The Car Curious Weekly is a look at what the automotive podcast world is talking about, who's saying it, and what patterns emerge when you listen to all of them at once.
June 28 - July 04, 2026 · 235 episodes across 159 podcasts.
This week brought policy reversals and market shifts across the industry. The Commerce Department denied Polestar's request to continue US sales after 2026, while Volvo, under the same ownership with identical architecture, won authorization to keep selling.
Here are the five biggest storylines and where they showed up across the feed.
Polestar Loses US Sales Authorization After 2026; Volvo Keeps Selling
The Commerce Department denied Polestar's request to continue selling vehicles in the United States, ending new sales after the 2026 model year, while Volvo, which shares the same Geely ownership and the same electronic architecture, received authorization to keep selling.
Car Stuff Podcast noted the inconsistency directly: both brands run common telematics and over-the-air update systems, yet only one was blocked under the connected-vehicle security rule.
Goodbye Polestar, Used EV News, 2027 Kia Telluride
"You would think in the case of Polestar, something similar could happen, should happen. And this is why this is so weird. Polestar is one of the many brands owned by Geely. Geely is a private Chinese company, mostly electric cars, but they do other stuff. They own, for example, Lotus and they own Volvo... And the interesting thing is that technically, technically, architecturally, Polestar vehicles are very close to Volvo vehicles. And what they do share is common electronic architecture. So if we're worried about the telematic systems, the over the air update systems, the general electronic systems of these cars being a backdoor to Chinese access to American data, we should be worried about Volvo, too. Same. Yep. Same stuff. And so this is where this gets weird. It doesn't look like Polestar is pushing back or planning to appeal... Well, you know, what I thought was really interesting is Volvo applied for a like a stay of execution. Essentially, they they got permission to continue to sell in the United States. And you would think Polestar would be able to get the same thing. Again, as you point out, because they are built on the same electrical architecture and they were not granted that request."
Kilowatt reported discounts of up to $25,000 on remaining Polestar 4 inventory, bringing that model's starting price to $35,000 as dealers work through stock. Car Stuff also flagged that 32 US dealers across 29 ownership groups now hold franchises with limited resale value, and may pivot those stores toward Volvo.
Tesla's Rebound, Polestar's Ban, and The Great Battery Heist
"Polestar will no longer be able to sell cars here in the U.S. Doesn't mean they won't be able to sell cars elsewhere, just here in the United States... it's 2026 and that's it, we will not see any 2027 Polestars in the U.S. unless something crazy happens."
Average New-Car Price Nears $52,000 as Used Hybrid and EV Prices Rise 12%
The average marketed price for a new car reached $51,974 at the end of June, according to CarEdge Live, while used hybrid and EV prices rose 12%, or $3,600, from the start of the year.
CarEdge Live also noted that the average new-car payment has reached $774 a month, with one in five borrowers carrying a monthly payment above $1,000.
"The CR-V LX average transaction price in 2016 was $27,761. Do you think it's gone up? Yes. Average transaction price in 2026 for a Honda CR-V LX, $38,778, over $11,000 more expensive."
My Car Guru Podcast traced part of the squeeze to a decade of model-line inflation, with the Honda CR-V LX rising from $27,761 in 2016 to $38,778 in 2026. CarEdge Live framed the automakers' response as deliberate: manufacturers have concluded they can earn a thin profit on lower volume, and are quietly accepting that fewer buyers will be able to afford their products going forward.
Car Prices SPIKE $3,600 | Episode 1100
"The $3,600 number I grabbed, Dad: hybrids and EVs. They're up 12% or $3,600 from the start of this year."
Honda CR-V Outsells the F-150 in H1 2026 With 226,000 Units
The Honda CR-V moved more than 226,000 units through the first half of 2026, topping year-to-date estimates for the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, according to Automotive News Daily Drive.
Ford's position was undercut by weaker F-Series output following an aluminum supplier fire, with Q2 sales sliding 10%.
Everything That's Wrong with the American Auto Industry
"I think if you go out five years, I would be surprised to see any introductions that are not hybrid powertrains."
Toyota's RAV4, the CR-V's closest rival, saw a 36% sales drop tied to a model changeover, clearing space the CR-V filled.
July 2, 2026 | Honda CR-V tops first-half sales; why DRAM shortage hits autos especially hard
"Honda's CR-V has dethroned the Ford F-150 and Toyota RAV4 to become America's best-selling light vehicle through the first half of 2026. The CR-V moved more than 226,000 vehicles, beating year-to-date estimates for the F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, that's according to global data."
