featuring luxury-oriented trim and advanced features. It shares a platform with the Toyota Tundra pickup truck and offers a rear-drive hybrid powertrain.
Toyota Tundra
"...t efforts. This is basically ⁓ SUV version of the Tundra. ⁓ And the Sequoia comes only with Toyota's ⁓ rea..."
rear drive hybrid system
"The Sequoia comes only with Toyota's rear drive hybrid system. So the Capstone is their equivalent of a Yukon Denali or Silverado or like an RST from Chevrolet."
A rear drive hybrid system is a way a car uses both gas and electric power to make the back wheels move. This helps save gas and still gives good power.
A rear drive hybrid system uses a combination of an internal combustion engine and electric motors to power the rear wheels, improving fuel efficiency and performance. It is common in some SUVs and trucks.
Chevrolet Silverado
"So the Capstone is their equivalent of a Yukon Denali or Silverado or like an RST from Chevrolet as does most of the market."
The Chevrolet Silverado is a big truck that can carry heavy loads and is popular for work and everyday use.
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck known for its capability, variety of engine options, and widespread popularity in North America. It serves as a benchmark for trucks and large SUVs.
Toyota Highlander
"...ists. Is this the sequoia? cause there's like the Highlander and then like every other, and I completely forge..."
hybrid powertrain
"the hybrid powertrain in there actually sounds surprisingly good. It's it actually sounds more like a V8 than a lot of other engines"
A hybrid powertrain uses both a gas engine and electric motors to help the car use less fuel and sometimes go faster.
A hybrid powertrain combines an internal combustion engine with electric motors to improve fuel efficiency and performance.
Jeep Wagoneer
"... Tahoe or suburban or an expedition Or you know a Wagoneer It's not that Impressive, you know it they strang..."
Ford Expedition
"...are it to a sub, you know Tahoe or suburban or an expedition Or you know a Wagoneer It's not that Impressive, ..."
Toyota RAV4
"...ouple of years with the new version that's in new RAV4. ⁓ So ⁓ it's just fine. but it's a little pricey...."
Toyota 4Runner
"... know, gas. There's the Land Cruiser. There's the 4Runner. It's just a weird, like it sort of slots between..."
Toyota Land Cruiser
"...ighlander if you want, you know, gas. There's the Land Cruiser. There's the 4Runner. It's just a weird, like it ..."
Toyota Grand Highlander
"...the Highlander if you want an EV. You can get the Grand Highlander if you want, you know, gas. There's the Land Crui..."
Toyota Corolla Cross
"...ch smaller than the one before. CHR, actually the Corolla Cross, all the way up through the Sequoia. And I think ..."
Polestar 4
"...er, ⁓ went to this parking garage and picked up a Polestar 4. And this is a car that really leaves me with ver..."
horsepower
"Yeah. So the, the Polestar four I had 544 horsepower, ⁓ very comfortable seats, ⁓ a hundred kilowatt hour battery."
Horsepower tells you how powerful a car's engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can go faster or accelerate quicker.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement that indicates the power output of an engine or motor. It helps quantify how strong or fast a vehicle's engine is.
kilowatt hour battery
"Yeah. So the, the Polestar four I had 544 horsepower, ⁓ very comfortable seats, ⁓ a hundred kilowatt hour battery."
The kilowatt hour number tells you how much energy the car's battery can hold. Bigger numbers mean the car can drive farther before needing to recharge.
A kilowatt hour (kWh) battery measures the energy storage capacity of an electric vehicle's battery. The higher the kWh, the longer the vehicle can typically travel on a single charge.
Nissan Leaf
"...t'll go almost opaque. Actually, think the Nissan Leaf has that as an option now too. Sam Abuelsamid (34..."
GMC Hummer EV
"... each other. ⁓ And I think if there were like two Hummer EVs or two TRXs trying to pass each other it would be..."
Toyota Camry
"...n that traditionally the ES has been based on the Camry. It's basically been a rebodied fancier Camry. ⁓ ..."
Toyota Chr
"...e same powertrain that's in the Toyota BZ and the CHR, know, 221 horsepower, about 300-ish miles of ran..."
Chevrolet Tahoe
"..., because a lot of people from the Bay Area, it's Tahoe, and Tahoe just gets dumped on. And then people g..."
Ford F150
"Yeah, but not towing, which, well, I mean, it's a light towing. mean, it's, mean, people are going to be towing more cycles and quads, whatnot with this. isn't, I don't know, maybe teeny tiny little trailers. this, is a full-size truck. mean, this is, this is similar in size to an F-150. Roberto Baldwin (56:03) I always forget how big it is."
Honda Ridgeline
"...t tow that has such a low tow rating is the Honda Ridgeline. You know, most of the others are about 7,000 pou..."
Rivian R1T
"...ed, I just launched the old Rivian site and their R1T dual standard starts at 73,000, so. So, you know,..."
