About this episode
The hosts discuss their recent drives, focusing on the Volvo XC40 B5 AWD and the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante. The Volvo impressed with its winter handling, comfort, and power, though it felt dated with a small screen and wired connectivity. It's ideal for couples or small families but cramped for more passengers. The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, a high-performance convertible with 824 horsepower, offers a thrilling drive with advanced tech but comes with a hefty price tag and some quirky infotainment challenges. The episode blends practical daily driver insights with exotic car excitement.
We're a little late with this week's show because we were waiting for the embargo to lift on some stuff. Robbie drove the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, Nicole had the Volvo XC40 and Sam had the 2025 Mazda CX-5.
Nicole had the opportunity to drive the all-new 2026 CX-5 and talk with project manager for in-vehicle technologies, Matthew Valbuena. Sam drove the new Toyota bZ Woodland and C-HR. Uber is building out a suite of tools to support the deployment of robotaxis on its platform. First reviews of the 2026 Jeep Cherokee are out. Scout is denying reports that the Scout launch is delayed to 2028 and Sam discusses some of the unobtanium cars he saw while on vacation in Mexico including lots of Chinese vehicles.
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Links
2026 Mazda CX-5 Makes Infotainment as Easy as Your Smartphone
2026 Mazda CX-5 First Drive: Bigger, Better, And More Tech-Savvy
2026 Toyota bZ Woodland First Drive | GreenCars
2026 Toyota C-HR First Drive | GreenCars
2026 Jeep Cherokee DRIVEN: Is This New Model WORTHY of Its Jeep Badge?
Scout Launch Reportedly Delayed... Or Is It? - Kelley Blue Book
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Volvo XC40
"...odcast time, dang it. Good Lord. I had the Volvo XC40 B5 all wheel drive, um, which we have like horrib..."
Volvo XC60
"But, you know, if you got a family, got kids that need to sprawl, you know, maybe you want to step up to the XC60. Yeah, it's just a little, it's not a car for, it's not really a great family car."
The Volvo XC60 is a bigger SUV than the XC40. It has more room in the back seat, so it's better if you have a family or need to carry more people.
The Volvo XC60 is a mid-size luxury SUV that offers more space and comfort than the XC40, making it a better choice for families with children or those needing more rear seat room.
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
"It's the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante. So it's the, it's the Vanquish, but with that, but it's a convertible. So it's like, ooh, ah."
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is a fancy sports car that you can drive with the roof down. It's a stylish and fast car made by Aston Martin.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is the convertible version of the Vanquish grand tourer, known for its luxury, performance, and elegant design. 'Volante' is Aston Martin's designation for convertible models.
horsepower
"It has 824 horsepower."
Horsepower tells you how strong the car's engine is and how fast it can go.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement that indicates the power output of an engine. Higher horsepower generally means the car can accelerate faster and achieve higher speeds.
5.2 liter twin turbo V12 engine
"That's from a 5.2 liter twin turbo V12 engine."
This is a very big and powerful engine with twelve cylinders and two turbochargers that help the car go really fast.
This engine is a 5.2 liter V12 with twin turbochargers, meaning it has twelve cylinders arranged in a V shape and uses two turbochargers to increase power output. This setup delivers very high horsepower and strong performance.
adaptive cruise control
"it has, you know, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance."
Adaptive cruise control helps the car keep a safe distance from the car in front by slowing down or speeding up on its own.
Adaptive cruise control is a driver assistance feature that automatically adjusts the car's speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead, reducing the need for manual speed adjustments.
lane keeping assistance
"it has, you know, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance."
Lane keeping assistance helps the car stay in its lane on the road so you don't accidentally drift out.
Lane keeping assistance is a safety feature that helps the driver stay within their lane by gently steering or alerting if the car begins to drift unintentionally.
infotainment system
"if you're Aston Martin, it's really expensive to do your own infotainment system."
An infotainment system is the screen and controls in a car that let you listen to music, use maps, and connect your phone.
