The AutoGuide Show

Are AI chat tools like ChatGPT giving you unbiased car-buying recommendations, or are sponsored links silently creeping in? In this episode, we sit down with Corey Lydstone, Founder & CEO of CarGenius AI (and former co-founder of Autolist), to break down what’s really happening under the hood when you ask an LLM for car recommendations. After analyzing tens of thousands of search queries across th...

Think driving an electric vehicle is saving you thousands? Think again. A new study from AAA reveals that average new vehicle ownership costs have hit a staggering $12,863 per year ($1,071/month) and the most shocking takeaway isn't the total cost, but how EVs actually fare compared to hybrids and gas-powered cars. In this episode, we sit down with Greg Bannon, Director of Automotive Engineering a...

Are you wasting hundreds of dollars a year on premium gas? In this episode, we sit down with Keith Barry from Consumer Reports to break down their latest testing on fuel octane ratings, luxury vehicles, and engine performance. We dig into the truth behind why automakers require or recommend premium fuel, whether higher octane actually gives you better performance, and how luxury brands like Lexus,...

Are you looking to buy a car that you can drive until the wheels fall off? In this episode of The AutoGuide Show, host Colum Wood is joined by Karl Brauer, Executive Analyst at iSeeCars.com, to dive into their massive annual study analyzing over 395 million vehicles to determine which cars are most likely to reach the quarter-million-mile mark. We break down the top-ranking brands, the longest-las...

If you think finding a affordable new car is hard, wait until you check the used market! In today’s episode of The AutoGuide Show, host Colum Wood sits down with Karl Brauer from iSeeCars.com to break down a shocking new study: used cars under $20,000 are rapidly disappearing. Just a few years ago, a $20,000 budget gave you access to roughly half of the 1-to-5-year-old used car market. Today? That...

Why Are So Many Car Buyers "Underwater" on Loans? (And Why Don't They Care?) Negative equity in the car market is hitting record numbers—so why are consumers still signing on the dotted line? Today, Dave Thomas from CDK Global joins the show to break down consumer buying habits, long-term auto loans, and the truth about car affordability. In this video, we discuss: What negative equity is and why...

Are you driving one of the most dangerous cars on the road—or one of the safest? In this episode of The Auto Guide Show, we sit down with Chuck Farmer, Vice President of Research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), to break down the latest real-world driver death rate study. While IIHS is famous for its slow-mo crash test videos, their real-world crash data reveals the true impac...

Despite ongoing vehicle affordability concerns, today’s new car buyers are happier with their purchases than ever before. Even more surprising? The satisfaction gap between mainstream vehicles and luxury brands is rapidly evaporating. In this episode of The AutoGuide Show, host Colum Wood (AutoGuide's VP of Content) sits down with Frank Hanley, Senior Director of Automotive Benchmarking at J.D. Po...

Ever feel like Uber or Lyft is charging you way more than your friend for the exact same trip? You’re not crazy and we have the data to prove it. On this episode of The AutoGuide Show, we sit down with Consumer Reports investigative reporter Derek Kravitz to unpack a groundbreaking study on rideshare pricing. We dive into how AI might be personalizing your fares, why those "advertised discounts" m...

Are cars actually getting more reliable, or are we just getting better at designing cupholders? In this episode of The AutoGuide Show, we dive deep into the shocking results of the newly released 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS). To help us unpack the data, we sat down with Frank Hanley, Senior Director of Automotive Benchmarking at J.D. Power. He gives us the unfiltered truth on w...

This week we have a special episode dedicated to discussing the best vehicle choices for off-roading and camping. Our guest is Alex Kwanten, Managing Editor, Autos U.S. News & World Report. More than just a list of what he thinks are the best choices, he's actually thoroughly testing them in these conditions. Some are obvious choices, others may surprise you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

This week Mike talks to Consumer Reports about the pros and cons of letting AI help you with your next vehicle purchasing decision. We break down at which point AI can be helpful and where it will lead consumers astray. Later, Mike reviews the Ironhead Thrasher R/T RTD01 Tire - an off-road warrior for those on a budget. Finally, in the mailbag, we answer the question of what are the best fuel effi...