Volkswagen Restructuring Plan Targets 100,000 Jobs as Works Council Says It Was Not Consulted
Volkswagen's proposed restructuring would cut roughly 100,000 jobs and achieve €11 billion in cost savings before 2030, double the figure previously discussed, according to Motoring Podcast.
Midsummer murder - 30 June 2026
Autoline Daily reported that the plan hinges on splitting the group into separate car-making and component entities, a structure designed to sidestep the VW Law that currently limits the company's ability to restructure.
"He wants to split the group into a company that makes cars and a separate one that makes components. The VW Law only applies to the group, so if he can split off cars and components into their own separate entities, he can go ahead with the restructuring that VW badly needs to do."
Automotive News Daily Drive reported that the Works Council is pushing back, saying it has not even been consulted on a plan that could eliminate those jobs in Germany.
JD Power's Tyson Jominy: Chasing peak sales is the wrong goal; USMCA preview
"And Volkswagen's Works Council is pushing back on a plan that could cut up to 100,000 jobs in Germany, and it says it hasn't even been consulted."
Scout Motors Traveler and Terra: Body-on-Frame Off-Roaders with 85% of Reservations for the Range-Extender Option
Scout's Traveler SUV and Terra pickup are body-on-frame trucks with mechanical locking differentials, a foot of ground clearance, and three feet of water fording capability, according to Driven Car Reviews.
The lineup's extended-range electric variant uses a gas engine to recharge the battery instead of driving the wheels, delivering up to 150 miles of pure electric range before the generator kicks in for a total of more than 500 miles.
Scout Motors Traveler and Terra Full Tour Inside and Out
"Scout Traveller SUV and Scout Terra Pickup Truck are body-on-frame vehicles. They're true off-roaders. They will offer everything you need if you're an off-road enthusiast, overlander, work in a field, just need to get stuff done or if you're taking the kids around town. Body-on-frame, true mechanical locking differentials, available front sway bar disconnect, 12 inches of ground clearance, really aggressive approach in departure angles, and up to three feet of water fording."
Driven Car Reviews reported the reservation data behind the powertrain story: about 75% of reservations are for the Traveler SUV over the Terra pickup, and almost 85% of those reservations are for the range-extender option over pure-electric.
"To date, about 75% of our reservations have been for the Traveler SUV. We are taking reservations for a place in line when we open up orders. It's $100 that's fully refundable. And out of the reservations that we've received so far, for both the Traveler and the Terra, almost 85% are for the EREV powertrain."
Hidden Gems
Episodes worth checking out that you might have missed:
- 
357: Prius Start-Stall... Or No-Start? (Automotive Diagnostic Podcast), A detailed walkthrough of hybrid diagnostics showing how electric motors mimicking engine starts can fool technicians, with specific trouble codes and a real case study that saves customers from costly misdiagnosis.
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The Danger of Tunnel Vision in Automotive Diagnostics: Anchoring, Confirmation Bias, and Premature Closure [E243] (Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z), A Dodge Durango misdiagnosed as needing a transmission replacement when it was stuck in 4WD-low reveals the psychology behind technician errors, practical lessons on avoiding diagnostic tunnel vision.
- 
Gary Ragle of Ragle Design (Oil and Whiskey with Roadster Shop), An inside look at how a designer escaped OEM 'warehouse filler' projects to shape custom hot rods, offering rare insights into the creative tension between cutting-edge trends and timeless design philosophy.
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040 | Built to Race: Jeffrey Willerth's Datsun 240Z & 260Z Journey | Z Club of America (Cool Cars with Chris: Car Talk, Driving Tips & Auto Life), A deep dive into the Z Club of America's 55-year history from driver education to modern track days, plus the dramatic story of a stolen and recovered 260Z race car that reveals the passion behind vintage car club culture.
Quotes of the Week
"The Tesla fills the spider's web. There's no little dip anywhere around that. It's a totally solid product."
126 - He chose an MGS5, the Electric Car Journey on Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars - The EV Podcast
"In fact, Teslas are the most American-made cars."
Episode 569: Teslas Are the Most American Cars, 6 Years Running on Ride the Lightning: Tesla and EV Podcast
"Day to day I don't use any of these cars."
The Man Who Owns 70 Cars, 200 Plates & Hundreds Of Properties - Nick Sahota on Road To Success with Benedict Fowler
"So we've been working on Rory's E46 touring, and the central locking doesn't work."
S2 Ep39: My New Daily Driver? And I Got Crashed Into...AGAIN! on The AutoAlex Podcast
"It's untenable for the average new car payment to be $774 a month."