Hyundai Genesis
"...yundai and Kia. I haven't heard anything new from Genesis yet. But they're dropping a couple of models from..."
Hyundai Ioniq 6
"...ey are discontinuing the standard versions of the IONIQ 6, which is the sedan, but they are going to import..."
Volkswagen Carmen Ghia
"...very decision, even we're like, I'd really love a Carmen Ghia. Sam Abuelsamid (1:08:13) Well, Nicole, when you ..."
Dodge Challenger
"...l, I mean, it was being built along alongside the Challenger and Charger. And so, you know, yeah. Roberto Bald..."
Stellantis
"I feel like being a CEO of any of the brands is a tough gig when Stellantis overall isn't doing so hot. So you're like, let's do this thing. They're like, hold on, buddy. We got $7. You think you can launch a car with $7? Because that's what you get. ... all doing it. I mean, as much as Chrysler's having a lot of, you know, undeniably having some challenges over in the Stellantis house, so are other brands, you know."
Stellantis is a big company that owns many car brands like Chrysler and Dodge.
Stellantis is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. It owns many brands including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram.
Chrysler New Chrysler
"...n (1:12:02) we're gonna do a GoFundMe to launch a new Chrysler. all doing it. I mean, as much as Chrysler's havi..."
minivan brand
"Yeah, because right now it's just the minivan brand."
A minivan brand is a company that mostly makes big cars called minivans that families use to carry people and stuff.
A minivan brand refers to a car manufacturer or division primarily producing minivans, which are family-oriented vehicles with spacious interiors.
hail storm damage to vehicles
"So when, you know, when you have factories in places that have storms... there was a huge hail storm that damaged more than 13,000 vehicles parked outside the assembly plant waiting for transportation."
When big ice balls called hail fall from the sky, they can hit and dent cars that are outside, like at a factory waiting to be sold.
Hail storms can cause significant damage to vehicles parked outdoors, especially at factories or lots before delivery, leading to costly repairs or write-offs.
Toyota A90
"Sam Abuelsamid (1:16:18) Yeah. ⁓ So after that, you know, dealing with that little issue of 13,000 hail damaged vehicles in one parking lot. That's a lot. That's a lot of hail. ⁓ Speaking of which, there was ⁓ big storms that went through Western Michigan the other night and somebody posted video showing this ⁓ Tornado that was whipping around, you know just on the other side of this little lake and I'm my wife sent me this link I'm looking at this I'm thinking This is a 90 second video of somebody watching this this tornado moving very very rapidly and tornadoes tend to change directions on a whim and I'm thinking that I can see a tornado, I'm not seeing it because I'm hiding."
Tesla
"I think Tesla is in the process of installing a bunch of megawatt chargers to support their fleet of semis."
Tesla is a company that makes electric cars and trucks, including big electric trucks called semis.
Tesla is an American electric vehicle manufacturer known for its innovation in EV technology and its electric semi-truck fleet.
flash chargers
"BYD is planning to install 20,000 of these 1500 kilowatt flash chargers in China this year."
Flash chargers are very fast chargers that can fill up an electric car's battery really quickly.
Flash chargers are ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers designed to rapidly recharge EV batteries in minutes.
CATL
"I ended up talking to one of the former like head guys at CATL and he was very upfront."
CATL is a company from China that makes batteries for electric cars.
CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited) is a leading Chinese battery manufacturer specializing in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
charging cold batteries
"the system is also designed to work even when the batteries are very cold, you know, which has traditionally been one of the problems with EVs is, ⁓ you know, charging, charging cold batteries."
When a battery is very cold, it doesn't charge well and can take longer to fill up.
Charging cold batteries is challenging because low temperatures increase internal resistance, slowing charging speed and potentially damaging the battery if not managed properly.
battery heating system
"Usually you have to, you have to get the battery heated up. You know, the, when they're cold, they've got a lot of resistance and they won't take a charge very quickly. And so, you know, these things, you know, these flash chargers, you know, they, The whole system is designed to ⁓ allow the batteries to be heated even when they're like ice cold."
Battery heating systems help warm up cold batteries so they can charge faster and work better.
Battery heating systems warm up EV batteries in cold conditions to reduce resistance and enable faster charging and better performance.
Porsche 911
"...ere, I had a chance to drive their latest Porsche 911. They bought a 1999 or 1996 911 and had a chance ..."
Honda Passport
"...upplied these things to Honda. The original Honda Passport was just a rebadged rodeo. They also provided the..."
rollover
"working on the Frontera, I think we had at least six rollovers with these things. Six. I almost flipped one."
A rollover happens when a car flips onto its side or roof, which can be dangerous for people inside.
A rollover is when a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof, often due to loss of control or instability, which is a safety concern especially for SUVs.
Chevrolet Spin
"...ing your foot off the brake pedal, it'll start to spin. You don't even have to touch the brakes. Just li..."
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