An infotainment system is an integrated system in a vehicle that provides entertainment, information, and connectivity features, often including navigation, audio, and smartphone integration.
Formula 1 (F1)
"Just like an F1 car. Just like an F1 car."
Formula 1 is a type of very fast and high-tech car racing where special cars race on tracks around the world. These cars are built to be very fast and use the latest technology.
Formula 1, or F1, is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. F1 cars are known for their advanced aerodynamics, extreme speed, and cutting-edge technology.
lane keep assist
""It's not lane key. It doesn't center you, but it's lane keep assist.""
Lane keep assist helps your car stay in its lane by gently steering it back if you start to drift. It doesn't keep the car exactly in the middle but helps avoid accidents.
Lane keep assist is a safety feature that helps prevent unintentional lane departures by gently steering the car back into its lane if it detects drifting. Unlike lane centering, it does not actively keep the car centered in the lane.
Dodge Challenger
"...uying this car because, A, people in chargers and challengers will wave at you and honk at you and yell at you..."
Mazda MX-5 / Miata
"...What can I tell you about this? Oh, someone in a Miata almost got in the head on collision with me becau..."
Alfa Romeo Giulia
"...ike, I think some of the issues probably with the Giulia a little bit was that it always felt like it was..."
Toyota Corolla Cross
"...ars in a while and like last week's was like the Corolla Cross. And this week is the Vanquish."
six-speed automatic transmission
"Six-speed automatic transmission. And the CX-5 was kind of the first of the Mazdas to really upgrade the interior"
This is a part of the car that changes gears for you automatically, and it has six different gear levels to help the car run smoothly and use fuel better.
A six-speed automatic transmission is a gearbox that automatically changes gears through six forward speeds, providing a balance of performance and fuel efficiency.
Honda Crv
"Cars like the RAV4 and the CR-V and the Escape,"
The Honda CR-V is a small SUV that many families like because it has a lot of space inside and is easy to drive.
The Honda CR-V is a compact crossover SUV known for its spacious interior, fuel efficiency, and strong reputation for reliability, competing directly with the Mazda CX-5.
Toyota RAV4
"Cars like the RAV4 and the CR-V and the Escape,"
The Toyota RAV4 is a popular small SUV that many people buy because it is dependable and useful for everyday driving.
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV known for its reliability, practicality, and strong resale value, often competing in the same segment as the Mazda CX-5.
Ford Escape
"Cars like the RAV4 and the CR-V and the Escape,"
The Ford Escape is a small SUV that comes with different engine options and tech features, making it a popular choice for many drivers.
The Ford Escape is a compact crossover SUV offering a range of engines and technology features, competing with other compact SUVs like the Mazda CX-5.
destination charge
"You want to take guesses at the destination charge? Ooh, 11. 12 and A size."
Destination charge is a fee you pay to get the car from the factory to the dealer. It's added on top of the car's price.
The destination charge is a fee added to the price of a new car to cover the cost of transporting the vehicle from the factory to the dealership. It is usually a fixed amount and is separate from the MSRP.
driver assist features
"It had all the driver assist features. It had adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, you know, all that stuff."
Driver assist features are tools in the car that help you drive more safely and easily.
Driver assist features are technologies designed to help the driver operate the vehicle more safely and comfortably, including systems like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assist.
blind spot monitoring
"It had adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, you know, all that stuff."
Blind spot monitoring helps you know if there is a car next to you that you might not see when changing lanes.
Blind spot monitoring is a safety feature that uses sensors to detect vehicles in the driver's blind spots and alerts the driver to their presence.
Kia Sportage
"...it tighter than a CR-V or a RAV4 or a Tucson or a Sportage. But, you know, it's still, it's still very usab..."
40, 20, 40 split fold seats
"And has 40, 20, 40 split fold seats so that you can, you know, have people sitting on the left and the right and still put like skis or something through in the middle, which is pretty cool."
The back seats are split into three parts, so you can fold down the middle or sides separately to carry people and stuff like skis at the same time.
