Choosing Between The 2019 Buick Encore vs 2019 Honda HR-V Trying to decide between the 2019 Buick Encore vs 2019 Honda HR-V? You’re essentially choosing between a luxury compact SUV and a more simply-built subcompact SUV. While the Encore is more expensive, it offers numerous standard features and incredible luxury touches. However, the 2019 Honda […]
Author: Jason Cook
They Want to do WHAT to the Camaro?! (& Other News)
Annnnd we’re back…AutoInfluence kicking down the door to the month of May with all your automotive news. But don’t worry. We promise we’ll rehang the door once we’re done here (it’s the least we could do, since we forget to say hi to your mom in last week’s episode…) Ford / Lincoln This […]
Which GMC SUV Reigns Supreme
Being tasked with exploring the lineup of GMC SUVs is, in many ways, an exercise in giving credit where it’s due. In 2019, it’s basically pointless to argue the enduring appeal of the SUV segment, be it directed at traditional full-size offerings or those of the modern crossover format. Even if (like me) you’re rarely […]
It’s ‘HEMI DAY’! (and there’s a Hellephant in the Room…)
Annnnd we’re back, AutoInfluence on Friday, April 26th with all the automotive news headlines you could ask for, while celebrating a holiday that (we think) deserves to be made into a three-day weekend. But we’ll get back to that in a few minutes…let’s get down to the news! Ford As we’ve reported time and […]
Embracing the Decision to Buy Pre-Owned
Considering the frequency with which they purchase used cars, Atlanta GA drivers are unknowingly proving themselves to be some of the most prudent car buyers in the country. Now that might sound like a lofty statement, but the greater Atlanta area distinguishes itself as one of the largest domestic consumers of lightly pre-owned cars, trucks […]
Exploring the 2019 KIA Sorento
In a world growing evermore saturated with competitive crossovers and SUVs of various sizes, it goes without saying that it has gotten progressively more difficult for any offering to stand out. But the 2019 KIA Sorento almost seems to make it look easy and, after almost two decades and three generations, the Sorento only seems […]
Everything We (Were Surprised to) Like About the 2019 KIA Optima
Since so many automakers seem content in allowing traditional midsize sedans to be erased from existence, it’s refreshing to shift our attention over to one that’s enjoying some praise right now. And while nearly twenty years and nearly four full generations have come and gone since its original introduction, the 2019 KIA Optima feels […]
Start Spreading the News…We’re Talking About the New York & Shanghai Auto Shows!
Annnnnnd we’re back, AutoInfluence with another round of automotive news headlines – this time for the third week of April. Of course this means highlights from both the refined presentations of the tech-centric Shanghai Auto Show as well as the New York International Auto show, and it’s American-sized portions of everything covered with a […]
Is 2019 an Automotive Sh*t Show, or the First Step Towards Progress?
Around here, we spend a lot of time reporting on current auto news headlines. But would we really be making a divisive statement if we came out and called out 2019 for what it is? And by that we mean that 2019, in terms of the automotive industry, has been a bit of […]
Auto Shanghai? NYIAS? Sure. But First, the Automotive News Headlines for April 8th
Annnnnd we’re back! AutoInfluence here on Friday, April 12th making our way through automotive news headlines for the second week of April – leading up to the highly anticipated one-two punch of Auto Shanghai and the New York International Auto Show. That said, grab a drink and a snack, get comfortable, go to the bathroom […]
From Ford To Tesla (And Everything In-Between) Here’s the Latest in Automotive News for 4/5
Annnnnd we’re back. AutoInfluence here with the latest automotive news headlines from the first week of April 2019. So let’s drop the hammer and get down to it. FORD Despite a 1.6% decrease in overall sales for the first quarter of 2019, Ford continues to increase the scope of their near-unchallenged leadership of […]
Are Days Numbered for JLR?
Today on AutoInfluence, we look at Jaguar Land Rover, their last decade of ownership under Tata Motors and the questionable nature of their longterm viability. Just over ten years have passed since the June 2, 2008 acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover by Tata Motors for a cool $2.3 billion dollar ‘all-cash’ transaction. At […]
Choosing Used is Choosing Smart
In a world where the idea of $100K trucks is becoming more commonplace, one can’t help but think back to a simpler time when trucks were accessibly-priced, and designed simply to ‘get the job done’. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about the thorough and well-realized offerings that continually elevate the truck segment […]
What We Know About the 2020 Cadillac XT6
It’s been just over a decade since a glaring gap in Cadillac’s lineup had first become evident. On one side of the perceived split sat the XT5, Cadillac’s successor to their SRX crossover. And across the way: their pioneering three-row luxury SUV, the iconic Escalade. And while both proved eminently popular (in spite of […]
March Automotive Highlights
Here we are back again with Auto Influence in this week’s round of automotive news expanded to cover some of the other highlights from the month of March. FORD Twitter wars are nothing new, even within the automotive landscape. But if there have been any pairings of warring automakers who have proven most interesting […]
Comparing the 2019 GMC Terrain vs 2019 Honda CR-V
A friend and coworker recently found themselves in the market for a new vehicle, courtesy of the lifestyle change one experiences when they find out they’re about to become a first-time parent. Now, it’s worth clarifying that we’re not here to talk about all the changes to come (that for another article, on an entirely […]
Headlines at the Geneva Motor Show
Here we go, AutoInfluence is back with coverage of the Geneva Auto Show, and some of the top automotive news headlines that have surrounded it. So let’s get down to it. Kicking things off, speculation is swirling regarding the possibility of Ford’s decision to bridge the gap between their base EcoBoost engine, and the […]
Will Jeep Position “Hercules” Against Ford’s Raptor?
For lovers of both power and performance, it’s hard not to look fondly upon 2018 as the year of the high-powered variant. While offering jacked-up or juiced up versions of popular models is nothing new to the automotive industry, it never felt so blatant, competitive – and dare we say, thrilling – as […]
Weekly Auto News (Week of 3/29) S01E06
Annnnnnd we are back. February’s been a busy month for our weekly automotive news and, being a short month, we’ve slowed down the frequency of our podcasts a bit. Why? Because news stories move at a slower rate when subjected to cold temperatures. I mean, that’s just science. So let’s get down to some […]
Weekly Auto News (Week of 3/22) S01E05
Welcome to Auto Influence Weekly Automotive News. This week, we look back at the week of January 28th, leading up to (and including) Super Bowl 53 and the automotive influences that helped to make it what it was. But first, a quick reminder that the Chicago Auto Show will be taking place at […]