Honda's CR-V has pulled off a massive upset, dethroning the Ford F-150 to claim the top spot in US sales for the first half of 2026. Hosts Jake Nier, Michael Martinez, and Larry Veliquette break down how supply chain disruptions and model changeovers paved the way for this historic shift. They also debate Ford and GM's competing claims over who is the "most American" automaker, and tackle the mystery of skyrocketing new vehicle prices, which have hit a record average of $52,000 without slowing down consumer demand.
Michael Martinez and Larry P. Vellequette join Jake Neher for a special holiday “Weekend Drive.” Honda’s CR-V just knocked the F-150 off the top of the sales charts for the first half of 2026, and new-vehicle prices just hit a record high. Then Mike and Larry go head to head with their picks for the biggest auto industry story of the first half of 2026.
"Today on the show, Honda's CR-V just did something I'm thinking nobody saw coming, knocking the Ford F-150 off its top spot of the US sales chart for the first half of the year."
The Honda CR-V is a very popular, family-friendly compact SUV. It is famous for being reliable, spacious, and great on gas, especially if you get the hybrid version. It recently made headlines by selling more units in early 2026 than America's long-time favorite pickup truck, the Ford F-150.
The Honda CR-V is a highly popular compact crossover SUV known for its reliability, practical cabin space, and efficient powertrains. It features a standard turbocharged inline-four engine or an optional highly efficient hybrid system. In the first half of 2026, it achieved a historic sales milestone by briefly overtaking the Ford F-150 as the best-selling vehicle in the United States.
"...knocking the Ford F-150 off its top spot of the US sales chart for the first half of the year."
The Ford F-150 is America's most famous and best-selling pickup truck. It is used by millions of people for both hard work and daily driving, offering massive towing power and a comfortable cabin. It has held the sales crown for nearly 50 years, making any drop in its sales ranking a massive industry story.
The Ford F-150 is a light-duty pickup truck that has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for decades. It is celebrated for its diverse powertrain options, including EcoBoost V6s, a traditional V8, a hybrid, and the all-electric Lightning variant. Its body construction famously transitioned to high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy in 2015 to reduce weight.
"The RAV4 is a big reason that the C.R.V. was able to take that top spot. In fact, it's nice to have you and Mike here because this doesn't reflect on you at all. But you guys are covering the losers in this equation."
The Toyota RAV4 is a legendary compact SUV that basically started the modern crossover trend. It is incredibly popular because it is reliable, safe, and comes in highly efficient hybrid versions. A temporary pause in production to switch to a newer version of the car caused a temporary shortage in 2026.
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV that pioneered the modern car-based SUV segment in the mid-1990s. It is powered by a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with highly sought-after Hybrid and Prime (plug-in hybrid) variants. A major model changeover in 2026 temporarily constrained inventory, causing a significant sales dip that reshuffled the sales charts.
"But but that model changeover caused the the RAV4 sales to tumble 36 percent in the first half of the year."
This is when a car factory stops making an old version of a car so they can update the machinery to start building the brand-new, redesigned version. Because the factory is temporarily paused or running slowly during this switch, dealerships often run out of cars to sell for a few months.
A model changeover is the period during which an automotive assembly plant halts or slows production of an outgoing vehicle generation to retool and configure the assembly line for an incoming, redesigned model. This transition often leads to temporary inventory shortages and a corresponding dip in retail sales.
"...irst line of that release, F-series retains truck crown. America's number one truck is on pace for 50 str..."
The Toyota Crown is a premium four-door car made by Toyota that sits slightly higher off the ground than a normal sedan. It runs on a gas-electric hybrid engine to save fuel while offering a quiet and comfortable ride.
The Toyota Crown is a unique, high-riding midsize sedan that replaced the Avalon in Toyota's North American lineup. It features a standard hybrid powertrain, standard all-wheel drive, and an elevated ride height designed to bridge the gap between a traditional sedan and a crossover. It is a historically significant nameplate for Toyota, representing premium comfort and technology.
"I think that Ford should rename the Maverick, the F Maverick, and then the Ranger, the F Ranger. And and then they can add that to the F series totals as well."
The Ford Maverick is a smaller, highly affordable pickup truck that drives more like a comfortable SUV than a giant work truck. It is famous for getting amazing gas mileage because it comes standard as a hybrid, and it has a clever truck bed designed for DIY projects.
The Ford Maverick is a compact, unibody pickup truck built on the same platform as the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport. It features a standard hybrid powertrain or an optional turbocharged EcoBoost engine, offering exceptional fuel economy and utility at an affordable price point. It has been a massive sales success, appealing to urban buyers and DIY enthusiasts.
"I think that Ford should rename the Maverick, the F Maverick, and then the Ranger, the F Ranger. And and then they can add that to the F series totals as well."
The Ford Ranger is a midsize truck that sits right in the middle of Ford's truck lineup—larger than the Maverick but smaller than the giant F-150. It is built for people who need a tough truck for towing and off-roading but want something easier to park in a normal garage.
The Ford Ranger is a midsize body-on-frame pickup truck designed to offer robust towing and off-road capabilities in a smaller package than the full-size F-150. It is typically powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with newer generations offering a high-performance Raptor variant featuring a twin-turbo V6.
"in sentences, but it's not that. As I will tell you, there was a rumor that it was going to be the F-100. Wow."
The Ford F-100 is an older, classic pickup truck that Ford made decades ago before they started making the modern F-150. It is now highly prized by vintage car collectors and enthusiasts.
The Ford F-100 was a light-duty pickup truck that served as the predecessor to the modern F-150, sold from 1953 until 1983. It is a highly collectible classic vehicle that helped establish Ford's dominance in the American truck market. Rumors occasionally surface about Ford reviving the historic nameplate for a smaller or electric pickup truck.
