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2026: Year of the Hybrid

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        2025 Toyota Prius Nightshade - the Toyota Prius is only offered as a hybrid      as are the Camry and Sienna - Photo by Brian Moody                                                                                                                                                                                          2026 is absolutely going to be the year of the hybrid. Not necessarily because people are going to choose that over other types of cars, but because it’s the kind of new car th...

Yahoo! Finance: EV Rebates are Dead - Now What ?

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https://finance.yahoo.com/video/tesla-end-ev-tax-credit-184500621.html Now that taxpayer-funded EV rebates are gone. Will people still buy electric cars? I say yes. There were plenty of Teslas sold before the rebate, and there will be plenty of electric cars sold after. The big difference is that Tesla has taught the rest of us what we want in an electric car, and now brands like Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche,  and others make good luxury and performance-oriented electric vehicles. Fewer EVs to Choose  However, some electric vehicle models will probably go away. For example, Nissan has already said there won’t be an aria for 2026. That being said, the leaf is quite good and affordable. Auto makers to promise to “go all electric” will likely suffer the most. Gasoline Cars Still in Demand  Brands such as Dodge, Porsche, and Volvo have all said they will reintroduce gasoline-powered engines into cars that were previously going to be only electric. This is due to consumer dema...

Cadillac Escalade iQ on The Daily Flash

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  Cadillac’s new all-electric SUV, the Escalade in, is impressive. Here, I’m highlighting the vehicle’s unique design and features on The Daily Flash, a nationally syndicated broadcast program that airs in over 80 markets with  monthly audience of just under 8 million. 

What to know about car buying in 2026

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The car-buying landscape has changed significantly. In late 2025 alone, we have tariffs, more electric car choices, the taxpayer-funded vehicle credit going away, and at the same time, some new car prices are going down.  For example, both the Nissan Rogue (seen above) and Pathfinder have price reductions in recent months. Also, Buick is growing in popularity, there will be a new kind of Nissan Rogue hybrid, and Tesla has just cancelled to of their best-known models.  Here’s a brief overview of what you need to know, thanks to Fox 5 Atlanta: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/video/1661049

If You Really Want to Use Less Gas...

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If people are serious about using less gas and fewer resources, then just drive something used like this - the 2012 Mazda5 is a six-passenger minivan that gets 28 miles per gallon on the highway.  By the way, a new $45,000 Toyota Highlander Hybrid gets 35 miles per gallon in mixed highway/city driving. In the Mazda5, I was able to get 24 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The Mazda5 is comfortable, fun to drive, and versatile - plus, it costs about $7,000 used. Maybe you don't need a new hybrid or electric car. It's a similar story with cars like the Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze, Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, and Kia Sportage.

Getting Real about EV Charge Times

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    New EVs like this Lexus RZ550e now use the North American Charging Standard NACS, the kind you'll find on Tesla Super Chargers - Photo by Brian Moody                                                                                                                                                         There's a lot of talk about electric vehicle charging times, but it might not be as rosy as you've been led to believe. Look at the small print. The owner's manual sometimes says, "frequent fast charging may impact battery life." Or "For best battery performance, don't charge beyond 90 percent....

Stop Using Sporty as a Cover for Harsh and Unrefined

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I'm tired of harsh riding, bouncy and noisy cars being give a pass because some PR person said "It's sporty." Acura, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and Infiniti make perfectly sporty cars and they don't jar your teeth even on rough roads. Even the Honda Civic has a pretty decent ride. Sporty shouldn't mean unrefined.