A seat configuration where the rear seats are divided into three sections with a 40% section on each side and a 20% section in the middle, allowing flexible passenger and cargo arrangements.
turbo engine
"You don't have the turbo engine though anymore. That is, that is gone."
A turbo engine uses a special device that pushes more air into the engine so it can make more power than a regular engine.
An engine equipped with a turbocharger, which forces extra air into the combustion chamber to increase power output without increasing engine size.
hybrid
"but I'm excited for them to do the hybrid and see how that comes out and see if that really does give you that a little extra oomph."
A hybrid car uses both a gas engine and an electric motor to help it go. This can make the car use less gas and sometimes be quicker.
A hybrid vehicle combines a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor to improve fuel efficiency and sometimes performance. The electric motor can provide extra power or assist during acceleration.
SkyActiv G engine
"You know, the SkyActiv G engine is still a really wonderful engine. It's a good little engine."
The SkyActiv G engine is a type of engine Mazda makes that helps the car use less gas while still running well.
The SkyActiv G engine is Mazda's line of gasoline engines designed for improved fuel efficiency and performance through advanced engineering techniques.
handling
"It still has really good handling so you don't feel like you've sacrificed a lot. You might not have the power of a more expensive vehicle with the bigger engine and blah, blah, blah, but you still have great handling."
Handling means how easy and fun it is to steer and control the car, especially when turning or driving fast.
Handling refers to how well a car responds to driver inputs, especially in corners, including stability, steering feel, and overall driving dynamics.
Mazda Cx50
"they've changed the nomenclature slightly. So you've got the CX-90, the CX-70 for the larger ones, the CX-30, replace the CX-3, you know, you've got the CX-50, and then the CX-5 is the only one without a zero at the end for the crossovers. And so, well, you know, CX-5 has been the best selling model for a long time."
Mazda Cx30
"they've changed the nomenclature slightly. So you've got the CX-90, the CX-70 for the larger ones, the CX-30, replace the CX-3, you know, you've got the CX-50, and then the CX-5 is the only one without a zero at the end for the crossovers. And so, well, you know, CX-5 has been the best selling model for a long time."
Mazda Cx70
"they've changed the nomenclature slightly. So you've got the CX-90, the CX-70 for the larger ones, the CX-30, replace the CX-3, you know, you've got the CX-50, and then the CX-5 is the only one without a zero at the end for the crossovers. And so, well, you know, CX-5 has been the best selling model for a long time."
Mazda Cx90
"they've changed the nomenclature slightly. So you've got the CX-90, the CX-70 for the larger ones, the CX-30, replace the CX-3, you know, you've got the CX-50, and then the CX-5 is the only one without a zero at the end for the crossovers. And so, well, you know, CX-5 has been the best selling model for a long time."
Mazda Cx60
"There's a lot of brand equity in that nameplate. And so they decided, you know, rather than rename it to CX-60 or CX-55 or something, they would just keep the CX-5 name. Well, and that's the thing too, you know, and different automakers over the years have done that where they've changed the nameplate."
crossover
"Yeah, you know, now they've got two crossovers that are similarly sized with the CX-5 and the CX-50."
A crossover is a kind of car that looks like a small SUV but drives more like a regular car. It's good for people who want space and comfort but also some extra height and style.
A crossover is a type of vehicle that combines features of a car and an SUV, typically built on a car platform but with SUV-like styling and higher ground clearance. Crossovers are popular for their versatility and comfort.
Google Play Store
"And because it's Google built-in, we also have access to the Google Play Store, which allows you to download apps. So in the car that you were driving, we had downloaded Spotify, we had downloaded Waze, the Google Chrome browser was downloaded, and the car already had YouTube installed."
The Google Play Store is like an app store on your phone, but in the car, so you can add apps to use while driving.
The Google Play Store is an app marketplace where users can download various applications. In cars with Google built-in, it allows drivers to install apps like Spotify, Waze, and YouTube directly on the infotainment system.
Android Auto
"They can still use CarPlay, they can still use Android Auto, but if they forget their phone and leave it at home, they're not kind of left out in the dark."