"I'll tell you, it was very exciting. It was a good surprise when Ford broke out F-150 Lightning sales for us. We were expecting them not to and they actually did."
The F-150 Lightning is the fully electric version of Ford's famous pickup truck. It looks almost exactly like a regular gas truck but runs entirely on battery power, has a massive front storage trunk under the hood, and can even act as a backup generator to power your house during a blackout.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is an all-electric full-size pickup truck that retains the body style and utility of the standard gas-powered F-150. It features dual electric motors providing standard all-wheel drive, an independent rear suspension for improved ride quality, and a unique front trunk ('frunk') where the engine would normally sit.
"... news and Catalyst IQ vehicle price and inventory tracker. Compact sedan saw the biggest jump."
The Chevrolet Tracker is a small, older SUV that was built to be affordable and capable of driving on rough dirt roads. It was discontinued in North America in the early 2000s, though the name is still used on newer small SUVs sold in other countries.
The Chevrolet Tracker was a mini SUV developed in a joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki, sold in North America across two generations until 2004. It was known for its genuine off-road capability due to its body-on-frame construction and four-wheel-drive system. The nameplate continues to be used by GM in international markets for modern compact crossovers.
"An analyst, Rick Wainchill at Catalyst IQ says buyers are not flinching at this point and turn rates are actually up."
This is a dealership term for how fast cars are sold after they arrive from the factory. If turn rates are high, it means cars are selling almost as soon as they hit the lot, showing that buyers are eager and not waiting around.
Turn rate (or days' supply turn) is an automotive retail metric that measures how quickly vehicles are sold once they arrive on a dealership lot. A high turn rate indicates strong consumer demand, meaning cars are being sold almost immediately after delivery rather than sitting in inventory.
"...oaded F-150, people are buying them, fully loaded expedition, people still want them, not everybody, but enoug..."
The Ford Expedition is a very large sport utility vehicle (SUV) made by Ford. It has three rows of seats to fit big families and is built like a truck, meaning it can pull heavy trailers and boats easily.
The Ford Expedition is a full-size, body-on-frame SUV designed to carry up to eight passengers while offering significant towing capacity. It shares its mechanical platform with the Ford F-150 pickup truck, making it a popular choice for families needing maximum space and capability. It represents the premium, high-margin end of Ford's utility vehicle lineup.
"... if people weren't buying fully loaded F-150s and Silverados, the companies wouldn't still be making them."
The Chevrolet Silverado is a large, powerful pickup truck made by Chevrolet. It is designed for carrying heavy loads, towing trailers, and everyday driving, with some expensive versions offering luxury features similar to high-end cars.
The Chevrolet Silverado is a highly popular line of full-size pickup trucks manufactured by General Motors. Known for its robust towing capacity, diverse engine options, and high-end trim levels, it is a cornerstone of the American utility vehicle market. It is frequently discussed in the industry due to its massive sales volume and high profitability for GM.
"Well, I also have, see, this is why this is my Mel Kuiper moment for you guys. I also think that Scout is interesting too because of the range extenders, which is another technology there, by the way."
A range extender is a small gas engine inside an electric car that acts purely as an onboard generator. It doesn't actually turn the wheels; instead, when your battery gets low, the gas engine turns on to generate electricity and keep the battery charged so you can keep driving without stopping to plug in.
A range extender is an auxiliary power unit—typically a small internal combustion engine—used in an electric vehicle to spin a generator that charges the battery when it runs low. Unlike a traditional hybrid, the engine does not directly drive the wheels; its sole purpose is to produce electricity to extend the vehicle's driving range.
"So I'm going to say my point is that first year doesn't matter. Look at the Cybertruck, completely different thing, but the same idea in terms of viral marketing or something that's upending the industry with a different style."
The Cybertruck is Tesla's futuristic, stainless-steel electric pickup truck that looks like a silver triangle on wheels. It is famous for its sci-fi design, bullet-resistant metal skin, and polarizing looks that make people either love it or hate it.
The Tesla Cybertruck is an all-electric, light-duty pickup truck featuring a highly unconventional, angular design made of cold-rolled stainless steel. It features steer-by-wire technology, a 48-volt electrical architecture, and adaptive air suspension. Its polarizing design and high-profile launch made it a massive cultural and viral marketing phenomenon.
"I am going to go a little bit for a surprise here. Mine is Carvana. Mine is Carvana because of what this model that they have developed could do to franchise dealerships nationwide."
Carvana is an online store where you can buy used cars entirely on your phone or computer without dealing with a salesperson. They are famous for their giant, glass 'car vending machine' towers where you can go to pick up your purchased car using a giant coin.
Carvana is an online-only used car retailer famous for its multi-story glass 'car vending machines' and digital-first buying process. The company allows customers to browse, finance, purchase, and arrange delivery or pickup of used vehicles entirely through their website or mobile app, bypassing traditional dealership sales staff.
"...o play ball there. Yeah, I think there's a lot of intrigue and it's going to be fun to watch in the second h..."
The Oldsmobile Intrigue was a midsize four-door family car sold in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was designed to look sporty and modern, but the Oldsmobile brand was shut down by its parent company, General Motors, shortly after.
The Oldsmobile Intrigue was a midsize sedan produced from 1998 to 2002, designed to compete with premium European import sedans. It featured a sophisticated design and was notable for offering the 'Shortstar' V6 engine, a derivative of Cadillac's Northstar V8. It was part of Oldsmobile's final, unsuccessful push to modernize its brand image before General Motors phased out the division.
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