Friday, October 24, 2025

J.D. Power Talks to 'Auto Trends' About the Latest New-Vehicle Initial Quality Study and More


J. D. Power talks to Auto Trends with JeffCars.com about their latest initial quality study. During the lively conversation, we'll discuss how the 2025 model year vehicles fared in the first 90 days of ownership based on customer feedback.

Moreover, we'll talk about J. D. Power's latest seat and technology studies, too and its impact on the initial quality study.

Lisa BoorFrank Hanley and Kathleen Rizk will be joining us for the conversation.

Thursday, October 23, 2025

2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend AWD: The Brand’s Customizable Compact Boxy Crossover

 

Highlight: The Bronco Sport, which shares underpinnings with the Ford Escape, is only available in an all-wheel drive configuration.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $37,160 (Base MSRP): $32,990

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; front passenger sensors; a rearview camera; traction control; stability control; all-wheel drive; a lane keep assist system; a blind spot electronic monitor system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Monday, October 20, 2025

2025 Hyundai Sonata N-Line: The Brand’s Sporty Midsize Sedan

Highlight: The N-Line is only available in a front wheel drive configuration. 

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $36,695 (Base Trim MSRP): $29,195

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a backup camera; a blind spot collision avoidance assist; rear cross traffic avoidance; a lane keep assist system; a lane following assist system; a high beam assist; a forward collision assist system; a vehicle stability system; a tire pressure monitoring system; a hill start assist; a hill start assist system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Sunday, October 19, 2025

2025 Ford Maverick Lobo: The Brand’s Spirited Sport-Tuned Compact Truck

 

Highlight: The Maverick is about the same size as the original Ford Ranger less the manual transmission.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $42,345 (Base XL MSRP): $29,840

Seating Capacity: 4

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; front passenger sensors; electronic blind spot lane changing system; lane keep assist; a rear camera; lane departure warning; lane centering; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Experian Automotive Joins 'Auto Trends' To Share How Car Buyers Are Affording Today's Inflationary Prices

Melinda Zabrintski, who is the head of automotive financial insights for Experian Automotive, talks car payments and more. (Photo Credit: EA)

As the average new car transaction price tips over $50,000 for the first time in automotive history, Melinda Zabrintski joins Auto Trends with JeffCars.com for her annual state of automotive finance conversation from a consumer's perspective. 

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

2026 Buick Envista Avenir: The Brand’s Upscale Affordable Compact Crossover

Highlight: The compact Buick crossover mimics in terms of exterior styling many of the higher end German and Korean crossovers from BMW, Genesis and Mercedes-Benz. 

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $32,385 (Base MSRP): $25,995

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; a rear camera; forward collision alert; lane keep assist with lane departure warning; front pedestrian braking; lane change alert with side blind zone alert; and tire warning system

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

2025 Lincoln Navigator Black Label: Is It A Mobile Spa Riding On 24s?

Highlight: A long wheelbase version of the new Navigator is available.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $129,690 (Base -Trim): $102,190

Seating Capacity: 7 or 8 passenger seating

Standard Safety Features: air bags; ABS; 360-degree camera; an electronic blind spot system; a lane keeping assist system and road edge detection; post collision braking; auto high beams; a tire pressure monitoring system; trailer tow reverse guidance; a brake hold feature; hill start assist; hill descent control; and 18-inch spare tire

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

2025 VW Tiguan SE R-Line Black AWD: New Design Looks To Go After The Best-Selling Toyota RAV4


Highlight: The Tiguan's new engine produces 17 additional horsepower than its predecessor.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $39,230 (Base MSRP): $31,670

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; a rear camera; a blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system’ hill descent control; a tire pressure monitoring system; and a spare tire

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT: The Brand’s Performance Electric Vehicle with Hands-Free Steering

Highlight: The Mustang Mach-E GT produces 480-horsepower.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $60,375 (Base MSRP)$39,990

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; front passenger sensors; a stability control system; traction control; tire inflator/sealant kit; red-painted front and rear brake calipers with Brembo front brakes; automatic emergency braking system; and a tire pressure sensor 

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

'Auto Trends' Kicks Off Its 10th Radio Anniversary w/Two Veteran Auto Analysts


Auto Trends with JeffCars.com kicks off its 10th radio anniversary this weekend, after launching in the Atlanta market July 2015 as a monthly program. After only two months and two airings of the same program, we were removed from the station's programming. At the time, upper management didn't think our car program was a good fit for their public radio format. They believed the high-energy educational program was more suited for commercial radio.

Ironically, although one station abruptly decided not to carry our program, an AM station in Phoenix, Arizona welcomed us with open arms. They had inquired about adding our program to their programming. Unlike the station in Atlanta, the conservative Christian station allowed us to expand to a weekly program. Albeit, at the time, we were only in a position to produce a monthly program. Although we were now a weekly program, we only created one new show per month. This meant when our listeners tuned in, they heard the same program for the entire month. Once the program was perfected we eventually evolved to creating new weekly shows.

Sunday, September 14, 2025

Prostate Cancer Awareness: A Black Man's Guide to Preventive Screenings, Resource Tools, Fighting the Disease and More (For Those 35 and Older)

 


September is officially Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  This guide is designed for Black men seeking information on screening ages, resources, post-cancer care and the like.

Furthermore, this guide is also useful for loved ones, caretakers, doctors, family, friends and those who are yearning to have more insights about the silent disease and its impact with Black men.


Factoids: Black Men and Prostate Cancer

1 out of 5 Black men will be diagnosed with this silent disease during their lifetime. This disease affects Black men at a higher rate than other groups. 

If you're a Black man, annual screenings should begin at age 40. If there is a family history with the disease, annual screenings should begin at age 35. R. Frank Jones Urological Society

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

2025 Toyota Crown Signia AWD: The Brand’s All-New Lexus-Like Midsize Hybrid Crossover

Highlight: The Crown Signia has a total driving range of 551 miles.


Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $52,340 (Base MSRP): $45,285

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Equipment: ABS; air bags; a rear camera; a blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system; a rear cross traffic alert system; and a tire pressure monitoring system; a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection; left turn oncoming vehicle detection/braking; lane tracing assist; and a tire repair kit

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

2025 Mazda Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus: The Brand Compact Hatchback

Highlight: A four-door sedan compact version is available.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $38,335 (Base Mazda3): $26,335

Seating Capacity: 4

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; rear view monitoring; stability control; a blind spot monitoring system; a lane departure warning system; a rear cross traffic alert system; a hill start assist system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Sunday, August 17, 2025

2025.5 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Ultra AWD: The Brand’s 6-Seater Flagship SUV/Crossover

 

Highlight: All-wheel drive is standard on the vehicle.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $88,695 (Base Trim Plug-In MSRP): $73,195

Seating Capacity: 6 (Test Vehicle)

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a backup camera; collision avoidance features; a blind spot system; driver alert control; lane keep assist; forward collision warning; a tire repair kit; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Standard Equipment (Test Model): 21-inch wheels; 6 bucket seats; panoramic sunroof with sunshade; Nappa leather seats; ventilated front seats; a four-zone ventilation system; heated steering wheel; heated front and rear seats; a keyless ignition starter; a manual operated tilt/telescopic steering wheel; and a variety of driver modes

J.D. Power Talks to 'Auto Trends' About the Latest New-Vehicle Initial Quality Study and More

J. D. Power talks to Auto Trends with JeffCars.com about their latest initial quality study. During the lively conversation, we'll disc...