Android Auto lets you use your Android phone's apps and maps on your car's screen, making it easier and safer to use your phone while driving.
Android Auto is a system that allows Android phone users to connect their phone to the car's infotainment system to access apps, navigation, and messages safely while driving.
CarPlay
"They can still use CarPlay, they can still use Android Auto, but if they forget their phone and leave it at home, they're not kind of left out in the dark."
CarPlay lets you use your iPhone's apps and maps on your car's screen, making it easier and safer to use your phone while driving.
Apple CarPlay is a system that allows iPhone users to connect their phone to the car's infotainment system to access apps, navigation, and messages safely while driving.
Toyota Highlander
"...e, spending a few days with Toyota to see the new Highlander that we talked about last week. And to drive the..."
Toyota Chr
"...r to drive. So we've got the BZ Woodland and the CHR name is back after a brief hiatus of a couple of ..."
Subaru Outback
"... is basically, it is arguably what the new Subaru Outback should have been. And this is a vehicle co-devel..."
Subaru Trailseeker
"...with Subaru. Subaru is calling their version the Trailseeker. And they launched that and they launched it las..."
Subaru BRZ
"You know what? I do drive the BRZ in the summer. I take my flip-flops off and I ju..."
Toyota bZ4X
"...urve is vastly better than it was on the original BZ4X. It took well over an hour to charge."
Hyundai Genesis
"...n't charge as fast as a Tesla or as a Hyundai Kia Genesis EV. But it's not that far off now."
Hyundai Ioniq 5
"...ad to charge the, because we took the BRZ and the IONIQ 5 out of the driveway to park the Aston Martin."
Jeep Cherokee
"... program in California last week for the New Jeep Cherokee. Unfortunately, well, fortunately, I couldn't go..."
Dodge Charger
"...ment screen that they have on the swagger and the charger, where the whole panel kind of moves when you pre..."
Volkswagen Id Buzz
"...e gun-shy based on the nostalgia market after the ID buzz, which people were gaga for. Then it came to mar..."
Byd Sharks
"....D.s. So lots of, you know, quite a few B.U.I.D. sharks, both in the parade, but also in the subsequent d..."
Chevrolet Silverado
"...a handful full size pickups like F-150s, Rams and Silverados. Oh, it's funny. The Silverado in Mexico is call..."
Ford F150S
"Most of the, you know, see a bunch of suburban that are being used as airport shuttle vehicles, you know, for the resorts to get people back and forth between Cancun Airport and Playa del Carmen and some of the other resorts. But not many regular people driving full size SUVs and only saw a handful full size pickups like F-150s, Rams and Silverados. Oh, it's funny. The Silverado in Mexico is called the Cheyenne."
Hyundai Accent
"...based on the then current versions of the Hyundai Accent. So they were rebadged Hyundai Accents."
Mitsubishi Mirage
"...asically a Dodge Badged version of the Mitsubishi Mirage four-door sedan. Wow."
Toyota Hiluxes
"...all, compact to at most midsize models. A lot of Toyota Hiluxes. I only saw one or two Tacomas, but lots of Hilu..."
Toyota Tacoma
"A lot of Toyota Hiluxes. I only saw one or two Tacomas, but lots of Hiluxes. And some of the Nissan, no..."
Nissan Frontier
"...lots of Hiluxes. And some of the Nissan, not the Frontier, but the global compact truck that they sell, whi..."
Ram 1500 Ram
"...icles like the old BMW i3 Rex or the upcoming Ram 1500 Ram Charger. Actually, it's called the Ram Rev now."
Jeep Wagoneer
"...ellantis is also launching an eRev version of the Wagoneer this year. So you can have a full-size three-row..."
Ford F-150 Lightning
"...when they announced they were canceling the F-150 Lightning, they're bringing a second-generation Lightning i..."
Jeep Wrangler
"Yeah. Are you guys able to park the Wrangler in the garage yet? We can now."
Chevrolet Onix
"So I'm just like, well, it's fine. I drive my Onix 5 all the way to LA. No big deal."
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