TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to Wednesday, Friend!

We’re out here roaming the NADA floor today, soaking up the sessions, catching up with old friends, and meeting a whole lot of new ones.

If you see one of us sprinting between booths (or camping out near the coffee), stop us. Say hey. We’d love to connect in person! 🫶

Or, keep follow along with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube.

Keep Pushing Back,
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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Margins are tight. Shoppers expect more. And it's time for tools that actually keep up.

Cars.com is bringing real-world AI and automation to NADA Show 2026 to help dealers move inventory faster, streamline the grind, and grow profit on every turn.

Want a closer look? Book a demo to discover how your team can do more with less—without losing the personal touch.

(Not at NADA? No problem. You can still connect here.)

The 2026 Consumer Reports Top Picks are out, and for the first time, every single winner is either hybrid or fully electric.

The Civic stood out for its balance of fun and frugality, while the Camry kept its “chef’s kiss” reputation intact as a now hybrid-only midsize sedan.

SUVs dominated the lineup as usual, with the Toyota Grand Highlander, Subaru Forester, and Lexus NX each earning top marks for combining space, safety, and standout fuel economy.

Even luxury got a jolt—BMW’s X5 plug-in hybrid landed among the best for blending speed and sustainability.

And of course, Tesla held onto its crown. The refreshed Model Y remains the best-selling EV in America.

As more buyers swap range anxiety for range advantage, the brands adapting fastest to this mix of performance and practicality are likely to win the long game.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just raised the stakes on whiplash testing and some familiar small SUVs didn’t make the grade.

The new test, which measures how well head restraints and seat structures protect occupants in rear-end crashes, now simulates both 20- and 30-mph impacts instead of just one. It also looks at how the dummy’s pelvis, spine, and head move together under force. The result is a tougher, more realistic evaluation.

Out of 18 small SUVs tested, only four earned top “Good” ratings: the Audi Q3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4. Each showed solid head and spine support and minimal injury potential.

Nine models landed in “Acceptable” territory, including the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Taos, and Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class.

But, the biggests surprises came at the bottom: the Ford Bronco Sport, Hyundai Tucson, and Mazda CX-50 all earned “Poor” scores.

Each performed well in other crash tests but fell short on neck injury prevention—a reminder that even high safety reputations don’t guarantee across-the-board excellence.

From sedans that defined their segments to EVs that never quite took off, more than 20 models are being dropped from U.S. lineups in the new year.

Among the high-profile exits: Chevrolet Malibu, Subaru Legacy, and Nissan Versa, leaving even fewer affordable sedans on the market.

On the luxury side, Acura TLX, Cadillac XT6, Lexus RC, and Volvo’s S90 and V60 wagons are also bowing out, as brands double down on SUVs and electrified models.

EVs weren’t spared either. Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Genesis Electrified G80, Nissan Ariya, and even Tesla’s Model S and Model X are ending production.

Some will return in new form (Ford says a range-extended Lightning is coming) but the message is clear: the first generation of many mainstream EVs are being quietly retired as the economics evolve.

After years of soaring costs, car insurance is finally easing up.

A new Insurify report shows the average annual premium dropped 6% nationwide in 2025 to $2,144 (the first decline since the pandemic).

Some states saw big breaks: Wyoming (-30%), Iowa (-25%), and Arkansas (-23%). But others are still climbing, with New Jersey up 20% and Washington, D.C. up 18%.

It’s a welcome shift after a 46% surge from 2022 to 2024, a jump fueled by pricier repairs and risky driving habits that stuck around post-pandemic.

Insurify says insurers now have enough margin to absorb costs, even with new tariffs adding pressure. Some are even trimming rates to win back customers.

For dealers, a little relief on premiums could make affordability conversations easier.

For everyone else, let’s just say the road to lower costs still has a few potholes depending on where you live.

If you’re in Vegas this week like we are, you know just how much there is to see and do. It can honestly be overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve made it easy to organize your time, and find the evening events you can’t miss—all in one place.

Check out NADAParties.com to get your plans together now.