CarGurus Just Put the Entire Auto Industry On ALERT | Episode 1099 on CarEdge Live
Recommendations
If You Only Listen To One
AAH #798 - Toyota Takes on Road Safety, Autoline After Hours
Jason Hallman from Toyota's Collaborative Safety Research Center covers ground that most automotive shows ignore entirely: the finding that women suffer more ankle injuries in crashes than men, and how pedestrians and autonomous vehicles negotiate crossing the street without eye contact. The THUMBS computational human model is an odd, memorable name for genuinely interesting crash research, and Hallman keeps the science accessible without dumbing it down. A rare deep dive into vehicle safety research from a show that usually treats industry news as the main event.
More Episodes Worth Hearing
Episode #231 - The Actual Budget Overland Adventure (Another Pointless Automotive Podcast), Recorded live from a campsite at Hollister Hills, this episode has genuine trail-tested stakes: a fuel leak, an oil pressure scare, two sub-$5,000 Xterras being pushed on blue-rated trails. The hosts debate cheap off-roader alternatives like the Montero Sport and Isuzu Trooper with the kind of specificity that comes from having skin in the game. Good field-recording energy throughout.
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - July 4, 2026 - Hour 1 - Automotive Couples Counseling (Ron Ananian The Car Doctor), The framing is the hook: Ron argues his waiting-room chair outperforms any scan tool. The case study, a stalling SUV that stumped everyone until Ron noticed the wife's specific short-drive-to-stop-sign routine was the trigger, is a neat illustration of why listening matters more than parts-swapping. It is a short, satisfying diagnostic story with a clean resolution.
#157 What Dead Car Brand Would You Bring Back? (Best In Class), The Polestar exit gives the premise an accidental news hook, but the episode earns its keep through substantive disagreement. Steve pitching Bristol Cars as a hand-built British luxury revival is a left-field choice, while Andrew's case for the Tucker Corporation is detailed enough to be persuasive. Saturn and Scion nostalgia fills the gaps with enough specifics to feel like a real argument instead of a list.
C.R.E.A.M. #89 - Nurburgring Prep, Denza's Supercar and Cars We Agree On (C.R.E.A.M. (The TDC Podcast)), The central premise, buy and modify a budget track car in four days before a Nurburgring road trip, generates real tension and some funny bickering about a Golf with no air conditioning. Ben's anxiety about driving the Green Hell for the first time gives the episode an emotional thread that carries the car chat along.
Driven Radio Show #360: Brock Patterson of Shelby Performance (Driven Radio Show), Brock Patterson walks through the current Shelby Performance truck lineup, an 810-plus-horsepower F-150 Super Snake, a Raptor R pushed to 1,000 horsepower, and a limited run of 54 off-road championship editions, plus the new 200,000-square-foot Bristol, Indiana build facility with eight paint booths and a three-year/36,000-mile warranty on every truck.
Next Week
USMCA renegotiation is formally underway, and average new-car prices are at record highs, so dealer margin pressure and buyer affordability will dominate coverage. The first full sales data from July should clarify whether the hybrid boom and flat overall market trend from June carries into the second half of the year.
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By the Numbers
Most-Discussed Cars
| Car | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Ford Mustang | 37 |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 32 |
| Dodge Charger | 27 |
| Porsche 911 | 25 |
| Dodge Ram | 23 |
| Ford Maverick | 20 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 20 |
| Ford F-150 | 17 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 15 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 15 |
| BMW M3 | 15 |
| Ford Bronco | 15 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 15 |
| Porsche Cayenne | 14 |
| Honda Civic | 14 |
Trending Terminology
| Term | Mentions |
|---|---|
| undercut | 8 |
| ADAS | 7 |
| silly season | 7 |
| regenerative braking | 6 |
| supercharger | 6 |
| EV | 5 |
| air suspension | 5 |
| restomod | 5 |
| FSD | 4 |
| DC fast charging | 4 |
| NVH | 4 |
Publishing Pattern
| Day | Episodes |
|---|---|
| Sunday Jun 28 | 20 |
| Monday Jun 29 | 42 |
| Tuesday Jun 30 | 42 |
| Wednesday Jul 01 | 38 |
| Thursday Jul 02 | 48 |
| Friday Jul 03 | 29 |
| Saturday Jul 04 | 16 |
235 episodes. 2627 car mentions. 2981 terms explained. Browse every episode with searchable annotations and plain-language term definitions in the Car Curious app.