This week Mike talks to Becca from the IIHS about the best cars for teenagers. We discuss what makes a car good or bad for teenagers to drive, and what to look for deciding what to buy. Later, Mike reviews the Sailun Terramax RT off road tire, for you value orientated trail travellers. Finally, we dig into Audi's latest release, a near 1,000 horsepower supercar. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Why aren't people buying electric vehicles as quickly as expected, even with high gas prices? This week on the Auto Guide Show, we sit down with Brent Gruber, Executive Director of EV Solutions at JD Power, to break down the massive gap between consumer interest and actual sales. From the "cost of convenience" and hidden home charging expenses to the truth about public charging infrastructure and...

This week we talk to David Thomas from CDK about why Chinese cars may not be as affordable as some people think. We discuss the barriers and cost issues that surround the North American automotive market compared to other regions. Later, Mike does a product review of the Chemical Guys Tire+Trim Gel High-Gloss Restorer and Protectant. Finally, in the mailbag, the topic centers around Ram's new Rumb...

This week Mike sits down with Karl from iSeeCars.com to discuss which makes and models are holding their value the best in terms of resale. There are some surprising entries at the top, and bottom, of this list. Later, Mike reviews the VIOFO A329S 3CH Dash Cam which includes three separate cameras and a ton of features. Finally, in the mailbag, we discuss some of the best vehicles to take on your...

This week Mike talks to Nissan about the challenges behind making a smaller, more affordable car like the 2026 Sentra, achieve a top safety rating. We discuss the process of designing a car right from the ground up to excel at all the current crash tests as well as including the latest technology to avoid a collision altogether. Later, Mike talks about his experiences with the Sailun TerraMax HLT...

This week Mike sits down with Hagerty to discuss the future of car collecting. We discuss the current trends, what cars are gaining popularity, and what cars are decreasing in value. We also discuss why there is a shift happening in the collector car world. Later, during the product review, Mike discuss the Pros and Cons of the Nextbase Piqo 2K Dash Cam. Finally, in our mailbag, we give a bit of a...

This week Mike talks to Brandon Sturgis from BFGoodrich tires about a wide range of topics, including how to decide which off-road tires are right for your CUV or SUV. We also talk tire care tips, the advancements off-road tires have made in the past decade, as well as the current ruggedized SUV craze from automakers. Later, Mike talks about his latest product test, The Chemical Guys Headlight Res...

This week host Greg Migliore chats with Andrea Algeri, Brembo’s Car Racing Market Manager, to discuss how braking and energy recovery have impacted what’s shaping up to be a wild 2026 Formula One season. We also get into how braking tech has evolved throughout different eras in F1, what changed this year and how Brembo transfers its racing experience to road cars Then Mike Schlee joins for his lat...

Hot Wheels have been a favorite for enthusiasts of all ages, and this week Greg Migliore catches up with the man behind the wheels: Senior Design Manager Craig Callum. We discuss the latest designs and trends and what might be coming next from this iconic brand. Then longtime automotive journalist and co-host of Autoline After Hours Gary Vasilash joins me to discuss the latest news from the car in...

This week we break down the big reveals from the 2026 New York Auto Show. Greg Migliore is joined by Kyle Patrick from New York to discuss the Hyundai Boulder concept, VW Atlas, Subaru Getaway, Chrysler Pacifica, Kia EV3 and more. In this week’s gear test, Mike Schlee reviews a Chemical Guys spray-on tire cleaner. In the AutoGuide Garage, Mike test drives the Volkswagen Golf R and Greg reviews the...

This week, we’re talking Jeep. Greg Migliore catches up with its global head for off-roading and EVs, Aamir Ahmed . We discuss the off-roaders they brought to the 60th Easter Jeep Safari, which just kicked off on Saturday, March 28. Jeep is on safari with an old-school XJ, a Grand Wagoneer and of course, Wranglers. We also talk about what's coming up for the Jeep brand this year. In this week’s ge...

This week we catch up with the chief exterior designer for Scout Motors, Taylor Langhals, who explains how Scout took a 1960s and '70s icon and made it cooler than ever for modern buyers. Host Greg Migliore interviews Langhals at the Scout Innovation Center in suburban Detroit, where they discuss the look and features of the Terra pickup truck and Traveler SUV. In this week’s gear test, Mike Schle...

Gas prices are surging. There’s war in the Middle East and the world is a very uncertain place. Maybe now is the time to buy a hybrid, or perhaps an EV? This week Host Greg Migliore talks to Joseph Yoon of Edmunds to break down what surging fuel prices mean for your next car purchase. In this week’s gear test, Greg sampled spray-on wax and paint correction products from and Mothers’ California Gol...